Chapter 87
“The Temperature of Expectation”
“Are you going to the party tomorrow, Serdin?”
“Party?”
Ah, now that I think of it.
Tomorrow, Count Vivi’s family was holding a party.
I still had my cheek buried in the blanket as I remembered the invitation I got a few days ago.
“You are invited to a charity party. Essiton Street Summer Residence. 4 p.m.”
A charity party.
‘Why do they always hold it right on my birthday?’
Over ten years ago, when I was just a kid who hadn’t even gotten all my permanent teeth yet, the same thing happened.
A party held exactly on my birthday.
Back then, as a child, I thought maybe someone at that party would congratulate me.
But the Vivi family people were quite cold to me.
Of course, they’re still like that now, but for a child, it felt much harsher.
Anyway, I went near the cake at the banquet, only to get chased away and locked up.
I’m numb to it now, but back then, I was really disappointed.
I’m sure choosing the date like that was intentional.
Looking back, it was their way of ignoring me properly.
‘Picking on a child—that was pretty petty.’
But at that time, I didn’t know that. I was just sad.
And now again, they chose to hold a party exactly on my birthday.
“Is everyone else going to the party?”
“Seems like everyone got an invitation.”
Roitz spoke with a look that showed something was on his mind.
“Even Bishop Lucike…”
Since Lucike was the famous fifth Saint these days, there was no reason for the Vivi family not to invite her.
“I want some more tea.”
I threw off the blanket and picked up my cup.
Roitz got up to heat the tea again, and I looked at his back.
He must assume I’d go to the party. After all, it was the Vivi family’s party, and I was their Swordmaster.
‘Will Roitz go to the party tomorrow too?’
Since Lucike would be there, the chances were high that he’d go as well.
That thought made me even more unsure if I should go.
It wasn’t really something worth worrying about, yet I couldn’t shake it.
Humans can’t just pick and choose what to worry about like picking a lunch menu. Since I was human, I couldn’t help it.
‘Not working really does feel nice.’
The afternoon sun was high. I woke up after repeating “Just ten more minutes” about twenty times.
I’d rested enough. If I spent my whole day too lazily, I’d have a hard time adjusting back to reality, so I got up at a reasonable time.
After stretching at the training yard next to my quarters, then washing, I opened the invitation on my desk.
“Hmmm.”
“You are invited to a charity party. Essiton Street Summer Residence. 4 p.m.”
It was pretty paper with golden edges.
‘What’s this?’
I hadn’t looked closely before, but now I saw a note written at the bottom.
“I hope you will definitely come to today’s party. I have something to tell you.”
It was my uncle’s handwriting.
‘Something to tell me?’
Could it be—he planned to say “happy birthday” this time?
‘No, don’t expect anything.’
I crossed my arms and stared down at the invitation like a statue, then quickly grabbed it and shoved it back into the desk drawer.
‘Uncle, today’s my birthday too. I also…’
‘So what?’
I shook my head, chasing away the memories of ten years ago.
I had a feeling that going there wouldn’t bring anything good.
My instincts, sharpened by life, were telling me so.
‘Maybe I should just train instead? Go down to the barracks, check how that Swordmaster incident is going…’
Wait, what was I thinking?
Today was my rare holiday. I just came back from training—why was I planning to train again?
‘This must be Roitz’s workaholic habits rubbing off on me.’
I pulled the invitation out of the drawer again.
Why did this silly piece of paper keep bothering me?
Should I just burn it? If the Sword of the Vivi family burned the Vivi family’s invitation, maybe that would be the paper’s best ending.
I reached for my sword—then stopped.
That little note from my uncle kept nagging me.
“……”
There had to be a reason he wrote something like that.
‘And the invitation is so pretty too…’
Was I bewitched by the fancy paper?
‘Ugh, fine.’
I opened my closet and pulled out a dress. It had been a while.
The Vivi family’s residence was called “Summer.” I never knew why they gave it that name.
Summer was just fifteen minutes away by carriage from the barracks.
‘Was it always this close?’
As soon as I stepped down from the carriage, the mansion came into view.
The blue sky made the white columns and green trees stand out beautifully.
It seemed like a lot of people were gathered. There were many carriages lined up at the entrance.
“Hm…”
With this many people, there had to be plenty of good food.
Yes—eating tasty food here would be better, both in quality and quantity, than lying in my quarters.
‘Yes, I came here to fill my stomach.’
I took a deep breath and walked toward the front gate.
“What, Serdin?”
Then, a familiar voice came from behind.
‘That voice—’
I turned around. A man with the same reddish-pink hair as mine, but sharper eyes, was standing there.
It was Gren Vivi, my cousin, a year older than me.
“You acted like you’d never come again, yet here you are.”
Gren tilted his head in his usual crooked way as he approached.
It had been a long time since I’d seen him too.
Honestly, I wasn’t glad to see him. I frowned.
“It’s a happy party. Don’t you know how to smile, Serdin?”
His expression wasn’t exactly a smile either.
Even though I looked annoyed, Gren still came closer.
‘I knew I’d have to face him if I came here.’
But his unpleasant tone was never easy to get used to.
“Serdin, why are you here? Do you need something? You look worn out—pretty badly too.”
He always spoke with fake ease but laced his words with thorns. That was his way.
But if I got angry, it would only encourage him.
“No. But you must be doing well, Gren. Your face looks so oily it might drip.”
“Why did you come?”
Gren snapped.
“Count Vivi called me.”
At my answer, his expression twisted and he let out a low laugh.
His lips were curved, but his eyes were cold as he glared.
Even a three-year-old knows a fake laugh makes people feel bad.
But Gren was more childish than a child.
‘Ignore him…’
Since I already knew this about him, I didn’t feel angry yet.
“Serdin. Come to think of it…”
He blocked my way into the mansion, looked me up and down, and said:
“Isn’t today your birthday?”
“Your memory is surprisingly good.”
I meant it.
He stared at me in surprise, then smiled that annoying smile again.
“Don’t tell me—you didn’t come here thinking this party was for you?”
Of course not.
He was trying to get under my skin, but he was right: the Vivi family would never hold anything for me.
And yet…
“Who knows? Maybe.”
Why did I say that?
I hated losing, and sadly, that side of me showed now.
Still, I didn’t want to take my words back.
“Do you really think that, Serdin?”
“Maybe.”
“Maybe? Do you actually believe that, Serdin?”
“I don’t know. The Count’s thoughts might be different from yours.”
Gren sneered and gestured toward the mansion.
“Then go in. See for yourself if your expectations are answered.”
Maybe it was because I hated losing.
Or maybe, deep down, I wanted to believe someone in the Vivi family would congratulate me.
Or maybe, I just thought the golden invitation was too pretty to ignore.
I left Gren behind and stepped into the mansion.
The ballroom for the charity banquet was full of people.
Some were familiar faces.
At another place, I might have greeted them happily. But since it was the Vivi mansion, it felt strange.
I picked up a coaster under a teacup to cover part of my face as I looked around for my uncle.
“I hope you will definitely come to today’s party. I have something to tell you.”
It might sound silly, but that note gave me something to hold on to.
I didn’t know what he wanted to say. I wasn’t really expecting much.
But still—he said he had something to tell me.
And that was enough.
