~Chapter 107~
“Come to think of it, today is Emily’s birthday too, isn’t it?”
As soon as I said that, the male leads raised their heads like meerkats.
I fixed my gaze on Emily.
“Happy birthday, Emily.”
“…Thank you, My Lady.”
Suddenly under everyone’s eyes, Emily smiled awkwardly as she answered.
Eric spoke.
“You two share the same birthday?”
“That’s right. I once asked when her birthday was because I wanted to celebrate it. Turns out it was the same day as mine. The exact same year and day too.”
“…Yes. Honestly, I was surprised when I received the invitation as well. Because it was the same as My Lady’s.”
Emily added shyly.
“In truth… thanks to having the same birthday as My Lady, I could enjoy all this delicious food today. I’m truly happy.”
“That’s curious.”
Eric tilted his head, then continued.
“Today is also the day the Goddess Irene’s holy spring overflowed.”
“…What did you say?”
I tilted my head. Beside me, Albert also looked surprised.
“Is that true, Eric?”
“Yes, Albert. On this very day, twenty-two years ago—when Lady Hartmann and Emily were born—the holy spring in Harmen Temple also overflowed.”
“Then that means…”
Harry’s lips slowly parted. Eric nodded.
“It means one of the girls born that day must be the Saint.”
‘…That’s right.’
I thought quietly to myself.
Since Emily was the Saint, of course the spring would have overflowed that day.
I recalled the explanation I had once heard at Harmen Temple during the train trip.
It was natural to me, knowing Emily’s true identity. But to others, it must have sounded mysterious.
Just then, I noticed where Eric’s gaze had shifted—
to the chick, pecking busily at bread crumbs.
‘No way…’
Eric had been quiet all day. Maybe from the start of the party, he’d been watching the divine beast.
A strange, uneasy feeling crept over me—
“Huh?”
Finn suddenly turned his head and pointed.
“Wahaha! A rabbit!”
“A rabbit…?”
Following his finger, I saw someone approaching.
A person in a huge rabbit costume, carrying something.
Who…?
While I frowned at the stranger, the rabbit came right in front of me and held something out.
At that moment, the mask was removed—revealing a familiar face.
“Happy birthday, Irene, my beloved daughter!”
“…Father?”
I froze, mouth open.
Inside the costume was my father, Duke Hartmann, smiling broadly at me, sweat dripping from his forehead.
At the same time, the young ladies—who had gone to the restroom earlier—jumped out.
“Surprise! Lady Hartmann, happy 22nd birthday!”
Each one held gift boxes in both hands.
“Our dear daughter, happy birthday!”
Behind them, my mother, the Duchess, appeared as well.
My father stepped forward with a cake in hand.
“Now, blow the candles, Irene.”
“…Ah.”
Dazed, I blew out the candles.
Even afterward, I kept staring at my father blankly. He only grinned.
“Seeing you blow out the candles reminded me of when you were little. Back then, you happily blew out your birthday candles every year. But at some point… we stopped celebrating properly.”
“That’s why we wanted to throw you a surprise party this year. Because… we don’t know how many more birthdays we’ll be able to share with you.”
Both of my parents stood before me, explaining softly.
“Oh, and this cake—we baked it ourselves.”
“…”
I quietly looked down at the cake.
Clumsily written in chocolate pen, by their very own hands, were the words:
Happy Birthday, our dear daughter.
For a long moment, I just stared at it in silence. Then I smiled faintly.
“…Thank you. Mother, Father. Truly.”
A tightness filled my chest. I bit my lip hard.
“Haa…”
In the restroom, I stood before the sink, staring into the mirror.
My head was a mess. I wanted to splash cold water on my face, but couldn’t.
‘It was fine enough when Finn gave me his gift…’
But seeing my parents celebrate me like that, it crushed my heart.
“What do I do now…”
The birthday party had begun joyfully, meant to lift my spirits. Yet the deeper it went, the more despair pressed down on me.
‘How can I leave without regrets like this?’
Finn, smiling brightly as he talked about the future after my treatment.
My parents, who poured love into what might be my last birthday.
How could I walk away smiling?
I feared that my end would once again be drenched in tragedy and tears.
More than anything—
‘I don’t want to leave these people behind.’
My desire for life kept growing stronger.
They weren’t just characters in a novel anymore.
They were people living beside me, standing on the same ground, giving me their love.
I couldn’t abandon them. I didn’t want to die and leave them behind.
I wanted to live. Desperately. Madly.
“Fuu…”
I let out another deep sigh.
Just then, the door opened slightly, and a young lady stepped in. Blond hair, blue eyes…
“Lady Elina?”
“My Lady.”
She approached cautiously, glancing at me standing at the sink.
This was the common restroom guests used. At first, I thought she was just here for that. But no—it wasn’t.
“Actually… there’s something I’ve been wanting to tell you.”
“I see. What is it?”
I tilted my head.
Lady Elina took a deep breath, then spoke.
“If anything I did with Fabian made you uncomfortable, I want to apologize.”
“…Ah.”
“Asking you to introduce me… I must have bothered you.”
It seemed she was troubled because earlier, she had stared at Fabian instead of greeting me properly.
“I’ll sort out my feelings for him somehow. Please don’t worry.”
“…No, Lady Elina.”
Before I realized it, I reached out and grabbed her hand.
She looked at me in surprise.
“My Lady? What is it?”
“That’s not it…”
If only… Lady Elina could stay by Fabian’s side instead.
The words rose to my throat but I couldn’t say them.
I felt Fabian wouldn’t accept it if I suggested such a thing.
So I only bit my lip and looked at her.
But if I don’t ask her…
I kept imagining Fabian alone again.
Fabian, who had lived so long by himself. Fabian, who was only just starting to open his heart.
If I left, I didn’t want him to be hurt again.
I didn’t want him to lose the fragile sense of life he had begun to regain.
Even if he fell in love with Emily again…
I knew. His love would never be fulfilled.
I didn’t want him to feel that sorrow, that loneliness anymore.
But the fact that I couldn’t give him that comfort myself—
That was the saddest truth of all.
“Because Fabian is pitiful. Once I’m gone, he’ll be left all alone.”
“…What?”
I continued, my heart breaking.
“The truth is… I don’t even have a year left. And it seems there’s no hope in treatment.”
“What? That can’t be…”
Most nobles didn’t know I had been given a death sentence, so Lady Elina’s eyes widened in shock.
“That’s why Fabian feels so pitiful to me. …When I’m gone, he’ll be left behind again.”
And just like that, I crumbled in front of Lady Elina—
Finally admitting aloud the reality I had avoided, denied, and smothered with false hope.
That I would soon have to leave this world.
