Chapter 2
“Ugh…”
The duke pressed his boot down on the man groaning beneath him, his face completely expressionless.
The small room was soaked with blood, but not a drop stained him.
Wiping his sword clean, he asked the knight behind him,
“Did you get the information?”
His voice carried no emotion at all. But that flat, cold tone only meant one thing—fury. The knights at his back felt the pressure so strongly they instinctively shrank away.
“Yes, my lord. He confessed just now to where the child is being kept.”
“I see…”
The duke glanced down at the mercenary collapsed on the floor and kicked him aside.
“Then make sure the rest are cleaned up.”
“Yes, my lord.”
He checked himself again, making sure no blood stained his clothes. If the child was awake, she might be frightened by the sight of blood.
“It could be a trap,” one of the knights whispered.
“Indeed.”
They had reached the location written in the ransom letter, but not a trace of the girl could be found.
When the duke saw the mercenaries armed with brutal-looking weapons crowding inside a shabby, narrow house, he realized they had never intended to return Bonita.
Vile.
Of course, he hadn’t expected kidnappers to be normal. But mocking a parent’s desperate love for their child was especially foul.
Normally, he would have wrung every last piece of information out of them before killing them.
Not like me.
But the moment he realized they had deceived Reina, he lost patience. He didn’t even bother ordering the knights—he attacked first.
“My lord, next time please restrain yourself.”
“…Are you giving me orders?”
“It is only the plea of a loyal servant.”
It had taken only minutes. Every mercenary in that house was slaughtered by a single man.
As expected of one who wields sword aura.
The knight commander looked at him, uneasy. Even though he was his lord, at times like this the duke felt more monster than man.
“How long until we reach it?”
“Th-thirty minutes, my lord.”
“If we push, ten will do. We ride.”
“Yes, my lord.”
It was practically an impossible order. A ride that normally took thirty minutes, forced into ten, demanded exhaustion.
The knights had already strained themselves coming here, yet the duke showed no intention of slowing down.
Please, let the child be unharmed, he thought. Otherwise, he would never be able to face Reina Borton again.
Soon, a small manor came into view.
“A villa.”
“It seems to belong to Baron Testoa.”
“Testoa…”
The duke remembered meeting the man a few times.
“Would he have any reason to pull something like this?”
The duke had many enemies and kept watch on them all. Testoa’s family had only received their title twenty years ago. They weren’t aligned with the emperor’s faction or the nobles’ faction.
All they had was a large orchard, far removed from politics.
Then he’s only a pawn.
There was someone behind him—someone pulling the strings.
“…Another noble’s name will be erased today.”
“…”
“No one schemes against Winternight and expects to live.”
The duke looked coldly at the towering villa. Against his imposing frame, the grand building looked strangely small and pitiful.
“Knights. We go in.”
“Yes, my lord!”
“Reina…!!! The knights are back!”
“…!!”
“They’re in the garden—with Bonita—Reina!”
Before the words finished, Reina bolted barefoot out the door. Her fellow maids called after her in alarm, but she didn’t stop.
Her usually neat pink hair was a wild mess as she ran. The woman who always scolded her daughter never to go barefoot in case she got hurt now sprinted over cold stone with bare feet herself.
“Bonita…!!!”
The night was dark, but knights filled the garden. At the sound of a desperate woman’s cry, they turned in surprise.
Reina didn’t care. She rushed toward the sight of her daughter wrapped in a blanket, held in the duke’s arms.
“Ah…”
“M-mom.”
Forgetting even to greet the duke, Reina reached out trembling hands to her daughter’s face. Afraid it was a mirage. Afraid she would touch cold flesh.
But the child’s cheek was soft and warm—just like when she secretly stroked her sleeping daughter the night before.
“Thank you… thank you.”
“M-mom…”
Bonita was passed into her arms. Shaken, she stammered apologies.
“I-I’m sorry… I said I’d stay in my room but… the knights were practicing and it looked so cool… so I…”
“Bonita.”
The girl’s babbling stopped at her mother’s voice. Her eyes went wide, filled with fear.
“…Mom, I…”
“Are you alright?”
“…Huh?”
“Were you scared? Did you get hurt?”
Bonita blinked, startled at the question. Slowly, she nodded.
Only then did Reina manage a smile. A tear-streaked, crooked smile.
“Thank you for staying alive.”
“….”
“Thank you for coming back to me.”
Days later.
Bonita sat on her bed, watching as Reina got ready to go out. It looked the same as every morning—except Reina wore plain clothes, not a maid’s uniform.
“Mom, you’re not working today?”
“No.”
The Winternight family had given her a full day off.
“So today, I’m taking you to the city. We’ll eat something delicious, have dessert, and buy new clothes.”
“Clothes? What kind?”
“For the Star’s Birthday festival. After that, it gets too cold. Once winter comes, we won’t even be able to go on outings.”
“But I already have my green dress.”
“…Bonita.”
“….”
When Reina called her name, the girl looked away. Reina sat beside her gently.
“Bonita, if you don’t grow much next year, and you don’t need a new dress, will you still not want one?”
Bonita thought, then nodded.
“Maybe so. But next year, I want us to do a lot together. The spring festival, the seaside village, the autumn fair, and the Star’s Birthday in winter. But if you wear the same green dress every time, how will I remember each day clearly?”
“…I can remember for you!”
Reina shook her head.
“If you always wear the same dress, won’t it get confusing? Which day was which?”
“…Hmm.”
“As the seasons change, I want to see you grow and change too.”
Her words made sense, and Bonita finally nodded. Reina smiled, wrapping her daughter up warmly.
“Today, we’ll eat all your favorite things and see fun sights. Alright?”
“…Okay.”
When they stepped outside, a knight was waiting.
“Reina.”
“Ah, please take care of us today.”
“Uncle Dean!”
It was Dean, a knight Bonita knew well. He greeted her with a big smile.
“It’s still dangerous outside, so I’ll be your escort.”
“With you, I feel safe.”
Dean laughed and scooped Bonita up.
“Shall we go?”
“Yes.”
Reina felt grateful. Even though this wasn’t part of his duty, Dean had volunteered.
As they walked, she asked, “Do you like anything, Sir Dean? Food or something? I can’t afford much, but I’d like to thank you.”
He thought, then grinned at Bonita’s wide eyes.
“I like honey bread best.”
“Oh my.”
Reina blinked.
“I thought you were from a noble house.”
“I am, but we’re not wealthy. I’m the third son, so no title for me.”
Still, she hadn’t expected honey bread to be his favorite. She laughed softly.
“Thank you.”
“I only told the truth.”
Reina remembered how Bonita once boasted to everyone about the honey bread they had shared, even telling the knights. Dean must have remembered.
He’s a kind man, she thought.
The streets were crowded and lively. Vendors shouted.
“Crawler donuts! 230 teon each!”
“Rare imports! Take a look!”
Bonita’s eyes immediately followed the mention of donuts. Dean chuckled.
“They’re delicious. A spiral-shaped donut, covered in sugar. You should try.”
Soon they were at the stall. Reina bought five, since there was a discount.
The warm donuts smelled sweet and nutty. She handed one to Dean and one to Bonita.
“…Mmm. Good,” Reina admitted. Somehow familiar. Maybe Yujin had tasted them before.
“Delicious!”
Bonita’s eyes sparkled as she devoured hers.
“Don’t eat too much, we’ll have a meal soon,” Reina warned.
“Okay, Mom.”
Still, she couldn’t hide her delight. Watching her daughter lick sugar off her fingers, Reina’s heart swelled.
Was all that fear just days ago real?
Now it felt like heaven.
Later, they saw a traveling theater troupe setting up tents.
Dean explained, “For the Star’s Birthday festival. They’ll perform about the god Bendición and his first love.”
Reina wasn’t interested. The temple had once turned her and Bonita away when she begged for healing. But Bonita, who remembered nothing of that fever, was fascinated.
Reina brushed sugar from her daughter’s cheek.
“Want to see it with me on the festival day?”
“…Can we?”
“Yes. I want to see it too, but with you, it will be better.”
Bonita smiled and nodded.
Meanwhile, back at the manor, the duke had destroyed the visible enemies but found no true mastermind. Exhausted, he pressed at his eyes.
“There must be someone behind it. That petty family could never plan this alone.”
The target had always been Estelle.
His steward, Peter, spoke carefully:
“My lord, shouldn’t we reward Reina Borton?”
“…Yes. We must.”
But how much? Money was simple, but dangerous. Giving a powerless woman vast wealth would only bring misfortune.
“No. Not money,” the duke decided.
He remembered Reina barefoot, wild-haired, clutching her child and thanking him. He wanted to give her something safer.
That evening, Reina returned to the estate with Dean and Bonita, her arms full of parcels—books, toys, clothes, even leftover donuts.
But when she went to her servant quarters, she was stopped.
“Your room has been moved,” the head maid told her.
Confused, Reina followed the butler. To her shock, they led her into the main house.
The room was enormous, more luxurious than anything she had ever imagined. A huge bed, carved furniture, spotless walls. Even the rug alone was worth more than her old home.
“This… why?”
“The duke prepared it as a small token of thanks,” the butler explained kindly.
Small? Reina thought.
When she opened the wardrobe, she found not only their old clothes neatly arranged but also new garments. On top was a card:
I hope they fit. – Peter
Reina stared at the elegant handwriting. Behind her, Bonita hugged her waist.
“Mom, the water’s ready. Let’s take a bath!”
The ivory tub stood on golden feet. Warm water gushed out by magic.
Reina could barely believe this was real.
Later that night, after their bath, Bonita lay in the massive bed. She asked softly:
“Mom… how many nights before we go back to our old home?”
“…Don’t you like it here?”
“I do… but… only important people live in houses like this.”
Her words pierced Reina’s heart.
But she smiled, touching her daughter’s nose.
“You’re important too. This is a reward for my brave little girl.”
“I’m brave?”
“Yesterday, you were scared but you endured. That makes you the bravest child in the empire.”
At that, Bonita’s face lit up.
That night, when she had finally fallen asleep, Reina sat in the moonlight, sorting the day’s purchases. She picked up the crushed donut bag.
Everything she had bought for her daughter today… was worth less than the vase in this room.
Her best could never compare to what the duke could give.
But still, she tucked the donut carefully on the nightstand, and lay down beside Bonita.
“Sweet dreams,” she whispered.
The next morning, Reina overslept badly. She scrambled to dress herself and Bonita before eleven, when she was told something would be “announced.”
At the stroke of eleven, the door burst open without a knock.
“Ready? Then let’s go.”
It was the Duke of Winternight himself.
“W-wait just a moment!”
Flustered, Reina tried to soothe her still-drowsy daughter. Bonita leaned against her, mumbling, “I’m hungry…”
Reina panicked.
“Bonita, here—want a crawler donut for breakfast? Is that too sweet in the morning…?”
