Chapter 199
Chapter 199
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 199
Chapter Title: Adelaide's Leap Day Birthday
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The end of February was a whirlwind, thanks to the sudden arrival of the prairie elves.
A few weeks later loomed the Emperor's enthronement anniversary, making for truly chaotic days. Amid all that, a special mark on the calendar caught my eye.
A star indicating something important had been drawn there, but in my haste, I'd forgotten to write down what it was—leaving just the lonely star on the last day of February.
"Elizabeth, what day is the last day of February?"
"The last day? Why do you ask out of the blue?"
"I marked it on the calendar, but I can't remember what for."
"Hmm..."
It wasn't the calendar in the room, but the one in the atelier. So it was probably atelier-related. But even Elizabeth didn't seem to know.
That meant it wasn't work-related.
If not work, then something about the staff. The problem was, nothing specific came to mind for the 28th.
"No idea."
"Maybe you marked it wrong? You've had a packed schedule this February."
"Nah, there has to be something."
It was possible I'd messed up amid the chaos, but if so, someone else would've pointed it out.
The staff wouldn't hesitate to call out their boss for a blatant calendar error, especially not with those sharp glares they shoot me.
"Um, excuse me..."
"Yeah?"
As neither Elizabeth nor I could guess it, Elin chimed into our conversation. She straightened her hunched back just a fraction.
Her eyes darted uncertainly around the workshop as she murmured in a faint voice.
"Uh... isn't it... Adelaide's sister's... birthday...?"
"Adelaide? Her birthday is... oh."
The 28th wasn't anything special, but I hadn't marked it wrong either.
"Her birthday's on a leap day, so I put it on the 28th."
"Ah, got it."
Adelaide's birthday was the ultra-rare February 29th.
Vaguely thinking of it as the 29th, everyone assumed there was no such thing. And since it was the first time meeting this staff birthday, no one paid it much mind.
I should've set the precedent with my own birthday, the earliest one, but things were too hectic back then.
"No time to stand around like idiots."
Whatever the case, birthdays deserved acknowledgment. It was the right thing to do.
Even in the military, they'd spring for a cake. Civil servants got gift certificates worth a few bucks. An atelier run by a noble couldn't just forget a staff member's birthday.
That wouldn't do.
"Emergency! Everyone, gather in the center!"
I tossed my needle and thread onto the workbench, spun my chair, and shouted to the staff.
They glanced at me with eyes that said, 'Here we go again,' but stopped work without complaint and took seats at the central table.
"What is it this time?"
With everyone but Elizabeth assembled, Herbert Young Lord kicked things off as usual, drawing all eyes to me.
"I've discovered something amazing."
"Something amazing?"
"Did you cause another incident, William?"
"The last day of February is Adelaide's birthday."
"Birthday?"
"Huh?"
"William...?"
The guest of honor herself tilted her head with question marks practically floating above it, souring the mood a bit.
"Ah~ right, there was a day like that. Good thing you remembered, Young Master."
"Wow! Happy birthday, sis!"
"H-Happy birthday...!"
She caught on quick, nodding with a smile, and the atmosphere bounced back dramatically.
For a second, I thought my heart stopped.
I nearly became the lunatic hyping up the staff for nothing.
Even if they called me crazy, it was only for my dressmaking madness. In real life, I was just a slightly nerdy noble.
"Why didn't you say anything with your birthday coming up? Don't short-lived races celebrate every year?"
"Yeah? Even beastkin have different cultures, but birthdays are universal."
"Indeed. Even heretics celebrate them, and overseas nations do too, just in their own ways."
Caterina's sullen question halted the cheers. Everyone turned curious eyes to Adelaide.
And honestly, I was curious too.
She wasn't the type to be oblivious to dates or anniversaries.
"Spiders don't make much of birthdays."
"Huh? Why not?"
"Elves do it every ten years at least? Is there... some reason...?"
For once, the beastkin were divided.
Caterina, in particular, clutching Adelaide's hand with worried imaginings—it was pure gold.
"It's no big deal. Spiders are all born around the same time, so birthdays cluster together. Celebrating means partying in groups of dozens."
"Ah~"
"Makes sense. Most beastkin have breeding seasons."
Unlike humans breeding year-round, beastkin often had specific mating periods.
Animals in places with distinct seasons might not have strict ones but preferred mating in fall or winter and birthing in abundant spring or summer.
"And many don't live in family groups, so who's celebrating for whom?"
"True enough."
Decisively, there was no one to celebrate with.
As many beastkin formed packs as didn't. Humans forced unity now to avoid disaster, but old habits died hard.
"If you hadn't mentioned it, I'd have forgotten too. My real birthday's the 29th, after all."
But a birthday that unique was hard to track.
"Still, birthdays are special..."
"Right, right..."
Adelaide treating it like any other day had Marie and Walter mirroring Caterina's grave expression.
Gathered for a simple celebration, but the mood sank.
"Why so serious, everyone? We'll celebrate from now on."
"R-Right! We'll handle it from here...!"
I chuckled to lighten things up. Walter jumped in quick, gauging Adelaide's reaction.
"I won't refuse if you're insisting, but how do you celebrate birthdays?"
"Party basics: applause, gifts, some awkward feel-good chit-chat, and good food."
Scale up for milestones like firsts or comings-of-age.
"So, what do you want? Gift, day off, cash—anything goes, speak freely."
"Hmm~ nothing jumps out. Work? You'd flip."
"No way, not even close."
"Kidding."
She grimaced theatrically, head tilting back. Adelaide flashed a cheeky grin at Walter across from her.
"Guess I'll take Walter then."
"......"
A chilling silence swept the workshop at her words.
"...Sis, isn't Walter still a kid?"
"Adelaide, per the sacred Imperial law set by His first Majesty, marriage starts at 16."
"And don't forget the Imperial Knights right next door."
Five seconds later, half a year's camaraderie kicked in. Everyone urged her worriedly to reconsider.
"Heh heh~ No clue what you're misunderstanding, but I'm no saint—yet my law-abiding spirit is ironclad."
"Then what do you mean by 'taking Walter'?"
"Nothing to receive, so a vacation. But alone's boring—need company."
"Plenty of others—why Walter?"
"He's safe."
Smiling at Walter, she glanced at me and Herbert.
"Pick another guy, and I'd be in deep trouble."
Her gaze shifted to Marie and Caterina.
"Beastkin draw enough eyes already—why add more? Better I go solo. Spiders scare folk off."
Fair point. Elves or cats softened the terror vibe.
"What about Elin?"
"Me with Elin? Knights'd think kidnapping."
"Yeah... true."
Fine for bold Elin, but her shyness made it worse.
"What's wrong with boys?"
"Boys look like they're into bugs. Beetle-hunting, dragonfly-wing-ripping image."
"Oh..."
Sophistry, but plausible.
Upstairs boys like Wirgen or Oliver? 'Not close enough' defense.
"But Walter's shy too—could get the same misunderstanding as Elin."
Reason not to pick others, not to pick him. Shyness cut both ways.
"Here's why Walter's perfect."
Replying to Herbert, she glided to Walter, gently placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Hmm~"
"Ah."
"Aha."
Sighs erupted instantly.
As Adelaide approached, Walter's face melted into bliss.
Reminded me of Mother's relaxed face alone with Father, or Edward's during tea with Wilhelmina.
"Walter fits perfectly."
"Right?"
No one'd suspect shady dealings from that reaction. No better pick.
"Walter, you okay with this?"
"Y-Yes...! I-I... I love it...!"
He trembled like he was high, nodding furiously.
"Uh..."
Flashes of shady manga from my past life crossed my mind. Was sending him okay?
"Well... if you're both fine, go for it. But as a birthday gift, is this enough?"
His reaction was weird, not hers. She'd never do anything untoward.
And if she planned something, she'd do it secretly—not invite suspicion.
"Of course. Time to show Walter others' techniques beyond mine."
These two were cut from different cloth.
One chasing freakish talent, the other thrilled to teach. No room for funny business.
"No normals here."
"Tell me about it."
Elizabeth shook her head, jaded by the wholesome madness.
I nodded in deep agreement.
"And you're the worst."
She shot back with a displeased look.
"......"
Couldn't argue, so I clamped my mouth shut.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ This tale's a bit of a side note, but Adelaide's birthday gift request birthed a quirky new tradition—in a slightly different sense.
"Baron, for Panny Lady's upcoming birthday, may we take some vacation too?"
"Two tailors off? Tricky. What's the reason?"
"Ahaha... well..."
"Ooh."
An unintended odd tradition: designating someone for a birthday date.
"Nngh...!"
Not just me and Walter—Panny Lady joined the jealousy parade, grinding Elin's teeth to dust. Personally, I loved it.
"Do as you like."
"Thank you."
Workaholics skipping for personal reasons? I'd welcome it with open arms.