The Tenth Birthday of Aura von Aust
Count Aus von Aust had stopped midway down the central staircase, the focus of every eye in the room. He surveyed the surroundings once more, then opened his mouth to speak.
“On this occasion of my daughter’s tenth birthday, I am grateful that you have all attended. I hope you enjoy yourselves to your heart’s content today.”
Clapping erupted from the nobles gathered in the ballroom, and Aus von Aust raised one hand to quiet them. Beside him, he introduced his daughter.
“My daughter, Aura. Aura, greet our esteemed guests.”
“... Aura von Aust. I offer my sincere thanks to everyone who has come to celebrate my tenth birthday.”
More enthusiastic clapping followed, and soon the music in the ballroom resumed as per Aus von Aust’s signal.
“Then, with this final toast, let us resume the celebration party. Everyone, raise your glasses.”
Following the count’s command, all raised their wine glasses toward the ceiling.
Confirming that everyone had raised their glasses, Aus von Aust finally shouted.
“To the celebration of my daughter’s tenth birthday, the eternal glory of His Majesty the Emperor, and the Arhen Empire!”
“““Cheers!”””
Clink—!
Aus von Aust, after saying that, took his daughter’s hand and continued descending the central staircase together.
Afterward, with his daughter Aura by his side, he greeted the crowd of nobles who swarmed him one by one.
Observing this from a distance, I decided to find Count Sunlight von Phoenix while holding the glass of the drink I had been carrying.
The nobles gathered around Aus von Aust were all lower-ranking nobles.
Normally, in such gatherings, one would start from the lowest title and work up, which was the custom.
Therefore, when the barons and viscounts finished greeting, the next would be the counts, and so on.
That was why I was looking for Count Sunlight von Phoenix.
I managed to spot the count surrounded by other nobles, engaged in conversation.
I approached and waited quietly behind until their conversation ended.
Soon, the count, realizing his turn was approaching, dismissed the crowd around him.
Then, seeing me standing quietly a bit apart, he approached and spoke.
“You’ve come?”
“Yes.”
“Then, shall we go pay our respects to His Excellency?”
“Understood.”
He didn’t give any hints about not doing anything improper or not making mistakes, as if from the beginning.
I didn’t know why, but he was already looking at me with a certain level of trust.
Perhaps it was due to my usual demeanor toward him. I decided to let it slide.
Thus, as the representative of the Phoenix family, Count Sunlight von Phoenix and I, his fourth son, approached to pay our respects to His Excellency Aus von Aust.
“I hope you have been well, Your Excellency Aus von Aust.”
“Oh! Who is this? Count Sunlight? You’ve come all this way. I sent an invitation, but I didn’t expect you to come personally all the way here.”
“Of course I had to come. It’s the birthday of Your Excellency Aus von Aust’s daughter.”
“Haha! I’m glad you think that way. Ah! I got so excited that I forgot to introduce the real star of the party, my daughter. Aura, greet him. This is Count Sunlight von Phoenix, who represents one of the Nine Great Families of our empire.”
“... Aura. It is an honor to meet one of the Nine Stars of the Empire directly.”
“Yes. I’ve heard many rumors. I am Sunlight. And this is one of my children who is the same age as you this year.”
“Fourth son, Free von Betelgeuse.”
“... Free von Betelgeuse?”
Seeing me signal, I introduced myself to the count.
However, when my name was heard, Aura von Aust’s eyes showed surprise because my surname didn’t match the family name.
Aus von Aust, standing quietly beside her, then subtly informed her of our situation.
“Hahaha! Because the family name and surname differ, you were momentarily surprised, weren’t you? The Phoenix family is the only one where the family name and surname have always been different. This is an incident that was directly permitted by His Majesty the Emperor at the time.”
“... I see. I apologize for the rudeness without realizing it.”
“No. You’re still young, so you wouldn’t know the private matters of such a family in detail. So, there’s no need to apologize.”
“Thank you for your understanding. Count Sunlight.”
“Yes. Your Excellency, we should go. There are still many waiting behind me.”
“Mm, very well. It’s a pity, but let’s talk again next time.”
With Aus von Aust’s permission, Sunlight and I could turn around.
After that, a long line formed waiting to pay respects to the count.
On one side, piles of gifts were being stacked.
The gifts to be given to the count’s daughter from the Phoenix family were mixed in there.
Because handing over gifts directly by hand during greetings could cause awkward situations, it seemed they were delivering them this way.
I had never personally attended a noble’s birthday celebration before, even in my previous life, so I could only guess.
During the remaining time until the party ended, I was given time to act freely again. I distanced myself from the count and found the terrace, walking toward it.
Outside had grown dark, and I intended to spend time looking at the stars in the night sky.
It was a bit chilly, but I stayed in the inappropriate place for a long time, which made me feel inexplicably restless and uncomfortable.
At this time, I thought it would be beneficial to read a magic book or two personally, but as a child of a noble family, I had no choice but to follow the count’s wishes.
Thus, for a while, I looked up at the countless stars in the night sky and the Milky Way.
Creak,
At some point, the door to the terrace behind me opened, and the sound of someone entering reached my ears.
Turning my head and gaze, what I saw in front of me was
A young woman in a dress, back turned, closing the door as she entered the terrace.
It was Aura von Aust, the daughter of the Aus Count, who was also the star of this party.
“... Your Excellency?”
“Excuse me, I was just thinking. You must be Free von Phoenix, right?”
“What are you doing here?”
“Nothing. I just needed a moment to think and came out.”
“...?”
From the way she spoke, it seemed she had come without Aus’s permission.
That was fine.
“Understood. Then I’ll leave you to it.”
“No need to go because of me. ... Ah, it would be nice if you could talk to me instead.”
“... If you wish, gladly.”
I didn’t know what was happening, but from her expression and tone, it seemed serious.
“Is there some trouble you’re facing?”
“...?”
Aura von Aust didn’t answer immediately and quietly approached the railing of the terrace I was facing.
She held the railing with both hands and looked up at the starry night sky where the Milky Way was visible.
Among them was a blue crescent moon.
She said she was troubled. I really couldn’t guess what it was.
The count’s daughter finally spoke, in a tone and atmosphere far more mature than her age, mixed with the question I had asked.
“... Just something trivial.”
Because she was a noble daughter?
“...?”
The atmosphere from the first word suggested it was not trivial.
And I, of course, didn’t accept it at face value.
Quietly listening, she naturally continued.
“Honestly... it might be important to me. Not to others, but I’m very troubled by this.”
That meant it might be a real trouble for others, but for her, it wasn’t trivial.
So I asked again quietly.
“What exactly is this trouble?”
I didn’t like beating around the bush.
Men’s sensibilities and women’s differed.
I knew that because I wasn’t actually young.
Aura bit her lower lip once and then barely spoke.
“... I respect my father. I’ve always respected him. Up to now.”
She gripped the railing tightly with one hand and continued.
“But now, it’s not. Rather, disappointment is greater. Father, I am... I am...”
She tried to hold back what seemed like tears and barely managed to say the next words.
“I want to remain a knight. No matter what anyone says... I want to...”
“...?”
Many words were omitted, but it was clear she was feeling disappointed in her father more than respect and sadness.
Quietly closing my mouth, I asked.
“You want to remain a knight, meaning you no longer want to be a knight?”
“...?”
Aura didn’t answer.
After a while, she answered my question, looking up at the sky with a sad gaze.
“... Father told me to learn magic instead of being a knight. He said the age of knights is over and the age of mages has begun.”
Aura continued.
With a sad voice.
“... I don’t want to. I know why Father said that. I understand it all. But since I understand, it doesn’t make sense. My father, who was famous for his sword, is now telling me to stop holding a sword, as if giving up.”
Hearing that, I quickly understood the situation.
Aura was probably under a big misconception.
I said.
“Aura, perhaps you should talk to your father again. From what I see, there seems to be a quite large misunderstanding between the two of you.”
“Misunderstanding...? What misunderstanding...”
“I won’t say something unreasonable like believe me because I’m a stranger today. However, at least believe once more the Count you have always respected and believed in. Even if my guess is wrong, let’s talk again first.”
“...?”
“It’s natural that opinions differ. However, not continuing the conversation after just one talk is choosing stagnation over progress.”
I thought that.
“During conversation, there might be opportunities to improve. So, how about arranging another talk with the Count?”
“...?”
Her expression showed she was a bit surprised and hesitant.
Then, she laughed, putting her fist under her chin.
“... You speak quite fluently, unlike how you look.”
“... If this is how it ends, it would be quite painful for me.”
“Huhu, now I see you have a sense of humor.”
“...?”
“Alright. I’ll talk to Father seriously again. Hearing your words, I suddenly feel like I want to talk to Father alone right now. Thank you. Sincerely.”
“If it helped, I’m glad. Then, the weather is quite chilly, so...”
Behind me as I left, Aura suddenly stopped me.
“Wait! Just a moment!”
“?”
Stopping, I turned my head. Aura, with hands behind her back, shyly smiled and said.
“... Can we meet again?”
In response to that, I smiled faintly.
“If fate allows.”
With those words, I turned again, opened the door, and left the terrace.
Then, Aura, left alone, looked up at the sky with hands behind her back and murmured meaningfully.
“If fate... I hope we meet somewhere again. You said you were the same age as me, but you seem much more mature. A strange person.”
She thought I was mature for my age.
Something to rely on.
At the end of the gaze on the sky, the twinkling stars seemed to watch them secretly, blushing.