SWNOVELXO Chapter 111
TLed by NolepGuy
Chapter 111
The Head of the Desmond Family’s birthday has arrived.
The end of the long life in the capital.
Although there was a somewhat awkward incident with Kyle, we found common ground in our shared wishes, reached a silent agreement, and moved on naturally.
My room on the second floor of the estate.
Wearing the butler’s attire for the first time in a while, I stretched my stiff body and let out a languid sigh. Whether it was because of the heart-racing date last night or the intense conversation with Kyle, I wasn’t sure, but my body didn’t seem to be in great condition.
Strangely tired.
“Achoo~! Ugh…”
It felt like I might be coming down with a cold.
Ever since I reached the level of Sword Expert, I thought I had built an immunity to colds, but this unwelcome visit from cold symptoms wasn’t exactly pleasant.
Shivering from the chills, I trembled and let out another sigh before stretching again to prepare for a lively day.
Looking at the clock.
[10:00]
I covered my ears and nodded.
“One. Two. Three.”
-Eeeek!! Air raid alarm!!!
-Imperial emergency!
-Imperial Army full mobilization!
Listening to the harmonious chaos of the Desmond Family that rang out as always, I smiled pleasantly.
“Everyone seems healthy today as well.”
*
Darbav’s birthday began early in the morning.
With many guests arriving, including high nobles and business-related figures, the Young Lady and I hid as quietly as possible in a corner of the banquet hall.
“Ricardo.”
“Yes.”
“There are too many people.”
“That’s because the Head of the Household is popular.”
“Does Father have a lot of friends?”
“Yes.”
The Young Lady looked sullen as she gazed at Darbav.
“I don’t have any.”
“That’s because you’re an introvert, Young Lady.”
“No, I’m not. I have you, Ricardo.”
“That still makes you an introvert.”
The Young Lady, seemingly displeased with her newly acquired title, puffed out her cheeks and pouted.
“I’m not an introvert.”
“Sure~”
“Eeeek…!”
Just as the Young Lady clenched her fist and raised her hand in frustration at my teasing response—
“Darbav!”
“Aunt…!”
At the sound of the Grand Aunt’s voice, who had once vowed to break his legs upon meeting him, the Young Lady gasped and ducked under the tablecloth.
“Ricardo, hide me!”
Quickly ducking her head, the Young Lady fidgeted before pulling out a black box from her treasure pouch.
“Why is that coming out of there?”
“Because it’s precious. What if I lose it?”
“Still…”
The Young Lady firmly dismissed my objection, as if to say not to argue over something so obvious.
“Give this to Father.”
“Me? Really?”
“Yes. There are too many people, and it’s hard for me to go.”
The Young Lady looked down at her unmoving legs as she spoke.
Her inability to walk.
The Young Lady knew that her existence, tainted by the use of dark magic and now a blemish on the Desmond Family, would not be welcomed in this banquet hall.
A disgraceful princess.
She was well aware of the title of villainess, known only for her temper, that clung to her.
That was why, despite Darbav’s suggestion to sit beside the stage before the banquet, she had shaken her head and chosen a secluded corner of the hall instead.
Even as her broken wings tried to spread again, both the nobles and I, who was not one of them, knew that her presence would not yield favorable results.
From the moment the Young Lady used dark magic, Desmond Olivia had become the abandoned child of the family.
If such a child were to appear publicly with the claim, “We’ve reconciled,” it would undoubtedly shake the carefully built tower of the family’s reputation.
Kyle, knowing this, had also tried to dissuade Darbav’s stubbornness, and Rosanna had sealed her lips with a sad smile.
In truth, I found this cold treatment to be more comfortable and preferable.
Though it might seem like a right I should naturally enjoy as a child of the Desmond Family, the perception of others did not align with that.
Perhaps it was a matter we had to accept as natural, a responsibility we had to bear for what had been done.
However.
I believed the gift, at least, should be delivered by the Young Lady herself. The meaning would be entirely different depending on whether I handed it over or she did.
If I, the butler, presented it as a mere formality, it could change the significance, and Darbav might feel disappointed.
This was purely my personal opinion, but I thought that the ultimate daughter fool of this era, Darbav, had been waiting for a gift from his daughter.
For a chronic daughter fool to go nearly two years without receiving a gift—it must have felt like the loss of a lifelong addiction. With that in mind, I firmly refused the Young Lady’s hand holding the black box.
The Young Lady’s hand, holding the black box, hovered awkwardly in the air.
As she awkwardly urged me to take it, I whistled and declined.
“You should give it to him yourself, Young Lady.”
“No.”
“It’s not like you don’t have hands.”
“I don’t have hands.”
The Young Lady puffed out her cheeks and hid her fingers inside her sleeves. Her pouty gaze seemed to say, “There, satisfied?” Her adorable expression almost swayed me, but I held firm as a proper butler and a member of the Desmond Family, determined to ensure the Head of the Household’s bright and cheerful mental health.
“Ricardo, my hands are falling off.”
“Didn’t you just say you didn’t have hands?”
“They just grew back.”
“Are you a lizard?”
“Is it tasty?”
“No.”
The Young Lady lowered her head with a sullen expression.
“That’s no fun.”
“It wasn’t meant to be fun.”
“Eeeek…!”
As the Young Lady bit her lips and vented her frustration, she lowered her head and revealed her true feelings.
“I want to give it to him after my legs heal.”
“I think it’s fine to give it to him now.”
Looking at Darbav, who was greeting guests, I suggested that we could subtly hand it over when it was our turn.
The Young Lady, still looking down, hesitated.
“Would that be okay?”
Tempted by the not-so-bad suggestion, the Young Lady tilted her head and looked at me. I nodded and gave her a reassuring answer.
“Of course. Don’t you want to give it to him yourself, Young Lady? I’m sure the Head of the Household would feel the same way.”
The effects of the rehabilitation’s touch were not yet fully apparent. I wasn’t sure what vitality truly meant, but one thing was certain—it wasn’t something negative.
Time would solve the issue. There was no need to rush. Both the vitality and the Young Lady’s legs would eventually be restored.
And for a possessor, nothing was impossible.
Placing the black box in the Young Lady’s hands, I smiled warmly.
“Here he comes.”
Darbav’s approaching expression was different from the forced smiles he had shown the guests. His lips twitched slightly, forming a father’s smile.
Trying to appear nonchalant, Darbav spoke to us.
“Hmm… Olivia, so you were sitting here.”
“Yes.”
Under the tablecloth, I could see the Young Lady’s fidgeting fingers. Her hesitant fingers wavered, debating whether to give it or not. With a small smile, I gently nudged her side to give her a little push.
“Kyah…! Hee… Huh?!”
With a startled movement, her hand shot up onto the table.
The Young Lady glared at me with a flustered expression, but I simply turned my head, feigning ignorance.
Meanwhile, Darbav’s lips were on the verge of breaking into a wide grin.
“Hmph… Is that…!”
The moment Darbav saw the black box in the Young Lady’s hand, his eyes grew moist.
“Is this a gift for your father?”
The betrayed Young Lady shot me a sharp glare, but I nonchalantly winked at her with a cheeky grin.
“What is that! Don’t tell me…!”
“Eeeek… Ricardo, you’re the worst.”
“I only scratched your side because it looked itchy.”
“Haaah…”
The Young Lady let out a deep sigh and took a deep breath.
“Now’s the time.”
Whispering in a voice too small for Darbav to hear, I encouraged the hesitant Young Lady with another wink, gathering all the charm I could muster.
The Young Lady swallowed nervously and looked at Darbav. His expression, unable to hide the emotion of ‘anticipation,’ almost made me laugh. But not wanting to taint this historic moment with the noise of mockery, I maintained a subtle smile and waited to hear the congratulatory greeting from the Young Lady’s lips.
“F-Father!”
“Yes, Olivia.”
“Grandmother used to badmouth you a lot…!”
“What?”
“She said that even though you were her child, your personality was awful, so…!”
Dripping with sweat, the Young Lady thrust the gift forward.
“Happy birthday!”
The Young Lady’s congratulatory words, which could have sounded like an insult, brought a smile to Darbav’s face.
“So Mother said that… I suppose we won’t be visiting her grave next year.”
At the same time, it seemed he had resolved to commit a small act of filial impiety.
In front of the Young Lady, Darbav opened the black box. Though he had received many expensive gifts today, such as estates and mines, the expression on his face upon seeing the gift inside the box was happier than any other.
“Did Olivia pick this out herself?”
“Yes.”
“As expected of my daughter. You have excellent taste.”
Darvab pinned the gift—a tie pin—onto his tie with a gentle smile.
“Thank you, my daughter. May you live a long and healthy life. And Ricardo.”
“Yes?”
“The box left in my room at dawn—should I consider that a dowry?”
“Excuse me, what did you just say…?”
“Hmm… It’s sufficient as a dowry.”
Darvab gave the Young Lady a small kiss on the forehead and left the table. On the tablecloth he left behind, there was a small water drop.
We didn’t need to say it aloud to know it was a tear—our little secret.