Please Save My Child

In terms of rank, Estelle was above the clouds. But she was so foolish. If she had just read the text, it would have been a struggle to feel refreshed later, but this world was not ‘just’ text for Reina. 

 

Reina wanted to help little Estelle feel less distressed. But she wasn’t sure what she, her only maid, could do, or who would take her side if Count Embron and Reina faced off. The more she thought about this issue, the more miserable Raina felt. In the silence, Bonita called Reina.

 

“Mom, I’m sleepy…”

 

“…It’s already so late, Bonnie, let’s go to sleep quickly.”

 

“and Mom?”

 

“Mommy is going to wait for her lady and go to sleep.”

 

“Then I’ll wait too…”

 

“No, it’s okay. Bonnie, let’s sleep first.”

 

Bonita muttered with her eyes half closed that she would wait for Estelle. Reina picked up the half-asleep Bonita and laid her on her bed. Bonita eats much better than she used to, so she has become quite heavy.

 

‘After a few months I won’t be able to lift.’

 

The two lived in poverty for a long time, so their nutrition was unbalanced. Her heart sank as she watched Bonita growing plump and plump like a child.

 

‘She is at a time when even a young lady should be happy.’

 

It wasn’t that Estelle was unhappy. Because in the future, she would be happier than anyone else and receive more noble love than anyone else. But the process was too difficult for the child to face.

 

‘I must ask you before I go to sleep tonight.’

 

Until then, Reina had faith that Estelle would not hide anything from her.

 

* * *

 

The moon was up, but the night was obscured by clouds, so it was dreary. Reina was standing in front of the door that wasn’t open until this late at night.

 

‘Isn’t it too late?’

 

No one was looking for Estelle, and Reina couldn’t knock on the door without permission. It may have been several minutes, or even hours. After a while, the door opened and Estelle came out only after all the adults had left.

 

“Reina?”

 

Estelle looked a little tired and was holding numerous books, papers, and pens in her arms.

 

“Oh, miss, I’ll hold it for you. Give it to me.”

 

Reina sighed inwardly at the fact that no one had helped Estelle’s luggage.

 

“Oh, no, it’s okay.”

 

“It’s too heavy and too much for you to carry.”

 

Reina bent down and looked up at Estelle.

 

Estelle could not hide her hesitation amidst the faintly flickering light. Reina pretended not to know anything, swallowed her bitterness and raised her head.

 

“I’ll listen for you. It’s okay.”

 

She had to carry Estelle several times, and only then was she able to carry the child’s burden. Estelle was in a dejected state for a long time, wondering what on earth she had heard.

 

“Miss, shall we go to our room and sleep together today?”

 

Reina asked Estelle secretly as she walked down the quiet hallway. Estelle shook her head.

 

“…No, I’m just going to sleep alone.”

 

Reina was surprised by her unexpected answer. Estelle was always afraid of sleeping alone. It was because the nights I spent sleeping alone in the orphanage were familiar yet scary. So when Estelle got the chance to sleep with someone, she didn’t miss it.

 

‘I’ve slept with my master before, and he’s come to my room many times.’

 

Reina’s hand tightened.

 

“Are you not afraid of the night anymore?”

 

She then asked subtly.

 

“…Uh, uhm.”

 

The child was bad at lying.

 

‘I think he’s still afraid of sleeping alone.’

 

“I am the only princess of the Winter Night duchy. I shouldn’t be afraid of things like the night.”

 

Estelle muttered, her brows clenched tightly together. Reina just felt sorry for that kid.

 

‘Has it already started?’

 

Count Embron slowly brainwashed the child about how great the status of the Winternight Dukedom was, how much of a stain Estelle was in such a place, and how much of an obstacle everyone thought of Estelle.

 

‘Even though everyone in this mansion likes you.’

 

Reina’s heart became heavy again.

 

‘Is it true that I was in this mansion? Actually, it might have been better to just leave.’

 

If Reina hadn’t stayed in her mansion, Estelle might have gotten to spend more time with Damian. If she spent a long time with Damian, trust would have built up.

 

‘If I had, I might have been able to endure this moment better.’

 

“Reina?”

 

Before she knew it, she had reached Estelle’s door. Estelle called Reina’s name softly.

 

“I’m in front of the room now, so I can carry it.”

 

She then stretched out her hand and asked Raina to give her luggage. Reina leaned down and looked Estelle in the eye. She whispered as she gave Estelle her things.

 

“Look, my lady, I really like you.”

 

“I really like you too.”

 

Estelle’s hands holding her things tightened. Her pink eyes twinkled in the dark. Reina spoke with a kind smile in her eyes.

 

“I want you to always be confident and happy.”

 

“…”

 

‘I don’t know how far this statement will go, but still. I wanted to talk.’

 

Reina stood still until Estelle entered the room and closed the door. Even after the door closed, she lingered in front of it for a while, and only when the slope of the shadow changed slightly did she return to the room.

 

* * *

“Mmn”

 

As Reina lay down on her bed, she heard Bonnita’s voice sound asleep.

 

“I’m awake.”

 

Bonita said she was awake, but she seemed to be holding back her drowsy sleep and waiting. Reina held Bonita in her arms. The child nuzzled a little in her arms and talked.

“I can sleep alone in the room.”

 

“I still can’t sleep alone…”

 

Because it’s too scary and dark to sleep alone. It’s so quiet that you can hear everything clearly. Bonita mumbled in her sleep.

 

“Same hair…”

 

“Hair?”

 

“Ugh, mom and mom’s mom too.”

 

Reina had never spoken to Bonita about her parents. She had never seen her father, and had been abandoned by her mother. She didn’t want to tell Bonita this, so she chose not to. So whenever Reina talked about her mother, Bonita couldn’t help but show interest. Bonita’s eyes twinkled sleepily, but Reina opened her mouth, unable to disappoint the child.

 

“No, she was completely different. Beautiful blonde hair, eyes like spring buds.”

 

“Then my mother resembles my grandfather?”

 

“Yes, mom takes after your grandfather.”

 

Bonita wondered what good it was and she smiled to herself as she was held tightly in Reina’s arms.

 

‘It’s often hard to know what a child is thinking.’

 

But she just wanted Bonita to be happy. Reina thought lightly, hugging her child and closing her eyes.

 

Was she really going to be okay with Lord Gestel, when she didn’t resemble Damian at all? Even if she was alone in this mansion… The child’s body in her arms was warm, and her bed and blanket were all cozy, but her heart was chilly, it was such a night.

 

* * *

 

Baaaaaaaaaa!

 

“Miss! You almost got into big trouble! You came to your senses and left it behind!”

 

Reina looked blankly ahead of her. She was in a world that was far different from the scenery she saw as Reina. Well-paved gray land and uniquely dressed people. Vehicles without horses.

 

“Uh?”

 

But the scenery was not unfamiliar.

 

“S-sorry.”

 

A red light was flashing at the traffic light in front of the crossing.

 

“…This place.”

 

Yes, Reina knew everything. This world was where she had lived as ‘Eugene’, but why now? Was she back now? Was she back? Was what you experienced so far just a fleeting dream?

 

“Eugene!”

 

While looking down at her hands, which, unlike Reina, were not very dry and had a bright complexion, someone called out ‘Eugene’. The moment she heard that voice, Reina’s heart skipped a beat. She felt excitement, joy, and just heard voices. As if it had to be that way, as if he had been brainwashed. But she couldn’t remember his name. The moment Reina turned her head to check for her presence, someone grabbed her from the other side.

 

“No.”

 

She felt warmth from the hand she held. Her voice so sweet that it brought tears to her eyes caught Reina.

 

“Eugene, you need to return to your original world.”

 

“This world is my original…”

 

At that moment, the world surrounding Reina shattered like shards of glass. In an instant, the white space expanded infinitely, and the woman holding Eugene stood in front of her. She couldn’t see her face in detail, but it had a familiar warmth.

 

“You have to go back to the original world. You can’t stay here.”

 

“You are?”

 

“Eugene, the world is on your side. If you put your mind to it, everything will work out in the end.”

 

And then a loud noise similar to a tearing scream was heard. The woman, who was gradually fading away, spoke to Reina and Eugene.

 

“When you get everything back, you will know the truth.”

 

And in an instant, a black curtain enveloped Reina, and her mind drifted far away.

 

—————————————————————

Translator Note: