The Butler's Birthday Gift -4-
Darkness had fallen over Olivia's room. After dining out at Forest Friend for the first time in ages, Olivia patted her full belly and stared at the door.
"Hiet... I'm so full," she said, wearing her pointed hat and flashing a contented smile. With her stomach stuffed, the world seemed to sparkle. Olivia was waiting for the gift-giving ceremony to cap off her birthday.
"Hmnya."
Olivia wasn't expecting much from the gift. She knew all too well how empty their wallets were, so she figured the only things her self-earning butler Ricardo could afford were a scarf or some gloves.
And yet, the day had been perfect. They'd eaten at Forest Friend, and Ricardo had bought her everything she'd wanted. Having indulged every craving was better than any lavish present, so she'd sworn off any regrets or high hopes for the gift itself.
Still, she was ready to be thrilled even by something small.
"Why hasn't he come back...?"
The butler who'd gone to fetch the gift hadn't returned even after ten minutes.
Stay put—it'll be a surprise. Wait here.
Those cryptic words before he'd headed downstairs. She didn't want to get her hopes up, but her heart wouldn't stop pounding. He was the only one left to celebrate her birthday now.
The friends who'd showered her with extravagant gifts had vanished with her downfall. The nobles who'd wagged their tails for a taste of her family's prestige hadn't sent so much as a letter once the connection frayed.
No family. No friends. Ricardo was all she had left to mark her special day.
He'd always celebrated it faithfully. Every birthday morning, he'd greet her with "Happy birthday" and hand over a personally wrapped gift—and he'd stayed by her side through it all.
I treated him so terribly...
Ricardo had kept it up steadily. Even for a wicked villainess like her, who'd shoved unwrapped gifts straight into the closet.
She'd even coldly rejected the scarf he'd knitted himself, but he never moped—instead, he'd show up the next year with something new.
—Happy birthday.
—It's cheap junk.
—I splurged a bit this time.
—Splurged? Please...
—Then give me a raise.
—Eek...!
Her past self knew it too. How sincere Ricardo had always been about her birthday.
He'd gift her gold bracelets and jeweled hairpins on a butler's salary. Hand-knitted scarves. Solid gold rings. Presents way beyond what he could afford.
A month's wages—no, three months'—gone on gifts she never wore. They embarrassed her. Too tacky for a Desmont noble to flaunt, not flashy enough to show off.
Olivia had stuffed every one into her closet.
What an idiot.
It was around the sixth year of his celebrations when his gifts started changing. No more expensive baubles or gaudy jewelry.
Perfume. Sweets. Things that didn't catch the public eye.
She'd never outright said they shamed her to wear, but he'd clearly gotten the hint from her never using them.
Olivia knew her past self had been awful. She wasn't exactly a saint now, but back when she'd proudly borne the Desmont name, she'd been razor-sharp by comparison—and both she and Ricardo knew it.
Raised like a flower in a greenhouse, surrounded by sycophants who praised her every word instead of calling her out.
Of course her personality had twisted. Those people weren't bad. She just regretted, a little, that there hadn't been one more voice like Ricardo's to set her straight. Maybe then she wouldn't have been so cruel to him.
"...What a bitch."
Olivia gave a wry smile, reflecting bitterly on her old mistakes. This time, treasure it. No more tossing them away. If it's chocolate, savor it. Anything that lasts, keep it forever.
Thud... thud... thud!
Footsteps climbed the stairs beyond the door—heavy, like he was hauling something big. A loud thunk as Ricardo set it down outside, then hurried steps down, only to rush back up again, repeating the cycle.
"What's he doing...?"
Olivia cocked her head at the frantic sounds, clutching her skirt in her fist.
I can't help but expect something now.
She ducked her head, a shy smile blooming despite herself. Giggles kept slipping out.
—Phew... all set.
Ricardo's mutter came from beyond the door.
Knock knock knock.
He opened it.
"Miss, coming in."
The door creaked wide.
"Pffft-hahaha...! What the—?!"
The face from that morning's getup filled her vision. Olivia clutched her stomach, roaring with laughter.
A baggy red outfit. Ridiculous white beard. A red pom-pom glued to his nose like Gomtangi's.
"Ahahaha... haaa... pffft-hahahaha!!! What is that?!"
Beaming with joy, she pointed at him.
"Ahem... it's Santa."
Ricardo declared it in a grave tone.
Santa. She had no clue what that was, but it looked hilarious.
With a sigh, he dropped the red sack from his back.
"Ho ho ho—merry... er, happy birthday."
His goofy birthday cheer. He glanced at her expectant eyes, swallowed hard—clearly daunted by her stare.
"Ahem! Well, you see..."
He was holding back laughs himself; the whole thing was absurd.
Olivia shot straight with her awkward actor.
"You forgot your line, Ricardo."
"Don't make me crack up. Hard enough keeping the bit going."
Stubbornly in character.
He shoved away Gomtangi, who was leaping to lick his face, and opened the sack.
Out came chocolate coins shaped like gold.
"Oh...!"
A scarf to brave the winter chill.
"Hieeek!"
A thick fur coat.
Solemn-faced, Ricardo addressed her.
"Miss Olivia."
"Yeah?"
"You gotta use polite speech with Santa Grandpa."
Olivia glared bratishly.
"No way."
"...Fine, whatever."
Concept crumbling already.
Eyeing the gifts on the floor, he launched into a year-end reckoning of her "naughty" deeds.
"Remember stealing my chocolate in March?"
Silly prank. Olivia played along, nodding.
"Yeah. One piece."
"Lies—you took three. Ten percent confiscated."
As he said it, he scooped the chocolate coins back into the sack.
"Hey, who cuts birthday presents?!"
She protested, but his commitment to the role was ironclad.
"Hm... June, you swiped the gold coins off my desk. Fifty percent gone."
"Eeeek! That's robbery! I quit!"
"Nope."
His sharp memory whittled her haul. Now just three chocolate coins left.
Olivia scowled at him.
"You're mean!"
"Blame the naughty miss who's lived like a bad girl."
Part sermon on living better. He packed away the last three.
"Overall this year..."
Gulp...
"...you cried way too much."
"No...! That's 'cause you made me sad..."
"Shh. No excuses."
With everything back in the sack, Olivia pouted and held out her hand.
"Gimme."
"No."
"Gimmeee!"
"Company policy: no gifts for crybabies."
Back in character, he eyed her outstretched hand.
"But."
Grasping her pale wrist, he smiled faintly.
"The butler still has something prepared."
Still holding it, he rummaged in his pocket.
And then.
"Huh?"
Something sparkly clasped around her wrist. A familiar chill, then the design came into focus.
A diamond bracelet.
"Wha... wh-what... this..."
Flustered, Olivia stammered like an idiot. How did he get this? Why is it here? Questions stuck in her throat amid the surge of emotion.
Ricardo released her fumbling hand.
"Suits you perfectly. Really well..."
Brushing off the fake beard, he grinned happily at the bracelet on her pale skin.
"Happy birthday."
"This... this is super expensive..."
Tears welled in her eyes as she stared at it, voice choking.
He shook his head casually, like it was nothing.
"I put in a little effort."
Always gifting her pure emotion.
Olivia wailed.
"It's too pricey...!"
"That's why you gotta wear it everywhere."
"This... sniff... hic..."
Snorting back snot, she blurted at him.
"It's... so expensive...!"
"So you hate it?"
"No...! I... I'll... hic... treasure it forever..."
Ricardo gazed once more at the bracelet on her pale wrist.
Thank goodness it suits her. Glad she likes it.
Squeezing her hand tight, he said,
"Next year, something even better."
"I love this one alreadyyy!"
Olivia hugged the bracelet to her chest and sobbed. This birthday would be unforgettable.
Ricardo gave an awkward smile and glanced at the wooden box he'd hidden behind the door.
Just a bit longer, then I'll give it to her.
Ricardo smiled happily.