Elody stroked Caville’s face, feeling a surge of pride move through her. He had pretty black hair and pink eyes. I could already see how great a man he would be when he grew up. His skin was milky and smooth because he ate and slept so well. His lips were smooth, without a hint of the raw skin he used to have

“What's wrong, wife?” Caville asked.

“Nothing, I was just noticing that you’re pretty.”

“I’m pretty?” Caville asked.

“Yes, Caville, you are the prettiest in the world. My babe.”

“My babe?”

“Yes, it means my baby.”

Elody held Caville in her arms. Caville stretched out his short arms around Elody's waist. She was surprised at how strong he was.

“When I grow bigger like an adult, I'll be able to give you even bigger hugs.”

“Yes, yes. I can’t wait until you grow up,” Elody said.

Elody stroked Caville's soft hair and smiled mischievously.

It'll be a princess to be in Caville's arms as an adult, but he'll give me a hug at least once because I am the one who takes care of him.

She wanted to let him hold her in his arms if there was a chance that wouldn’t happen.

Elody smiled, imagining the marks that would be inscribed on the wall year after year,marking his height. She drew a long breath. It was a pity that after Caville went to war, she wouldn't be able to keep track of his growth for at least ten years. In the novel, that was how long the war lasted. It was a war against the Kingdom of Urta on the East Continent, which was on the eastern border of the continent of Priya. The Urtans captured neighboring countries with great military power, while cruelly slaughtering civilians. Their final goal was the Heckloth Empire. In the first few years, the Urtans had the upper hand, but after Caville grew stronger, the tide turned.

Caville used outstanding force and resourcefulness to lead his army to victory. He was even set to become the first sword master on the continent.

My baby is such a great man.

Elody felt proud of him, but on the other hand, she felt uncomfortable deep inside. It was a strange feeling, like dipping her feet in the mud. One of the kingdoms they occupied during the war was the kingdom of Dayev, which was where the female lead in the novel was froom. The female lead was a princess of the kingdom of Dayev, and a prisoner of the Urta army. Caville was the first to find and save the princess, who fled from the enemy camp. It was a fateful first meeting. But it was still a distant, future story.

Elody was sad not to see Caville for all those years. I don't want to miss anything when Caville grows up. She also wanted to see Caville, a boy in love. How cute it must be. . .I'll have to keep a record of him regularly until then. Elody wanted to keep as many memories of Caville as possible.

For some reason, a part of her heart was strangely sour, but Elody pretended not to feel the pain. At least the pain was only mild at this point.

***

A few days passed.

“Birthday?” Elody said to Norman, as if she had heard the word for the first time.

“Yes, Madam, that’s what I said,” Norman replied.

“Hmm”

Elody could tell that Norman felt uneasy at her lukewarm response.

Caville's birthday was just around the corner. In the past, when Norman was searching for the maid who gave birth to the Duke's child, he received a letter from the maid's old father. In the letter, which was like a will, there was little about Caville. It just had the boy’s name and his date of birth.

Norman had not forgotten to record the lord's birthday. At that time, he also thought he should check the Duchess's birthday too. When Elody and Caville were to be married, Norman checked the documents he;d received from Count McClaire. Surprisingly, Elody's birthday was not long after Cavile’s, in fact their birthdays were only two days apart. That’s why Norman was there today, to discuss with Elody about celebrating their birthdays together.

Elody did not react well.

Maybe she has bad memories of her birthday, Norman thought. Norman felt aghast while he thought about it more. In truth, Count McClair was not a friendly father. He probably wouldn’t have given her a proper birthday.

“Madam, did I say something wrong?” Norman asked.

“Sounds good,” Elody responded. Elody, who had been thinking things over for a long time, smiled brightly and nodded. Norman was puzzled by her sudden, strong reaction.

“Pardon?”

“I like birthday parties!”

“Um, so can I prepare the party for both of you together?”

“Yes, awesome!” Elody said.

Only then did Norman's expression brighten up, for he felt convinced at Elody's answer.

“Sure, Madam!” He bowed his head and left the room.

Wow, birthday. As soon as she heard the word birthday, she reached back into the past.

She was able to recall her birthday from the memories gained through her reincarnation into the novel. It was a faint memory, like a torn piece of paper. Count McClaire had many children. He had children from his wife, from mistresses, and yes, even from the maids. Under such circumstances, Count McClair could not have properly celebrated all his children's birthdays. Elody was lucky to be born as a child of his legal wife, but her mother was not interested in her children at all.Elody wasn't even close to her siblings. She remembered one of her older brothers saying happy birthday only once.

Her memories of her previous life before she inhabited Elody’s life were even gloomier.

She was an orphan and didn't know her exact birthday. She couldn't have had a proper birthday party.

Is this my first birthday party ever? Elody was overwhelmed with anticipation.

“What’s a birthday?” Caville asked curiously, while learning letters beside Elody.

“Birthday? Well, birthday is the day you were born in the world.”

“Is it good?”

“Of course, it's good. It's the day you get presents and eat lots of delicious food.

“Can you eat snacks, too?”

“Yes, you can eat as much as you want that day.”

“Wow, really?”

Caville clapped his hands when she said he could eat as much as he wanted on birthdays. Because of the abuse in the orphanage, Elody assumed Caville hadn’t had a proper birthday either. Elody wondered what gift she should give to Caville. Should I give him a toy since he’s still a kid?

Despite the anguish in her mind, Elody glanced towards Caville’s paper.

“Caville, you're wrong here,” she said while correcting him.

Hearing Elody’s comments, Caville’s face turned peevish and sullen. Elody thought that his pouting lower lip was adorable. Elody patted Caville on the head and helped him fix his work.

“This is right now, see? Good job, Caville.” Caville smiled and his sullenness dissolved when she praised him.

Because of Caville’s late development, he was slow in learning letters. What was surprising was that he was learning ancient languages quite quickly. No wonder, he's the main lead who's going to be a Sword master. . .

Elody was born fluent in ancient languages. Out of curiosity, she began to teach Caville these languages one by one, and he learned quickly. However, learning ancient languages was not an easy job. By nature, it was easy to acquire ancient languages only when you had the capability to acquire a similar amount of mana. Perhaps Caville was born with the ability to acquire mana. Well, it was natural given that he was the main lead, and would become a sword master. Sword masters could use their mana to create an aura. Magicians were similar to sword masters in that they were able to handle mana with ease. Elody eagerly taught Caville all this, hoping that the information would help him in the future.

***

Soon after, the day of the eagerly anticipated birthday party came.

Elody made a rabbit doll for Caville. She was helped by the maids, but it was very sloppy since it was her first try. I should have just bought it. Of course, she had plenty of money from the gold coins found recently, but she wanted to make the doll herself, because it was Caville's first birthday present.

“Madam, are your fingers all right?” Marie the maid asked anxiously. Elody glanced at her finger, which she’d just pricked with a needle

“It's all right.”

“You made such a beautiful doll! It looks so cute.The lord will like it.”

“You think?” It looked a little sloppy. First, the length of both ears of the rabbit doll were a little different. The eyes seemed a little crooked too.

But I've already completed it. What can I do? Elody wrapped the doll with blurred eyes, pretending not to see the strange part. After wrapping the doll, Marie dressed Elody in her first-ever birthday outfit. It was a cute dress with a pink ribbon.

“By the way, what's this outfit?”

“It's made by hand by the maids. It's a birthday present for you!”

“You're so talented. You could sell these!” Maybe the maids could set up a workshop in the castle. . .

Marie grinned at Elody's answer, excited by what she’d said.

“Thanks again. I love it.”

“I'm glad you like it. Come on, let’s go!”

Marie reached out to Elody and she glanced at her hand. It was a little uncomfortable to be treated as a child, but she couldn't help it because she was in a young person’s body.

When she came out after getting changed, Caville was hanging around in front of the door, looking anxious.

“Caville.”

When Elody held out her hands to Caville, he came close and grabbed her hands.

Norman, watching from behind Caville, exchanged proud glances with Marie.

Elody grabbed Caville's hand and went down the stairs to the dining hall.

“Congratulations, my lord, madam!” Norman called after her.

And as soon as the door of the restaurant opened, the servants gathered to sing, cheering as if they were waiting for it. “Happy birthday!” They all yelled.

“Ahhh!” The cheers surprised Caville and he burst into tears. The servants made a noise of embarrassment, but Elody quickly calmed Caville down.

“Come on, Caville, look over there. It's a cake!

Caville stopped crying when he heard the word “cake.” In the middle of the long table was a large cake, straight out of a fairy tale. Caville's eyes glistened with wonder. When Caville stopped crying, the embarrassed servants smiled wide. Elody sighed with relief. She had known that the servants prepared a surprise party. It was so obvious. Starting a few days ago, servants had been gathering in secret, but Elody had noticed, because whenever she appeared, the servants scattered, just like carps in a pond. At first, she wondered if something was going on, but everything she overheard had to do with cakes and celebration, so she put two and two together. Even this morning, when Elody tried to go near the dining hall, the servants desperately blocked her and led her elsewhere.

Actually, she wanted to tease them with lots of mischief, but Elody held it in for them. So, the birthday party began with the servants of the castle.

It was a simple but warm and friendly atmosphere. Warm candles glowed all over the table, and firewood was blazing in the fireplace.

“So, here are all the special dishes for the duke and duchess!”