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“Taaaaa-daaaahhh! Happy birthday dad!”
“Happy birthday, Master!”
Graham and Dolorosa entered, pushing a trolley with a three-tiered cake on it. Every time the trolley moved, the twenty-six candles on the three-tier cake shook.
Even the usually calm Cian looked quite flustered today.
“Dolly, Graham. What the hell is this…”
Atreille clapped his hands.
“Oh, that’s right, today is uncle’s birthday! Happy birthday!”
Rachel clapped her hands to the sudden start of the song, and Dolorosa and Graham also sang along, bringing the cake right in front of the chair where Cian was sitting.
When the song ended, Dolorosa ran to Cian and hugged him.
“Dad, happy birthday! You were sad that I’d been hanging out here without you, right? I was making a birthday cake with Countess Rachel and Graham! Ehehe!”
A small smile tugged at the corners of Cian’s mouth.
“Did you? My goodness, I’m so surprised, thank you, Dolly.”
“Master, Master! Me, the princess, and my mom made the decorations!”
“That’s really cool. Thank you, Graham. Thank you, Countess Rachel. This is an unexpected gift. I am truly grateful to the Countess for so many things.”
Cian’s voice faltered with emotion.
Rachel smiled brightly.
“No. We just helped the princess prepare her gift. I get help from His Highness every time. Thank you. I wish you a happy birthday.”
“Now that the song is over, uncle, you have to blow out the candles! Make a wish in your heart and then, do it!”
“Hmm…”
After closing his eyes for a moment, Cian opened them and blew out the candles.
Atreille held out a fork to Cian.
“Well, the birthday celebration is over, so now it’s time to eat! Come on, eat up! Uncle is the star of the show, so start with him!”
“All right.”
Cian took the fork and ate some cheesecake. A soft smile spread across his lips.
“It’s very sweet and delicious. Your Royal Highness, please try some.”
“No thanks! Why waste this precious thing by eating it?”
Then, he smeared cream on Graham and Dolorosa’s cheeks with his finger.
“Eek! What are you doing?”
“Ugh, it’s all over my face!”
“It’s all over because I put it there. Haha! Take that, cream attack! I’ve always wanted to do this! Smearing birthday cake on faces! I’d get scolded by dad if I did this on my birthday, but Uncle’s birthday is the best!”
“Oh come on, this is Dad’s cake!”
“It’s fine! Right, Uncle?”
“Hmm.”
Cian glanced at Rachel. Seeing her smile at the kids with cake on their faces, he nodded.
“Yes. It’s fine.”
Atreille grabbed a chunk of cake with his hand and shouted.
“See, he said it’s okay! Warriors, destroy the cake!”
“Take this, Your Highness the Crown Prince!”
“Oh, nice one, Little Gray! You’re truly Uncle’s best disciple!”
“Ahem.”
The three kids ate the cake, smeared it on each other, talked and played around. The squashed cake flew through the air, and their laughter echoed.
Dodging the flying cake, Cian quietly moved closer to Rachel.
“Did you know about the birthday party?”
“Of course. I found the big moon candy for the top of the cake.”
“I really didn’t expect this. I’ve always spent my birthdays quietly dining with Dolorosa. I naturally thought it would be the same this year.”
Rachel laughed lightly.
“If I didn’t know, I might have let it pass, but since I did, how could I? You’ve helped me a lot, and I wanted to give you a gift.”
“Thank you so much. For giving me such a special birthday.”
Cian murmured as he watched Dolorosa burst into laughter.
“Not just for the gift and the celebration, but this is the first time I’ve seen Dolorosa smile and play so happily. She’s often met His Highness the Crown Prince, but has never had this much fun.”
“Whenever those three meet, it’s always this lively. I think this is the power of peers.”
“Indeed.”
And then, for some reason, he looked at Rachel. Rachel was momentarily taken aback because his eyes were dripping with love, just like when he looked at Dolorosa.
“Your Highness? Is there something on my face?”
“Yes. There is.”
Thinking it might be cake thrown by the kids, she rubbed her cheeks and chin, but found nothing.
Cian just smiled the whole time, looking at Rachel.
* * *
After finishing the birthday party at the Fram mansion, Cian returned to the Dicarsignac mansion.
As soon as he entered his study, he checked the documents on his desk. Today was the day he was supposed to receive the results of Nick’s investigation, so he was eager.
Nick, who’d followed him in, laughed shortly.
“Your Highness. Please take off your coat first.”
“Report first.”
“Allow me to wish you a happy birthday first.”
At the unexpected words, Cian looked up.
Nick handed him a stack of gift boxes with a broad grin.
“No matter how much you love work, please understand our desire to celebrate the day you were born.”
“…I apologize.”
“Please accept them. This is my gift, this one is from Duke Stefan, and this one is from Hyzius.”
Cian first opened Nick’s gift. It was a luxurious quill.
“The quill you were using was old, so I prepared a new one.”
It was something that only Nick, who worked closely with Cian, could give him.
Cian smiled as he replaced the quill in the ink bottle with the new one.
“I’m sorry for making you take care of such things. Thank you.”
“Not at all.”
Next, he opened Stefan’s gift.
Unlike Nick, who gave gifts every year, Cian had never received one from Stefan. He couldn’t guess what kind of gift the guy had prepared.
[This is a new business item, how about it?
If you need more while dating, let me know. I’ll prepare it in different colors just for you!
Happy birthday, friend!]
“…”
Cian threw the playful letter and gift into the trash can.
Nick chuckled next to him.
“The only person who could give His Highness a pair of fishnet underwear and still keep his life would probably be His Excellency Duke Stefan.”
“It’s not because it’s Stefan, it’s because he’s not around right now.”
“Ah. I see. There was a reason he went out today.”
There was a reason why Stefan, who’d been attached to the mansion like a leech, vacated even though he clearly knew that it was Cian’s birthday.
Rubbing his temples, Cian opened the last remaining gift from Hyzius.
[For His Highness the Archduke. Hyzius]
Cian smiled bitterly when he saw the item that was included along with the short and concise letter.
What Hyzius sent to Cian was the guild’s business report from last year and the guild’s seal.
Since he was only a guild leader in name, he meant that Cian, the real guild owner, should put the final seal on the report.
Cian sighed deeply.
“I’ve told him to stop, but he won’t listen.”
“Don’t you know how important this is for Hyzius who respects the rules and values the Archduke?”
Of course he knew.
Even though it’s been 5 years since Cian handed over the guild, he still sent the report and seal every year on Cian’s birthday.
The guild once belonged to Cian. Because of his hostility, anger, and anxiety toward Sigar, he meticulously collected information and events happening throughout the empire through the guild.
However, as time passed and his life became more stable, Cian let go of much of his obsession and fear. He withdrew from guild operations and passed the seal to Hyzius.
The problem was Hyzius’s overflowing loyalty to Cian. Despite Cian’s repeated assurances, he continued to kneel before him and return the seal every year.
Nick shrugged.
“Though he does it out of loyalty to you, there’s also some self-interest. By sending the report and seal, he ensures you will personally return them.”
“I can’t send the seal with a courier.”
“Exactly. That Hyzius guy is using a trick to meet His Highness the Archduke.”
“Such excuses aren’t necessary. Why would I need tricks to meet Hyzius?”
“Please say that to him directly. He’ll probably cry tears of joy.”
“What a fuss.”
Despite his words, Cian placed the report and seal on one side of his desk. If he hadn’t received them, he wouldn’t have read them, but now that they were in his possession, he had to read through them carefully and stamp them.
This meticulousness was what Nick, Stefan, and Hyzius liked about him.
“Now that the celebrations are over, let’s move on to the report.”
“Understood. Which matter would you like to start with?”
“The purchase of the castle and estate.”
“With the funds provided, we acquired the original Fram Castle and all its lands. The current owner demanded a high price, but it wasn’t burdensome.”
“Good. Any issues?”
“Countess Rachel moved. It seems she wants to reclaim the castle and estate. She doesn’t seem to know that we’ve already purchased them.”
“Is that so.”
Cian was pleased to have obtained what Rachel wanted ahead of her.
If Rachel finds out that Cian bought the castle and land first, will Rachel be happy, embarrassed, or even angry?
Resting his chin on his hand, he smiled widely. He looked forward to her reaction. Gifting her the castle and estate and winning her time and heart would be the best outcome.
“What about the carriage craftsman and the workshop?”
“Well, it’s said that the carriage craftsman and workshop are renowned in the region. They are known for making sturdy and detailed carriages and are proud of their craftsmanship. They are also renowned for their post-sale maintenance.”
“Are you saying the accident didn’t happen because of a defect in the carriage?”
“Yes. Even before the accident, the master personally went to the Fram mansion to inspect the condition of the carriage. It was so strong that he was sure it wouldn’t have been damaged in the slightest accident.”
“So, the carriage wasn’t at fault.”
Cian perched on the edge of his desk, crossing his arms.
“Does that mean the coachman was the problem?”
Nick nodded with a grin. He loved his superior’s keen insight.
“Precisely.”
“Tell me more.”
