Chapter 23
Reasonable Reasoning (1)
The two were very similar to her. Especially Dylan.
However, Bonita didn’t feel that fact particularly special. There was nothing to dislike, but that was it.
The most precious thing to Bonita was Aria. Next was, um…. It would probably be Luke and Catherine.
Of course, Aria was much better.
“Yes.”
“How did you know?”
Dylan’s question made Bonita feel a little uncomfortable.
“Aria told me.”
“That you’re not her biological daughter?”
“… Yes.”
Watching Dylan’s expression improve at that, Bonita realized why he was uncomfortable.
So she quickly added,
“But I think of Aria as my mother, and she loves me very much, too.”
This time, Dylan’s mouth was firm.
A good child shouldn’t cause trouble to adults. However, Bonita felt a strange pleasure when she saw his expression.
“Do you think of that woman as your mother? But-”
“That could be.”
Lennon, who had been watching the tense atmosphere between the two, suddenly interrupted.
“I don’t intend to deny your opinion. After all, it’s possible to have two mothers, right?”
“Uh- yes.”
Bonita was about to say that it was impossible, but upon thinking about it, Lennon’s words didn’t seem particularly wrong, so she agreed.
It was true that Aria wasn’t her biological mother, and it was also true that Bonita thought of Aria as her mother.
Lennon sighed in relief when Bonita seemed to be feeling better than before. If he had just let Dylan and Bonita talk, it would have been wrong.
‘Just because they’re kids doesn’t mean they don’t have a mind of their own.’
Aria Hilton. I don’t know how that lady Hilton raised Bonita. However, in Bonita’s view, they were more like strangers, and she was more like family.
It’s a matter for adults to decide how blood relations are traced.
Isn’t it common for adopted children to follow their adoptive parents?
“But, are you two going to continue living here?”
“Oh, I don’t think so.”
Lennon said, relieved by the relaxed atmosphere.
“Unlike madam Lysianthus and Duke, we are part of the Counts of Rottweil. However, I would like to invite Bonita to our mansion this weekend. What do you think?”
“I’ll think about it.”
Lennon smiled bitterly at the words that were obviously conscious of Dylan. He didn’t mean anything bad to Dylan, but…
“Yes. I would like you to consider it positively.”
“Consideration positively?”
“What does that mean?”
When Bonita tilted her head and asked, Lennon explained,
“I mean, I want you to come to uncle’s house.”
Just as Bonita was about to nod, the door opened. It was Luke, who had been standing in front of the door since earlier.
He tapped his wristwatch.
“Ten minutes.”
“… Ten minutes?”
There had been no such conversation before they entered the room.
Lennon, who had been hesitating, soon understood.
It wasn’t just a day or two that Luke had been acting like that without explanation.
Still, he couldn’t help but think that it was too short.
Ten minutes?
He hadn’t even exchanged a few words with Bonita. It was too short compared to the years of separation.
Lennon sighed and said,
“You’re quick to get a guest.”
“A guest?”
Luke asked incredulously.
“You didn’t say anything about backing off, did you?”
“……?”
“I’m just saying I’ll be here.”
Lennon chuckled to himself as he watched the tall man’s eyes narrow.
‘Well, he was more innocent than I thought.’
I always think about it, but his appearance didn’t really match.
If he had been a little more ordinary, he would never have been called the ‘Monster of the South.’
And…
Lennon’s gaze turned to Bonita. Bonita often walked toward the Duke, or more precisely, Aria Hilton behind him.
And then they stick together like gum. The conversation we had earlier, about thinking of her as a mother, was clearly sincere.
‘That looks the same to you, too.’
Lennon trusted his instincts.
Aria Hilton really seemed to love Bonita. The Baron Hilton daughter he had seen wasn’t such a great person.
Did people change when they raised a child? But why did she take it on in the first place?
Also, why did I feel strange whenever I saw that woman?
Lennon stared blankly at Bonita and Aria, who were chattering away, and then his eyes met hers.
Blink.
Aria smiled.
The moment he saw that smile, Lennon’s index finger wiggled slightly. He touched his lips with his right hand.
“Hmm….”
*****
Bonita spent most of her time clinging to Aria. Aria thought it was because she couldn’t adapt to the unfamiliar environment of the Ducal residence.
It wasn’t the real reason, but it wasn’t a completely wrong assumption.
Children tend to feel anxious when their place of residence suddenly changes. Even if they weren’t a child.
It was natural for them to cling to familiar people in unfamiliar environments.
However, there were times when the two were apart.
For example, when Luke and Bonita spent time together.
Aria was the one who suggested this.
“How about spending some time alone with the Duke? About an hour a day.”
‘I would love to spend the rest of my life with you, but…’
Aria herself knew that it was impossible.
Bonita was the only daughter of the Duke of Lysianthus. She was a precious person who would become the next Duke.
On the other hand, what about Aria Hilton?
Since the Baron Hilton family was practically dead, she could probably receive the title of Baron.
She was quite familiar with etiquette. Aria Hilton also had a degree from the Imperial Academy. She would have no problem living as a tutor or running the Baron’s estate. In other words, that was all.
She could not become Elodie Lysianthus or Elodie Rottweiler. It was impossible to regain her original body that was already dead and buried in the ground.
Luke, whom she loved, would treat her like a stranger for the rest of her life, and so would her two older brothers and her father.
Realization slowly crept in.
At first, she was just happy to be alive. Even though Luke didn’t recognize her, she just enjoyed it, and it was somewhat unrealistic.
But as time goes by, I gradually realize how happy I was when I was Elodie. The reason Elodie was able to become an innocent and lovely noble lady was because of the environment around her.
She was loved from birth and everyone supported her.
In such a situation, anyone could have become someone like me.
Then what was Aria like?
I don’t know how Aria lived before she became my maid.
What was her relationship with her family like? What were her thoughts? Did she have friends other than me?
What did Aria think when the entire Hilton family died from an epidemic? When she had a stillborn child that she had given birth to with difficulty without a spouse?
I don’t know.
I thought we were really close friends, but I didn’t know anything about her.
Even why she betrayed me.
“Here you are.”
Aria’s head turned as she sat on the garden bench.
When did Dylan leave? Lennon spoke softly.
“It’s still a little cold. Do you think it’s okay to wear such thin clothes?”
“Actually, it’s a little cold.”
“Really?”
Lennon came up to Aria and took off his jacket and handed it to her.
The jacket she received was warm from Lennon’s warmth. Aria draped it over her shoulders.
“Don’t put it on, just wear it. It’ll be warmer.”
“It’s not that cold.”
“Well, Miss Hilton is stronger than Elodie, right? I forgot.”
Aria paused for a moment at that, then answered naturally.
“… That’s right. Elodie was very weak.”
“Right?”
“If she went out in the early spring or fall, she would get sick for a while. For quite a long time, a lot.”
“… That’s right.”
Lennon muttered.
“So she shouldn’t have had the child. Elodie. That’s why she’s dead.”
“That’s not true.”
“Why?”
“That’s…”
When Aria hesitated, Lennon said in a calm tone.
“Of course, I heard from her when she was young that she wouldn’t live long. But if she hadn’t gotten pregnant, she would have lived longer than that.”
“Wouldn’t she have known that?”
“Knowing and feeling are two different things.”
Lennon retorted.
“Besides, it wasn’t worth the risk, and the child is dead.… Well, it seems that wasn’t the case. Elodie didn’t know that until she died.”
“……”
“She would have died of grief.”
Aria’s eyes wavered.
“She would have.”
She paused for a moment, then quickly agreed.
She was sad until the moment she died.
If only her body hadn’t been weak, if only she hadn’t insisted on having the child, if only she hadn’t trusted Aria too much.
Until the day she died, her mind raced with what-ifs that could have made her happy.
But it was meaningless.
They were all irreversible choices. They were all.
But-
“Still, she doesn’t regret it.”
She couldn’t regret it.
Because, because of that choice, Bonita was born into the world.
And in the end, they met like this.
Even though no one knew that she was Bonita’s real mother, her husband didn’t recognize her.
Lennon, who was watching Aria’s expression closely, asked,
“How did you know?”
“… Because she wouldn’t have.”
Aria quickly corrected her expression.
“Maybe…”
The added remark was awkward even for her to hear.
However, Lennon did not question Aria’s words. Instead, he simply tapped his index finger on the bench out of habit. There was silence.
Then, suddenly, he opened his mouth.
“Are you the culprit?”
