Chapter 54

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: Birthday Preparations
-----------------------------------------------------------------
* * *

“Sigh, what if Mr. Joseph doesn’t come?”

As soon as we arrived in the capital, I worriedly snuggled into my dad's arms.

Seeing Joseph's stubborn reaction, I knew it wouldn't be easy.

“Well, can't be helped then.”

Unlike me, who was full of worries, my dad was completely carefree.

He was even humming, as if he truly didn't care whether Joseph came or not, which was a little…

“Dad, why are you so calm? You went all that way to get your friend and couldn't even bring him back!”

“Lilis!”

My dad, who had been walking with light, brisk steps, stopped in his tracks and stared at me.

“I'm curious, what is my little girl so worried about?”

“Huh?”

“You're talking as if it'll be a disaster if Mr. Joseph doesn't come. Do you even know why I wanted to be friends with him?”

I flinched.

My dad's expression was as gentle as ever. He even tilted his head as if he were genuinely curious.

But I could read it.

The underlying suspicion, sharper and more piercing than anyone else's…

The gaze of a ‘protagonist’!

*Oops, I was too careless in front of the quick-witted protagonist.*

I quickly made an excuse.

“I'm not dumb! I know all about it. Mr. Joseph kinda told me. He said he needs to help you with your work, right?”

My dad stopped and looked quietly into my eyes.

Silence fell.

*Gulp.*

I was so nervous I swallowed without realizing it.

“That's right.”

My dad smiled brightly and started walking again.

“Daddy's going to start a little business so my princess can eat delicious food, wear pretty clothes, and live happily!”

“Ooh, I see.”

*Business: The activity of managing something with a specific purpose and plan in an organized and continuous manner. Or the work itself.*

Well, yeah. If that's what Dad says.

A rebellion is a kind of business, I suppose.

I nodded with a hazy look in my eyes.

“I hope my princess won't worry.”

“Huh?”

“It's okay if Mr. Joseph doesn't come. If he's not here, I'll just have to think of another way.”

*Mwah.* My dad kissed my cheek.

“So my princess doesn't have to worry. Daddy's the best, right? You know there's nothing I can't do, right?”

“Uh-huh. Yeah, that's true.”

I nodded, thinking.

Right, even if the original story has changed a bit, this is still the world of a novel, and Dad is the protagonist, stacked with every buff imaginable.

If he were a stupid villain or a mastermind, things would be difficult, but…

*Sigh, Dad's right. I've done what I can. Now I just have to hide my identity well and secretly help Dad take the easy path sometimes.*

Feeling much more at ease, I clung to my dad's neck.

“Oh, right!”

But my dad couldn't take more than a few steps before he stopped again, aghast.

“You scared me! What's wrong?”

“My princess's birthday present!”

“Aww, it's okay. I don't need a present. I'll have another birthday next year, won't I?”

“What are you talking about? This is your first birthday since we came to the capital. I'm sorry. I was thoughtless.”

“I said it's okay.”

“Let's hurry up and get my princess's birthday present~!”

“Nooo. I have thiiis many dresses and shoes. My closet is about to explode.”

“Mmm-mmm.”

My dad wagged his index finger.

“Not that kind of thing. I'm going to give my princess something she's reeeally, really wanted~?”

“Ooh. What is it?”

My dad grinned. It was a somehow mischievous-looking smile.

* * *

The Duke of Rubinstein's only daughter.

The sole heir to the family.

The ducal residence was abuzz with preparations for Lilis Rubinstein's first birthday in the capital.

Nordic and Ordia, father and daughter, were out in the garden, meticulously inspecting the lavishly decorated mansion.

“Don't you think the gift you prepared is a bit too much, Father?”

“Not at all. The child has taken a liking to horse riding, so there's no better gift. Your gift, on the other hand, is needlessly extravagant and impractical.”

“Oh, Father, really?”

Ordia retorted.

“It's Lady Rubinstein's birthday. Everyone would laugh if they heard we were having a modest family party at the townhouse. We should at least give her a gift that won't make her feel small.”

Banquets were a way for nobles to show off their power and status.

Lilis's first birthday since coming to the capital.

Nordic and Ordia had, of course, intended to throw a lavish banquet at the estate villa and invite the other nobles, but…

“What can we do when the child says she doesn't want that?”

Lilis had adamantly refused, saying she wanted to spend it with just her family, so the plan was canceled.

“That's why we had to give her a grand gift, at least. Lilis still lacks the awareness of being a noble. I mean, she has less than fifty dresses in her closet, yet she claims she has more than enough clothes to wear…”

As she spoke, Ordia spotted something and stopped short.

Nordic stopped as well, horrified.

“What, what is that fool doing now?”

On one side of the garden was a mountain of thick lumber.

*Bang, bang—!*

The midday sun shone down on a man who had coolly taken off his shirt.

Ordia squeezed her eyes shut.

“Oh, for heaven's sake. Enoch. You must be mad.”

Yes, it was Enoch.

He occasionally wiped away the sweat trickling down his face, a cheerful expression on his face as he—

“That, that fool, ugh.”

—was hammering away!

“Oh my, Father! What should we do!”

Supporting Nordic as he staggered, clutching the back of his neck, Ordia glared at Enoch in the distance.

Rem, who had been standing beside him at a loss, spotted the two and ran over, his face pale.

“M-Master. Lady Ordia.”

“Butler! What in the world is this spectacle?”

“W-Well… The young master is making a birthday present for the young lady.”

“Making what! No, more importantly, why can't he just have the carpenters do it!”

“Do you think I didn't say that myself…”

Rem said with a tearful face, helping to support Nordic.

“He insisted that he had to make it with his own hands, saying it was something the young lady really, really wanted when she was in the south…”

“Ugh.”

“Father!”

“Master!”

His blood pressure rising again, Nordic swayed.

No matter how you look at it!

Is it really right for a duke to be shirtless, hammering away like that…?

Watching the servants who were bustling by stop in surprise at the sight of Enoch only made his blood pressure rise further.

“You foooool!!!”

Nordic's roar echoed thunderously.

* * *

“Chessier! You get back here~?!”

“Stay away!”

Dressed in the full Princess Lala set she had received as a gift from the twins, Lilis was chasing Chessier.

*I can give her the gift and the flower later tonight.*

Chessier sighed, looking at the single Aristata flower he had just gone out to buy.

He had been hiding well, but he'd almost been caught when their paths crossed as he was buying this flower.

*A birthday party… It's not my place to be there.*

They had decided to have a small family gathering to light the candles on a cake, but for Chessier, it was by no means a small affair.

Enoch, Ordia, and the twins were one thing…

But Nordic.

Lilis's grandfather and the eldest of the house would be there too.

“His name is Chessier. He's a smart, handsome boy, isn't he?”

On his second day at the mansion, Chessier had been led by Enoch to greet Nordic.

“…Since we have decided to take you in, you are a member of our family until you leave on your own two feet. Do your best in your studies.”

The conversation ended there.

Since then, Chessier had never spoken with Nordic alone.

The reason Nordic never so much as glanced his way was probably because he was secretly displeased with Chessier.

It was only natural he wouldn't be happy about bringing the half-blood illegitimate child of some unknown family into his own.

But Lilis wouldn't be able to comprehend the discomfort Nordic must feel looking at Chessier…

*I'm sorry.*

Chessier ran to the area behind the stables where there was a wall. Empty feed boxes were stacked like stairs.

He quickly stepped on them and vaulted over the wall.

“Waaah! You idiot!”

She won't be able to follow me here. Lilis's desperate scream could be heard.

“…I'm sorry. I'll come to your room tonight.”

“Nngh.”

“……?”

Chessier was startled by a groan from the other side of the wall.

Surely she wasn't trying to climb over after him?

“Are you crazy?”

His worst fears came true. Lilis, grunting with effort in her small body, had climbed the boxes and was now precariously perched atop the wall.

“It's dangerous!”

“Why, why… Eek!”

“Hey!”

Lilis, sitting precariously on the narrow wall, shouted.

“Why are you running away! Don't you want to wish me a happy birthday? Let's eat cake together!”

“Alright, alright. Just stay right there. Hold on tight so you don't fall. I'll come back over.”

At that moment.

“Huh…?”

Lilis's small body teetered and tilted. Startled, Chessier quickly moved closer and opened his arms.

“I'm, I'm falling… Waaah!”

“Lilis!”

*Plop.*

Fortunately, Lilis landed safely in Chessier's arms.

It was truly… fortunate.

“……?”

“……!”

Except for the two children's lips, which had landed perfectly together.

* * *

…What is this?

This situation where I bumped lips with the male lead while climbing a wall…

What in the world…?

Could the reason there was no romance in the original novel be because the author had the sensibilities of someone writing a cheesy romance from the early 2000s?

Did they know that clumsily adding a romance they weren't confident in would turn out this childish?

In my shock, I had such trivial thoughts for a brief moment before slowly pulling my lips away.

*Gulp.*

I swallowed.

I could see Chessier's face, frozen stiff.