06. What Remains After Passing

The animals lined up, waiting for their turns. “Next.” At Olivia’s voice, the cat who was next in line leaped onto the platform covered with a soft carpet.

“Meow meow. Meooow.”

—I hate pain. Please be gentle.

“Of course. Today we’re just doing a simple check-up.”

With a bright smile, Olivia carefully examined everything she could check externally—whether the eyes and ear canals were clean, if their oral condition was good, and she thoroughly checked their overall health by gently kneading and touching their entire body.

“Is this a regular check-up?”

Lime muttered absently, watching the strange phenomenon of animals not running away but quietly lining up to wait their turn. To Lime, who didn’t know that Olivia could communicate with animals, the sight of the animals behaving so unusually—perhaps taking after their owner—seemed quite bizarre.

“If you have nothing better to do than make noise, go sleep in your room.”

A cold voice stabbed at him. Alois, who had confidently claimed a bench on one side of the indoor garden where Olivia was examining the animals, muttered indifferently while turning a page in his book. Based on what Lime had observed over the past few days, Olivia was always busy doing something, while the duke, who actually seemed to have nothing to do, saying such things felt somewhat absurd.

Lime shook his head and trotted over to Olivia’s side. Alois’s previously indifferent gaze immediately sharpened. Noticing the duke’s slight frown, Lime quietly smiled. As expected, the best way to provoke the noble duke was to stay close to Olivia.

“Is there anything I can help with?”

Lime’s voice was exceptionally tender as he deliberately addressed Olivia.

The health examinations that had continued all day finally ended. After checking the condition of so many animals at once, even the mighty Olivia was exhausted from the early hours. Lime massaged her shoulders, while she was half-dazed and slumped over the table, ignoring the duke’s glare. This was the moment when the label “evil employer” firmly attached itself to the duke.

“It’s been years since we’ve spent a birthday together.”

“Birthday? Whose? Oh, mine?”

“Judging by your reaction, you clearly forgot. Don’t tell me you’ve been like this the whole time I was gone?”

At his suspicious look, Olivia just laughed and avoided answering. Seeing that, Lime pressed her cheeks with his hands, making her mouth look like a fish. He couldn’t understand why she remembered everything else so well but so easily forgot her own birthday.

“Are you really a fish? Hmm? Why do you forget your own birthday so easily?”

“Even if it’s called a birthday, it’s just something we decided between ourselves.”

“That’s what makes it even more special. Unlike others, we chose the day we wanted as our birthday.”

Pretending to read his book but actually listening to their conversation, Alois’s eyes wavered momentarily at the mention of birthdays. The idea of being able to choose one’s own birthday might sound impressive at first glance, but upon deeper reflection, it was somewhat sad.

‘You’re not blood relatives?’

‘We’re family, but not related by blood, I guess. But we’ve been together since we were young, so I don’t really feel much difference.’

‘So none of the three of you are related? Not even distant relatives?’

Olivia had nodded with an expression suggesting this wasn’t news to her. According to her, Olivia’s adoptive mother had taken in Lime, who had been abandoned before Olivia, and later adopted Olivia as well. Though Olivia was older, she became part of the family later.

‘So I got both a mother and a younger brother at once. Having two family members all of a sudden—you can’t imagine how happy I was.’

Alois hadn’t asked for more details as Olivia recalled the past with misty eyes and a wistful expression, clearly overwhelmed even now by the memory. He had simply remained by her side, allowing her to fully reminisce. But now, hearing that her birthday was approaching, he regretted not asking about it then.

“Alright. Then I’ll make up for the four years I couldn’t celebrate with you all at once this time.”

“No, you don’t have to make such a big deal out of it……”

“Isn’t there something like vacation time here? You don’t have to work all day like this on your birthday, right?”

Though he seemed to be asking Olivia, the question was actually aimed at the duke who was listening to their conversation. Though their relationship wasn’t one where vacation could be mentioned since she was repaying a debt, to Lime’s eyes this was a scene of labor exploitation, so he shot a reproachful glare at the duke like he’s looking at an inhumane employer.

“Don’t tell me you have to be confined to this mansion even on your birthday?”

Thinking this was natural, Olivia nodded. Finding it cute how Lime was more enthusiastic about her birthday that even she forgot than she was. She felt grateful, but she also glanced at Alois, concerned about his reaction. More bothered by Olivia checking his reaction, Alois closed his book and met Lime’s gaze.

“I see you were planning to take her somewhere outside this forest.”

“Unlike some people, I have many places I want to show her and take her to.”

“I look forward to seeing what magnificent birthday present you’ve prepared.”

When this ambiguous permission was granted, Olivia was more surprised than Lime. Does this mean I can go out? Having received permission, she felt a strange disappointment rather than joy. Olivia approached Alois and hesitated, carefully choosing her words.

“Can I really go outside the forest?”

“Yes. Since it’s a special day for you, I hope it becomes a memorable one.”

Hearing his calm voice showing no concern, Olivia tapped the back of his hand that was closing the book, wondering how to convey the strange disappointment she felt. She knew it was odd to feel disappointed about being told to rest and enjoy her birthday, but she couldn’t help it. Perhaps it was from being together so often. It felt like separation anxiety.

“If you’re allowing her to go out, why not generously permit a few more days?”

“That’s fine too. But I’m not sure if you can arrange transportation and accommodation for three people wherever you go.”

“I’ll take care of that, what? Three people?”

“I’d prefer if you just disappeared. I prefer being just the two of us.”

Momentarily unable to understand Alois’s words, Lime and Olivia exchanged confused glances. Soon comprehending his meaning, Olivia was surprised yet incredulous, repeatedly asking Alois if he really meant it.

“Are you really going outside the forest with me?”

“Your brother seems to have put considerable effort into celebrating your birthday, and it would be impolite to refuse. Judging by your expression, you seem to be looking forward to it as well.”

“I wasn’t particularly excited about my birthday until now, but I think I’m starting to feel a little excited.”

The strange disappointment that had lingered in a corner of her heart vanished instantly. The fact that Alois, who disliked leaving the forest and hated meeting humans even more, would go anywhere with her for her birthday suddenly made her look forward to her upcoming birthday.

In contrast, Lime’s face crumpled. Earlier, the duke seemed clueless about when her birthday was, yet now he was naturally tagging along with the birthday present Lime had prepared, which was quite displeasing. But seeing Olivia’s happy face after receiving permission, he couldn’t bring himself to refuse.

“Is it okay for someone who’s supposedly cursed to just go outside the forest like that?”

“I appreciate your concern for my curse, but my curse has nothing to do with this mansion. I drove humans out of my territory because I didn’t want to get involved with annoying people like you.”

He shut himself in this mansion for decades for such a trivial reason? Not knowing the details about the curse, Lime looked at the duke with an incredulous expression before waving his hand dismissively. What mattered was Olivia, and if he could give her an enjoyable time, he could tolerate the irritating duke coming along as a package deal.

“Lime, won’t you tell me where we’re going? Is there anything I need to prepare?”

“That’s a secret. It’s more exciting when you see it for the first time without knowing. Oh, as a hint, the weather might be hot, so prepare cool clothes.”

Having never traveled far beyond a day’s carriage ride, Olivia took a deep breath and clasped her hands together, her heart already racing with excitement. She carefully whispered to Alois, who occupied a large part of that excitement.

“Will you really be okay?”

“As long as my heat cycle doesn’t come, going out for a few days should be fine.”

This was something unimaginable before. But now, or more precisely, with Olivia, he was willing to endure other anxieties or irritations. Olivia, not hiding her happiness-filled smile, confidently assured Alois to trust her.

“If your heat cycle comes again, I’ll help you this time too.”

Alois felt ambivalent about Olivia’s confident demeanor, unsure whether to be happy or sad. While he appreciated her willingness to help him, he was becoming increasingly concerned about how easily she offered herself to him again.

* * *