diff --git a/tests/test_toml_document.py b/tests/test_toml_document.py
index 7ba61f5..0b24166 100644
--- a/tests/test_toml_document.py
+++ b/tests/test_toml_document.py
@@ -1666,3 +1666,50 @@ def test_scalar_is_not_captured_by_table_rendered_from_dotted_key() -> None:
     doc["z"] = 2
 
     assert doc.as_string() == "a.b = 1\nz = 2\n"
+
+
+def test_subtable_of_dotted_key_keeps_parent_header_path() -> None:
+    # https://github.com/python-poetry/tomlkit/issues/557
+    # A dotted-key super table nested inside a real table (`[t]` -> `a.b = 1`)
+    # renders its leaf inline, but a sub-table added under it must keep the full
+    # header path (`[t.a.c]`), not escape to the document root as `[a.c]`.
+    doc = parse("[t]\na.b = 1\n")
+    doc["t"]["a"]["c"] = {}
+
+    expected = """\
+[t]
+a.b = 1
+
+[t.a.c]
+"""
+
+    assert doc.as_string() == expected
+    assert parse(doc.as_string()) == {"t": {"a": {"b": 1, "c": {}}}}
+    # Idempotent: re-rendering the parsed result must not drift.
+    assert parse(doc.as_string()).as_string() == expected
+
+    # Chained dotted parent keeps leaves relative while the sub-table is absolute.
+    doc = parse("[t]\na.b.x = 1\n")
+    doc["t"]["a"]["b"]["c"] = {}
+
+    assert doc.as_string() == "[t]\na.b.x = 1\n\n[t.a.b.c]\n"
+    assert parse(doc.as_string()) == {"t": {"a": {"b": {"x": 1, "c": {}}}}}
+
+
+def test_subtable_of_dotted_key_in_aot_keeps_parent_header_path() -> None:
+    # https://github.com/python-poetry/tomlkit/issues/557
+    # The same rule applies inside an array-of-tables element: a sub-table added
+    # under a dotted key must render as `[servers.a.c]`, not leak to root `[a.c]`.
+    doc = parse("[[servers]]\na.b = 1\n")
+    doc["servers"][0]["a"]["c"] = {"x": 9}
+
+    expected = """\
+[[servers]]
+a.b = 1
+
+[servers.a.c]
+x = 9
+"""
+
+    assert doc.as_string() == expected
+    assert parse(doc.as_string()) == {"servers": [{"a": {"b": 1, "c": {"x": 9}}}]}
diff --git a/tomlkit/container.py b/tomlkit/container.py
index 8ff30d9..d64e48c 100644
--- a/tomlkit/container.py
+++ b/tomlkit/container.py
@@ -658,17 +658,35 @@ def as_string(self) -> str:
 
         return s
 
-    def _render_table(self, key: Key, table: Table, prefix: str | None = None) -> str:
+    def _render_table(
+        self,
+        key: Key,
+        table: Table,
+        prefix: str | None = None,
+        header_prefix: str | None = None,
+    ) -> str:
         cur = ""
 
         if table.display_name is not None:
             _key = table.display_name
+            _hkey = _key
         else:
             _key = key.as_string()
 
             if prefix is not None:
                 _key = prefix + "." + _key
 
+            # ``_hkey`` is the absolute key path used for the headers of nested
+            # sub-tables. It can diverge from ``_key`` when this table was reached
+            # through a dotted key: the table's own leaf items render relative to
+            # the nearest real header (so ``a.b`` stays under ``[t]``), but a
+            # genuine sub-table nested inside it still needs the full path
+            # (``[t.a.c]``, not ``[a.c]``).
+            if header_prefix is not None:
+                _hkey = header_prefix + "." + key.as_string()
+            else:
+                _hkey = _key
+
         if (
             not table.is_super_table()
             or (
@@ -718,12 +736,19 @@ def _render_table(self, key: Key, table: Table, prefix: str | None = None) -> st
                 assert k is not None
                 if v.is_super_table():
                     if k.is_dotted() and not key.is_dotted():
-                        # Dotted key inside table
-                        cur += self._render_table(k, v)
+                        # Outermost dotted key inside a table: leaf items render
+                        # relative to this header, but a genuine sub-table nested
+                        # inside still needs the absolute path (carried by
+                        # ``header_prefix``).
+                        cur += self._render_table(k, v, header_prefix=_hkey)
                     else:
-                        cur += self._render_table(k, v, prefix=_key)
+                        # Super-table continuing a chain: keep leaves relative
+                        # via ``_key`` while tracking the absolute header path.
+                        cur += self._render_table(
+                            k, v, prefix=_key, header_prefix=_hkey
+                        )
                 else:
-                    cur += self._render_table(k, v, prefix=_key)
+                    cur += self._render_table(k, v, prefix=_hkey, header_prefix=_hkey)
             elif isinstance(v, AoT):
                 if (
                     cur.strip(" ")
@@ -732,7 +757,7 @@ def _render_table(self, key: Key, table: Table, prefix: str | None = None) -> st
                 ):
                     cur += "\n"
                 assert k is not None
-                cur += self._render_aot(k, v, prefix=_key)
+                cur += self._render_aot(k, v, prefix=_hkey)
             else:
                 cur += self._render_simple_item(
                     k, v, prefix=_key if key.is_dotted() else None
@@ -772,12 +797,14 @@ def _render_aot_table(self, table: Table, prefix: str | None = None) -> str:
                 assert k is not None
                 if v.is_super_table():
                     if k.is_dotted():
-                        # Dotted key inside table
-                        cur += self._render_table(k, v)
+                        # Dotted key inside an array-of-tables element: leaf items
+                        # render relative to the ``[[...]]`` header, but a genuine
+                        # sub-table nested inside still needs the absolute path.
+                        cur += self._render_table(k, v, header_prefix=_key)
                     else:
-                        cur += self._render_table(k, v, prefix=_key)
+                        cur += self._render_table(k, v, prefix=_key, header_prefix=_key)
                 else:
-                    cur += self._render_table(k, v, prefix=_key)
+                    cur += self._render_table(k, v, prefix=_key, header_prefix=_key)
             elif isinstance(v, AoT):
                 assert k is not None
                 cur += self._render_aot(k, v, prefix=_key)