“You will be going this year together with Young Master Valdes.”
“Just the two of us?”
“Yes. Young Master Alex will no longer be participating starting this year. You probably know the reason as well, my Lady.”
Since he went to the camp every year and took everything for himself, there was no longer any point in Alex attending.
There was no one among his peers who could match him.
So starting this year, letters were sent from each House asking that he not participate.
Saying that it wouldn’t do for all the young sprouts to be trampled.
‘Alex really is amazing.’
Born a genius, at a young age his skill in handling spirits was already close to perfection.
Now, even compared to the House’s skilled spirit knights, he wasn’t lacking.
And he was only ten years old.
So naturally, he was on a completely different level from the young spirit summoners who participated in the camp.
This year, to give the other children a fair chance, Alex decided not to participate.
It was said that for three years, he had monopolized the camp by himself, causing the other participants to lose their will to compete.
Some children even said they wouldn’t go if Alex attended.
It was the same in the original story.
The Grand Duke also knew Alex’s level and thought there was no point in sending him to the camp.
But what did it matter?
‘He’ll end up being crushed by the protagonists later anyway.’
I pushed Jeff away.
“That is enough, you can go now. I need to wash.”
“My Lady, your birthday is in a week. What kind of gift would you like?”
I widened my eyes and looked at Jeff.
“My birthday is in a week?”
“You didn’t know?”
Of course I didn’t know.
Even in the original story, Ivelotte’s birthday was never mentioned.
How would I know?
Even the Grand Duchess’s death anniversary wasn’t mentioned, so why would my birthday be?
Jeff looked at me with a sad expression.
“So you have never celebrated your birthday even once?”
Instead of answering, I nodded.
“My goodness, what terrible people!”
‘You’re included among those terrible people.’
Jeff burned with determination.
“Do not worry! I will speak to His Grace and make it an unforgettable birthday for you.”
“It is fine. I do not want to celebrate my birthday.”
Jeff’s eyes wavered.
“Why would you think that?”
“My birthday is a sad day.”
For a moment, Jeff was at a loss for words.
“So do not worry about it. You can go now. I need to wash up and eat lunch.”
“My Lady…”
I pushed Jeff out and closed the door.
***
“Ivelotte said that?”
After parting with Ivelotte, Jeff went straight to Vincent’s office and relayed everything she had said.
“Are you planning to leave the Young Lady’s birthday as it is?”
“Hmm…”
“Your Grace, this is not right. For seven years, the Young Lady has never once had her birthday celebrated. It should not continue like this, should it?”
“What do you want me to do?”
“You should hold the birthday party she has not had for seven years. You cannot let her birthday remain a sad day forever.”
Vincent fell into thought for a moment.
From the moment he allowed Ivelotte into the East Wing, it meant he acknowledged her as his child.
Even when she came in a pitiful state and argued fiercely, he tried not to pay it much mind.
He had only intended to treat her and send her away.
But the child entered the Relic Room and, as if to prove something, formed a contract with an ancient spirit.
She had obtained the ancient spirit of their ancestor, Heros.
He didn’t think it was a bad thing.
Their ancestor Heros had also found his own way to grow stronger as a spirit summoner.
It wasn’t a bad outcome for Ivelotte to follow in his footsteps.
So, he had to treat her accordingly.
“Discuss it with Licia and hold a birthday party for her.”
“Yes, Your Grace! Then I will take my leave.”
After Jeff left, Vincent took out a frame from the drawer.
It was a portrait of the late Grand Duchess.
‘Lise…’
The person he had loved, and who had now become his end.
She used to complain that he was always bad at expressing himself.
But then she would smile brightly, saying that she could simply express more herself.
“I miss you.”
But he couldn’t see her.
Because she had crossed a river from which there was no return.
Suddenly, he recalled something she had said.
“Vincent, promise me you will love our daughter even if I am not here.”
“I can’t promise that, Lise. I’ve never even imagined a world without you.”
“I am sorry. Even so, I have no choice but to entrust our daughter to you.”
That had been the last conversation he had with her.
That day, Lise went into labor, and after a long delivery, she gave birth to Ivelotte and died.
That day had been a very sad day.
It had always been like that.
“For seven years, I didn’t even celebrate her birthday…”
It left a bitter taste.
All the more so because it felt like he had childishly taken out his frustration on a child.
“A birthday that is a sad day…”
Compared to that, what about Alex and Valdes?
Every year, he held birthday parties for them and gave them presents.
“I should take care of it, even if it’s late.”
Vincent quietly stared at the portrait of Grand Duchess Lise.
“Don’t resent me too much. It was hard for me too.”
After putting the portrait back into the drawer, Vincent resumed his work.
***
After lunch, I met Countess Warren with Licia in the reception room.
“Greetings, Young Lady. It is an honor to meet you.”
Countess Warren greeted me with an elegant posture.
“It is a pleasure to meet you as well. I am Ivelotte.”
I also greeted her, lightly holding the hem of my skirt just as Licia had taught me.
“Shall we sit and talk first?”
“Yes.”
I had tea with Countess Warren.
Her evaluation of me was [Acceptable]’
That was what was written above her head.
“So what was written in the letter was true. You truly do not know etiquette at all.”
It seemed she had been observing me from the moment I entered the reception room.
“Your way of walking, greeting, even the way you hold a teacup—there is no trace of etiquette in any of it.”
Countess Warren let out a sigh.
“I was never educated. In the Ducal House, if one’s abilities as a spirit summoner are not recognized, they receive no treatment whatsoever. That was the case for me.”
At those words, the Countess didn’t ask further.
She had probably already heard about the situation of the Ducal House.
“But I can learn from now on, can I not?”
“Understood. We will begin lessons tomorrow at 2 p.m.”
“Please take good care of me. I will work really hard.”
“That goes without saying. And there is something you must keep in mind.”
“Please tell me.”
“My lessons may be a bit difficult for you. I am not the type to go easy.”
“It is alright. I can do it.”
“I am glad you are so motivated.”
Of course I was.
I had thoroughly embarrassed myself in front of the Grand Duke.
I wanted to learn etiquette perfectly and make up for that embarrassment.
‘It was really embarrassing.’
After the Grand Duke returned, I had dinner with him, Alex and Valdes.
There was a table full of delicious delicacies, enough to make my eyes widen.
But handling the utensils wasn’t easy, and I kept making mistakes.
Especially while trying to cut my steak with my clumsy knife skills, I lost control of the force and the piece of meat I cut flew onto the Grand Duke’s plate.
That moment of cold silence!
It only made the already awkward atmosphere worse.
At that time, the Grand Duke calmly moved the piece of meat aside and continued eating.
Valdes, who was sitting across from me, snickered when he saw me like that.
My face had turned red with shame.
Alex didn’t pay any attention to me at all, so that was fine, but after that, Valdes kept teasing me.
Saying I couldn’t even do that properly.
My pride had been badly hurt.
I resolved that I would definitely learn etiquette perfectly and make him shut his mouth so he couldn’t tease me anymore.
***
Jeff gathered the vassals and conveyed Vincent’s words.
“Starting this year, we will hold a birthday party for the Young Lady.”
“But that day is the late Grand Duchess’s death anniversary. How can there be a party on a day that should be observed in solemnity?”
The vassals who cherished the Grand Duchess expressed their disapproval.
Jeff grinned.
“For that reason, every year after the Young Lady’s birth, that day has been observed in solemnity. And now, the Young Lady has received His Grace’s recognition and is being educated in the East Wing.”
