The two of them looked very much like her. Especially Dylan.

However, Bonita didn’t feel that fact was particularly special. There was no reason to dislike it, but that was about it.

The most precious thing to Bonita was Aria. Next was… probably Luke and Catherine.

Of course, she liked Aria much more.

“I know.”

“How did you know?”

Bonita felt a little uncomfortable hearing Dylan’s questioning.

“Aria told me.”

“That you’re not her biological daughter?”

“…Yes.”

Seeing Dylan’s expression improve at those words, Bonita realized why he had been uncomfortable.

So she hurriedly added.

“But I think of Aria as my mother. Mother loves me very much too.”

This time, Dylan’s lips tightened.

Good children shouldn’t trouble adults. However, Bonita felt a strange pleasure seeing his expression like that.

“You think of that woman as your mother? But-”

“That’s possible.”

Renan, who had been watching the tense atmosphere between the two, hurriedly cut in.

“I don’t mean to deny your opinion. Anyway, you could have two mothers, couldn’t you? Right?”

“Y-yes.”

Bonita was about to answer that it was impossible, but thinking about it, Renan’s words didn’t seem particularly wrong, so she agreed.

It was true that Aria wasn’t her biological mother, and it was also true that Bonita thought of Aria as her mother.

Renan inwardly sighed in relief, seeing that Bonita’s mood seemed better than before. If he had left Dylan and Bonita to continue talking, it would have surely gone wrong.

‘Children have their own thoughts too.’

Aria Hilton. He didn’t know how that young lady of the Hilton family had raised Bonita. But to Bonita, they probably seemed closer to strangers, while she seemed more like family.

Blood relations and lineage are adult matters.

Isn’t it common for adopted children to follow their adoptive parents?

“By the way, will you two continue to live here from now on?”

“Ah, we won’t be able to do that.”

Renan said, relieved at the eased atmosphere.

“Unlike Lady Lisianthus or His Grace, we are people of the Rothwell Count family. But, I’d like to invite Bonita to our mansion around the weekend this week. What do you think?”

“I’ll think about it.”

Renan gave a bitter smile at the words that were clearly conscious of Dylan. Dylan didn’t have ill intentions, but…

“Alright. I hope you’ll consider it positively.”

‘Consider it positively?’

“What does that mean?”

As Bonita tilted her head and asked, Renan realized his mistake and explained.

“It means I hope you’ll come to uncle’s house.”

Just as Bonita was about to nod, the door opened. It was Luke, who had been standing in front of the door all along.

He tapped his wristwatch.

“It’s been 10 minutes.”

“…10 minutes?”

There had been no such talk before entering the room.

Renan hesitated for a moment, but soon understood.

It wasn’t the first or second time Luke had acted so unreasonably without explanation.

Nevertheless, he couldn’t help but think it was too short.

10 minutes.

He hadn’t even exchanged a few words with Bonita. It was far too little compared to the years of separation.

Renan sighed and said.

“Your dismissal is quick.”

“Dismissal?”

Luke asked back as if puzzled.

“I haven’t said a word about leaving, have I?”

“…Pardon?”

“I’m just saying I’ll stay here too.”

Blinking.

Watching the tall man blinking his eyes, Renan burst into a hollow laugh.

‘Well, he was more innocent than I thought.’

It’s something he thinks every time, but it really doesn’t match his appearance.

If he had just a slightly more ordinary appearance, he would never have earned titles like ‘Monster of the South’.

And…

Renan’s gaze turned to Bonita. Bonita was walking with small steps towards the Duke, or more precisely, towards Aria Hilton behind him.

Then she clings to her like glue. The conversation they had earlier about thinking of her as her mother was clearly sincere.

‘It seems the same on that side too.’

Renan trusted his instincts.

Aria Hilton really seemed to love Bonita. The young lady of the Hilton Baronial family he had seen wasn’t that kind of person.

Had she changed as a person after raising a child? But what was the reason for taking her in in the first place?

Also, why does he get a strange feeling every time he sees that woman?

Renan was staring blankly at Aria chattering with Bonita when their eyes met.

A smile.

Aria smiles.

The moment he saw that smile, Renan’s index finger twitched slightly. He touched his lips with his right hand.

“Hmm…”

Bonita spent most of her time stuck close to Aria. Aria thought it was because she hadn’t adapted to the unfamiliar environment of the Duke’s residence.

Though it differed from the real reason, it wasn’t a completely wrong assumption.

Originally, young children tend to become anxious when their living place suddenly changes. It’s not just young children either.

It’s natural to cling to familiar people in an unfamiliar environment.

But there were times when the two were apart.

For example, the time Luke and Bonita spent together.

This was suggested by Aria.

“How about having time alone with His Grace? About an hour a day.”

‘As much as I’d like to live with her attached forever…’

Aria herself knew well that it was impossible.

Bonita is the only daughter of Duke Lisianthus. She’s a precious person who will become the next Duchess.

On the other hand, what about Aria Hilton?

Since the Hilton Baronial family is practically all dead, she could receive the title of Baroness.

She was quite familiar with etiquette. Also, Aria Hilton holds a degree from the Imperial Academy.

Whether she becomes a tutor or runs the Baronial territory, there won’t be a problem in living. In other words, that’s all.

She can’t become Elodie Lisianthus or Elodie Rothwell. It’s impossible to regain her original body that’s already buried in the ground.

The beloved Luke will treat her like a stranger for life, and her two elder brothers and father will be the same.

Realization comes slowly.

At first, she was just happy about her return to life. Even though Luke didn’t recognize her, she just enjoyed it, and it felt somewhat unreal.

But as time passes, she gradually realizes.

How happy a person she was when she was Elodie.

The reason Elodie could become an innocent and lovely noble lady was because of the environment around her.

From birth, she received unconditional love, and everyone upheld her.

In such a situation, anyone would have become someone like her.

Then how was it for Aria?

She doesn’t know how Aria lived before becoming her maid.

What was her relationship with her family like? What thoughts did she live with? Did she have friends other than me?

When the entire Hilton Baronial family died from the epidemic, what did Aria think? When she had a stillbirth after giving birth to a child without a spouse?

She doesn’t know.

She thought they were really close friends, but she actually knew nothing.

Not even why she betrayed her.

“You’re out here.”

Aria, sitting on a garden bench, turned her head.

Dylan was nowhere to be seen. Renan spoke in a gentle tone.

“It’s still a bit cold. Is it okay to wear such thin clothes?”

“Actually, it’s a little cold.”

“Is that so?”

Renan, who approached Aria’s side, took off the jacket he was wearing and handed it over.

The jacket he passed over was warm with Renan’s body heat. Aria draped it over her shoulders.

“Why don’t you wear it instead of just draping it? That would be warmer.”

“It’s not that cold.”

“Well, Miss Hilton is healthier than Elodie, right? I forgot about that.”

Aria paused for a moment at those words, then answered naturally.

“…That’s right. Elodie was very weak.”

“Right?”

“If she went out in early spring or autumn, she would be sick for a while. For quite a long time, severely.”

“…That’s right.”

Renan nodded.

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

“That’s not it.”

“Why?”

“That’s…”

As Aria hesitated, Renan spoke in a calm tone.

“Of course, we heard from when she was young that it would be difficult for her to live long. But if she hadn’t gotten pregnant, she would have lived longer than that.”

“Wouldn’t she have known that herself?”

“Knowing and feeling are different.”

Renan rebutted.

“Moreover, despite taking the risk, the child was dead. …Well, it seems that wasn’t actually the case. But Elodie didn’t know that until she died.”

“…”

“She must have died grieving.”

Aria’s eyes wavered.

“She must have.”

After a brief pause, she soon agreed.

She was sad until the moment of death.

If her body hadn’t been weak, if she hadn’t insisted on having a child, if she hadn’t trusted Aria too much.

Until her death, countless scenarios where she could have been happy flashed through her mind.

But it was meaningless.

They were all choices that couldn’t be undone. Those.

But-

“Still, I don’t regret it.”

She can’t regret it.

Because, thanks to that choice, Bonita was born into this world.

And in the end, they met like this.

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

Renan, who had been carefully observing Aria’s expression, asked.

“How do you know?”

“…She wouldn’t have.”

Aria hurriedly corrected her expression.

“Probably…”

The added words sounded lame even to her ears.

But Renan didn’t question Aria’s words. Instead, he just tapped his index finger on the bench as if out of habit. Silence fell.

Then suddenly, he opened his mouth.

“You’re the culprit, aren’t you?”