I was very confident. It’s already been 12 months in this house. I won’t be surprised no matter what kind of party is planned.
“… …“ ‘They are a family beyond imagination, really.’
I even went through my sister’s birthday party last May, so I was confident I wouldn’t be surprised this time.
The largest hall in the mansion was decorated with red as the accent color.
“Because our Anastasia’s eyes are very pretty.” It was amazing that even though it was hot outside in the beginning of July, it felt slightly cool because of the clever decorations.
Tapestries woven by maids and tassel decorations using beautiful fabrics. In addition, an ice craft was made centred around a large, familiar ruby - probably the one that Mikhail had been trying to give to me all along.
As she gazed at the craft in amazement and at his tenacity the young Duke was inwardly proud. He must have mistaken my tired eyes.
Anyway, the first birthday here also seemed special.
‘The cake… … . It’s so big.’
I couldn’t even imagine how much effort the chef put into it.For my sister’s birthday last May, it was a three-tier cake, but for my first birthday, they made a five-tier cake this time.
‘Wow, how do they make it so pretty?’
There was even a model of a girl with black hair standing at the top. When I saw the red eyes on the figurine face, I knew it was me.
‘I really feel like I’m in a dream.’
It’s my birthday, and there are so many pretty things. I don’t even remember having a birthday in the first place. As my father placed me in the very centre of the hall, in what looked like the main character’s seat, cheers and applause erupted around.
“Baby, happy first birthday!”
“It’s already been a year. You don’t know how happy I am that you’ve allowed us to continue to be together as family.”
“Please allow me to continue to take responsibility for my lord’s safety!”
The maids and knights who are always in charge of my room. And all the other servants I didn’t normally meet also had really happy faces.
‘My father must have given you a bonus again, right?’
But now I know that there is no need to look at it from such a crooked perspective. They gave their heartfelt congratulations not simply because of the generous salary our parents gave them, but because they truly had affection for the dukedom.
* * *
There was no stopping laughter throughout the party. A band playing, many gifts from unknown nobles who came to me. Various fruits prepared for me to taste.Each one was amazing and special.
But most of all, the suggestion my father gave me was the best.
“Our youngest, our Anastasia. Your Dad, can I ask my daughter to her first dance?”
Dancing? How are you going to dance with a 12 month old? Although I was puzzled, I answered positive.
“right.”
“Thank you, my daughter.”
After saying that, my father knelt on his knees and held both of my hands. When the orchestra started playing, my father came up on his knees, went to the side to the beat, and then spun around. Then he picked me up and danced while taking steps.
“As expected, my daughter, how can she dance so well?”
No matter how you look at it, I can hear it loudly from everyone . but,
“She dances well because she’s our daughter.”
“Lala, Lala, want to be with Sasha!”
“Father, I also want to dance with my youngest, so please stop monopolizing her”
Seeing my family react like this made me wonder what was going on. Everyone seems to have fun like that. Even Mikhail.
“I also really want to ask the youngest princess to dance.”
I don’t know if it’s because everyone was caught up in it, but seeing them trying to follow along others made me wonder if this was a dance or if it was just the moving of their legs.
“I want to keep my youngest’s hands and keeping her only with dad.”
Even after the first dance, my father spoke as if he was worried about others snatching and my mother smiled slightly.
“Oh my, is my husband not going to hold my hand tonight?. Then shall I try holding someone else’s hand?”
“yes!? No, you have to hold my hand!”
She was also my mother what did dad think so finally when my father gently placed me down, my sister and brother each held one of my hands.
“Isn’t it good to dance with your sister?”
As soon as the next song started, my sister started jumping and spinning.
“Laurencia, you should go a little slower Because Anastasia is still a baby.”
“yes!”“Because you’re older Lala, you can take it slow with sasha!”
Then, my sister calmly followed my brother and moved at a slow pace, looking closely at me.
Even though the older brother was essentially escorting his two younger siblings, he skillfully guided them both to keep them from falling as the orchestra played.
The song ended again, and it was Mikhail who held my hand at the end. Next to me, my older sister was holding my brother’s hands and laughing, and my mother and father’s faces were filled with happiness. The sight of that made my mouth tingle.
“Baby, are you laughing just now?”
Perhaps, if Mikhail hadn’t said this, she would have continued smiling.
“kid.”
“No, it seemed like I was laughing.”
“Oh noo.”
When I strongly denied it, Mikhail showed a slightly sullen face.
However, he soon showed his characteristic smile with a slightly sly expression and spoke as if he was challenging me.
“Then I need to practice more in the future. To dance well enough to make the youngest princess smile.”
This guy really doesn’t know how to give up.
But even though that tenacity was obnoxious, I didn’t hate it. At least not to the extent of joining hands in something like this dance following my family.
* * *
My birthday party wrapped up around afternoon. But that day, the mansion was noisy with happy emotions until late at night.
My parents were quite generous employers and were willing to let the servants enjoy themselves after the party was over.
For that reason, my family spent time taking care of me in the evening.
“Now, come here. Here’s dad, my youngest.”
My father must still be amazed at my walking, so he stretched out his arms from a little distance away.
‘Now that I think about it, when I was first practicing walking… … .’
When my father opened his arms like that, instead of going for a hug I grabbed one of his arms and embarrassed my father. Because I’m not used to it. But now I am a beloved baby who has gained experience of love for a year.
I walked as my father wanted even though stumbling slightly and falling in his arms while hugging him.
“Why, our youngest. Why do you walk so well? You even beautifully danced your first dance a little while ago.”
“Sasha, just run now!” Is it okay to call running? Like trying to walk a little faster and call it running? My sister had different thoughts. It’s still wobbly even I can’t get my speed right.
But my father responded quickly.
“really? dad didn’t see?.”
As my father looked sullen, my older sister put her hands on her hips, chirped and cheered .
“Sasha as your older sister I take care of everything! Sasha can now run and walk on her own!”
Then my sister came next to me and held my hand while smiling brightly.
“But Sasha, isn’t it better to walk hand in hand with your sister? And you walk hand in hand with her brother!”
If it had happened when I was just been born, I would have been taken aback by my older sister’s friendly question. Now I know what the best answer is. This one is different from Mikhail Leventis.
“Ooh, jo-ah.”
So I did my best to pronounce it.
“Really?”
Even though the pronunciation was not anywhere beyond babbling, she smiled brightly and hugged me tightly while I am wondering what was so good about it.
One year, looking back it was quicker than I thought. Of course, I felt afraid because I felt like I was being immersed in this warmth faster than I expected. But this couldn’t be helped.
Nevertheless, I decided to cherish every single moment here and spend it happily. I realized that pushing it away and giving a deliberately distorted answer wasn’t the best idea.
Even if it hurts later, it will be a much better choice than making myself unhappy now. As my older sister rubbed her eyes my mother smiled and held her in her arms, comforting her.
“Mother, father. Then good night.”
My brother greeted us politely and left a goodnight kiss to my parents, me, and my sister.
Maybe it was because it was my first birthday in a long time. I wasn’t sleepy yet, also I didn’t struggle to get out of my father’s embrace.
“Dad will put you sleep today, Anastasia.”
“right….”
Hearing the soft voice, I buried my head in my father’s arms. My father didn’t have the same skills as my mother, so I wouldn’t be able to sleep easily I thought.
But strangely enough soon after that big hand started patting me my eyelids became heavy.
I need to set a barrier[1] . But my father’s hand was so powerful. I let my consciousness go straight into the sleep.
* * *
For some reason, I felt uncomfortable.
An unpleasant metallic clanking sound was heard.
The moment I gained visibility, I realized that another unpleasant intruder had visited my dream.
-hi.
The bastard I saw about three months ago shamelessly greeted me.
[1]I didn’t understand here it was her routine but when went through the story I didn’t find any so if it’s mistaken anything
