Unaware of her mood, Reukis abruptly nodded.

 

“That’s a wonderful idea. Since you’re here, Merria, why don’t you write it yourself—”

 

Now, Merria felt like smacking her own forehead.

 

“If you ask me to do that, I won’t stay quiet,” she muttered gloomily.

 

The smile vanished from Reukis’ face in an instant.

 

Extreme embarrassment and a hint of despondency—that was Merria’s current state of mind. She had caused a fuss, thinking he didn’t appreciate the gift.

 

But the reality she witnessed was the complete opposite.

 

Who would have imagined he’d preserve it so meticulously?

 

In a room as large as a bedroom.

 

And with such an extravagant display cabinet, no less!

 

The rows of cabinets, judging by the quality of the wood and the intricate detailing, were clearly the work of a master craftsman.

 

For the sake of her mental well-being, she couldn’t bring herself to ask how much they cost.

 

Merria clenched her trembling fist tightly and strode over to the display.

 

“If I touch these, I won’t lose a hand or anything, right?”

 

Given how heavily guarded the place was from the entrance, it seemed entirely possible.

 

There was no telling when or where a powerful spell might spring out. When Merria shot him a suspicious glance, Reukis flinched and shook his head.

 

He quickly replied, “Absolutely not.”

 

“Then pardon my intrusion.”

 

Without hesitation, Merria reached out. She picked up a perfume bottle from the top shelf, spritzed it a couple of times on the inside of his wrist, then took out a carefully stored muffler from its box and wrapped it around Reukis’ neck.

 

She also uncapped the emerald-black fountain pen she had once gifted him and refilled its ink.

 

With some trepidation, she took the book resting on the ornate stand and flipped to the back cover.

 

Then, opening to the very last page, she handed it to Reukis along with the pen.

 

“Write something.”

 

“Me?”

 

“Yes. A drawing is fine too.”

 

Reukis hesitated for a moment before accepting the fountain pen. With a deeply contemplative expression, he began to write something down.

 

[Merria. Is this how it should be?]

 

Seeing his neat handwriting spelling out his words, Merria let out a small laugh.

“That’s right. Just like this.”

 

Reukis fiddled with his muffler as he watched Merria smile. She then unwrapped a few more items and guided his hand along.

Finally, after rummaging through his collection to her satisfaction, Merria spoke.

“That’s enough now.”

 

“…?”

 

As Reukis blinked and looked at her, she tightly grasped his hand.

“I also keep the letters we exchanged in my drawer. They’re precious memories.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

Reukis tilted his head slightly, wondering if that was the right response.

“So… it’s not that I don’t understand this.”

 

Merria paused briefly, unsure what to call this vast space.

“I gave these gifts lightly, but if I think they’re being treated with such extravagance, it might weigh on my heart from now on.”

 

“I see.”

 

Reukis seemed to try to understand her words, but his sullen expression was unmistakable.

Merria stroked his hand and continued, “So, let’s find a compromise.”

 

“Understood.”

 

“First, you want to keep this room as it is, right?”

 

If it were up to her, she’d tell him to close it down immediately.

But just as she treasured the ring Reukis gave her, she knew he felt the same, so she couldn’t act carelessly.

 

When she thought of this space as a manifestation of Reukis’ desire to preserve their memories, it wasn’t entirely unbearable.

 

Reukis nodded vigorously, voicing his opinion.

“If Merria would just allow it…”

 

“Alright.”

 

At her immediate permission, the corners of Reukis’ lips softened into a faint smile.

“But.”

 

She pointed at the muffler wrapped around Reukis’ neck and said,

“I’d like it if you used the gift I gave you at least once. Leaving it untouched, still in its original wrapping, makes me a little sad.”

 

“I’ll do that.”

 

“And things like that… please throw them away.”

 

Merria gestured toward a napkin placed in a corner of the display case.

The drawing, which could easily be mistaken for something done with the left hand, had multiple overlapping lines where someone had tried to capture the dark hair and sharp eyes.

At the time, it had just been a doodle she put a lot of effort into.

But seeing it displayed like this made her cheeks burn with embarrassment.

 

“You shouldn’t keep things like scribbles.”

 

“It’s a portrait.”

 

Reukis shook his head firmly in response.

 

“It doesn’t look like me at all…”

 

“You drew it to look exactly like me.”

 

Reukis praised how much the eyes resembled hers, holding back no compliments.

It was unclear which part of the free-spirited drawing style reminded him of his own handsome features.

But his expression was so sincere that Merria pressed her lips together tightly.

 

He really means it. If he could insist so firmly despite her words, Reukis might as well have been shouting his sincerity with his whole body.

In the end, this time, it was Merria who had to take a step back. She slipped the napkin between the pages of the book Reukis handed to her.

“Then think of it as a bookmark and keep it here.”

 

All she could hope was that this book would never be opened again.

 

💫

 

Having reached a smooth agreement, the two were ready to return straight to the villa.

 

“Why are we going outside?”

 

Merria tilted her head in confusion, having assumed they would use teleportation magic right there.

Reukis opened the door and answered, “For security reasons, teleportation magic can be unstable.”

 

Entering was difficult enough, but even if someone managed to infiltrate this space, they had made sure escape would be impossible.

Impressed by his thoroughness, Merria followed him out.

 

And the moment they stepped into the hallway, their outing was discovered.

 

“Lady Merria?”

 

A startled-looking butler stared at them.

 

“And the Master as well…?”

 

Harriet’s gaze turned toward Reukis, who stood beside Merria.

Though it wasn’t quite the right word to say they had been “caught” when they were already accompanying the mansion’s owner, the feeling was unavoidable.

Harriet, impeccably dressed, blinked her widened eyes as she looked at the two.

 

“Why are you here? I was certain you were supposed to be at the villa…”

 

Merria offered an awkward smile, deflecting the question. She wasn’t sure if Harriet knew the true nature of this room, but if she had to explain the series of events that led them here, her face would undoubtedly burn with embarrassment.

 

Reukis, as if suddenly remembering something, whispered to Merria.

“Merria.”

“Yes?”

Her breath hitched at the voice murmuring in her ear.

“You said a birthday isn’t complete without cake, right?”

“That’s… true?”

“I’ll go get one. A cake.”

 

It was already late in the evening.

There was no telling where he planned to find a cake at this hour.

As she tilted her head in confusion, Reukis gestured to Harriet.

 

“Is the ‘party without the guest of honor’ still happening this year?”

“How did you…?!”

Harriet, who had been bowing her head, rolled her eyes wide.

 

In the Frederick Mansion, there was an annual event held secretly without the master’s knowledge.

Since the tragedy of the Grand Duke’s residence, this was the first time his birthday had come around.

As usual, Reukis woke up, ate, studied, trained in swordsmanship, skipped dinner, and went to bed early.

No one but him knew whether he truly slept or wept inside that tightly shut room.

 

Concerned servants spent the entire evening lingering in the hallway. Then, an unexpected visitor broke the strange silence.

 

“Your ordered cake has arrived.”

Carter, his shoulders dusted with snow, introduced himself as an employee of Diner Hart. He was the one who had developed the late Grand Duchess’s desserts.

 

It was said that because of that dessert, his skills were recognized by Head Chef Hart.

That’s why he always held a deep gratitude toward the Grand Duchess.

 

“It was a few months ago. During a meal with her family, Her Highness the Grand Duchess called me aside after tasting the dessert and made a request.”

 

She told him that December 25th was the Grand Duke’s birthday.

Inside the box was a cake decorated with red raspberry jam and fresh cream.

 

“Normally, taking orders or making deliveries outside of my workplace is prohibited, so I bowed deeply and asked for Her Highness’s understanding…”

 

Carter smiled, his eyes crinkling slightly.

Harriet could see the emotions reflected clearly in his gaze—

Why Carter, who had refused even the Grand Duchess’s request, had come here today.

 

He wouldn’t have wanted the person his benefactor loved to grieve alone. Not because Reukis was a cursed child or the Grand Duke’s son, but because he pitied the boy who had lost his parents.

For Carter, whose only skill was baking, this was the only way he could think to help.

 

“Please tell him it’s a birthday gift from Her Highness the Grand Duchess.”

 

He couldn’t bring himself to ignore the last request of someone he would never see again.

Carter carefully held out the box to Harriet, who stood stiffly with sealed lips.

The warmth from his grip lingered on one side of the box, as if he had clung to it tightly the entire carriage ride.

 

“…I’ll deliver it. Without fail.”

 

Harriet replied calmly in his usual tone.

 

But that night—

In the end, Harriet couldn’t even deliver a single slice of the cake to his young master, let alone the message.

 

As the only one with the right to knock on Reukis’s locked door, Harriet went straight to the bedroom.

Then, cautiously, he asked—

If he would like to have some cake.

 

“It’s fine.”

 

Those three words, spoken in Reukis’s quiet voice, left Harriet with nothing more to say.

He had hurriedly bought candles and matches after hearing a knight say, “Wishes made on birthdays have a special power.”

A few passing servants saw this and gathered to light the candles and make wishes together.

 

Their wishes were all different, but in the end, they shared the same hope:

“Please let the young master be happy. So that he can smile again.”

 

Their gathered hearts finally vanished like wisps of smoke.

And so began the tradition at the Grand Duke’s residence—Reukis’s Birthday Party Without Reukis.