I’m turning fifteen now.
It’s not the age of a full-fledged adult, but after the stormy year of being fourteen, it felt strange to be turning fifteen.
There was talk of throwing a big party for my fifteenth birthday, but I politely declined.
After all the hardships I’ve been through, it would have made sense to throw a big party, but even so, I wanted this time to be a simple gathering with just my family to celebrate together.
Not just me, but each other.
My father, who doesn’t enjoy large gatherings of people, gave his permission, and in the end, it was decided to have a party with only people from the Grand Duke’s family.
From the looks of the preparations they’re making now, it won’t be ‘small’.
Although I did not invite many to my birthday party, my room was full of gifts from all over the place.
While it made me happy to see so many gifts, there was also a sense of being overwhelmed by their sheer number.
When will I find the time to open all of these? I knew the rumors about me hadn’t been good since I’d run away from home, but judging by the gifts sent, my position as Grand Princess of Conler was still intact.
And there was a much more extravagant-looking wrapping paper on top of those gifts.
The presents from my family were always prominently placed there.
Although I’m usually not interested in things like jewelry, they usually prepare gemstones for me.
The sparkling gemstones I received every birthday already filled my jewelry box and decorating one side of my room.
Receiving this much celebration just for being born felt strange and uncomfortable, but I didn’t dislike the way they showed their love.
“The prince and Lady Astina will be here shortly.”
“Oh, thank you, Carol!”
In addition to the people of the Grand Duchy, the only other guests were Demimore and Astina.
Lausanne, now that she was a little free from the palace, was unfortunately unable to attend this birthday party as she was traveling to other countries.
Instead, she said she was collecting gifts for me in each country she traveled to.
All that aside, I was just happy that Lausanne was out of the palace and free to roam.
“I can’t believe you’re turning fifteen…….”
Carol fiddled with my hair filled with emotion. I closed my eyes, feeling Carol’s soft touch.
Even though I felt slightly annoyed when Carol said I had to prepare for the party since dawn, the early preparations allowed me to have this small moment of relaxation.
A lot has changed.
I don’t have nightmares anymore, and I don’t doubt my family.
My family members no longer like characters or marionettes in the novels I read.
They’ve truly become my father, my older brothers, and my younger brother.
When Demimore’s mother, Freezia, learned that the God of Death no longer existed, she expanded her circle of influence a bit more.
I don’t know if the Emperor liked it or not, but after a tearful plea from Demimore’s mother, Lausanne was allowed to leave the palace.
“Please don’t create a cage in a corner of the palace anymore.”
Doomed to be a wilting flower, Lausanne was fortunately able to go outside and bloom in full sunlight.
What didn’t change, however, was…….
Demimore and Astina.
It had been a while since I met those two. Using various excuses to postpone our meetings, I couldn’t hold them back when they wanted to wish me a happy birthday.
During the time I didn’t meet them, it seemed like they had grown somewhat close.
I felt a bitter taste in my mouth as I thought about it. The curse that the God of Death had uttered in his final act of evil kept echoing in my head.
‘If you two are meant to be, it’s a good thing…….’
I’d rather be lucky if they were destined to be together.
Me and Demimore can’t be together, and they’ll get the ending I think they deserve……. Maybe it’s not such a bad thing from their point of view.
And I’ve prepared myself to some extent.
But I’ve decided to stop thinking of the people around me like characters in a novel.
I’ve decided to stop seeing them as marionettes that willingly move to fulfill my destiny.
So, even though two people who don’t consciously think of each other are connected in this way, it might not be a good thing.
Yeah, but…….
I know, maybe this is a plausible excuse I made.
‘I hate it for some reason.’
I felt a pang in my stomach at the thought of them together, like I was the Mary Conler I knew from the novel.
I shouldn’t, not with all the things he’s done for me, and he’d be so much happier if it weren’t for me.
knock, knock.
“Someone must be here.”
With her tongue poking out from between her lips, Carol, who had been focusing all her attention on placing a single ribbon in my hair, jumped up and went to the door.
Carol, who opened the door slightly and checked the outside, made a sound like, “Oh my!”
“Miss Astina is here!”
“Astina?”
I was surprised by the appearance of the main character, as I had just been thinking about Demimore and Astina.
I told her to hurry up and let her in, and she came in with a big smile on her face.
“Mary!”
“Why did you just come without saying anything?”
I was still seated, getting my hair done, and couldn’t get up, but Astina quickly came to my side and took my hand.
She said she wanted to surprise me, so he asked my brother Theodore.
I was surprised by Astina’s sudden appearance, but I was also surprised by Theodore, who granted Astina’s request.
‘I asked for a favor and he granted it with all kinds of conditions…….’
“It’s been a while…….”
“Thank you for coming, Astina.”
Astina looked at me with a bright smile, but for a moment, she seemed to be thinking about something.
Why is she looking at me like that? A perverse sense of déjà vu overcame me, and I flinched.
“Happy birthday, Mary…….”
“……thank you.”
Astina hesitated and handed me a box with pink ribbon tied around it.
I wondered if it was a waste of money to give me a gift. It was so silly and ridiculous that I even thought about it.
“Oh, my God…….”
What Astina gave me as a gift was a dagger that looked modest rather than fancy.
A black obsidian, the same color as my eyes, was attached to the handle. I paused for a moment, not having the fondest memories of daggers.
I realize my reaction must have seemed bad.
“I know you’re not in any danger now, Mary, but I wanted to give it to you, after all the trouble the dagger has put you through.”
“Ah…”
“Check it out, see if there’s any spell in it.”
The joke was out of character for Astina, but I smirked, liking it quite a bit.
I realized how much thought Astina must have put into choosing this dagger and giving it to me as a gift.
“Oh, and I have one more gift for you!”
When I smiled, Astina smiled even brighter than I did, perhaps because she was relieved.
That’s why you hesitated earlier. Astina was surprisingly cute.
This alone was enough, and she had another gift? Astina literally jumped up and down and shook her head at my words.
Astina leaned against the door and shouted, “Okay, come in now!” I chuckled, looking toward the door, but my expression unconsciously hardened.
“Happy birthday, Mary.”
Demimore walked in. Faced with this unexpected three-way encounter, I found myself unknowingly looking at Carol.
Astina must have wanted me and Demimore to meet, and did Carol, who looked out the door earlier, not see Demimore?
Trying to be oblivious, Carol finally shrugged off my insistent gaze.
“His Highness sent a gesture to be quiet from behind.”
At Carol’s whispered explanation, I finally turned my head. Right, of course. Carol had no chance against His Highness.
“You must not be happy to see me.”
“No, I’m just so surprised…….”
Demimore asked, looking a little offended by my reaction. Behind him, Astina clasped her hands together and smiled.
When she made eye contact with me, she tilted her head, which was really cute.
“I wanted to come and wish you a happy birthday. Astina asked Theodore, and I asked Astina.”
“I’ve never seen a prince so desperate.”
Astina teased Demimore, perhaps she had grown more at ease over time.
Well… it’s been almost six years since we’ve known each other, and it’s still amusing that we’re not used to each other.
I squeezed the hem of the dress I was wearing. It was because I remembered my birthday a long time ago.
The day Demimore said didn’t want to get engaged to me, and then later Astina showed up.
