The Maid With a Child - Chapter 39

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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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39. A First Birthday
Adlen lay in bed, gazing up at the ceiling with her hands clasped together.
A birthday.
Something she had never imagined.
She’d heard that some people celebrate their own birthdays alone, but Adlen didn’t want to celebrate hers that way. She believed a birthday was only real when someone else acknowledged it.
And now, she actually had one.
She hadn’t been the one to insist, “From today onward, this is my birthday—please celebrate it with me.” Others had taken the initiative, created it for her, promised to celebrate. It was a genuine birthday.
She was too excited to sleep that night.
And now, at last, the day had arrived.
“Come now, our guest of honor—sit here in the middle.”
She barely registered how the morning had passed.
The Birthday Party was scheduled for lunch. It happened that Ricardt’s schedule was free at that hour, so the time was set.
When lunchtime came, the Head Butler arrived carrying the Cake, along with a few of the household knights.
The original plan had been a modest gathering—just the Head Butler, Adlen, and Baby.
But the Head Butler had insisted that a real Birthday Party couldn’t be so small, and had expanded both the guest list and the scale considerably.
And so, by Adlen’s standards, quite a lively Birthday Party began.
“Our guest of honor needs to wear a Flower Crown.”
The moment Adlen sat in the center of the sofa, they placed a Flower Crown upon her head.
“Look at that, Adlen. With the Flower Crown, she looks just like a princess. Beautiful.”
“Beautiful, isn’t she! I never knew Adlen was this pretty.”
As the Head Butler lavished praise on Adlen in the Flower Crown, the knights joined in with an outpouring of compliments.
Adlen, flustered beyond measure, didn’t know what to do with herself, her fingers constantly fidgeting with her hair, the crown, and the hem of her dress.
It seemed she was not the sort of person who enjoyed being the center of attention. She found it difficult to bear the focus of even these few people, and part of her wanted to slip away.
“Ayu-eh? Ibbu?”
“Oh my, our little one has good taste, doesn’t she? Yes, say it—Adlen is pretty.”
“Ayu-eh Ibbu-ah!”
Even Baby had joined in.
Adlen was amazed at Baby’s selective learning. She’d taught her a hundred times how to say Birthday Blessing, yet she couldn’t manage it—but why did she get “pretty” right away?
No matter who said it, hearing herself called pretty was something she couldn’t bear.
Her eyes wandered about the room as if seeking an escape, until her gaze landed on Ricardt, sitting on the sofa by the window, watching her.
……?!
And at the strange expression on his face, Adlen swallowed hard.
Had she done something wrong?
That was the first thought that rose in Adlen’s mind.
Her master was frowning deeply and looking away.
She hadn’t expected him to join in with a Party Hat, setting off fireworks in celebration, but she’d thought he’d at least seem pleased.
Instead, he looked as though this whole affair made him uncomfortable, as if he didn’t even want to look.
‘I need to wrap this up quickly!’
Rather than ask what was troubling him, it would be better to simply end this as soon as possible.
“Ayu-eh, Ibbu-ah! Ibbu! Atwu!”
Baby seemed pleased with the word “pretty” and kept repeating it without pause.
“Now, Baby. Today is Adlen’s Birthday. That’s why we’re having a Birthday Party.”
Adlen quickly took Baby’s hands and began teaching her how to say Birthday Blessing. This was the whole point of the day.
If she did what she was supposed to do properly, her master’s displeasure might fade a little.
Adlen kept stealing glances at her master as she guided Baby’s hands.
“Shall we say Birthday?”
“Ayu-uh!”
“Yes, Ad-len’s… Birth-day.”
“Atwu! Ii-ibbu!”
…….
He wasn’t usually one to listen well, but there was no need to be this difficult right now.
Adlen felt as though everything was her fault—a lack of skill on her part—and found herself unable to even look at her master.
“Head Butler, the… the candles.”
“Ah, yes. Of course.”
The Head Butler was quick to judge and act.
Slightly slower than Adlen, but he too had noticed his master’s unsettling expression.
He agreed with Adlen’s assessment: it would be best to finish quickly and close out the gathering.
With urgency in his heart, his hands moved with the swiftness of a knight’s blade as he lit the candles on the Cake.
“Come now, let us sing the Birthday Blessing song. One, two, three.”
The moment the candles flickered to life, the Head Butler began clapping and singing the Birthday Blessing song. The knights joined in as well.
Adlen settled the baby on her lap and held its hands together, guiding them into a clap.
“Happy Birthday to you, happy Birthday to you, to our dear Adlen, happy Birthday to you.”
“Ah-doo! Uh-ng, ee! Shoo-gga!”
“Oh!”
It was after the song had repeated several times.
The baby, who had been making meaningless sounds, suddenly began mimicking the Birthday Blessing. The pronunciation was rough, but the melody and rhythm matched.
In this moment, there was no room in her mind for the master’s mood or anything else.
Our young master was finally about to accomplish his task!
“Please, one more time!”
Adlen started the song again as soon as it ended.
Again and again it repeated—once, twice, three times. Long enough for the candles to melt completely, coating the Cake.
The baby’s first Birthday Cake, the first candles to blow out.
She had wanted to make a wish and blow out the candles. But this moment was far more important than that.
“Ah-doo-eh! Say-ee shoo-gga-ang-da!”
“Heavens!”
The baby had finally managed to say “happy Birthday to you.”
Adlen embraced the baby tightly in delight. The baby giggled and hugged her neck in return.
“Oh my, truly our little genius! Our miraculous young master! That’s right! I knew if we kept trying, you could do it! Once more—what did you say? Adlen, happy Birthday to you?”
“Ah-doo-eh, say-ee shoo-gga-ang-da!”
“One more!”
“Ah-doo-eh, say-ee shoo-ggya!”
“Oh my!”
Adlen couldn’t contain her delight and patted the baby’s bottom with enthusiasm. The young master was only satisfied with such vigorous praise. The stronger her own strength, the more forcefully she preferred to pat and praise.
Now that the objective had been achieved, today’s Birthday Party was a perfect success.
The knights joined in with applause, celebrating the triumph together.
“Congratulations, Adlen! You did it!”
“Thank you so much! It’s thanks to you all! ……And the Head Butler.”
Adlen turned to look at her master, whom she had pushed to the back of her mind for a moment.
Now that she had accomplished what she set out to do, it was time to attend to her master.
“And, Master……”
“Happy Birthday.”
In that brief moment as she turned her head, countless thoughts flashed through her mind—was he even more angry, or was he simply ignoring her entirely?
Yet her master was clapping along as he looked at Adlen, offering Birthday Congratulations besides.
“Th-thank you so much, Master.”
The congratulations offered with crossed legs and an expressionless face could hardly be sincere, but Adlen felt profoundly grateful merely that he had not overturned the table.
“For remembering my Birthday……, for allowing a Birthday Party for the young master, for permitting me to invite the knights as well—I’m grateful for all of it, and for everything you always bestow upon me so generously.”
Seizing the opportunity, Adlen expressed gratitude that had become so routine she had neglected to voice.
She had grown quite bold in her behavior of late, yet whenever she sensed her master’s eyes growing cold, she still instinctively shrank back.
Even now, she was somewhat subdued. But as she finished expressing what she had wanted to say, her heart felt light, and a clear, bright laughter bubbled up.
Ricardt watched Adlen bow with a full smile, then casually let drop a remark like a benediction.
“……I told you to take it for granted.”
“Ehehe……. I’ll do my best!”
The effort her master loved most. Though she had no intention of mustering that particular effort.
Ricardt gave a chin flick at her answer, gesturing her to go on.
The Birthday Party was not yet over.
Pleased with the promising maidservant’s proper behavior, the Head Butler approached with a contented smile and led Adlen back to her seat.
“Now, let’s blow out the candles and make a wish.”
“Yes!”
“The candles…….”
The song had gone on so long that the candles had vanished without a trace.
“Ah, well. Shall I fetch a lamp……?”
The Head Butler asked awkwardly.
“Aha, no need. I blow out the lamp every single night anyway.”
Adlen laughed and waved her hand dismissively.
There was no need to make a wish.
She was already enjoying an excess of blessings every single day.

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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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