Chapter 60
If Aria usually resembled a little snow fairy, then on the day she was to meet the Kenis couple, she looked like a daffodil in full bloom.
It had been worth the effort of coaxing the still-sleepy little girl out of bed that morning.
Charlotte gently brushed Aria’s hair herself, checking carefully that no part of her skirt was folded, that every tiny button on her sleeve was still attached, and that the lace seams weren’t coming loose.
When Charlotte tried to set her upright, Aria dozed off and leaned into her arms.
When she tried to put on her socks, Aria just lay down flat again.
By the time Charlotte returned from a quick trip to the powder room, the child had curled up like a little shrimp and fallen back asleep. Charlotte couldn’t help but let out a bittersweet laugh.
Far from being annoyed, she only found Aria more precious.
Even her fussing was adorable.
When she pouted and begged to sleep a little longer, Charlotte wanted to give in every time.
But the closer the day came to meet the Kenis couple, the sadder Charlotte grew at the thought that she would soon have to part with Aria.
Even knowing it was for Aria’s sake didn’t make it easier.
Before long, Aria slowly blinked her bright blue eyes open and smiled shyly.
“Who’s my beautiful little girl? Who do you take after to be this pretty?”
“After Mommy!”
“If you took after me, you couldn’t possibly be this lovely.”
Charlotte kissed her daughter on the cheek, and Aria giggled softly.
Even when jewels were all the rage in society, Charlotte had never cared for such things.
So when it came time to dress Aria herself, she didn’t really know how.
She spent almost an hour just choosing a brooch.
But the result was worth it — Aria had never looked so sweet.
“Now we only need the necklace. Remember the holy stone the Duke gave you?”
“Yes!”
“I made it into a necklace. I hid it somewhere in your room — shall we try and find it?”
Aria loved treasure hunts.
As soon as she heard the word “hidden,” she dashed off toward her room.
Charlotte watched her light, rabbit-like steps with a gentle smile.
While Aria was rummaging around the bed and lifting her pillow, a knock sounded on the door.
“Milady.”
It was Ash.
He entered and immediately heard the commotion of Aria running all around the room, which made him chuckle quietly.
But when he looked at Charlotte, his brow furrowed slightly.
He smiled briefly at Aria, who was waving energetically, then approached Charlotte.
“You didn’t sleep well, did you?”
“…It was hard to fall asleep.”
Ash reached out instinctively, then stopped himself and pressed his wrist.
“I understand. You’re meeting the Kenis couple today, correct? I’ve heard of them before.”
“Yes. I used to hear their names often back when I lived in the capital… Recently, I received a letter from Lady Bervel.”
The letter, delivered through Baron Bervel, had been quite long.
Written on fine paper spanning over ten pages, it detailed the Kenis couple’s behavior, manners, tone of speech, and whether the rumors of their kindness were true — even how they treated their servants.
It had been Lady Bervel who arranged the meeting, but she had also taken care to examine the couple objectively — setting aside personal ties and judging for Aria’s sake.
Her sincerity showed in every word.
“As I read it, I kept thinking how fortunate I was. They’ve done so many good deeds. To entrust Aria to such a faithful and compassionate couple…”
Though Charlotte smiled, the bitterness behind it could not be hidden.
“Do you truly plan to send Aria to the Kenis couple? Have you thought of meeting anyone else?”
“…I had planned to. But then I wondered — would that really be for Aria’s sake? Or just my own wish to keep her near a little longer?”
Charlotte lowered her head halfway.
“I keep thinking that maybe I just don’t want to let her go.”
Indeed, there might be other families more prosperous or powerful than the Kenis couple.
If she kept looking, she could delay the parting.
But that wouldn’t be for Aria’s happiness — only her own selfish comfort.
She couldn’t let her own attachment ruin the child’s future.
Above all, Aria was five years old — old enough to remember.
Too old for “She’s too young to remember this later” to hold true.
If her guardian suddenly changed, it would confuse her deeply.
The memory might stay until adulthood, and perhaps twist in her mind — turning from “I was adopted” into “I was abandoned again.” That thought terrified Charlotte.
“If Aria likes the Kenis couple and takes to them well, I’ll send her. I must. That’s what will make her happiest.”
“…”
“I just… I truly want Aria to be happy. She’s so lovely, so deserving of love. Really…”
Charlotte spoke firmly, but her voice trembled at the end.
Ash watched her, uncertain what words of comfort could help.
Even without blood between them, she can feel such sorrow…
Yes, Aria was adorable — but that alone didn’t explain such boundless affection.
If he were in Charlotte’s place, could he love a child like this? He doubted it.
Charlotte’s heart was endlessly gentle — and with it came tears easily, especially for matters like this.
It wasn’t a bad thing, but right now, it made everything harder.
Ash wished there were something he could do for her.
Then, he suddenly recalled the time he and Charlotte had been alone in the attic — and an idea he’d had back then.
It wasn’t a good one.
Charlotte might even take offense.
Still, if she agreed, it could be the way for her to stay with Aria forever.
“Milady… if I were to become your—”
Before he could finish choosing the right words, something bumped his knee.
“Duke!”
Ash, who could command large mountain scouts and battle monsters, nearly stumbled when Aria suddenly latched onto his leg.
The courage he’d barely gathered dissolved instantly.
Instead, he simply ruffled her silky hair.
“Please, go on,” Charlotte prompted.
“…It’s nothing,” he replied quickly.
He must have lost his senses for a moment.
Swallowing the words he’d nearly said, he changed the subject.
“I’ve had a carriage prepared by the city gate — I thought you might need one. That’s what I came to tell you.”
The lie slipped out naturally.
Charlotte, sensing nothing unusual, thanked him with a smile.
There was one more person unaware of Ash’s concealed emotions — Aria, who blinked her big round eyes and waved the holy stone necklace she’d found.
“Mommy! Mommy!”
“You already found it? I hid it so well! My Aria is amazing!”
Charlotte tied the ribbon neatly near Aria’s collar and slipped the necklace under her dress to keep it safe.
Then she held Aria’s small hand tightly.
It was so tiny.
Once, it had felt nothing but frail and rough — but now it was soft and warm.
Charlotte thought back on every moment since she’d first met Aria, and finally said the words she least wanted to say, yet had to.
“Shall we go? …To meet the Kenis couple.”
She squeezed Aria’s hand several times and smiled — a smile hiding every trace of sorrow.
Ash’s brows furrowed slightly.
An indescribable heaviness hung in the air, until Aria suddenly leapt into Charlotte’s arms.
She hugged Charlotte tightly and buried her face against her.
“If Mommy’s happy, then Aria’s happy too.”
Her voice was oddly serious for a child’s, her tone clear and deliberate.
But when she lifted her head again, her face was pure and innocent, smiling brightly.
Charlotte and Aria were given the finest carriage from the lord’s castle.
After seeing them off, Ash was in no good state himself.
Normally, he worked tirelessly — so much that Baron Bervel, his secretary, sometimes begged him to rest.
But today, for once, Ash decided to take a break.
“What? Rest? I thought the Duke was married to his work!”
He didn’t go to bed, though — just leaned back in his chair among untouched papers and closed his eyes.
Pedro peeked through the slightly open study door.
The Duke had actually fallen asleep in his chair, but even in sleep, his brows were furrowed as if in anger.
“What’s with that face?”
“He’s upset about Aria’s adoption, I think.”
“Then what’s with her?”
At that moment, Anna appeared at the far end of the hall.
Since Charlotte had started living in the castle, Anna had been acting head maid temporarily.
She reported any needed repairs to the mountain scouts and personally handled smaller chores and cleaning.
If a task required more hands, she would bring servants from Baron Bervel’s household with Ash’s permission.
Usually cheerful while she worked, Anna today looked as though she might burst into tears at any moment.
Pedro, watching her sniffle as she carried cleaning tools, sighed and took them from her hands.
“Hey, Anna, take a break for once. You look miserable.”
“I knew Aria would be adopted, but seeing her leave to meet the Kenis couple today… it’s just too sad.”
“Our little Aria’s made half the people here cry.”
Anna really did look about to cry.
Aside from Charlotte, she was the one most attached to Aria.
At the sound of the girl’s name, Anna began to pour out her feelings like a waterfall.
“The lady must be heartbroken too! Wouldn’t it be better to find some decent nobleman to marry instead? Then, after she’s married, she could adopt Aria herself! They could divorce after three years— no, that wouldn’t do. People in the capital already gossip that she’s cursed or unlucky, and if she divorced too, it would be awful!”
“That won’t do.”
“Yes, it really— wait, huh?”
Anna froze when she realized that the voice replying wasn’t Pedro’s or any of the scouts’.
She slowly looked up to see Ash standing in the doorway, weary-faced, the study door still open behind him.
