12 First Birthday

Getting dressed up is the most painful thing that had ever happened in my twelve months of living. The bath is horrible. There's like three or four stages I need to do while taking a bath. Different scented soap, then for the shampoo, unique perfume, some oil they put inside the tub, and so on.

The outfit is horrendous. I usually wear loose tunics with trousers, and I missed the times where I'm naked as a baby. But now? It's horrible.

A tight breeches, stockings, a black coat, and this heavy belt made out of gold and other jewellery. Stupid powder. Stupid headdress. Why do I have to wear this headdress? It's embarrassing—a hat with feathers on it.

Who decided this outfit?!

"Now you looked less like a gremlin,"

"Ugh-"

... Of course, father chose it.

He looked good by the way. It's not fair though! He didn't wear a tacky outfit as I do. Maybe because I'm just a one-year-old so no one would care?

But I do! What if one-year-old girls or boys saw me like this?!

I'll be single forever.

Father picked me up off the ground and carried me in his arms. He looked over to the maids.

"All of you have done a good job, you all may rest,"

"Yes, Duke," The maids bowed their heads.

Father turned around and walked out of my room while carrying me. I looked over to him.

"Ugy,"

"You're calling me ugly?" Father raised one of his eyebrows.

"Me,"

"You?"

"Un," I nodded my head.

Please, please! Understand my words and ask the maids to change my clothes!

"You looked fine,"

"Hng," I pouted.

Curses.

The preparation for my birthday is going on for a week. Tonight is the celebration. Edgar and the guards are outside the mansion to secure the area, and Juno is currently tailing me somewhere.

He's really good at stealth. I can't even sense his presence.

I looked around. To the corner of the hall, up the ceiling, little corners, nothing. Juno here with us, but we can't see him. It's impressive.

Father walked down other stairs, and there's a closed-door at the front. When these doors are opened, everyone will be able to see me. I heard from the maids that the nobles and the commoners of this city are curious about how I looked like.

Hope I won't disappoint them because of my tacky outfit.

"Are you nervous?" Father asked me, with a devilish smirk.

I shook my head, grinning. "Nope!"

Presenting in front of hundreds of students in a seminar is way more nerve-wracking.

Father nodded his head to the two guards that are guarding the doors. The two of them bowed their heads and started to open the doors.

I squint my eyes because of the lights coming from the chandelier and bright, colourful dresses and wallpapers. It's blinding. I rubbed my eyes then blinked a couple of times to adjust.

"That's Duke Rothe's youngest son!"

"He looks very adorable,"

"The rumours turned out to be true,"

Delighted faces are what I see—powerful-looking people with their fancy outfits. Father walked down the grand foyer, and people started to gather around us. They congratulated me and praise how cute I am. I couldn't help but play along and act like a normal one-year-old baby.

Father also told me that the presents given by the nobles are stored in my personal storage room. I'm curious how many there are that it needed to be stored in a storage room. Maybe its a small storage room.

Then people started dancing, there are several entertainments, the food is excellent, and I've been wasting my night getting carried by father all the time.

I understand though. Father don't want me to roam around by myself because of my power. I need to remember that among these crowd, there must be the evil man that caused the previous incidents.

I need to stay focused.

Don't be distracted Yuta.

Keep a watch on the people- Ooh is that a chocolate fountain with strawberries?!

I wiggled on my father's grip. He looked at me. "Hm? what's wrong?"

"Choco!" I exclaimed happily to the fountain. I heard a couple of nobles awe-ed at my reaction.

Father sighed. "You've eaten enough sugar-"

Heh, I knew he's going to say that. That's why I have to activate my charm card.

I looked up at him with my eyebrows furrowed, and my eyes widen. I was letting it wet and glistening because of the lights from the chandelier. Father visibly gulped.

"... Just one dip,"

"Yay!"