If Damian had been stronger, if he had been strong enough that no one would have dared to point a knife at him, Estelle would have been safe too. No one would dare to use his daughter as a tool to take over the throne.
Estelle said as her tears fell in response to Damian’s repeated apologies.
“Me too… I was wrong too.”
“To whom and what?”
“I did something wrong to Reina. What should I do? Ah, Dad. Reina, I couldn’t do anything when she needed help.”
When she still remembered what happened in that warehouse, her heart sank. She wanted to help Reina. It didn’t make sense that Reina was collecting photos of her about Fineke to scare her. Damian noticed what Estelle was talking about.
An incident that occurred when Count Embron was caught stealing a photo that he had brought to scare Estelle.
“…”
Damian couldn’t say anything and just kept his mouth shut. Estelle ended up in Damian’s arms, her tears pouring out.
“W, what if Reina doesn’t forgive me?”
What should she do if Reina hates her? What if he says she hates Estelle and decided to leave now? Everything the child was afraid of was about Reina.
Damian stroked the frightened child’s head.
“I was wrong.”
Every time Estelle kept crying, she said it was her own fault. With each drop of her tears, Damian’s heart seemed to stop.
“Estelle, you didn’t do anything wrong.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“You’re not just saying that?”
“Huh.”
Damian thought for a long time about how to explain this to Estelle.
“Estelle, you are still young and small. It is inevitable that you cannot withstand the threats of adults.”
Damian carefully wiped away Estelle’s tears.
“You being in this situation, having to make that choice. It’s all my fault. So it’s okay. I’ll apologize to Borton.”
* * *
After two days of hard work, Reina fell into a deep sleep. Thanks to Damian’s consideration of her, she was examined by the family’s doctor, but fortunately, she was reported to have no major problems. She slept for a while, and while she was spending a leisurely morning with Bonita, Demian came to her room.
“…”
“…?”
Damian entered the room and just looked at Reina and Bonita without saying anything. Reina wondered for a long time why he had come and when he would say something, but she finally opened her mouth first.
“Master?”
“Hmm…”
Damian looked like he had a lot to say, but he couldn’t open his mouth. Reina realized that Bonita was the reason he couldn’t open his mouth. Reina said as she gently took Bonita, who was squirming in her arms.
“Bonnie, I heard from Anne-Marie earlier that Sir Dean came back today. He said he brought you a present as well. How about going to see him?”
“Mom too?”
“No, Mom has something to talk about with the Duke for a moment.”
Bonita seemed hesitant to leave Reina. But after hesitating for a moment, she nodded as she understood and left her room.
“If anything happens, you have to call me!”
“Okay, okay, go ahead.”
“…!”
Bonita nodded her head twice and headed towards the Knights where Dean would be. Damien watched the child for a long time until she disappeared down the hallway, and then closed the door.
“I’m sure we have a lot to talk about.”
“…”
“But there is something else that must take precedence.”
“What must take precedence?”
“Well.”
“What is that?”
“Apologies.”
Apologies. Damian said to Reina, who remained silent as if she did not understand the meaning of the word.
“Sorry.”
His voice was calm and he wasn’t bowing, but he didn’t seem like he was making a false apology. Reina was started and took a few steps closer to Damian.
“Lord, master.”
A noble apologizes to a commoner. Reina became restless in an unfamiliar situation.
“I am always sorry and thankful to you. I am powerless against the power I have.”
“Oh, no.”
This was bound to happen. As Reina alone moved around and deviated from the original work, she only twisted things a little bit.
‘If I hadn’t done it, you would have overcome it.’
“If by chance I hadn’t come back early, something big would have happened to you and your daughter. Those words of apology are not enough.”
“…”
“I’ll give you whatever compensation you want. And… I’m sorry, but there’s something I’d like to ask of you.”
Damian continued speaking hesitantly.
“Will you continue to be by Estelle’s side?”
“…”
“All of this is my fault and mine alone. So, Estelle…”
“It’s fine.”
It was unfamiliar to see Damian so withdrawn. Reina looked at Damian, who was spitting out each syllable painfully.
“I’m fine, master.”
This was Reina’s choice. She made this move because Reina didn’t want him to hit a little young starlet named Estelle, and none of this was Damien and Estelle’s fault.
“It’s just that the surrounding situation was bad. I would like to have the honor of continuing to serve her by her side.”
Damian’s fingers twitched. He looked at Reina with a somehow indescribable expression. Usually, if you talk about it to this extent, you will want to leave after going through something like this.
“I tried not to be greedy until now.”
“I still don’t think there is anything in particular.”
“I’m more greedy now than before.”
Reina laughed bitterly.
“I thought I shouldn’t have it. I mean, everything you wanted to give me. I felt like I was receiving so much for what I did just because Estelle cared about me. But after what happened, I think I want it a little more.”
Wanting to indulge her greed, Raina looked at Damian with her hands neatly folded together.
“I want to have a title for the right reasons.”
“…”
“For another reason that has nothing to do with you.”
A sparkling light appeared in Reina’s bright yellow eyes.
“I want to protect the people who are precious to me with all my might.”
At that moment, Damian thought of one person, but he quickly erased the association. This was because this thought was very rude to both that person and Reina.
“In order to do that, we need to make discoveries that are helpful to this duchy or furthermore helpful to the empire.”
“That’s right.”
“I have to do it.”
“The former may be easier than the latter, but the former is not that easy either.”
“…Yes.”
The two remained silent for a moment.
“Can you do it?”
“I’ll try…”
Reina smiled awkwardly. The subtle tension that had just been floating around faded away and disappeared. She then explained the treatment of Count Embron and the treatment of the people who had been brainwashed and turned against her. Count Embron was executed, and the remaining employees were dismissed.
Reina asked.
“Now that I think about it, master, didn’t you come earlier than the original date you were supposed to return?”
“Because the appointment ceremony was canceled.”
“Was there an accident?”
Did he come back suddenly and quickly in the original? Even so, the appointment ceremony was not canceled
‘The new priest appointed this time is originally someone who will be helpful to you.’
Fineke was not hostile toward Estelle, who was of mixed race, and treated her equally…
‘I need to meet that person quickly.’
He was a person who adopted a fake saint and was continuously deceived by the fake saint. The new 12 priests were people who cared very much for their adopted daughter. And he had no doubts that his daughter was a saint until it was revealed to the world that she was a fake saint.
“…”
“Boton, is there any problem?”
“Oh, no. Nothing.”
Reina became increasingly anxious.
‘This probably has nothing to do with what I did.’
It was after Estelle was elevated to the civil service system that it was revealed that the adoptive daughter was a fake saint, after several incidents occurred. Damian looked at Reina, who suddenly had a serious expression on her face.
“This time, a prophecy has come down from Bendysion. They say they cannot announce the contents right now because they need to be interpreted.”
“…”
“They say they will announce the prophecy and hold the postponed appointment ceremony again. If they do it this time, I think they will do it in the system.”
Originally, it had to be conducted in a neutral Holy Kingdom to keep the imperial family in check. However, due to this sudden cancellation, not only the imperial family but also the imperial nobility was upset. ‘First of all,’ most of the temples were operated with donations from nobles and the imperial family. There was a high possibility that Damian’s guess would be correct, as it was necessary to get their feelings in order at least once.
“So, when winter is over, even the nobles who are not in the system will come to Mall Unhouse.”
“Yes.”
“You will have to come along then, so you will have to officially get the job of nanny by then.”
“I will do my best.”
The two naturally left the room together.
“The horseman will come in a few days. At that time, we will check your magical power.”
Damian, who was walking slowly at the same pace as Reina, said.
“I might be able to tell you that you are not affected by the artifact.”
“Ah.”
Only then did Reina stand still and look at him with a bewildered face.
“Why do you do that?”
“Well, that is.”
How could she have forgotten? Reina rolled her eyes and finally opened her mouth.
“The Duchess’ portrait was torn due to my own mistake.”
—————————————————————
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 March, 23.
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