Translator: Blushy
Editor: Sam
It bothered me that Felicia was tired, but lately, there was something that bothered me even more.
Nico said that he will be four years old in a few months, âIâll be four in a few months.â
He puffed his chest proudly. I can understand why heâs looking forward to his birthday, but the precious time from when heâs three wonât ever return. I wish he would enjoy his current age more. Itâs not because Iâm frustrated that heâll be two years older than me.
âAre you going to have a birthday party, Nico?â Chris asked something important.
âProbably with my family. Father said that it would be a lot of trouble if we have a party.â
âTroubwe, you shay, Lam-oji-syama...â
âItâs fine Lei. This is the same thing that happened when I turned two and three, and Uncle always comes, so itâs fine.â
Nicoâs probably happy since he likes Prince Albert.
âLeiâs only two, so you probably donât know this, but the big party is only thrown when youâre one. The rest is up to us to decide how we want to celebrate it.â
âDonât you have parties at your house, Chris?â
âYeah. But everyone only comes to see Okaa-sama and Otou-sama.â
Chris said that birthday parties arenât particularly fun. Come to think of it, didnât Nico mention that he hadnât seen Angie-obasama since his debut?
âIâm not having a birthday party, but the Four Marquises will come to give their greetings, and Iâll get a lot of presents from the nobles too.ân/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
âOtou-syama thwo?â
Itâs bad of me to say this as his daughter, but I canât imagine him going to greet Nico.
âAlbans...â Nico gave me a troubled look as if he was trying to avoid the topic.
âYesh?â
âHe comes. But after a while. He said he had completely forgotten about it.â
âOtou-syama...â
You should say that youâre busy with work or something instead of saying that you forgot.
âI heard Luke made him rush. Father laughed and said it was just like Albans. And...â
âAnd?â
âIf I recalled correctly, it was when you werenât here. Iâm sure he didnât have time to go to the castle to greet me.â
It was certainly when I wasnât here. But I canât shake off the suspicion that he would completely forget to go to greet Nico even if I had been here. Heâs a disappointing Otou-sama.
But his daughter is a good girl who never forgets to be polite. I crossed my arms and thought.
âYour arms... are crossed...â
âI guess you could say theyâre crossed.â
Thatâs right. I had progressed. I asked Chris for advice while we were playing, and Nico wasnât around.
âChrish.â
âI know.â
âI wnew you wouwd!â
Weâve only been friends for a few months, but we get along quite well.
âWeâre going to celebrate Nicoâs birthday, right?â
âYesh!â
Bingo! Iâm happy we thought of the same idea.
âThough itâll be celebrated during our study break.â
âLei canâth cewebrathe ith afther wunch.â (Lei canât celebrate it after lunch)
âThereâs no point in celebrating his birthday if you fall asleep.â
Chris crossed her arms and thought.
âHeey!â
âNicoâs cawing!â (Nicoâs calling)
âIâll ask Nee-sama if we can talk about it during lunch.â
âSoundsh good!â
It was hard to keep a secret from Nico. We talked about it and decided to discuss it over lunch in a few days.
I think Otou-sama would hate it if I ate with others, but the Remingtons didnât care. I had lunch with a pale Felicia on that day.
Apparently, Otou-sama can interact with others too. I was impressed with the way he entertained Felicia while having a conversation with her. Nevertheless, we quickly ate lunch, then Felicia, Chris and I discussed Nicoâs birthday.
âHeâs celebrating his birthday with his family, so I think our feelings will be enough.â
I think Felicia said that so it would be easier on me and Chris.
âWeâww have ith when everyoneâsh here.â (Weâll have it when everyoneâs here)
âYou want to celebrate it on the day when Luke and Gill come to teach?â
âOh, can I join in?â
Chris and I stared at Felicia in shock when she said that. Apparently, she was only planning on lending us a hand.
âWeâre aww friendsh.â
âNee-sama, you donât understand, do you?â
âOh my.â
Felicia chuckled.
âThe Four Marquises are celebrating his birthday, right? Friends, yes, weâre friends. How lovely.â
Sheâs a little older than us, but weâre friends. First of all, Chris proudly said, âIâve thought of something. We all have everything we want, right? So, letâs make him something.â
âGood pwan.â
I was very impressed. She seemed quite selfish when I first met her, but I didnât think she could one day think like this. Speaking of handmade gifts, there are things I can make too.
âLei wiww mawe pothathoesh.â
âPothathoesh?â
The Remingtons looked at me as if they didnât understand what I was saying and Otou-sama started panicking for some reason.
âLei, you canât make potatoes. Iâm not sure if His Highness likes potatoes in the first place.â
âIâww ashw him.â
âYou donât have to ask him. Oh yes, Iâll talk to Natalie and see if she can help you make some easy snacks or something. When it comes to you, Lei, yes, snacks come to mind,â Otou-sama decided on his own while nodding.
âOtou-sama hasnât eaten your potatoes yet, so I canât let His Highness beat me to it. I donât really like sweets, so itâs fine if you make him some.â
So thatâs why.
Well, I canât make any handicraft, so Iâll ask Natalie.
âWhat should I make? Iâm bad at embroidering, so I wonder if I should draw him something.â
âEveryone can writhe a birthhday card.â
I explained that we can all write on one card.
âEveryone?â
âEveryoneâsh feewingsh wiww be communicathed on one page.â
âThat sounds nice. Iâll get the paper ready.â
Felicia will prepare the paper and sneak it to everyone.
âWe should start with the little ones since you guys arenât good at writing. But I wonder if you can write him something Lei?â
âOf courshe.â
Iâm not good at writing since my hands donât move the way I want them to, but I can write.
âI can even writhe âeâ and draw Rug Dragonshs.â
âI, I see. Well, you just need to write some letters.â
You donât have to be reserved.
So, we agreed to give our gifts to Odds-sensei so that Nico wouldnât find out about them. Felicia will pass the card around for everyone to write in, and on the day of the event, we will hand Nico our presents and have a fun tea party. Chris and I will persuade Odds-sensei.
Itâs much simpler when bigger people are around. Now, itâs time for afternoon classes.
âYouâre just going to nap anyway Lei.â
âI canâth hewp ith.â
After our fruitless conversation, I heard Otou-sama, âFelicia.â
âYes, Dean-ojisama.â
It was rare for Otou-sama to talk to Felicia.
âListen. If thereâs anything, hmm. If youâre troubled about anything you can always rely on the Albans. You can rely on Lei, Luke and I.â
âOji-sama?â
âYou can talk to me about anything no matter how small. Donât hold it in.â
Felicia widened her eyes a bit and looked as if she was about to say something, but she kept it in and just nodded her head and bowed.
Otou-sama, youâre so cool.