Please Save My Child

‘There’s no need to tell everything.’

Reina was a commoner with no connections. It would obviously take years just to prove her identity. There was also a way for Damian to vouch for Reina’s identity to the imperial family. However, this method was not something he could readily recommend.

Damian decided to explain only the latter case. He didn’t want to make Reina uncomfortable by talking about her family.

“If you receive investment from the imperial family and succeed, you will receive the appropriate position and money, but you will be tied to the imperial family.”

“Ah.”

“And since I will be the one proving your identity, the imperial family will judge your usefulness.”

“That makes perfect sense. If I receive investment from you, Master, no one will think it strange that I continue to receive the protection of the dukedom.” 

“That’s it.”

“But what if my hypothesis is wrong and there are no gains and only losses?”

“That’s not for you to worry about. All of that is the investors’ problem.”

“Your Highness is right. That’s why investors diligently judge whether something is worth investing in.”

Reina kept rubbing the back of her neck as if she was embarrassed.

“Your Highness and Peter are really kind.”

And both of them couldn’t hide their bewildered expressions at Reina’s continued remark.

“Do I look like a person who would pour out tens of billions of Theons just to do good deeds?”

“Your Highness has actually done good deeds, but he is not a person who would donate to one person just because he is good.”

“But…”

Peter sighed deeply.

“I understand why Reina Burton has not stood out until now. If a person lacks confidence like this, it’s easy to get caught up in the trap.” 

“Awesome…”

“Yes, awesome.”

Has Peter ever used such a direct word? It was quite unfamiliar to Reina.

Reina rolled her eyes and looked at Damian.

Damian nodded silently.

“…”

It was an affirmative.

“…”

Reina had no choice but to accept it.

“Why are you apologizing?”

“Why do you apologize?”

“…I’m sorry for apologizing.”

Reina broke into a cold sweat.

The two men sitting across from her were dumbfounded.

To apologize for apologizing! Reina was probably the only one in this duchy who would apologize for this reason. The longer the two men remained frozen, the more Reina’s shoulders seemed to hunched. It was obvious that no matter what she said in this situation, the mood would become even more gloomy.

“…”

“Then let’s do this.” 

Just as Reina was about to gather all her courage and let out a sigh, Damian spoke first.

“For the next week, Reina Borton must not apologize unless I give her permission.”

Reina thought.

‘What on earth is that?’

But you couldn’t criticize the actions of the master. Reina simply nodded in understanding.

Until this point, Reina had thought, ‘What’s so hard about that?’

* * *

It was hard. It was so hard that it was painful to the bone.

While taking care of Bonita’s breakfast and taking care of Estella, Reina was sure that she wouldn’t be able to last even three days, let alone a week. No, even three days was considered high praise for her.

“It’s hard…”

She looked up at the clouds slowly floating across the sky. Since she was in the greenhouse, she could see the pillars supporting the glass ceiling better than the clouds.

Dean, who was standing next to her, followed suit and looked up at the glass ceiling.

“What’s so hard?”

“…The master forbade apples.”

“Apples?”

“Yes, not the apples you eat. The apples you say.”

Dean nodded his head, thinking that Reina definitely apologized more often than others.

“I think I almost apologized twenty times today.”

“It’s a habit at that point.” 

“…I can’t deny it.”

Reina looked at Estelle, who was looking at the flowers from afar. The child was playing around, picking pink flowers one by one, surrounded by other maids.

“I didn’t know I apologized so much.”

“Well, you could think of me as a thoughtful person.”

Dean comforted Reina with kind words.

“Sir Dean is really kind.”

“What is it? Everyone would have said that to Reina. Reina is the kindest.”

“Look. You’re praising me even now.”

Reina thought she had no reason to be praised like that. She didn’t remember showing such conspicuous kindness.

“Reina! Reina!”

Estelle picked a bunch of pink flowers from afar and Todo came over.

“Reina, look at this.”

“It’s such a lovely flower.”

Reina complimented Estelle and the child smiled shyly. 

“You know, I have a favor to ask. O-of course, if it’s hard for you, Reina, you don’t have to do it.”

“If it’s something you ask of me, I have to do it.”

“Then… “

Estelle hesitated for a while despite Reina’s kind smile and asked in a crawling voice.

“Can you make me a handkerchief?”

“A handkerchief?”

“Oh, that, that’s… I meant… I meant to embroider a handkerchief.”

Estelle’s cheeks turned red as she continued to speak hesitantly.

“Ah, the maids told me… These days, it’s trendy in other places for ladies to carry around handkerchiefs that their mothers have embroidered… But, I don’t have a mom… So…”

“…”

“One with a white flower.”

Reina smiled faintly when she heard that.

“A lovely white flower that resembles you would be fine.”

Estelle’s eyes trembled and showed a happy expression at those words.

“Will you do it?”

“Of course. I told you before. I’ll do anything you ask me.”

At that moment, Estelle’s eyes sparkled like stars.

“Really? Aren’t you annoyed?”

“Really, really. I can make as many as you want.”

“One is fine! I won’t lend it to anyone and I’ll keep it for myself!”

Estelle hugged Reina tightly and put all the flowers she had in her arms into Reina’s arms. ‘There was a thread.’

There might be one if you look for it, but it didn’t seem like there was a thread. Reina got up as she watched Estelle run off to show off to the other maids.

“I think I should go out to buy some materials.”

“Should I go with you?”

“Um, sorry…”

Reina, who almost reflexively apologized again, covered her mouth with one hand. She heard Dean laughing next to her.

* * *

Leaving Estelle and Bonita in the care of the other maids, Dean and Reina went out alone.

‘I don’t know about Bonnie, but it’s a bit much to take a young lady out.’

If Estelle was going to be taken out, she would have to bring a few more knights, and she would have to get permission from Damian in advance. In the process, Reina wasn’t sure if she wouldn’t say sorry.

In other words, it was a compromise with reality.

“You could have just had someone else do it.”

“…”

Reina didn’t answer at all.

“Then you’re sorry?”

Reina nodded quietly. Dean laughed again. It was because she acted stubbornly without answering.

“But if I wait a week, it might take a while to finish it. I might be busy in a few days.”

Damian and Peter were busy establishing the foundation for Reina’s hypothesis. At the speed of those two, it was possible that they could prepare the place and materials perfectly and start the process within a week.

‘And still have time.’

Maybe tomorrow.

Reina looked into the empty space with an unusually hazy gaze and went into the craft shop. As she entered the shop, the bell on the door rang.

“I’m going to give it to you, miss, but I wonder if it’s okay to make it with the thread sold here.”

Reina said worriedly.

“Since you asked me to, it should be fine.”

“Still…”

It didn’t mean that the shop they entered was of low quality. It was a good shop that Reina from a few years ago wouldn’t have even set foot in, but it didn’t fit the status of a craftsman.

“Still, I’m worried that you might be laughed at for no reason.”

“It’ll be fine. Reina is good at it.”

“Umm, I’ve made money through embroidery before…”

Reina stopped abruptly after picking out a few threads. 

“Have I ever shown you my embroidery?”

 

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