Chapter 83
Chapter 83
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 83
Chapter Title: Birthday Gift
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Voices chattered amid the piles of laundry stacked high.
“You must be so proud.”
“Of what?”
“Of your young lady, of course. Word is the Emperor holds her dear.”
Uni nodded indifferently and popped the last of the chocolate into her mouth. The old butler smiled warmly and pressed on.
“Just a month ago, she was a total outsider, and now all the top nobles are lining up to send her invitations?”
His intentions to probe into Lena Rubel’s situation were plain as day. But Uni played along, pretending not to notice.
“Yeah, invitations come flying in every day lately.”
“So she must be busy meeting people?”
“Nope, same as always.”
“What about the invitations?”
“She’s turning them all down.”
“Oh my, she’s not interested in socializing?”
The butler said this as if to ask more, but his words cut off abruptly. A sudden uninvited guest had arrived.
“Ah, there you are!”
The one who appeared saying this was a mild-mannered boy priest. The boy’s face lit up when he spotted Uni, but his eyes widened at the butler beside her.
“But what’s the butler doing here?”
The boy, Enji, grinned brightly at the Rubel family butler. The butler feigned surprise and asked in return.
“What brings you here, young master...?”
“I’ve got business with her. But do you know this kid too?”
“Oh, just ran into her now and then on errands...”
The butler laughed it off evasively. Enji mimicked him, flashing the false smile of an adult he despised most, narrowing his eyes.
“Oh dear, look at the time. I’ll be off then. See you later.”
The butler retreated awkwardly, hiding his flustered expression. Once he was gone, Enji watched his retreating figure and murmured quietly to Uni.
“That’s the Rubel family butler.”
“I know.”
Uni replied calmly, startling Enji. She added with a sly grin.
“Thanks to you, no more free chocolate for me.”
Enji stared blankly at Uni before giving a weak smile. Seeing her shrewdness made him realize anew how naive he’d been. Swallowing his self-mockery, Enji said.
“I’m Enji Rubel. What’s your name?”
Better late than never, he formally introduced himself. Uni nearly said she already knew but remembered his past help and answered briefly instead.
“Uni.”
“...Who gave you that name?”
“Our young lady.”
Enji’s expression turned strange at Uni’s answer. ‘Uni’ was the name of a character from his sister’s favorite story. Hearing it made his heart stir. The sister he’d thought dead was still alive somewhere unknown to him, living on as the book-loving Lena Rubel. The realization felt lonely, clouding his face. Uni tilted her head at the sight. This kid who always sparkled was ruining the mood for no reason today. Thinking him cheeky, she scolded.
“What’re you here for this time?”
“Huh? Oh, I wanted to hear some things from you.”
“Not about me—about our young lady, right.”
Uni scoffed mockingly, hitting the mark and making Enji even more downcast. So she changed the subject belatedly.
“Fine, so what do you want to hear?”
“Just...”
Enji hesitated, choosing his words. He had too many questions. After much thought, he finally spoke.
“I want to meet Lena Rubel.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because she has no intention of meeting you.”
“Did Lena Rubel say that?”
“No. But if she wanted to, she would’ve come by already.”
Enji was speechless at Uni’s logic. He couldn’t argue. Lena Rubel now stood shoulder-to-shoulder with dukes as the Southern Duke’s proxy. She could meet a marquis’s son anytime she wished. So the fact that Enji hadn’t seen her yet meant she didn’t want to. Faced with this harsh truth, Enji asked gloomily.
“...Has your young lady ever mentioned me?”
“Nope.”
Uni answered bluntly, making Enji’s face fall further. Feeling a pang of guilt at his pitiful expression, Uni watched as the sulking Enji suddenly pulled something out.
“Then at least pass this on.”
What Enji fished out from his pocket was a flower. Not an ordinary one, but a pressed flower flattened like paper. Attached to pretty paper, it had slender stems with purple blooms clustered like barley ears, releasing a fresh, soft fragrance with the slightest shake.
“What’s this?”
“A bookmark.”
“Why give me this? A gift?”
“It’s next Tuesday.”
“What is?”
Uni asked again, and Enji grew flustered. Then, in a shrinking voice, he replied.
“...My sister’s birthday.”
. . . The concept of birthdays was foreign to Uni. She didn’t even know her own, and had never celebrated one—for herself or Lena. So she was inwardly stunned by the young lady’s birthday Enji had revealed.
‘Pretty.’
Uni gazed at the pressed flower bookmark as she walked the corridor.
‘Smells nice.’
Tucked into a book and opened later, it’d feel wonderful. Perfect for the book-loving young lady.
‘So this is what you give on birthdays.’
Celebrating the day someone was born with a gift they’d like. Uni thought it was a beautiful custom. She couldn’t refuse Enji’s request and took the bookmark.
‘It’s not hard to pass on, but...’
She worried how the young lady would react. Was this meddling?
“Huh?”
Deep in thought, Uni halted in surprise upon reaching the room. Ten or so people lined the corridor. She pocketed the bookmark and was about to ask what they were doing here when they spotted her first.
“Ah, Lady Lena’s maid!”
They swarmed Uni, thrusting letters and cards at her.
“Please give this to Lady Lena.”
“This too.”
“Here!”
Before Uni could react, she’d received over a dozen letters and cards. The messengers left with requests for replies.
“Ugh, do they think I’m a pigeon or something...”
Grumbling, Uni gathered them and entered the room. She glanced around the still-quiet space.
“Young Lady, you up?”
No answer. Naturally, she checked the bedroom and found her there. Lena was still asleep.
“Young Lady, the sun’s high! It’s your day off—can’t you sleep all day?”
Uni hurried over on quick steps and woke her. Lena pleaded sleepily.
“Just a bit longer...”
“You skipped breakfast already—you have to eat lunch! What time did you come back last night?”
The young lady had rushed off at news of Lin’s collapse and hadn’t returned even when Uni dozed off. Uni asked about her return time, but Lena buried her face in the pillow, dodging.
“Is Lin okay?”
Uni asked offhandedly, and Lena finally sat up groggily. The topic had chased away her sleep, though Uni didn’t notice.
“Yeah, he woke up at dawn. Thankfully.”
Lena answered shortly, hoping Uni wouldn’t tease about it today. Thankfully, Uni had no such plans, distracted by the bookmark in her pocket. Pondering how to give it, she first opened the letters and cards from the door.
“Young Lady, tons of letters for you. This time I didn’t leave them outside—I waited and handed them over myself.”
“Probably because I haven’t replied. Mind reading what they say?”
Lena fetched water to wash as she spoke, ears open. Uni read the letters one by one as requested.
“Dearest Lady Lena. We invite you to our tea party. Please join us to share your tales of valor and bravery...”
“Blessed be. Beloved Lady Lena. In the name of our merciful lord, we bless you. We invite you to our worship...”
“To the esteemed Lady Lena. I write to apologize for my rudeness at the eve festival. Unaware of who you truly are, I committed a grave error...”
The letters varied yet were all the same: tea parties, riding clubs, concerts, prayer meetings, reading circles, flower arranging—please attend. The most original was the apology for the festival, but it ended with an offer to share tea and catch up, no different.
“They’re all so leisurely.”
Lena grumbled, drying her face with a towel. Do-um Palace had crumbled and battle raged in the palace heart just days ago. Yet the capital nobles hadn’t halted their socials. Were they oblivious to the crisis, or was this madness? Lena found either explanation bizarre. Knowing Lena had no intention of accepting any, Uni skimmed quickly.
“Oh. A letter from the Eastern Duke.”
Lena’s heart dropped at the unexpected news.
‘Lin?’
Before Lena could stop her, Uni tore open the seal and read calmly.
“I’ll be away a few days inspecting the capital. Hm, our master writes mighty short letters.”
The content was far plainer than Lena expected—and not the topic she’d feared. She’d braced for mention of their dawn talk, but sighed inwardly in relief. Then she mulled over Lin’s words belatedly.
‘He’s leaving town...’
No need to agonize over tonight’s walk now. Lena felt relieved yet oddly unsettled. She wondered at the feelings in that brief note. Why go inspecting after being ill all night? Was it because of yesterday? She fretted needlessly, pretending to dry her hair while lost in thought.
“Huh?”
Uni exclaimed in surprise at another letter. When Lena looked, Uni’s eyes were wide.
“A letter from the Rubel Marquis family!”
Uni read it aloud at once. It went: Dearest Lady Lena. It will soon be a month since our reunion. In that short yet long time watching you, I’ve had many thoughts. Though we’ve crossed too many rivers, I believe something unbreakable remains between us. Thus, I invite you to dinner. Next Tuesday, in that house where you grew tall, I wish to hear your voice once more. Should you accept, my wife and I will await you joyfully. Please do not refuse—grace us with your presence. From Marquis Cardo Rubel, with respect for your nobility.
“No wonder that Rubel butler asked if you were busy!”
Uni recalled the earlier encounter and cried out in disbelief. Meanwhile, Lena felt her anxious heart chill at her father’s letter. And the date was next Tuesday, of all days.
‘He knows it’s my birthday?’
Amusing if he knew, amusing if he didn’t. The day she’d been sold as a child was just before her birthday too—uncannily similar timing for the summons. Lena smiled darkly at the thought. Uni asked uneasily.
“You going?”
“Of course. Just wish it were a different time.”
“When?”
“Tonight.”
Uni’s eyes widened at the pretty retort. Tonight was mere hours away. Preparing a banquet in that time was absurd. She thought it a joke, but Lena was serious. Lena wrote a reply at once: I wish to accept, but due to personal reasons, tonight is the only option—sending a bold provocation. She wanted to see how the marquis would respond. She sent the letter to the marquis family. The reply came in under an hour. Uni, amused, relayed it to Lena.
“They’ll send a carriage by 5 p.m. tonight.”