Hazel, who helps her husband, the Marquis, subtly manipulate public opinion in the royal palace and holds actual power.

She believed her intellect was far superior to that of ordinary people. It was likely true in reality.

Yet… she couldn’t understand at all.

Hazel habitually tried to open her fan, then realized she had just left it on the tea table.

She chewed on her lips.

It was an uncharacteristic mistake.

She might be more anxious than she thought.

Her brown eyes turned to Bonita again. That pink hair, that face, kept pulling her into the past.

A memory both terrible and sweet.

Aria, who had hugged Bonita tightly and let go, looked around the candy house with a delighted expression.

Aria’s face too was filled with childlike curiosity and wonder at the sight of the cream cracker fence, jelly rocks, and house made of biscuits, chocolate, and powdered sugar.

She suddenly turned her head towards where Hazel was.

“It’s really a wonderful place.”

“Ah… yes, it is.”

Flustered by the sudden eye contact, Hazel forced a smile.

Just then, children who had followed Bonita began to poke their heads out of the house one by one. The boys and girls scampered over to their respective mothers.

Each carefully held a drawing in their hands.

“Mom! Look at this! I drew our family.”

“I drew a castle!”

“I drew a knight in splendid armor!”

The noble ladies who had been looking oddly at Aria and Bonita now had fond smiles on their faces as they saw their children rushing over with drawings.

‘How strange, no child is crying today?’

‘Whew. Thankfully it’s quiet.’

They had been steeling themselves, as fights would break out by the end of every social gathering. But today seemed to be a lucky day.

Hazel too smiled benevolently at Allen who came before her. Though she scolded him the most, he was still a son she loved equally.

“Allen, did you draw something too?”

“Ah, this is…”

Allen, holding a rolled-up paper in his hand, put his hands behind his back with a flustered look. He seemed to want to hide the paper he was holding.

She was curious what it was.

Though such curiosity arose, Hazel didn’t forcibly pry into her son’s secret.

Then Allen, after hesitating for a while, said with a slightly reddened face.

“It’s a gift I received.”

“A gift?”

The paper?

Or does he mean the drawing?

Either way, it was equally cute, so Hazel unfolded the paper Allen held out with a light heart.

Her hand that was briefly scanning the drawing stopped.

At the same time, several noble ladies behind Hazel also exclaimed in surprise.

“My goodness.”

“The artist must be very skilled. To depict it so vividly… Maya, did you perhaps bring a drawing from the candy house?”

Viscountess Rubiniere asked her daughter, just in case.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a problem to take a drawing or two from a house made just for children, but still, it was prepared by the Marquis’s side, wasn’t it?

However, her daughter gave an answer that exceeded the Viscountess’s expectations.

“The young lady drew it for us!”

Maya’s shout was clearly heard by Hazel as well.

Right, I thought it was strange.

She inwardly monologued.

It was she who designed and decorated the candy house for her sons. There was no way something she didn’t know about could be in such a place.

And no ignorant servant would have brought in such a drawing either.

Hazel felt the texture of the paper, touching the part without the drawing.

It was undoubtedly paper from inside the candy house. And the drawing was done with just a pencil, not paint.

Hazel slowly closed and opened her eyes. Still, the drawing remained unchanged.

It was Allen’s face. The Allen in the drawing wore an awkward smile as if posing for a photograph.

Hazel turned around.

The noble ladies were nearly shocked.

It was an unusual reaction.

Even in a more relaxed atmosphere than adult social gatherings, these were people who had lived their whole lives hiding their emotions in front of others.

…But, their reaction was not incomprehensible. Even Hazel had almost dropped the paper in surprise when she first heard those words.

As the mothers showed their surprise, some children holding Bonita’s drawings became proud. The ladies were now gathered in small groups, passing around four drawings.

Hazel too couldn’t resist the temptation. She slipped in between them and showed the drawing she was holding.

The ladies who saw Allen’s face showed a somewhat envious reaction. Understandably so, as except for the drawing Allen had, the rest were all landscapes.

Hazel’s eyes scanned the other four drawings.

‘A genius… indeed.’

There was no other way to describe it. If these drawings truly came from the hand of that seven-year-old child over there, it was undeniable.

She sighed at the work, purely forgetting various interests. Then at some point, something caught her attention.

Unlike the magnificent natural scenery, old castles, or imaginary views of an antique palace, this was a scene brimming with realism.

People passing by on an old street. Stains on poorly maintained roofs, a dog and cat eyeing each other disapprovingly, a child pointing at such a dog, and a tired-looking worker.

And the most eye-catching among them, a beautiful woman.

Though she was just a small part of the large drawing, Hazel found it difficult to take her eyes off that woman.

They say an artist captures the soul in a painting.

Though she didn’t believe in such old superstitions, at least for this small artist who drew this picture, this woman must have been the most important.

So… Aria Hilton.

Unlike others who seemed to have no particular thoughts, Hazel immediately understood the context from which this drawing came as soon as she saw it.

This must be the place where the two of them lived. Hazel clearly etched the street scene in her mind.

With this level of descriptive ability, she could find out where this place was.

Once she found out where this was, then…

‘…What am I doing right now?’

Hazel, who had been thinking this way, suddenly paused at the question that arose.

What was she going to do after finding out?

That Bonita, called the young lady of Lisianthus, might actually not be Elodie’s daughter?

She knew better than anyone that it couldn’t be. Above all, with Bonita’s biological father publicly declared as Luke, another mother besides Elodie? Even a passing dog would laugh at such a thing.

Hazel slowly rubbed her eyelids. Clearly, she had received too many shocks today.

That’s why she was so confused. That’s all.

Trying to organize her thoughts like this, Hazel unconsciously checked Aria’s demeanor once again.

“Perhaps Your Grace taught her fine art separately from a young age?”

“These days, it’s fashionable for young ladies in high society to draw as a hobby. It would be very good to develop talent from a young age.”

“Though my child couldn’t match this… I wonder if I should start inviting music or art tutors soon.”

“Come to think of it, wasn’t Miss Hilton interested in this field as well? How did you start drawing…”

Aria was surrounded by the ladies.

Hazel, thinking she must be quite embarrassed, reached out her hand to calm the excited ladies.

However…

‘Oh.’

Hazel’s hand stopped in mid-air as she saw Aria’s expression.

At a glance, she looked troubled by the ladies’ fuss, but somehow Hazel could read the true intention mixed in behind that mask.

Aria was very flustered after seeing Bonita’s drawing.

Just like the other noble ladies who had no idea about Bonita’s skills.

…But, isn’t that strange?

To various questions directed at Aria at the tea table, she said she had raised Bonita. Bonita’s attitude too was that of a child towards their primary caregiver. So it shouldn’t be a lie.

It shouldn’t be.

But, how could she not know?

Does it mean she never saw the child drawing during the past 7 years? While being the primary caregiver?

…Does that make sense?

“…”

Hazel rubbed her tired eyes intently.

Her unresolvable suspicions only deepened.

“Oh my, our young lady!”

Dalton the gatekeeper, whose mouth spread into a wide grin at the sight of Bonita hopping out of the carriage, came running.

He bent his knees to meet Bonita’s eyes.

As if he didn’t know what to do with her cuteness, his face was all smiles.

“Young lady. Did you enjoy your outing?”

“Yes!”

Bonita nodded vigorously, recalling the fairy tale-like candy house and the bustling children.

Especially drawing after a long time was enjoyable. It felt like returning to the familiar, old house where she had waited for Aria of the past, before coming to the Duke’s residence.

“I’m glad you seem to have had fun.”

Dalton’s fingers twitched, unable to bring himself to pat the head of the esteemed young lady. Aria chuckled behind him, noticing Dalton’s pitiful gesture.

Pat.

A hand as pale as it could be rested on Bonita’s head.

Bonita smiled faintly at Aria’s touch stroking her head. Dalton sent a hot, fervent envious gaze towards Aria.

It was then that the main gate opened.

“You’re later than I expected.”

Luke’s low voice was heard.

Catherine, standing beside him, tapped her cane repeatedly with a displeased face.

“Later than expected?! They came back a whole day late! Taking such a tiny child out overnight!”

“…Mother, I told you to stay inside.”

“Are you saying an old person should be cooped up in a room? After all, they say raising a son is all for naught…”

Luke pressed his forehead.