Gloria hesitated with an apologetic expression.

“I thought you were sleeping… Oops, did we wake you up?”

“Kyaaah―.”

Expressing a negative answer by tilting her head, Gloria chuckled and gently stroked April’s head.

“Well, if not, it’s fortunate… Oh, by the way, what’s with that flower?”

“Kyawoong.”

April could explain by transforming into a human, but she wanted to indulge in Gloria’s embrace a bit more.

So, feigning ignorance, she yawned or playfully splashed water on her face with her front paws. Gloria’s amused laughter echoed from above.

“Okay. No need to say anything. Blesset gave it to you, right?”

“……?!”

How… How did she know?! April widened her eyes and looked up at Gloria. Gloria just grinned and continued to play with April’s ears.

“Your mom knows everything! Hehe!”

Knowing that it was a ridiculous statement, April’s eyes became slightly narrower. Meanwhile, Grayan, with a bewildered expression, examined the blue flower.

“If it’s Blesset… that Azure Dragon youth…? How did he infiltrate the Solberry Castle?”

… Indeed, what a story. April put on an ‘I don’t know either’ expression and subtly let her mind wander.

The clock’s hands pointed to 11:39.

There wasn’t much time left, but since midnight hadn’t passed yet, it was still April’s birthday.

“Now, let’s celebrate separately as a family.”

Gloria said, inserting candles into the cake.

They had already eaten cake at the party, but this cake was different from the large and colorful one.

A small cake with slightly uneven pink buttercream and chocolate-colored letters that read, ‘April, Happy Birthday.’

It was undoubtedly a cake made by Gloria herself.

“I made it together with Grayan.”

“……!”

Unexpectedly, April stared at Grayan with wide eyes.

Grayan, with a slightly embarrassed smile, brushed the back of his head. He seemed a bit shy.

“The appearance might be a bit odd… but the taste should be okay. I made it according to the recipe…”

“……Kyawoong.”

Approaching Grayan, April raised her front paw to his back. It was her way of expressing gratitude. Whether it conveyed well or not was uncertain.

“…Well, you’re kind.”

Judging by Grayan’s reaction, it seemed to have been conveyed effectively. His large hand reached out, and he gently stroked the small rabbit’s head.

April left him to pat her as she watched Gloria. Gloria was lighting the candles, working to ignite them.

“Uh… it’s done…!”

Though her hand holding the matches trembled a bit, Gloria, with 13 ignited candles, shook the match to extinguish it. Then, neatly gathering her hands, she spoke to April with an excited voice. Her blue eyes sparkled with joy.
“All right, let’s celebrate your birthday now! Grayan and I will sing, and when the song ends, you’ll blow out the candles with your mouth! Simple, right?”

April nodded obediently, but she was secretly doubtful. The Duke singing… she couldn’t imagine it at all. Would he just pretend to sing?

However, a moment later, Grayan actually started singing the birthday song. Moreover, he sang it very seriously.

“Happy birthday to you…”

“Happy birthday~ to our beloved rabbit, I mean, April~.”

Of course, Gloria’s singing voice was louder. But anyway, Grayan also sang for April.

‘The Duke…’

April, who blinked her eyes in a mood that couldn’t be expressed in words, quickly regained her composure at Gloria’s urging to blow out the candles.

In the short moment of blankness, the birthday song was already over.

‘Blow out the candles…’

April stood on the table with fists clenched and stared at the 13 candles. Blowing them out with her mouth seemed boring. So, April,

Hop!

Swooosh!

She skillfully kicked up a gust of wind, blowing out all 13 candles.

“Amazing…”

Gloria, blinking her eyes blankly, mumbled hesitantly.

“Haha.”

April perked up her ears, triumphantly lifting her chin. Although the majestic feeling disappeared due to Gloria’s hastily petting hand.

The three of them shared the cake, brushed their teeth amicably, and then lay side by side on the bed.

Grayan was on April’s left, and Gloria was on her right. The small rabbit perked up her ears in the darkness, glancing alternately at the two.

“Sleep well, April…”

Gloria yawned, mumbled, then closed her eyes. Grayan also blinked his sleepy eyes and said, “Have sweet dreams,” while bidding goodnight.

“Unggyeot.”

After a short response, April pretended to sleep for a moment, then surreptitiously opened her real eyes and stole a glance at the two.

“…”

Gripping the front paw holding the cotton blanket tightly, she murmured words that she hadn’t said earlier due to embarrassment.

‘Thank you; it’s the best birthday in my life.’

There was a time when she wanted to be happy, a time when she couldn’t laugh freely, thinking that happiness might be a luxury for her. Now, that time felt distant and faded away.

The happiness that naturally seeped in felt like a dream to April.

It’s so happy that it’s making me anxious. What if I suddenly lose this happiness one day?

‘Please let our family continue to be happy…’