The timing was really…

Usually, he didn’t care what I did, but at times like this, he would appear and make things difficult.

That was a talent in itself, if you could call it that.

I stared blankly at the paper that had somehow turned into a diary instead of a letter of reflection.

But no matter how I thought about it, wasn’t the ban on going out too much? I’m not a teenager, so why a ban on going out?

Trying to apologize but feeling indignant, I muttered quietly.

“I understand the expression was excessive, but I really don’t know why I have to be banned from going out.”

“……”

“Not being able to step a foot outside the mansion… do you want to cage me, Your Grace? Don’t you think it’s too harsh?”

“I see.”

Ilion nodded as if agreeing with my words. Could it be that he was going to lift the ban now?

Looking at his face with hopeful eyes, an unexpected answer came out.

“That’s not a bad idea.”

“…Pardon?”

“Come to think of it, you said it yourself. You asked to be called a baby bird. How about becoming what you wanted, baby bird?”

The brief hope was dashed to the ground without even a chance to flutter its wings.

How did it come to this conclusion? And baby bird! After being so averse to it all this time, why now?

It felt like goosebumps were rising on my arms.

“T-That’s not what I meant.”

“No, on second thought, it doesn’t seem bad. Since you want to be a baby bird, I’ll prepare quite a sturdy cage for you this time.”

I asked you to call me that, not to cage me.

“Haha. What a joke…”

“Does it sound like a joke?”

I tried to laugh awkwardly and brush it off, but Ilion asked back with a rather serious expression.

“I think it’s most ideal to raise birds by letting them out.”

“If you let them out, won’t they fly away?”

“I won’t fly away.”

“How can you guarantee that?”

“Because… that bird likes its owner?”

I answered, trying hard to smile.

“You really do have a way with words.”

Ilion’s expression had softened a bit more than before. However,

“Still, no.”

Contrary to my expectations, a firm answer came back.

***

The indefinite ban on going out continued.

My useless efforts were also ongoing.

It was like pouring water into a bottomless barrel, with meager results compared to the effort, but I couldn’t just sit idly by.

Today, as usual, I was walking down the corridor to find Ilion when I saw Sebastian coming towards me, carrying an armful of packages.

“What’s all that?”

“Ah, these are gifts for the master.”

Sebastian said, showing me the packages.

“Is it a special day? Usually, there aren’t this many, right?”

Gifts did come in occasionally, but today there were several times more than usual.

“It’s almost the 7th anniversary of the master receiving his ducal title.”

“Do people celebrate that too?”

I asked, thinking they really commemorate everything. Is there such a desire to make connections?

“Since the master doesn’t celebrate his birthday separately, it seems people celebrate his title conferment day instead. Even though he sends them back every year, they keep coming. It’s become an annual event now.”

“Why doesn’t he celebrate his birthday?”

Sebastian made a troubled expression at my question.

“Well… because no one knows the master’s birthday.”

Considering when Ilion came to the mansion, it’s not an unreasonable story, but did even the previous Duke not know?

That’s too much for his grandson.

“Then… has he never had a birthday party?”

“…That’s right.”

A party…

I looked at the pile of gift packages for a moment and then clapped my hands.

“Then, since we’re on the topic, let’s have a party.”

“Pardon?”

“You said it’s the anniversary of his title conferment, right? Shall we start writing invitations?”

I suggested with a bright smile, but Sebastian made a troubled face.

“I don’t think the master will like it very much.”

Ilion would certainly dislike it. It’s not even his birthday, but a commemorative party for his title conferment.

Anyone would say it’s excessive.

But isn’t that what makes it meaningful?

If I couldn’t go out due to the ban, I could bring people in.

“The more you share joyous occasions, the bigger they become. Oh, and I want to surprise His Grace, so please keep it a secret.”

Fortunately, Sebastian didn’t try to stop me. He seemed to think it wasn’t a bad idea.

Thanks to this, I no longer had a reason to seek out Ilion and quickly turned my steps towards my room.

“Hmm, hmm, hmm-“

“You seem to be in a good mood today.”

Lily asked if something good had happened, seeing me humming.

It was understandable that she was curious, given that I had been looking miserable for days due to the ban on going out.

“I’m going to throw a party.”

“A party?”

Spinel asked, munching on snacks.

She had been coming to my room to eat snacks and play whenever she was bored these days.

“Yes. I’m working on the guest list, but it’s not easy.”

I answered Spinel’s question while writing down names on paper.

“What is a party?”

“It’s when you invite people and have a celebration. You play music, drink, and eat food.”

“Sounds fun.”

Spinel showed interest, seemingly liking my explanation. Unlike Spinel, Lily sighed first.

“Miss, with the wedding not far off, don’t you think you should focus more on that?”

“Yes, that’s the problem.”

“Yes, so…”

“I already have so much to do, and now there’s no time because of the wedding.”

Lily looked at me with narrowed eyes, as if my answer was absurd.

“What’s more important than the wedding?”

“Call…”

“Call?”

I was about to say ‘calling off the engagement’ without thinking but quickly shut my mouth.

“Calling everyone for a party, of course. What could be more important than a party?”

“How can you talk about a party when there’s so much to do? You need to get your dress fitted, choose flowers and food for the wedding, and even have a rehearsal.”

“There’s even a rehearsal? That’s a bit…”

I mean, it’s not a performance, why does a wedding need an unnecessary rehearsal?

I looked at Lily with an expression of incomprehension, but Lily looked at me as if she couldn’t understand me.

“Well, I can look at the dress later, and Sebastian will choose the flowers and food well. As for the rehearsal…”

There’s no way I’ll still be in this mansion by then.

Dismissing Lily’s concerns lightly, I focused again on creating the guest list.

“How can you talk about it as if it’s someone else’s business? Anyone would think Sebastian is the one getting married.”

“Hmm, that’s not a bad idea either.”

“Miss…”

I nodded, half-heartedly agreeing with her words. Lily called me for a moment but just kept sighing deeply.

“Oh, by the way, Lily, is your outfit ready for the academic festival?”

I asked Lily, remembering the upcoming Magic Academy’s Academic Festival.

“Are you more worried about that than your wedding dress?”

“Well, that’s more urgent, isn’t it?”

While the event was quite interesting just for the magic element, my reason for being interested was different.

The academic festival was one of the important events between Artia and Ilion.

At the demonstration of magical devices, due to a malfunction, magic that was supposed to fly into the sky would be directed towards Artia.

Fortunately, Ilion would save Artia, and it would be an event that brought the two closer.

Was Ravenne’s appearance necessary there? Of course not.

The problem, however, was Ilion’s lukewarm reaction. When I casually asked him earlier if he knew the Saintess’s name, he asked back if that was important, which says it all.

Of course it’s important! If that’s not important, what is? It’s the name of the most important person in your life!

“But, His Grace said you’re banned from going out for now…”

Lily carefully brought up the topic of the ban, seemingly not wanting to shatter my expectations.

“Surely. He wouldn’t forbid me from going to the academic festival too?”

Even with the ban on going out…

***

“Clothes to wear to the academic festival?”

I casually brought up the topic of the academic festival during dinner.

“Yes. Since it’s an official event, I thought it would be good to have clothes made.”

“There’s no need to worry about that.”

Did he already have something prepared? Sebastian didn’t mention anything like that? As I looked at Ilion curiously, he lightly added a word.

“Because you won’t be going.”

Well, if that’s the case, there’s indeed no need to worry.

I almost nodded, agreeing that it made sense. I hurriedly asked him back.

“Why not?”

“Didn’t I tell you? You’re banned from going out.”

“But…”

“But?”

Ilion repeated my words and asked. His tone suggested that I should try to argue if I wanted to.

I couldn’t just shout, ‘But then I can’t monitor whether you’re properly protecting Artia!’

I calmed myself for a moment and explained the reason calmly.

“Won’t people misunderstand? That things aren’t good between us?”

“No need to worry. You’re scheduled to be sick for a while.”

“……”

He didn’t believe me when I actually said I was sick!

Is this guy picking a fight with me? Am I right? You didn’t like that reflection letter from before, right?

“But it’s an event that only happens once a year, so…”

“Ravenne.”

In response to my objection, Ilion called my name quietly with a stern face.

“What’s not allowed is not allowed. You should know when to give up.”

A firm answer came back that he wouldn’t allow it no matter what reason I gave.

It seemed pointless to try to persuade him any further. I spoke as if I had given up.

“I understand. I’ll give up on this one.”

For now, that is.