“Then will you love me?”
The child nodded her head.
“I already love you without God asking me to.”
“Then it’s done.”
The beautiful god, Bendysion, smiled and blessed the whole world. The land blessed by Bendysion bore fruit. The fruit, which resembles pure white snow, bears fruit all year round and was called ‘Furman’, which means eternity. Bendision loved the child who called him and this world.
He believed that this happiness would last forever. However, a malicious person appeared. Felix, a knight who believed he was stronger than the gods, killed the child to summon Bendision. And the God was in despair. He defeated Felix and hugged the cold corpse of the child.
“Ah, one of the humans you tried to save killed you.”
Bendision wanted to hate the world, but he couldn’t do it. This was because there was a world loved by children. So, rather than hating the world, he decided to protect the world while waiting for his child to be born in a different body.
Bendision turned the child’s body into a star and disappeared. This star was the first star in this world and became the beginning of the ‘birth of a star.’
“Is this story true?”
“Well, I don’t really believe in God.”
Before they knew it, the performance was over and everyone came out. They left the tent behind and started walking. It was said that Bendision could not forget the child and blessed the children on the day his first child died, believing that the soul would be reborn in another body. All of that continued and today, the tradition of giving gifts to children on Star’s Birthday has emerged.
Reina thought that it was an act of the parents giving gifts to children or sharing gifts between lovers, instead of a vague decision, but it was not until today that she learned the deeper story. Damian glanced at Reina, who had still been unable to escape the lingering effects of the play.
“It must have been very good.”
“…Ah, I didn’t know the performance was so fun. I guess it’s because it’s my first time watching a performance.”
Reina glanced back at the tent that was getting further and further away.
‘I want to see it again later.’
Later, when will it be? When Bonite were all grow up? If she had some free time, it might be okay to go see a play sometimes. Reina weakly shook the hand that held the excited Bonita, resolving to be alone about the uncertain future.
Damian said to Reina, nodding her head.
“Aren’t you hungry?”
“It’s definitely lunch time. The kids must be hungry.”
“Do you know any restaurants?”
“Oh, there’s a store recommended by Lord Dean. Shall we go there?”
“…”
“The store has a lot of food for the price and it’s delicious.”
Reina was afraid that Damian might not like it, so she emphasized again that she was doing it from the perspective of commoners. Damian looked at Reina trying hard to explain something while she was trying to say something, and eventually shut her mouth and nodded her head.
“Let’s go there.”
“Yes…! Just leave it to me.”
‘I must serve the meal.’
Since she had quite a bit of extra money, she could easily buy a few foods. Reina clenched her fists to keep him from being seen and eagerly guided Damian to her store that Dean had told her about. Soon she arrived at a building with slightly bluish gray walls. Perhaps because it was lunch time, it was crowded with people. Reina asked her staff if there was any room for her, but she just stood there blankly. Damian hinted to Reina.
“…If there is no one, I know…”
“Guests! There’s just 4 seats left! Come this way!”
“Damian! There’s a spot available! Thank goodness!”
“…That’s a good thing.”
The waiter guided the Duke and Reina to a table covered with a red checkered tablecloth on a white background. Reina, who received the menu with paper fixed to a wooden stand, began to explain various menu items to Damian, saying that they were the menu items recommended by Sir Dean. Letting the children choose what they wanted to eat, they selected various items such as bread mixed with whole wheat, slightly spicy chicken stew, salad mixed with seasonal vegetables, beans boiled in salt water, boiled eggs topped with the store’s signature soup mixed with various herbs, and plenty of vegetables. She ordered the gratin.
With a bell ringing, a table full of food was placed.
Reina honestly wondered if they could eat it all, but her worries were in vain. This was because the children ate their food eagerly. Damian also tasted the food and began to eat it slowly to see if it suited his taste.
“It doesn’t have blueberries in it.”
“…oh.”
Reina smiled bitterly and dipped the bread into the herb soup. It was green and thick, so it didn’t seem very appetizing, but surprisingly, the refreshing taste combined with the soft texture was good.
‘Has there been food like this before?’
Reina was curious and looked at the menu again. It was written that it was a special food that could only be tasted during the star’s birthday.
‘We’re lucky.’
Reina soon pretended to go to the bathroom and finished the bill without Damian knowing. Damian made a subtle expression as if he had been tricked by her secret plan. Reina smiled and said that the food was great and everything went as planned. She thought she was quite successful. It was the richest day she had ever given Bonita.
“Mom, look over there!”
Bonita pointed toward the temple with the hand that wasn’t holding Reina’s hand.
“…”
Just looking at the roof of her temple made Reina feel sick, but she outwardly kept her gaze on and looked in the direction Bonita had pointed at. The lower-ranking priests of the temple were carrying baskets and distributing something.
“What is that?”
When Reina smiled and asked Bonita, Bonita didn’t know what it was and tilted her head back and forth.
“It looks like they are handing out gifts to the children.” said Damian.
“Because it’s the birth of a star?”
“Yes, they said that Star’s Birthday should be an equally happy day for all children, regardless of social status, so they gave them a gift.”
After listening to Damian’s explanation, Reina wondered if Bonita had been sick on the day of Star’s Birth, would the temple have helped her? She made an idea to do it. Bonita, who had no idea about Reina’s feelings, whined and asked if she could go get the gift with Estelle.
“Should Mom go with you too?”
“Ugh, I want to go with just the lady.”
“Okay?”
“Huh!”
Would it be okay? She was worried, but there were Holy Knights stationed everywhere near the temple, and since it was a busy area, she thought there would be no major accidents.
“Okay, then Mom and Damian will be right behind you, so let’s get it.”
“Huh.”
The children smiled brightly, held each other’s hands, and ran eagerly toward the temple. Damian and Reina followed them closely with their eyes in case they missed the children.
“It looks like you don’t like temples very much.”
“Is it noticeable?”
“A little.”
Reina smiled awkwardly.
“Personal grudges, the same thing.”
“…Right.”
As soon as the word ‘personal’ was mentioned, it meant that she didn’t want to say anything more. Damian understood the hidden meaning of Reina’s words and decided not to ask. When Reina saw the priest rushing to distribute the gifts equally, she briefly remembered the time she had been to the temple while holding the sick Bonita. That day, she thought that maybe it was just one person’s judgment rather than God’s decision to throw them away. So she didn’t tell Bonita or anyone else about her banishment from the temple. Because not all people mean the same thing. Reina wanted Bonita to face that fact and judge it for herself. She thought her job was just to make sure the child didn’t get seriously hurt.
“Ah, they got it.”
“Right.”
Bonita and Estelle both received pockets of the same shape and size. The two gently fiddled with their pockets and opened the entrance with a smile.
“…?”
As soon as Bonita opened her mouth, Estelle stopped and started dancing. The moment Bonita, who was next to her, turned her head to catch up with her, Reina felt something strangely foreign about her and closed her eyes.
Kwaang-!!!!
As Reina attempted to call Bonita, she was suddenly met with a loud roar. It was the sound of a stall near the temple collapsing due to the crowd. As soon as the loud noise rang out, Bonita dropped her gift on the floor and ran away.
“Bonita!”
Reina ran after Bonita, her face pale.
‘What’s going on?’
What’s really going on? Why was she doing this all of a sudden? It was fine until she went to get the gift. But why was Bonita so scared? It was the first time she had seen Bonita look so frightened. Even after she was kidnapped and returned that day, she was a peaceful child. Reina chased after Bonita in the direction she ran, but she had a hard time moving forward due to the large crowd of people. Reina, who was unable to control her body properly because she was out of her mind, stumbled and lost her balance.
“Reina!”
Damian hurriedly called out to Reina and grabbed her body tightly. He didn’t know if she was lucky, but he could see on her face that she hadn’t burst into tears yet.
“Lord, Lord, Lord, I’m sorry. Again, Innim. The child… Again…”
“Damn it, Reina, wake up.”
Reina shut up and also apologized to Damian. Why on earth did she have so much to apologize for? What was she afraid of? A large hand grabbed both of Reina’s shoulders as she panicked.
“Reina Borton, don’t apologize when you did not wrong.”
“…”
“What are you doing wrong now?”
“…Losing a child, a child… a trouble to the master and the young lady…”
“No.”
“…”
The Duke’s serious blue eyes looked at Reina. Reina had not been able to escape from her fear.
“You lost your child. It was an accident.”
If someone had to apologize it was her daughter, not her.
“And are we wrong in targeting the apology?”
“…”
“Was it wrong?”
“…no.”
Reina eventually burst into tears again.
“No…”
It’s so amazing that she didn’t cry even during this time, and it also looks pathetic. Somehow, Damian thought, he seemed to see Reyna crying more than laughing.
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Translator Note:
Hello there! This is RJR. I hope you liked it <3
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