Chapter 90

Damian looked fondly at the two children sleeping deeply beside Reina.

“Let’s move the kids to their rooms first, then talk.”

“Yes.”

It would be troublesome if one of them woke up while they were talking.

After carrying Estelle and Bonita to their rooms and tucking them in properly, the two of them stepped out into the outer garden.

The cold night air pricked at their skin.

Reina took a deep breath in and let it out slowly.

“Bonita didn’t react like that when she was at the ducal castle.”

“Yes. Back then, she was almost unsettlingly calm.”

“Right. Other than Star’s Birthday, she never acted strangely.”

They walked slowly. Damian, who had been leading, stopped at a certain spot.

“Back then, Boni got startled by a loud noise and ran away.”

“There was more than that. That gift.”

Reina didn’t know what the gift had been. Even if he told her, it probably wouldn’t change much.

“It was jam cookies. Fruit jam cookies.”

Reina couldn’t help thinking, what about them?

Jam cookies were a normal snack she’d bought for Bonita many times before.

“There were also dried fruits mixed in.”

Recalling that unpleasant dark fruit, Damian frowned.

“That day, it was something your daughter left behind.”

“…”

“I think we may have encountered something we don’t understand.”

“But if Boni really saw something like that, how could she hide it? She’s still young.”

“I don’t know.”

Damian wasn’t skilled at childcare like Reina was.

He had only just started getting used to expressing himself, and he was still a stiff person.

Yet somehow, he felt like he understood why Bonita had hidden it.

At times, Damian felt an inexplicable sense of similarity when he looked at Bonita.

But he couldn’t bring himself to say that to Reina.

“I don’t know either. It might just be my own speculation.”

“…I see.”

“Once more time passes, she’ll probably be fine. There are more people around Bonita now.”

Reina lifted her head and looked toward the ducal residence.

From where they stood, the window of the room Bonita would normally have used was clearly visible.

The wind blew, and the sound of grass brushing together echoed bleakly.

Damian secretly glanced at Reina as she gazed at Bonita’s room with a tender expression.

‘I absolutely can’t tell her that.’

The reason a child doesn’t talk about their suffering or fear is simple.

It’s because they’ve decided that the place, the surroundings, aren’t safe.

Reina cherished Bonita, and Bonita loved Reina.

Bonita was lovely enough for everyone to adore her.

And yet, if Bonita couldn’t find a sense of security around her, that meant there truly was something no one knew about.

“The wind’s cold.”

Even though all of this was just speculation, a bitter taste lingered in Damian’s mouth.

‘And that baron, he expanded an orchard, didn’t he.’

That orchard. What kind of fruit was he growing, exactly?

The bushes swaying in the wind brushed Damian’s cheek and drifted past.

* * *

A few days later, three enormous carriages arrived at the ducal residence.

From one of them poured endless lace, fabric, and jewels.

Reina stared with her mouth open at the dazzling feast of colors, eyes wide.

The two children clung to her sides, shouting “Wow!” in delight.

Damian got to the point.

“His Majesty the Emperor keeps sending invitations. Estelle can’t attend, but Reina Botn, you have to go with me.”

“I-I see…”

“Mom, are you going to a party?”

Bonita asked, staring at the sparkling fabric. Damian answered in her place.

“Yes.”

“Wow. Mom, are you going to dress up pretty?”

Damian smiled faintly at Bonita.

“If that’s what you want, I’ll make sure Reina Botn stands out the most at that party.”

“Wow! Duke, you’re the best!”

Bonita jumped up and down, laughing.

In contrast, Reina’s face turned pale.

“Y-Your Grace?”

“It’s your first appearance. It needs to be perfect.”

Reina decided she would absolutely not ask about the price of the dress.

It probably wouldn’t be as absurd as the cost of an entire mansion, but she didn’t want to know.

Even if it cost less than a mansion, it would still be an amount she could never casually afford.

The designer smiled kindly and talked about current social trends, while Madam Beanz explained the fabrics beside them.

Reina felt that all of this was more complicated than discussing magic circuits with the mages.

The children weren’t dragged around too much, considering their stamina, but no such consideration was given to the fully grown Reina.

“In Baron of Lian’s case, your impression is very faint, so we need to draw attention with the outfit.”

“I agree. Perhaps an open neckline, with a flashy necklace that reflects chandelier light.”

“In that case, this line design would…”

Reina had no idea what they were talking about, so she just smiled.

Bonita and Estelle looked more excited than she did.

After being pulled this way and that, utterly worn out, Reina took advantage of the moment when everyone’s attention shifted to the children and slumped back onto the sofa.

Damian approached her quietly.

“…Why is this suddenly such a commotion?”

“When something’s a big deal, it stays a big deal.”

“What?”

Reina had no idea what he meant.

“When something this big happens, people can’t think about anything else for a while.”

“…”

“So maybe your daughter will have fewer scary dreams for a while.”

Reina couldn’t respond to Damian’s words.

“I didn’t like the layout of the inspection garden, so I had it torn out.”

Reina looked at him, then said,

“…I’m really bad at dancing.”

“Oh.”

That’s unfortunate.

Damian replied casually.

* * *

More than a week passed. Every plant in the garden had been uprooted, the capital was still buzzing with curiosity about Estelle and Reina, and rumors were spreading thickly.

Reina was practicing dance in the mansion as usual.

“Reina Botn.”

“Oh, sorry.”

Madam Beanz took the lead and guided Reina.

Reina picked up dancing quickly as well, but there was one problem.

Whether it was a strange habit or something else, though Reina herself hadn’t learned dance long enough to form habits, every time she turned and took her partner’s hand again, she stepped on their foot.

“This really doesn’t change, no matter what.”

“Hm. What should we do?”

“All we can do is pray your partner wears shoes reinforced with steel plates.”

“…”

It meant there was no solution. Reina let out a small sigh.

“I learn everything else quickly, but habits like this don’t change easily.”

“True.”

Reina admitted she didn’t know why either.

“Shall we try again?”

“Yes.”

Madam Beanz reset their positions and began stepping with Reina again.

Aside from Reina’s overly tense expression, her movements themselves were fairly natural.

“Reina Botn, no one has the right to scold you for making a small mistake.”

“…Still. I’m only borrowing Your Grace’s power.”

Reina worked so hard because she thought herself incompetent.

“Why do you think so poorly of yourself?”

Madam Beanz asked, looking straight at her while holding both her hands.

Reina answered, her face stiff from concentrating on the dance.

“I haven’t learned much, and I received help with everything.”

“Everyone starts out knowing nothing. And as long as we live, we all receive help.”

“…Mm.”

Reina rolled her eyes slightly.

“I can’t do everything for Boni.”

“Oh, Reina Botn.”

Madam Beanz called her name softly, with a regretful tone.

“There are very few parents in this world who can do everything they want for their child.”

“…Is that so?”

“Of course. Even the Duke of Winternight, even His Majesty the Emperor, will someday face things they want to give but can’t.”

Reina felt that sounded unrealistic.

Still, Madam Beanz continued.

“I was the same. Eleanor once told me she wanted to become a mage. I couldn’t give her the answer she wanted then.”

Eleanor hadn’t become a mage, but a Mage Examiner. Reina listened quietly.

“There’s nothing wrong with being a Mage Examiner. It helps people in practical ways. But Eleanor’s dream wasn’t that. She wanted to be a mage.”

Reina already knew this story. Eleanor had told her herself.

Even so, Reina kept stepping quietly as she listened.

“I should have told my daughter that she could become a mage.”

“You couldn’t.”

“I told her to quit if it became painful.”

I should have believed in my daughter.

Madam Beanz smiled sadly.

“Reina Botn, have you ever told your daughter to give up on her dreams?”

At the question, Reina parted her lips but only shook her head slightly.

“Then you’re already a better mother than I was.”

“Th-That’s…”

“There’s no one in this world who’s perfectly good, neither as a person nor as a parent. There are only people who try to become a little better.”

“Madam Beanz, you say very profound things.”

“It’s because I’ve lived long enough to make many mistakes.”

She said what mattered was changing so you don’t repeat the same mistakes.

Reina’s pale blue eyes wavered.

Just as she was about to say something, her body spun around.

Bang.

And just like always, she stepped on a foot again.