Chapter 3

We spent the trip back mostly in comfortable silence. I gazed out of the carriage, appreciating the lush and green scenery. However, as we were almost back home, my mother asked me a sudden question.

“Dear, would you like anything else for your birthday?”

Another gift? I thought that the status card was my birthday gift, but it turns out it was something every kid did once they became 10. Why didn’t Rufus show his to me then? Anyways, a birthday gift huh... I know!

“Mother, I want to learn how to use a sword!”

As I declared this, my mother’s smile cramped up, but upon seeing how I was so visibly excited, she relented.

“Would you like your father to teach you? Or maybe a tutor from outside?”

Hmm. A tutor? I don’t think a tutor could compare to my father since he’s a general and all.

“I would love for father to teach me!”

Mother merely giggled at this, as the carriage finally arrived at our house. There, Lillia was waiting on the front porch. She came up to the carriage to the carriage and opened it, before stepping aside and bowing.

“Welcome back, Milady and Lady Alice.”

Mother nodded at Lillia, before heading back into the house. I quickly followed after her, where we headed up to the study to look for father.

Coming up to the study’s door, it was slightly ajar, and I could see father looking over some documents. Hard at work as usual. Mother gestured for me to go in. Ah I see, she wants me to surprise him right? I slowly open the door, sneaking up behind him. I took a quick peek over his shoulder and saw that most of the documents were about military supplies. Is there even a point to this war?

I jumped towards him, wrapping my arms around his shoulders.

“Father, we’re back!”

“Woah there. Welcome back Alice, welcome back dear.”

Mother stood there with a smile on her face as she watched the situation.

“Father! Mother said you would teach me how to use a sword as my birthday gift!”

As I said this, father stiffened for a second, before turning his head to look at mother. She was smiling the whole time, but it felt as though there were some hidden conversations happening as they locked eyes. Eventually, father dropped his shoulders as he sighed. He put his hand on my head before he started ruffling it.

“Sure. When would you like to start?”

“Tomorrow!”

“Haha. Alright, off you go.”

After that father shooed me away. Maybe mother and father have to discuss something? I hope my birthday party isn’t that fancy, though.

I walked away from the study, without a destination in mind. As I was wondering around, I caught Rufus hanging around in the garden. When did he get here? I walked up behind and peeked over his shoulder. He seems to be wrapping something up?

“Hey, Rufus.”

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

Woah. He suddenly jumped when he heard my voice. Suspicious.

“O-oh, hey Alice. I- I thought you were out with your mother today?”

“We just came back. What’s that with you?”

“O-oh. This is uh… A project! Yeah, it’s a project I’ve been working on! Hah...haha.”

“Really? Can I see it?”

“No! I- I mean, I’m not done with it yet, and I don’t wanna show something unfinished.”

I guess I’ll stop teasing him now.

“Eh~~ Alright then. But you gotta promise to show it to me once you’re done with it ok?”

“Sure thing, I promise.”

After I flashed him a smile, I turned around and headed back it, and I could hear him letting what seemed to be a sigh of relief. I suppressed my giggles as I headed off to figure out what to do to pass the time.

***

It’s night time! Every birthday party has to be held at night, right? Ah… I can’t wait to see what everyone’s gotten me.

“Lady Alice, it is time for dinner.”

“Okay~”

I hopped off my bed and followed Lillia to the dining room. As I opened the door to the dining room, I was greeted by the sight of a giant banner with the words ‘Happy birthday Alice!’ and my family and Rufus standing around the dining table. On the table was a creamy white cake, with a candle sticking out which was already lighted.

“”Happy Birthday Alice!”” Everyone shouted out together, snapping me out of my momentary stupor. I couldn’t help but smile, as my mother beckoned me to take a seat.

“Blow out the candle and make a wish, dear.”

I closed my eyes and clasped my hands in front of my, similar to praying. A wish… I wish for the good times to stay this way. As I kept my wish in my, I blew out the candle, and everyone clapped.

Mother and father came up to me with a black box.

“This is from us, dear.”

I took the box from them, before opening it up. Inside was a necklace with a helix-shaped ornament. Within the helix was a red ruby shaped to look like a heart, making the necklace look somewhat exotic.

“Thank you, mother! Thank you, father! I’ll treasure this!”

After putting on my necklace, Rufus came up to me with something wrapped up.

“Here, this is my present for you. It’s a journal that uses mana from the surroundings to add more pages when you run out.”

“Really?! Thank you so much, Rufus!”

I practically tackled him with a hug, thankfully he didn’t fall over. After that I took the present from him before unwrapping it, completely oblivious to his blushing face.

The journal cover was brown, and the entire thing seemed to be held together by leather bindings. On the center of the cover was a blue colored crystal, surrounded by many geometric shapes that joined together. This is probably how the thing gathers mana, right?

Afterward we all sat down and had dinner, whilst chatting about various things that happened throughout the day.

Ah, how I wish these times would last forever.