“But what’s the problem if a maid brought a child… Oh.”

Someone who was about to express doubt gasped without thinking.

“Goodness. Could it be that the lady who is said to be coming this time is…?”

“Well, I mean. It’s just speculation for now.”

The table buzzed at Countess Ruvigny’s words. It was a commotion that could arise as the hostess, Lady Hiasynths, and the Lysianthus Lady were not present.

“Good heavens. So the lady might be the daughter of the Duchess’s maid?”

“Well, it’s a bit concerning. I didn’t think His Grace would be someone like that.”

“Ah, no way. There might have been a misunderstanding. For example… What if the lady is truly the biological child of the late Duchess?”

Though rumors had spread quietly about the Duke and Duchess’s child being taken away seven years ago, it was still a possibility.

Could someone have suffered an ‘unfortunate event’ and lost their child?
At that moment, while the noble ladies were engaged in various discussions:

“Wow, the flowers are beautiful.”

“Be careful not to trip.”

“I’m seven years old, so I won’t fall like a little kid.”

The sounds of a woman and a child chatting could be heard.

The lively voice was more like that of a girl than a boy. The attention of the ladies, who had been engrossed in their conversation, turned to them.

And then, they saw them.

“Look, there are the noble ladies. Should we greet them first and then go to the playroom where our friends are?”

“Sure!”

A blonde woman holding the hand of a girl with pink hair and deep pink eyes, whose cheek was slightly flushed.

The mouths of the ladies dropped open. Most of them vividly remembered Elodie, the former Duchess. The same thought popped up in their minds:

“She looks just like the Duchess!”

Especially those who had seen Elodie during her marquis’s daughter days through the exchange of visits between their families were even more shocked. Their faces turned as white as a blank sheet.

It was inevitable.

Even though they were at a bit of a distance, the girl was so confidently proving that she was the daughter of their former Duchess. They now understood why the Duke insisted on a paternity test.

The lady bore no resemblance to the Duke, no matter how much they looked!

“No… I mean, isn’t that a bit too much to be just his biological child?”

The rumor that the late Duchess had a child born out of wedlock had spread quietly, but now they began to doubt whether there might be more to the story.

In the midst of the discussion about the illegitimate child from earlier, the Countess Ruvigny’s mouth gaped open.

Meanwhile, the two of them were approaching the table.

Aria was the first to greet them.

“Hello, noble ladies. I am Aria, the governess of Lysianthus Lady, serving under Viscount Hilton. It would be proper to greet each of you individually, but I am with a child, so please excuse me.”

She bowed her head slightly with very polite greetings.

Aria Hilton’s manners were very aristocratic and elegant, yet there was a cheerful atmosphere flowing somewhere. It was more of a lively attitude like that of a young girl in her late teens or early twenties rather than a woman nearing thirty.

Normally, new figures appearing at a social gathering would have drawn attention. However, the presence of the small girl standing beside her was too strong.

A girl in a white shirt, red dress, and black shoes appeared to be around six years old.

The girl greeted them with a clear pronunciation.

“Hello, noble ladies. I am Bonita Lysianthus.”

Fortunately, in the past few days, a bit of flesh had filled out Bonita’s cheeks, making her not look pitifully thin anymore.

Although she was still slender, Bonita now appeared more like a cute child than someone who would evoke pity.

The ladies blushed.

‘What am I saying in front of such a young child!’
“Oh my, she really is the daughter of the former Duchess.”

“She doesn’t look much different from our Maya.”

They silently reflected on the gossip they had just engaged in, realizing that their private conversation was now the subject of discussion.

As mothers of children around Bonita’s age themselves, they couldn’t help but feel embarrassed when they saw Bonita in person.

Naturally, Countess Ruvigny, who had led the conversation, was no exception. She cleared her throat, feeling a pang of guilt as she thought of her own daughter.

“Ahem, there. Bonita…”

“Oh dear.”

At that moment, Lady Hyasynths appeared.

She gracefully raised her fan, gesturing towards the table where Bonita, Aria, and the noble ladies were gathered.

“I’m a bit late. My sons are causing quite a stir, so please forgive my delay.”

“No, Lady Hyasynths! I’ve just arrived too.”

Hazel’s eyes twinkled at Aria’s cheerful response.

Her gaze soon shifted to Bonita beside her.

Hazel smiled faintly.

“We meet again. I couldn’t introduce myself properly last time because of our son, right? I’m Hazel, Lady Hyasynths.”

“I’m Bonita!”

“Ah, a beautiful name.”

Hazel absentmindedly reached out to pat Bonita’s head but hesitated.