Please Save My Child

“…Did you buy those crawler donuts separately?”

“Yes? Oh, Crawler Donuts? Yes, I purchased them while I was out yesterday.”

The Duke’s gaze remained fixated on Reina’s rod containing the crawler donuts, as well as her firm grip on Bonita. It was weird to go out without being confused or lost in your intended path, even while your gaze was fixed on something else.

“Eh…”

“Yes?”

“Isn’t the child heavy?”

“…well.”

Bonita was an eight-year-old youngster. She wasn’t as tall since she hadn’t been adequately fed in her final years of childhood, but she wasn’t as little as Reina would nibble at. Reina shook her head, smiling.

“I generally draw a lot of water, so this is perfect. Approximately two buckets of water?

“…”

Reina worried if she had said something incorrect.

“A bucket of water…”

“2” He looked at the Duke, wondering whether she had said something incorrect, but did not respond. As a hired servant, she was not allowed to speak until the master spoke to her or granted her permission, so she chose to remain silent.

‘Are you mad?’

Was he upset with her for having him wait? No, rather, the Duke directs them? Why? Reina’s thoughts raced. It wasn’t hard to predict such an unexpected occurrence.

While Reina was pondering about ‘why did the Duke direct the guide’ for a long time, the Duke was thinking about other things.

‘A bucket of water?

Damian mused over the two buckets of water. What is the problem with him? Damian Winternight was raised in a golden cradle from birth. He felt psychologically strained, but he was never physically stressed. In other words, he was not in a position where he needed to open the water. He had never lived outside of the mansion except for missions, so he knew he had lived an unimaginable existence. 

Not one, but two.

If Reina had stated that the bucket was several times the size of the coppers that the maids normally carry to clean, the Duke’s expression would have became much more serious. Fortunately, Reina did not bother to provide this explanation. The Duke looked at Reina, as if shocked that she could effortlessly carry a thin infant. He hugged Estelle several times, but she didn’t say much, although she appeared to be uncomfortable.

‘Estelle seemed to enjoy Reina Boton.’

Was there a way to hold a child well? The Duke got into trouble with that gloomy expression.

They both had headaches and looked worried. Only Bonnie, munching on donuts in Reina’s arms, remained calm.

“I thought long and hard about what would be good.”

“…yes?”

“It’s a reward.”

“…ah! Is it a thank you…?

Reina rolled her eyes nervously and held Bonita closely. The word prize made her quite nervous, as she thought she hadn’t done anything to merit it.

“There was a talk about how 1 billion Theon was.”

“…?”

No home has a devoted dog named One Billion Theon. Reina, who had never held a 100 million Theon, let alone a billion, gasped and took a deep breath. Reina, a poor commoner, was unable to comprehend the views of the wealthy and noble.

“But I decided it would be rather risky to give you that much money right now.”

“I see.”

“So first, I will help you develop the strength to keep money.”

The Duke walked out through the huge glass door that led to the balcony. Reina stared at the attendants standing by the door, and when she saw the Duke call her, she followed.

“…omg.”

Reina realized only then that’she was so astonished that she couldn’t help but catch her breath’ was not an exaggeration. All the staff stood in an orderly manner in the huge garden of the duchy. Reina had never witnessed a scenario like this, even in her thoughts, so she had no idea what to say or how to react. However, it appeared that Reina was the only one astonished by the circumstance. Bonita, who was probably astonished as well, appeared to be awake. 

The maid who came in after Reina took Bonita’s place. Bonita murmured, unwilling to leave her arms, but once comfortable, her body relaxed rapidly. Reina cautiously approached the Duke’s stand, clutching the envelope containing a single Crawler donut.

The Duke said gently.

“You saved Estelle, and I will pay you back.”

“…” “The people below here will know that many rewards are given to those who do not betray me and remain loyal to the end.”

“Ah…”

Reina recalled the novel’s content at the time.

‘When I died, I told Estelle what would happen if they hurt her.’

Should she enjoy it or despise it? Should she be afraid?Reina covered her difficult expression and gazed at the scenery the Duke was admiring.

“From now on, there will be no space that Reina Boton cannot go to in this duchy, and I inform you that the only ones who can do her bidding are those that bear the surname Winternight and his direct subordinates.”

Reina was shocked at first that the Duke recognized her name, and then again when she heard what he said. She crossed her eyes in amazement, as if she were as astonished as the members waiting outside.

“From among the Knights of the Knights, I will choose an escort to protect Reina Boton…”

She couldn’t fully hear the contents after that since she was perplexed by the quick statement. Reina could only support her unsteady legs and cling on so she wouldn’t fall.

“That room was not all…”

She regained consciousness while standing inside the room, clutching Bonita’s hand.

“…omg!”

“Mom?”

Reina wondered whether everything up to this point had been a dream, so she tried to exhale in relief, but when she saw the Duke standing next to her, she realized it wasn’t. 

“…aren’t you happy?” the Duke asked.

“Woah, it’s an honor.”

Was she not happy? Others interpreted it as a blessing. Reina and Bonita were moving somewhere else, as directed by the Duke. Reina believed she was being guided by the empire’s highest aristocrat after the imperial family.

‘How many other people have experienced something like this?’

The Duke claimed he was guiding the mother and daughter, but he had never directed anyone before, so his manners were hurried. As the Duke marched ahead on his long legs, the two drew further away from him.

“…Bonnie, does your leg hurt?”

“No, it’s fine…”

Apart from Reina, Bonita was a young and little youngster. Reina looked down at Bonita while fidgeting, and Bonita nodded her head, stating it was fine. It was a small whispered chat, but the Duke, who had most likely overheard it again, stopped on his route and approached the two.

“…hi!!”

“…!”

Then the Duke hugged Bonita. Bonita yelled with surprise.

“…light.”

It weighed little more than Estelle, but Bonita was also fairly light. The Duke held up Bonita while thinking about two buckets of water…

“Lord, master?”

The duke stared at the child’s face while holding Bonita in his arms, then at Reina. The uncomfortable expressions of the two, mother and daughter, were so similar that they appeared to be branded.

‘Doesn’t she resemble her father?

Bonita’s eye color differed from Reina’s, indicating that she resembled her father’s side, but everything else about her was identical to Reina’s. The Duke stood motionless, watching the shocked mother and daughter.

She didn’t intend to act like him. Just as she regained consciousness, he began acting incomprehensible to her. 

“…I think the child is uncomfortable.”

“I-I will lift it.”

“Don’t your arm hurt from holding her just a moment ago?”

That maid received the Duke’s consideration in that manner. Reina’s words reached the top of her throat, but she couldn’t spit them out and instead stomped her feet. Bonita’s complexion paled and hardened as she lay in Duke’s arms. The Duke squinted as he gazed at Bonita. It was only meant to be worrying.

“Are you uncomfortable?”

“Boo, this is uncomfortable! Heep! “It’s not uncomfortable!”

No matter what the Duke said, a child would find it more horrifying than a waking dragon. Bonita covered her mouth with both hands to reduce the hiccups as much as possible.

“…”

He also embraced Estelle constantly, and her body stiffened when he raised her.

“…by any chance, is the posture of holding the child wrong?”

“…?”

Even if the Duke died, it appeared improbable that he would say that term.

“Ah, no… that…”

Of course, Reina was aware of the novel’s plot and understood that the Duke was a terrible father to his daughter. But she remembered the rare dragon from the tale, so she wasn’t sure what kind of parent he was. Nonetheless, Reina’s master’s appearance did not appeal to the children. She couldn’t express what she was thinking, so she wasn’t sure what to do.

Reina made delicate gestures with her arms.

“This is similar to this…” Just bring it to the side and support her where she needs it…

“…Right.”

After Reina’s calm explanation, the Duke hugged Bonita again. Although being in the Duke’s arms appeared frightening, she exhaled a little breath that felt more comfortable than previously.

“…Whew.”

“Looks like you’re fine now.”

Reina considered how to respond to ‘You seem to be okay’ once more. She chose silence, and the Duke, who had been standing still, took off again. The speed was slower than before.

“Are you here?”

When the Duke arrived, the knights who were guarding the door bowed. They seemed astonished to see Bonita in his arms. 

“Hmm.”

‘What…?’

“Open the door.”

“Yes.”

It was a place that Reina had visited several times while working. When the knights opened the door, there was a long table full of food.

“Let’s have a meal together.”

“Hipp.”

The main character of this hiccup sound was Reina. Damian Winternight thought that the hiccups between mother and daughter were the same.

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Translator Note: