*****
February 14th.
It was just another day for Lyra, the diligent little young lady of the Orleans Marquisate. Nominally, it was her birthday, but she had long forgotten that it existed. For most of her life, she didn't have anyone celebrating the day she was born. Sure, she might have thought about it whenever she saw someone else's birthday party, but that was about it.
She didn't care all that much.
''Happy birthday!''
''...''
Nonetheless... when she stole a look inside Cecilia's room—the subtle decorations hung on the walls, the variety of snacks neatly arranged on the table, and a grand, pretty cake with burning candles on top of it—something beautiful bloomed in her heart.
An elating pounce of emotions, like the world around her just got brighter.
'Strange.'
If she truly didn't care about some birthday parties, she would have felt nothing at this moment. The young Lyra had surely accepted this way of living, and she even thought that it was natural not to waste time on such trivial matters.
Yet, despite all of it...
'Ah... so it's like that.'
It all clicked when she saw Cecilia's brightly smiling face enter her field of vision.
''Happy birthday,'' She softly said, stroking the little heroine's head. ''Congratulations on turning thirteen, my dear.''
It was because of this woman.
In truth, Lyra indeed had no interest in celebrating turning a new age for herself simply because there was no point to it. A party could only be a party when there was more than just her, and she had been without anyone for the longest time.
But at this moment, Lyra's beloved Cecilia was with her.
This seemingly fragile woman, who crashed into her life as though a meteorite, made it meaningful. Perhaps she still didn't care about her birthday after all, but she clearly loved her step-sister's presence, especially when she was receiving unreserved affection like this.
''...Mhm. Thank you.''
Unknowingly, there was a little smile on Lyra's face as she thanked her sister.
As Cecilia took her inside, Lyra's mood was unusually good. It was the first time she had experienced a celebratory mood, and surprisingly, she didn't hate it.
Was it because Cecilia was with her? Maybe. Her big sister was comfortable to be around.
Although Lyra was flustered when the answer to 'What should I wish for?' came up too easily, and she still was too embarrassed to admit that she wished Cecilia would stay with her forever, the gifts washed that all away.
She received a book from the maid. Perhaps it wouldn't be so bad to get a bit closer to her.
''Heheh... what do you think?''
She also received a ring—one of the two matching ones—from her big sister, which somehow made her heart beat weirdly again. Regardless, Lyra took one out of the box and tried to put it on per the gifter's wish.
'No, not the ring finger...'
The heroine cleverly decided to ignore the fact that she had briefly wanted to put it on her ring finger. She'd feel too flustered otherwise. Yet, that wasn't even the biggest heart-stopper.
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''Ah...''
Lyra's mouth hung open, her eyes widening as she took in the sight of Cecilia demurely extending her delicate hand forward, tucking her hair behind her ears. The pinkish, succulent lips curled into a smile, the slightly rosy cheeks from the cold's residue, and the lush eyelashes flapping as though a butterfly's wings—all of it got the heroine's heart to act strangely.
''Would you?''
Those two words were enough to stun the little lady. It looked like... yes, it looked as if Cecilia was asking a lover to put an engagement ring on her hand. Afterward, the two would happily swear an eternity together and share warmth on the bed...
'No, what's wrong with me?'
Of course, the rational Lyra didn't want to think about it. It was wrong to hold such emotions and imagine such delusions when the target was her big sister, but it was unquestionably her desires speaking.
Yes. Cecilia was an attractive woman. It was only natural that such thoughts would emerge, but it would be fine so long as she didn't act them out.
Like that, Lyra, fortunately, rationalized herself out of the pit and finally put the ring on her sister's middle finger.
'I really do need to consult that teacher later...'
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The party with only three members continued for a while, but eventually, someone else arrived, following the butler's steps.
''Yahoo~! It's me again.''
''You've come, Your Highness.''
''Hi, Cecilia. Lyra, too, of course.''
With a slightly chonky eagle perching on her shoulder, Kiara d'Anjou poked into the room, holding a larger box in her arms. With little changes to her expression, the royal princess handed the box to Lyra.
''Happy birthday.'' She said. ''It's nice to see you grow up this quickly, little sister.''
''Nn... thank you, Your Highness.''
''Heheh, no worries.''
Kiara rigidly winked once, then sat blankly on the floor as if a doll. One could say she was uncanny, but no one could deny that it was very Kiara-like.
[Hey, try open the present, little one! Is your dragon not with you today?]
After that, it was Mr.Chief's turn to speak. He flew around the room excitedly, poking at the event's star constantly. Predictably, Lyra responded with a sigh,
''She's asleep.''
[Oh, I see. Such a lazy fellow...]
''I'm opening it.''
The box was quite heavy, but aside from that, there were quite a number of foams and packaging layers. The thing inside must be fragile to an extent.
''Oh.''
''Whoa...''
Kiara chuckled internally, looking at the sisterly duo executing the same impressed face. What the royal princess prepared was a football-sized snowglobe with plenty of sparkling snowflakes and a sculpture of Amethyst—Lyra's Soul Guardian—curled up in the middle.
It was relieving for Kiara to see that the receiver liked it so much.
''Since we have more people now, shall we choose something to play?''
''Sure.''
So, with the addition of two more members, the party got quite rowdy for a while. Thankfully, both Cecilia and Kiara prepared many games on their own.
knock—! knock—!
''Excuse me, ladies.''
Halfway through their ninth card game, the butler's voice rang behind the door again. This time, it was a maid who didn't belong to the manor who came.
''Greetings, esteemed ladies. I am Kyrie, Her Imperial Highness Rachael de La Fayette's exclusive maid. I am here to deliver my master's message and present for the young lady.''
Crouching near the bed, Kyrie carefully put forward a medium-sized, well-packaged box.
''Her Highness wishes you a happy birthday, Lady Lyra. She said she was sorry for not being able to attend your birthday party and that she would definitely be there for your next one. This is what she had prepared for you, my lady.''
''Mhm.''
Inside the box was a pair of training gauntlets, which seemed to be well-crafted and quite durable. Ignoring the irk Lyra had for Rachael; this was quite a useful gift for the little lady.
''She hopes you will use them well,'' Kyrie said with a smile, then promptly excused herself from the room.
''...''
Lyra took a good look at her presents so far. They were all great, and it was even more exciting to know that they represented people's goodwill toward her.
Maybe those pesky women who always tried to snatch her sister away weren't so bad after all.
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''Phew... I think I'll have to go home now.''
The sky was already dyed reddish-orange. After playing around with the siblings for several hours, Kiara finally waved goodbye. Since Mary had also excused herself to continue her work, there were only two left. In the end, Penelope also chose to send a voice message to congratulate Lyra. It seemed she was also too busy, but she promised to visit tomorrow and bring along her present.
Gently combing through Lyra's hair as usual, Cecilia asked, ''Did you have fun?''
''Mhm.''
This time, the heroine was able to respond concretely. She felt a whole lot better than usual, even more so when she finally found what she wanted the most—to stay beside this woman called Cecilia. If this feeling was subtle before, it was now blooming, soon to wither into a twisted obsession, whether she would realize it or not.
''I'm glad.'' Cecilia smiled, opening her arms wide. ''Once again, happy birthday, my dear sister.''
''...''
Lyra swore in her heart that she would no longer deny her sister's hug, no matter what. And to match the steady heartbeats of the woman who was everything to her, she swore that she would work to make her frozen heart also beat at the same rhythm.
*****