Chapter 020: I'm Eleven

Today is Arthur's 11th birthday. Unlike other princes whose birthday parties are celebrated lavishly and festively, Arthur's birthday is celebrated very simply. Even so far, Arthur only celebrated his birthday very simply with Esther, Anne, Helena, and the children of the concubine Lindsley.

This year, Esther wanted to prepare a birthday party that was different and unique from Arthur's previous birthday party.

"Tiny, I want you to change into something simpler, less flashy, and most comfortable clothes for you. Mom is taking you out today," Esther said.

Arthur frowned and looked at Esther with a confused look on his face. "Aren't we going to celebrate my birthday with Anne and Helena? Why did mom suddenly ask me out of the palace? Are you going to take me to dad's palace to celebrate my birthday together?"

"Aren't you worried too much to ask me too many questions, Tiny?" Esther replied with a small smile on her face.

"You just answer all my questions, mother," Arthur replied with a flat expression.

"The point is that today you are only going to celebrate your birthday with mom. Of course mom took you out to celebrate your birthday and what I didn't mean was to go for a walk around the palace, but my intention was that we would go see the outside world," explained Esther.

"What?" asked a slightly surprised Arthur.

Because the Nightingale royal family is forbidden to set foot out of the royal palace, except for very important matters. The ban aims to protect members of the royal family from outside threats that are very dangerous. To Esther, of course, that was an absolutely ridiculous ban.

"Why are you surprised like that?"

"Of course, I was very surprised. Have you gone mad, mother? How can you ask me out of the palace just to celebrate a birthday that is not very meaningful?" Arthur argued while holding his head.

Esther put her hands on her hips and looked at Arthur seriously. "It seems that without realizing it all along, I've raised a very disrespectful and insolent child. How can you say your own mother is crazy, Tiny?"

"Stop talking like that, mother! I'm being serious right now," Arthur said, looking angry.

"Haven't you ever thought about seeing the outside world with your own point of view, Tiny? You just imagine yourself, how can you become a king if you never see the lives of your people out there? If you continue to be here, your life will end up exactly the same as your father relying solely on reports from other nobles so that the nobles can cunningly corrupt with money that should belong to the people," said Esther.

Arthur immediately fell silent when he heard Esther's words which, when he thought about it, had some truth in it.

"I just wanted to take you out to celebrate your birthday as well as to observe the lives of the people you will lead in the future," said Esther tactfully.

Arthur just nodded his head. "Okay. I'll change my clothes first."

Esther smiled. "I'm going to change my clothes too. See you later, Tiny."

After a few minutes in his room to change his clothes, Arthur finally came out wearing a light blue dress and brown trousers which could be considered very simple. Arthur waited for Esther as he relaxed on the sofa, but almost thirty minutes later he waited for Esther to still not show up.

"Where is Mother, Anne?" Arthur asked Anne who was cleaning the room.

"Lady is in her room. Looks like she's straightening her hair and preparing some things to disguise herself so as not to be found out," said Anne.

"Disguised?"

"Of course. Did you really think that the two of you would come out with real identities and appearances?"

"Yeah, I thought we'd go out like that," Arthur answered innocently.

"That would be difficult to happen. Then you'd better go over to Lady Beatrice in her room instead of waiting for her. After all, lady takes a long time to get her hair done," said Anne.

"Okay. I'll go first Anne." Arthur got up from the sofa and headed for Esther's room.

"Happy birthday, Your Majesty. I can only hope that Goddess Nightingale will give you the blessing to live happily ever after," said Anne before Arthur left.

Arthur stopped walking and turned to Anne and smiled. "Thank you, Anne. But it would be better if Goddess Nightingale gave her blessing to mother. Because my greatest happiness is seeing my mother's happy smile and happiness."

Arthur immediately rushed to leave Anne. Anne really understood the true meaning of Arthur's words. She had also long been aware of Arthur's feelings for her master that should never have existed. However, Anne prefers to remain silent. To him, Arthur's feelings were just the trivial feelings of a child. So, it wouldn't bother Esther in the future.

Knock... Knock... Knock...

Arthur knocked on the door first before entering Esther's room. This was one of the etiquette Esther taught herself.

"Can I come inside, mother?" Arthur asked after knocking on the door.

"Please come in," replied Esther from inside her room.

Arthur opened the door to Esther's room. Inside he saw Esther who was already wearing a simple light brown dress with a model that was not fluffy. Arthur is fascinated to see Esther for the first time after her mother's death wearing clothes other than black. Arthur was still stunned by the appearance of Esther, who was now watching him in bewilderment.

Esther waved her hand at Arthur. "Tiny... Tiny... Hello..."

Arthur finally woke up from his daydream. "Yes. What's wrong mother?"

"Shouldn't you be the one asking yourself that?"

Arthur chuckled softly. "Me? Of course I'm fine. I was just surprised to see mom end up wearing clothes other than black."

Esther stared at her reflection in the mirror. "It feels like a very long time, I wore black clothes after sister's death. I purposely wore a different colored dress so that no one would recognize me. As you know that black clothes are like my real identity here. No one is wearing colored black clothes for some years besides me."

"Whatever you wear, I think you're still beautiful," said Arthur.

Esther blushed at Arthur's compliment. "I haven't heard such a compliment in a long time. Thank you."

"By the way are you done getting ready, mother?" Arthur asked as he walked over to Esther's bed and sat there.

"There's only one more thing to do and it'll be over." Esther walked to the bed and took a box under the bed. Arthur, who was curious, also looked under Esther's bed. He saw Esther take out a box from there. Esther opened the box and took out a glass vial containing a potion.

"What's that, mother?"