103. Birthday (4)

Owen awoke to a familiar scene.

He was dreaming.

A dream of inheriting memories.

There were still several months of memories Owen had yet to inherit.

‘…It’s raining.’

The remaining memories were dry and pale.

Most of them were monotonous, like a black-and-white film.

Only when emotions were particularly intense—usually during moments of trauma—did they strike with vividness.

‘I don’t think anyone mentioned rain.’

A familiar sensation took over his body.

A choking breath, a painful tightness in his chest, and a stinging ache as if he’d been struck all over.

Owen had grown adept at hiding his trauma.

As long as he didn’t encounter sudden rainstorms or thunderclaps, no one would ever suspect the kind of past he carried.

But that day, of all days, his butler Logan, the captain of the knights, Jade, and the vice-captain, Helen, were with him.

They had gathered to discuss official business.

Owen tried his best to appear unaffected, but the sudden rain soon escalated into a storm with thunder and lightning.

In the end, he couldn’t hide it from the three.

‘…Your Grace?’

‘Your Grace!’

‘Your Grace, please, come to your senses!’

The three rushed to him, their expressions filled with alarm.

Ignoring protocol, they reached out to steady him, trying to calm him, but Owen struggled with irregular breathing for quite some time.

He gasped for air, unable to fill his lungs, trapped in his memories and pain, before gradually returning to himself.

Most of the staff at the capital residence had been replaced, leaving only a few who knew about Owen’s past. Even they had been sent away to the estate, so the knights in the capital were all new recruits.

Even Logan, the knight captain, and Helen, the vice-captain, were recent additions.

“……”

Owen, displeased by the sudden disruption, narrowed his brows and took a moment to steady his breath before speaking.

“Say nothing of this. Whatever you saw, you know nothing.”

The cold warning made the three swallow hard before nodding.

“Yes, understood.”

But after that day, they couldn’t help but pay closer attention to Owen.

No one could remain indifferent when their lord seemed troubled.

Even so, Owen was skilled at masking his emotions, and he rarely felt emotional disturbances in the first place.

That was a result of the abuse he’d endured.

Time flowed on.

Though it rained a few more times, there were no sudden incidents, and Owen didn’t show any notable reaction.

Then, April arrived.

The day Owen had first fallen into this world.

[This is the end.]

A voice echoed through the air as all his surroundings distorted.

And then he appeared.

[It seems we won’t meet again.]

Owen had made a request of him before.

He had asked that his remaining memories be left intact, just in case.

And the situation he had prepared for had indeed come.

Owen had asked him to meet Bella on his behalf, and he had willingly done so.

Now that everything was over, there was no reason for him to stay any longer.

“…I see.”

A strange sense of regret welled up within him.

He felt upset and still a little sorry.

When Owen slowly voiced his complex emotions, the figure stepped closer and reached out.

Despite his unchanged appearance, he exuded an air of maturity as he gently patted Owen’s head.

And he whispered.

[Happy birthday.]

“…Ah.”

It was Owen’s birthday.

Owen and his birthday.

“I should have said it first… Happy birthday.”

Owen returned the greeting.

At that, the figure smiled.

[Indeed.]

He looked inexplicably content.

Owen couldn’t take his eyes off the expression on his face.

[Take care. From now on, we’ll be together forever.]

The figure extended a hand to him as he spoke, staring at Owen.

Owen shifted his gaze from the man’s face to his outstretched hand.

Then, he too extended his hand, clasping the other’s firmly.

It was a handshake marking both parting and reunion.

“Likewise.”

The space filled with white light.

Everything grew so bright it seemed it would vanish, and all traces of Owen and the figure intertwined.

It was a farewell.

* * *

Farewell was also eternity.

When Owen awoke, his memories, experiences, and soul had become complete.

He realized anew.

He was Owen, and Owen was also him.

“Owen.”

Owen slowly blinked as he roused from sleep.

The vividness of last night’s dream left him slightly groggy.

“Happy birthday.”

The door to his bedroom opened, and Lucia entered.

Her radiant smile accompanied her heartfelt congratulations, and Owen couldn’t help but smile back.

“Thanks.”

The gentle sunlight streaming through the curtains illuminated the serene bedroom, and the sound of her voice greeting him first thing in the morning warmed his heart.

Owen was certain of one thing.

It would be a perfect birthday.

The person he loved had been the first to celebrate it with him.

“You just woke up.”

Lucia whispered as she looked at Owen, who had only just risen from bed.

Then, she moved to the window and pulled back the curtains.

The morning sun poured in, flooding the room with bright light.

“I’ll wait. Go wash up and come out.”

Lucia took a seat at a table set up in one corner of the bedroom, waving a hand casually.

Owen chuckled softly and responded with a nod before heading toward the bathroom.

As soon as he disappeared inside, two attendants waiting outside entered the room. They offered a polite explanation to Lucia before following Owen into the bathroom, carrying his fresh indoor attire.

Lucia sat leisurely, taking her time to observe the bedroom.

Owen’s chamber in the estate’s main castle was entirely different from the one in the capital.

The Verdun ducal residence in the capital exuded a clean and composed atmosphere. Except for the garden, every corner was serene and orderly.

In contrast, the estate’s castle felt overwhelmingly ornate and antique. The main building, in particular, stood out as the epitome of this style.

Owen’s bedroom—no, the lord’s bedroom—was just as extravagant and antique.

The elaborate chandelier and overly ornate bed frame, clearly not Owen’s preference, felt almost awkward in their grandeur.

The plain black wooden bed frame and simple magical lamp from the capital residence suited him much better.

‘…Though, it’s not like this looks completely out of place either.’

Of course, given Owen’s appearance, nothing would look strange on him.

Still, there was something to be said about atmosphere.

‘I should suggest changing some of the furniture.’

As Lucia scanned the furnishings in the bedroom, lost in thought, the bathroom door opened.

“Lucia.”

Freshly washed, Owen stepped out wearing his indoor attire instead of pajamas.

A neatly buttoned shirt paired with black trousers—a simple outfit, yet it suited him perfectly.

His black hair, thoroughly dried, showed no trace of dampness.

“You didn’t take it off while washing?”

Lucia’s gaze traveled from his feet up to his head, finally landing on his left hand.

Her eyes fixed on the engagement ring resting on his fourth finger.

“No.”

The silver ring, inlaid with a black pearl, had never left his finger since the day of their engagement ceremony.

Whenever Lucia looked at him, it was always there, even when he was washing up. It seemed he never took it off.

“Isn’t it uncomfortable?”

Lucia herself always wore her engagement ring, but she made an exception when bathing. Though it was magically treated to be water-resistant, dealing with it during baths was still inconvenient.

“Not at all.”

The attendants, having finished assisting Owen, left the room discreetly.

Owen approached Lucia and took her hand in his.

Holding her left hand—the one with the black pearl ring—he carefully lifted it and leaned down.

He pressed a brief kiss to the ring.

“I told you, I’m waiting too.”

His words carried an anticipation for their wedding, referencing what Lucia had mentioned before—wondering if she was the only one looking forward to it.

“…On your birthday, no less, I’m hearing something like this.”

Lucia’s voice wavered with mild embarrassment at his unexpected sentiment.

Owen tilted his head, curious.

“Today is your day, Owen. I should be saying nice things to you, don’t you think?”

Lucia added, as if explaining herself.

“Just being with you is enough.”

Even after her explanation, Owen seemed unable to understand, answering her with simplicity.

She sighed lightly and rose from her seat. Owen followed suit as she took his hand and led him.

“I’m not enough.”

The two descended the stairs together.

Though the building’s overall atmosphere differed from the capital’s, one thing remained the same: Owen’s living quarters were all located on the fifth floor.

His bedroom, study, and office were all on the same level.

This meant they had to descend quite a few steps to reach the first floor.

Once there, Lucia guided Owen to the dining room.

The main building housed fifteen dining rooms, just like the guest building.

Lucia led him to a room suited for about four people—at least by noble standards.

“The patissier worked hard. Since you’re not fond of sweet things, they prepared a tiramisu cake.”

When Lucia opened the dining room door, an elaborately decorated scene greeted them.

It was evident the servants had put in effort to celebrate his birthday.

On the table sat a large, two-tiered cake that seemed too much for just the two of them. Beside it stood a vase holding flowers—a black moon blossom paired with red roses, like the ones they’d seen yesterday.

The ceiling was adorned with colorful balloons filled with gas, and the walls displayed birthday decorations made from cut-out letters.

“I asked Dame Helen, and she said most people celebrate birthdays like this.”

“…Ah.”

Only after Lucia’s explanation did Owen understand the reasoning behind the scene, which resembled a typical birthday party setup from his past.

“Though the knight captain and the butler seemed worried, I thought this would be meaningful, so I went ahead with it.”

It seemed Jade and Logan had been opposed to the idea.

Helen, being from a commoner background, likely influenced the choice, while Jade and Logan, aware of noble customs, might have expected a different kind of celebration.

The old Owen might not have been moved by such gestures.

He wasn’t someone who understood these events.

But the current Owen was no longer the same.

“It’s more than I deserve. I love it.”

Owen gazed at the balloon-filled ceiling, the cake on the table, and Lucia, who seemed slightly anxious about his reaction. He smiled warmly.

As he expected, it was a perfect birthday.

A day so flawless, it felt complete—an utterly happy day.