“Alright, all done!”
While Bonita was deep in thought, Mary had tied a red ribbon that matched her candy-floss pink hair.
Mary was adjusting the ribbon when a cheerful knock sounded.
“Mother!”
Bonita instantly leaped off the high chair and scurried towards the door.
“Miss, be careful, you might fall!”
With the long hem of her dress, it was a real hazard.
Despite Mary’s warning, Bonita, tripping over her dress hem, seemed destined to hit the floor.
“Miss!”
Swoosh.
Contrary to Mary’s fears, Bonita was gently caught by a large hand.
Duke Luke, who had caught Bonita, raised an eyebrow at Mary.
“I’m sorry!”
“…It’s alright. Just be more careful next time.”
Instead of scolding Bonita, he gently advised her. Aria quickly rushed in behind him.
“Bonita! Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
Bonita’s gaze remained on the Duke who was still holding her.
Seeing her tilted head, Luke flinched.
“Thank you for catching me, Duke.”
“Hmm. There’s no need to thank me for something so trivial.”
“But, still…”
Bonita stammered, overwhelmed by Luke’s unusually kind demeanor.
She had seen brash boys and girls of her age, usually dressed in fine clothes and riding in expensive carriages, spouting thoughtless and irritating words. Bonita bit back her words, pondering with a serious expression.
Aria, noticing Bonita’s thoughtful face, asked in a playful tone.
“What are you thinking about, Bonita?”
“Well…”
After a moment’s hesitation and seeing Luke’s intense gaze, Bonita spoke up.
“I was thinking, if I had grown up here from the beginning, I might have become a very spoiled child.”
“What?”
“What?”
Luke and Aria exclaimed in unison, turning to look at each other, then back at the very serious Bonita.
“Maybe I should try not to get too comfortable here. I don’t want to become an adult who can’t even put on socks by myself…”
“Haha.”
Unable to hold back, Aria laughed first, followed by a suppressed smirk from Luke.
‘Adorable.’
‘Adorable!’
Once again, their thoughts aligned. Maid Mary also had to exert maximum effort not to laugh at the child’s whimsical yet serious imagination.
“Right, Mother?”
“Huh? Me?”
Caught off guard, Aria pointed at herself, and Bonita nodded earnestly.
Aria, finding her daughter irresistibly lovely, hugged Bonita tightly and kissed her.
“You’ll grow up to be a wonderful adult no matter where you are!”
“I don’t think so…”
“Trust me just this once.”
After another tight hug, Aria put Bonita down.
“Now, Bonita, the Duke wants to join us for a picnic. What do you say?”
“A picnic?”
At the word ‘picnic’, Bonita’s expression turned from a mini-adult back to a seven-year-old. Her pink eyes sparkled with anticipation.
“Can we really go on a picnic?”
“Of course. We were supposed to go yesterday, but we got too busy making the cake, right?”
“I’d love to!”
Whoosh!
Bonita turned to Luke. His face softened from the stiffness caused by Aria’s ‘mom’ comment.
“Hmm. I’m looking forward to it as well.”
“Duke, you’ve dropped that ‘Dad’ speech, haven’t you?”
“Shut your mouth, Aria. If you don’t want to die.”
Luke growled in a voice only Aria could hear, then signaled the maid who was tying Bonita’s hair.
“Have the servants prepare. Hey, you.”
“Yes!”
Startled by being suddenly addressed, Mary stiffened and replied.
Luke commanded indifferently.
“We’re going to the lake nearest to the mansion. Inform the knights to arrange an escort.”
‘Knights?’
Bonita, who had been quietly listening, was shocked again.
‘Knights are coming to escort us for a picnic?’
She knew that nobles often traveled with flashy knights, but this was happening to her! Bonita’s mouth dropped open in astonishment.
“Oops!”
Aria’s finger suddenly appeared before Bonita’s mouth.
“Oops.”
Bonita closed her mouth in surprise, and Aria chuckled, pulling her finger back.
Luke looked at Aria incredulously.
“Was that supposed to be a joke?”
“Our child is just too cute.”
“You really…”
Luke, about to say something, stopped himself, fearing he might get entangled with this woman further.
‘This isn’t like the Aria Hilton I remember.’
Or was it?
He couldn’t be sure, as he had treated every woman except Elodie as nearly invisible, including the past Aria Hilton. But this personality seemed off.
It was more like…
He suppressed his thoughts from wandering into absurd territory. Ridiculous fantasies.
Besides, the two had been together for a long time, and it was common to pick up each other’s traits and habits.
Luke gazed at Aria with a puzzled look.
“Really, what?”
“…Never mind. Just get ready.”
So irritating.
Luke frowned.
The spring breeze fluttered gently.
The day was cloudless and clear.
Although it wasn’t the ‘lazy Sunday afternoon picnic’ Bonita had dreamed of, since it was Monday, what did the day of the week matter?
Upon arrival at the lakeside, a mat was laid out for the three. While Luke sat under a tree, the other two explored the lake shore like excited puppies.
And now…
Bonita trotted along after Aria with her short legs.
“Mother, wait, let’s go together!”
“Ahaha! Run faster, dear!”
Aria was teasing Bonita, speeding up just as Bonita was about to catch her.
The wind brushing against her face as she ran made Aria’s heart swell.
‘I couldn’t run like this before.’
When Aria was Elodie, she had been frail.
Born with congenital heart disease and asthma, even slight movements would leave her breathless and in pain.
Her death was largely psychological, but physical factors were not insignificant. Now, with a new body, those problems vanished.
Aria suddenly realized Bonita was no longer following her.
“Bonita?”
A bad feeling crept in.
Turning around, Aria saw Bonita standing still in the distance. She hurried back to her daughter.
“Bonita, what’s wrong? Did I run too fast…”
But as Aria approached, her smile faded.
“…Bonita?”
If Bonita had fallen or was crying out of frustration, it would have been better. But the expression on her face was one of despair and resignation.
Aria took a deep breath inwardly, regretting her own foolishness.
She knew well the environment Bonita grew up in.
It was certain that ‘Aria’ had not given the child enough love. Neglect and abandonment were probably frequent. It wouldn’t be strange for Bonita to have a fear of being abandoned.
Aria swallowed hard.
She slowly knelt in front of Bonita, crouching down.
“Listen, Bonita. Mom will never…”
“I, I know.”
But it was Bonita who spoke first.
“I know that my current mother won’t abandon me.”
Current mother?
Hearing Bonita’s words, Aria gasped.
Despite all logic, it seemed as if Bonita was somehow distinguishing between the real Aria and her.
Bonita flinched, seeing Aria’s suddenly stern expression.
“But I just, I…”
I wish mother would stay strange forever. Bonita concealed the unspoken part of her thoughts. She was afraid that voicing them would bring back ‘the previous mother.’
But she couldn’t think of how to mend what she’d already said. Bonita clutched her dress tightly, her sweaty hands feeling damp.
“I just…”
However, fortunately or unfortunately, Bonita didn’t continue.
“Lady! You can’t push the guards like that!”
“Oh, let go! If I get hurt, I’ll really get a thrashing!”
“Lady, please…”
“Luke! Where is he? How clueless has he become in my absence?”
“I’ll take you to him! Please, calm down. You’ll collapse again.”
“Do you think I’m that weak?!”
The voices of a young man and an elderly woman arguing reached them.
Especially the woman’s voice was so loud that the two, despite being quite far away, startled and turned towards the sound.
Loud shouts echoed by the peaceful lakeside.
“I need to see that fake daughter and fraudster right now!”
Hiccup.
Startled, Bonita hiccupped.
Why She Is Still Unmoved (Female-dominant)
One-line summary: He uses various methods to seek her affection, but she remains unmoved.
Synopsis:
Si Qingyu is a doctor who has saved countless lives and enjoys tranquility.
Luo Shaoxuan is ruthless, deeply scheming, and the top young master in the capital. He admires Si Qingyu.
Luo Shaoxuan: I want to be the only one in your eyes and heart.
Features a cold and calm female lead vs A noble and scheming male lead.
There will be both sweetness and torture towards the male after their marriage.
