Chapter 94

A massive picnic basket had been prepared.

It was far too large to be for just four people.

The first compartment held various kinds of sandwiches and round rolls. The second contained salad and grilled bacon. The last was filled with light fruits and cookies.

Looking at the enormous spread, Reina thought, ‘Even if I exaggerate a bit, this would be enough for the knights who tag along too.’

She untied her apron first.

“I’ll go check if the children are awake.”

“Is there anything I can help with?”

“It’s alright. Your Grace must be busy, right? Don’t worry.”

Reina could easily change the children’s clothes and fix their hair on her own.

Leaving Damian behind, she hurried up the stairs.

“Reina!”

“Sir?”

Just then, Dun approached her with a bright expression. His hair was still damp, as if he had just finished his morning training and washed up.

“Are you coming with us today too, Sir?”

Reina asked with a friendly smile. Dun shook his head with a regretful look.

“Not today. That’s unfortunate. I wanted to go on a picnic with you too, Reina.”

“Hehe.”

Reina smiled softly.

Dun’s ears turned red.

He steadied himself before he could stutter and asked,

“What will you be wearing to the picnic?”

“This dress I’m wearing now. Is it not good?”

When Reina lifted the hem of her dress slightly and asked, Dun looked flustered.

“N-no, that’s not it… If you happen to run into other nobles… it might look too simple and invite ridicule. Th-that’s not what I meant… never mind.”

His neck and face flushed red. Reina giggled.

“Does it look shabby for a baron to wear?”

“…That’s not what I meant.”

“It’s fine. I know you didn’t mean it badly.”

After all, the stars of today’s picnic weren’t Reina, but the children.

‘Come to think of it, do the children have enough spring clothes?’

And then she realized it.

Ah, I never bought Boni new spring clothes!

* * *

When Reina returned to the room, the children had just woken up.

Bonita and Estelle both whined with their eyes barely open.

Reina patted them and helped them sit up.

“You both need to wash your faces and brush your teeth.”

“Mm…”

“Mmm…”

They shuffled into their slippers, hugged Reina once each, then held hands and toddled off to the bathroom.

For a moment, Reina thought they looked like twins.

‘I shouldn’t think like that.’

She snapped back to her senses and shook her head sharply.

The maids brought about five dresses for Estelle.

“Shall we bring more?”

“N-no. I think this will be enough.”

When Reina used polite speech, the butler standing behind them widened his eyes.

Lowering her gaze, she added,

“This should be enough. I’m not used to speaking down yet, so please understand.”

Using unfamiliar informal speech made the fine hairs on her body stand on end.

“Reina, we’re done.”

“Mom, me too.”

Thankfully, the children’s bright voices eased the atmosphere.

Reina smiled warmly at them.

“Let’s see. Say ahh.”

She bent down and smiled gently as she said ahh, and the two children copied her.

“Very clean. Let me see if you got all the sleep from your eyes.”

She cupped Estelle’s cheeks first and looked closely.

Seeing that her eyes were clean, she scrunched her nose playfully.

“That tickles.”

Estelle said so, but her voice carried laughter.

Next was Bonita. Reina treated her the same way. The children’s laughter filled the room.

All the servants watched the lovely moment fondly.

“Now, shall our young ladies get dressed?”

“Yes!”

“Okay!”

There was no need to deliberate over Estelle’s clothes.

As if she had already decided, Estelle chose a purple dress embroidered with white lace.

The maids took her to the vanity to do her hair.

That left Bonita.

“Hmm, do we have something for Boni to wear?”

They had rushed to the capital as soon as spring began and hadn’t bought proper clothes.

‘She has last year’s clothes, but they’ll probably be too small now.’

“Boni, should we buy you some clothes after the picnic?”

When Reina asked worriedly, Bonita started to shake her head but then nodded instead.

“Let’s try them on first and see if they fit.”

“Okay!”

Reina brought out the yellow dress Bonita liked second best.

“…”

“…”

The buttons barely fastened, and the sleeves were tight.

The skirt was noticeably shorter too. Reina let out a low hum.

“Seems like Boni’s growing all at once.”

“Th-then should I stop growing?”

“That’s not how it works. It’s good to grow. You were so small before that I was worried.”

Bonita had always been smaller than her peers and slower to grow.

That was why Reina hadn’t felt the urgency to buy new clothes quickly. She blamed herself for being complacent.

“Can’t I just wear winter clothes?”

“No. What if you collapse from the heat outside?”

They couldn’t sew or buy clothes right now either.

Reina sighed softly, and Bonita just rolled her eyes.

“Th-there’s something…”

Estelle’s small voice cut in.

She peeked her head in through the doorway and continued hesitantly.

“If Boni’s okay with it… would you like to borrow one of my dresses?”

As she said that, she glanced around nervously. Anyone watching might think she was the one asking to borrow.

“My lady, that’s…”

“Boni’s my most precious friend. And Reina is very precious to me too.”

Estelle’s ears turned red.

She mumbled that she wanted to do at least this much for someone precious.

Reina looked at Estelle, then turned to Bonita.

“Boni, are you okay with that?”

Bonita stared at Estelle for a few seconds, then nodded.

Estelle beamed and ordered that all her outing dresses be brought in.

Reina panicked and said one of the dresses already here would be fine, but Estelle disagreed.

She had chosen her own dress without hesitation, yet she recommended several for Bonita.

“Do you like dresses, my lady?”

Reina had thought Estelle wasn’t interested in clothes since she hadn’t hesitated earlier. But watching her happily pick dresses for Bonita suggested otherwise.

Light green, white, cream…

Dress after dress appeared, each likely more expensive than all of Bonita’s current clothes combined.

After much deliberation, Bonita chose a cream dress with a burgundy ribbon at the waist.

Reina tied Bonita’s hair into a single ponytail herself.

“It looks like a horse’s tail.”

“Right?”

Bonita grinned and shook her head from side to side, her hair swishing along.

Estelle tried the same, but since her hair was tied into two round buns, it didn’t move.

“My lady, please wear a hat.”

The maids brought out several wide brimmed hats for Estelle.

Reina instantly understood the meaning of the hats.

‘From an adult’s viewpoint, both her hair and eyes will be harder to see.’

Estelle seemed to realize it too. Her expression wasn’t very bright.

Reina glanced at her darkening face and spoke casually.

“Do you have a large hat I could wear too?”

“You as well, Baron of Lian?”

“Yes. Well, yes. The sun seems strong today. I’m weak to sunlight, so please.”

A small hand gently clasped her left hand. It was Estelle’s.

“…Thank you.”

Estelle looked up at Reina and whispered.

Reina smiled kindly.

“I’m just weak to sunlight.”

* * *

Damian was dressed in black again.

Black clothes, black cloak, black gloves.

In stark contrast to the three of them in light colors, combined with his blunt expression, he stood out excessively.

Bonita and Estelle stared at him, then asked Reina,

“Mom, is this what complementary colors are?”

“Reina, is this complementary too?”

“…Well, something like that, I suppose.”

Reina had wondered if they could leave secretly, but Peter introduced the carriage as one fitted with a perception lowering artifact.

A transparent gem was embedded in the carriage door.

“How are artifacts made?”

“Didn’t you learn about artifacts?”

“I only learned about combining devices.”

Damian helped Estelle and Bonita into the carriage in order.

“Well, there’s no real need to understand the principles. You don’t often have to use them directly.”

At his words, Reina tapped the transparent gem lightly with her fingernail.

“We’re using one now though.”

Damian raised an eyebrow at the artifact and nodded. They were indeed using it.

“Magic stones help magic tools operate, and artifacts let you use magic without having magic power, right?”

“Yes, roughly.”

Damian extended his hand to help Reina into the carriage.

She hesitated before taking it.

“They can only be made from the highest grade magic stones. Engraving magic formulas and circuits onto them is difficult, which is why they’re expensive.”

“Are all artifacts this transparent?”

“When they still have power.”

“They come in various colors, but while they still have power, they shine clearly.”

“What happens when the power runs out?”

After confirming Reina was seated, Damian held the carriage door.

“The color grows murky and eventually turns black. Like coal.”

“I see…”

Reina noticed Damian was still holding the door and not getting in.

“Aren’t you riding with us, Your Grace?”

“The weather’s nice today. I’ll sit beside the coachman.”

A loud intake of breath came from the driver’s seat.

Reina chose to ignore his tragedy. If Damian wanted to enjoy the sunlight, who was she to stop him.

The carriage door closed, and soon it began to move.

The two children giggled and turned their attention to the picnic basket across from them.

“What’s inside?”

“Yeah, Mom. What’s in it?”

“Can we open it? Just a little. We’ll peek secretly.”

They clung to Reina and whispered like mischievous fairies.

“No.”

Reina answered firmly and pulled them into her arms.

“It’s dangerous, so stop moving and sit still.”

Even as they grumbled inside her embrace, their faces were smiling.

It was the kind of smile only truly happy children wore.