By Zephyria 
Ruberian Calendar Year 11, February 4th.
The long-awaited, highly anticipated fifth birthday of Titi.
Waking at the crack of dawn, the whole family took the same carriage toward the capital. Unlike the somewhat quiet Duke Ernhardt’s Territory, the road from the capital’s portal to the Imperial Palace was bustling with crowds of people gathering to cheer.
All of this must have been a first for Titi.
The carriages of various numbers and shapes, the exteriors of buildings adorned with every kind of decoration, the people cheering for her even before they reached the Imperial Palace, the massive palace that remained vast even after traveling deep inside by carriage, and the crowds filling the Opal Palace—the most beautifully decorated of them all.
It was all more than enough to capture the child’s gaze.
Early spring flowers hung in cascades along the walls. Several magnificent chandeliers broke the light emanating from magic lamps into hundreds and thousands of shards, scattering them in every direction. People dressed in all sorts of finery stood waiting, and the moment Titi stepped onto the main hall’s carpet, they burst into loud applause to welcome her.
Today, Titi wore a fluffy pink dress that suited her hair color perfectly.
The bodice was wrapped in soft velvet, and the skirt was layered with fabric as thin as rose petals. The length of the skirt was just above the knees so that the child wouldn’t trip while running around, and a ribbon a palm’s length longer than the skirt fluttered gently with every step, adding to her charm.
A single red flower was pinned atop her pink hair, which had been neatly combed and braided into several strands. There could be no outfit more fitting for a child whose cheeks were the color of peach blossoms from excitement. Dozens of gems sparkled brilliantly from the necklace, bracelet, and the ring encircling her small finger.
Ruben and I, dressed to match the child, were also wearing clothes far brighter and more vivid than usual. We were walking side by side on the red carpet with Titi between us, briefly responding to the greetings of the people.
From a distance, someone spotted us and came bounding over.
A smile broke out at the sight of the familiar face. To ensure the child wouldn’t be frightened, I lifted Titi high up to bring her to eye level.
“So you’re Titi! Hello, I’m Aunt Lucilla. I’m the younger sister of your black-haired daddy. I’ve missed you so, so much. Will you shake hands? Can I give you a hug?”
Titi blinked her surprised eyes and gripped my hand tightly, her gaze wandering. When Ruben and I simply smiled without saying anything, she obediently leaned into Lucilla’s embrace.
I burst into laughter again at Lucilla’s behavior as she made strange sounds—somewhere between a moan and a whine—while rubbing her cheek against the child’s.
“Have you been doing well?”
“Oh, I’ve been great. These days I’m living in Yeldidus for some rest. How is my brother-in-law?”
“As you can see, he is absolutely perfect.”
“Though he’s living a bit of a busy life?”
I was startled by the voice that suddenly cut in. My lips parted in a smile I couldn’t close, so glad to hear it.
Turning immediately, I met a pair of blue eyes that winked mischievously. I quickly scanned Asdel, who peeked out from behind Michael’s broad back. Even though I knew he had already recovered, my heart felt at ease anew every time I saw his peach-colored, healthy cheeks.
“…That’s true. It has been a bit busy. It’s been a while, Michael. Asdel.”
They surely knew that, according to etiquette, they shouldn’t have interrupted the conversation with Lucilla. However, the children, already comfortably intimate, only giggled.
I wondered when they had grown so much; Michael, now nearly at my eye level, stepped close enough for our shoulders to touch. As Asdel offered a handshake, I shook his hand once and looked around behind my younger brothers’ shoulders.
“Where are Mother and Father?”
“They’ve been here for a while. Right now they’re with the Empress Dowager and the other adults. Wow, they aren’t usually the type to sleep in, but today they really caused a stir from the crack of dawn… Your brother would be shocked if he saw them.”
Titi, who had been blinking at Ruben and me even while held in Lucilla’s arms, parted her lips for a moment and then opened her arms wide toward Michael. She was a child who had grown up believing anyone would hug her if she reached out.
Michael hesitated for a moment, then obediently took the child into his arms.
“Hmm.”
“Wow, this little thing is already recognizing faces. Why, does she look like her dad?”
“…Uncle?”
“You should call him ‘Little Uncle’.”
“Little Uncle.”
Perhaps she was intimidated by the strangers. Titi, who usually chattered so much, barely let short words leak out like breaths. Still, the children with their keen ears readily indulged Titi’s whims, unable to hide how much they adored her.
“Yes. I’m your Little Uncle. Your daddy’s brother.”
“I’m an aunt too. I’m Aunt Asdel. Hello, Titi? Nice to meet you. You’re really pretty today.”
Is that the kind of face she likes? Titi’s expression as she stared intently at Michael was bright and radiant beyond measure.
I didn’t know what this little thing was thinking, but since the child was smiling, everyone followed suit, finding it cute and amusing.
The child’s small hand gripped Michael’s shoulder tightly. She was so excited that she was already squirming all over the place. I tried to take her back, asking if she was too heavy, but Michael turned away and Titi clung tightly to his chest, thwarting my attempt.
“Let’s go greet the adults first, Titi. Your grandfathers and grandmothers. Your great-grandfathers and great-grandmothers too. Everyone has been waiting for you very much.”
“Yes!”
She followed Michael and Asdel obediently.
I could recognize them instantly, even from a great distance. My Blood Kin. Those who had shared the name Ernhardt with me were standing over there.
My eyes stung slightly at the sight of the welcoming faces I hadn’t seen in so long.
The former Countess Ernhardt, my paternal grandmother, stood leaning on a cane I hadn’t seen before, looking this way with eyes full of longing. The former Duke and Duchess Valentia, my maternal grandparents, practically rushed out to meet us.
My maternal grandfather, whose wrinkled cheeks and narrowed shoulders bore the weight of the years I had forgotten while the child grew, burst into a loud laugh the moment he saw Titi’s fluffy hair.
“Who does she take after to be this pretty? You’re Titi, aren’t you?”
“Yes, it’s me. I’m Titi.”
“May I hold you too?”
“Um, okay!”
“Are you abandoning your Little Uncle already?”
At that, Titi pondered for a moment and gave Michael a quick peck on the cheek. Then, she patted Michael’s shoulder lightly and said:
“I’ll be right back. You can wait patiently, right?”
“…”
Everyone burst into laughter at the sudden display of cuteness.
With a completely bewildered expression, Michael looked back and forth between me and Titi. Why was he looking at me when Titi was the one acting cute? As I just blinked, Michael joked again.
“This is crazy. She’s definitely my brother’s baby, alright.”
“That sounds like he’s imitating Ruben.”
“Is that what’s important right now?”
While we bickered, Titi passed through the arms of my maternal grandfather, maternal grandmother, and paternal grandmother, exchanging greetings and planting kiss-stamps on their cheeks, using up every bit of aegyo she possessed. Having received so much love, she was thoroughly excited.
While I mingled with the grandparents, Ruben was attending to the Empress Dowager. From what I overheard, they were discussing today’s event and a few agendas needed within the Imperial Court’s inner circle.
Just as Ruben’s expression was about to turn serious, Titi suddenly stretched her body and reached both arms toward Kate.
My maternal grandmother, without a hint of hesitation, handed the child to the Empress Dowager according to the child’s wish. Kate took the child, but I struggled to suppress a laugh when I caught the momentary expression of panic on her face before she held her.
“…Is it okay to just hold her by the torso? You have to support her here.”
Ruben scolded her in a low voice while correcting the Empress Dowager’s arm position. Kate’s peculiar gaze lingered on Ruben’s cheek for a long time before she looked down at Titi, who was buried deep in her arms. Titi rested her chin on Kate’s chest, clinging tightly and blinking her bright eyes several times.
“Grandmother.”
“…Yes. To you… I suppose I am. How did you recognize me right away?”
“Because you smell like Ruben Daddy.”
That’s not right.
Ruben likes a subtle floral scent, and Kate likes very flamboyant scents. Naturally, the perfumes they wore were polar opposites. However, Titi, sniffing with her cute little nose and inhaling the scent, made a melting sound—’hmmm’—and clung to Kate affectionately.
Titi was someone who could sense who adored her better than anyone. Kate’s touch, gently stroking the child’s hair and small shoulders, was so cautious it barely brushed the fine hairs.
Hearing someone sniffle, I looked back. I found Lucilla wiping away tears without a handkerchief, so I took out my own and handed it to her. Lucil didn’t refuse, taking my handkerchief to wipe her eyes and smiling again with her mouth wide open.
“Your daughter is really smart.”
“…She is.”
“It’s like looking at myself when I was young.”
“I wouldn’t say that.”
At that, the people surrounding the child burst into laughter again. Titi, fidgeting in Kate’s arms, whispered about how much she loved her daddy and how she resembled him.
As I stood there, captivated by that enchanting sight, I looked up at the sensation of someone approaching hurriedly. Perhaps they were thirsty; both had a glass of champagne in their hands.
I stepped forward and pulled both of them into a one-armed embrace.
“Father, Mother.”
“Do you even know how to be glad to see your parents?”
“Of course. I’m sorry I couldn’t visit often because I was raising the child.”
“It can’t be helped. The first five years are always like that. Your mother was even worse.”
My maternal grandmother, watching from the side, took my side, but my mother, Seiren, gave a playful glare. I obediently gave my arm and my embrace to her affectionate touch.
“Still, I wrote letters faithfully twice a week.”
“Didn’t I also send Ranunculus twice a week with Ruben…?”
“Is that the same as a letter? You should write letters separately too.”
Feeling greatly wronged, I looked at William, but he too was on my mother’s side. In the end, unable to win, I apologized and hugged them both once more before letting go.
Seiren approached Kate, who still looked clumsy at holding a child, and gently pinched Titi’s cheek.
“Hello?”
“…! Daddy…?”
“I’m Daddy’s mom. I’m your grandmother.”
Laughter erupted again as Titi looked back and forth between Seiren and me as if entranced.
Unlike Kate, Seiren seemed very accustomed to holding and coaxing a child.
After passing through the arms of all the family elders, Titi chose Michael for the very last. I have no way of knowing what goes on in that tiny head, as to why she chose Michael over her own daddies.
Once the introductions of the close blood kin were finished, Aizen and Hendel also brought their respective families to introduce them.
My older male cousin and female cousin had married around the same time as I did. However, Titi had spent a longer gestation or embryo period than most people. Therefore, the sisters and the only son born to Aizen and Hendel were a year or two older than Titi.
Meeting children her own age for the first time, Titi was unexpectedly shy. While greeting her second cousins, she kept burying her head in Michael’s chest, acting timid. However, once my brother sufficiently coaxed her, she soon joined the kind older sisters and brothers, chattering away.
While watching that scene, I finally heard the circumstances of how Hendel came to inherit the dukedom.
Apparently, Aizen’s wife suffered greatly when giving birth to their second child. They said it felt as if the world were splitting in half. Deeply shocked, Aizen requested a long leave. While he looked after the home, Hendel managed the people and worked tirelessly even with a body that had just given birth.
I was quite impressed to hear that Hendel Valentia had seized the position of Young Duke Valentia. It was amusing to think that both of them were walking paths completely different from their majors.
“Then how are you doing now, brother?”
“Nominally, I’m Hendel’s strategist and aide, but right now I’m trying to focus more on the family. There are things in this world more important than a title.”
“…That is true.”
“Right? Well, you’re doing both well, so I’m not saying this to you.”
Aizen patted my shoulder and gestured with his eyes toward the other side. While Kate and Seiren were laughing and coaxing Titi, William and Ruben were standing shoulder to shoulder, looking down at the scene affectionately. Soon, Ruben looked up, blinked at me once, and tilted his chin.
Right, that’s it. While Ruben deals with my parents, I should take care of Kate.
“I should head over there now.”
“Honestly, look at you, still tied down just as much as you were back then.”
“You find it fun now that you’ve tried it too, don’t you, brother?”
“Yeah. Now I understand why you were like that. Go on, go.”
“Yes. I’ll see you again. Thank you so much for coming to celebrate today.”
“Now that your child is grown, I’ll send invitations according to the kids’ birthdays. Keep in touch.”
“Of course.”
What to do.
I couldn’t stop smiling.