He glanced at his father beside him.

His father still wore a gentle smile.

“Oh, our Lord Delphinium! It’s been a while!”

“Lord Delphinium, how do you do? Master Bentley has grown a lot too!”

“Haha. Have you all been well?”

Greeting the elderly servants who occasionally passed by.

‘Can’t do that, can I…?’

Bentley pursed his lips.

Rather than running around, Bentley, who preferred sitting quietly, had a single favorite activity: playing with water.

When the servants occasionally filled a large basin with water, it was so much fun to jump in.

Because of this, despite disliking the heat, Bentley looked forward to summer.

Bentley’s gaze couldn’t stray from the fountain.

‘It looks fun.’

Not a fountain in the Royal Plaza, but it was the first time he saw a separate fountain inside a house.

However, with the atmosphere his father was exuding and the fact that to become the “good and smart boy suitable for being adopted,” going into such a fountain and frolicking like a calf was absolutely out of the question.

He watched the fountain with eyes filled with lingering regret but soon turned his head maturely.

Come to think of it, he was already ten years old. At this age, it seemed appropriate to graduate from childish games.

He was a grown-up brother now.

So, Bentley forced himself to dispel any lingering regret.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Donned in beautiful clothes, Bonita and Luke headed out to the main gate.

Through the wide-open gate, a man with black hair and a strikingly similar young boy were entering.

The gentleman who entered the mansion took off his hat. He stood straight and smiled down at Bonita.

“Hello, Bonita?”

Compared to an adult man, Luke was much taller, while the gentleman had a physique slightly above average.

He had a very pleasant demeanor.

Gentle eyes and a sweet smile.

Despite his handsome features, he seemed somehow intimidating to Bonita.

“…Hello.”

“I’m Oliver Delphinium. Feel free to call me Uncle. And this is my son, Bentley.”

The gentleman who smiled amiably introduced his son with a light pat on the boy’s back.

“Bonita, he’ll be your cousin.

From head to toe, the neatly dressed boy looked very uncomfortable. However, he greeted Bonita quietly without any complaints.

“…Hello, Bonita. And hello, Your Grace.”

“Yeah, Bentley. It’s been a long time since you were three. Have you grown a lot since then?”

“Thank you.”

Luke made a light jest about his nephew. His expression was noticeably more relaxed than before.

Previously, whenever he talked about his nephew, painful memories of his deceased wife and the child who might have been between them came to mind.

But now, Bonita was with him. Luke still looked awkward as he kneeled down, meeting Bonita’s gaze.
He grinned at his daughter.

“Get along well, Bonita. Bentley is a good kid.”

Bonita nodded, and inadvertently, she realized why she felt uncomfortable around this gentleman.

All the adults she met after coming to the mansion knelt to meet her eye level, except for this man. He stood straight and looked down at Bonita. Moreover, there was something awkward about him.

‘His eyes are cold.’

Although his expression was gentle and affectionate, occasional glimpses of different emotions could be seen in his eyes as he looked down at her.

He didn’t seem to like her much, for some reason.

Bonita turned her gaze towards the boy standing next to the gentleman.

The boy called Bentley seemed out of place here.

He hid his emotions well, like most children, but as an artist, Bonita could keenly observe subtle changes in the small muscles of his face.

“…….”

Bentley, who was wandering around, soon noticed that he was being observed by Bonita.

His father’s advice echoed in Bentley’s mind.

“Make sure to look good to the lady. Get close to her as much as possible. Since she’s three years younger and probably hasn’t received proper education, gain trust by showing her various charms.”

“Hello.”

He awkwardly smiled and greeted again.

“Hey, how old are you?”

“…Seven years old.”

“Really?”

Bentley expressed surprise.

“I’m ten. We have a three-year age difference.”

Looking at Bentley like that, Bonita couldn’t help but smirk inwardly.

‘Wasn’t that already obvious?’

It seemed like it.

Bonita stared at Bentley intently.

Upon realizing her scrutiny, Bentley subtly wrinkled his nose.

‘I must be making her uncomfortable.’

Bonita thought Bentley would soon follow his father to the guest room.

Children her age usually didn’t want to stay with an uncomfortable kid they just met.

However, Bentley’s behavior was entirely opposite to Bonita’s expectations.

“Bonita, want to play with me? Do you have a playroom in your house too?”

He grabbed Bonita’s hand, lifting his head to face Luke.

“Lord. Can I play with Bonita in the playroom until dinner is ready?”

“Sure, go ahead.”

Luke smiled, granting permission.

Upon that, Bentley, with a bright smile, took hold of Bonita.

“Dad said it’s allowed! Bonita, show me around! I’m curious about what’s going on!”

Helping Bentley, Oliver added cheerfully.