NOVEL NEXT Chapter 19.2
“In addition, since you don’t know your birthday, I hope that from now on you will celebrate it today. Isn’t the day you got your new name just as important? Besides, you were about to die, but now you seem to be reborn.”
“…The doctor said the wound was not fatal.”
“But did you think about death for a moment?”
“That’s right.”
I nodded.
Zion looked at Collen from the side with a puzzled face. Today is going to be a morning I will never forget for the rest of my life.
“Happy birthday, my daughter, Leticia.”
I couldn’t bear it and rushed to hug Collen. Collen’s cheeks flushed. He blinked frequently.
“I’ll go and show off to Jade.”
“…Yes.”
I rushed to Jade’s room, leaving Collen in the hallway.
My beating heart no longer knew how to calm down. I crawled onto Jade’s bed in my pajamas.
“Jade!”
Jade rubbed his eyes and looked at me.
“Jade! I got a name.”
“Name?”
“Yes. Leticia. Our father came up with it.”
I bragged about the bear and told him what kind of card Collen wrote. Also about the birthday.
Jade laughed.
“Yes, that’s a very pretty name. Everything will be fine, Leticia. We didn’t want to say in advance that this would be your first birthday surprise. There are also some pretty good jewels in the teddy bear.”
“…Jewels?”
Jade told me in an indifferent tone that the bear’s two eyes were three carat gems.
Red is ruby and blue is sapphire.
I spoke earnestly to Collen at breakfast that day, with the teddy bear on my lap.
Even if he wanted to thank me for saving me, he already bought me a whole toy store and gems…
“Hey, Duke. I want to say something. I love this bear, but I don’t need jewels. It’s too expensive. What if I grow up into such an adult who doesn’t know the limits. What if I’m too wasteful.”
However, Collen had a different opinion.
“So be it. I can afford it. Be spoiled and extravagant. This was my plan from the beginning.”
“…Yes?”
I widened my eyes at the unexpected words.
“Then others will hate and envy me.”
“That’s good too. If you become a child that others hate, you will have to live in my house all your life. Try to be as spoiled child as possible, because only Duke’s family can afford it. This is my policy in raising children. Then I can keep my daughter for myself forever.”
I blinked. How shameless of him it was…
“…Can’t I continue to be the daughter of this house even if I don’t have jewels?”
When asked cautiously, Collen became similarly quiet as before. But I could feel Jade smiling.
“Then just take this.”
Collen whispered.
“Then just accept such an expensive toy for once.”
I nodded slightly. Soon, Zion brought my surprise birthday cake.
‘A huge cake topped with lots of strawberries! White and pretty!’
I clapped.
“This is a cake that the Duke prepared by ordering the kitchen separately without my knowledge. It is the first birthday cake of the young lady.”
The door opened and the servants who usually served the meal came in and applauded.
“Happy first birthday, lady.”
“Congratulations, Leticia.”
Jade also told me. Collen congratulated me again.
“Congratulations.”
That day was the day I was reborn after receiving my name and birthday.
“Oh, so you are already ten years old.”
“Uh… yes?”
It was like that too.
“You were nine, weren’t you?”
“Perhaps…? Right before my mother passed away, she said I was 6 years old, but that was 3 years ago…”
“So, starting today, you are my daughter, Leticia, who is 10 years old. Congratulations.”
“Congratulations!”
Servants and maids clapped their hands even more.
It was my unforgettable tenth birthday.