Chapter 106

Two Birthdays (2)

In this world, celebrating birthdays was usually reserved for monarchs or high-ranking nobles.

Ordinary people rarely observed their birthdays.

This was because infant mortality rates were so high that people didn’t bother to record or remember the exact date of birth.

However, the North—more specifically, the Arad Group—was different.

They had begun paying attention to the birthdays of their employees.

Even if exact dates weren’t known, people generally knew the season in which they were born, so all the birthdays in a given season were celebrated together.

“Here, everyone, take yours.”

Today was both the birthday of Arina Rune Renslet and the day to celebrate the birthdays of Arad Group employees born in winter.

“Th-thank you so much!”

“I never thought I’d see the day when my birthday would be celebrated…”

“This must also be thanks to the grace of our Chairman and His Highness the Grand Duke.”

“No, His Highness the Archduke.”

“Oh! Yes, His Highness the Archduke!”

Now that the North and the Renslet Duchy had formally unified into one Grand Duchy, the Empire’s North was officially referred to as the Renslet Grand Duchy, and Arina had transitioned from being the Northern Grand Duke to the Archduchess of Renslet.

However, because she had been called a Grand Duke for nearly 200 years, people still weren’t used to the term “Archduchess.” For now, the terms “Grand Duke” and “Archduchess” were used interchangeably.

Arad, of course, was an exception. Businesspeople always had to ensure they got the titles of politicians right.

“Celebrating birthdays feels a little embarrassing.”

“But it also feels good.”

“It’s amazing how much the world has changed! Birthdays used to be celebrated only by the high nobles.”

In any case, the employees, who were receiving birthday gifts for the first time in their lives, opened the presents prepared by Arad with gratitude and disbelief.

The birthday gifts weren’t extravagant.

Everyone gathered to share fine bread and snacks they normally couldn’t afford, and each received two silver coins as a gift.

Cash was, as always, the most appreciated present.

“I have to head to the High Tower, so enjoy yourselves and take off early today. Mary, let’s go.”

“Yes!”

Having quickly wrapped up the birthday celebrations for the employees, Arad prepared to leave the factory with Mary.

He had to attend Arina’s birthday party, which was being held at the High Tower early that evening.

“The gift for Her Highness the Archduchess this year is a chair, right?”

“That’s right. It’s an enchanted floating chair.”

“I’m sure Her Highness will love it.”

“She certainly will. Oh, and…”

After carefully wrapping the floating chair intended for Arina, Arad handed another gift to Mary.

“Here, take this.”

“This is…?!”

The gift Arad had prepared for Mary was a sword.

Mary, who had expected nothing more than a pipe or a cigar, was thoroughly shocked.

“Why a sword all of a sudden…?”

Arad had never made a sword before.

The most he had ever crafted were pieces of armor.

Yet here was a sword, crafted by him, now resting in Mary’s hands—which, truthfully, were Arina’s.

“I noticed during the last incident that you handle a sword very well. So, I decided to make one.”

“The last incident?”

“You know, when Sigma and the dark sorcerer attacked our factory.”

“Ah…”

Still flustered, Mary cautiously suggested to Arad, “Wouldn’t it be better to present this sword to Her Highness the Archduchess?”

“That won’t do.”

“Why not?”

“A good new sword makes you want to use it. Even if it’s just for hunting, it could put Her Highness at risk. You know as well as I do that she hasn’t fully regained her strength yet.” 𝙧ÀＮꝋᛒËᶊ

Mary, still disguised as Arina, couldn’t refute Arad’s impeccable reasoning.

“To be honest, I was worried when I gave her that enchanted armor last time. I feared she might use it to go on some dangerous hunt.”

“…”

“Thankfully, she only used it for protection and didn’t engage in anything risky. I think her experiences in the Abyss of the Demon Realm had a significant influence on her caution.”

No, it was just because she was so busy juggling company matters, Archduchess responsibilities, and training that she didn’t have the time.

Choosing to ignore Arad’s subtly reproachful tone, Arina steered the conversation back on track.

“In any case, even someone as cautious as Her Highness might want to wield a sword if she had one. That’s why it’s not an option.”

“…If not Her Highness, why not Sir Balzac or the senior knights?”

“It would create issues if I gave a sword to anyone but Her Highness.”

“That makes sense.”

Mary now had a clearer understanding of why Arad had refrained from making weapons like swords until now.

“Besides, aren’t there plenty of weapons made from Northern Steel these days?”

“While Northern Steel weapons are common, a magic sword crafted by you, Chairman, is a once-in-a-lifetime rarity.”

“That’s why I made this as a birthday gift for one of my employees. If it were just another common item, I wouldn’t have bothered.”

Arad’s blunt reply resolved one mystery while sparking another.

“Still… Why did you make a sword for me?”

“You’re supposed to protect me, aren’t you? Use that sword to guard me. From now on, you’ll be doubling as the Chief Secretary and the Head of Security.”

Arad then reminded Mary of one crucial detail.

“Oh, and make sure not to let Her Highness see this sword.”

“O-of course. By the way, does this sword have a name?”

“Hmm… I’ve named it Cry of the Snowfield.”

“That’s an unusual name.”

“Use it, and you’ll eventually understand why I named it that.”

Mary drew the sword from its sheath.

Cry of the Snowfield was undeniably a masterpiece, showcasing the beauty, durability, and sharpness typical of a weapon crafted by one of the North’s master artisans.

“Honestly, even though I made it, I don’t really like it. So don’t tell anyone I made it.”

“What do you mean you don’t like it? No, this is an exceptional sword. Not just in the North but across the entire continent, no weapon could surpass this Cry of the Snowfield.”

“No, no. It’s made with only small amounts of second-rate adamantium and mithril. It’s embarrassing to even call it a masterpiece.”

“Why on earth…”

“When the conditions are better, I’ll make you something even finer.”

“I understand. Thank you so much. Truly.”

That day, Arina received a sword as Mary and a floating chair as herself.

“By the way…”

“Hmm?”

“When is your birthday, Chairman?”

“I was born in summer.”

“Do you know the exact date?”

“I do, but I’ll keep it a secret.”

“Why?”