CHAPTER 50……………………………………..
.“Then I’ll see you tonight for dinner.”
“Please be careful, Mother. And you too, Arsen.”
Today, Karina and Arsen had business in the capital, so they were leaving.
Arsen looked like he absolutely did not want to go, but Karina dragged him along and got him into the carriage.
Evelina held back a laugh as she saw them off until the carriage disappeared from view.
It had been a long time since she had some time alone.
Once inside the mansion, Evelina asked Berry,
“Any letters today?”
“No, none.”
“I’ll go to the library first, then to the greenhouse. Could you bring some refreshments out there?”
“Yes, Your Grace!”
Evelina smiled faintly and headed to the library.
Recently, she had developed a hobby of bringing books from the library to the greenhouse and reading there.
The ducal library was incredibly spacious.
And the variety of books was astonishing.
Even the duke’s family library wasn’t small, but it couldn’t compare to this one.
“What book should I read today…”
Evelina muttered softly, running her fingers over the spines.
She enjoyed reading and memorizing the contents in her mind.
After browsing carefully, she pulled out a book.
It was about the Kingdom of Astina, not the Empire.
Evelina hurriedly headed to the greenhouse with the book.
The seat was still clean, likely because Berry hadn’t brought the refreshments yet.
She sat carefully in a wooden rocking chair.
It was a chair that Arsen had specially ordered, knowing her hobby.
Just as she was about to open the book, Evelina paused.
“Wait… when is Arsen’s birthday?”
She was sure it was in December.
Hurriedly, she closed the book and left the greenhouse, heading back into the mansion.
“I can’t believe I forgot. I’m such an idiot.”
In her imagination, she scolded herself, hitting her own head repeatedly.
As she entered the mansion, she happened to meet Berry.
Berry’s eyes widened, and she hurried closer to Evelina.
“Your Grace, you’re back already?”
“Berry, when is Arsen’s birthday?”
“The Duke’s birthday? December 25th.”
Evelina let out a relieved sigh.
Luckily, the date hadn’t passed yet.
“Then… is Mother preparing the party?”
“No.”
“Then…?”
“We’ve never actually held a birthday party for the Duke before.”
Evelina’s eyes went wide.
“Never even once?”
“Um… I don’t know about before, but since I’ve been here, it’s never happened.”
Evelina’s expression grew serious.
After thinking for a moment, she spoke.
“Where is Noel?”
“He went that way a little while ago. If you wait in your room, I’ll go up with the butler.”
“Alright, got it. Thanks.”
Evelina smiled faintly and headed to her room.
Not long after, there was a knock, and Berry and Noel entered together.
Noel seemed slightly confused, as if he didn’t understand why she had called him.
“I heard you were looking for me. Is something the matter?”
“Ah… well… I want to throw a birthday party for Arsen.”
“A… birthday… party?”
Noel blinked, clearly confused.
Evelina felt a little embarrassed but didn’t change what she was saying.
He cleared his expression belatedly and coughed awkwardly.
“Ahem… I apologize. The only time we’ve held a party here was the wedding reception…”
“Wait… that was the first time?”
“Yes. The Duke and Duchess aren’t really fond of parties. On birthdays, they just had a simple meal in the mansion.”
Berry nodded enthusiastically beside him.
Hearing that, Evelina wondered if holding a party was really a good idea.
She hesitated, thinking maybe she should say they shouldn’t do it, when Noel spoke.
“But I think the Duke would really like it.”
“Huh?”
“Because this is a party prepared personally by Your Grace. And it’s a surprise gift, isn’t it?”
Evelina’s eyes rolled.
“Do you really think so…?”
“Of course, Your Grace. I fully support holding the party.”
“I agree too!”
Berry raised her hand enthusiastically and said loudly.
At the word “party,” Berry’s eyes sparkled.
Feeling a little shy, Evelina smiled awkwardly and said to Noel and Berry,
“Then… will you help me? But of course, keep it a secret from Arsen.”
“Of course, Your Grace!”
Berry clenched her fists and nodded eagerly.
Noel also bowed slightly and smiled.
Although Noel assured her, he likely wouldn’t be able to keep it a complete secret.
Even if he said nothing, Arsen would notice any subtle changes in her behavior because he was so sensitive to things involving her.
Still, Noel didn’t add anything.
The immediate priority was his gift.
“Then Berry, want to go with me to the market? I need help picking a gift.”
“Yes, Your Grace!”
Noel left, and Berry chatted excitedly while helping her change clothes.
“A party! I’m so excited!”
“It won’t be anything particularly special…”
“But it’ll sparkle! I love things that sparkle.”
Berry giggled and helped her put on a thick fur coat.
“Here, wear this hat too. It’s really windy today. And gloves!”
“Mm-hm.”
The thick fur covered her ears and cheeks, and Berry carefully tied the ribbon under her chin.
“I’ll get ready quickly too!”
“Okay. I’ll wait on the first floor.”
Berry bounced off happily, excited for her rare outing.
Evelina chuckled at how cute she looked, though worried she might trip.
“Since I don’t have anyone to invite… maybe I’ll gather the staff in the mansion for the party? But would Mother and Arsen dislike that as undignified…?”
She had a lot to think about.
She decided she’d talk to Karina when she returned to the mansion.
At that moment, she saw Berry running energetically toward her.
“Shall we go, Your Grace?”
“Yes.”
Evelina followed Berry to the market.
In the carriage, she asked Berry,
“What would make a good gift?”
“Hmm… maybe a cravat, a brooch, or a quill pen?”
Evelina thought carefully about Berry’s suggestions.
After a long moment, she chose a brooch.
If she made it with a gemstone resembling his eyes, it would look beautiful.
“He’ll like it, right…?”
“Of course, Your Grace! Even if you picked up a pebble from the road as a gift, the Duke would be thrilled.”
Evelina was about to say that was an exaggeration, but then remembered how Arsen still carried the bookmark she had given him like a charm.
Seeing that, Berry’s words suddenly seemed believable.
Evelina shook off the unsettling thought and got off the carriage.
As Berry had said, the wind made her cheeks cold.
She sniffled reflexively and headed into the jewelry shop.
Upon entering, the owner greeted her warmly.
“Welcome, Your Grace!”
“Ah… I’m here to look at gemstones for a brooch.”
“Right this way, please.”
The owner smiled and led her inside.
Evelina worried whether a shop so far from the capital would have quality gemstones.
But that worry was unnecessary.
“These are the stones currently popular for brooches.”
Every stone the owner showed her was top quality.
Even someone unfamiliar with gems could see how brilliant they were.
The owner had laid them out by color.
Evelina examined them carefully and chose a sparkling blue topaz.
“I’ll take this one.”
“Certainly. And the cost…?”
“No matter the price, make it the best quality. Charge it to me.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
The owner’s smile didn’t fade; his eyes glowed with determination for the first time in a while.
With the brooch order placed smoothly, Evelina left the shop.
On the way back to the mansion, something caught her eye—a handmade hairpin at a street stall.
It wasn’t made of expensive materials but was very pretty.
Hesitating, Evelina asked Berry,
“Mother and Arsen won’t be back for a while, right?”
“Yes, Your Grace. They probably won’t return for another three hours.”
Evelina headed to the stall without worry.
Berry tilted her head in curiosity but hurried to follow.
Seeing the hairpins, Berry gasped in delight.
“Wow, these are so pretty!”
“Really? Which one do you like?”
Berry scanned the hairpins carefully and finally chose one after some thought.
She picked a ribbon hairpin, with a small cubic gem in the center that made it look quite classy.
Luckily, Evelina had brought some extra money.
She paid for it herself and received the packaged hairpin.
“Let’s head back.”
“Yes!”
Once on the carriage, warm air surrounded them.
Evelina smiled faintly, handing the box with the hairpin to Berry.
Berry’s eyes widened, glancing between the box and Evelina.
“Your Grace…?”
“You’ve helped me so much, and I don’t think I’ve ever given you a gift. This is for you.”
“Eh? Oh, no! That’s your job, though.”
Berry waved her hands, flustered.
Evelina pretended to pout.
“Don’t you like the hairpin?”
“Of course I do! It’s beautiful—too nice for me, even.”
“It’s from my heart, so I hope you’ll accept it. It’s also a little bribe to say, ‘Please continue taking care of me.’”
“Your Grace…”
Tears welled in Berry’s eyes as she looked at Evelina.
Finally, she carefully accepted the hairpin.
“Thank you… so much, Your Grace. I’ll wear this every day.”
“It wasn’t even that expensive…”
“To me, it’s the most precious thing of all.”
Berry smiled widely, clutching the hairpin tightly.
Before long, the carriage arrived at the mansion, and Evelina got out.
At that moment, someone hurriedly approached her.
