Telling the Duke that I planned to hold a modest birthday party for Elodie was half right and half wrong. It was meant to be modest only from the Duke’s perspective. From the viewpoint of an ordinary person like me…

‘As big as possible! Grand! Second to none!’

So, while keeping it half a secret from Elodie, I planned a grand birthday party. Fortunately, except for the old lady who declined due to prior engagements, everyone I invited agreed to attend Elodie’s birthday party without fail.

I looked with satisfaction at the beautifully decorated café. The cake, specially made after staying up all night, was perfect, the decorations I had worked hard on sparkled brilliantly in the sunlight, and Elodie, dressed up from head to toe, looked so adorable I could just eat her up.

As the appointed time arrived, guests began to enter one by one. Each carried a small gift package. I greeted them all brightly and expressed my gratitude.

Several children who had met and played with Elodie at the picnic also came, and Elodie soon began laughing and chatting with them. However, the most anticipated guest had yet to make an appearance.

‘Why isn’t he coming?’

I frowned. At this rate, we’d have to cut the cake before the Duke arrived. Fortunately, just as the snacks I had placed on the table beforehand ran out and the cake was brought out, finally, Duke Baniche finally appeared. With a gift package… no, a mountain of gifts.

Although the contents were unknown due to the wrapping paper, the variety of sizes and shapes suggested how diverse the items were. My mouth fell open involuntarily. I had told the Duke not to bring such extravagant gifts, so what was all this? Forgetting even to greet him, I blurted out the first thing that came to mind.

“Um… I told you that we’d decline extravagant gifts.”

The Duke replied confidently.

“There’s nothing too extravagant here. These are all things Elodie needs.”

“…Still, it’s far too much.”

“You didn’t say to bring fewer items, so I simply bought everything that seemed necessary.”

The Duke still looked as if he had done nothing wrong. No, even if I hadn’t specifically said to bring only one gift, bringing what appeared to be more than ten gifts seemed excessive…

But I didn’t voice that thought out loud. Since he had brought this much, I couldn’t very well turn them away, and if they were things Elodie needed, we should gratefully accept them.

“Alright, Elodie will be delighted. Please come in. I was wondering if you weren’t coming since you were late.”

“…Since morning, I kept thinking of things Elodie might need. I ended up buying them one by one, which is why I’m late. I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine since you weren’t late on purpose. Besides, it was for Elodie, right?”

No matter how late he was, knowing it was for Elodie’s sake, I couldn’t say anything harsh. I hurriedly led the Duke to the main table where Elodie was.

Elodie was holding the cake knife with a flushed face, and in front of her was a huge chocolate cake with six candles. The rich, heavy scent of chocolate unique to chocolate cakes filled the room, making my mouth water.

“Elodie, did you make a wish?”

“…Not yet.”

Elodie closed her eyes tightly and began to mutter something earnestly. For some reason, I felt like I knew what she was wishing for, and my heart ached.

I bit my lip. Elodie, whatever your wish is, my wish is for you to be happy. I’ll work hard to make that happen.

Finally, after making her wish and opening her eyes, Elodie blew out the candles with all her might. As everyone applauded, all that remained was to cut the cake. Elodie looked down at the cake with a determined face and plunged the knife in.

“…!”

A look of surprise appeared on the child’s small face. From the cut surface of the cake, perfectly ripe strawberries came tumbling out. Murmurs spread among the people.

“In this winter, where did they get strawberries…?”

“Are they fake strawberries?”

“Could it be strawberry syrup?”

A lady who ran a large farm in the area pointed at the strawberries, exclaiming as if frustrated.

“No, look closely. They’re fresh strawberries!”

But the people didn’t seem to believe her words. It was early December now. There was no way there could be fresh strawberries. I smiled knowingly. There was no need to tell them that Elodie’s birth father was Duke Baniche, who could pluck a bird from the sky.

As soon as I asked for strawberries as a surprise gift, Duke Baniche, without question, brought a bunch of fresh strawberries just in time for Elodie’s birthday.

I approached Elodie. Although Elodie had cut the first slice of the birthday cake, it was my job to distribute the rest. I handed out cake and strawberries evenly to the people waiting with plates. Except for one person, Duke Baniche.

To make an excuse, it wasn’t that I refused the Duke, but that he didn’t seem interested in eating the cake. Far from lining up with a plate like the others, he was standing at a distance, glancing sideways at Elodie.

I shook my head and approached the Duke with the last remaining slice on a plate. The others were already devouring the cake on their plates as if it would disappear in the blink of an eye.

“Please eat.”

The Duke looked at me with surprised eyes.

“As expected of a noble gentleman, I have to bring it to you personally for you to accept it. Although it may not look like much, it’s my masterpiece, so please eat.”

How much research had I done to create the best cake for Elodie’s birthday? Without proper baking books, I had to figure it out all by myself, which was incredibly challenging. But seeing Elodie happily munching on the cake made all the past hardships disappear in an instant.

“That’s not it. I’m not that shameless.”

The Duke shook his head.

I tilted my head in confusion. Until now, I thought he was someone who didn’t know the meaning of consideration, but it seemed he wasn’t the type who needed someone to wait on him hand and foot.

“Then, what is it?”

“I just… judged the size of the pieces and it seemed there wouldn’t be a piece left for you…”

I blinked. I was momentarily confused by his words, unsure if it was flattery or politeness.

“Since when did you start thinking about such things? Besides, I eat a lot of these while making them for the café menu, so please try it.”

It wasn’t because I was particularly kind or because I liked the Duke that I offered him the cake. I simply didn’t like the idea of the person who contributed to Elodie’s birth not eating a piece of Elodie’s birthday cake. The Duke reluctantly took the plate from my hand and took a bite of the cake.

“……”

“It’s delicious, right? Isn’t it?”

“…It’s… delicious.”

The Duke nodded. The fact that he kept moving his fork suggested that it definitely suited his taste.

‘Come to think of it, he ate the egg mayo sandwich well too. Does he like soft bread?’

I was thinking that maybe he didn’t like the waffles because I had baked them crispy when…

Bang!

The café door burst open with a thunderous sound. The atmosphere in the café, which had been noisy with laughter and chatter until just a moment ago, became as quiet as if cold water had been poured over it.

This was because a man who appeared to be of no ordinary status had rushed into the café. He looked to be in his mid-forties, a middle-aged man with a tired-looking impression, but his splendid clothes, banners, and medals seemed to shout, “I am a nobleman.” The man immediately approached the Duke who was with me.

‘……’

I slowly edged away from the Duke. Really, why do bad premonitions always turn out to be right?

“Your Grace…!”

“What is the meaning of this, Count Jacob?”

Duke Baniche’s cold voice echoed through the café. Gasps could be heard from all around. I put my hand to my forehead. In just a few days, there wouldn’t be a single person in this neighborhood who didn’t know that Elodie was the Duke’s daughter.

While it might not matter in a big city, in a small town with just one bustling street, such a rumor was fatal. I felt like shaking that tactless Count. You have something to say to the Duke? Fine. But why did it have to be at Elodie’s birthday party!