Let’s Make Saving a Habit - Chapter 66
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 66
Evening had arrived, with the entire Papiope family gathered around the dining table.
It had become a natural part of my daily routine by now.
As we shared stories from the day while enjoying our meal, Duchess Papiope suddenly remembered something and opened her mouth to speak.
“Tania, your registration documents were rejected because there were blank spaces.”
“Oh, really?”
It wasn’t a serious matter.
Though inconvenient, it was a simple task to fill in the blanks and resubmit.
“I apologize for the trouble. Which section was it?”
“You didn’t fill in the date of birth field.”
“Ah….”
The moment I heard this, the memory of filling in my birthday came rushing back.
“I don’t know my actual birthday…. I was struggling with what date to write, and I forgot to fill it in before submitting.”
I didn’t know my true date of birth.
Even in the future, since I didn’t know my birthday, Aiden had arbitrarily decided one for me.
August 1st.
That was the birthday he had chosen for me. Every year, I would celebrate on that day and receive his congratulations.
It would have been a simple matter to write August 1st on the registration documents.
But the reason I hesitated was because the birthday he had arbitrarily chosen was the same day Aiden died.
After Aiden passed away, that day ceased to be my birthday and became the anniversary of his death instead.
How could I possibly celebrate the day he died?
So I had intended to fill in other sections first and slowly decide on a new birthday.
But I forgot to fill in the date of birth field and submitted the documents anyway, which is how this situation arose.
A heavy silence fell over the Dining Room, which had been filled with cheerful conversation moments before.
Duchess Papiope, Lucian, and Grandfather all stared at me with their faces gone rigid.
It was Duchess Papiope who broke the silence first.
“You don’t know your birthday….”
“I’m sorry. If I had known this would happen, I would have just written down any date.”
“Tania! Don’t say such things. You have nothing to apologize for. If anything, I’m sorry for not paying closer attention.”
I didn’t want to blame Duchess Papiope.
My case was unusual—normally, even orphans have an assigned birthday.
Whether that date is set as the day the child arrived at the Orphanage, or left behind by biological parents who abandoned them.
When I lived in Uncle’s house, I was too young to understand the concept of a birthday.
After being abandoned by Uncle, I vaguely grasped what a birthday was, but my circumstances weren’t stable enough to celebrate it.
My life was consumed with worrying about where my next meal would come from.
Duchess Papiope stopped eating and came over to me, quietly embracing me.
“Let’s decide your birthday together. Should we make it the day you came to Duke Papiope’s Mansion? Or is there another day you’d prefer?”
“Would it be alright if I thought about it and told you tomorrow morning?”
Once again, I hoped that Aiden would be the one to choose my birthday for me.
As expected, Duchess Papiope respected my opinion.
“Very well. There’s no rush, so let’s use whatever date you prefer. Yes, let’s do that.”
After that, our meal began in the quieted atmosphere.
My family seemed to be watching my expression carefully.
Once I deliberately brought up various topics to lighten the mood, the atmosphere finally relaxed somewhat.
After that meal that felt like an eternity, I returned to my room and called for Aiden separately.
“Aiden, there’s something…”
“Yes?”
“My registration documents were rejected.”
Aiden’s brow furrowed quietly.
“But didn’t they already have the Emperor’s seal? Why were they rejected?”
“It’s nothing serious. There was a section I forgot to fill in and left blank, so I just need to complete that part.”
“That’s a relief.”
“But that section is the problem.”
“You just need to fill in the facts—what’s the issue?”
“It’s my date of birth. I don’t know my birthday.”
“I see…”
In that moment, Aiden’s pupils trembled faintly.
Even knowing this, I continued as if I understood nothing.
“So I need to choose an arbitrary birthday, and I’m not sure which date would be best.”
“August 1st.”
For a moment, I thought I’d misheard him.
Without a moment’s hesitation, he designated the same date as before as my birthday.
At this point, I could only be certain that this day held special significance for Aiden.
“Why specifically August 1st?”
“That day is…”
Aiden seemed about to give me a reason, but ultimately closed his mouth.
Growing even more curious, I pressed for an answer.
“That day is…?”
“…It simply appeals to me.”
It wasn’t the answer I’d hoped to hear.
Yet because it was the birthday Aiden had chosen for me.
Because August 1st was no longer his day of mourning.
I decided to accept the birthday he’d given me with a bright smile.
“Perfect. Then my birthday will be August 1st from now on. And you can’t say you didn’t prepare a birthday gift because there’s not much time left!”
✦ ✦ ✦
The registration documents, resubmitted with my date of birth properly filled in, were processed without issue.
Duchess Papiope promptly announced that I had been officially registered into the Duke Papiope’s Household.
The name Tania Papiope spread rapidly among the nobility, and simultaneously, word of my precognition ability as an Ability User caused quite a stir.
A precognitive power unprecedented in the history of the Empire.
The nobles eagerly competed to send me invitations, desperate to cultivate connections.
Lena gazed at the mountain of invitations piling up with a distant expression before methodically beginning to sort through them.
“I shall set aside only the invitations most suitable for you to attend, Miss.”
“No need. Don’t bother sorting. Use them all as kindling.”
“Pardon? But…”
“Lena, I’m sorry, but I have no intention of making my debut in society just yet.”
Making friends and expanding my connections could wait until after Aiden turned fourteen—when he would die.
Right now was the time to focus on accumulating capital and establishing the Information Guild.
“If my goal had been inheriting the Duchess title, I would have attended every single event without fail, but I’m content with my position as a New Maid.”
“You don’t aspire to the Duchess title, Miss?”
“Why would I want such a burdensome position with so much responsibility and work?”
Even before I turned back time, I had worked relentlessly.
Though I’d only made it halfway through, I was thoroughly sick of work.
Once I finished avenging Aiden, I intended to finally enjoy the life I’d never had the chance to live.
To do nothing but travel and enjoy myself then, I needed to become a wealthy idler, which meant I had to earn heavily now.
“Anyway, Lena. I’m going out later, so help me prepare, will you?”
“Is that the trading caravan you mentioned receiving help from before coming to the Duke’s Residence?”
“Yes. The Ageratum Merchant Company—the Merchant Leader there brought me to the Capital.”
“How fortunate that you met such good people even in difficult circumstances.”
“I know. The Merchant Leader, Aiden, Duchess Papiope—I couldn’t have gotten here without everyone’s help.”
I laughed cheerfully and clung to her affectionately.
“And thank you too, Lena, for becoming my maid.”
“Miss…”
Lena dabbed at the tears that had begun to spill, her expression touched, wiping them away with her sleeve.
“It is I who am honored to serve you, Miss.”
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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