[19.3] A Birthday Invitation

The carriage pulled up to a massive iron gate and stopped. I could hear the driver speak to the Gatesman, so I pushed my face onto the glass to see, "Are we here?"

The Headmaster nodded, "Seems like it."

The carriage moved and pulled into the long driveway lined with elegant trees and flowers. We pulled up around a large fountain and the door was opened. As we climbed out, we stared at the large and luxurious mansion before us.

I've never seen such a giant mansion before…

Zephyr's tail wagged more, "I hope there's going to be a buffet!"

"Zephyr. Come on." I rolled my eyes, "These people are rich. Of course there will be a buffet."

The Headmaster handed our invitations to the man at the door who checked them, then led us inside. The Headmaster glanced at us, "Please just remain on your best behavior. These are the kind of people who won't tolerate unruly children."

Zephyr gasped, "Who said we were unruly!?"

I clicked my tongue, "Who said we were children?"

Hazel grinned at him, "We will behave."

We entered the room filled with porcelain, sparkles, and an overwhelming stench of money.

I nearly gagged. F*ck. These are the kind of people who bleed cashmere.

I suddenly felt out of place and scooted even closer to the Headmaster. He glanced at me before looking around, "Do you see your friends anywhere?"

I shook my head, "I can't see a thing with all of these rich b*tches blinding me with their diamonds!"

"...Language."

I cleared my throat, "There are too many people. I can't find them."

He nodded absentmindedly, "There are certainly more people here than I imagined."

I glanced up at the Headmaster, "Don't you usually come to these?!"

He responded calmly, "I'm not from the aristocracy. I was born in high society so I'm not a commoner, but I'm not an Aristocrat either."

"Eh?" I looked him up and down, "But aren't you rich or something? Why does birth matter?"

He calmly drank his wine handed to him by a servant as he looked around the room, "Birth matters to them. Even if I am richer than the poorest Aristocrat, I'm still not considered equal in their eyes. You should consider yourself lucky for being invited. It's not often that a nonaristocrat can attend these kinds of events."

I rolled my eyes. Lucky? I'm far from lucky.

I thought a child's birthday party would be extremely annoying with children running around all hyped up on sugar. Instead, everyone is so stiff it's almost uncomfortable.

I don't know if that's worse or better.

Felix noticed me through the crowd and made a beeline towards me. Usually, he would be waving with a large grin, but instead, he wore a maintained smile.

He looked like a miniature adult.

He smiled at me, "Reika! You made it."

I nodded quickly, "I did. Can you show me to the buffet table?"

Zephyr nodded quickly, "Yes! Where is that?"

He laughed, "I can show you, but are you sure you don't want to find Cyrus first?"

I shook my head, "No. I'm hungry. The snowman didn't let me eat breakfast this morning."

Plus I'm sure that brat will end up finding me.

The Headmaster cast me a glance, "If you need me just-"

"Yeah, yeah." I flashed him the bracelet on my wrist, "I will just call you on the bracelet. Don't panic and go have fun."

Felix led Hazel, Zephyr, and I away as the Headmaster stared at us with his unreadable icy look. Felix chuckled, "Will he be alright? He looked a little stiff."

I flipped my hair, "He's always stiff. It's good for him to attempt socialization."

When the buffet table came into view, I nearly fainted from its splendor.

Lobster.

Steak.

Lamb.

Duck.

Veal.

All that mouthwatering meat that one could only fantasize about is now before my very eyes.

Someone pinch me.

Hazel noticed Zephyr's and my hungry eyes and panicked, "W-Wait! You can't just eat the food presented at a banquet! It's considered bad manners-"

I licked my lips, "You can't eat manners, but you can eat steak!"

Zephyr and I dove into the food, stuffing our faces without a care in the world. Hazel covered her face in embarrassment and spoke through her fingers, "Please forgive us, Young Master Felix! We are making a mockery of your party…"

Felix laughed joyously, "On the contrary, the party was boring until now. I'm tired of dealing with stuck-up aristocrats."

I spoke through a full mouth of food, "Well said!"

Felix grinned, "I have to go greet a few more guests, but feel free to help yourselves to the food."

Zephyr shoved three chicken legs into his mouth, "One step ahead of you!"

Felix laughed before shaking his head and turning to leave.

Hazel panicked as she watched us stuff our faces. Everyone was staring at us and started to whisper amongst themselves.

"Who invited those classless louts? I don't recognize them."

"Haven't you heard? Those are the Young Duke's personal friends from the Academy. Commoners! Can you believe it?"

"Seeing them stuff their faces, I can."

I merely ignored them and continued to eat.

I don't care about the mutterings of rich people. It's obvious they feel the need to act like this to feel better about their miserable lives.

They continued, "Of course, the Young Duke would associate with these characters. He's a bastard child after all."

I paused as I listened to their hateful laughter.

They aren't even trying to be quiet.

Don't they realize just how toxic and painful something like that is to a child?!

"You can dress a pig up like a noble, but in the end, it's still a pig."

"Really. What does the Duke think he's doing? Didn't he use to hide that boy's existence?"

"Yeah, but he stopped doing that years ago. Now he's all proud and even shows him off. I still can't believe he announced that his son would inherit a title of a Duke."

"Ugh. It's such an embarrassment. Who would show that off?"

"If I was the Duke, I would throw that child to the streets where he belongs."

They dare say those cruel things about Felix?!

Felix is an annoying crybaby, but he's also the most gentle and sweetest child I have ever met!

He doesn't deserve this crap…

If anything, they deserve to have some sense beaten into them…

I felt something dark stir inside me like a worm trying to emerge from the dirt.

Should I freeze their feet to the ground?

Give them frostbite?

Make them lose all their fingers?

It would be easy...

It would be TOO easy...

Hazel let out a large sigh, "Haaah. Young Master Felix is such a gentleman. He is accepting of everyone and is never caught gossiping. I always found it strange that the Aristocrats of this kingdom have a law where gossip about another Aristocrat is considered punishable by prison time. Yet, there are still some who are bold enough to do it."

She slowly looked at the ones gossiping.

Her eyes dulled in a frightening way, "I wonder what the King would say if he knew there were those gossiping about a future Duke who is related to him. I heard the King is even attending this event... If he were to hear... Well, I wonder what might happen?"

The ones gossiping quickly turned pale at her threat. Suddenly, they started making excuses and scurried away.

I raised my eyebrows at Hazel, "I thought you couldn't threaten anyone or else you would get your Kingdom in trouble for trying to start a war?"

She giggled covering her mouth, "Who was I threatening? I was just chatting with my friends."

A piece of chicken fell from Zephyr's mouth as it dropped open in surprise, "D*mn girl."

Hazel looked at him in a panic, "Oh! But please try to maintain some form of manners! It's embarrassing being the center of attention…"

A familiar voice sounded from behind me, "If you don't want to be the center of attention, I would suggest you don't hang around Reika since she's always attracting attention."

Cyrus smirked at me, "Isn't that right?"

I deadpanned at him with a chicken leg in my mouth.

See. I knew he would find us.

I grabbed a drumstick and held it to his lips, "Want some chicken?"

He shrunk back in disgust, "No! I don't! And you're not supposed to eat it with your fingers!!! Where are your manners!?"

Hazel looked over at Cyrus timidly, "I've already told them and they said: You can't eat manners."

Cyrus's face twitched, "Are you two barbarians or something?"

Zephyr shook his head, "No. We are just hungry."

I nodded happily as I licked my lips.

Cyrus let out a sigh, "At least just grab a plate and find a seat. Watching you eat at the buffet makes me sick."