Please Save My Child

Dean, who was looking around, also stopped in his tracks.

“That, that’s… Bonnie! Bonnie told me!”

“Oh, Bonnie?”

“Yes! Reina is good at making anything! She said that you make a crown well, and it’s amazing!”

“Oh, Bonnie…”

Bonnie went all the way to the Knights and told Reina’s story like that. Reina’s heart fluttered at the thought. Reina didn’t notice Dean, who was sighing deeply and wiping away the cold sweat as she was thinking about her daughter.

“Does Bonnie talk about me a lot?”

“…She always talks about Reina. Last time, she told everyone that she wanted to protect Reina, so she would be a great knight.”

Reina, who couldn’t hide her trembling heart and was choosing a pink thread, felt heavy-hearted as soon as the topic of knights came up.

‘A Knight.’

She told Bonita that she could be one, but Reina was actually filled with anxiety. What if she hits a wall later and gets frustrated and blames herself? What if Bonita really walked the same path as her?

The words she had heard from Sophia became a thorn again and tormented Reina.

Reina chose colorful threads and sewing tools, and put needles and thimble in the basket.

Dean looked at Reina’s heavy expression.

“…Haven’t you told Bonnie yet?”

“No, I couldn’t.”

Reina smiled bitterly.

“I knew I had to tell her, but I didn’t want her to give up. In fact, I don’t know if it was the right thing to say.”

Wouldn’t there be a better timing? She thought. Reina stroked the back of her neck.

“She’s still young. I want to let her do what she wants a little longer. Bonnie and I are in different situations…”

“…”

“I don’t want her to learn to give up.”

Reina picked out a few plain white handkerchiefs.

‘Since I’m making them, I should make one for Bonnie too.’

When she took the basket from Dean and paid for it, Dean, who had been silent for a long time, opened his mouth.

“Then…”

“Yes?”

Reina, who had been walking ahead, turned around.

He looked down at the floor with a very serious face. 

“Then, I will teach Bonnie until she gets a swordsmanship master.”

His voice was also quite solemn. If anyone heard him, they would think he was making a confession that would only happen once in his life.

“But, that is…”

“If you feel sorry for me,”

Reina tried to show that she was sorry again, as was her habit. Dean cut her off and continued with his own words. Dean knew that this was almost rude, but he didn’t have the luxury of worrying about manners when he was using up all his courage.

“T-then, can you give me a handkerchief?”

Dean, who had been bowing his head as he spoke, lifted his head. His face was as affectionate as ever.

“It’s not hard, but… Is just a handkerchief really okay?”

“Yes. The one I used was worn out after using it for several years.”

“If it was worn out, you could have just bought a new one.”

“There was nothing I liked as much as that.”

Reina looked at Dean with a worried expression.

“I might not have the embroidery skills you like.”

“That can’t be true.”

It was a pretty firm and quick answer.

Reina rolled her eyes. She bought a lot of thread and several handkerchiefs just in case. There was no reason to refuse. Fortunately, since she bought it with her own money, there was no way there would be any talk of embezzlement or anything like that.

‘I don’t think they’d talk of embezzlement over some threads.’

“Then, what kind of embroidery do you like?”

Dean opened his eyes wide at Reina’s question and smiled brightly.

“Stars.”

“Star patterns?”

“Yes, the color doesn’t matter. Just stars are fine.”

Somehow…

‘That’s strange.’ 

Dean’s ears seemed to be red.

‘Is he cold?’

A cold winter wind blew. She thought it might be because he was in a hurry to get ready and came out wearing thin clothes.

* * *

After returning to the mansion, Reina drew a design with chalk.

Bonita, who had gone to play with the Knights, and Estelle, who was reading a book in the room, were all stuck next to Reina at some point.

“Is this kind of flower okay?”

Estelle nodded with a satisfied smile despite the simple design.

“Yes.”

“Mom, will you do mine too?”

“Yes. Let’s do yours first and then…”

“Then is mine a flower too?”

“It’s okay even if it’s not a flower. I’ll do whatever Bonnie wants.”

Reina giggled and answered. Bonita hugged Reina tightly, feeling good.

“Bonnie, if you hug me suddenly, the lines will be crooked.” 

Estelle glanced at her and then gently hugged Reina from the other side.

“Miss?”

“…I didn’t hug you suddenly. I hugged you slowly.”

Reina sighed, holding a handkerchief in one hand and a chalk in the other. But there was a smile on her face.

“Actually, I don’t mind if it’s not a flower. I’ll be fine if Reina makes it.”

“But I’ve already drawn a flower?”

When Reina said playfully, Estelle thought for a moment.

“Then it’ll be the best flower.”

“Ahaha.”

“Really. The flower is the best, but the one Reina made is the best.”

Estelle muttered softly and hugged Reina tightly.

“Pink and white flowers, right?”

“Yes.”

“Mom, I want the sun instead of the flower.”

“The sun?”

“Yes, the sun. Not small, but big.”

“Then it’ll take a long time, so can I make Bonnie’s last?”

“Last? Is there someone else besides the Miss’s? Is it Mom’s?”

“No, Mom doesn’t need embroidery. It’s Sir Dean’s.”

“Uncle Dean’s?”

“Yeah.”

Bonita turned her head at Reina’s words and looked at Dean standing by the door. Dean smiled when he met Bonita’s eyes.

“Reina, Reina, what are you going to make Dean’s?”

“Mom, why are you making Uncle Dean’s?”

Estelle and Bonita were curious and kept asking questions at the same time. Even in a moment when Reina could have been going crazy, she just smiled.

“Star patterns. There are many different types of star patterns. Sir Dean said he would be Bonnie’s temporary teacher, so I decided to make it as a token of my gratitude.”

“Star patterns?”

“Temporary teacher?”

The two children responded at the same time. Of course, the parts they responded to were completely different.

“I guess he likes stars. And Bonnie, I’m talking about your swordsmanship teacher.”

Reina answered Estelle and Bonita one by one.

Bonita opened her eyes wide and opened her mouth just as wide at Reina’s answer.

“Am I learning swordsmanship?”

“Just a little bit.”

“Can I learn?”

“Yes.”

Bonita stared at Reina for a moment and then turned her head to look at Dean.

Dean smiled kindly when their eyes met. Bonita’s cheeks turned red like a midsummer rose.

“When can I start learning?”

“When will he become my teacher?”

“When will that happen?”

“Hmm.”

Reina didn’t know when it would start either. They didn’t promise an exact time in the first place. When Reina gave Dean an awkward look, he nodded.

“That’s something Bonnie and I should decide. It’s our promise.”

“Wow, really? Okay!”

“But then I wouldn’t be able to protect Reina.”

“…Oh, that’s not good.”

“I’m fine because I’m taking care of the young lady. There’s no place safer than around her. Rather, I feel safe because you’re taking care of Bonnie.”

Furthermore, if Dean was going to teach Bonita, it would definitely be near the Knights. There was no place that could react as immediately to a sudden situation as there.

‘If the magic tools in the mansion suddenly exploded like last time, it would be okay.’

When Reina was taking care of Estelle, she had no choice but to prioritize Estelle. 

“Oh, but there’s a problem.”, said Dean.

“Problem?”, asked Reina.

“Yes, there’s no sword that a child of Bonnie’s age can use. The Winter Knights accept swords starting at age 16.”

“Oh, then there definitely aren’t any. Do you know where to get one? I’ll have to prepare one.”

What could be done?

“If I had known, I would have bought one when I was downtown.”

“It’s okay. But even if you’re going out right away… it’ll take a week.”

“I’m fine!”

Bonnie quickly replied that she was fine. She was worried that he might change his mind.

“Is it okay if you wait a week?”

“Yes, I’ll just stay calm for now. Okay?”

Bonita whined in response. Reina smiled and comforted Bonita with one hand.

“Just wait a little longer. Mom will prepare a good sword for you.”

“Yeah.”

“…I should learn the sword too.”

While Reina was comforting Bonita, a young child’s voice was heard from the other side.

It was Estelle.

 

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Translator Note: