Chapter 22

"I'm here to celebrate your birthday by myself."1

"Why all of a sudden...."

I'm pretending to be close.

But I couldn't say that, so I looked up at my grandfather.

Did my grandfather call him?

But the surprise seemed to be the same with my grandfather.

"It's pretty amazing that the Prince came to this place."

The last time there was a commotion and the last time he left this mansion, Astana went back with all sorts of mischief as if he would never step in again.

But you come to my birthday party with a smile like that.

Considering that the first Prince is only twelve years old this year, he is not an average child.1

Maybe Astana won't melt more than I thought.

"I went back to the palace that day, and I got scolded by my mother a lot. Today, again, as a sign of apology, she directly gave a birthday present to Florentia and told me to come."

I expected it to be what the Empress had to do, but it was still surprising.

If it's her own son who dies and can't live with, presses the Prince's pride and apologizes.

It is also open in front of so many nobles.

I wouldn't have known that so many people would be attending my birthday party if the Empress had a tight grip on the social circle.

"I see."

Grandpa didn't say anything long.

But I could.

Last time, he looked at the Prince as a very annoying and spoiled puppy, and my grandfather's eyes were alert.

"Happy birthday, Florentia."

Astana said so, he put out the little jewelry box he was holding.

It was a black box about the size of two of my palms combined.

Oh, I don't want to receive it.

Doesn't it have a bomb or something in it?

I want to check it before opening it.

Apart from all this and that, I don't want to receive the goods given by the Prince.

However, since everyone in this banquet hall is now focused, there is no option other than receiving it.

As I hesitated, he nodded a little as if it was okay for my grandfather to take it.

Eventually, I took a jewelry box from Astana and opened it.

Of course, I flinched a little while opening it.

"Oh-oh!"

"After all, the Imperial wealth...... ."

As soon as the lid was opened, explosive reactions erupted around.

The birthday gift the Prince gave was a necklace.

It looks like an adult's finger is surrounded by tiny topaz around a ruby ​​that looks good enough.

"My mother took care of it. How is it, is it pretty?"

Astana said that, but the hidden meaning in it was 'How does it look expensive?' It was close to.

Each of the nobles mumbled, saying that the Empress gave me something precious.

But honestly, I didn't like it.

Proud of money in front of Lombardy.

There wasn't a lot of inspiration.

But I laughed brighter as I was annoyed.

"Yes. Thank you, Prince."

"Yes, yes."

Now, if I think I've done all I have to do, Astana looked refreshed.

"My lady, I'll bring a present."

The servant who was waiting on the side came over and took the jewelry box carefully.

Uh, I want to wash my hands.

I wanted to wipe it off with water in front of the Prince's eyes, but I rubbed it on the skirt of the dress I was wearing.

"It's been a while. Thank you all for coming a long way to congratulate my granddaughter, Florentia, on her birthday."

Grandpa said, raising the glass high again to clear up the untidy hall.

"Then I'll start the banquet."

As the grandfather's words ended, several doors connecting the banquet hall and the kitchen were opened at the same time, and each of the employees came out with a large silver plate.

Mostly, foods made for people to carry and eat conveniently were piled up like mountains on each table.

Fortunately, people began to have fun chatting with each other, just like before Astana came.

"I have to eat something too."

Seeing delicious foods, I suddenly become hungry.

At the nearest table, I saw the twins have already started eating and tried to go there.

I wish it wasn't for the guy who naturally follows me.

"Why are you following me, no. Why are you following me?"

To my question, the Prince looked around and replied with a smile on his face.

"I'm not doing this because I want to be with you either."

Then he notices as if confirming where my grandfather is.

He would like to do this after receiving an order from the Empress to come to my birthday party and release the feelings of Lombardy Lord.

"Are you going to stay together and return? You shut your mouth and stay still."

"This, shut your mouth... Who."

The little guy has already learned the wrong way to make fun of his mouth.

I know very well what the First Prince was doing while flocking with Belsach and Astalliu in his last life.

Since I was young, he thinks I must have been a baby with yellow buds like this.

I didn't want to be with a cockroach at all.

"I have to play with my cousins. Well then."

Later, when he was a bit bigger and politically worthy of use, it was inevitable that he could be part of my plan to some extent.

I was prepared to bear that degree.

However, I am still the same age as a growing sprout, and from now on, the word 'dog' has no idea of ​​wanting to be with this child, who is so sorry to dogs.

"I. Hey, just stay still."

A twelve-year-old man is like this bully to an eight-year-old.

Even though Lombardy was closed, it may have been a fortune for the Second Prince, not this child, to become the Prince for the empire.