Chapter 60
An emergency meeting was being held at the Ashinov winter estate.
The topic of discussion:
“How should we celebrate the Grand Duke’s youngest granddaughter, Danae’s birthday, which is only a week away?”
There were four attendees — the Grand Duke Ashinov and his three sons.
“It’s my fault,” said Lucas, sighing deeply with a dark expression.
“I should’ve been aware. Since His Grace wasn’t here, it was my job to know Danae came to the estate…”
“It’s fine. What’s the use of regretting something that’s already over? We’re all to blame for relying too much on your brother and doing nothing ourselves.”
But even Baratheon’s attempt at consolation didn’t seem to lift Lucas’s mood.
“Tch!”
Baratheon jabbed Lucas in the ribs with his elbow as if he couldn’t stand watching him sulk.
“Why so gloomy? We’ll just prepare something grand and celebrate her properly.”
“Exactly. It’s better than realizing her birthday passed already.”
What? Realizing her birthday after it’s over?
Just imagining that was enough to make one’s heart sink.
Perhaps comforted by Ciche’s remark about that worst-case scenario, Lucas’s face finally relaxed.
“Right. We still have a week. If we’re Ashinovs, we can pull off anything in that time.”
The Grand Duke’s words carried a dramatic weight that didn’t quite fit the topic, and the three brothers solemnly nodded.
If one had seen only this scene, they might have mistaken it for a war council preparing a grand campaign.
In truth, all they were doing was heatedly debating whether Danae’s birthday cake should be strawberry or chocolate flavored.
“Chocolate, obviously. The little one always goes for chocolate. Let’s make it a grand three-tiered one.”
“What about a dress? Can we get a new one made in time?”
“If we rush the tailor, we can get it in three days.”
“And the decorations?”
“We still have some left from the New Year’s Festival.”
“I’d like to prepare all-new decorations, but time’s just too tight.”
Normally, such a party would take months of planning.
Ordering food ingredients and bringing in the decorations might seem simple, but in reality, it was quite the ordeal.
And organizing the guest list and sending invitations was another part of the preparations.
“With so little time, we can’t invite guests.”
“As if we ever do. When have we ever invited anyone to her birthday?”
Listening quietly to Lucas and Ciche, Baratheon finally interjected.
“Still, the little one might have people she wants to invite. Maybe let her send letters to her friends?”
Wait—did that really just come out of Baratheon’s mouth?
Ciche narrowed his eyes.
“Since when did you develop the ability to be considerate and think from another’s perspective?”
“What? What’s that supposed to—?”
Baratheon looked ready to snap back, but as he mulled it over, confusion crossed his face.
“…Lucas, did I just get… complimented?”
“Probably?”
Lucas shrugged with a grin, and Baratheon’s eyes widened.
“What in the world? Ciche, did you eat something weird? Why are you complimenting me? Or did the sun rise in the west today?”
“What are you talking about? The sun always rises in the east!”
Ciche shook his head with an expression that said ‘I should’ve known’ and turned back toward the Grand Duke.
“Your Grace, the more people, the merrier. Let’s invite the Mist Knights and the servants too. No need to be overly formal, right?”
“Good idea.”
Since everyone there had worked together for years, and given the capable lineup, the discussion moved swiftly.
With just one week left until Danae’s birthday, preparations advanced at lightning speed.
13
Time passed quickly, and the birthday was now only a day away.
The mansion was unusually hectic due to the last-minute preparations, though I personally had nothing special to do.
Whenever I showed even the slightest interest in what was going on, everyone would panic and chase me out.
This is the first time I’ve ever been shooed away like this.
Even Baratheon, who used to burst into my room almost every day like an overeager kid coming to collect candy, stopped coming entirely.
Lucas and Ciche would wave their hands frantically and flee whenever our paths crossed.
Curious, I asked Marina what they were preparing, but even she subtly dodged the question.
“You’re the guest of honor, my lady! All you need to do is wait for your birthday to arrive, without a single worry. That’s more than enough.”
Even Marina, whom I trusted the most!
This is so awkward and boring…
In the end, I could only pretend not to notice everyone scurrying around while enduring this embarrassingly self-conscious situation — everyone working hard for me.
Every time I even mentioned the word “birthday,” people would scatter like startled cats.
“Tomorrow’s your birthday?”
“Yes! My birthday!”
So when Jadin brought up my birthday near the end of our lesson, I was so touched I nearly teared up.
He looked startled by my unexpectedly emotional reaction and blinked.
“…I see.”
“Everyone’s avoiding me. The moment I mention my birthday, they run away!”
Realizing the reason behind my outburst, Jadin adjusted his glasses and smiled faintly.
“The fun of birthdays lies in surprise parties, my lady. Perhaps everyone just wants to surprise you.”
“Even so, isn’t it too much? They act like I’m some kind of ghost.”
“Please understand. It’s your first birthday at the winter estate, after all. Everyone wants it to be perfect — a lasting memory for you.”
My first real birthday party.
Hearing it phrased that way made something stir inside me.
I’d celebrated quietly before, but never anything this grand.
After my parents in this life passed away, even those small celebrations stopped.
That might be why I didn’t even realize my birthday was approaching this year.
“It just feels strange.”
“In what way?”
“Everyone’s preparing something for me. It feels… unfamiliar and awkward. Maybe that’s why I feel weird.”
“You should get used to it. It’ll be like this every year from now on.”
“Every year?”
That thought made me feel even stranger.
I was planning to bring this family down — and yet, they’d prepare such an extravagant party for me every single year?
Ugh… I can feel my resolve weakening.
“And not just birthdays. They’ll celebrate every possible occasion.”
“There are more occasions besides birthdays?”
“Plenty. And when you come of age, the celebration will be even more magnificent.”
Jadin shook his head knowingly, as if he could already foresee the chaos of the future.
He didn’t seem like someone who enjoyed loud festivities either.
“Anyway, let’s end the lesson here for today.”
“What? Already?”
There was still time left, wasn’t there?
Thinking maybe I’d misread the clock, I checked — but no, there were still about twenty minutes remaining.
Seeing me flustered, Jadin simply shrugged.
“It’s your birthday tomorrow. Think of it as a special gift.”
Any student would normally rejoice at getting an early dismissal — but since this was supposedly my birthday present, it didn’t feel so great.
I narrowed my eyes at him suspiciously.
“Jadin, you’re not seriously planning to count this as my birthday gift, are you?”
“Well, I did say I was a stingy teacher, didn’t I?”
“I’m disappointed.”
At my firm retort, Jadin actually laughed — a rare, genuine laugh.
And then finally — today.
The morning of my fourteenth birthday had arrived.
Perhaps because it was a special day, I woke up easily, without the usual grogginess.
As I stepped out of bed, Marina greeted me with a bright smile.
“You’re up, my lady? How does it feel to wake up on your birthday morning?”
The air in the mansion felt just a little different from usual — though it was probably just my imagination.
“I’m not sure yet.”
“It’ll become special soon. I’d like to congratulate you right away, but there are others who’d want to say it first, so I’ll hold back for now. Is that all right?”
“Yes, that’s fine.”
I nodded blankly, and Marina grinned before clapping her hands together.
“Well then! Let’s get you ready, shall we?”
