“Why is it your fault?”
“Well, that is…”
“There was no particularly sharp blade in that place. Even listening to other people’s testimony, I can tell that you did not enter that room with any plan.”
“…”
“It was a mistake to leave it in that room and not take care of it properly. Any object is bound to break if handled incorrectly.”
“Is there a reason you put it there?”
“Because it was her favorite place.”
Damian said that and walked slowly down the road.
“It doesn’t mean anything anymore.”
Damian added. Only Damian knew whether it would really mean anything or not. But that dry voice made it seem like what he said was the truth.
“It doesn’t make any sense.”
“She broke her promise. This is just a final courtesy, courtesy as a duchess.”
Reina had no idea what promise Damian was talking about, and she couldn’t ask. ‘Could it be related to the duchess’ death?’ It was just an inference. Reina carefully guessed that Titania’s disappearance might be related to the promise, and erased the thought. There was nothing more dangerous than a hasty guess.
‘Because everyone has at least one secret they can’t tell.’
They themselves did not know or could not recognize why Damian and Reina were having this conversation. The two, who were completely different in everything starting from their gender, and had one daughter in common, somehow managed to subtly reveal their true feelings in that short period of time.
“Borton, where are you going?”
“For the lady. I thought I should check to see if she was okay.”
She also added that she would continue to greet her and serve her. Damian read Reina’s gentle consideration and nodded his head.
Reina glanced at him and asked.
“What about you, master?”
“I’m going to the knights’ side. There’s something I forgot to give you.”
Everyone was in front of Estelle’s door, and Damien nodded at her.
“The day the horse surveyor comes, I’ll have Bonita get tested too.”
“Bonnie too?”
“Yes.”
He nodded.
“Isn’t it possible that the Empire’s first female sword master may emerge?”
It seemed like the corners of Damian’s mouth were strangely raised as he said that. Reina, who had been looking at Damian’s expression for a while, blinked her eyes.
‘Is it an illusion?’
Looking at it again, it seems like he has an expressionless expression.
“Then.”
Damian just turned his body and headed in the other direction. Raina looked at Damian’s back and tilted her head without realizing it.
“It must be an illusion.”
Why would he go out of his way to be someone else’s daughter?
Raina knocked on Estelle’s door.
“Miss, this is Reina Borton. May I come in?”
* * *
Tarts generously filled with fruit that sparkles like jewels, cookies decorated with colorful icing, and choux as fluffy as clouds. In addition, the table in Estelle’s room was piled high with sweet and lovely desserts that children would see in their dreams. It was the result of the efforts of the employees working in the kitchen for Estelle, who must have suffered deep mental and physical injuries due to the Count Embron incident. However, Estelle did not pay a single glance at the gorgeous dessert and wandered around the room with an anxious expression. In Estelle’s mind, there was only Reina.
‘Daddy said he will go and tell Reina.’
What would she do if Reina didn’t forgive her? What if she left this mansion with Bonita? The vague form of fear that Estelle felt grew bigger and bigger, until it reached the size of a giant bear…
Knock, knock-.
A friendly knock was heard. Estelle took a deep breath as if she had just emerged from the depths of the sea.
“This is Raina, lady. Can I come in?”
It was a very everyday tone. It was the kind voice she always heard, as if nothing had happened. Estelle’s heart filled with tears as she heard her unwaveringly kind voice.
“…”
Estelle answered softly, shook her head, and then answered loudly again.
“Huh!”
When she answered the second time, her voice was wet. The door was opened carefully, and Reina, who was dressed in unusually neat civilian clothes, approached Estelle. Reina bent her legs so that Estelle was at eye level with her and then she asked.
“Miss, are you okay?”
At that question, Estelle shed even more tears.
“I’m sorry.”
So instead of answering the question, she just said something random.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t help Reina back then.”
Damian told Estelle it wasn’t her fault, but it was a separate issue from the guilt her child felt.
“Miss.”
Her voice was still kind, but Estelle was afraid to face her. Reina lowered her head and gently squeezed Estelle’s hand as she apologized.
“Miss, please look at me.”
Estelle closed her eyes tightly, then opened them and slowly raised her head. Her vision, blurred by her tears, showed Reina’s face with her soft lips raised.
“I should apologize.”
Reina lifted one of her hands and wiped away Estelle’s tears. She seemed to have no idea why Reina was apologizing to her.
“I’m sorry for asking for help from a young lady who was probably more scared than me,” she said. “It’s not your fault you couldn’t help me.”
The sound of Reina asking Estelle for help spread throughout the mansion, so many employees knew that Estelle had not helped Reina. So, the statement that Count Embron was deceiving everyone by placating Reina did not make sense. If Estelle had been appeased, she would have helped Reina right away. Maybe it was a good thing that Estelle didn’t help Reina, but she couldn’t just say that was a good thing. What adult could be happy when thinking about how a young child will be haunted by the memories of that day and suffer in the future. She, at least Reina, was not that kind of adult.
“There is no one in this mansion who blames you, young lady.”
Estelle blinked at Reina’s words and then asked.
“…Is that because I’m the only princess in this mansion?”
That’s what she always heard. The dukedom’s only star, the only princess, and the only heir. Was she loved not because she was Estelle, but because she was the only princess of Winternight? So, wasn’t she loved by everyone because she was the duke’s daughter? Estelle asked, wondering if Reina was along the same lines as the rest and why she didn’t blame her.
Reina shook her head.
“She hasn’t done anything wrong young lady.”
“I ignored Reina. So,you almost got into big trouble, Inagaa… But I didn’t do anything wrong?”
“If she had made a move for me then, she would have been punished by Count Embron, wouldn’t she?”
It was silence that meant affirmation. Although she had never seen the punishment in person, she had a rough guess and smiled bitterly.
“Miss, the child can’t do anything in a coercive situation created by an adult… It’s not the child’s fault.”
“Then?”
“It’s the fault of the adult who created that situation.”
This was the correct answer. The scene in the text where Estelle gains the trust of the owner of her mansion and confronts Count Embron may be heartwarming if seen in fragments, but if she actually encounters it, it was more of a scene that would make her eyes turn cold rather than cool. This was because it meant that Estelle was hurt that much.
“It would be nice if you could fight it alone… but it’s still difficult.”
“Because I was young?”
“Yes, because you are still young.”
“Even though I’m a princess? I can’t do anything when I’m young?”
“Just because you’re young doesn’t mean you can’t do anything.”
Raina looked at Estelle, who seemed to have calmed down a bit, and then she sat Estelle down on the soft sofa. She then continued her story as she straightened the child’s hair.
“The adult is. He is much bigger than the young lady, stronger, and has seen a lot, so he is good at saying plausible things.”
“Reina too?”
“Of course. What a braggart I am.”
She laughed so hard to hear someone who didn’t seem to brag at all say that, and Estelle burst into laughter with her tear-stained face.
“The young lady is a princess, but she has little experience and is weak. That means she is willing to tolerate many bad adults.”
“Are you going to use me too, Reina?”
“Mmm.”
Reina carefully hugged Estelle, who was looking up at her with wide eyes, and leaned her cheek against the top of her child’s head.
“I might get greedy later and try to take advantage of you, but before that, I will teach you some of my wisdom. So, when that moment comes, you should be able to tell the difference.”
“I’m going to fool Reina if she tries to fool me.”
“That’s something that shouldn’t have happened, but… that’s a nice thing to say.”
“You’ll fool me once. Because I ignored Reina once.”
Estelle hugged Reina’s waist as if she were holding onto the sand of her beach and not wanting to slip away.
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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 March, 30.
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