Please Save My Child - Chapter 10

“Thank you.”

“I only said I liked what I liked.”

There was a time when Bonita had spent an entire day telling everyone she met about how delicious the honey bread she ate with Reina had been.

‘That was the day after our first outing.’

Reina had been slightly embarrassed, but seeing her child so happy, she let her be. Excited, Bonita had likely even run to the training grounds to boast about it to the knights.

Realizing that Dean remembered everything Bonita had said, Reina thought he was truly a kind person.

As they walked a little further outside the mansion, the bustling noise of the marketplace grew louder.

“Crawler donuts! Just 230 Theon each!”

“Rare goods have arrived! Come and take a look!”

Among the many merchants calling out their wares, Bonita’s eyes immediately darted toward the mention of crawler donuts.

Dean noticed this and turned to Reina. “I do love honey bread, but crawler donuts are really delicious as well.”

“…Crawler donuts?”

“Yes. They’re spiral-shaped donuts. When I was young, my nanny secretly bought some and shared them with my brothers and me. The ones covered in big sugar crystals are especially tasty—I highly recommend them.”

Before they knew it, the three of them were standing in front of a stall selling crawler donuts.

The vendor offered a discount of 100 Theon if they bought five, so Reina ended up purchasing five.

The freshly made crawler donuts, still warm in the paper bag, filled the air with a sweet and nutty aroma.

Reina wrapped one in a napkin and handed it to Dean, then gave another to Bonita.

“Mmm, it’s delicious.”

Even though it was her first time eating it, Reina found the taste surprisingly familiar.

‘Did I eat this when I was Eugene?’

She felt as though Eugene had eaten something like this before, but no matter how hard she tried to recall, her memories remained hazy, as if shrouded in mist.

“It’s delicious!”

The cheerful exclamation of a child suddenly pulled Reina from her thoughts.

Bonita seemed to love the donut. After taking one bite, her eyes sparkled as she eagerly went in for another, taking a big mouthful.

“Boni, don’t eat too much. We’ll be having a meal soon.”

“Mm, okay, Mom.”

Bonita stared at the sugar crystals on her fingers for a moment but, sensing Dean’s gaze, quickly wiped them all off with her napkin.

Reina found her daughter’s overly prim behavior amusing and couldn’t hold back a chuckle.

‘It feels like everything from a few days ago was a lie.’

Just a few days ago had been like hell, but now, it felt like she had woken from a terrible nightmare into a paradise.

“Mom! Look over there!”

Perhaps it was the sweet treat that had lifted her spirits, but Bonita’s face was beaming as she pointed excitedly in one direction.

“What is it?”

The marketplace was crowded, making it hard for Reina to see what Bonita was pointing at. She stood on tiptoe, trying to get a better view.

Dean, who was used to seeing Reina composed and calm in the mansion, found her childlike eagerness amusing and let out a small laugh.

“It’s a traveling theater troupe.”

“A theater troupe?”

“Yes. With the Star’s Birth approaching, they’ve arrived early to secure a spot. Once the crowds increase, it’ll be difficult to set up their tents.”

“How fascinating…”

“Have you never seen one before?”

Reina had lived in the Winternight territory. If she had lived there long enough, she must have seen a theater troupe perform during the Star’s Birth at least once.

Yet, her reaction suggested otherwise, making Dean look at her curiously.

“Before the master took me in, I was too busy just getting through each day.”

“Ah, right. You said you lost your husband.”

“…Yes. It was difficult to find work, especially since I had moved here from another territory.”

Not wanting to continue the conversation, Reina closed her mouth. Understanding that it would be rude to press further, Dean refrained from asking any more questions.

“I heard this play is about the gods.”

“About Bendicion?”

Bendicion—the god worshipped not only in the Aizen Empire but across the entire world.

There was a legend that those blessed by the god received magical power, while those loved by the god were granted divine power.

“Yes, it’s about Bendicion and the first human he ever loved.”

To Reina, it wasn’t a particularly appealing story.

She still remembered the day Bonita had been terribly ill, and she had desperately sought help from the temple—only to be turned away.

However, Bonita, who had been too feverish to recall that memory, was gazing at the traveling troupe with eyes full of wonder.

Reina gently brushed the sugar crystals off her daughter’s cheek and whispered, “Would you like to go see the play with me on the Star’s Birth?”

“…Can we?”

“Well… Actually, I’d like to see it too, but I think it would be even better if we watched it together.”

Bonita had been hesitant, worried that she might cause trouble for Reina, but hearing that, she looked relieved and nodded.

“So, we’ll visit the theater later. But for now, let’s buy some clothes… get Boni some new toys… and have a nice meal.”

“Okay.”

Reina led Bonita toward a charming boutique she had often passed by before.

However, as she walked, a grand, pure-white building caught her eye.

‘…The temple.’

The sacred place where those who worshipped the god gathered.

Yet, in Reina’s heart, the memory of that bitter winter remained as an unhealed scar.

***

“Have you found the mastermind?”

“…My apologies.”

The duke pressed his fingers against his temple, exhaustion evident in his expression.

They had captured and exterminated all those directly responsible, yet the true mastermind remained elusive.

He hadn’t expected to uncover the entire scheme in just one day. Still, he had hoped for at least a small clue. Instead, they had found nothing.

“There’s no way a minor noble family would have orchestrated this on their own. Someone must have instigated them.”

On the surface, this was merely a case of a servant’s child being kidnapped. But their ultimate target had been Estelle.

Had Reina made the wrong choice, he might have lost his daughter once again.

Peter, noticing the dark circles under the duke’s eyes, hesitated before speaking, “More importantly, shouldn’t we properly reward the maid, Reina Boten?”

“…You’re right.”

Damian pressed his fingers against his tired eyes.

“We must give Reina Boten a suitable reward… but I’m unsure what would be appropriate.”

Even with her daughter’s life at risk, Reina had remained loyal to the household. That loyalty had played a crucial role in saving Estelle.

“What do you think would be best? I’ve prepared a list. Ten billion Theon, a precious jewel gifted by the imperial family last year, or a property in the capital that requires a caretaker…”

Monetary compensation was the fastest and most effective option.

However, Damian frowned in displeasure.

‘Wealth, huh…’

Would it be wise to entrust such vast wealth to that woman?

He tapped his pen against the desk, deep in thought.

“Not yet.”

“…Pardon?”

“She saved my daughter.”

Reina was a commoner with no family ties.

If someone without power suddenly came into possession of great wealth, it would only invite misfortune.

The duke had lost his parents at a young age and inherited his title before he was ready.

Because of that, he knew all too well what happened to those who weren’t prepared to handle such power.

He recalled the image of Reina that night, running barefoot, her hair disheveled, oblivious to everything else as she clutched her daughter in her arms, whispering gratitude that she was alive.

“Giving her that much money right away isn’t an option.”

The duke wanted to ensure she received a safer, more secure reward.

***

“……”

“…Wow.”

It had been a perfect day.

At first, Reina had worried that taking Bonita outside so soon after everything that had happened might be too much.

But seeing Bonita’s bright smile reassured her.

They had enjoyed a delicious yet affordable meal at a restaurant Dean recommended, and Reina had bought Bonita a navy dress with white frills, along with a matching bonnet.

Though the outfit seemed a bit extravagant for Bonita’s tastes, she kept sneaking glances at the box it was in, as if she liked it despite herself.

Reina also bought books Bonita might enjoy, as well as toys to keep her entertained while waiting for her.

By the time they returned, their hands were full of shopping bags, one of which held leftover crawler donuts Reina had stuffed inside.

They were exhausted, but happy.

The sunset painted the sky in warm hues as they arrived back at the mansion.

Yet, the perfect day ended on an unexpected note.

“…Our quarters have been changed?”

“Yes.”

Just as they were about to enter the servants’ quarters, the head maid stopped them.

She informed them that their room had been relocated and that they would no longer be staying in the servants’ quarters.

Dean, who hadn’t heard of this either, looked just as taken aback.

“What do you mean…?”

“It’s the master’s orders. Reina, it’s not bad news.”

The head maid called for the butler and asked him to escort Reina and Bonita to their new lodgings.

However, rather than leading them to a different section of the servants’ quarters, the butler took them to the main mansion.

“…Excuse me, butler? I believe you’ve made a mistake…”

“No, this is correct. Please follow me.”

Reina walked hesitantly across the luxurious carpet, her eyes filled with confusion.

What is happening?

What is going on?

She struggled to comprehend the situation.

Soon, they arrived in front of an ornate door.

Surely, it wasn’t this room…?

While Reina was still in denial, the butler opened the grand doors.

Even if they combined the sizes of all the rooms Reina and Bonita had stayed in so far, they would still be smaller than this new space.

There was a door leading to an adjacent room, as well as a separate bathroom and a bathtub.

There were no drafts, and they no longer had to worry about noise from neighboring rooms.

The bed was so large that Reina and Bonita wouldn’t have to squeeze together to sleep anymore.

Bonita, still in Dean’s arms, let out a small gasp of wonder before slipping down to test the mattress.

“…Mom.”

“Yes?”

“…Could this be made of clouds?”

It was so soft and fluffy that, in her eight years of life, Bonita had never imagined such a bed could exist.