Chapter 36
Chapter 36
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: A Strong and Mighty Morning!
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A strong and mighty morning!
Having reached my fourth birthday, I'd grown remarkably.
Even without the nurse or the other maids waking me, I could now get up the moment sunlight streamed in, draw back the curtains, open the window to air out the room, and pour myself a glass of water.
'At least the sun's out today.'
The sky after the rain was an especially vivid blue.
It would be much better for Dad and the other knights to move under these conditions.
At least the rain had stopped—what a relief.
I gazed out the window for a moment, then slapped my cheeks a couple of times to keep my spirits from drooping.
'Think happy thoughts.'
Since it was my birthday, I'd ask the nurse to let me play all day instead of studying.
And eat lots of delicious things!
"Eung?"
But what was this? An object I'd never placed there.
There was a small gift on the bedside table.
The packaging alone screamed luxury.
I turned the obvious birthday-present wrapping this way and that, then carefully peeled it open.
Was it from the nurse? Or maybe Betty or Laura, who'd been prying about what I wanted?
"What's this?"
Inside the wrapping was a small velvet box.
Lifting the lid revealed a sapphire necklace emitting a soft glow.
And this pure white chain... platinum?
'Wait, what is this all of a sudden?'
I'd opened it with a light heart, assuming it was a group gift from the nurse and maids who cared for me. But the unexpected item left me frozen for a moment.
In my daze, I was a bit late noticing the card tucked beneath the box.
Unfolding it revealed elegant handwriting.
Happy fourth birthday, Ella. Sorry I can't be with you this year too.
—Your loving Dad—
The message on the card was concise. Even so, I read the final line several times.
Your loving Dad...
So this was my birthday card, and the sapphire necklace was my birthday gift?
A ticklish feeling bloomed inside me, like dandelion seeds suddenly taking flight.
I'd never even imagined something like this. To think he'd left it behind even while rushing off to pursue the heretics.
"Oh my, Miss! Why are you crying?"
The nurse, arriving right on schedule for wake-up time, gasped in surprise at the sight of me sniffling and rushed over.
"Huing, this, sniff, gift..."
I couldn't pronounce it properly through my tears and sniffles, but the nurse understood perfectly at a glance at the card and gift.
A slow smile spread across her face.
She pulled me into a tight, affectionate hug.
"You're so touched, aren't you, my little miss."
Only then did I realize why I was crying in this perfectly happy situation with no reason to shed tears.
'It's my first birthday gift from a dad, across both my past and present lives. That's why I'm so moved right now.'
I sobbed in the nurse's arms for quite a while before the sniffles finally subsided.
Embarrassing...
So embarrassing, and yet there was this subtle sense of fulfillment that didn't feel bad at all.
"Shall we wash your face and get up now? The sous-chef went all out today."
"Zeke?"
"He must have been touched by how you saved him the other day. You'll be shocked when you see the dining hall."
It wasn't a big deal at all, really.
Unaccustomed to such reactions, I cleared my throat a couple of times and swiftly changed the subject.
"Nurse, happy birthday, play with Dietrich all day?"
"No studying?"
"Today Mariella birthday. Must study?"
...No way? Right?
I looked up anxiously, and the nurse burst into laughter.
Then she hugged me tightly once more.
"Alright. Spend the whole day running around with young Master Dietrich."
"You're the best, Nurse!"
We'd eat delicious cake, then play with Dietrich all day!
Excited at the prospect of a fulfilling day, I washed up, changed into the clothes she prepared, and dashed eagerly out of the room.
The corridor curtains were adorned with pretty, sparkling star decorations galore.
With the situation as it was, we couldn't have a party, but everyone had done their best to celebrate my birthday in their own ways.
The servants standing among the decorations shouted their congratulations.
"Happy birthday, Miss!"
"To think our little miss is already four! Incredible!"
The pretty new dress the nurse had prepared, the sparkling necklace from Dad, the star decorations filling the corridor, and ornate silver candelabras.
"Baby! Happy birthday!"
Even the sleepyhead Dietrich had come down early, ready to celebrate with everyone.
He scooped me up lightly and set me down, then started to ruffle my hair out of habit but noticed the careful styling and instead gently rubbed my cheek.
Then he leaned in and whispered in my ear.
"After breakfast, I'll sneakily teach you swordsmanship in the training hall. You wanted to learn that, right?"
"Heok!"
"Keep it secret from Father and the nurse?"
"Of course! You're the best, Dietrich!"
How could he think of something so wonderful!
I hooked my arm through Dietrich's and marched proudly into the dining hall, belly out.
Having spent a happy birthday, I lay obediently in bed under the covers.
With the nurse's help, I'd safely stored away the birthday card and gift from Dad.
The other servants had showered me with presents too, and Dietrich had even scrimped his allowance to buy me a soft kitty doll.
'We all cut and shared that enormous cake too.'
Recalling the day's joys in reverse order filled me with satisfaction.
In my excitement, I'd rolled around on the bed when I suddenly remembered the flower bed below my window and bolted upright.
'She said Mom made that flower bed for me.'
Pink flowers resembling mine and Mom's hair bloomed there in abundance every year before fading.
I wanted to end my happy birthday by gazing at the gift my late mother had left for me.
I got up and peeked out the window.
It was already dark night, but the moonlight was clear tonight...
'Huh?'
What caught my eye was the butler's office beyond the flower bed, with a faint light flickering inside.
Since the butler had been locked in the punishment cell, no one but a select few with Dad's permission could enter—and even they only once or twice during the day.
'Yet someone's rummaging around there this late, with just a single candlestick, not even properly lit.'
A bad premonition hit me, and I slipped quietly out of the room.
'To get to and from the butler's office, you have to pass the central entrance hall.'
I just wanted to catch a glimpse of who it was.
I pressed myself against the stair railing, hiding in the shadows, and peered down.
After a few minutes, someone approached, footsteps as soft as possible.
The man held a candlestick in one hand and a keyring in the other.
'That's the keyring kept in the butler's office.'
I leaned out slightly to see the man's face in the flickering light.
'It's the physician!'
What was he up to?
The timid-looking physician glanced around obsessively as he walked.
His hand trembled so much the candle flame danced wildly.
Still clutching the candlestick and keys, he headed toward the kitchen.
'What do I do?'
Tailing him was my first instinct, but it was impossible.
For one, I had no confidence in avoiding detection by someone so paranoid. For another, even if I followed, I couldn't stop him on my own.
If I'd leaned out just a bit more over the railing, he'd have spotted me instantly.
I'd clearly threatened him before, and yet.
'He must have dismissed it as childish babble in the end.'
With so many injured knights, we needed an expert on monster wounds, so I'd kept quiet.
I gritted my teeth.
I couldn't just do nothing, even if tailing him was out. My task was clear.
'The main family retainers are after the crown prince.'
I had to protect that child first.
We couldn't let the prince in our father's custody die here.
'Right, the guards!'
Since Dad returned, guards patrolled the third floor every night.
'If I fetch them, they can easily subdue the physician.'
Muffling my footsteps, I headed up to the third floor.