“Careful…!”
“Oh!”
It was a success for Bonita’s steps to land in Damien’s footsteps, but the problem came next. Bonita jumped so vigorously that she lost her balance when she hit the ground, her body lurched sideways and she fell flat in the snow.
“…cold.”
“It’s cold because it’s snow.”
Damian picked up Bonita, who had fallen on the snow and had no intention of getting up. There was white snow on the bridge of Bonita’s nose and hair.
“If you keep lying down, you will catch a cold.”
“I don’t catch a cold. Never.”
Damian recalled the day he first saw Bonita. She ‘had a fever.’ How could she say out loud that she didn’t catch a cold after suffering from such a severe fever? She was an incredibly cute little girl.
“If you keep lying in the snow, you’ll catch a cold.”
“The Duke walked too wide.”
This child’s intimacy seemed to have gone sour in an instant, as she put Damien in her enclosure and treated him in a friendly manner.
“Duke, Duke.”
Bonita called out to Damian, who had not yet let her go.
“Why do you do that?”
“So what is the Duke’s gift?”
“Didn’t you eat the cake earlier?”
“That’s what the chef made.”
“I am his master, so that too is my gift.”
“Then the chocolates and candies given by the knights were also gifts from the Duke?”
“Not really.”
“…”
Bonita frowned as if that didn’t make sense.
“Do you need anything?”
When Damian asked if there was something she wanted, Bonita smiled brightly and said,
“Yes!”
“What do you need?”
“Please play more!”
“…?”
Damien felt a bit of cognitive dissonance at Bonita’s response asking him to play more.
“How?”
“Somehow?”
And when he heard her answer that somehow, his thoughts became even more complicated.
“Then…”
Damian recalled a parenting book his wife had read a long time ago when she was pregnant with Estelle.
“Higher, higher or something?”
However, the book was for infants and toddlers, and Damian was a person who did not know the extent of it. Before hearing Bonita’s answer, Damian threw Bonita far upward. Damian used his aura to stably catch Bonita flying high in the sky.
“Can you do it one more time?” laughed Bonita, her hair scattered here and there, her cheeks flushed and her eyes sparkling.
Damian said, feeling oddly proud.
“As much as you want.”
* * *
“When His Excellency went to the Neutral Holy Kingdom a few days later for the appointment ceremony of the 12 priests, I went with him.”
When class was over and it was time to clean up, Peter spoke to Reina.
“If they were the 12 priests, they are just below the high priest, right?”
“Yes, they say that the person appointed as the 12th priest this time is an unprecedented genius. Well, to rise to the 12th priest, you need other things besides talent.”
Reina listened to Peter’s explanation and nodded her head.
“So I won’t be able to teach for a while. It’s a shame. Boton was a good student.”
“That’s too much praise.”
“I’m serious.”
Peter handed over various documents to Reina as homework.
“Count Embron will come around that time. It’s to teach Lady Estelle. Don’t worry too much. He’s been here since the previous Duke and Duchess, so he won’t pose any threat to you.”
“Does he pose a threat to others?”
“I can’t say no.”
Reina looked at the books she had to carry today.
‘Two thick ones, one thin one…’
The documents she received as homework today… Reina muttered, frowning at the heavier burden than usual.
“It’s a bit embarrassing.”
“Yes, it’s embarrassing. We don’t know what the other vassals will do while Your Excellency is away from the mansion.”
“What?”
“What?”
Reina and Peter looked at each other with wide eyes.
“Oh, no. Just keep saying what you’re saying.”
“Hmm, anyway… Count Embron is working as a respected professor at the Academy. He is the perfect fit for a young lady who has no knowledge as a nobleman yet. I will tell the Count in advance, so you may have any questions while studying. If it happens, ask him.”
“Other than that? Don’t you need to do anything else?”
When Reina asked Peter while holding her heavy luggage, he smiled brightly.
“That’s a good question. It’s time for a break. You don’t need to study any more once your homework is done. You can just stick to your work until we come back.”
‘I think it’s the opposite.’
Could going back to your day job be considered a break? That question took over Reina’s mind.
“Thank you for your hard work. Boton understands really quickly, so I think you’ll finish the course sooner than I thought.”
“Thank you.”
“What. I am just following His Excellency’s orders.”
Although all of Peter’s compliments were sincere, Reina thought they were just soulless compliments.
‘The lady is sick and I can’t visit her, so I can spend time with Bonnie today and tomorrow.’
She hadn’t had time to spend alone with Bonita lately. Any time other than studying was spent eating, sleeping, doing homework, or taking care of Estelle. But Bonita, who was an adult, never whined once. One of the reasons Reina began her studies was because she did not want Bonita to have a future where she would have to give up something or suffer from it. However, sacrificing the present for the distant future was a common practice.
“What is Bonnie going to do now…”
Peter went out first, and Reina packed up her belongings that were about to spill. She looked outside and saw that the sun was still far from setting. She would be able to enjoy dinner leisurely with Bonita today. Thinking about that made her laugh. Also, they should read the book Bonita was reading last time, and take her time listening to what she did today. When she thought about such small everyday things, she couldn’t stop laughing. Something that wasn’t grandiose actually gave her lasting happiness.
Reina decided to head to her room and opened the door.
“You did a really good job.”
When Reina opened the door, she heard a soft and kind voice, and her embrace became lighter.
“Lord Dean?”
Reina was shocked as she saw the tablet that had taken her hand and book away in an instant.
“How long have you been here?”
“I wasn’t there very long. I had a rough idea of when your classes would end. It was just that I hurried because Reina’s classes seemed to be getting shorter by the day.”
“Is there anything you want to say?”
“Ah, yes…”
Dean casually escorted Reina towards her room and continued his words.
“I was chosen as the knight to guard Reina and Bonnie. I think I was chosen because I was close to them…”
“Oh, that’s a good thing.”
“…If I had known it would be like this, I would not have applied for leave. “
Dean explained and scratched the back of his head. Reina didn’t mind, but he didn’t seem to.
“I think this is the first time I’ve heard of you going on vacation since I met Lord Dean at this mansion.”
“Yes, I have never been away from the Knights before. But this time it has become inevitable. I will return as soon as possible.”
“If it’s because of me and Bonnie, then there’s no need to do that. We’re in the mansion, so there’s no danger.”
“But the leader is also following the master. Is that okay?”
“It’s not like the Knights Templar will collapse without the Knight Commander. The Winter Knights are famous everywhere.”
“But…”
If Dean had dog ears and a tail, he would definitely be droopy. Reina giggled as she looked at Din, who was visibly downcast.
“Thank you for your concern. Sir Dean, you are very kind.”
“Oh, no.”
Dean’s ears burned red at Reina’s praise. It was a phenomenon she often saw when she praised him. Reina said as she looked at Dean walking next to her at the same pace.
“Please give me the book.”
“I will carry it to your room.”
“But I’m so sorry for entrusting you with something I can lift.”
“It’s okay. It’s my job.”
‘A knight’s job is not to listen to other people’s books.’
Reina was really strong. After being abandoned by her mother, she did not shy away from hard work, and since she was the head of the family, it was also Reina’s job to carry heavy objects. Reina was rather skinny and had a small body, so she thought Dean might think she couldn’t do it, but she decided to just keep her mouth shut so as not to embarrass his kindness.
“Now that I think about it, Bonnie came to the training center again today.”
“Did Bonnie cause you any trouble?”
“No. Everyone in the knights likes Bonnie. She’s a quiet girl who worries about getting hurt sometimes, so that’s unlikely.”
Dean said it was a pity that he couldn’t show Reina that side of her, and she smiled.
“After receiving a bunch of snacks we prepared, she went back to her room to share them with Reina.”
“Oh…”
Reina looked at Dean with a moved expression.
‘I can’t believe Bonnie said that.’
Reina now knew how much Bonita loved sweets. She would have been just as happy if her child had received her favorite sweets as a gift, just as she had been given jewels. But she didn’t eat it on the spot and even thought about her mother. Reina was so touched.
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Translator Note:
Hello there! This is RJR. I hope you liked it <3
If you like my work please support me with Ko-fi or Patreon. Next post will be released on December, 24.
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احب هذه القصه شكرا على عملكم الشاق 💕💕