Elia was the most admired woman amongst other wives and young children.
“I’m sorry.”
“Why are you apologizing?”
“I didn’t want to cause a disturbance and asked Izren not to report to you. That’s why my performance wasn’t up to the mark…”
“No, that’s not it.”
Diamide cut off her words. After he carefully chose his words, he licked his lips a little then slowly started to talk.
“I know that woman harassed you while she was teaching.”
Diamide was someone who never spoke about his own wounds.
All he does is silently hide them.
And until now, he thought it was the right thing to do.
However, when someone else becomes the victim…
No, it was annoying when she became ‘Ashrid’ in front of his eyes.
[T/N: If you’re like me, and forgot who’s Ashrid, its Jayna’s name given by her relatives]
“Wasn’t it painful? Why did you put up with all that pain?”
Jayna tilted her head. She couldn’t understand what Diamide was trying to ask her. But she felt she somehow had to answer the question, so she lowered her head and answered with her usual set of words.
“I’m sorry.”
“Saying sorry is a little…”
Be careful. Be considerate. Don’t make her feel intimidated.
At first, Diamide liked that about Ashrid.
Had she whined about calling him father, he would have kicked her out of the tower.
But why did that bother him now?
He asked her because he couldn’t tell what Ashrid was thinking.
“This time, even if it takes a lot of time, I’ll get you a fully qualified teacher. You’ll take a test midway through, so you better not think about being lazy.”
* * *
Ever since Charlotte’s disappearance, Diamide seemed dejected.
He wasn’t like himself.
His feelings were obviously sealed, but his current state was indescribably complicated.
It wasn’t because of Charlotte that Diamide was confused. He had forgotten her very name since a long time ago.
It was Bezriche and her child, Ashrid, who occupied his thoughts.
Diamide agonized over his thoughts for a long time and then decided to ring the bell.
[T/N: It’s common to have a bell to call maids etc. in this time periods]
Hilvenzia soon appeared before him and bowed her head.
“Hilvenzia. You have work to do.”
“Yes, Tower Lord.”
Diamide recalled what Izren had once said to him.
The red line which was clearly left on her small white hands.
“I need to make a healing reagent. Stop all other research.”
“Yes, sir.”
Diamide raised his eyebrows to the unexpectedly cheerful response.
Although his orders were considered absolute at the tower, Hilvenzia was at a position where she could protest against them.
In fact, she refuted every time she was given a task that she was unwilling to do.
However, this time, she answered it with a smile, as if it was a task that she herself wanted to do as well.
“I also needed a healing reagent.”
‘Maybe it’s because of her, well whatever it is, it’s good.’
She didn’t seem to think the reason that he asked her to make healing reagents was for that child.
In fact, Hilvenzia was away for a while due to research and was unaware Jayna was beaten at the base of the palms.
-Hilveniza made a healing reagent.
She simply accepted the task to prepare in advance, fearing that the little child would encounter danger again and get hurt.
* * *
Time passed by, and it was Jayna’s birthday.
As it was also the Emperor’s birthday, all the wizards of the Tower were given a break on the day.
While the wizards of the tower were catching up on sleep lost because of countless sleepless nights, some woke up early and couldn’t hide their excited faces.
It was Jayna.
In front of her, there lay a cake with several candles lit.
“It’s simple, but you can eat a lot.”
There were countless dishes strewn on tables all over the garden. Even if she ate a bite from each dish, it would be enough to last her for a week.
She couldn’t keep her mouth shut and kept looking around.
“How is this simple? I think all the magicians in the tower could come and eat this.”
“I heard that grandmother was generous with the rare ingredients used.”
Some dishes were made of such precious ingredients that they couldn’t be eaten.
Jayna gave up trying to weigh the value of the dishes presented. It was clear that her hands would just tremble if she found out.
“Thank you all for coming to my birthday party and giving me such precious gifts.”
She had received a bracelet from Hilvenzia and a set of tarot cards from Izren.
“Jayna, I wish you happiness from now on and in the future.”
“There will be good things ahead. I’ve had my fortune told.”
Hilvenzia smiled tenderly and Izren congratulated Jayna with, unlike usual, clear pronunciation and long sentences.
“Happy birthday.”
Micheal, who was usually uninterested, congratulated her like everyone else did today.
His face looked as if he was dead.
“…”
Jayna quietly held Micheal’s hand. He was surprised at the small touch for a moment, but then drooped again like withered grass.
“Rather than giving you an amazing birthday present, I brought in a strange teacher who made you suffer.”
Micheal recently learned that she had been bullied by Charlotte, whom he had brought, and had not been able to look her in the face since.
Even today, at Jayna’s own birthday, he couldn’t help but feel guilty.
“You know, Charlotte was the one who was dreadful.”
Jayna, the one affected, was the one resolutely calming him down.
Hilvenzia, who was watching the scene, looked at her and said.
“Jayna, it’s also your fault Micheal is upset. Why didn’t you tell us something like that was happening to you?”
“That’s…”
“You asked your escort to keep it a secret too.”
Somehow, Jayna wondered whether the two had become more generous to Izren than before, and seemed to know that everything had been solved after he had reported it to Diamide.
“Jayna, you should value yourself more.”
Hilvenzia’s eyes blurred in an instant. Micheal, who was standing beside her and holding back, suddenly burst into tears and said.
“If you had just said the word, I wouldn’t have let her go.”
“Fortunately, the lady seems to have been punished for trespassing at the tea party of Princess Elia.”
“My aunt’s tea parties aren’t a place where anyone can be invited.”
Jayna tilted her head as she listened to the two.
‘Was she that kind of person…? Anyways, the issue has been resolved so I’ll just forget about it.”
“Don’t be depressed, Micheal. It’s not like you.”
“Shut up, you idiot! It’s all because of you! You should tell me if something happens. Cherish yourself more, you idiot!”
Jayna tilted her head and smiled.
“Then, first don’t call yourself an idiot.”
“Hey you…”
Micheal laughed, showing he liked her comeback.
“Yes, speak up like that.”
The atmosphere at the party brightened.
There was laughter everywhere, and the sky was brighter than ever before as if it knew how Jayna felt.
A cool breeze below over her head, and her gaze suddenly settled to a high point on the tower.
‘Somewhere among those high floors must be the Tower Lord’s study.’
On such a day that commemorates the Emperor’s birth, can I really hold such a party?
Jayna was a little worried. The Tower Lord usually despised her very existence.
Perhaps if he saw such a scene, he might be enraged that his daughter was having such a party to herself.
‘Will it be okay now since we’ve made a barrier?’
Since Hilvenzia and Micheal had carefully set up a barrier around them using invisibility and sound isolation magic, he would not know they were having a birthday party unless he looked into it.
Jane turned to the party again and began to enjoy it.
However, she didn’t know that up in the Tower, Diamide had his eyes on her.
“A birthday party… Have I given a present to that child?
As Jayna lay in bed, her eyebrows frowned. She let out a soft groan and hugged her teddy bear again, it was as if she was being tormented.
It had been a long time since she had dreamt of her past life.
– Do you think I wanted to take responsibility for someone like you?
– Get out of my house if you’re going to say that!
The memories of Min Boo-Bae which she had long forgotten, resurfaced.
For her, all her birthday was were the first digits on her social security number.
She was always alone, without family and friends.
– No one thinks of me as someone valuable… Do I really need to live?
On her birthday, she desperately looked for an apartment with an open rooftop because she had nowhere left to go.
She curled up, fearing that someone who could harm her would come.
It was one summer night where she couldn’t fall asleep due to the heat.
From the roof where no one else was, Min Boo-Bae looked down.
Due to the hot weather, many windows were open so she could unintentionally see the inside.
– Ahaha, dad, what you just said was hilarious!
– Honey, there was a kid who had an argument with our precious daughter today.
– Why am I giving you pocket money just because you’re cute, you little pig?
A steady stream of laughter flooded out the window. A loving image of family hugging each other could be seen.
Min Boo-Bae watched the scene quietly.
Her birthday that no one remembered…
‘It will never happen anymore.’
Jayna opened her eyes in surprise.
It was a dark night.
She dug into the big teddy bear and hugged it, and touched the bracelet that Hilvenzia had given to her.
With it, Hilvenzia could track where she was. Jayna then glanced at the tarot cards on the table which symbolized bringing in fortune.
‘It’s okay. I’m not Min Boo-Bae.’
Her short breaths gradually subsided. But somehow, it seemed that the sadness was rising again in the empty spot on the corner of her chest, so Jayna closed her eyes.
As she was about to fall asleep once again, a knock on the door was heard.
“Hey.”
Jayna opened the door and looked at the person’s face.
It was an expected visitor.
“I-I’m here to give you a present.”
Micheal’s face was as red as a strawberry.
Sincerity is far more important than the size or value of the gift. Jayna said any gift was alright, but seeing that he came at such a late hour, it seemed that he wanted to give her something he knew she’d like.