The boy with soft cocoa-colored hair, clearly a noble’s son judging by his attire, was in the process of ruining his clothes. The floor of the dress shop was clean, but it was still a place where people walked around in shoes. His outfit was getting dirty.

“I won’t go to the social gathering! I don’t want to! I want to play at home! It’s no fun there! I hate wearing these clothes!”

“Allen.”

The boy’s mother, presumably a lady of high standing, called out his name sternly. Her face was hidden behind a fan.

“I won’t wear this tie! It’s uncomfortable! I hate it! I hate it!”

“Allen, can’t you get up now? Even much younger children are bravely wearing their clothes. Throwing a tantrum like this is very embarrassing.”

“Mom’s a liar! Babies don’t come here!”

The boy yelled again.

Aria awkwardly emerged from behind the curtain. Noticing the shaking curtain, the lady seemed embarrassed and touched her forehead.

As she moved the fan away from her face, Aria could see her properly.

“He—”

Hazel?

Aria reflexively stopped herself from calling out the name. However, Hazel had already noticed Aria’s presence.

She covered her mouth with the fan again and nodded slightly.

“I apologize for my son causing a scene.”

“Oh, no. It’s alright.”

Aria quickly added to ensure Hazel wasn’t embarrassed.

“I also came with a child.”

“Are you attending the parent-accompanied social event?”

“Yes.”

Hazel’s gaze swiftly scanned Aria. She seemed a bit surprised as she realized.

“Miss Hilton?”

“You know who I am?”

“We’ve met before, haven’t we?”

Hazel said with a soft smile. Aria tried hard to recall any significant interaction between the real Aria and Hazel, but nothing specific came to mind.

‘Well, Hazel has visited our house a few times…’

It wouldn’t have been strange if they had met inside the mansion.

“Then the child with you must be the Lady of Lycianthus. Am I right—”

“Mom! Let’s go home!”

“Allen.”

Hazel sternly admonished the boy who was still yelling. She gracefully pulled the boy, who was still lying on the floor.

“Get up right now. What an impolite behavior.”

“Hmph!”

Realizing that further tantrums would only lead to serious scolding, the boy, with puffed cheeks, stood up. Aria smiled awkwardly.

Then there were exclamations from the staff.

“She’s so cute!”

“I’ve never seen anyone who suits red so well!”

Beyond the sincere admiration that surpassed mere sales talk, the boy’s ears perked up.

Allen’s gaze followed.

Among the staff, a little lady in a dress appeared. Allen, previously an uncontrollable rascal, just stared at the little lady.

“Bonita!”

‘Is she the child’s mother?’

Allen’s eyes shifted to Aria, who was hugging the pink-haired girl.

Still sulky, he thought, ‘They don’t look alike at all.’

Ah, boring.

Social gatherings are the worst.

Wearing uncomfortable cravats and bow ties, sitting politely in chairs, and just drinking tea. He couldn’t understand why people did such boring things. The boy grumbled internally.

“Mom, can’t we go home?”

Allen tugged at Hazel’s skirt hem.

His attitude was more gentlemanly than before, due to the scolding he received from his mother. However, the whining tone in his voice was still present.

“…”

But his mother didn’t scold or sigh in resignation.

“Mommy.”

Growing impatient, Allen again clung to Hazel’s hand, whining.
Hazel was still staring at the little girl as if mesmerized. Unable to bear it any longer, Allen yelled out.

“Mom! Let’s go!”

“Ahh… Yes, we should.”

Finally, Hazel responded slowly.

She turned her gaze away, half her face still hidden behind the fan. The brief confusion in her soft brown eyes was now neatly erased.

She asked Aria,

“Miss Hilton. I’ll see you at the social gathering later. And…”

Hazel’s eyes turned towards Bonita.

She smiled. Hazel, appearing no older than a five-year-old herself, greeted Bonita warmly.

“Little lady, I’d like to be formally introduced to you later.”

Bonita’s face flushed at the sight of the graceful and beautiful lady. She blinked several times before finally nodding her head.

“Yes, yes…!”

“I’d like to introduce our children properly, but unfortunately, as the host, I’m short on time.”

Hazel bowed slightly towards Aria.

“Then, I must go.”

“Are we going home?”

“Yes, Allen.”

“Yay!”

“And as a punishment for your rudeness today, you’ll sit in the thinking chair for an hour tomorrow morning to reflect.”

“What…?”

Thump!

Allen’s face showed shock at Hazel’s declaration.

Sitting still for an hour in the ‘thinking chair’ was the eight-year-old’s most dreaded punishment.

Bonita, who was being dragged away, soon reached out her hand to Aria.

Aria instinctively hugged Bonita and smiled at her.

“Our Bonita. The new dress looks even prettier, doesn’t it?”

“…Hehe.”

Allen’s gaze followed his mother as she hurried away.

‘What’s up with Mom all of a sudden?’

His mother, who always reprimanded him harshly for running or hurrying, a behavior unbecoming of nobility, was acting out of character.

“Ugh.”