Please Save My Child

“…Ah.”

From a close distance, Dean looked at Reina with an ambiguous expression. There was no way he didn’t hear. Dean just looked at Reina with an awkward expression, as if he had no idea what to say.

Reina looked back at Dean and just smiled. However, it was difficult for her to smile like she usually did after hearing such verbal abuse, so she could only raise the corners of her mouth slightly.

“You heard everything, right?”

Dean couldn’t answer and nodded his head with a hesitant expression. Reina walked ahead of him, saying:

“It’s okay.”

“…”

“Actually, I forgot, but I’m used to things like that.”

With each step, she could hear the sound of footsteps and she was reminded of the time before entering the Duke’s Castle, when there was not even the slightest protection. 

Through this incident, it was not just Estelle who grew. Reina recalled the hostility she had forgotten about and relived the past.

That moved her forward.

The light of a small lamp shone in the dark surroundings. When people became happy after living a life where unhappiness was normal, ordinary people would find that happiness uncomfortable. However, if you became immersed in happiness without even realizing it, when you faced misfortune again… As Reina immersed herself in her thoughts, her agitated emotions calmed down.

‘It’s like being doused with cold water.’ 

She never thought she would be hit by reality once again. Reina felt lucky that Bonita didn’t listen to such terrible words.

As Reina came out of the dungeon, she squinted her eyes at the dazzling light. The small light that illuminated the dark basement lost its power to the light outside.

Reina turned off her lamp and said to Dean.

“I have to go see Bonnie. Is Sir Dean okay?”

“…Yes, because it is my job to protect Reina.”

Dean was also thinking deeply as he walked down that dark path. In the end, he chose not to say anything to Reina. Just like Reina did, Dean also tried to put on a friendly smile.

“Thank you.”

“As I said before, this is my job, Reina.”

Dean held the lamp even if its light was not visible anymore..

“Where is Bonnie? I heard that Bonita’s desk was placed in the master’s office. Shall we head towards the office?”

“Oh, no. Today she’s in the outdoor garden.”

Reina shook her head.

“Something bad happened to Bonnie and the young lady recently… She said it would be better outside where she could get some fresh air rather than inside the glass garden, so she took her out to the garden.”

In addition, if something happened in the dungeon and caused a commotion, it would prevent it from reaching the children’s ears. 

Reina knew that Damian was considerate, but she spoke without revealing it.

“The master said he installed a magic heater in the gazebo, so it won’t be too cold.”

“So, is His Excellency taking the day off from work today?”

“No, he said he would look at the documents there.”

As she passed through the hallway and walked outside, she was immediately hit by the cold breeze. Her pink hair fluttered in the wind.

Reina looked at the two children running from a long distance away. There was sadness in her eyes, but she tried her best to keep the corners of her mouth raised. Because she knew she shouldn’t show her sad feelings to the children.

‘I can’t burden the children’s hearts.’

Reina thought it was fortunate that she was a person who was good at storing her emotions, and that even though she looked like this, she was a person who was accustomed to sadness. 

Looking at the two children, Reina’s face instantly became the kind and gentle one as usual.

Dean followed Reina’s gaze and saw two children with pink hair and white hair eagerly coming this way.

Reina’s slow steps gradually quickened as she walked towards the children.

“Mom~.”

“R-Reina.”

Even though they were far away, the three of them quickly ran to each other and the three hugged. Reina burst out laughing when she saw the two children clinging onto her skirt.

Bonita held Reina tightly and lifted her head.

“Mom, did something bad happen?”

“Uhh, no. There wasn’t. Nothing but good things happened?”

When Reina told her that something good had happened, Estelle, who was next to her, also lifted her head.

“Good things?”

“Good things?”

They asked Reina the same question at the same time. Reina thought that they were like twins, and she felt déjà vu.

“Yes, good things.”

Reina gently separated from the two children’s hug and answered.

“As soon as I came out, my two favorite people came out to meet me. What could be better than that?”

Estelle and Bonita’s eyes widened at Reina’s answer, then they looked at each other and burst into laughter. 

They seemed to have liked the answer.

“How did you know I had come out? It must have been a long way from the gazebo to the front door.”

“Even if mom is far away, I can tell. Because you’re my mom.”

“I-I can tell too…”

Estelle also shook her head and spoke.

“R-Reina isn’t my mother, but… I like Reina, so I can tell.”

Seeing the cuteness of the two children made her feel better. Bonita found Dean next to Reina.

“It’s Uncle Dean. Aren’t you doing sword practice today?”

“From today onwards, This Mister will protect Bonnie and her mother.”

“Then you don’t have to be at the training ground? Even though you’re a knight?”

“Just because you’re a knight doesn’t mean you stay at the training ground every day.”

Dean naturally hugged Bonita who was approaching him. Bonita looked at Dean with a puzzled expression.

“But it is said that a knight has to sharpen his sword diligently every day. They say that if you work hard, you can even become an Auror.”

“Really? Then I guess I’ll have to work harder.”

“Can’t Mister Dean become an Auror yet?”

“I can’t use the aura yet.”

Aurors were a realm of talent. Although the exact principle had yet to be revealed, there was speculation that it might be related to the amount of magical power. In other words, not everyone could manifest an aura even if they tried. 

Dean knew he didn’t have that much talent, but he didn’t want to talk about his limitations to the kid who asked questions with sparkling eyes.

“Then I’ll be an Auror before Uncle Dean.”

“Bonnie, are you really going to learn how to use a sword later?”

“Yes, the Duke also gave me a really cool sword as a gift this time.”

So, she laughed and said that she would grow up to be a person worthy of that sword. 

Dean just smiled warmly as he looked at Bonnie. 

Reina looked at Bonita and Dean. She carefully held Estelle’s hand who was standing next to her.

“Now then, the master is waiting for you, so shall we go? Milady, please guide me.”

Reina knew where the gazebo’s location was but asked the dejected child. Estelle rolled her eyes and then made a bright expression as if she was happy that Reina was talking to her. She began to walk ahead, squeezing Reina’s hand as she held it.

Dean, holding Bonita, followed them. On the road to the gazebo, small footprints of the two people were left here and there.

After walking for a few minutes, they got close to the gazebo. Damian was neatly stacking his documents and rolling a fountain pen with one hand. At the sound of a sign, Damian turned his gaze from his papers to Reina.

“You’re here.”

The amount of documents around Damian was enormous. Reina couldn’t keep her mouth shut when she saw the huge amount of documents.

“Are you alone?”

“No, Peter went to the office for a moment to get some necessary information.”

‘So it was just the two of you doing that work together?’

Even if it was two people, it wasn’t the right amount.

Damian said after seeing Reina’s expression.

“I have urgent business to attend to right now.”

“I, I see.”

“Yes. I need to get rid of the pests that are annoying me.”

“…I see.”

“Mom, come here, come here.”

Before they knew it, Bonita had come down from Dean’s arms and was pulling Reina towards her.

“The chef baked some really delicious cookies. Mom hasn’t tried them, right? These are really good.”

“Mm, I wanted Reina to eat it too, so I didn’t eat the best part and left it behind.”

“If it tastes good, it’s okay to just eat it all.”

“Still, I wanted Reina to eat something delicious too.”

Estelle smiled lightly. The two children laughed and handed the cookie without a single crumb into Reina’s hand. At the children’s urging, she put the cookie in her mouth, but she couldn’t taste it properly in her stiff mouth.

Reina felt it again.

‘Ah, I’m not feeling well right now.’

The two children looked at Reina, their eyes sparkling. Both of them were expecting her to agree with them.

Reina said with a gentle smile.

“This is truly the best cookie I’ve ever had.”

Still, she was worried. Was it correct to smile like usual?

* * *

A dusky night.

Raina was wearing her light pajamas and a coat as she made sure the two children were sleeping well.

‘I guess you’re having nightmares.’

Estelle often had nightmares. Moreover, it seemed like she had become as timid as before recently, and it was bothering her a lot.

Next, she checked to see if she had covered herself with the blanket carefully and if her bed was uncomfortable. After checking everything and stroking both children’s heads once, Reina closed the curtain and went out of the room.

A cool air invaded the hallway.

 

—————————————————————

Translator Note:

Special thans to Divine for her help improving my English edition!! I you see any improvement here is that’s to her help ^^ let’s hope this improvement continues for a lot of future chapters and novels hehe