Author: Nikss

💫

Reukis learned about this tradition about a month before he was set to depart for the campaign by the Emperor’s orders.

By the time he had grown somewhat skilled with the sword, Reukis had shed his boyish demeanor.

Though not as much as his outward appearance, he felt his inner self had grown a little stronger as well.

Even when nightmares still haunted him and the darkness threatened him, he rarely shed tears because of it anymore. Even on days like today, instead of hiding in his room, he calmed his mind by swinging his sword.

Today, seemingly ordinary, was December 25th.

His birthday.

Every year on this day, a slice of the cake he liked would appear at breakfast. But he didn’t even glance at it, and Harriet, who noticed this, didn’t offer it again.

For Reukis, today was just one of the many things he had stopped caring about since his parents passed away.

After finishing his meal, he spent the day in a frenzy.

With the Emperor’s order to deploy, he had much more to worry about now.

He had to rendezvous with the Crown Prince’s location while avoiding the enemy’s notice. He had to consider supply logistics.

And since there was no telling when the war would end, he had to prepare countermeasures for any issues that might arise in his absence and select a proxy to handle his duties.

Before he knew it, the sky had been completely swallowed by darkness.

On days like this, he would usually force himself to sleep early.

But Reukis set down the documents he was reading and stood up from his seat.

Lowering his gaze, he slowly walked over and turned the doorknob.

“Jaina, hurry! They said it’s starting soon.”

A familiar voice came through the slightly opened door.

Due to his reclusive nature and Harriet’s exacting standards, the ducal household staff didn’t change often, and their numbers were small relative to the size of the estate.

At least the pay was good, and since Reukis himself was a quiet man, the balance worked out.

Watching the two maids hurry down the hallway, Reukis tilted his head slightly.

‘Starting soon? What is?’

Under normal circumstances, he would have simply passed by without a second thought.

But that day, his steps unconsciously led him in that direction.

Looking back now, perhaps it was a feeling—a hope—that something might happen to shift his subdued mood.

The place Reukis arrived at was a small room attached to the first-floor dining room of the annex.

The scene that unfolded before Reukis, who had quietly concealed his presence, was utterly unexpected.

“Has it started?”

“We were just about to begin.”

Mailley, in charge of the kitchen, answered Jayna’s question.

“Oh my… What is that?”

Jayna, who had been pulling something out, stopped in her tracks and pointed at something.

There, surrounded by all sorts of bizarre objects, sat a cake—boldly placed for all to see.

A single, neatly sliced piece had been taken from it, and the cake itself was oddly familiar to him.

After all, it was the very same one served to him for breakfast that morning.

Confusion slowly spread across Reukis’ face.

It wasn’t particularly strange for the staff to eat the leftovers after the master’s meal.

What puzzled him were the wine bottles, medicine, rope, fruit, white handkerchiefs, and the like surrounding the cake.

JaIna pulled out some carefully wrapped leaves from paper and said,

“I brought some Gette tree leaves. My grandmother said they symbolize a wish for long life.”

Isaac, the gardener’s son, spoke up.

“Oh, nice. Put them here.”

Henders, who was in charge of guarding the back gate, eagerly held out something similar.

“Mine’s a branch from a Gette tree too. Nothing better for seeking blessings.”

Finally, another branch was placed beside the cake.

“Now, let’s light it up.”

At Harriet’s words, Henders struck a match and lit a candle. Then, everyone closed their eyes and began making their wishes.

“Who’s going to lead this year?”

Jaina peeked open an eye and whispered.

Just then, Isaac’s hand shot up.

“Isaac?”

Jaina called out his name with a startled expression.

“You did this last year,” she scolded him in a reproachful tone.

Isaac waved his hands as if to prove his innocence.

“How about waiting until the candle fully melts? There’s a legend that says if someone steps on the melted wax after the candle burns out, they’ll return safely.”

Through their conversation, filled with superstitions, Reukis realized several things.

One, the servants of the grand duke’s residence were thoroughly enjoying his cake.

Two, they were deeply interested in myths and witchcraft.

And lastly, he was the subject of all those prayers.

Reukis quietly turned away.

On the day he finally left for the war-torn battlefield, Reukis stepped on every trace of white candle wax scattered from the center of the foyer to the entrance of the mansion before departing.

💫

The ones who arrived at the annex after Harriet’s summons were Jaina and Royce.

Jaina carried a delicious-looking cake, while Royce held a large box.

Their flushed faces in the cold weather suggested they had hurried over in quick strides. When Jaina held out the cake she was carrying, Reukis accepted it.

“Merria. The cake.”

The pure white cake, lavishly decorated with fresh flowers, was incredibly beautiful.

Enough to make the dark, hard thing she had created vanish from his mind in an instant.

“Hmm?”

Merria, who had been admiring its lovely appearance, let out a puzzled sound. She had noticed the mark cleverly hidden beneath the roses.

Narrowing her eyes at the indentation—just the right size for a birthday candle—Merria spoke.

“Seems like someone else was about to eat it.”

“…”

At her sharp question, Harriet, Jaina, and Royce all fell silent.

“You didn’t steal it, did you?”

Merria turned her gaze to Reukis.

He rolled his eyes briefly before shaking his head.

“It must be for me.”

“Must be?”

As Merria tilted her head and asked again, Harriet quickly added,

“We picked each flower to celebrate your birthday, my lady.”

“That’s right.”

“The roses over there were my idea, Lady Merria.”

The other two smiled faintly and nodded. Though, technically, the cake was made by the owner of a dessert shop.

But strictly speaking, nothing they said was untrue.

The roses placed there were indeed Jaina’s idea—They had been placed to cover the marks left on the cake, hastily rescued before the candles were lit.

As the three watched nervously, Merria gave a small nod.

“But you prepared a cake even though Reukis isn’t here?”

Merria’s tone suggested understanding, but she suddenly turned her gaze and asked.

“It’s an old tradition here. On the household head’s birthday, everyone shares cake.”

Reukis swiftly answered her question.

As the correct response left his lips, Jaina and Royce exchanged surprised glances. This was the glorious moment when its protagonist officially declared an unofficial event.

Reukis naturally turned her head toward him, brushing Merria’s hair aside, and smiled faintly.

“Seems someone made my share of the cake again this year, just as always. I hardly left the mansion on the 25th.”

“That’s fortunate. There’s some left.”

Merria clapped her hands lightly as she spoke.

Wasn’t it truly fortunate?

To have such a delicious cake remaining, exactly when it was needed.

As she beamed with joy, the tension around Reukis’s eyes melted away.

Royce, having swiftly finished wrapping it, approached and held out a box.

“It’s time to go back now.”

“Ah, Celine might be surprised and looking for us.”

Merria nodded and took his hand.

“If the cake runs out, let them know I’ll personally compensate them—”

With her final words, the two disappeared.

Thanks to their master, who had ‘kidnapped’ the only cake, the ‘Reukis-No Reukis Birthday Party’ had to end anticlimactically—but no one was upset about it.

After all, the three people present had witnessed something they hadn’t seen in ten years:

Their master’s face, smiling brightly on his birthday.

Harriet curled his lips contentedly and turned around.

“Let’s all go enjoy a nice dinner. My treat.”

Jaina and Royze quickly followed after him.

💫

“Reukis, can you help me with my hair?”

Merria, now clean and refreshed, spoke cheerfully.

Relieved at having saved the cake, she hummed as she washed up and quickly got ready.

Originally, she had planned to dress up nicely for their private party, but considering Reukis’ ruined jacket and their already delayed schedule, she boldly skipped the formal attire.

Wearing a simple evening dress with her hair down, Merria decided to finish her look with the platinum diamond necklace he had gifted her last time.

“Allow me.”

Instead of fixing her hair, Reukis picked up the necklace from the dresser and draped it around her neck.

The delicate gemstone suited the exposed nape of her neck perfectly. She immediately stood up and took his hand.

The cake had already been handed over to Selin and placed in the hall.

Merria, giddy with excitement, led Reukis by the hand—his demeanor much like it had been that morning.

The brightly lit hall, adorned with warm-toned lights, was filled with the flowers Merria had chosen, the miraculously procured cake, and dinner preparations.

And dozens of boxes were tightly packed inside.

Reukis’ gaze naturally drifted toward the stacked boxes.

Merria guided Reukis to the seat in front of the cake.

“Above all else, the candles come first.”

The pure white cake, decorated with fresh flowers, perfectly matched today’s party venue. She lit the candle placed in the center and began singing the birthday song.

“—Happy birthday—to our dear Reukis—”

Merria clapped loudly with a beaming smile.

Reukis stared at her intently for a moment before blowing out the candle in one breath.

“…!”

At his decisive action, Merria’s eyes widened as she spoke.

“What about your wish? That’s the whole point of this.”

Her eyes drooped slightly, as if his wish had flown away.

Seeing Merria’s disappointed face, Reukis softened his expression and replied,

“I don’t need a wish.”

“Right… You never liked things like this.”

Merria shook her head, remembering the day she urged him to make a wish at the fountain.

Reukis lifted Merria’s hand and answered, “It’s not that. It’s because I have nothing left to wish for.”