Birthday Party
"Young Master, have you finished preparing?"
"Yeah, Kania."
A day had passed since I parted ways with Serena, and the day of my birthday party had arrived. Of course, I who hated birthday parties with a passion had zero desire to go, but what could I do? It was a party hosted by the imperial family itself.
"I've prepared a carriage outside. Please, let's hurry."
"Sure. Thanks as always."
At least this time, there were people who understood me, which was a relief. With just Kania and Serena, I could endure the fake, nauseating hours to some degree.
"Frey, you're heading to the birthday party?"
"Oh, Irina."
As I stepped out of my room with those thoughts, Irina—who had been waiting outside—asked me the question.
"Yeah, since I'm the star of the show, after all."
"I don't need to come with you, right? There aren't any assassins or anything anymore?"
Judging by her attitude, she seemed genuinely worried about me. Well, it was understandable—the incidents that had happened since she joined my side were no joke.
"Don't worry too much. Kania's coming along, and I've got this new life force recovery boost."
"Still..."
"It's fine. Just rest here for a bit. Check on Lulu while you're at it."
Irina nodded quietly at my words. Watching her, a sudden thought struck me, and I asked,
"Oh, right—where did you say you were going while we're away?"
"...Yeah, something pretty important. I'll have to step out of the mansion for a while."
Her expression hardened as she nodded quietly in response. Whatever it was, it must be serious.
"Got it. I don't know the details, but I hope it goes well."
I patted her shoulder encouragingly before heading downstairs with Kania.
"What's this, Lulu? Waiting for us out here already?"
"Y-yes..."
When we reached the lobby, Lulu was there, fidgeting nervously as she waited for me and Kania.
"Today, officially, you're attending my birthday party as my 'servant.' You know that, right?"
"Yes..."
"Of course, the real reason you're coming... is to show you off to my shadow friends."
At those words, Lulu's face twisted in fear.
"No need to be that scared. They all have pets like you anyway."
"Th-that means..."
"Yeah, keeping people as pets is all the rage among nobles these days. Especially my friends—they love it."
I flashed a smile as I said it, and Lulu shot me a cold glare. Looked like I'd successfully earned her hatred once again.
Damn those guys... why do they have to cram a secret meeting into my birthday party of all things?
With that thought, I stepped outside and sighed, lost in contemplation.
My original plan with my 'shadow friends' had been to invite them to my house separately for secrecy. But the moment they heard I'd finally gotten a pet, they got way too excited. Now I had a headache from them insisting on bringing their so-called 'pets'—really just servants—to my birthday party.
Still... at least I can wrap things up quickly.
The silver lining was that they were gathering on their own, saving me the hassle of coordinating schedules to get them all together. Which meant I had to make my plan succeed at today's party.
"Um... Young Master Frey. I have a question."
"A question?"
As I mulled it over, Lulu—watching me with trembling eyes—suddenly spoke up.
"Are you... feeling unwell anywhere?"
"Huh?"
I tilted my head at the baffling question, and she hurriedly added,
"N-no... you just look a little tired."
I gently stroked her head as she glanced nervously at me, then smiled and replied,
"Already worrying about your master? You've fully adapted to being a pet, huh?"
"Huh? Oh, y-yes..."
"Good. Just keep that up. And I'm fine, so no need for pointless worries."
With that, I carefully boarded the waiting carriage and murmured to myself quietly,
It's precarious, but... manageable.
Seeing no real misfortune befall Lulu lately suggested her curse mark was weakening. Of course, that same lack of bad luck was making her anxious enough to check on me.
She'd never received affection this steadily before, so she probably didn't even realize the mark was fading. She'd get used to it in time, though.
"Then, we're off!"
The coachman bellowed as I pondered, signaling our departure.
"Come here, Lulu."
"Y-yes..."
Growing bored of the scenery whipping by outside, I called Lulu—who sat across from me—over to my side.
"Sleepy? Take a nap."
"Ah? Oh..."
Whether from lack of sleep last night or something else, she'd been nodding off nonstop. I laid her head on my lap and stroked her gently.
"Haaam..."
She looked startled at first but soon closed her eyes and drifted off. Her sleepy murmurs suggested she was exhausted.
"Mmmnya..."
"...Huh?"
Listening closely, it wasn't Lulu—it was Kania, pressed tightly against my side, dozing and mumbling.
...Well, she deserves to be tired.
She handled most of the duke family's duties alongside me, after all. I should let her rest properly before the party.
With that thought, I shifted the dozing Kania to lean on my shoulder.
"Mmm..."
She smiled faintly soon after—good call.
......
"Entering is the temporary head of the Starlight Duke family, the first son, and the star of this birthday party—Frey Raon Starlight!"
That's a mouthful...
The moment we arrived at the imperial ballroom, a waiting attendant announced my entrance loudly. The rowdy hall fell silent in an instant.
"U-ugh..."
Lulu whimpered beside me as all eyes turned our way. The attention must have overwhelmed her.
"What are you doing, Lulu? Come on in."
"Ah... y-yes."
But to me, it was just the usual. For better or worse, I always drew crowds.
".........."
Today felt different, though. Unlike the last ball, the nobles weren't swarming me—they sat quietly, sizing me up.
Makes sense. I'd caused plenty of chaos in the last three months. Rumors pegged me as the real culprit behind the commoner dorm raid, the mastermind of the unholy undead knight incident, even a Demon King's crony. None of it true—well, except maybe the last one—but the public treated it all as fact.
Even with my power and wealth, nobles who calculated everything kept their distance. If the 'imperial family' hadn't hosted this themselves, half these people probably wouldn't have shown.
"Frey! How've you been?"
"...Hm?"
Lost in thought, someone slapped my shoulder familiarly.
"Oh, it's you."
One of my trash friends.
"Follow me. We've reserved a room over there."
"Everyone's gathered?"
"Of course. How could we miss it when word got out you'd finally gotten a pet?"
He led me toward a secluded room, grinning.
"By the way, why haven't you shown up to shadow meetings lately? It's been so boring without you."
I left Kania waiting and followed with Lulu. He asked with a pout.
"Sorry, been busy."
"Too busy to show for months? We thought you'd ditched us. But hey, coming back with a pet like that? They'll forgive you."
I kept a straight face, and he glanced at the cowering Lulu beside me.
"Anyway, I can't stay long. I'm the guest of honor, after all."
"It's early, and not everyone's arrived yet. We've got an hour or two. Let's party hard."
...Sigh.
They'd prepared thoroughly. All prestigious heirs, but irredeemable trash—they lived off my connections for their bullying sprees. They hid in my infamy's shadow, reveling in their misdeeds.
"Here we are. Nice and private—you can enjoy yourself before the real party kicks off!"
"Ho."
We kept walking until he pointed to a room. Soundproofed and detection-proof—thorough.
The door creaked open. I followed him cautiously inside, and the rowdy group on sofas and chairs fell silent, staring.
"Long time no see."
My calm murmur in the hush brightened their faces.
"Frey! Where've you been?"
"Months of no-shows? Time for penalty shots! Get over here."
"See? I told you he wouldn't ditch us! I said it, but you wouldn't believe—"
They erupted, clamoring around me.
"U-uuugh..."
Lulu froze, face pale. And for good reason—each had a broken girl beside them, eyes dead.
Illusion scrolls hid the damage, looking fine to normal eyes. But I gathered Star Mana in mine, piercing the glamour.
"Wh-what the... hell..."
Lulu could too—her innate Demon Eyes, the reason a frail, talentless girl made Class A.
"We used pricey scrolls to disguise our pets as servants for you, Frey. Can't have a party without 'em."
"...Yeah, of course."
I scanned the dead-eyed girls coolly. The trash beside me smirked.
Suppressing my boiling rage, I eyed each girl.
This is bad.
They called them 'pets,' but the girls were wrecks. Bruises and wounds everywhere—especially faces. Eyes lifeless, clothes disheveled. Worst: most were fragile girls Lulu's age.
"...Hah, Frey. Where'd you snag a prime one like that?"
Fists clenched, I stared at the soulless girls when someone approached Lulu.
"Eek!"
She recoiled in horror.
"Sorry, my pet's still green at this."
I stroked her head gently, then addressed the room in a low voice.
"So, I want to let my pet play with yours for a bit."
They looked puzzled.
"Everyone out—except the pets."
They stared in shock as I smiled.
"It's been a while. Gotta make it worth it."
Something told me my rumors would gain another layer after today.
......
"Happy birthday, Young Master Frey."
The battered girls knelt in a line, prostrating flat on the floor, speaking in unison.
"Yeah, yeah."
I lounged in an armchair, wine glass in hand, looking down arrogantly.
"Hmm... this lacks fun."
After tending to the trembling Lulu for a while, I smiled and spoke.
"I want to see your broken forms... so, illusions off for a bit."
I sipped my wine. The girls panicked.
Riiip!
I tore the glowing central scroll without hesitation.
Knock knock knock!
Someone knocked right then.
"Stay put."
The girls—back to their ruined states—jumped in alarm, scrambling to rise, but I commanded coldly.
"Come in."
The locked door creaked open at my permission.
"Frey, long time no—"
The 1st Princess entered smiling, then gaped at the horror inside.
"Hello, Princess. What brings you?"
I crossed my legs, sipping wine leisurely. She flushed and replied,
"Oh, Clana and I wanted to talk with you..."
As the 1st Princess entered, Clana emerged from behind her.
"My God..."
Clana recoiled in horror at the scene, then approached with disgust.
"Frey, you really are..."
I readied a cold sneer—then she froze mid-step.
"What?"
Her trembling action threw even me—master of today's perfect plan—off.
"Ah..."
A single tear rolled from Clana's eyes as she stared blankly at me.
What the...?