Six years have passed since Clarisse first climbed the tree.
[Congratulations, Clarisse.]
When she woke up in the morning, the inner wall congratulated her as if it had been waiting for her.
“Coh! (I was going to do it first!)”
Mallang also jumped on the back of her hand and congratulated Clarisse on her special day.
“Coh.”
“Thank you, Mallang. Thank you for Sir inner and outer walls.”
[I didn’t say anything.]
“You asked the inner wall to deliver it on your behalf.”
Whenever the outer wall felt like saying something kind, he would quietly send his heart to the inner wall.
[That pathetic anniversary has no meaning to me.]
“Coh! (The anniversary of climbing a tree is not pathetic!)”
[I can’t believe you celebrate your birthday by giving it a weird name instead of just saying it’s your birthday. So stupid.]
“Coh!”
Since Mallang was about to run through the open window, Clarisse quickly caught him.
Mallang, who seemed like he was about to run to the outer wall right away, soon calmed down in her hands.
“…Coh.”
“It’s okay.”
Clarisse stroked Mallang’s soft and shiny head.
“Sir Outer Wall wants me to celebrate my birthday properly. Because birthdays are very important in Sheridan.”
In Sheridan Village, birthdays before the age of eighteen were treated with great care.
She heard that not only the family but also the entire village congratulates the child, making the child feel like they are the star of the day.
“But I also have a pretty similar day.”
Clarisse received cake and congratulations on this day every year.
“Calling my birthday by another name is… a deep affection from two people who wanted to celebrate me in their own way.”
Clarisse hugged Mallang close to her heart and smiled warmly.
“Thinking of that feeling as a gift makes me even happier. And more than anything…”
A letter from Noah always arrives on her birthday.
If it’s not a letter, then the person himself has arrived.
When she was young, she loved receiving congratulations from friends and eagerly awaited it, but starting this year, the direction of that anticipation has changed a bit.
‘The person I like is… congratulating me.’
What should I do? She’s already starting to look forward to Noah’s letter.
“…Coh. (Your heart is going to explode.)”
“Mhm?”
Clarisse was so startled that she quickly placed Mallang down on the bed.
“Cooh.”
“N, no! Why am I suddenly thinking about Noah?”
“Coh!”
“See, see him… Oh my, what are you talking about when everyone is listening!”
Clarisse quickly tried to stop Mallang, but the inner wall’s response was much faster.
[What? You kissed?]
“I didn’t!”
[I, I’ll ring the bell right away! Guardian stone of Sheridan…!]
“I didn’t do it! Even if that were the case, that wouldn’t be Sheridan’s crisis!”
Clarisse decided to explain the situation properly so they wouldn’t misunderstand further.
“So, what Mallang is saying is about Noah kissing me on the forehead. And that was just… a friendly kiss of blessing between friends.”
[I am certain that Clarisse is the Duke and Duchess’ child.]
“What? That doesn’t make any sense.”
[I’m sure. To produce sweet potatoes with the same taste as two people!]
Clarisse smiled bitterly as she heard the word ‘sweet potato’ for the first time in a long time.
“…It’s different.”
[It’s very similar!]
“My problem can never be solved. So, it’s probably a very different problem from the two of them.”
[Oh my, you’ve managed to grow even bigger sweet potatoes now?!]
“I’m sorry.”
[I don’t want to hear an apology. All of us in the inner wall just want Clarisse to be happy.]
“I am happy. Noah is very kind and often sends me letters. And… I’m expecting a letter today too.”
[Wizard Sinet will send you a wonderful love letter. Celebrating Clarisse’s anniversary.]
That’s not a love letter.
Clarice wanted to say that with embarrassment, but at that moment, Rosalie came to help with morning preparations, so she couldn’t talk further with the walls.
“Hello, Rosalie.”
“Did you sleep well, Clarisse? You’re already up.”
“For some reason, my eyes were opened.”
Clarisse quickly got out of bed and tidied up the bedding with Rosalie.
“That’s good. Even if it wasn’t, there was something we had to decide.”
“What needs to be decided?”
As soon as Clarisse asked, workers came in from the open door carrying clothes and hung them one by one on a long screen.
“The Duchess sent it after worrying about what kind of clothes you would like.”
“Yes? This, all of it…?”
Clarisse looked around at the many clothes hanging that crowded the screen.
There were modest-looking dresses, dresses with lovely lace, sturdy-looking activewear, and even somewhat adult-like clothes that made it seem like all of her shoulders would be visible when she wore them.
She knew very well that the Duke and Duchess had never skimped for Clarisse’s clothes.
However, since there was no way for so many clothes to expand at once, Clarisse carefully looked back at Rosalie.
“Did Madam tell me to choose just one of these?”
“She specifically said to choose just one to wear. You can wear the others on different days, so don’t worry too much.”
“Yes?! B, but…”
Clarisse realized that the budget allocated to her wasn’t that generous.
No, originally, Sheridan in the north was part of a faction that aimed for fairly frugal spending compared to other noble families.
Because it was neither rich in crops nor an important transportation hub.
If the Duke found out that such a large amount of money was spent on Clarisse’s clothes…
“Don’t worry, it was the Duke who said it would be a good idea to do this. Oh, that’s right.”
Rosalie pulled the trolley parked in front of the door as if she had almost forgotten. The cart that usually carries food today contained some cute trinkets.
“This is a gift from Mrs. Woods and Marchioness of Curno from the capital. There’s a card included, so be sure to read it later. And when you’re ready, it would be a good idea to go to the living room. The Duke and Duchess said they were waiting.”
“I can’t keep the two waiting.”
Clarisse hurriedly changed into her clothes and brushed her hair. She declined Rozalli’s offer to style it nicely and headed straight for the reception room.
The butler, probably waiting for Clarisse to arrive, immediately opened the door.
There was a cake in the middle of the drawing room.
The Duke and Duchess always made sure to have a delicious cake prepared on this day every year, so Clarisse was expecting one today as well.
Still, Clarisse was very surprised.
It was because of the message written on the chocolate decoration.
[Happy 16th birthday to our beloved Clarisse.]
The handwriting was very crooked, so it was easy to tell that it wasn’t written by an expert chef.
“…Why.”
The Duke of Sheridan approached Clarisse, who was standing stiffly in the doorway.
“I sincerely congratulate you… on turning sixteen, Clarisse.”
As he said that, his outstretched hand seemed to smell like chocolate.
“N, no way. I, I…”
Brielle gently interrupted her as she tried to say, “I’m a prisoner.”
“You’re our cute child.”
She also approached Clarisse and held out her hand.
“Isn’t that right?”
Our child.
“If you say so…I’m in trouble.”
Of course, Clarisse knew very well the affection between the two people. She thought that just being able to feel it was enough.
However, she didn’t dare to think of changing the relationship between them and Clarisse, that of guardian and prisoner, into another word.
No, even if such thoughts came to mind, she would try hard to suppress them.
“I, I keep thinking of the two of you differently.”
“I definitely want to hear what you think.”
The Duke held out his hand again.
Clarisse was really embarrassed, but she couldn’t embarrass him any longer, so she held his hand together with trembling hands.
“Me too. I care so much about what ‘our child’ thinks of us.”
Brielle grabbed Clarisse’s other hand first.
Clarisse could only look at the two with a tearful expression on her face.
No matter how much the atmosphere is like this, she can’t take the initiative and say cheekily, ‘We’re like family.’
“…Of course I don’t mean to harass you, Clarisse.”
Brielle seemed to know the difficulty and spoke in a much softer voice.
“I’m sorry if we acted hastily and made you feel uncomfortable.”
Clarisse shook her head.
Although she was surprised by the term ‘our child,’ he didn’t dislike it.
She was rather relieved.
It feels like a place has been found in the always ambiguous dynamics among the three people who were constantly hovering in an ambiguous spot.
And it happened to be the position that Clarisse secretly hoped for. Something she thought would never come true.
“I, I… always.”
Clarisse barely moved her trembling lips while holding the two people’s hands.
Somehow feeling embarrassed, she ended up lowering her head.
“I… I’ve thought about wanting to be your child.”
After that, Clarisse forced herself to swallow the words ‘presumptuous’ that were trying to stick to her.
If she were to add such words, she felt it would only hurt their feelings.
“Clarisse.”
At the sound of Maximilian calling, Clarisse cautiously raised her head.
For some reason, her face felt hot.
“…Thank you.”
“Yes?”
He began to say something, starting with ‘This is not enough…’ but then thought better of it and shook his head.
“I wanted to be your family too. Always…”
“I, I wanted to be family too! I thought I shouldn’t have these feelings, but I couldn’t stop myself…”
“There’s no way it wouldn’t work!”
Brielle pulled Clarisse’s hand and raised her voice.
“Really…?”
“More than anything, there has never been a time when it wasn’t like that.”
“….”
“At first, we may have had our disagreements, but that’s surely something any family experiences as they grow closer. So… we’re a very natural and ordinary family. Oh, really!”
Brielle gently hugged Clarisse’s shoulder.
“Happy birthday, Clarisse! I’ve wanted to say this so much for the past few years!”
And the Duke’s warm hand stroked Clarisse’s hair.
“I sincerely congratulate you. Our…”
At the end of what he said hesitantly, there was clearly the cute word ‘our daughter’ attached to it.
‘Ah.’
The affection mixed in that small voice was so deep that Clarisse was momentarily mistaken.
Maybe this moment, this relationship, will last forever.
‘No, I’m fine just for a little while.’
Although Clarisse may not address the Duke and Duchess as mother or father lightly, they have undoubtedly filled the role of family in her life, and that will never change.
Clarisse reached out and hugged them both at the same time.
It was the best sixteenth birthday present.
* * *
Noah’s letter didn’t arrive until late at night.
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