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Chapter 31
Faint sunlight filtering through the curtains announced the dawn.
Aven, staring blankly at the ceiling, blinked a couple of times.
Recalling old events that were now faint and almost forgotten brought a fresh sense of reflection.
At the time, they had seemed shocking.
But now, having grown and come to understand the Count, such memories were little more than a light incident for Aven.
He might even feel grateful to his father for teaching the value of time to his childish self.
“Maybe it’s because my birthday is coming. I had a pointless dream.”
Aven got up and approached the desk.
Aven, happy birthday.
On the desk lay a luxurious letter paper with a congratulatory message.
As always, the senders were the Count and Countess Reuters, but Aven knew from the brief phrases that followed that it was Albert’s handiwork.
It mentioned celebrating his birthday more grandly this year in honor of his entrance into Judea. Aven scanned the guest list with his eyes.
It included wealthy figures from the Empire and other countries, many families with business ties, and people personally connected to him.
The party would be on a scale that rivaled even the royal family.
“Money is nice after all.”
Aven muttered indifferently, letting his fingers run over the familiar names.
Rihart Cavandia, Rena Dicliff, Kassel Zenda, Izael Lunacliff…
Except for Archel of a modest family, everyone else was on the temporary invitation list.
“Archel Nodovan.”
Repeating the name of the woman who had hit him hard, Aven lowered his eyelids.
“It’s a matter of how one wants to live…”
Archel did not deny that all the world’s things could be bought with money.
But she answered that she didn’t want to live that way.
She said she wanted to live protecting true value that money could not fully own.
In front of Aven, who thought she was moving clearly toward the right answer without a trace of doubt, a new choice appeared.
Unlike his belief that wealth was the highest value, answers could change depending on “how I want to live.”
“Maybe I’ll understand Archel someday.”
Aven stared at the Count and Countess Reuter’s names on the envelope.
“Why, after paying so much money and spending my birthday with Father and Mother, I wasn’t happy.”
Expectation and anxiety flickered in Aven’s blue eyes, then disappeared.
Fresh, water-colored hair fluttered in the breeze coming through the window.
Her slightly curved, pleasant smile reminded one of a puppy on a spring day.
Watching Aven begin to organize his writing tools on the desk, I was lost in thought.
According to the information Janet had given me, Aven Reuters’ birthday fell on the day of the school trip in a few days.
Thus, the Reuters family was holding a birthday party in advance.
“<Dumaea> is such a strange game. The male lead candidate’s birthday was during the school trip—how can something so common not even happen?”
Even if I had never tried to get close to Aven in the school trip chapter, skipping it silently was too cruel.
Also, not being able to ignore Aven’s birthday was too much for me!
“I have to decide on a gift before the school trip. What should I give?”
I rubbed my cheeks in frustration.
It was hard to figure out what to give a young master from a wealthy family who could get almost anything he wanted.
“No matter what I give, Aven will probably see it as a child’s toy.”
But since I had decided to get closer, I wanted to give something that would make him happy.
Hoping for a clue, I followed Aven’s followers and stared at him gloomily for a while.
“Our eyes met.”
Aven, naturally turning his head to meet mine, gave a slight smile and got up.
“What… what is it?”
He approached boldly, holding something in his hand.
“Take this.”
With a blunt but shy gesture, he handed it over as if nervous.
Looking closer, it was an invitation.
An invitation to the grand birthday party Aven had talked about!
“It’s more of a casual party than a formal banquet, so I hope you don’t feel pressured.”
Aven sat beside me, glancing slightly around as he continued.
“Of course, it might not be the kind of gathering you like, Archel, but many important people will attend, so it won’t be a loss.”
“I-I see.”
Only then did I regain my composure and examine the invitation.
The sophisticated design and the smooth paper gave off a scent of flowers.
A birthday invitation for Aven Reuters.
Students would surely envy it, but sadly, I didn’t feel very happy.
The date written on it was overwhelming.
“It’s in four days?”
I had assumed I had about a week, but now I had to prepare a gift in four days.
The sudden shortened deadline made my blood pressure rise.
I decided to go with the easiest method.
“Aven, is there anything you need?”
People differ in what type of gift they prefer.
There are the surprise-lovers who enjoy guessing gifts until the day, and the practical ones who want exactly what they need.
Aven, who could buy anything he wanted, was surely the former.
“Still, if I can get even a small clue…”
Aven tilted his head slightly, as if surprised I asked about a necessary gift.
After a brief moment, he shook his head and uttered a short exclamation.
“I get so many gifts that I’m fine even if you just come. Your presence makes me happy.”
I could feel the sincerity in Aven’s face, insisting I come empty-handed to avoid worrying me, a commoner.
Speechless, I fell into the pit of worry without progress.
“When my blood pressure rises or my mind feels dizzy, this is the best place.”
I sat in solemn contemplation, listening to endless words.
The calm of dawn and the peacefulness from those seeking divine love seemed to spread to me.
“I mostly hear it with one ear and let it flow out the other.”
I waited for a moment alone with Johan while thinking of other things.
Was it just luck last time?
Even after the service ended, it was hard to approach Johan due to the female students lingering around him.
But persistent and desperate as I was, I succeeded.
Without speaking a word, my fiercely burning gaze intimidated them into leaving without saying much.
I ran toward Johan as soon as I found the opportunity.
He greeted me with a warm smile, as if he had known I was waiting.
“Ah, healing.”
As expected, Johan Derial is the best.
My will to get close to him upgraded further. I must bring Rena here.
“Do you have any worries today as well?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
I answered solemnly to his smiling question.
Aven’s birthday party was in only three days.
My overloaded mind refused to work because of student council duties.
Then Johan came to mind.
I was certain he could resolve my awkward problem like before.
He wouldn’t answer with new designer suits, limited edition bags, or fountain pens like Rihart, Kassel, or Rena.
“If I want to give it meaning, isn’t engraving Aven’s name enough?”
Rihart said that then it would be a pencil that existed only once in the world, making it more valuable.
He was right.
If you prepare with thoughtfulness for the other person, can anything lack meaning?
But the reason I worried so much was…
“You said you want to pursue values money can’t buy. Then if I am beside you, I can understand what that is, right?”
Aven expected something from me.
“Stupid Archel!”
Thinking back, why did I say that when money is the best?
I wanted to bury my head in shame, but words once spoken cannot be taken back.
In the end, Aven wanted to know that something through me, and I had a duty to help him avoid the world’s bad ending.
“I don’t want to disappoint someone who’s expecting me…”
That’s why I hoped this birthday gift would truly hold meaning for Aven.
It was really difficult.
I hesitated and opened my lips.
“I want to give a birthday gift my friend would like, but I don’t know what. That friend lacks nothing and either already has everything he wants or can easily get it.”
“Ah.”
Surprised by his flat voice, I blinked rapidly.
Of course, I was embarrassed to even ask such a question.
If someone appeared in front of me at work and asked, “What should I give my friend?” I would immediately ban them from entering the student council office.
“I hope Johan isn’t going to ban me from the chapel for this.”
I couldn’t let this stop my plan to get close to him.
As I tried to take back my question, Johan spoke.
“It’s simple.”
He didn’t seem surprised or annoyed.
His golden eyes, gazing at me, were warm as always.
As expected, it’s Johan Derial…
“Really?”
I clasped my hands slowly, looking at him with sparkling eyes.
“Just ask them directly.”
“B-But what if they say no?”
“Then give them what you think they need.”
His answer, direct and unyielding like a shield, left me stunned.
No, I don’t know that, sir.
