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Chapter 9
If I hadn’t seen those boxes spill out, I might never have known what Martin had been hiding in his heart.
It was clear he’d been worrying every year, since he was young, about how to give Erica a present.
For the first time, I thought maybe there was a warmer side to Martin.
Feeling awkward, I scratched my head and spoke.
“Anyway… I’m sorry about earlier.”
But even after my apology, Martin was busy trying to hide the gift boxes.
I’d already seen them — what was the point?
Only after checking that they were all back in the cabinet did he slowly look at me.
“Let’s pretend you didn’t see this. …Now, aren’t you going to leave?”
Ah, so he was telling me to go.
“But I want to clear up the misunderstanding.”
“A misunderstanding… Then let me ask you just one thing.”
“…?”
Martin stepped toward me, one step at a time. Without thinking, I stepped back until my legs bumped into the sofa and I had to stop.
“Do you really have no other motives?”
Why did he keep asking me about my intentions?
From the moment I saved Erica, he’d been suspicious. Always saying Gemma wouldn’t act like this.
No other motives?
Of course I had them. My goal was to change the original story.
So I told him.
“I want to change things.”
“…”
“I want to start over here from the beginning. That’s all.”
I didn’t know how that sounded to Martin, but if anyone in this mansion — including him — had prejudices about me, I had to change that first.
The original story could come after.
Our eyes met and held. After a long moment, Martin rubbed his face like he was overwhelmed.
“Well… fine.”
That was what he finally said. He seemed to ease up a little and gestured for me to sit down.
So now we were finally going to have a proper conversation?
“I heard you personally went out to sell dresses.”
“Yes. That’s how I funded this party.”
“Where did you even get the idea? Selling used dresses can’t have been easy.”
“That’s why I priced them way down — practically a clearance sale. And instead of aiming for nobles, I targeted commoners, since nobles care too much about appearances.”
Martin rubbed his chin, looking thoughtful. But as a businessman, he first pointed out the small profit.
“So how much did you make?”
“About 300 silvers.”
“For all those dresses, only 300 silvers? That just proves your business sense is terrible.”
“I don’t think so.”
I smiled faintly. Maybe Martin only thought about money, but I didn’t.
“What do you mean?”
“If 300 silvers was enough to make you start taking an interest in me, I’d call that a big success.”
“…!”
Had we ever talked while looking each other in the eyes like this before?
And it wasn’t just Martin who’d shown interest. While preparing Erica’s party with that money, I’d also grown closer to the servants.
Even Erica seemed halfway won over.
For me, trying to change the original story, that was a far greater profit.
Martin was smart — he’d know I’d gained more than just his curiosity.
Maybe he realized, because a faint smile touched his lips.
“And I’ve just learned you can actually smile like that.”
At my words, Martin quickly covered his mouth. Then, after a moment, he leaned closer.
“I want to entrust you with something else.”
“What is it?”
“Purchasing mining rights. Can you handle it?”
So he wanted me to take care of acquiring the mining rights in Delmant, the place he’d just traveled to.
I had no reason to refuse. If this was a test, I was ready.
“Alright. In return, I have something I want to ask you.”
“…?”
“Can you attend the party tomorrow?”
Martin didn’t think long. Judging by the birthday gifts he’d been keeping for years, he’d just lacked the courage to face it.
“As you wish.”
After hearing his answer, I felt light as I left the study.
He’s actually willing to entrust me with something.
Maybe it was because I’d seen a human side to him.
I almost laughed remembering his flustered face when the boxes spilled. And the expression when he told me to leave, pretending nothing was wrong.
Thinking of him exhausted and twisting around on the sofa made me feel oddly sorry for him.
Erica should know her brother’s feelings.
She would — tomorrow.
Because I’d talked with Martin so long, the night was already late. On the second floor, the first thing I saw was Erica’s closed door.
I knocked softly, picturing her tear-stained face from earlier.
She must have felt so wronged.
“Erica.”
When I opened the door, she was lying in bed.
I stepped closer, but she was already sleeping quietly, no sign of when she’d cried.
It’s late — no wonder.
Maybe she’d gone to bed hoping to sleep in until the afternoon.
Still—
“You have to wake up early tomorrow, Erica.”
Because tomorrow would be filled with nothing but reasons for her to smile.
I was sure her parents would be happy too.
I stroked her hair for a long while before leaving quietly.
Under the name of a birthday party, the Cloud family’s servants bustled from early morning, carrying food to the hall.
Because Martin had raised his voice yesterday, people were unsure whether the event would go ahead, but he’d shown up looking a bit embarrassed and given permission.
The point was to keep it hidden from Erica.
Hadn’t she already figured it out?
Well, with how things went yesterday, she’d probably given up hope for any celebration today.
Now unexpectedly active in the preparations, Martin followed a little behind me and said,
“Getting her here will be the real challenge.”
“Exactly. She already knows part of the plan.”
“What about luring her with cake?”
“…?”
“You said yesterday she likes cake, didn’t you?”
He stroked his chin, looking deadly serious. I quickly moved away from him.
Was he seriously suggesting that?
Sensing my cold reaction, Martin muttered, “Maybe not…”
Is this really the cool-headed businessman?
After putting some space between us, I thought hard.
What’s the most natural way to bring her?
Asking her to go for a walk or help find a lost item in the hall would be just as suspicious.
Maybe in this case, directness would work best.
“I’ll go get her myself.”
Everyone here seemed to agree wholeheartedly.
“Erica, it’s me. Can I come in?”
She opened the door.
First thing in the morning, she kept her head down and mumbled,
“I was rude yesterday.”
I hadn’t expected her to say that right away.
The party hadn’t even started, but she looked thinner after just one night.
I smiled warmly so she wouldn’t feel hurt.
“Don’t say that. Happy birthday, Erica. Thank you for being born.”
“Why say it twice? I get it, you know.”
So prickly. Maybe it was time to lay my cards on the table.
“How about this—”
“…?”
“I want to show you the hall I decorated yesterday.”
A direct approach. Even with Erica’s sharp instincts, she wouldn’t have imagined, in the middle of my argument with Martin, that the party would still happen.
She gave no answer, just a blank look.
“But I decorated it for you. You’re not even curious?”
She glanced at me. Maybe seeing me stand up to her brother had made me seem a little better in her eyes.
When I held out my hand, she hesitated, then took hold of my sleeve.
Good enough.
After all the work I’d put into this, she’d want to see it.
A faint smile appeared on her lips. As we went down the stairs, I signaled to Mari waiting below.
Mari nodded firmly and hurried off toward the hall to get ready.
When we reached the big double doors, there was no sound inside, so Erica’s eyes were still flat, even slightly frowning as if expecting to see nothing but a mess.
“Shall we go in?”
“Yes.”
She answered flatly, then gripped the golden handles.
The moment the doors opened, cheers burst out from inside.
“Waaah—! Happy birthday, my lady!”
Erica was met with smiling faces and warm wishes for her birthday — something she hadn’t received since that day.
How long had it been since she’d seen faces like this on a day like today?
Light, cheerful music filled the hall.
“…”
Her face crumpled in an instant — not with anger or sadness, but joy.
Her small body trembled, and I wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
When she finally lifted her head, her cloudy eyes searched the room desperately for someone.
There was longing there. But when she gave up, she spoke with effort.
“Th-thank—”
“…?”
“Everyone, write down what you want. Just for today, I’ll allow it.”
So instead of saying “thank you” through her tearful face, she corrected herself — typical of Erica to repay a kindness in her own way.
“It’s not over yet, Erica.”
I led her to the center of the hall.
There, instead of a giant five-tier cake, was a small cake and some cookies.
“I know you love cake, but this time we’ll start small.”
She repeated the word start, maybe realizing this meant the parties wouldn’t end here.
Knowing the cake would grow bigger every year might make her look forward to her next birthday.
Just then, someone in a bear costume walked across the hall and held out a hand to her.
I knew instantly who it was, but Erica looked puzzled yet happy.
“I’ve never seen a bear like this before. What is it?”
Not realizing it was the very person she’d been longing to find.
