72 [19.4] Everyone Has A Birthday

After Cyrus's insistence, we grabbed our food and found our way to a table. Luckily, there was one tucked away in the back so I didn't have to deal with the nauseating smell of rich people. After finishing our meals, Zephyr and I both sat back and rubbed our stomachs simultaneously.

I glanced at Cyrus, "You should really grab a plate. You're just so skinny."

I pinched his stomach, "You need more fat."

Cyrus panicked and nearly fell out of his chair to avoid me. He shouted, "I-I am perfectly healthy!!"

I smirked and crossed my arms, "Really? But we fit in the same dress."

Cyrus turned a bright crimson, "T-That! Urg! No! If anyone should be concerned it's you!! You shouldn't fit in a dress that a boy who is several years older than you could wear!"

I gasped, "Are you calling me fat!?"

"N-No! I just meant-"

"He called me fat!!!"

Caldwell had a giant "?" above his head as he listened to us argue. He mumbled under his breath, "Didn't I alter the dress?"

Zephyr grabbed my cheeks and pulled on them, "I think he's right. You have chubby cheeks."

I scowled, "Oi."

Cyrus's eyes widened as he watched Zephyr pull on my cheeks.

*SWAT*

We all froze as Cyrus suddenly slapped Zephyr's hand so hard it echoed off the walls.

I blinked in surprise while Zephyr rubbed his red hand in shock.

I had no idea what to say.

Caldwell leaned to Cyrus, "Young Master… Ladies don't like possessive men."

Cyrus blushed a darker shade of red and stuttered, "I-I'm not being possessive!!!"

Zephyr showed me his hand with a pout, "Look… He injured me…"

Caldwell clicked his tongue suddenly angered by his response, "You foxes sure are weaklings. My Young Master barely even touched you."

"Barely touched me!? Look! It's leaving a bruise!!!"

I rubbed my forehead and let out a sigh. Ah. The youth have so much energy these days.

I noticed Felix walking over and waved him over quickly.

Maybe this child can save me from this conversation.

Felix came over with a warm smile, "Are you having fun?"

I shrugged, "I don't know about that, but at least the food is good."

He laughed, "Well at least there was something you liked."

Hazel let out a sad sigh, "Ah… Birthdays make me miss my home… I was born in winter and my mother would always make me hot chocolate and fluffy cake! I really do miss it…"

Felix smiled softly at her, "Then we should have some hot chocolate in the winter."

Her eyes lit up, "Really?!"

He nodded with a laugh, "Everyone should celebrate their birthday. It's the day you came into existence and that in itself is a wonderful event."

I yawned. Do I have two birthdays then?

Cyrus clicked his tongue, "Birthdays aren't very special. It's just like any other day."

Felix pouted, "But isn't it sad to not celebrate your birthday?"

Is it?

I looked at Cyrus, "When is your birthday?"

He responded nonchalantly, "September 3rd. But I don't celebrate it."

I leaned toward him, "Why not?"

He crossed his arms, "Because it's just a day that the Aristocrats use to establish their position over others. Look at this banquet for example. This isn't for Felix's sake, but for the sake of the Duke and Duchess to flaunt their money."

Felix laughed awkwardly, "That's not necessarily a lie, but I'd like to think it's for my sake too…"

I blinked in surprise at Cyrus, "Wow… You are very pessimistic despite being so young…"

I thought all children were overbearingly optimistic.

He rolled his eyes, "I'm not being pessimistic. It's the truth."

Hm… Is that really it?

Why do I feel like it's something else?

I looked at Zephyr, "And you?"

Zephyr looked up with a smirk, "We don't celebrate our mortality like you crummy humans… But my Master said I'm a scorpion."

My eyebrow twitched, "You mean a scorpio?"

He clicked his finger, "That's the one!"

I didn't know they would have astrology here.

I glanced at Caldwell who still stood behind Cyrus, "So you don't know either?"

He shook his head, "Selkies don't even have the capacity to understand days. I didn't learn what days were until I took my human form."

I narrowed my eyes at him, "Riiight."

Caldwell: "?"

Felix turned to me, "What about you, Reika?"

I opened my mouth and then closed it.

Seeing their eyes on me, I forced out, "Um…"

Felix's eyes grew wide, "You don't know!?"

I broke out in a cold sweat, "I know!"

Should I tell them my original birthday?

But if it's later found out that the original body's birthday is a different day, couldn't that implicate me as a body snatcher?

I smirked, "My birthday is February 31st."

Hazel nodded, "Ahh. I see. That's a nice day."

Cyrus frowned, "That's not even a real day."

I tapped my nose with a smug grin.

Felix nudged me, "Come on. Tell us!"

Caldwell glanced at me, "Could it be… You don't know?"

I paused with a stiff smile on my face.

Felix gasped, "That's right! Reika was a commoner and commoners rarely have money to get birth certificates. They don't keep track of birth dates."

Hazel looked at me with pitiful eyes, "I didn't know you came from such a poor background…"

Although I don't really care about this original owner's background, their speaking to me like this is pissing me off.

I frowned in irritation, "Just let it go."

Hazel shook her head, "No way! It's too pitiful…"

Felix nodded quickly, "Yes! You must let us celebrate you!"

Ugh… Thinking about my current age is even more painful when I think about how old I was in my other world…

I stuck out my tongue, "It doesn't matter if you want to celebrate my birthday. There's nothing you can do about it because I don't know it."

Cyrus looked at me thoughtfully, "You could just make up a date."

I felt my cheeks get red, "I don't want to do that! Too troublesome!!"

That seems even more pitiful than not knowing it!!!

Zephyr poked my cheeks, "Oi. Why is your face so red? You look like a tomato."

I felt a burst of irritation and twisted his arm behind his back, "I'm not!"

"Ow ow ow ow ow!!! Okay! Okay! Just let me go!!!"

I let him go and crossed my arms with a huff.

Felix scratched his cheek, "It's nothing to be embarrassed about, Reika. You aren't the only one who doesn't know their birthday."

I growled at him, "I'm not embarrassed."

He shrunk back, "Ah, yes… Right…"

Hazel changed the subject quickly before anyone could anger me further, "What are you doing now, Felix? Are you still meeting guests?"

"I am." Felix answered, "I'm actually on my way to meet the King…"

He paused and then turned to me with a smug grin, "Would you like to meet the King, Reika?"

I blinked quickly, "Eh? Eh? King? What King!?"

He laughed, "The King. Our King. He is actually my uncle and I've been talking about you so much that he wants to meet you."

Wait, wait, wait.

Let's do the math here.

The police force is bad. They are bums who don't uphold their values.

The King controls the police force.

Therefore, the King is bad and no good.

I shook my head, "No thanks! I'm good!"