CH 43

“Teacher’s birthday?”

The children’s eyes widened. The Countess smiled and nodded her head.

“If you want, can you all come and celebrate with us?”

“Yes!”

As soon as the Madam finished speaking, the children answered in a loud voice. They were thinking of digging up a little bit of information, yet the harvest was bigger than they thought.

“By the way…”

Demian, who had been quiet all that time, opened his mouth and wriggled his fingers.

“Instead of alone, can I come with my brother instead?”

“Your brother, His Grace the Duke of Valentine?”

Demian nodded.

“Can’t I…?”

His eyes, shining brighter than an amethyst, busily went back and forth between the Count couple. Who could refuse a request that a child as delicate as a doll who gently twists his fingers has handed over?

“Of course, it would be appreciated if you could come together and celebrate. But His Grace is such a busy person…”

“Thank you. My brother will really like it.”

Demian nodded and smiled bashfully. The Count couple also smiled at him while tilting their heads.

No matter how much they thought about it, they didn’t think the Duke would be very happy with Eleanor’s birthday party, but anyway, wasn’t it because Demian was enjoying it?

“Can I come with Uncle too?”

“Of course. Adrian comes every year anyway.”

The Count nodded his head willingly. Following Demian, Sienna nodded in satisfaction.

“Can I come with Brother too?”

“You mean… His Highness the Crown Prince?”

The eyes of the Count couple shook violently.

A strong feeling wrapped around the two of them. Somehow it felt like things had gotten too big. Duke Valentine is also burdensome enough, but the Crown Prince…

“It would be a great honor if he could come, but isn’t His Highness the Crown Prince too busy to be in such a private place?”

“My brother… can’t come? Demian’s brother is coming, and Sienna’s uncle is coming too, though?”

Lucas’s eyebrows twitched when the Count hinted at his bewilderment. That minute movement was regarded as a precursor to him bursting into tears. Finally, the Count raised his hands.

“How could that be. He’s also Dwight’s boss. We would be very happy if he could congratulate us.”

“Hehe, I see! I will tell my brother to come.”

“You don’t need to do that much…”

At that time, Albert, who was waiting outside, knocked on the door and announced the arrival of the carriages. It was really time for them to go home.

“I enjoyed talking to you today! Thank you for meeting us.”

Sienna grabbed the hem of her skirt and greeted them vigorously. Then the boys also set a plausible example. It was quite natural for them to see their older brothers do it over their shoulders.

“We had fun too. If you have any questions in the future, you’re always welcome to come.”

The Countess greeted them with a friendly smile.

“Ah! How about keeping today’s thing a secret from Teacher? I want to surprise her.”

“Surprise party!”

Lucas also clapped his hands in agreement with Sienna’s opinion. The Countess, who had been thinking for a moment, also nodded her head.

“A surprise party is a cute idea. Great. Then, as soon as it’s decided, I will send you a formal invitation. Unbeknownst to Eleanor.”

“Thank you!”

The Count couple went out and saw the children off. Kaidel, who had been lazily leaning back in the carriage and waiting for Eleanor, quickly straightened his posture.

The Count was also flustered.

“…Your Grace Duke Valentine?”

Facing the Count rather than Eleanor, Kaidel was very bewildered, yet soon he stood up straight like a soldier and exchanged brief greetings with the Count.

“I should have visited and greeted you earlier, but the greeting was delayed.”

“You may speak at ease, Your Grace.”

“No. It’s… convenient for me to do so.”

They were two very difficult people.

Go in first. I will go in after seeing you go. I’ll go see you go in. How can I do that?

After a brief scuffle, the Duke’s carriage left, and the Count let out a sigh of relief.

“By the way, Honey.”

“Yes?”

“Is it really okay to keep it a secret from Eleanor and Dwight…?”

It wasn’t okay.

However, Eleanor, who had been asleep for the first time in a long time, had no way to correct that serious error.

“Sure. It will be fine. It’s nice to have a meal together.”

“Right?”

“Of course. They will be surprised.”

They were all wrong, but if there was one thing that was right, that was it. She was really surprised…

“I think we will prepare something bigger and more colorful this time. For a lot of guests will come.”

*** 

What should I prepare for Eleanor’s birthday present?

It was serious homework thrown at the three men. The thoughts of the three men who received birthday party invitations from the children became endlessly complicated.

Choosing a present that Eleanor would like was like lying down and eating rice cakes for Adrian. However, this time it was different.

“Those three are the most popular designs these days.”

Three ring cases were held out in front of Adrian.

“Hmm.”

Adrian looked down at the glittering jewels with a disconcerted expression. As he tinkered with the ring, he thought a lot.

‘Did I just say that? I could have waited a little longer.’

He hasn’t seen Eleanor since that day. He didn’t even get an answer. In fact, he wasn’t even sure he wanted an answer.

After exchanging a few words with the jeweler, Adrian left the store.

“Young Marquis?”

Then a familiar voice stopped Adrian. As he slowly turned around, a face that was welcome and another one that wasn’t at all welcome met his eyes.

“Your Grace. Demian.”

Demian smiled and greeted him face to face. Kaidel glanced at the store where Adrian came from.

It’s a jewelry store. Somehow he didn’t feel good.

“Is Your Grace coming tomorrow too?”

“Yes. I was invited.”

“Sienna says that Demian asked for it himself.”

Adrian smiled at Demian. Kaidel’s eyes widened a little when he realized what he didn’t know.

“His Highness will come tomorrow too.”

“That’s right…”

This isn’t welcome news.

Kaidel put on a puzzled expression. Adrian laughed bitterly as if he could sympathize.

The two recalled the moment when Izmel asked Eleanor to be his prom partner. The fact that Eleanor’s cheeks had turned peach-red.

“Then I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Adrian bowed politely and then turned around.

“Have you decided on a present?”

Then Kaidel suddenly asked. Adrian suppressed the annoyance and turned around again.

“Yes, I have. Have you prepared it, Your Grace?”

“I just came out to buy it.”

“It’s good to see you coming out with your brother.”

Adrian, who answered politely, forcibly raised the corner of his lips.

Kaidel, who hesitated for a moment, gathered courage.

“Do you know what Eleanor likes?”

“Of course I know, but…”

Shall he said, are you crazy?

Adrian smiled meaningfully. Clearly grasping his intentions, Kaidel bit his lip.

But for some reason, he felt a tickle on his cheek.

‘No. I can’t see it.’

Adrian lowered his gaze a little, knowing he would regret it.

‘Please tell us.’

Demian’s purple eyes were shining brightly. With the very eyes that melted the Count couple.

Ha…

Adrian let out a long sigh. What can he do. It was a fight he couldn’t win in the first place.

“Demian, come closer.”

Adrian gave Demian a small gesture. As he stood up hesitantly, Adrian bent over him and whispered softly into Demian’s ear.

“Eleanor likes flowers. Only you know this.”

It’s a secret from your brother.

Adrian gently tousled Demian’s shiny black hair. He shyly nodded.

“I’ll see you tomorrow.”

***

Meanwhile, Izmel had another informant, someone who had been with Eleanor longer than Adrian.

“Did you call me?”

“Oh, come on in.”

Yes, it was Dwight Everett.

“What did you call me for?”

After taking a sip of the tea elegantly, Izmel got to the point.

“It’s your birthday soon, right?”

“Yes? Yes…”

Dwight replied with a dazed look on her face. A boss who even takes care of the youngest aide’s birthday! Dwight was very moved.

However, the impression didn’t last long and broke.

“So I thought I’d ask for some advice. You know a lot about Eleanor.”

Izmel leaned his body toward the table. He looked up at Dwight and grinned. It was his unspoken pressure to come up with something useful.

Dwight sweated and he thought about Eleanor’s favorite things. But like many of the siblings, He didn’t care much about her tastes.

“I’m not sure if I can be of any help.”

“Don’t be afraid and think about it.”

Something flashed through Dwight’s mind as he rolled his eyes.

“Something to eat?”

“Specifically?”

“She likes almost anything that doesn’t look very healthy at first glance.”

At that moment, Izmel realized that his plan to seek useful advice from Dwight had failed.

Dwight muttered softly as he pondered.

“Alcohol…”

“Alcohol?”

Izmel’s ears perked up.

‘Indeed, she was drunk the other day at a meal with the Young Marquis.’

Izmel smiled as he recalled the forgotten past.

“I don’t look for her often. It’s because she enjoys it too much when she’s with someone she’s close to.”

“Like the Young Marquis?”

At Izmel’s words, Dwight nodded his head.

“So Adrian suffered a lot.”

I see a lot of ugly things too.

Dwight whispered very softly, thinking of the drunken Eleanor. Izmel shook his head and smiled.

“No, Dwight. I bet it must have been cute.”

It’s just a pity he didn’t see it in person.

***

Kaidel entered the flower shop and looked around awkwardly.

“Does Eleanor like flowers?”

He told me not to tell my brother.

Damien, who was looking around the flower shop, turned his eyes with a troubled face.

“Are you going to give a present?”

Then the store owner, wearing a grass-soaked apron, approached them and spoke. Kaidel nodded his head.

“When it comes to flowers as a present for a lover, a bouquet of roses is, of course, the most popular. These days, lisianthus is also popular.”

After thinking for a while, Kaidel said.

“I’d rather have a potted plant that one can grow than a bouquet of flowers.”

“Good idea. Then I’ll show you things that are easy to grow.”

“Demian, you choose.”

Demian pondered for a long time before choosing a red geranium.

“Do you want me to bring it?”

Demian shook his head, holding the pot tightly with both hands. Kaidel lightly placed a hand on Demian’s head. It was a thoughtless act.

“Eleanor will like it if she knows you picked it yourself.”

Demian’s eyes widened. A smile escaped from between slightly bitten lips.

Kaidel, who was slowly walking down the street lined with shops, stopped. It was a general store with a unique atmosphere.

What caught Kaidel’s attention was a pretty music box. A boy and a girl made of silver were spinning around and a lullaby was playing. He grew languid just by looking at it for a while.

‘Eleanor seems a bit tired lately.’

Kaidel went into the shop and picked up the music box.

“If it’s for a present, would you like to wrap it?”

“Please.”

Kaidel lightly nodded at the clerk’s question.

“A small card is also included, would you like to write a message?”

Kaidel took the pen from the clerk. After thinking for a while, he quickly wrote down a short sentence.