Chapter 28

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 28

Chapter Title: Birthday Party Plans

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“In one week, it’ll be Herwin’s birthday.”

“Has time passed that quickly already?”

“Herwin, is there anything you want? Your big bro here will buy it all for you.”

The talk about Herwin’s birthday started with Christine.

“How should we do the birthday party? Should we get permission from the professor to borrow a classroom for half a day?”

“I think we have to, right? There’s no other way.”

“Yeah. That’s what we did for Christine’s birthday too.”

Christine, whose birthday was in mid-May, had rented an empty classroom to receive congratulations from her friends.

It had been a small gathering, just close friends.

Since all students lived in the dorms and could only go out briefly on weekends, hosting a big party inside the academy was impossible from the start.

“Oh, can I make a suggestion real quick?”

Bianca, who had been quietly sitting, timidly raised her hand.

“What is it?”

“Actually, some other kids besides us said they want to celebrate Herwin’s birthday too.”

“Other kids?”

“Yeah, you know... the ones who usually admire Herwin.”

“Ah......”

A small sigh escaped. His friends glanced at Herwin, noticing his nose scrunched up in displeasure.

“I was going to turn them down since you’d hate it, but they’d already rented a mansion.”

“What? A mansion?!”

“Yeah, and a pretty big one too. Herwin’s birthday is on a Saturday, so we can go out. I guess they’re planning to throw the party there.”

Everyone’s jaws dropped at the unimaginable scale, leaving them stunned.

“Wow, I knew Herwin was popular, but I didn’t realize it was this much......”

Ethan’s admiration made Herwin’s eyebrow twitch.

“Now that things have come to this, why not just have the birthday party at the mansion the kids prepared......”

“No.”

Herwin cut Bianca off before she could finish.

“When did I ever ask for something like that? It’s their own doing, so I have no reason to go.”

“But they did it all thinking of you... and they want to make it a birthday you’ll never forget......”

“Still no. I can’t stand crowds.”

His friends quietly shot glances at Herwin and Bianca.

Bianca’s proposal was indeed burdensome.

Especially for Herwin, who hated crowds.

They understood his feelings, but blindly rejecting Bianca’s idea brought up another issue.

If they’d already rented the mansion and paid in full, turning it down now would waste all their effort.

But Herwin was firm. No one could force the man of the hour.

“Well, it actually sounds like a good idea.”

That was when Arista spoke up.

“Arista.”

“Herwin, think about it again. They’re not doing it for anything else—they just want to celebrate your birthday.”

Even Arista’s persuasion didn’t smooth Herwin’s frown.

“And they’ve already paid for everything. They must’ve saved up and planned so hard. What if you don’t go?”

“Who plans something like this without even asking the person involved? I don’t see why I should care about their situation.”

“What good is being so stingy? They started this with good intentions, so we should at least show some appreciation. Right, Lucia?”

Lucia flinched as all eyes turned to her. She met Herwin’s gaze.

He seemed to think she’d side with him, at least.

“Um... I agree with Arista.”

“......Huh?”

“It’s not a bad idea. Sure, there’ll be a lot of people, but they’re all gathering to celebrate you......”

“Lucia, you know how much I hate that stuff.”

“I do. But when else would you get a chance like this? And if they’re going this far, they’ll probably do it again next time.”

Herwin flinched, finding Lucia’s words reasonable.

“So why not go just this once and tell them firmly not to do it again? Pull the iron horns off while it’s hot, you know?”

“Exactly, Lucia! I knew you’d get it!”

Arista’s eyes sparkled as she hugged Lucia tightly.

“If it’s still too much, just think of it as an end-of-term party instead of a birthday one. It’s right before summer break starts anyway. Bianca, about how many are organizing this? And how many will attend?”

“Quite a few. Around ten organizers? Attendees will easily top seventy. Maybe even most of the first-years.”

“......Huh. I’d heard you had a fan club, but the numbers are bigger than I thought.”

“Looks like most of the grade actually likes Herwin.”

Herwin’s forehead vein bulged at the friends’ whispers.

“Herwin, come on? Just this once.”

“Yeah, a party after so long! It’ll be fun!”

Lucia and Arista both gazed at Herwin with sparkling eyes.

He’d been about to refuse, but their pleading looks made him sigh in defeat.

“Haa... Do whatever you want.”

“Yesss!”

“For real?”

“Yeah, but just this once. Bianca, make sure you tell them clearly. If they pull this again, I won’t let it slide.”

“Got it! I’ll relay it perfectly!”

“Is there anything we can help with separately?”

“Yeah, just showing up feels a bit lacking......”

“I’ll ask the others today. They’ll probably hand out tasks. As for progress so far......”

Bianca shared what she knew about the preparations.

It might not be for the birthday boy to hear, but his friends had already tuned him out.

Herwin leaned back in his chair, feeling deflated, when his eyes met Lucia’s.

Sorry.

Lucia mouthed softly. She felt bad for pushing him into something he hated.

Herwin let out a small sigh at his kindhearted childhood friend.

It’s fine. What can we do now that it’s come to this.

Seeing his scrunched nose relax, Lucia breathed a sigh of relief.

Someone was secretly watching the two—Bianca.

She narrowed her eyes briefly at their wordless exchange but quickly schooled her expression when someone spoke to her.

The next day, Saturday— the day after Herwin’s birthday party was decided.

Lucia had gotten an outing pass with her female friends to buy Herwin’s birthday gift and headed to Terban Street.

“Hmm, I have no idea what to get him.”

“I was thinking a fountain pen. What do you think?”

“Ooh, Bianca, nice sense!”

Christine and Bianca, walking ahead, discussed Herwin’s gift.

Arista, beside Lucia, turned to her.

“Lucia, do you have anything in mind for Herwin’s gift?”

“Hmm... not yet. What about you, Arista?”

“I’m thinking a whetstone or tools for sword maintenance. A sword is a swordsman’s life, after all.”

“Oh, that’s a good idea. Unique.”

“Well, as a fellow sword enthusiast, that’s all I can think of.”

Compared to common gifts like books, handkerchiefs, or fountain pens, it stood out.

Unusual, but so very Arista.

Lucia briefly pictured Herwin smiling at Arista’s gift—a smile he never showed her.

She shook her head quickly before jealousy could consume her.

I promised not to hate Arista anymore. Get it together, Lucia Agnes.

“Lucia! Let’s go that way!”

Arista grinned brightly and pulled Lucia’s hand.

Lucia, who had stiffened for a moment, smiled back at her beaming friend.

“Yeah! Let’s go!”

Lucia gripped Arista’s hand tightly and followed, her face free of any hesitation.

“.........”

Standing before a small shop, Lucia couldn’t tear her eyes from the item in the window.

After setting a meeting time and place, she’d split off from her friends to shop alone for Herwin’s gift, wandering here and there.

That’s when she stumbled upon this jewelry store.

Ding-a-ling-

“Excuse me......”

Lucia entered timidly in a small voice.

“Welcome, miss.”

A grandfather with glasses perched precariously on his nose shot up from his seat.

“Looking for something specific?”

“Um... could I see that item over there?”

Lucia hesitantly pointed to the one by the glass case.

“Cufflinks, I presume. Which style are you interested in?”

“The second one from the left.”

The shopkeeper took out the displayed cufflinks.

They featured a gem darker and more intense than ruby—strikingly like Herwin’s eyes, captivating her completely.

“A gift for your boyfriend, perhaps?”

“Y-Yes?”

As Lucia’s face flushed crimson, the old man smiled kindly.

“Whoever receives a gift from such a lovely young lady must be blessed.”

“N-No, that’s not......”

“I’ll offer you a special engraving service. We can etch initials inside the cufflinks. Shall we?”

She knew she should say it wasn’t for a lover, but the words wouldn’t come.

Her mouth opened and closed before she bowed her head.

“Yes... please.”

“What name shall I engrave?”

“Herwin Pene... no, Lucia Agnes, please.”

She’d almost said Herwin’s name but quickly corrected to her own.

“The buttons are small for a full name, so initials only. Is that alright?”

“Yes, that’s fine.”

“I’ll make it beautiful. Please wait a moment.”

The grandfather took the cufflinks to the back workshop.

While waiting, Lucia fanned her heated face.

“This should be okay, right......?”

Gifting something with your name was typically for lovers.

But this was just initials, not a full name.

She comforted herself that it was perfectly fine between friends.