A powerful and strong morning!
On my fourth birthday, I had grown remarkably.
Even without my nanny or the other maids waking me up, I got up on my own as soon as the sunlight streamed in. I pulled back the curtains, opened the window to let fresh air in, and poured myself a glass of water.
‘At least the sun is out today.’
The sky, now clear after the rain, was a striking shade of blue.
It would be a much better day for my dad and the other knights to move around.
Thankfully, the rain had stopped.
As I gazed out the window for a moment, I lightly patted my cheeks to keep myself from feeling sluggish.
‘Let’s think happy thoughts.’
Since it’s my birthday, I should ask nanny to let me play all day instead of studying.
And eat lots of delicious food!
“Huh?”
But what is this?
I don’t remember placing anything here.
Right beside my pillow, there was a small gift.
The packaging was incredibly elegant.
Anyone could tell it was a birthday present just by looking at it. I carefully unwrapped the luxurious packaging, turning it over in my hands.
Did nanny leave this?
Or was it Betty or Laura, who had been asking me what I wanted?
“What is this?”
Inside the wrapping was a small velvet box.
When I opened the lid, a sapphire necklace emitting a soft glow appeared before my eyes.
This pure white chain… was it made of platinum?
‘Wait… what is this all of a sudden?’
I had opened the box, thinking it was a simple gift prepared by nanny and the maids pooling their efforts. But as soon as I saw what was inside, I froze.
Only then did I notice the card tucked beneath the box, a little late.
When I unfolded it, elegant cursive writing appeared.
Happy fourth birthday, Ella. I’m sorry I can’t be with you again this year.
–Your loving dad.
The words were simple.
Yet, I read that last line over and over again.
Your loving dad…
So this is my birthday card. And this sapphire necklace… is my birthday gift?
Deep inside me, it felt like tiny dandelion seeds were fluttering up and floating away.
I never expected anything like this. Even while chasing after heretics in a hurry, he had left this behind for me.
“Oh my! Young miss, why are you crying?”
Right on time for my wake-up, nanny entered and was startled to find me sniffling. She quickly rushed over.
“Sniff… th-this… gift…”
I was crying so much that I could barely form words, but nanny immediately understood. Her eyes scanned the card and the necklace.
A warm smile slowly spread across her face.
With a tender expression, she wrapped me in a tight embrace.
“You’re touched, aren’t you, my dear young miss?”
Only then did I realize why I was crying in such a happy moment.
‘This is the first time, in both my past and present life, that I have ever received a birthday gift from my dad.’
I cried in Nanny’s arms for a long time before my sobs finally quieted down.
So embarrassing…
It was really embarrassing, but strangely, I also felt a subtle sense of fulfillment. It wasn’t all that bad.
“Shall we go wash up and get ready for the day? The sous-chef has put in extra effort today.”
“Really?”
“It seems he was deeply moved by what you did for him last time. You’ll be surprised when you go down to the dining hall.”
It wasn’t anything special, though.
Not used to this kind of reaction, I cleared my throat awkwardly and quickly changed the subject.
“Nanny, since it’s my birthday, can I play with Dietrich and Laura?”
“And skip studying?”
“Today is Mariela’s birthday too. Do I really have to study?”
…No way, right? She wouldn’t actually make me study today…?
I looked up at her anxiously.
Nanny chuckled, then pulled me into another warm hug.
“Alright. You can play with young master Dietrich all day today.”
“Nanny, you’re the best!”
I was going to eat lots of delicious cake, then play with Dietrich all day!
Excited for the day ahead, I washed up and changed into my clothes as nanny instructed. Then, bursting with energy, I dashed out of my room.
The curtains in the hallway were decorated with beautiful, sparkling star ornaments.
We couldn’t have a full party given the circumstances, but it was clear that everyone had done their best to celebrate my birthday.
The servants standing between the decorations called out in unison.
“Happy birthday, young miss!”
“I can’t believe our young miss is already four years old! How amazing!”
I was dressed in the beautiful new outfit nanny had prepared, wearing the dazzling necklace my dad had gifted me. The hallway was adorned with star decorations and elegant silver candlesticks.
“Ella! Happy birthday!”
Even the sleepyhead Dietrich had woken up early and was ready to celebrate with everyone.
He ran over, lifted me slightly into the air, then set me back down. He habitually reached to ruffle my hair, but upon seeing how carefully it had been styled, he simply patted my cheek instead.
Then, lowering his voice, he whispered in my ear.
“After breakfast, I’ll secretly teach you some swordsmanship. You wanted to learn, right?”
“Gasp!”
“But it has to stay a secret from father and nanny, okay?”
“Of course! Dietrich, you’re the best!”
How could he come up with such a wonderful idea?!
Hooking my arm through Dietrich’s, I proudly strode into the dining hall.
***
I spent a truly happy day celebrating my birthday.
Now, tucked under my blanket, I lay quietly in bed.
With nanny’s help, I had safely stored away my dad’s birthday card and gift.
I had also received plenty of presents from the other servants. Even Dietrich had saved up his allowance to buy me a soft, fluffy cat plushie.
‘And we all shared a giant birthday cake together.’
As I replayed the happy moments of the day in reverse order, a sense of contentment washed over me.
Feeling giddy, I rolled around on the bed—until a sudden thought struck me.
I sat up abruptly.
‘The flower bed beneath my window…’
That flower bed had been created by my mother, just for me.
Every year, it bloomed with pink flowers, the same shade as my mother’s and my hair, before fading away again.
I wanted to end my special day by looking at the gift my late mother had left for me.
I got up from my bed and approached the window, peeking outside.
It was already a dark night, but the moonlight was clear and bright…
‘Huh?’
What caught my attention wasn’t the garden but a faint light coming from beyond it—the butler’s office.
That room had been off-limits to everyone except a select few who had my dad’s explicit permission since the butler was confined to the punishment room.
‘And even those select few only went in once or twice during the day.’
But now, at this late hour, someone was inside, searching the room with only a single candlestick for light, not even fully turning on the lamps.
A bad feeling crept over me. Quietly, I slipped out of my room.
‘To exit the butler’s office, they would have to pass through the central hall.’
I should at least see who it is.
Pressing myself against the railing of the staircase, I hid in the shadows and peered down.
I waited for a few minutes until I finally heard footsteps, careful and quiet.
A man emerged, holding a candlestick in one hand and a ring of keys in the other.
‘Those are the keys that were kept in the butler’s office!’
I leaned forward slightly, letting the flickering candlelight reveal the man’s face.
‘The physician!’
What is he up to?
The physician, who always carried an anxious expression, was walking nervously, glancing around obsessively.
His hands were trembling so badly that the candlelight wavered with his every step.
Clutching the candlestick and the keys, he made his way toward the kitchen.
‘What should I do?’
My first instinct was to follow him. But realistically, that wasn’t an option.
First, he was so paranoid that I wasn’t confident I could tail him without being noticed.
Second, even if I did follow him, there was no way I could stop him on my own.
If I had leaned forward even a little more earlier, he would have spotted me immediately.
I thought I had threatened him clearly last time.
‘Did he ignore me just because I’m a child?’
I had kept my mouth shut because, with so many injured knights, we needed at least one skilled physician who understood how to treat wounds inflicted by magical beasts.
I clenched my teeth.
Even if I couldn’t follow him, I couldn’t just stand by and do nothing. I knew exactly what I had to do.
‘The ones from the main house are after the prince.’
First, I needed to protect him.
I couldn’t allow the prince, who was now under my dad’s protection, to be harmed in our home.
‘That’s right, the guards!’
Since my dad had returned, guards had been stationed on the third floor every night.
‘If I call them, they can easily apprehend the physician.’
Keeping my footsteps light, I made my way toward the third floor.
