Fish Don't Know About Water - Chapter 42

— There’s nothing particularly proud about him, but the ice, Officer XX, is my brother.

This time, the princess pointed her glass at Viett. I widened my eyes in realization. (So Viett is the ice!)

— Having met a kind and warm person, there is nothing to fear in this world. Let’s show that even in the worst of times, the best days can be had. Because today, together, is the happiest day! To the glory of Westenia!

She raised her glass high and drank it all in one gulp.

— To the glory of Westenia!

— …To the glory!

I echoed the last words and gulped down my drink. Viett raised his glass half-heartedly and drank.

— How was it? Was it okay?

The princess sat next to us, smiling brightly. Viett nodded wearily.

— It was perfect.

— Really?

— Yes.

— Since when are you so generous with your praise? Men usually become a bit gentler after marriage, but looking at Minute, that doesn’t seem to be the case…

Princess Rosemary giggled, finding a new glass of wine. Prince Minute, who had been watching with a dissatisfied expression, snatched the glass from her hand.

— Sit quietly, Rose. Please, as your brother!

— My drink!

The princess pouted at the glass he took. Before she could retrieve it, I quickly grabbed her slender wrist.

— Thank you for the wonderful speech, Princess.

— Oh, my… My goodness…

The princess turned her head slowly towards me, her eyes wide. Her already large eyes, magnified by her glasses, looked as big and round as a pocket watch. She covered her mouth with her hand.

— Hughey Gallant?

— Not Hughey.

— Really? That sobered me up.

— Please sit down.

Viett pulled her to sit between him and me. Then he gave me a discreet look. Understanding his signal, I quickly took off the princess’s glasses and gently closed her bewildered eyes.

— Have a good rest!

— Mm…

The princess wriggled a bit before falling asleep. Then Prince Minute began his speech.

— I hope you survive this war, my dear brother. Don’t go down in history as the man who made his wife a widow in record time.

I sipped my apple wine, thinking. What an unpleasant thing to say on such a beautiful night.

— Here’s to hoping the women of our family won’t be left alone, cheers!

Everyone laughed at Prince Minute’s unpleasant joke. Viett did not laugh. Neither did I. And so the real party began.」

* * *

After the clock struck midnight, as expected, fireworks went off everywhere. Viett’s subordinates, fellow officers, and the nurses all set off fireworks they had kept in their pockets. The sound of fireworks popping and congratulatory cheers rang out loudly.

“Congratulations!”

“Congratulations, Officer!”

Phenelity quickly covered her ears just before the fireworks went off and flinched every time they exploded. Seeing her trembling and staggering, he instinctively grabbed her tiny waist with both hands to steady her.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. I just don’t like the sound of fireworks.”

“Do you react like this during air raids?”

“No, the sound of bombings doesn’t scare me. I just don’t like the sound of fireworks.”

She explained nonchalantly and then turned to check behind her. The damn Hilias Law was shaking his pocket watch at her. Viett frowned, watching them exchange secretive glances.

“Happy birthday!”

Phenelity clapped her hands and shouted. The party attendees also offered their congratulations.

“Congratulations, Commander.”

“Congratulations! Live well!”

“Be happy.”

Fellow officers patted his shoulder as they passed by. Viett was flustered by the crowd swarming around him like ants. The overwhelming smell of alcohol made him feel like he was suffocating, and being surrounded by so many well-wishers for the first time in his life sent chills down his spine.

He recalled his childhood, when he was strapped to a wooden chair to keep his posture straight. It was a method prescribed by a doctor who claimed it was good for treating his stuttering, but the results were always disastrous.

Even when he straightened his back and neck and practiced speaking loudly, the situation didn’t improve. He was still a stuttering fool.

He thought it might have been better to be tied to a hard chair and practice speaking.

Now, he was sitting on a soft sofa with no ropes binding his waist. There were no stern-faced fathers, butlers, or nannies. He was just surrounded by many people offering congratulations.

Yet, the situation was so uncomfortable that he thought the dreadful treatment method was better. As the pressure reached its peak, sweat broke out on the back of his neck. Usually, at times like this, he desperately craved a cigarette, but this time, the first thing that came to mind was a soft hand.

He reached out unconsciously to the seat next to him, but Phenelity’s hand wasn’t there. She had already slipped away into the kitchen through the crowd.

Ignoring him, who was shrinking like a frightened child, she chatted happily with Cecilia Rosti as they headed towards the garden.

“Congratulations.”

Fortunately, Minister Hinler pushed through the crowd and sat beside Viett. When he lightly tapped the floor with his cane, the people who hadn’t yet offered their congratulations reluctantly turned away.

The noisy area around the sofa finally quieted down. Viett buried his back into the sofa, relieved to be free from all the attention and gazes.

“It seems this is the first time you’ve started your birthday with such a lively celebration.”

Hinler smiled as he watched Viett sigh in relief. Feeling stifled, Viett suggested a walk.

The two men walked out to the garden, where the party was in full swing. They avoided the people gathered under the tent and walked on the damp, dew-covered lawn.

“But you didn’t seem surprised at all?”

At Hinler’s question, Viett smirked and nodded.

“I… I had already n-noticed.”

“Really? I was under the impression that the Little Lady had prepared the party in secret.”

Hinler raised an eyebrow, looking quite surprised.

“As… as soon as I arrived, I s-saw the cake.”

Viett glanced over his shoulder. Hilias Law and some soldiers were placing a huge five-tiered cake on the table.

“My n-name was written on the c-cake. It would be s-strange not to notice after seeing th-that.”

So he had ended up telling his wife an absurd lie. A lie about liking parties. It was something that Esca and Rose would have laughed at, holding their stomach.

But he couldn’t disappoint the party host. He could vividly imagine her preparing the birthday party with great anticipation…

“Haha. Your name was indeed clearly written on the cake. Even though the spelling was wrong… It’s best to eat the cake quickly to avoid any accidents.”

Hinler burst into laughter. Viett stood still and looked up at the night sky. Large balloons for air raid defense floated here and there among the faint clouds.

“I-it feels strange to be ce-celebrated like this.”

He murmured, looking at the moon.

“I a-almost forgot… t-today… was my b-birthday…”

Just as Hinler was about to respond with a bitter smile, a loud cough came from behind them.

Viett and Hinler turned simultaneously. Minute was standing there, hands deep in his coat pockets, looking at them with a crooked expression.

“Happy birthday, Vivi. Enjoy your time with the Little Lady.”

Minute lifted his chin arrogantly. Hinler looked at him disdainfully and spoke.

“I didn’t expect Your Highness to attend personally. Weren’t you busy?”

“Fortunately, I got special leave. My injury hasn’t fully healed yet, you see.”

Minute rubbed the area above his buttocks and frowned. He was referring to the injury he sustained when he fell from Phenelity’s dormitory. It was a minor injury that didn’t affect his military service, but he managed to get leave by feigning illness.

“Thanks to that, I can celebrate my brother’s birthday and all. It’s quite fortunate, isn’t it?”

He adjusted his coat collar slightly and gave Viett a peculiar smile.

“Aren’t you happy to have such a lovely wife?”

Minute’s gaze shifted towards the garden. Viett followed his line of sight. His wife was looking up at the five-tiered cake with some nurses, her green eyes sparkling as if she was saying she couldn’t wait to eat it.