He glanced sideways at his father beside him.

His father still had a gentle smile on his face.

“Oh my, our Viscount! It’s been a long time!”

“Greetings, Viscount! The young master has grown so much!”

“Haha. Have you all been well?”

He greeted the old servants cheerfully as they occasionally paid their respects.

‘This won’t do…’

Bentley clicked his tongue.

The only thing Bentley enjoyed, who preferred sitting quietly to running around, was playing in water.

Sometimes when the servants filled a large basin with water, how fun it was to splash around in it.

Because of that, even though he disliked the heat, he looked forward to summer.

Bentley’s gaze couldn’t leave the fountain.

‘That looks fun.’

It was his first time seeing a fountain inside a house, not in the royal square.

However, given his father’s mood and to be the “good and smart boy suitable for adoption” his father wanted, jumping into such a fountain like a wild colt was absolutely out of the question.

He watched the fountain with eyes dripping with lingering attachment, but soon turned his head maturely.

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

He was now a grown-up brother after all.

So Bentley deliberately consoled his regret.

Bonita, dressed in pretty clothes, went out to the main gate with Luke.

Through the wide open door, a black-haired man and a young boy who closely resembled him were entering.

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

“Hello, Bonita?”

Unlike Luke, who was much larger than an average adult male, the gentleman’s build was just slightly above average.

His impression was also very good.

Gentle eyes and friendly eye-smile.

His handsome features seemed more than enough to win others’ favor.

Yet somehow Bonita felt uneasy about him.

“…Hello.”

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

The gentleman smiled kindly as he gently pushed the boy’s back to introduce him.

“He would be your older cousin, Bonita.”

The boy, neatly dressed from head to toe, looked quite uncomfortable. However, he greeted politely without any complaint.

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

“Hello, Bentley. It’s been a long time since you were three. You’ve grown a lot, haven’t you?”

“Thank you.”

Luke offered a light compliment to his nephew. His expression was much more relaxed than before.

Previously, whenever he talked about his nephew, he was pained by thoughts of his dead wife and the child they might have had together.

But now he had Bonita. Luke bent his knees to meet Bonita’s eyes, who still looked awkward.

He smiled at his daughter.

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

Bonita nodded, then suddenly realized why she felt uncomfortable with that gentleman.

All the adults she had met since coming to the Duke’s mansion had bent their knees to match her eye level.

But that man stood straight and looked down at Bonita.

Moreover, there was another uncomfortable point.

‘His eyes are cold.’

Though his expression was gentle and kind, occasionally different emotions peeked through in the eyes looking down at her.

It seemed he didn’t like her very much.

For reasons unknown.

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

The boy called Bentley looked quite uncomfortable here.

Though he was hiding his expressions well for a child, Bonita, being good at drawing like any other person, could keenly notice even the slightest changes in facial muscles.

“…”

Bentley, who had been looking around, soon noticed that he was being observed by Bonita.

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

“Make sure to impress the princess too. Try to get close to her as much as possible. She’s three years younger than you and probably hasn’t received proper education, so earn her trust by indulging her whims a bit.”

“Hello.”

He greeted again with an awkward smile.

“Um, how old are you?”

“…Seven years old.”

“Really?”

Bentley said with a surprised look.

“I’m ten. We’re three years apart.”

Watching Bentley, Bonita tilted her head inwardly.

‘Didn’t he already know that?’

It certainly seemed so.

Bonita stared intently at Bentley.

He wrinkled his nose slightly.

‘He seems uncomfortable with me.’

Bonita thought that the boy named Bentley would soon follow his father up to the guest room.

Children her age usually didn’t want to stay long with an unfamiliar, uncomfortable child they just met.

However, Bentley’s actions were completely opposite to her expectations.

“Bonita, won’t you play with me? You have a playroom in your house too, right?”

He grabbed Bonita’s hand and turned to face Luke.

“Your Grace. May I play with Bonita in the playroom until dinner is ready?”

“Go ahead.”

Luke smiled and gave permission.

Then Bentley smiled brightly and pulled Bonita along.

“The Duke said we can! Bonita, show me the way! I’m curious how it looks!”

As if supporting Bentley, Oliver added with a friendly laugh.

“Father will be in the room. I’ll send a maid when it’s time for dinner, so have fun playing.”

While Bonita was saying “Uh,” the two were already climbing the stairs.

When she looked back, Luke was waving his hand with a pleased expression. He seemed happy that his daughter had made a friend.

And Oliver’s dark eyes were calmly watching Luke like that.

He thought.

‘This is not good.’

She resembled her much more than expected.

When he first saw her, he was so shocked that he had to struggle not to drop the hat he was holding.

It was no wonder the Duke accepted the princess as his daughter so quickly.

‘It’s as if my sister-in-law came back to life as a young child.’

It’s an absurd assumption.

But she resembled her so much that such an unbelievable imagination came to mind…

‘My brother will be even more ecstatic.’

Moreover, at a glance, though she looked a bit thin, she seemed healthy and without any apparent intellectual disabilities.

She appeared somewhat indecisive, but that’s not a big flaw. Especially considering she’s the only legitimate child.

He had planned to wait and see just in case… but if left like this, his brother would definitely pass on the title to his daughter.

If she herself refuses, he would bring in a son-in-law and pass on the title and territory to that husband. Not an adopted son.

Oliver clicked his tongue inwardly.

‘Things are going to get troublesome from now on.’

“Wow, your playroom is really amazing?”

Bentley, who had followed the maid to Bonita’s playroom, excitedly ran inside.

The maid who had guided them smiled gently at the young boy’s excited back.

She gently pushed Bonita’s back and whispered.

“Have fun, young lady.”

It was a tone full of goodwill.

“There are so many games too. Bonita, which one is the most fun among these?”

Meanwhile, Bentley was already looking at the shelves full of board games.

Bonita observed Bentley.

‘He doesn’t seem very interested.’

Usually boys that age would grab something they wanted to do first.

But Bentley just exaggeratedly exclaimed in front of the shelf without ever reaching out or leaning his body towards it.

Moreover, his smile also seemed somewhat awkward. His facial skin didn’t flush despite his excited tone.

‘Is it my imagination?’

However, Bonita decided not to make hasty judgments.

Her observations and conclusions were just guesses after all.

There are countless people in the world, and as many diverse reactions as there are people. Someone might show such behavior even when they’re really excited.

After all, even in the same situation, people have different thoughts.

“Bonita?”

While she was deep in thought, Bentley called out to her again.

He tilted his head.

“Don’t you have any games you like?”

“No, I do.”

Bonita shook her head.

“But actually, there are more games I haven’t tried yet. As you know, I haven’t been here long.”

“Really? Then shall we try a new game?”

“Okay.”

Bonita agreed.

The board games she played with Luke every evening were all fun.

Though she had only tried a few so far, the others would surely be interesting too.

Bonita stared at Bentley again.

“…Shall I choose?”

He asked carefully, watching Bonita’s reaction. Bonita nodded.

“Hmm… Then this one!”

Bentley soon pulled out one of the board game boxes neatly arranged on the shelf.

On the box cover were drawings of a tree on a deserted island and lots of monkeys.

Bentley sat down on the chair with a thud, holding up the box. After confirming that Bonita sat across from him, he opened the box lid.

Inside were wooden sticks. Small monkey figurines. And one hollow palm tree.

Bonita asked.

“Do you know how to play it?”

“Yes. I’ll teach you. After inserting the tree, you sprinkle the monkey figures…”

In summary, the winner was the person who dropped fewer monkeys while pulling out the wooden sticks one by one.

The two took turns pulling out wooden sticks, determining the order by rock-paper-scissors. Each time, monkey figures fell with a thud.

The result of the game came out quickly.

“Ah- I lost. Bonita, shall we play one more round?”

Bentley asked with a sullen face, holding a handful of monkey figures.

“…”

Bonita, who had won unexpectedly, rolled the monkey figure in her hand.

She maintained silence for a moment, then raised her head towards the boy.

“Bentley.”

“Yes?”

“Why are you pretending to have fun?”

The boy’s expression stiffened.