Chapter 14

I held out my hand toward Rinea.

This time, the child grabbed my hand much more naturally than before.

Even so, Rinea’s gaze kept drifting toward the dress she was wearing and the polished shoes on her feet.

She was trying not to show it, but her sparkling eyes made it obvious that she liked them.

It was worth earning all that money. Heh.

I checked the time and spoke to Rinea.

“We can eat somewhere nearby first, then head to Count Annexa’s estate. The timing should be perfect.”

“We’re eating too?”

“I’m really hungry, so I want to eat. Aren’t you hungry, Rinea?”

I remembered how, while I was paying earlier, Rinea had hesitantly tugged at my dress, unsure of what to do.

Because her stepmother always talked about money in front of her, the child had learned that even having a single meal cost money and felt guilty about it.

“I’m a little hungry, but I’m okay.”

The moment she said that, a loud growl came from Rinea’s stomach.

At the same time, her cheeks turned bright red.

I bit my lip at the perfect timing.

If I laugh now, won’t the distance between us grow again?

I quickly changed the subject.

“Oh, I think that was my stomach. I’m sooo hungry. Let’s go eat!”

In the end, Rinea was led by my hand to a luxurious restaurant.

This must have been her first time in a place like this too.

The more I thought about it, the more I found the current Count Delmore and my mother-in-law infuriating.

“It’s really delicious.”

Rinea spoke more confidently than before as she praised the food.

I smiled at her, my eyes curving gently.

“Eat a lot. It’s all yours, Rinea.”

“Thank you. Th-then you should eat this too!”

Perhaps because she thought we had gotten a little closer, Rinea gathered her courage and carefully pushed the plate of lamb toward me.

She had looked so surprised at how delicious it was the moment she put it in her mouth.

And yet she had only eaten a few pieces before giving the rest to me.

For some reason, it felt as though I had received something incredibly precious, so I thanked her.

“Thank you.”

Even now, she was a child who happily ate the food at a restaurant she had never visited before.

Come to think of it, it wasn’t just about money. My mother-in-law had told Rinea that girls needed to maintain their figure from a young age, so she had even given her less food.

My heart grew heavier, but I still smiled faintly at Rinea.

After finishing our meal, we got back into the carriage heading toward Count Annexa’s estate.

“What do you like, Rinea?”

Since we hadn’t had much time alone together before, I wanted to know about Rinea’s preferences—things that had never appeared in the original story.

Faced with the unexpected question, Rinea hesitated and fidgeted.

I patiently waited.

But the answer that came late was exactly what I expected.

“……I don’t know.”

“Really?”

Well, she would have needed to experience things first to know what she liked and disliked.

I quickly spoke in a brighter tone, not wanting Rinea to retreat into herself again.

“Not knowing is a good thing. It means you’ll have lots of chances from now on to discover what you like.”

At those words, Rinea lifted her head and looked at me.

I gave her the warmest smile I could.

“I know I’m still unfamiliar to you and that it’s hard to trust me. But I’m your new mother now, Rinea. I’ll never leave you, no matter what happens.”

“……”

Rinea didn’t answer.

But I could tell.

I could tell that the child had opened her heart to me, even if only a little.

Because Rinea finally opened her lips after constantly biting them and spoke.

“No… I trust you.”

“Really?”

The child nodded enthusiastically.

Watching her little head bob up and down, I smiled proudly.

“Thank you. For trusting me.”

Even after being hurt so deeply, she was still able to open her heart to an adult again.

I found her admirable.

I wasn’t able to do that.

“We’ve arrived!”

At the announcement, the carriage came to a stop.

I held out my hand to Rinea again and asked,

“Shall we go?”

Rinea entered the count’s estate holding her new mother’s hand.

The Annexa estate was a place she had visited before, but it looked different from last year.

The decorations and flowers inside had been changed, as if the place had recently been renovated.

Normally, Rinea herself would have entered this place wearing the same old clothes as always, standing out awkwardly among everyone else.

But if there was one thing that had changed for Rinea this year, it was that she was wearing a new dress.

And also……

Instead of coming here holding her grandmother’s hand, like she usually did, she had come with her new mother—like other children who arrived with their mothers.

Honestly, she didn’t want to come.

Even if she came, children her age wouldn’t be interested in her.

She could already imagine them whispering while stealing glances at her.

Rinea, who had grown up eating the humiliation of being unwanted, knew better than anyone that she was an outsider here.

Her appearance was now similar to the other children’s.

But deep inside, Rinea knew she was still the same.

What will actually change?

It would be nice if she could make even one friend.

She wanted to approach them first, but she couldn’t find the courage.

That was when—

“Hello!”

Meanwhile, Asha entered the greenhouse where the tea party was being held with a bright smile, greeting everyone.

“Starting this year, I’ll be attending as Rinea’s guardian.”

There wasn’t anyone in society who didn’t know the scandal of Count Delmore dying in the home of his mistress a month ago.

And they also knew about the young widow left behind.

Since everyone already knew who Asha was, she didn’t bother with a long introduction and simply smiled brightly.

People still looked at Asha with uncertain expressions.

After all, the reputation of the Delmore family was not particularly good.

And there was a reason.

The former Countess Delmore, Yuriegella Delmore, had come as a guardian before and spent the entire day bragging only about herself.

Of course, high society was naturally filled with superficial people, but there was still such a thing as basic manners.

However, Yuriegella had gained a reputation for being rather tactless.

“Oh my, Countess Annexa. Your dress looks wonderful today. Not many people can pull off such a beautiful shade of blue.”

But Asha Delmore was different.

Contrary to the rumors people had heard, she actively offered sincere compliments with a lively attitude.

Fortunately, the Countess of Annexa, who was hosting today’s tea party, welcomed Asha kindly.

“Countess Delmore, your dress today is also lovely. Did you match it with Rinea’s?”

“Oh my, how did you know?”

Asha looked pleasantly surprised, and the Countess of Annexa nodded while continuing to compliment her.

“Pink suits Rinea very well too. And that hairpin she’s wearing—isn’t it quite fashionable these days?”

“As expected, Countess Annexa, you have an excellent eye. I thought so too, which is why I bought the same hairpin as a gift.”

Asha had been studying high society diligently.

Recently, the Countess of Annexa was someone with an excellent reputation and a wide circle of connections.

Otherwise, there was no reason for her to host the children’s first tea party at her own estate.

Asha intended to gain Countess Annexa’s favor no matter what.

She wanted to show that she wished to become close with her, but without making the other person uncomfortable.

And the key was to provide a natural reason to grow closer.

A fashionable and thoughtful gift was the first step.

“After putting one on Rinea, I realized that hairpins like these make young girls look even more adorable.”

Asha briefly released the hand that had been holding Rinea’s.

Then she gently patted Rinea’s hair, drawing Countess Annexa’s attention.

The Countess of Annexa also smiled faintly at Rinea.

Rinea looked surprised, but she obediently accepted Asha’s touch.

After receiving enough attention, Asha held out the gift she had been carrying in her other hand to Countess Annexa.

“So I wanted to give this to Lady Annexa as a thank-you for inviting us today.”

“Oh my, you really didn’t have to.”

Since it was a rather expensive jeweled hairpin, the Countess of Annexa refused politely.

To her, Asha responded warmly and naturally.

“I noticed before that Lady Annexa is such a lovely girl with such a good personality. Actually, my Rinea is also very mature and calm for her age, so……”

In other words—

Please introduce your daughter to my daughter.