Anne shifted the conversation toward Mabel's mother, hoping to offer a welcome distraction. "So, what about your mother, Mabel? She must be incredibly beautiful!"
Anne's eyes lit up at the mention of "mother", and she seemed eager to discuss her. Such conversations were rare for orphans like them, but now they had families, and it was a topic they could explore freely.
"I don't know, Anne," Mabel sighed softly, her eyes casting a sorrowful gaze upon the fallen flower petals that had come to rest on her cake.
"No one in this house wanted to speak about my mom. She passed away while giving birth to me. All they said is that she was kind."
Anne expressed her sympathy, apologizing softly. "I'm sorry, Mabel, I didn't realize."
It was undeniably peculiar that Duke Caius possessed knowledge about Mabel's mother, given the circumstances surrounding her placement in an orphanage rather than with him.
