Let’s Make Saving a Habit - Chapter 71
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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 71
“Tania. I’m curious about something—why did you choose August 1st as your birthday?”
I pondered how to answer, then repeated back the very words Aiden had once said to me.
“Simply… I liked this day.”
“I see.”
Duchess Papiope nodded without raising further objections, as though she fully respected my choice.
As I conversed with the Duchess, Lucian and Grandfather had somehow drawn near.
The Duchess clapped her hands together, her expression brimming with anticipation and amusement.
“Well then, now that the family is all gathered, shall we begin the gift presentation ceremony?”
Despite my repeated insistence that I desired nothing, it appeared everyone had prepared gifts.
Grandfather, as though struck by an amusing notion, proposed a wager.
“Since we’re giving gifts anyway, what if whoever gives Tania the gift she likes most receives a kiss on the cheek from her?”
“My, Father. You seem quite confident. I rather like the idea of our daughter’s kiss as the grand prize. This should be entertaining!”
“Hmm. A cheek kiss holds little interest for me, but I shall participate nonetheless.”
As the Duchess and Lucian both consented, the wager was settled with remarkable swiftness, and I could scarcely believe my ears.
Excuse me? At whose discretion?
My kiss?
I should have seen this coming from when Grandfather expressed his desire to receive kisses from his grandchildren.
It was then.
“Might I, perhaps, be so bold as to participate in this wager as well?”
Even Aiden stepped forward, expressing his desire to join the gift competition.
Yet unexpectedly, the barrier to entry proved formidable.
The Duchess raised one eyebrow in objection.
“Surely that’s against the rules? I distinctly announced a gift prohibition to all the servants.”
“…Would it be impermissible if I gave the gift not as the young lady’s escort knight, but as Tania’s former guardian?”
“Quite the clever escape attempt.”
The Duchess chuckled helplessly and granted his participation.
“I am well aware that you are far more than a mere escort knight to Tania, so I shall make a special exception.”
“Thank you.”
The moment Aiden’s participation was confirmed, Lucian could wait no longer and thrust his hand upward.
“Then I’ll go first!”
With an expression of great anticipation, he had servants bring forth a rectangular box draped in black cloth.
The way the two of them strained to carry it suggested the gift was quite substantial in weight.
“Here! Tania, I procured this myself, just for you.”
“Procured?”
I had no inkling whatsoever of what the gift might be.
Hoping it would not be something burdensome, I seized the black cloth covering the box and pulled it away in one swift motion.
“Oh, how magnificent…!”
Contrary to my apprehension, admiration escaped my lips the moment I beheld it.
Within a glass case, a pair of butterflies shimmered with an ethereal blue luminescence.
It was a beautiful butterfly, like a painting come to life.
Lucian explained with a triumphant expression, as if he knew exactly what I would like.
“It’s a morpho butterfly. The name comes from how the wing colors change depending on the viewing angle. I prepared it because you seem to like butterflies.”
“Huh? How did you know I like butterflies?”
“Why wouldn’t I know? Tania, whenever we stroll through the Garden and a butterfly appears, you can’t take your eyes off it.”
“Ah….”
I never expected Lucian to pay such close attention to me. That made the gift all the more precious.
“Thank you. It means a lot to me.”
In truth, while I did like butterflies, it wasn’t actually about the butterflies themselves.
The butterfly effect.
I loved the concept that a single flutter of a butterfly’s wings could create tremendous ripples.
It felt like a phrase that existed precisely for someone like me, who possessed the ability to save and load.
Because I loved the butterfly effect so much, I naturally found myself captivated whenever I saw butterflies.
When Lucian opened the glass case, two butterflies fluttered upward.
“Oh…!”
My surprise at watching the butterflies take flight in search of freedom was brief.
The two butterflies circled around me before landing on my shoulder and in my hair respectively.
Now that I thought about it, Lucian was an Ability User who specialized in taming animals.
I relaxed and gently placed the butterfly from my shoulder onto my index finger.
It matched perfectly with the water-blue dress I was wearing.
It felt like wearing an exquisitely crafted ornament rather than a living butterfly.
Next to present a gift was Duchess Papiope.
“Tania, Mother has prepared a wish token—you can ask for anything you desire whenever you want.”
Duchess Papiope handed me a piece of paper stamped with the family seal.
Written in her handwriting on the paper were the words “A wish token for Tania alone.”
“Even if you don’t want anything now, if you think of something later, just tell me anytime.”
“Thank you for your thoughtfulness.”
It seemed to be a gift that took into account what I had said before—that I truly needed nothing at the moment.
But unlike my joy, Grandfather clicked his tongue disapprovingly upon seeing the wish token, criticizing Duchess Papiope’s gift.
“Viviana, how thoughtless. You’re replacing a birthday gift with just a scrap of paper?”
“But she said she doesn’t want anything. What am I supposed to do? She’s such a unique child that I doubt she’d be satisfied with what ordinary children like.”
“It’s fine, Viviana. I’m actually delighted that you’ve been eliminated from the competition.”
“Why are you disqualifying me on your own? Tania is the one judging.”
“Hmph! Do you think I’d lose to such a thoughtless gift? A gift, after all, requires heart and! sincerity! Those are what matter. Ahem.”
“Ha! Let’s see what gift Father is so confident about then!”
“My dear. Look here—this is what a real gift is.”
Grandfather made grand proclamations and pulled a single neatly folded piece of paper from his breast pocket.
“Hmm, you criticized me for giving paper scraps, yet here you are with paper scraps yourself.”
“Wait a moment. Mine isn’t something intangible like yours.”
He carefully unfolded the paper and presented it to me with a flourish.
Gift Deed Contract
Article 1 (Purpose)
The donor hereby agrees to gift the following property owned by the donor to the recipient without compensation, and the recipient agrees to accept and receive said property.
Article 2 (Gifted Property)
…(omitted)…
“A gift… contract?”
Even seeing it with my own eyes, I couldn’t believe it. I read through the document hesitantly, but nothing changed.
I blinked rapidly and looked toward Grandfather.
“Grandfather, this is….”
“Kahahaha. Tania, what do you think! It’s a building located in the Capital Central Commercial District!”
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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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