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Volume 1 Chapter 6.1

An Unforgettable Birthday Part 1

Translator : PolterGlast

On the day of Somia's birthday party.

Once his classes were over, Nozomu returned to his dormitory and headed for the Francilt mansion, still in his school uniform, to bring a present for Somia.

Nozomu did not have clothes for such a noble daughter's birthday party, nor could he afford to buy them.

When Nozomu arrived in front of the main gate of the mansion where the party was to be held, he was simply overwhelmed by the size of the mansion standing in front of him.

The size of the mansion, where the daughters of one of the biggest noble families in the kingdom of Forsina reside, is one or two times larger than the other mansions in this area.

It is a three-story building made of marble and may be large enough to accommodate all the residents of a small village. The garden, as well as the mansion, is vast, and a fence more than three times the height of a person surrounds the outer boundary of the large property.

Although he had not really noticed it at the academy, Nozomu was once again reminded that Irisdina was a person of extremely high status.

"...... This is the venue, isn't it?"

"...... Yeah."

"This is a really big mansion ...... Onīchan, please don't do anything strange again."

Mars and Ena, who were next to Nozomu, were also taken aback by the sheer size and grandeur of the mansion.

"...... Say, why is Ena-chan here?"

Nozomu voiced his doubts at the sight of Ena standing next to him.

The reason why Mars joined the party was to apologize to Tima.

Neither Ena nor Hanna would allow the matter to remain unresolved.

However, Ena was not invited to the party in the first place.

While Nozomu was tilting his head, Mars was awkwardly averting his eyes.

"Nozomu-san, I didn't come here to partake in the party."

"Eh, then what for?"

"It's to apologize together with Onīchan to the person whom he was rude to the other day. I don't trust him to apologize properly by himself, so I forced him to come with me."

Apparently, the reason Ena came here was to keep an eye on Mars to see if he would properly apologize to Tima, with whom he had messed up in the infirmary.

On the other hand, Mars was not very happy with Ena's presence here. "Hmph!". He snorted and grumbled.

"Mars...... you......"

Nozomu turned his gaze to Mars in utter disbelief.

It was beyond pathetic that he couldn't even apologize without his sister's company.

"Don't look at me like you're looking at a coward! I told her I would be fine, but she decided to just follow me on her own!"

"What are you saying!? If it were just you, you'd just say something weird and make things worse!"

"Seriously, cut the crap! Are you my mother!?"

As expected, Mars protested against Nozomu, who stared at him with a jittery look, and Ena raised her voice in response to Mars' ranting.

"Mother? Are you kidding me!? If I were your mother, I would raise you to be a gentleman who is kind to everyone! I don't need a big kid with a big body like yours!"

"Gentleman, huh? Said someone who beats up her own brother using a chair in the store as a weapon. You're being ridiculous!"

"O-, oi you two......"

In front of the front gate of a magnificent mansion, a brother and sister casually engage in a verbal abuse match.

For the Dickens siblings, it might be the usual banter, but this place was not the commercial district where people were used to seeing the commotion they cause.

The two of them making a big fuss in the normally quiet administrative district were very conspicuous when seen from the side.

Naturally, the three of them attracted the attention of people passing around them, which was very embarrassing for Nozomu.

He tried to call out to the Dickens siblings to stop them somehow, but they were so absorbed in a battle of tongues that they did not realize how conspicuous they were.

In the meantime, a creaking sound was heard, and from inside the gates of the Francilt mansion, a maid, who appeared to be an employee of the mansion, came out.

"Excuse me. I would appreciate it if you would refrain from making such a commotion in front of the mansion."

The maid's words, though subtle, were clearly exuding displeasure, and Nozomu hurriedly stepped forward to bow his head.

"Ah, I'm sorry, my companion has made a lot of commotion. We've been invited to Somia-cha- ...... Somiliana-san's birthday party today ......"

"Are you? ......"

The maid frowned, clearly regarding Nozomu and the others as suspicious.

Nozomu and Mars were wearing Solminati Academy uniforms, while Ena was in her casual clothes and apron that she wore when she worked at the Ox-head Pavillion.

In addition, the culprits of the commotion behind Nozomu were unaware that this maid had appeared from the Francilt mansion.

While hearing the loud voices of the Dickens siblings, who were still arguing amongst themselves, at his back, Nozomu could only smile wryly in front of the maid, who was looking at him suspiciously.

"I am terribly sorry, but we cannot allow suspicious people into the mansion."

"Wait a minute."

"Y-, young lady!"

Sure enough, the maid was about to close the gate.

However, Irisdina appeared from behind and stopped the maid from trying to close the gate.

Behind Irisdina, there was also Tima, who, like Nozomu, was wearing the school's uniform.

"Hello, Nozomu-kun, you've come. They are my friends. You can let them through. I'll show them the way, so you may return to your duties."

"Y-, Yes."

"Thank you, Irisdina-san."

The maid left in a hurry upon the arrival of her master, and Nozomu couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief.

"Fufu, we can't simply send away the guests we have invited at our doorstep ...... Speaking of which, how long do you think they'll be at it?"

Irisdina, with her graceful appearance, wore a smile that could captivate anyone.

When she pointed this out, Nozomu turned around and involuntarily slumped his shoulders.

Mars and Ena were still arguing, oblivious to the appearance of the one hosting the party, and a crowd had already begun to form around them.

In a sense, it was amazing that they could concentrate so much on their argument without paying attention to their surroundings, but as a person who knew them, all Nozomu could do was sigh.

"You two ...... oi, we're going inside now. How long are you going to keep making a scene!"

""Huh?""

Mars and Ena finally noticed Nozomu's loud voice and let out stunned voices.

Then, once they turned their attention to Nozomu, they began to glance around.

Then they finally noticed their foolishness and rushed over to Nozomu and Irisdina in a panic.

"Nozomu, you should have told me to stop!"

"That's right, Nozomu-san! It was an embarrassment, wasn't it!"

"...... eh~~"

"...... pfft!"

Nozomu's shoulders slumped even further as they said something so unreasonable to him. Irisdina let out a chuckle at the sight of the three of them.

"Fufufu. It looks like you guys are having fun. But, Nozomu-kun, if you don't mind, could you introduce her to me?"

Irisdina's gaze turned to Ena, who was standing beside Nozomu and Mars.

"Ah, come to think of it, this is the first time you've met Ena-chan, isn't it?"

"Well. As you may have heard, I am Irisdina Francilt. Nice to meet you."

"Y-, yes! I am Ena Dickens."

Overwhelmed by Irisdina's presence, Ena nervously introduced herself.

Tima, who was standing behind Irisdina, also spoke to Ena with a smile.

"Fufu, I'm Tima Lime. Nice to meet you, Ena-chan."

"Oh, just Somia is fine. This party is an informal one, so it pleases me to have you join us!"

"Nice to meet you, little girl."

"Onīchan!"

"I don't mind, Ena-san. Don't worry about it!"

Somia, as usual, showed no concern for the difference in status, and Mars easily accepted her words.

Ena snapped angrily at her brother's impolite manner of speaking, and Somia hurriedly tried to smooth things over.

Thus, an intense sibling quarrel almost broke out for the third time.

"H-, hold it, both of you, we're currently in the middle of a party ......."

Tima, upon hearing the commotion, rushed to Somia's aid.

However, she, who was by nature not very assertive, was fatally lacking in terms of presence and power to stop this out-of-control sibling.

"Hey, Nozomu-kun. Are you enjoying yourself?"

In the midst of all this, Irisdina approached Nozomu.

"Well, yes. More importantly, shouldn't we stop them?"

While still holding a plate of food in his hand, Nozomu pointed to Mars and Ena who were making a commotion.

"I don't mind. Judging from what I saw in front of the gate, it seems that Mars and Ena are always like that. Besides, Somia seems to be having fun as well. Tima seems to be having a bit of a hard time though, but it's good to see her like that once in a while."

Looking at the commotion while smiling and giggling, she seemed to be having a lot of fun. Unlike her dignified persona at the school, Nozomu felt his gaze involuntarily drawn to her gentle and warm expression.

"N? Is there something wrong?"

"~. N-, no, it's nothing."

Nozomu found himself admiring the girl next to him and instantly became embarrassed and couldn't help but look away.

Irisdina watched Nozomu, who suddenly began to fluster, and then she abruptly moved closer to him. Her gaze was fixed on a small box held in Nozomu's hand.

Her action, which was rather brazen for a daughter of a noble family, made Nozomu's heart pound even faster.

"Is that a birthday present for Somia?"

"Well, yes ......"

"Thank you. Somia was also looking forward to it, so please give it to her later."

Nozomu nodded, and Irisdina's smile deepened in satisfaction as well.

Then silence fell between the two of them.

For a moment, they stood at the edge of the venue, watching the hustle and bustle of the party.

"Come to think of it, I haven't thanked you yet."

"Thank me?"

"Yes. Thank you for coming to this party. We celebrate Somia's birthday every year, but this year she seems to be especially happy. I'm sure it's because you guys are here."

"...... Hmm?"

Nozomu tilted his head, unsure of the meaning of Irisdina's words.

They are the daughters of a great noble family. A birthday party for a daughter of a great noble family would normally attract a large number of people, and even though it was only their relatives this time, there were still enough people to make the hall quite lively. That's why, Nozomu assumed that it was unlikely that she would feel lonely.

"Somia, despite her innocent nature, has a quite keen sense of perception. She is so perceptive that she can detect any malice or animosity at her age."

Irisdina accepted a glass of wine from a maid who came near her and swallowed the contents slowly.

"I have my fair share of experience in aristocratic society, but Somia is as good a judge of people's intentions as I am."

Irisdina said that therefore, they could easily see through those who approached them for their advantage or disadvantage.

"Our mother passed away right after giving birth to Somia. That's why I've been trying to be Somia's mother ...... I guess she misses her mother, after all. Somia always seemed somewhat sad whenever her birthday approached."

She then went on to talk about her own family matter.

Nozomu had no idea that their mother had passed away.

Irisdina's unexpected words made Nozomu's eyes widen, but he listened attentively to her words.

"But that is not the case this time. I think it's because she met you after all. Somia often talked about you at the mansion. She said she met a strange but kind brother."

"...... Is that so? But I would have never thought that just I alone could make that much of a change ......"

"I told you, didn't I? Somia is sensitive to people's malice and separation due to differences in status. Although the maids and butlers in the mansion are those who have served us since before we came to Arcazam, we were separated by a clear wall of status."

Those who serve and those who are served. It is said that the differences between those who serve and those who are served cannot be easily removed even over a long period of time. Especially for those who have served for a long time, a clear difference in status is imprinted at the base of their conscience.

However, Nozomu's behavior towards Somia was mainly due to him not realizing that Somia was the daughter of a high-ranking noble.

"That's why, at least while we are in this city, I want you to forget about your status difference with Somia."

Irisdina had certain expectations of Nozomu and the others because they did not have any preconceptions due to the difference in status in the beginning.

Nozomu had considered changing his attitude several times before, but since her sister begged him not to, he had no choice but to comply.

"...... I understand."

"Thank you. You're so kind."

"Well, I don't think so ......"

"You are kind. When people hear that we have lost our mother, they tend to either provide words of comfort or try to cheer us up with pointless encouragement. But you were different."

"I was simply speechless, you know?"

"That's fine. You didn't try to mend your situation with poor words or attitude, but you put yourself in my shoes and gave me your consideration, didn't you?"

Nozomu was so impressed with the way she was able to guess exactly how he was feeling that he couldn't help but fall silent.

She was certainly skilled at reading people's minds. Nozomu was amazed at her keen perception.

"You are not a heartless man, as they say in the academy. Rather, you seem to be an overly kind person. You're still at the academy because you're thinking of your childhood friend, Lisa-kun, aren't you?"

And her next words made Nozomu's eyes widen.

"Even the rumors that are spreading in the academy are most likely baseless. Well, I have no proof, just a hunch."

At the same time, a variety of indescribable emotions welled up from deep within his chest.

A childish pent-up emotion at the thought of being told that he was innocent and joy of having his innocence recognized. Anger and sadness from remembering the time when he was rejected by the person he cared about most.

His heart was pounding wildly, and his vision was narrowed by his shaken emotions.

With eyes shaking with agitation, Nozomu awkwardly averted his gaze from Irisdina.

"...... What a surprise."

"Are you surprised? I'm a person who relies on my perceptions a lot."

Nozomu's surging emotions subsided as she smiled at him, holding up her index finger and placing it to her lips.

What remained at the bottom of the gentle ripples that followed was a feeling of joy.

Nozomu's mouth, which had been frozen in a stupor, reflects a gentle smile.

Irisdina was also smiling with satisfaction at the expression on his face.

"Gosh, please stop this ----!"

"Ah ......!"

Hearing Somia's loud voice, Nozomu and Irisdina's eyes were drawn back to Somia and the others.

Somia and Tima seemed to be trying to stop Mars and Ena, who were still bickering with each other, with agitated looks on their faces, but it seemed to be no use after all.

However, neither Somia's friends nor the maids and butlers of the mansion, who only watched the young girl's struggles with gentle smiles on their faces, made any attempt to intervene.

Certainly, there might be a difference in status that separated them.

However, judging from the expressions on everyone's faces as they watched over Somia, it was easy to see just how much she was loved in this mansion.

"Geez! Ane-sama, Nozomu-san, don't just flirt at the edge like that. Please do something about this!"

In response to Somia's cry, Nozomu and Irisdina exchanged glances and shrugged their shoulders.

"Well then. The princess is calling us, so let's get going."

"Yeah, I guess I'll stop Mars for the time being."

The two nodded to each other and walked into the commotion.

The great hall of the party venue was filled with a warm atmosphere before they knew it.

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