Chapter 88
Finding out about a birthday just a day in advance.
If only I had known a week—or even just three days—earlier, I could have done something.
“One day is far too short.”
Besides, December 31 marked the start of the long New Year’s holiday, and no shops in the empire were open.
In the end, I faced January 1 without having prepared any gift.
I left flowers from the garden and a birthday card outside Lien’s room, but I wasn’t sure if that was enough.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Feeling a bit frustrated, I picked up Scar, the cat sprawled lazily on the table.
He used to complain about the humiliation of being transformed into a cat, but now he seemed completely adapted to this lifestyle, enjoying it thoroughly.
The maids especially adored Scar, calling him a beautiful cat, and he seemed to soak up all that affection.
<What do you mean I didn’t tell you?>
“Lien’s birthday. You must have known.”
Scar had introduced himself as Lien’s friend, and Lien had not denied it.
‘He seemed to think it was annoying, though.’
Still, that didn’t mean he wasn’t a friend. Then, of course, he should have known Lien’s birthday.
According to the “Friend Law 12” that Miria insisted on, friends must know each other’s birthdays.
<Lien’s birthday? You didn’t know?>
“I wasn’t told, so of course I didn’t know.”
<But you know their name.>
“So?”
I tilted my head, puzzled, and Scar tapped my arm with his tail.
<You do know they are called the Primeval Dragon, right?>
“Of course.”
I had learned about it in Zedin’s class.
When I nodded confidently, Scar’s eyes narrowed, scrutinizing me.
<Then why, among all the titles, is it specifically ‘Primeval’? >
“That’s…”
Zedin hadn’t explained that part.
When he mentioned the Primeval Dragon, I was so surprised that the name “Killadrien” had been brought up that I hadn’t asked further questions.
<The grand title ‘Primeval’ is because this dragon was born on the day God created the heavens and the earth.>
“If it was the day God created the heavens and the earth…”
Repeating Scar’s words in a daze, my eyes widened in shock.
“How old are you, exactly?”
<Simply put, it’s the same as the age of this world.>
‘Master…’
How ancient was this being…?
The term “Primeval” referred to such a distant time that numbers could scarcely capture it.
Seeing me dumbfounded, Scar perked up his ears with a satisfied look.
<Then here’s a question: what month and day is the Primeval’s birthday?>
“…It must be January 1.”
<Still my fault for not telling you?>
“No, I just didn’t notice.”
<Exactly. Aren’t you curious about anything else?>
“No. What else would I need to be curious about?”
<Not curious about my birthday, huh?>
“We’re not friends. I’m only curious about my friends’ birthdays.”
<Do you know how annoying you can be periodically?>
“Do I need to know that?”
<Hmph. Not like anyone would have raised you.>
With a snort, Scar left my arms and returned to the sunlit table, stretching and yawning lazily.
He seemed to suddenly recall something, looking around as he asked:
<By the way, I haven’t seen them lately.>
“Who?”
<The little rat—I mean, birdbrain—who snitched that I was in the garden.>
“Oh, Blanche?”
Now that Scar mentioned it, it made sense.
Since the incident where she sent me flying to a strange place, Blanche hadn’t appeared.
I thought she was avoiding me out of fear of being scolded for causing the accident.
But counting the days, quite a lot of time had passed.
‘Could something have happened?’
It was the first time Blanche had avoided appearing for this long.
Even if I told her not to come near me because it might be dangerous, she usually couldn’t resist coming to check on me within a week.
‘I should tie a red ribbon outside the window.’
It would signal her to meet me.
“It’s surprising, though. You care so much about Blanche’s whereabouts.”
<We’re both in the same pitiful situation, hiding our true selves, so I feel sympathy…>
Scar had been speaking leisurely when he suddenly snapped his mouth shut. Someone besides Lien had appeared.
Sure enough, Marina appeared shortly after with a bright smile.
“Miss.”
“Is there some good news?”
“Not for me, for you, Miss.”
“For me?”
“Yes. A welcome guest has arrived.”
A welcome guest?
I blinked in confusion, and Marina grabbed my arm.
“Come this way. You should greet the guest as the lady of the manor.”
“Ah… yes.”
Still dazed, I let Marina lead me down the corridor.
It seemed that all the staff already knew who the guest was, as each one we passed smiled at me as if to say, “Lady, how wonderful for you!”
When we reached the entrance, I finally understood why Marina and the others had reacted that way.
“Grandfather!”
The Duke was standing right there.
He had been handing a coat to Dane and talking when my shout made him turn.
“Danae.”
“Ah… how did you come?”
“I used a magic scroll.”
“No, I didn’t mean the method….”
The Duke was said to work even during the New Year holidays, except for one day.
“Is today the one day you rest?”
“Yes. Since it’s New Year’s Day.”
It seemed he had traveled—though magically, so not far in reality—to spend that one day of rest with his granddaughter.
“I heard you’ve been doing well. You even went to the capital, right?”
‘So he knows.’
Even though all of Deven’s matters had been entrusted to me, there was no way he wouldn’t be aware of the progress.
He must have been steadily gathering information through informants.
“Yes. His Majesty summoned me regarding the title approval.”
“I see. That boy used quite a clever method.”
It was a bit sneaky that he summoned me to the capital without going through the Duke, but still… clever enough to impress the Emperor.
I glanced around to see if anyone else thought this improper, but no one seemed to mind.
‘Of course. Ashinof can do that. Typical.’
Acknowledging Ashinof’s overwhelming presence once again, I looked at the Duke.
“If it bothered you that I went to the capital without consulting you first…”
“No.”
Before I could finish, the Duke shook his head vigorously.
“Do what you think is right as the lady of the manor. That’s why I entrusted Deven to you.”
“Then I’ll act freely without hesitation.”
The Duke seemed amused at his granddaughter’s eagerness, chuckling and patting my head.
‘Good. No issues on the affection front.’
In my new plan to conquer the territories piece by piece, the Duke’s favor was important.
After ruining Deven, he would entrust me with another territory.
While I was sharing this warm moment with the Duke, the three brothers appeared belatedly.
“Sir, have you arrived?”
Baratheon greeted energetically, waving his hand. Lucas tapped his back warningly.
“Ah, alright! Just greet properly, will you?”
Baratheon pouted in dissatisfaction but straightened his tone and bowed exaggeratedly to the Duke.
“Oh! You’ve arrived, Sir! It must have been exhausting traveling such a long way! Ah, you didn’t run, right? You used a magic scroll. Then how should I greet you? Did you arrive comfortably?”
Slightly better than before, but still far from proper.
Lucas sighed in resignation and greeted the Duke himself.
“Long time no see, Your Grace.”
“Same here.”
Siche quickly agreed and replaced Lucas in greeting.
This time, Lucas’s reproachful gaze fell on Siche, but unlike Baratheon, Siche didn’t care about his eldest brother’s look.
Instead, he simply addressed the Duke casually.
“Don’t just stand there; have some lunch. It’s lunchtime, and we didn’t get to have the New Year’s Eve dinner together this year.”
‘A brat. Sharp words but soft inside.’
I looked at Siche with a grandmotherly smile, and he noticed, turning his eyes to me.
Understanding the meaning behind my expression, he intentionally scowled more.
“What are you looking at?”
“The portrait of an insincere adult.”
“…….”
Lucas couldn’t help but laugh at Siche’s stunned silence, struck by the truth of my words.
“See? Truly an insincere adult.”
