Episode 10

I let out a small smile.

“…Thanks for worrying about me.”

Sella gently rubbed her head against my leg as if to comfort me. Silavi landed on my left cheek, flapping her wings slowly in a soothing manner, while Quiel gave me a tight hug on my right cheek. The little mushroom-shaped Gnome jumped onto my shoulder and pressed his cap-like head against my neck.

Even though spirits didn’t radiate warmth, their intentions to comfort me were clear.

I began to feel a little warmth inside.

“Thanks to you all, I feel a bit better. Thank you, everyone.”

I said with sincerity.

The spirits, pleased by my words, bounced around joyfully.

I picked up Sella, who was wagging her tail at my feet, and quietly murmured.

“It seems As just needs a little more time.”

* * *

The next morning came without any resolution.

As usual, I woke up early.

The distant sound of birds singing filled the clear morning air.

I blinked absentmindedly for a while before sitting up in bed.

I walked over to the window and opened it.

The fragrance of blooming acacia flowers drifted into the room on the gentle breeze.

“The flowers have bloomed…”

I mumbled absentmindedly, taking a deep breath out of habit.

The sweet scent of the acacia filled my lungs.

“Happy birthday.”

I whispered quietly, smiling up at the sky before heading to the kitchen.

Even though the greeting would never reach its intended recipient, I still wanted to say it.

Once in the kitchen, just like every year on this day, I baked a cake.

The warm smell of baking bread filled the kitchen.

While the genoise was in the oven, I made stew.

Though it was a simple, solitary celebration for someone who wasn’t even aware of it, I still wanted to celebrate.

The genoise baked perfectly.

Birdsong flowed in through the open kitchen window, adding a pleasant backdrop to my quiet humming as I decorated the cake with whipped cream and strawberries.

As I was focused on decorating the cake, As, who had come down from the second floor to help prepare breakfast, stopped in his tracks when he saw the cake.

“…A cake? What’s the occasion?”

I was so happy that As had spoken to me first, I didn’t even notice the subtle emotion mixed in his question.

Smiling brightly, I looked up while wiping the whipped cream from my cheek.

“Yeah, it’s someone’s birthday today.”

“…Whose birthday?”

I froze for a moment at the question.

My eyes lowered slightly.

“…Someone I feel sorry for.”

As was silent for a moment before he whispered softly.

“…Does that person know? That you’re celebrating their birthday like this?”

I slowly shook my head.

A strange bitterness welled up inside me.

“No, they don’t know.”

“…”

“That person… probably doesn’t even want to see me, so it’s better if they don’t know.”

“…It’s better if they don’t know.”

As muttered to himself, almost in a whisper.

His voice sounded unsteady, sinking low.

Realizing something wasn’t right, the tense atmosphere became more apparent to me.

Startled, I put down the piping bag I was holding.

“As…? What’s wrong?”

As’s face was contorted, and he was biting his lips hard.

He looked as though he had been deeply shaken by something.

“…It’s foolish.”

“W-What?”

“It’s foolish. Why go so far to celebrate the birthday of someone who probably doesn’t even want to see you? That person doesn’t even know you’re doing all this…”

In that moment, a tear slipped down As’s cheek.

I had been standing there, listening to his words in a daze, and his sudden tears caught me off guard.

“As, wait a minute…”

“…I’m sorry. I’ve been rude again. Please forget what I just said.”

Before I could even react, As turned and quickly headed upstairs.

I stood there, watching his small figure retreat, biting my lip.

‘Foolish…’

Yes, it was foolish.

It was a ridiculous thing to do.

Who in the world celebrates the birthday of someone who doesn’t even want to see them?

‘But I already knew that.’

I’m doing this because I want to.

It’s not like I’m cursing them, I’m celebrating. Shouldn’t I be allowed to do that if I want to?

I started to feel a little melancholy.

In an attempt to snap myself out of it, I puffed out my cheeks and patted them with both hands.

“Alright, time to eat! Let’s finish what I started!”

I purposely cheered myself up and picked up the piping bag again, resuming the decoration of the cake.

* * *

Although the stew and cake were both ready, I had lost my appetite.

Staring at the cake for a while, I eventually stood up and placed a bowl of stew and a slice of cake on a tray. I carried it upstairs.

Standing in front of As’s door, I took a deep breath before knocking.

“As, I brought you breakfast.”

“…”

“You should eat, right?”

“…”

No response came from inside the room.

I placed the tray on the small table in the hallway beside the vase.

“I’ll leave the food here. When you’re hungry, come and eat it, okay?”

With that, I summoned Silavi and Sella.

“Silavi, Sella. Please make sure the food doesn’t get cold or dusty.”

Silavi, the tiny silver butterfly, fluttered her wings as if to say she understood. Sella, the little red cat, rubbed her head against my leg a couple of times.

After giving them both a grateful pat, I headed back downstairs.

There’s nothing better than housework to clear your mind!

* * *

The room fell silent.

Leaning against the door, Akes slowly slid down to the floor.

“Because it’s someone’s birthday today.”

“That person probably doesn’t want to see me, so it’s better they don’t know.”

Joy, resentment, sorrow, desire.

All kinds of emotions swirled inside him, making it hard to breathe.

“…Why?”

He whispered softly, his voice trailing off in confusion.

Why celebrate a birthday, bake a cake, and send birthday wishes to someone who doesn’t even know?

Why?

He pondered the question.

Was it just because she was kind-hearted?

If that’s the case, then you’re unbelievably cruel.

‘…I love you, so much.’

When I confessed my feelings,

‘I’m… I’m sorry!’

You left me with nothing but those apologetic words, like scars, and then you disappeared.

That’s why I avoided you.

I knew you wanted to fix our relationship, but I couldn’t let that happen.

Because if I didn’t, I feared I would lose control of the overwhelming emotions that consumed me.

I was afraid I’d imprison you in my domain, cutting off anyone who approached you, forcing you to see only me.

I didn’t want to do that to you.

‘Don’t smile at me.’

‘It’s foolish.’

‘Why go so far to celebrate the birthday of someone who probably doesn’t even want to see you?’

But I’ve already tried to control you, Ainra.

I’ve been rude to you.

If I stay here any longer, I’ll only try to control you more.

When it comes to you, I can’t control myself.

“…I should go back.”

He murmured.

The unexpected opportunity that came along with the threat to his life had come to an end.

It had been ruined by his own ugly desires.

After a brief silence, Akes rose to his feet.

It was time to say goodbye to Ainra, one last time.

* * *

I was almost done making the soup stock.

I had started this task to clear my mind, and it had worked out quite well, making me feel a little proud of how productive I was being.

I had just turned off the stove and was about to strain the stock when I heard a voice call out suddenly.

“Ainra.”

Startled by the unexpected voice, my eyes widened.

“As?”

Had he sorted out his thoughts already?

I was unexpectedly happy to hear him.

Forgetting that I was holding the pot, I turned around immediately—and promptly lost my balance.

“Ah!”

I stumbled, and the hot stock in the pot sloshed toward me.

But before it could spill on me—

“Ainra—!”

As rushed forward and pushed me aside in the blink of an eye.

*Splash!*

The stock spilled.

I had instinctively squeezed my eyes shut, and when I heard the pot clatter to the floor, I opened them wide in surprise.

The first thing I saw was As, his back soaked and water dripping from him as he anxiously looked me over.

“Ainra, are you hurt…”

“As!”

I was panicking as I grabbed onto him.

“Y-You, y-you’re…! No…!”

I was so shocked that I couldn’t even form a proper sentence.

While I stood there, stiff and in shock, As, unfazed, calmly spoke.

“I’m fine. But what about you, Ainra? Are you hurt anywhere?”