~Chapter 115~
When Dad was filling out my adoption papers—
Out of nowhere, he asked me:
“Ruby, when’s your birthday?”
“I don’t have one.”
“…”
“Is it important? Oh, it’s the day you eat cake, right? But now I can eat cake any day, even if it’s not my birthday. Why?”
Of course, the Magic King never told me my birthday.
I was too busy surviving to even wonder.
Ah, in my past life at the orphanage, we had birthday parties. But we celebrated everyone born in a few months together, so I only knew my birthday was in winter.
I was about to say just write down anything for the paperwork, but Dad let out a deep sigh.
“Of course I want to celebrate your birthday.”
“Oh… But why celebrate it?”
“Because you’re precious. It’s the day I met someone precious for the first time.”
That sounded pretty important…
I thought for a moment, then said,
“Then… let’s make my birthday the day I met you! Because that’s when we first met!”
“…”
“What? Are you… crying?”
“Come here.”
Dad kissed my face for a long time.
“But in that case, it already passed.”
“Right? So let’s just celebrate next year…”
“No.”
Dad cut me off, sounding casual but determined.
“We have to have a birthday party, even if it’s a bit late.”
“No, we can just wait until next year…”
“What? Ruby, I can’t hear you.”
Oh no. I’m too little to buy Dad a hearing aid…
Instead, I made a paper cone and shouted into his ear:
“I said! Next year is fine!”
Of course, the Duke’s hearing loss didn’t listen at all.
“Ugh.”
I finished remembering and let out a long sigh.
“It’s noisy all over the castle.”
Hazel, trying hairpins on me, giggled.
“Is this really necessary? Isn’t everyone just looking for an excuse to have a party?”
“Well, the excuse is true! It’s a reason to make you happy.”
“I’m already happy just being here.”
“You’ll be even happier with a party.”
Maybe that’s true.
Celebrating a missed birthday so late didn’t mean much to me. My birthday never mattered anyway.
But Dad and everyone in the castle seemed hypnotized by the idea of preparing my birthday.
‘People always obsess more over things I don’t care about.’
Knowing I couldn’t stop them, I just let it happen.
“Oh? Khal! What are you doing here?”
With Hazel’s yellow flower hairpin on, I headed out and ran into Khalid, who was about to knock.
He just stood there, looking at me.
“…”
“What?”
“Today, you’re even…”
“Huh?”
Khalid turned his head and mumbled.
“Cuter…”
“What? You said I have no ears? Well, my hair did grow a bit.”
I tucked my hair behind my ear, making the hairpin jingle. Lately, my hairpins were getting fancier and fancier.
Khalid’s lips opened and closed a few times, then he pressed them shut.
“Why are you correcting yourself…”
“What? Didn’t hear you. Did you come to see me?”
He let out a deep sigh and got to the point.
“Yeah. So… Ruby, are you free tomorrow?”
The next day.
I went out with Khalid.
Hazel and a few knight escorts followed us like shadows. (Hazel really is something else…)
“Where are we going? Is it a secret? Magic?”
Just in case, I lowered my voice so ninja-maid Hazel wouldn’t hear.
Khalid shook his head.
“No, it’s not that. First… let’s go in here.”
Ding.
The bell rang as we entered.
Khalid brought me to a dessert shop hidden deep in the winding streets of Zelox.
“What? This place was here?”
“They say it’s really good. Way better than the cake shop in Ipsen.”
“Wow, a secret spot in Zelox?”
I looked around, eyes wide.
The worker showed us to a sunlit window seat. It looked like the best spot in the shop.
“It’s so big, but there are no customers.”
I whispered, not wanting to upset the owner.
Was it really a famous place? It was so empty, it felt like we’d rented it out.
“Guess we’re lucky. Usually, there’s a long line.”
“Really?”
If that’s true, we’re really lucky!
Soon, a bunch of cakes filled our table. I tried them all with an ecstatic face.
“Is it good?”
“So good!”
Simple designs, but that made the taste stand out even more.
Local shops win!
“So? What did you want to talk about in a secret place like this? Is something wrong?”
After I was a bit full, I asked.
Khalid shook his head.
“No, nothing’s wrong. I just wanted to come with you, that’s all.”
“Hmmm.”
I didn’t know he liked cool places like this…
‘Wow! Did he find a new interest in Ipsen?’
I narrowed my eyes, watching Khal.
“But… have you learned anything about the mark?”
He asked, cutting his cake. I shook my head.
“Not at all. I don’t even know where to start.”
I’d already searched the castle library, but there was nothing.
‘Of course.’
No magic books would be here.
And there wasn’t anyone I could ask.
“I’ll have to talk to Wizeria again. The Magic King’s power is so strong, I think that’s why it’s hard to find a way to break my mark.”
“…”
Khalid stared at me as I spoke, chewing cake.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“It’s just… when you talk about the knowledge in your head… you make it sound like ‘Wizeria’ is a real person.”
I blinked.
“Oh… now that you say it…”
Lately, it really did feel like I was talking to something with a will of its own.
“Kind of like that, huh.”
“Like what?”
“Like when you start talking to a smart speaker without realizing it.”
“I don’t get it.”
I shrugged. Understanding a mysterious power like this was probably impossible for me.
“Anyway, I need to learn more about the mark.”
“Yeah. If there’s anything I can do to help, just tell me.”
“Okay!”
Such a good friend.
I beamed and kept eating cake.
After we left the shop, we walked around the busy part of town.
“Wow, so many people!”
There were people everywhere.
I didn’t really like crowds, but I figured Khalid would, so I tried to put up with it.
Actually, even though he looked serious, he was turning his head everywhere, checking out the shops.
“Khal, let’s go there!”
I pointed to a toy shop filled with kids.
Khal’s eyes sparkled even more.
‘He really does like cool places! Sorry I didn’t notice before…’
I decided to pretend to enjoy it too, so Khalid could relax.
“Wow, cute! A teddy bear!”
As soon as we went in, I grabbed a stuffed bear and called out. Khal turned quickly.
“It’s cute? Do you want it?”
“Nah. Mom already got me lots. I don’t need more.”
My east room was full of teddy bears, wind-up dolls, everything. No more space for junk.
“Oh, okay…”
Khalid looked disappointed.
Next, we went to an accessory shop full of girls.
“Oh, pretty.”
I picked something up at random.
“Want to buy it? Should I ask them to wrap it?”
“Huh? I don’t want it that much.”
Then he bit his lip and stepped back sadly.
The same thing happened a few more times.
At the bedding shop:
“Blankets! So soft!”
“Should I buy it?”
“No, why are we shopping for blankets?”
At the cotton candy shop:
“Rainbow cotton candy!”
“Want some? Should I buy it?”
“I’m tired of sweets now.”
“…”
I had to say something.
“Khal… why are you acting like you HAVE to spend money? Are you stressed? Are you going to explode if you don’t buy something?”
Hands on my hips, I asked seriously. Khalid hung his head with a long sigh.
“That’s not it.”
“That’s not it?”
“I just… want to give you a present, but I don’t know what to get.”
I froze.
“Huh?”
“Should I just buy you everything on this street? How about that?”
My eyes blinked slowly.
So… he’s been running around all these shops because he wanted to get me a birthday present? Watching me closely, trying to see what I liked?
‘What the…’
Suddenly, I felt super embarrassed.
“O-Of course… you shouldn’t waste money!”
I rubbed my nose and yelled.
“And where would you get money anyway?!”
“Money’s not a problem…”
Khalid scratched his head.
I didn’t know anything about his mercenary company, so I had no idea he wasn’t worried about money. I just thought he was being silly.
‘Still, it’s kind of touching. But… this feels like a date…’
Then I froze.
“Da-Da—”
“What?”
A date? With Khal, my childhood friend?
“What a weird thought!”
I bopped myself on the head. Khalid frowned and grabbed my wrist.
“Why are you acting weird? And what do you mean by weird thought?”
I just looked up and changed the subject.
“Khal! So you want to give me a present, right?”
“Yeah. But what was your weird thought?”
Where was it… I looked around quickly, searching for what I wanted.
I started walking, and Khalid hurried to follow.
“Khal, let’s do that!”
❤️