“Demian, do you have any plans for today?”

At the sudden question, Demian, who was eating, wiped his mouth with a napkin and shook his head.

“Not particularly.”

“Really? Then don’t step out of your office today.”

“……Pardon?”

At the unexpected request, Demian looked at Arasila with a bewildered expression. But she just chewed her bread nonchalantly.

“Why so suddenly?”

“If you’re at home, I can freely roam outside, can’t I?”

“……Where are you going that you say such things? If it’s somewhere dangerous, I’ll go with you.”

“No.”

Arasila refused without even a second’s hesitation. Demian’s lips twitched. He felt very confused and hurt.

Why not? Wasn’t he her husband?

He thought he had the right or at least the qualification to accompany his wife on her outings, but Arasila was cold.

“I’ll tell Albert that you’ll be in your office all day, so he should attend to you well.”

“……What if I don’t want to follow my wife’s words?”

“Think of it as the price for not telling me about your birthday in advance and follow along.”

At the firm reply, Demian’s mouth, which was preparing a rebuttal, closed. To think the punishment for not mentioning his birthday would be this severe.

Whether Demian became sulky or not, Arasila, having finished her meal, stood up with a fresh face.

“Well then, see you later.”

“……Yes, I understand.”

After giving a cheerful greeting, she went straight up to her room to prepare for going out.

As the month changed and the beginning of winter set in, the days became quite cold.

Arasila, who didn’t handle cold well although she was fine with heat, put on a coat over her velvet dress. Audrey followed behind her, carrying a bag.

Demian, who was belatedly leaving the dining hall, watched the two people going outside with bitter eyes.

He was so curious about where they were going, but if he sent someone to follow them, she would obviously be angry.

While Demian reluctantly resigned himself to being cooped up in his office, Arasila arrived at a jewelry store in the bustling street with Audrey.

“Welcome. This is the Marigold Jewelry Store.”

“I have something I’d like to custom order, and I want to receive it within five days.”

“What would you like to order?”

At Arasila’s nod, Audrey took out a rolled-up paper from her bag. It had a drawing of Arasila’s staff on it.

“I’d like to order a brooch in the same shape as that drawing and cufflinks with a camellia engraved on them.”

“Hmm, both require delicate craftsmanship, so it might take some time.”

As the jewelry store owner expressed difficulty with the short deadline, Arasila said,

“I’ll pay double the price.”

“I’ll have them made within five days!”

The owner’s eyes suddenly lit up, and he immediately changed his attitude and smiled broadly. Arasila nodded with satisfaction and paid half the price in advance.

“Make the cufflinks with ruby, and use diamond, gold, and sapphire for the brooch.”

“Yes, understood. Where should we send the finished products?”

Arasila thought for a moment and then wrote down the delivery address for the magic tower research lab. Just in case Demian saw the gift first if it was sent to their home.

After smoothly completing her order, she headed to a coffee house near the store. As she opened the door and entered, someone stood up abruptly and greeted her.

“Hello, my lady.”

“It’s been a while, Lord Wind.”

The person Arasila had come to meet was none other than Isaac. As he was meeting his superior’s wife, he was dressed in a sharp knight’s uniform despite it being a holiday.

“For what reason did you ask to see me?”

“You know it’s Demian’s birthday soon, right? I wanted to invite the knights to the party.”

“Ah, that’s right. The commander’s birthday was in early winter.”

Demian had been so indifferent to his birthday that even Isaac often forgot about it.

Arasila took out the invitations she had packed tightly in her bag and handed them to him.

“Would you deliver these to the knights on my behalf?”

“Of course, my lady! To think I’d live to attend the commander’s birthday party.”

Isaac spoke with a voice full of emotion. Hearing that he had never been to his birthday party before, Arasila suddenly felt curious.

While it was understandable for the people of the duke’s household, the Red Hawk Knights respected and followed him, so they should have celebrated and congratulated him.

“Has the knighthood never celebrated Demian’s birthday?”

“No, the commander doesn’t care about his birthday, and he doesn’t particularly like it when someone tries to celebrate it… Even I only found out about the commander’s birthday after being with him for two years. He absolutely wouldn’t tell me before that.”

“Ah, I see.”

If the person himself refuses, there’s nothing others can do. Moreover, Demian was their superior, so it would have been difficult for the subordinate knights to easily go against his wishes.

“So now that you’re sincerely celebrating the commander’s birthday like this, I can’t express how moved I am.”

Isaac’s eyes sparkled. He was once again thinking that his superior had married well.

Of course, there was a time when he thought they were poorly matched, but not anymore. He had watched how the two of them overcame hardships and adversities.

“Thank you, Lord Wind.”

“Not at all. Please let me know if you ever need me. I will serve loyally for the commander’s sake.”

Arasila stared at Isaac, who was smiling neatly, and nodded lightly with a gentle smile. His words, coming from someone who cared for Demian, felt very welcome.

The two raised their teacups in a comfortable silence. As he took a sip of tea, Isaac suddenly asked as if he had just remembered something.

“Ah, by the way, are any of your acquaintances coming as well?”

“Yes, my family and friends are coming.”

“Hmm, does that mean other magicians are coming too?”

Arasila put down her teacup and shook her head. There were no other magicians besides herself who were close to Demian.

Sally and Rudy were somewhat acquainted with him, but she couldn’t arbitrarily invite her juniors to someone else’s birthday party. They might feel uncomfortable.

“I didn’t invite my colleagues from the magic tower.”

“Ah… I see.”

Isaac made a strangely disappointed face. Noticing this subtle change in expression, Arasila tilted her head slightly.

“Is there someone among us magicians you want to meet?”

“No, not at all.”

“It doesn’t seem like that’s the case. Just be honest. I want to help Lord Wind for Demian’s sake too.”

At that, Isaac scratched the back of his head and said with an awkward smile,

“Well… I’m curious about how Rudy is doing.”

“Rudy? Rudy is doing very well. He bravely proved my innocence, and as always, he’s bickering with Sally.”

“I’m glad to hear he’s doing well.”

“Why is Lord Wind relieved?”

Arasila’s eyes narrowed. Why would Isaac say such a thing about Rudy doing well? What did it have to do with him?

She spoke with a voice full of suspicion.

“Do you perhaps have personal feelings for Rudy…?”

“Wh-what? No, not at all!”

Startled, Isaac immediately denied it, waving both hands. Despite it being early winter, a light sweat appeared on his forehead.

“When I see Rudy, he reminds me of my younger sibling.”

“Hmm.”

“It’s true. My sibling takes after our mother and looks completely different from me, but Rudy has a similar impression.”

“Hmmmm.”

“My lady, please don’t misunderstand.”

As Isaac pleaded with his hands clasped and a pitiful expression, Arasila burst into laughter.

“I know. I was just teasing you.”

“…Does our commander get teased like this too?”

“Demian has fallen for it many times.”

I see. If my superior has experienced it, I should accept it too. Isaac let out a long sigh and slumped his body.

Even though it was just a brief moment, his shoulders felt stiff from being so tense. As he patted his shoulders, he asked casually,

“Is Sally doing well too?”

“Our Sally is always lively.”

At those words, a small smile appeared and disappeared on Isaac’s lips. Arasila didn’t notice it as she was drinking her tea.

Demian closed the book he was reading. Strangely, it wasn’t very interesting. Was it because Arasila had left him behind and gone out?

He stood by the window with his hands in his pockets. It was a direction where the main gate’s entrance was clearly visible.

‘When will my wife return?’

Eyes filled with all the boredom and indifference in the world stared at the iron gate and beyond.

Demian had keenly guessed that the purpose of Arasila’s vexing outing was to prepare for his birthday.

While feeling guilty for burdening her with a troublesome task, he also felt good that Arasila was working hard for him.

But that was all.

‘I don’t really need gifts or a party.’

Despite facing his first grand birthday celebration in over a decade, Demian wasn’t happy. Fundamentally, he didn’t feel the reason or value in the act.

Because for him, his birthday was truly a day without much significance.

In fact, even when his mother was alive, Demian had never enjoyed his birthday.

‘I’m sorry, Demian. It seems your father won’t be able to come this year either. Mom is sorry…’

The duke never celebrated Demian’s birthday, not even once, as he was mindful of Sophie, who would later become the second duchess.

Sitting at a table laid with cake and delicious food, waiting for a father who wouldn’t come, he disliked seeing his mother sad,

‘At a time when the madam’s position is weakening, young master should try to make a good impression. You must show people that you are the true eldest son of the Vandermir ducal family.’

‘You know how important days like today are, don’t you? The true purpose of a birthday party is to prove young master’s influence. You mustn’t forget that this is the way for both the madam and young master to survive.’

He also disliked how the vassals viewed his birthday party as a stage to evaluate his qualities,

‘Hmm, is that child born of the first wife? I hear he’s not so loved by his father.’

‘I came just in case, but I wonder if he’ll really be able to become the next duke.’

‘You need to work even harder than now. If you don’t inherit the duke’s position, that child’s future is obvious.’

He was also not pleased with having to try to impress guests who came only to gauge whether he could become the heir.

Oscar’s birthday was different from his, which made him even more dissatisfied.

Oscar’s birthday party, held on a scale several times grander than Demian’s under the duke’s direction, resembled that of a young child from a harmonious family.

Everyone sincerely congratulated him on his birthday, and the birthday boy smiled innocently and rejoiced, holding his parents’ hands.

It would be a lie to say he had never been envious of that sight.

He felt miserable being compared to his half-brother. Because of this, before his sixth birthday, Demian had childishly complained to his mother.

‘Mother, I want to have a splendid and grand birthday party like my brother and be congratulated by many people.’

‘…Is that so? If that’s what my son wants, mom will try. Wait and see.’

Monica smiled faintly with a pale face. At the time, he didn’t know the self-loathing and sorrow hidden behind that smile.

She made an effort to gather people and prepare gifts, carefully arranging Demian’s sixth and last birthday party of his life.

‘Aaagh! Don’t touch my body! Everyone get away! I said get away!’

However, at the party that should have been only happy, Monica suddenly had a fit.

She screamed as if she had lost her mind, gasped for breath due to respiratory distress, and couldn’t control her body properly. No one knew why she was acting like that.

‘Kyaa! Duchess, don’t do this!’

‘Someone quickly go and call a doctor!’

‘My lady, you need to calm down.’

‘Mother, please calm down. Please calm down.’

Demian, too, tried hard to stop his mother along with others, not knowing what was happening.

Looking back now, his mother had been particularly sensitive around that time. It might have been a precursor to her extreme choice.

In the end, Monica fainted in the middle of the party venue. Demian clearly remembered what people whispered about his mother at the time.

‘I guess it’s true that the duchess has gone mad.’

‘Sigh, I wonder if the Vandermir young master with such a mother is really in his right mind?’

‘This is why rumors are spreading that the duchess’s position is precarious, tsk tsk.’

The young boy couldn’t properly respond to such words. His heartless father, who should have been his protector, wasn’t there in the first place.

His sixth birthday ended in the worst way possible.

With the public outburst as a catalyst, Monica’s position became even more precarious. Demian regretted insisting on having a party to his mother.

If only I hadn’t been needlessly greedy, this wouldn’t have happened.

A few months later, when Monica died, the day to make up for that worst birthday party never came. Demian also never wished for a happy birthday again.

And now, 18 years later, it was a birthday being celebrated again. A party planned not by his mother, but by his wife.

‘It’s just a meaningless day anyway, so I wish she wouldn’t go through unnecessary trouble.’

Demian hoped Arasila wouldn’t put too much effort into birthday preparations. What was important to him now wasn’t party preparations, but her quick return home.

Even if she suddenly found it bothersome and abruptly canceled the party, he wouldn’t mind. Then he could just let it pass unnoticed as he always had.

Finally, as the winter sun slowly set. Through the twilight that dyed the earth in a mesmerizing red, a carriage appeared.

It was the carriage carrying Arasila, whom Demian had been waiting for so eagerly.

He descended with leisurely steps.

As Arasila alighted from the carriage, Demian also arrived at the front of the main entrance. He extended his hand with a smile.

“Did you enjoy your outing?”