IBTDOMD Chapter 73

 

 

 

‘Huh? What’s going on? Why did it suddenly cut off?’

 

I was briefly flustered but quickly understood.

 

Hmph. The reason was obvious.

 

It’s because he thought I’d say, ‘my beloved Serdin,’ right?

 

Geez, even so, he’s an adult. He should know better.

 

Delight seemed aware that his behavior was childish, as he avoided my gaze.

 

Blueny couldn’t hold back a chuckle and tried to mediate.

 

“Pfft. Prince Serdin understands. Still, his congratulations are sincere.”

 

“Come on, blow out the candles already.”

 

Delight urged, looking embarrassed.

 

“Don’t forget to make a wish.”

 

Even so, he didn’t forget the important part.

 

Serdin first made a wish in his heart.

 

“I hope everyone remembers today as a joyful day.”

 

He voiced his wish aloud and blew out the candles with gusto.

 

“That’s not really a wish, is it?”

 

“It is a wish. The day isn’t over yet, so I hope everyone here remains happy until we fall asleep tonight.”

 

Serdin added that today would be remembered as truly special.

 

“Hmph, what kind of wish is that? Make sure to tell me your proper final wish.”

 

Delight frowned in discontent but, at Blueny’s urging, forced a smile.

 

Still, he was genuinely taking care of Serdin’s birthday.

 

‘Seeing this, I feel like I taught Delight quite well.’

 

After all, the idea of making birthdays special was none other than this teacher’s teaching.

 

Heheh.

 

“Now, it’s time to cut the cake.”

 

“Right. We can’t miss that part. Prince Serdin, would you cut the cake for us?”

 

At Blueny’s words, Serdin focused all his attention on cutting the cake.

 

But, huh? He cut it in a rather peculiar way.

 

The piece Serdin cut was oddly large.

 

“This one is for Ollia…”

 

Then, Serdin tried to give me the biggest piece.

 

No way. Did he purposely cut one piece larger just for me?

 

“Ah…!”

 

No. I was about to urgently refuse.

 

But Delight reached out first, moved the largest piece onto a plate, and spoke up.

 

“The main character should have the biggest piece.”

 

He placed it in front of Serdin.

 

Exactly! The biggest piece belongs to the birthday star.

 

“And as for the cake Ollia is supposed to eat, I’ll give her my share too, so it’s none of your concern.”

 

… Delight just had to add that one last comment.

 

Seriously, he’s impossible.

 

In any case, the cake pieces were distributed to each person.

 

“I’ll give you my strawberry too.”

 

I used a fork to move a strawberry from my piece of cake to Serdin’s plate.

 

Truthfully, there’s nothing particularly special about strawberries.

 

But the strawberries on top of a cake are special!

 

“I’ll give you mine too. Eat a lot.”

 

Blueny, getting caught up in the mood, also offered his strawberry to Serdin.

 

And so, we shared the cake together, celebrating Serdin’s birthday.

 

 

It was a very successful birthday party.

 

The party had ended, and I had returned to my room feeling satisfied.

 

That’s when I noticed a beautifully wrapped gift box on the table.

 

“Oh no! I forgot my present! Monia, I’m going to see Serdin!”

 

“Shall I come with you?”

 

“No, it’s okay. I can go alone.”

 

In truth, saying I forgot the present was just an excuse.

 

There was something I wanted to tell Serdin personally before he left.

 

“Were you here?”

 

Serdin was sitting in one of his usual walking spots, lost in thought.

 

“Did you come looking for me?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

I laid out a spot next to him and sat down.

 

“Why do you look so down?”

 

“I’m not. I feel good right now. It’s just… I still can’t believe I had a birthday like this. I doubt it will happen again.”

 

Would his family in Ilnord even bother to send him a formal gift for his birthday?

 

“For the first time, it felt like I had a family. It’s ridiculous, isn’t it?”

 

Serdin shook his head with a faint, weary smile.

 

‘I knew he’d be like this.’

 

When he returns to Ilnord, the emperor, empress, and crown prince will push Serdin to the outskirts of their family circle.

 

No matter how much he tries to step inside, he’ll be pushed back out.

 

Serdin only had two choices.

 

Either he could keep trying to win their favor and make endless, thankless efforts to gain recognition, or he could—

 

“Family is something you can choose.”

 

“…What?”

 

“It’s not something that has to be decided from the start. If you feel like it’s not right, you can give it up.”

 

Serdin could let go of them too.

 

And that was okay.

 

If they don’t protect you, deceive you, and only use you, they have no right to be called family.

 

There’s no need to beg for love and attention from people like that.

 

“Later on, when you grow up strong and become a wonderful adult, go find your own family, Serdin.”

 

“My own family?”

 

“Yep! Someone you want to be with for the rest of your life!”

 

I deliberately nodded my head passionately as I said it.

 

“That’s what a real family is.”

 

So, give your love and attention to the real family you find for yourself.

 

To me, family was the people I spent time with in the mountains.

 

Sometimes, family is formed by chance encounters and shared moments together.

 

So, you don’t have to be too distressed over those so-called ‘family members’ back in Ilnord.

 

This was something I only realized after living for a long time.

 

I wondered if this truth would reach Serdin’s heart.

 

The current emperor of Ilnord was once a crown prince who had tried to kill me.

 

I knew exactly what kind of person he was.

 

I’d never seen his child, the current crown prince, but—

 

Given that Serdin was taken as a hostage, he was probably just like his father.

 

There was no way those people would recognize or treat Serdin as family.

 

Serdin listened to my words and fell into deep thought.

 

After a moment, he spoke with a much lighter expression on his face.

 

“Then Hugo is my family.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“Hugo was always by my side, no matter what. He’s always on my side.”

 

Serdin’s eyes were unwavering.

 

“Since Hugo is with me, I’ll be fine even if I go back to Ilnord.”

 

It seemed like Serdin had already found his own answer.

 

“So, you don’t have to worry. I’ll be alright.”

 

“……..…”

 

“Don’t forget, I’m still a prince. When I return, I’ll be treated properly and live well. So, in the meantime, you should grow up strong and healthy too.”

 

Serdin lightly ruffled my hair as he spoke.

 

“We won’t see each other for a while.”

 

“For a while?”

 

Once Serdin returned, it would probably be difficult to meet him again.

 

Yet, Serdin spoke as if we would meet again.

 

“Of course, we’ll meet again. That’s just how it will be.”

 

Serdin declared it as if making a solemn vow.

 

“When we meet again, I’ll look different from how I am now. I’ll be a cool, impressive adult.”

 

Honestly, it wasn’t hard to picture an all-grown-up, dashing Serdin.

 

“And if my eyes truly have something to do with Ilnord’s imperial legitimacy… then maybe I’ll reclaim everything that should have been mine.”

 

Serdin made sure to meet my gaze as if sharing a secret just between us.

 

“……..…”

 

So it was true. Delight had kept Serdin as a hostage because he knew the secret behind those eyes.

 

When I first heard that Serdin was a prince held hostage, I immediately recognized his red eyes.

 

But it seemed Serdin himself was completely unaware of the significance of his red eyes.

 

So, for a time, I wondered if it was just a coincidence.

 

When the red eyes of Ilnord’s imperial family started to fade over generations, they deliberately hid the symbol of the red eyes.

 

But now, Serdin knew his eyes were important.

 

Which meant—

 

‘Delight told him.’

 

He must have remembered what I said.

 

The legitimacy of the Ilnord imperial family wasn’t something they built with their own strength.

 

They only held on to the symbol of legitimacy—the red eyes—for generations.

 

‘The cause and effect are entirely different.’

 

That legitimacy was also the power that had protected Ilnord up until now.

 

At the same time, it was the problem that Delight had to solve in order to end the war with Ilnord.

 

Perhaps Serdin could be the one to resolve it.

 

Of course, depending on Serdin’s choices, the outcome could be entirely different.

 

“You can do it. Anything at all.”

 

“Really?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

Even so, I decided to support him.

 

Because Serdin was definitely a better person than the current emperor or crown prince of Ilnord.

 

It was at that moment—

 

Serdin spoke with a slightly playful expression on his face.

 

“Did you come here just to tell me that?”

 

“No, I came because I forgot to give you your present.”

 

“A present? Where is it?”

 

Serdin glanced at my empty hands and asked.

 

“Ah! I forgot it again.”

 

“…Did you really forget it?”

 

“Of course I did! I picked it out with great effort. I’ll definitely give it to you later!”

 

What do you take my sincerity for?!

 

“Pfft.”

 

When I shouted in frustration, Serdin burst into laughter.

 

Was he teasing me just now?

 

I glared at him fiercely.

 

“My birthday party itself was a gift for me. Thank you. Honestly… I was able to endure living here because you were with me.”

 

Serdin suddenly opened his heart, catching me off guard before I could even get angry.

 

“I was a source of strength for you?”

 

“You were the only one for me in this place.”

 

I already knew that.

 

After all, the core of Serdin’s plans had always revolved around me.

 

He had always been thinking about me.

 

“I had fun too, thanks to you, Serdin.”

 

So, if my presence gave you the strength to endure being here, then I’m glad.

 

“Then… did you like me, even a little?”

 

Serdin asked with a hint of nervousness in his voice.

 

Come on. Why ask something like that?

 

I replied without a second of hesitation, as if there was nothing to think about.

 

“Of course! I really like you, Serdin!”

 

The reason he approached me was to use me.

 

From the start, it was a plan destined to fail.

 

Even if I had been an ordinary child, you still would have failed.

 

From what I’ve seen of Serdin so far, he’s smart and clever but not someone who could harm others.

 

That’s why I ended up sincerely cheering for Serdin’s future.

 

“Then if that’s true… don’t forget me.”

 

After staring at me for a long time in silence, Serdin finally spoke in a slightly low voice.

 

He sounded a little nervous, his voice trembling slightly.

 

“Yeah. I’ll never forget you.”

 

Of course, I wouldn’t forget him. So I reassured him, telling him not to worry.

 

“Really? If we don’t see each other for a while, you might forget. Even if we meet again, you might not recognize me.”

 

“I’ll recognize you.”

 

“Then, do you want to make a bet? Let’s see if you recognize me or not when we meet again.”

 

“Yeah, sure! I’m confident!”

 

“If you fail to recognize me at first sight…”

 

“Yeah! Not that it’s going to happen, though!”

 

“You have to grant me one wish. Anything I want.”

 

“Deal!”

 

I confidently hooked my pinky finger with his to make a promise.

 

It wasn’t until much later that I realized—

 

The one who’s brimming with confidence in a bet is usually the one who loses.