IBGAD 21

Chapter 21: I Want to Set a New Birthday For You

“Do you have a box by any chance?”

The first thing I thought of while preparing for the picnic was a box. I couldn’t expect to find the equipment cases I used back in the lab, but even a simple container for sorting things would help.

“How about this one?”

What was placed before me was… a jewelry box.

“Oh.”

It was a little small. But honestly, this was better. I could put soil in the small compartment, and grass and seaweed and herbs sorted by type in the bigger space… It would be perfect for some light, simple experiments.

“Great!”

I nodded. And then, carried in Azelta’s arms, we went out toward the mist-covered grounds around the mansion.

“Please don’t go too far. It’s dangerous.”

Azelta warned.

“Okay!”

But there was no need to go far anyway. Everything I needed for magic reaction experiments—soil, elixir grass, the mana-amplifying weeds that people here just called “weeds”—was lying all over the place right outside the mansion. If I went all the way to the foggy coast where the shells were, I could gather even more, but that was dangerous right now. This was enough.

“So… what exactly are these for?”

While I was focused on selecting soil and plants and placing them carefully into the jewelry box, Azelta, who was holding the box, asked. Even Lotia seemed curious—she kept glancing over. For a knight who looked rigid at first glance, she expressed her feelings clearly.

“Mm.”

I expected this question! I had prepared an answer from the moment I decided what materials to gather. They weren’t mages—they had no way of knowing whether these were magical materials or not. To them it must look strange.

I couldn’t exactly say *I’m going to react them with the magical relics that might be in the Sanctuary!* so…

“I’m going to play house!”

I announced proudly. Azelta blinked in surprise, then smiled.

“Oh, then shall I help you gather things?”

“No!”

I refused instantly. Without magical knowledge, they wouldn’t be able to pick the right samples anyway.

Instead, I asked her:

“Do you want to play with me?”

It would look more natural to play house with a maid than to creep off alone to “mysteriously” fiddle with soil in a corner. If the Sanctuary really did contain magical relics and they reacted, people nearby would notice immediately and stop me—but until then, it would just look like innocent play. Besides, Azelta was used to speaking with children, so she’d be great at pretend-play.

But then she froze with an awkward expression, still holding the jewelry box.

“Azelta?”

Do people here not play with dirt? I blinked. A moment later she followed me again.

“Ah—my apologies, my lady.”

“It’s fine. But why were you surprised?”

I pointed at the dry soil. Around me, several knights—who had appeared at some point—stood waiting with tiny trowels in hand. They had rushed over the moment I touched the dirt.

Scrape, scrape—

While watching the knights scoop soil, I turned back to Azelta. She smiled awkwardly.

“I—I may be rather clumsy at playing house…”

“Huh?”

She’s never played house? Really? Azelta? She said she had sisters—didn’t she ever play with them? Come to think of it, she did hesitate a bit when talking about her siblings earlier. Did something happen when she was young…?

“Would this amount suffice, my lady?”

A trowel was extended toward me. These overly enthusiastic knights were people I had never seen before—not from the main wing. Maybe they came from the annex? I hadn’t visited that building yet since I’d been more interested in the outdoors. But… why are they so eager?

“This soil seems to have fewer impurities— I mean, fewer strange things mixed in.”

“This one is shinier and prettier.”

Five trowels in front of me, each knight boasting proudly about their soil sample.

“Then I’ll take the shiny one!”

Of course. Not just because it was pretty—if it was shining, it meant it contained strong magical energy.

“Yes, my lady!”

The knight who scooped the shiny soil beamed. I grabbed his trowel.

“Please hold the handle carefully…”

He lowered it to my height, offering it with great care. Since I was doing the scooping myself, they all watched intently.

…Why are they so interested? Their eyes sparkled more brightly than the mages who used to tail me during lab fieldwork in my previous life.

“…?”

Maybe these knights were the ones who secretly wanted to play house?

Tilting my head, I carefully poured the soil into the jewelry box.

“The box is full, my lady.”

Azelta said proudly.

“Okay!”

I had collected everything I needed. I turned to the knights.

“Thank you for helping!”

They bowed in unison.

“Yes, my lady!”

Then they looked at me with the joy of someone granted a lifelong wish. Why are these people like this? Do you all want to study magic? Want to die on the execution platform or something?

“But are we really allowed to go inside?”

While worrying about their future, I muttered the thought aloud. Azelta tilted her head.

“The Sanctuary. It’s not a place just anyone can enter, right?”

But if I went, then Azelta, Lotia, and several knights would have to come too. When Lotia and Duke Iter went, they were both grown adults who wouldn’t trip while walking. But I was a child—one who needed protection. Naturally, many people would have to follow.

“Then how about asking His Grace directly?”

Azelta offered brightly.

“Directly…?”

Ask Duke Iter myself? I thought of his cold expression. He’d scolded me earlier with a frightening face, only to say something trivial… and even left that ridiculous letter:
*[Ain von Iter is the father of Nacia von Iter.]*
What was I supposed to do with that? He was impossible to read. Still… maybe it would be better to ask him face-to-face than through someone else. And maybe, by seeing that cold face more often, I’d start to understand what expression he was making.

So I went to his office—*just* to get permission.

And then—

“State your business.”

The moment I arrived, Duke Iter asked coldly. He looked… somewhat angry. The same oppressive aura from when he visited my room with Delfiro filled the room again.

“I asked what you want to say.”

When I didn’t answer right away, he pressed again. I unknowingly took half a step back and looked up at him. Did something happen? His deep, subdued voice echoed.

“The… picnic…”

Could I even mention a picnic here? His eyebrow twitched at the word. Well, with all the commotion outside, there was no way he hadn’t heard about it.

…Wait. Is he angry because I’m going to the Sanctuary for a picnic?

“Picnic?”

He urged. While overthinking his unreadable expression, I misspoke.

“Do you… want to come with us?”

W-why would I invite the Duke!?
*Tap.*
As expected, he dropped his pen. His eyebrow was still raised.

“If you don’t want to—”

“I’ll go.”

Before I could say *then don’t*, he cut in. His serious face twisted into something oddly stiff—more awkward than anything else.

“…What?”

I thought I misheard.

“I’ll go. To the Sanctuary.”

Then he corrected himself.

“No. To the picnic.”

He looked straight at me. Was he angry earlier because I *didn’t* invite him…? No way. I shook away the absurd thought.

“Is that… a problem for you?”

He asked suddenly, watching me closely. I snapped back.

“N-no! Let’s go together!”

But… why are *you* coming? Does he enjoy playing house more than Azelta?

“Good. I’ll prepare.”

He said solemnly. His expression looked as if he were preparing for battle. Did he… know what a picnic is?

“….”

“….”

Awkward silence filled the air. I had come to ask for permission, but things had escalated beyond that.

Then Duke Iter asked:

“What do you think of parties?”

“Huh?”

From the way he lifted his gaze from the papers… was he thinking of hosting a ball? I mean, since he had a new adopted daughter, introducing me to society wasn’t strange.

He continued:

“To announce that you’ve become a part of House Iter— no—”

He corrected himself deliberately.

“To announce that you are my daughter. That I am your father.”

The exact words from the letter. My eyes widened.

“If you’d like, we could call it your birthday party.”

“A… birthday party?”

I blinked. Right. I had a birthday in this life too. I had been celebrated extravagantly in my previous life, but in this one… not once. No—I’d tried not to think about it. In House Reboa, my birth was never celebrated; it was a curse if anything.

“I want to invite only the people you want present. To celebrate your… birthday.”

He stroked his chin, choosing his words.

“House Reboa did not remember your birthday.”

“Ah.”

Of course they didn’t. They never cared about me. As I nodded, he continued:

“So I’d like to designate a new birthday for you. What do you think?”

I froze. The way he said it sounded like he was scheduling some formal event—but the content… was the opposite.

He just wanted to celebrate my birthday. A birthday that didn’t exist before. Because no one had ever given me one.

My eyes widened—then I smiled before I realized it.

“I’d like that!”

A birthday party meant good food and a lively atmosphere. And the people here—faces I’d grown somewhat familiar with—would probably attend. It sounded like a good time. Well… except for *one* person.

“Is Cassian coming too?”

Oops—since he was the Duke’s brother, I should’ve addressed him more politely. But I hated that guy. The Duke frowned.

“No. He cannot come here for a while. Even if it is a family event, I will block his entry.”

Perfect.

“No outsiders. Enjoy it comfortably. How does that sound?”

The way he said it, though… sounded more like he was planning a knightly parade than a party. But this was how he’d spoken when he came to my room with Delfiro too. I realized: *this is just how he talks.* He probably had no immunity to children whatsoever.

“Sounds good!”

He really was thinking of me—even if awkwardly. Warmth bubbled up inside me.

“Then I’ll arrange it. Since the mist is still thick, we will tightly restrict the entry of outsiders—”

Wait. Mist? Outsiders?

I raised my hand sharply.

“My friend!”

“What?”

“I want Frey to come too! If he’s not sick!”

His condition was stable for now—this was the perfect chance to bring him somewhere without the dangerous mist. I brightened. But the Duke’s expression grew stiff.

“…During this season, entry into the estate must be strictly controlled. This has been an iron rule since ancient times. The Fog Sea harbors incomprehensible things.”

He suddenly switched to vocabulary far above a 5-year-old level. He must be flustered.

“During this season, we don’t allow outsiders to enter the mansion,” Azelta translated quickly.

I blinked. That wasn’t good. Even if I’d opened Frey’s mana circuit, letting him breathe such dense mana mist outside would be dangerous. But if this was a **fixed iron rule**, inviting him here might really be impossible.

“I really wanted him to come…”

I murmured without thinking.

Silence fell—strange and heavy.

“…?”

When I looked up, the Duke looked even more serious than before, and Azelta looked… heartbroken. Their sympathetic gazes were directed at *me*.

Wait—this is a misunderstanding.

Now I was suddenly “the poor child whose first-ever birthday party won’t even have a single friend invited.”

Before I could correct them, the Duke spoke coldly—so cold it sounded like he was about to say *rules are rules; he cannot enter.*

“…He will be allowed in under strict inspection.”

“…What?”

“If Frey is healthy, His Grace says he may attend!” Azelta translated.

…Good?
Probably?
Then why did the Duke look like he was sentencing someone to death?

“…?”

I watched him silently. His expression never softened—it stayed in that narrow range between *serious* and *more serious.* Impossible to read.

Still—if Frey could enter, that solved the biggest problem. The next year might be tricky, but this year, at least, he could stay in the safe area.

I remembered how his face had regained color so quickly after gasping for breath—

A smile burst out of me.

“Then let him stay until the mist goes away!”

I spread out both hands.

“For a long time!”

“My lady, the mist lasts for a full month.”

Azelta smiled awkwardly. But I couldn’t back down.

“Then one month!”

I wasn’t asking for a month-long party—I just wanted Frey to stay in the estate for a month!

My eyes sparkled.

“If you want that, we will do so.”

The Duke said abruptly.

“Bring Frey Deas in. After the picnic, prepare for an extended celebration.”

His low voice rumbled—even more solemn than before. I glanced at him again. He looked like someone preparing for a monster siege.

Does he… not know what a celebration is?

*I wasn’t like this in my past life… House Reboa ruined me,* I thought bitterly while forcing my eyes wide open.

But his expression still didn’t lighten.

A party. A picnic. Why were both such dire matters to him?

*

“We’re going to the picnic tomorrow, right?”

Leaving his office, I walked back to my room with a spring in my step. I had stubbornly refused Azelta’s offer to carry me. I needed to walk more while I could—to build strength!

“Yes, as long as you feel well.”

At that, I slowed down a little. Exercise was good, but being healthy tomorrow was more important.

“I’ll sleep early today.”

Even though I’d slept early already, I would sleep even earlier tonight.

“I’ll prepare things so you can.”

Azelta said brightly.

—Beep, beep!

Then I stopped dead. Standing at the door to my room was the very symbol of impending sickness—someone who heralded bad health just by appearing.

“My lady.”

Delfiro stood at my door.

“A-am I sick?”

I blurted out instinctively as he approached.

If you’d like the next chapter translated, or want a smoother/more formal/literal translation style, feel free to tell me!