The Inadequate Butler's Birthday Gift -3-
"..."
Pascal, bound by the constables, stared at me with those cheeky eyes. He looked like he wanted to chat more with the bug expert he hadn't seen in ages. His teary glare reminded me of a female mantis, which soured my mood right away.
"Don't cry. Makes me wanna spray your face with insecticide."
"You bastard..."
If there was Homkipa, I'd slather his face with moisturizer. Too bad this world didn't have any.
Shame.
I smacked my lips and tossed some kind words at the dejected Pascal. Don't look so down. He'd be heading somewhere better. No need to worry—I laced it with hope.
"They've improved the facilities at the breeding pens since you left, so chin up."
"More staff to manage you, more visitors to gawk."
"Urk...! You son of a—!"
"Seeing you so thrilled makes me proud."
Pascal hung his head, overcome. As a fellow insect collector, I felt a swell of emotion too. I pulled his scrawny frame into a tight hug.
"You'll miss me."
He bit his lip hard.
"Sniff... hngh... Like hell I will...!"
Such a sensitive mantis. Cradled in my arms, he mumbled in a timid voice I'd never heard before.
"Can't you just... leave me alone?"
As if. I politely declined his plea to quit my side gig as an insect collector.
"What if some other collector snags you? I at least keep you alive—the rest might stuff and mount you."
"I'd take being stuffed! Please... forget the art bullshit. I'll live right from now on, just get out of my life. Yeah? I'm begging."
"Now, now! An artist doesn't whine like that."
How could a self-proclaimed artiste lack such grit? I couldn't forgive him for crushing the spirit of art as a collector. Nor could I buy his promise to go straight.
"Give clean living a shot. Then you won't cross my path."
I patted his shoulder affectionately, and Pascal shed tears of gratitude.
"Hnggh... haah... Why me...?"
I took the money pouch from the constables' hands and bid farewell.
"Take care, mantis man. Watch out for parasites. See you next time."
Pascal bawled.
"Fuck...!"
Sobfest.
*
Heading to the jewelers with the pouch in hand, I couldn't stop grinning. Relief at being able to buy the bracelet Miss wanted, excitement at imagining her joyful face—it all had my lips curving up uncontrollably.
"Bracelet and some chocolates too?"
People should beware extravagance, but the reward for donating that rare mantis specimen, Pascal, to the prison exhibit was generous enough. A little splurge couldn't hurt.
I nodded down at the hefty stack of bills.
Let's do this birthday right.
I'd skimped last year. Thirteen years without missing a single one for Miss. The first time I came to the house, I'd knit her a scarf by hand.
—Lame.
I'd learned quick that it couldn't satisfy tastes honed by peak capitalism. Effort mattered less than money-backed effort, so I sulked in a corner of the mansion for a day. But catching on early was a blessing. This birthday, I wanted to go all out.
My commoner status kept me from her parties, and last year had that mess. This time, I'd prepare it all myself.
I always wanted to give Miss the best gift. Even if it ended up as junk in a drawer, I'd give my all. For a lady with so much wealth and luxury, even if she didn't like it, my best by my standards.
An inadequate butler with nothing to his name—but this stubborn pride was unbreakable. My shy self's one way to show my heart.
"Haa..."
Clutching the pouch, I straightened my clothes. Wanted to look refined before entering. Easier to haggle that way, and I could pass as a regular.
As I swept back my hair and reached for the door, I spotted the empty spot where the bracelet had been displayed yesterday. My brow furrowed.
"Huh...?"
—Sold.
The bracelet that had held its spot till yesterday was gone, replaced by a little sign. Off in someone's hands.
I pressed my face to the glass, peering again.
—Sold.
The empty display mocked me. Just the black stand left, Miss's gift snatched away. Hollow, I set down the pouch.
"I was gonna buy that."
Sold. Never crossed my mind. Not in Hamel, away from the capital—nobles were scarce, jewel buyers scarcer. At most, the ones dining at Forest Friend...
Excuses. My thinking had been shortsighted. Should've reserved it. Regret hit, but yesterday's wallet wasn't flush enough for a deposit. If I'd had the cash then...
Regrets changed nothing, but the pang of missing that bracelet lingered.
As I turned to leave, disheartened, I spotted a familiar bracelet in a clerk's hand beyond the glass wall. The one Miss wanted. The clerk headed for the counter.
I flung open the door.
—Ding-a-ling.
I sucked in a breath and yelled at the clerk ringing it up.
"Th-that bracelet!"
"Yes?!"
"I was gonna buy that...!"
The startled clerk gaped at me. And so did the guy trying to buy it.
Familiar face. Faded green-tea hair.
Ruin.
The would-be owner smirked at me.
"What? Ricardo?"
"Good to see you, Pond Scum."
"Like hell it's good. Not even a little."
Hands in pockets, Ruin flashed a sleazy grin at my dazed stare at the bracelet in the clerk's hand.
"Ah..."
Arrogant smirk.
"You after this?"
Sneering like it was pathetic, he mocked.
"Oops. Buying it for Yuria."
He shrugged, all oh well.
"Shoulda come earlier. I got it first. Ah... even then, you couldn't afford it? It's pricier than it looks."
"..."
"Live within your means."
My fist clenched on instinct. Ruin, riding high, was baiting me to blow my last lucky break.
Steal it?
Save cash, sure. But not for Miss's gift. I wanted to pay full price, give something aboveboard.
So I swallowed my pride. Bow once, maybe he'd yield.
I bowed politely to Ruin.
"If you wanna keep breathing, set it down nice and quiet."
"What?"
"Leave it."
Best manners for a pond-scum skull. If no dice, knock him out and snatch it. Even if not for Miss, smashing that smug green head would boost the economy. Good enough.
His face hardened in real time at my polite request. He double-checked with the clerk.
"What'd that beggar just say?"
Early twenties with hearing loss, apparently.
I knew the dice were cast against me. Gripping my fist to pivot to another bracelet and step toward Ruin—
"What's all the racket?"
The door marked [Workshop] swung open. A dust-covered artisan strode in. Black apron, heading straight for us.
The clerk bowed to him.
"B-boss! It's..."
The boss waved off the apology with a headshake. Sighing deeply, he eyed me.
"Tone it down, Ricardo."
Brown hair.
Caught off guard, I stammered.
"How many damn jobs you got?"
"Just hobbies to kill time."
Malik Histania. The shop owner.
Sighing again, he glanced at the bracelet in the clerk's hand.
"This the issue?"
And ended our spat in one line.
"You, Pond Head."
"Pond?"
"Isn't it? Whatever."
Malik deadpanned.
"Not selling to you. Leave it and go."
The boss's whims were absolute.
***
Three days later. Morning light reached Olivia's mansion.
Olivia woke earlier than usual. Birthday excitement had cut her dream shift short.
"Hmnya... Birthday... Today's my birthday..."
She resolved not to scream air raid alerts this sacred day. Birthdays needed peace.
"Yaaawn... Ricardo."
Rubbing sleepy eyes, she called her familiar butler's name.
"It's my birthday today..."
Empty room. Lonely.
"Doesn't he know?"
No sign of the butler who always brought bright smiles and gifts every birthday morning. In the dim, curtained room, Olivia started her birthday frowning.
"Still asleep, huh..."
Rubbing her eyes with a sigh. Bitter smile, nodding.
"Could happen."
She'd forgotten his birthday late once too. Hurt, but unavoidable.
With mixed feelings, she parted the curtains.
And there—a tree bursting with color. Green, red, yellow decorations galore. Ricardo dangling from it.
Red suit. Fake beard that didn't suit him.
Flustered, he stammered at her.
"Why're you up so early, Miss?!"
Butler festooned with odd baubles on the tree. Star at the top. Glittering strings wrapped around. Hanging comically from his gaudy handiwork.
Olivia giggled softly.
"Heehee..."
Ricardo yelled from the window.
"Not ready yet... whoaaa!"
Wind gust—tree swayed. He swung farther away.
Olivia whispered shyly.
"Dangerous..."
"I'm fine! Go back to sleep!"
Smiling, she pulled up the covers.
"Yeah. Night night."
Covers to her crown, her face burned bright.
"Idiot."