Initially, life was only joyful. Even when Luke didn’t recognize her, she enjoyed it, somewhat disconnected from reality.

But as time passed, she began to realize.

How happy she had been in her days as Elodie.

Elodie could be a cheerful and lovely noblewoman because of her surrounding environment.

From birth, she was showered with boundless love and adulation.

In such circumstances, anyone could have become someone like her.

But what about Aria?

Before becoming her maid, how did Aria live?

What were her relationships with her family like? What thoughts did she have? Did she have friends besides her?

What did she think when the entire Hilton Baronetcy died of an epidemic? When she miscarried her hard-earned child without a spouse?

She didn’t know.

Despite thinking they were close friends, she knew nothing about her.

Even the reason why she betrayed her.

“Out here, I see.”

Aria’s head turned at the sound.

Where had Dylan gone? Lennon spoke to her in a gentle tone.

“Isn’t it a bit chilly to be out here in such light clothing?”

“It is a bit cold, actually.”

“Is it?”

Lennon, approaching Aria, took off his jacket and handed it to her.

The jacket, still warm from Lennon’s body heat, was draped over Aria’s shoulders.

“Don’t just put it on, wear it. It’ll be warmer that way.”

“It’s not that cold.”
“Ah, Miss Hilton, you’re stronger than Elodie, aren’t you? I forgot about that.”

Aria paused at his words, then responded naturally.

“……Yes. Elodie was quite frail.”

“Right?”

“She often got sick after going out in the early spring or fall. Quite severely, and for a long time.”

“……Yes.”

Lennon mused.

“That’s why she shouldn’t have had a child. Elodie. That’s why she died.”

“That’s not it.”

“Why?”

“That’s because…….”

As Aria hesitated, Lennon spoke in a calm tone.

“Of course, we heard from her childhood that Elodie might not live long. But if she hadn’t been pregnant, she might have lived longer.”

“Didn’t she know that?”

“Knowing and feeling are different.”

Lennon countered.

“Besides, she risked danger and the child was dead. …Well, it turns out that wasn’t true. But Elodie didn’t know that until she died.”

“…….”

“She probably died grieving.”

Aria’s eyes wavered.

“That’s likely.”

After a pause, she agreed.

She was sad until the moment she died.

If only her body hadn’t been weak, if she hadn’t been so determined to have a child, if she hadn’t trusted Aria too much.

Until her death, she pondered many assumptions that could have made her happy.

But they were pointless.

Each was an irreversible choice.

But still…

“I don’t regret it.”

She couldn’t regret it.

Because that choice brought Bonita into the world.

And eventually, they met like this.

Even though no one knows she is Bonita’s mother, and her husband doesn’t recognize her.

Watching Aria’s expression closely, Lennon asked.

“How do you know?”

“……She wouldn’t have.”

Aria quickly corrected her phrasing.

“Perhaps…….”

Her added words sounded feeble to her own ears.

But Lennon didn’t question Aria’s response. Instead, he habitually tapped his index finger on the bench. Silence ensued.

Then suddenly, he spoke.

“You’re the culprit, aren’t you?”