Chapter 62

“You can ask her, or you can give her a surprise present.”  

“What kind of vague answer is that?”  

Johann frowned.  

“Your Grace, really, either way is fine. That’s what I do when I give presents to my younger siblings.”  

Samuel lowered his eyebrows as if aggrieved.  

“I suppose I’ll have to ask Mother.”  

Ignoring Samuel, Johann strode out of the room.  

With long, determined strides, he reached Isabella in the garden in no time.  

At her son’s arrival, Isabella put the book she was reading on the table.  

“Oh, Johann.”  

“Mother, did you know?”  

“Know what?”  

Isabella took off her glasses and asked.  

“That Rafaella’s birthday is in May.”  

“Don’t tell me you didn’t know either?”  

Isabella’s eyes widened.  

“Actually, I only found out a little while ago myself.”  

“You too, Mother?”  

Johann felt a little relieved to know he wasn’t the only one.  

“No, Penelope just asked me today. She said she was worried about what to get Raffy for her present.”  

“…So Penelope knew.”  

“She seems to have known for a while. She said she didn’t mention it because she thought everyone else already knew.”  

Isabella sighed deeply.  

“To think I’d only just find out my granddaughter’s birthday after becoming a grandmother. I feel like I can’t show my face in public.”  

Isabella shook her head in genuine embarrassment.  

“Mother, I feel the same way.”  

Johann sighed and sat across from her.  

“What are you thinking of giving her?”  

“……”  

Johann answered with silence.  

“…My goodness, there’s only two weeks left, and you still haven’t decided on a present?”  

“Mother, do you have anything in mind?”  

Johann asked, looking gloomy.  

“…I haven’t thought of anything yet either, so I was hoping to hear your idea.”  

“……”  

Both their faces darkened.  

Isabella and Johann were both deeply troubled over what to give their new granddaughter and daughter.  

They were both racking their brains over what kind of present would make Rafaella happy.  

From a distance, Rafaella, who was watching them, tilted her head.  

“Auntie Peppy!”  

“Yes?”  

Penelope, who had been playing tag with Rafaella, approached the child.  

“…Are Daddy and Grandma fighting?”  

Rafaella pointed at Johann and Isabella, her face on the verge of tears.  

“Hmm…”  

“Their faces look really scary. They look angry…”  

Rafaella scrunched her brows together to show her.  

“You’re right. Their faces do look really scary.”  

Penelope patted Rafaella’s head.  

“…But they’re not fighting. I think they’re just worried about something.”  

On her way to see Rafaella, she recalled her mother’s surprise at hearing about Rafaella’s birthday.  

“What are they worried about?”  

“Hmm, they’re worried about how to make you happy, Rafaella.”  

Penelope smiled gently.  

“Me? Why?”  

“…That’s a secret.”  

Penelope bent down and tapped Rafaella’s nose lightly with her finger.  

* * *

On the way back from the Mage Tower, Lia sat in the carriage, deep in thought.  

‘…Did the Interim Empress or her lady-in-waiting really kill me with black magic?’  

There was no evidence anywhere, but given the circumstances, it seemed almost certain.  

If it was them who had advanced black magic so dramatically, it made some sense.  

‘Who would ever suspect there’s a black magician in the Imperial Family?’  

Especially when it’s the Interim Empress and her close confidante, at the very pinnacle of power.  

But whoever was behind it, it was an extremely dangerous and audacious act.  

Were they that confident they wouldn’t get caught?  

“Sigh.”  

If only she had the perfume she’d received before her regression, she could have brought it to Dorothea.  

She couldn’t tell Dorothea anything based on mere suspicion.  

If she told her, ‘The Interim Empress’s lady-in-waiting killed me. Not now, but before my regression,’ Dorothea would think she was crazy.  

‘There needs to be proof that they’re really using black magic…’  

If they really had the skill to kill people with black magic, there was a high chance they’d try to harm her or someone close to her again this time.  

‘Since I appeared before them sooner, they might act faster than last time.’  

Lia bit her lip hard without realizing it.  

The taste of blood, tinged with fear, filled her mouth.  

She spent the whole ride worrying like that until she arrived at the estate.  

As soon as she arrived, Johann called her to the drawing room.  

‘What could be so urgent that he wants to see me right away?’  

She went to him without even changing her clothes.  

Knock, knock, knock.  

“It’s Lia—”  

Bang.  

“Come in.”  

Before she could finish speaking, Johann opened the door.  

“What’s going on?”  

She asked carefully, as he looked somehow anxious and uneasy.  

“Sit down first.”  

“Yes.”  

“Why didn’t you tell me about Rafaella’s birthday?”  

As soon as she sat on the sofa, Johann spoke rather irritably.  

“Her birthday?”  

Now that she thought about it, she had forgotten to mention Rafaella’s birthday when making the contract with Johann.  

“It’s May 13th. Did you know?”  

Did Rafaella tell him?  

“Now that you mention it, there are only about two weeks left.”  

“About two weeks? I’m getting a headache because there are only two weeks left.”  

Johann frowned.  

“Why does it give you a headache? There are still two weeks left.”  

Lia was genuinely baffled.  

“…Nobles usually start preparing for a birthday party more than a month in advance.”  

A month in advance?  

“Even though we’re not inviting guests to Rafaella’s birthday, we’d still need at least a month to prepare comfortably…”  

“You need a month even if you’re not inviting guests?”  

She opened her eyes wide.  

“You have to decide on the cake, the main dish, how to decorate the estate that day… The butler, the head maid, the chef—there’s so much to prepare.”  

Lia was dumbfounded to see Johann explaining at such length for the first time.  

‘Didn’t know he could talk this much…’  

The man who used to speak so briefly was nowhere to be found; only a father agonizing over his daughter’s birthday remained.  

“…Preparing the present is the most important thing of all.”  

He said with a serious face.  

“Preparing the present?”  

“Yes. It takes time to order and have it made.”  

“What kind of present takes that long to prepare?”  

Lia, who had lived an ordinary life, couldn’t understand.  

“…Anything.”  

Johann, who still hadn’t decided on a present, answered quietly.  

“Whatever it is, it doesn’t have to be anything grand. Raffy will be happy with whatever she gets…”  

“You’re saying I should just give Rafaella anything?”  

“…Not exactly.”  

She was surprised at how sensitive he was over a birthday present.  

Even with lost memories, some basic things about people never changed.  

“She’s my daughter and the only little miss of the Blumhart family.”  

There was a firm resolve in him that he couldn’t just give her anything.  

“…Sorry, I got a bit carried away.”  

Seeing Lia looking a little dumbfounded, Johann apologized.  

“Well, you may seem a little overzealous, but it’s not a bad look.”  

It was much better than the indifferent father he used to be.  

“Have you decided on a present?”  

He regained his composure and asked in a calm voice.  

“Hmm, I’m going to start thinking about it now.”  

She had been so preoccupied with black magic lately that she had forgotten about her daughter’s birthday in May.  

“Now?”  

But she didn’t think choosing a birthday present was such a big problem.  

Unlike someone else, that is.  

“Yes. It seems you haven’t decided either, Duke.”  

“…It’s my first time, so I don’t know what to do.”  

After a long silence, Johann finally spoke.  

In his troubled eyes, Lia caught a glimpse of her former husband.  

“If you think about what Rafaella’s interested in these days, wouldn’t it be easier to figure out what to give her?”  

She offered a hint.  

“That makes sense. But what if she doesn’t like my present?”  

“Raffy will love anything you give her, Duke.”  

“How can you be so sure?”  

He furrowed his brow.  

“She always has.”  

“…She did, didn’t she.”  

Johann fell silent, unable to recall those memories.  

All the memories he couldn’t remember, Lia cherished deep in her heart.  

Watching him get uncharacteristically sensitive after learning about his daughter’s birthday, Lia recalled Rafaella’s very first birthday.  

“Lia, Raffy’s first birthday is coming up. What should I do for her?”  

“Hart, she’s only one year old. She’ll love whatever you give her.”  

Seeing her husband agonize so seriously over her first present, Lia whispered gently.  

“Still, I can’t just give her anything.”  

He shook his head.  

“I want to see Raffy smile when she sees my present.”  

“No matter what you give her, she’ll know how much love you put into it. So don’t worry.”  

Lia patted his back and hugged him.  

“…I hope so.”  

Johann murmured, burying his face in her shoulder.  

He was different from the man he used to be, but his reaction was the same.  

Seeing him still so serious about his daughter’s birthday, a small smile touched Lia’s lips, and her eyes glistened with tears.