“A party?”
The Duke’s ears perked up at the unexpected suggestion, deep in thought.
“Yes. Norman, Mrs. Wells, me, and you, Duke.”
“…Even me?”
“Yes.”
“It’s not difficult. But I don’t think just being together will be enough of a gift.”
Noah was an incomprehensible person to the Duke. He could understand showing gratitude, but he thought Noah might be liking him excessively.
“It will be enough.”
“…”
Carol knew that Noah would cherish even a pebble given by the Duke.
“If you think it’s not enough, you can give other gifts too.”
But if she told the Duke this, Noah might get upset. So instead of conveying Noah’s true feelings, Carol added this remark.
The Duke seemed to ponder for a while, then, deciding it was something he could do, he expressed his agreement.
“I’ll have the party prepared for now.”
He concluded by saying he’d need to think more about the birthday gift. It would be more ridiculous to refuse when the child wanted it, even though it seemed unlikely.
“Since we’re talking about gifts, is there anything you want, Duke?”
“…Suddenly?”
“There’s less than a month left, you know.”
The Duke recalled his own birthday, which he had forgotten. It wasn’t a particularly important day. There weren’t many good memories, only the thought of it being troublesome due to the formal receptions held.
“…You’re planning to give me something too?”
“…Yes.”
Actually, she hadn’t expected much beyond the kiss at the garden house this time. She thought it would be a big step forward if they could just advance their relationship a little more.
So, at least until next month, she would be able to come to the Duke’s Mansion.
“I see. So that’s it.”
The Duke chuckled at her response.
“Why are you laughing?”
“I never imagined there would come a day when I’d look forward to my birthday.”
And he never knew that choosing what gift to receive could be such an exciting thing.
Desire bubbled up inside him.
He wanted to use the gift as an excuse to forcefully take a corner of her emotions, a bit of her warmth.
But the Duke quickly suppressed such desires.
All his greed existed because she was by his side.
“Then, can I receive something else instead of a gift?”
“What? What is it?”
“Just grant me one favor later.”
“Something so broad…”
“I won’t ask for anything big. I swear.”
It was a shallow trick.
If she were to leave, if she said she wouldn’t extend the contract anymore.
He smiled bitterly, imagining himself making a pitiful request like begging her to stay just one more month.
“It’s not your birthday yet, you know.”
“Right. Then I’ll ask again when the time comes.”
“You can’t ask for anything unreasonable. If you do, I’ll ask for something even bigger on my birthday.”
“Alright.”
They both hid their true feelings and laughed cheerfully.
Carol hid her uncertainty about staying until his birthday, and the Duke hid his sincere willingness to give her anything bigger she might wish for.
At this time, they didn’t realize.
The fact that this birthday would be the last one of this year that the three of them would celebrate together.
****
Thud.
“Norman?”
“Oh, Noah. May I touch your body for a moment?”
“What? Yes. Go ahead.”
The problem was that he gave permission without much thought.
Noah, who had been reading a book in the servants’ lounge, was forcibly blindfolded by Norman.
Confused by the sudden event, Noah flailed his hands in the air.
“What is this, Norman?”
From what he had heard, Carol and the Duke said they would have lessons for a few hours and then join the party afterwards.
Noah didn’t want to make a fuss, so he maturely said they could have the party together when they finished.
They had clearly said the party would start at 10 PM today, but the last time he checked, it was only around 8 PM.
“Stay still for a moment.”
His body soon floated in the air. Without being able to see, he was placed on Norman’s back.
Click.
Being blindfolded, he had no sense of where they were going.
Cold air touched his ankles. Norman started walking quickly.
“We’re going to the garden house first, aren’t we?”
Noah said in a sharp voice, but no answer came back.
What’s going on? Am I being sold off again? Did I get too cocky because the people at the Duke’s Mansion treated me well?
His cheeks turned pale from the cold air touching them.
Just as unpleasant thoughts crossed his mind and he started to feel scared,
Norman suddenly stopped walking and put Noah down. Feeling his feet touch the ground calmed him down a bit.
“What’s this all of a sudden?”
Noah asked Norman accusingly as he took off the blindfold and looked around.
Instead of answering, Norman patted Noah’s shoulder and said,
“Let’s go inside.”
Although it was his first time here, he could quickly guess where they were. Glancing back, he saw dense trees.
“This is…”
As Noah had suspected, it was the garden house he had been singing about wanting to visit.
“This is the garden house, right?”
“That’s right.”
Norman grinned at Noah’s prim response.
“Did we come here first?”
He had heard it was quite a walk, but it seemed they arrived quickly thanks to Norman’s long strides.
Believing it was just another of Norman’s playful pranks, Noah deliberately made loud footsteps as he opened the door.
It was too dark inside to see anything.
But soon, the garden house door opened with a click. And from inside, Carol came out pushing a trolley.
On the trolley was a cake Norman had made with great care. And on top of it were small candles that Carol had specially requested.
Noah’s eyes widened at the sight of the cake glowing in the darkness. While he was too surprised to speak, Carol exclaimed excitedly,
“Happy birthday!”
“…Wasn’t the birthday party supposed to be later tonight?”
Still not fully grasping the situation, Noah asked in a dazed voice rather than immediately expressing joy.
“It was a surprise. When Norman said he’d go get you, I thought you’d figure it out right away!”
“Of course, Norman boasted that he would never be found out,” Mrs. Wells added.
Noah pinched one of his cheeks to make sure it wasn’t a dream. The pain confirmed it was real.
“You didn’t say anything, so I thought I was being sold off again.”
At Noah’s words, Mrs. Wells glared at Norman and scolded him.
“Norman! How exactly did you bring him here?”
“…I thought if I didn’t say anything at all, he wouldn’t figure it out, so that’s how I brought him…”
Norman, who was behind, spoke in a deflated voice.
Mrs. Wells lit a lantern in the back.
As the interior gradually brightened, Noah scanned the faces of the people inside. Carol standing in front of the trolley, Mrs. Wells busily moving around to light the lanterns, and even the Duke sitting in a chair.
Noah, finally realizing the situation, had tears welling up in his eyes.
“Thank you!”
Everyone smiled softly at Noah’s exclamation.
“Come and blow out the candles.”
“Candles?”
“Close your eyes, make a wish, and blow! If you blow them all out at once, your wish will come true.”
“I’m not a little kid who believes in that stuff!”
While retorting sharply to Carol’s words, Noah scurried towards the cake. It was an appetizing cake with fruits neatly stuck between the white cream.
Noah slightly closed his eyes and blew the candles on the cake with all his might.
“Let’s have the real party inside.”
Mrs. Wells took Noah’s hand and led him towards the reception room. Behind them, Norman followed, pushing the trolley with a happy face. And behind him, Carol held the Duke’s hand.
Click.
When they opened the reception room, they saw an array of food prepared inside. And next to the fireplace, gifts were neatly placed.
This space was solely for Noah. Realizing this fact, Noah’s face turned slightly red.
“Oh my. I was already happy just being with the cake!”
Noah let out a joyful scream.
“Let’s return before midnight.”
“I’m going to have the happiest few hours of my life!”
Noah smiled brightly at Mrs. Wells’ words.
They ate to their heart’s content, cut the cake, and drank mulled wine with the alcohol burned off so Noah could drink too.
In the warm atmosphere, Carol asked the Duke in a secretive voice.
“Did you prepare a gift, Duke?”
“In my own way.”
The Duke shrugged. Where was all that worry from before? Carol felt a needless sense of competition.
“You sound confident.”
“I suppose the teacher prepared a separate gift too.”
“Yes. I probably know Noah’s heart well.”
“We’ll see about that.”
Carol’s curiosity peaked at the Duke’s confident tone.
“What did you prepare as a gift?”
“It wouldn’t be fun if I told you now, would it?”
The Duke refused to answer, saying the most interesting part should be saved for last.
