"Well, the master said it was annoying and bothersome, so he always forbade congratulations. When the chef brought out the cake, he would just take a bite with a fork, looking like he was going to die from annoyance."
Congratulations? Cake? Something came to mind at the words that followed... No way.
"Excuse me, Mr. Rio."
I asked cautiously.
"What day is it in two weeks?"
Rio nodded with sparkling eyes.
"Of course. It's the master's birthday!"
Ah. I opened my mouth slightly at the expected answer.
Now that I think about it, I didn't even know when Dante's birthday was. Rio quickly added, observing my blank expression as if I had been hit in the back of the head.
"Oh! It's only your first year in the mansion, so it's only natural that you don't know. I should have told you in advance, it was my fault!"
"No. I'm glad that I know now that I can congratulate my husband."
"Haha, you're absolutely right."
Rio smiled and looked at Dante, who was sleeping.
"This year, since Madam is here, he can't say no to parties, right? We should throw a birthday party to celebrate his recovery and birthday."
Rio nodded at his own idea and said to me.
"Please don't worry about anything, Madam. We'll take care of everything!"
"But I need to be of some help..."
"Oh my, you're busy nursing, so you really don't need to do that this year. Madam's presence alone would be the greatest gift to you!"
"..."
My cheeks turned slightly red at the sudden words. Rio smiled like a mischievous boy when he saw my face, and then he told me to leave everything to them and left the room.
I blankly looked down at Dante in the quiet room.
'I see. Two weeks later...'
It's your birthday.
Suddenly, I remembered Rio's voice that I had heard a little while ago.
"But it would be nice if he woke up within two weeks."
If Dante didn't wake up even after two weeks, on his birthday. I swallowed a small breath.
For the past week, I've pretended to be calm and composed in front of others. But in fact, whenever I saw Dante with his eyes closed as if he were dead, my heart would often sink. I felt like I would never see him open his eyes again. The attending physician said that he would wake up within a week at the latest. If by any chance, if by any chance, he really didn't regain consciousness by then...
I might have to prepare myself mentally.
"But I'm telling you the worst-case scenario, Madam. He will wake up safely, so please don't worry."
I shook my head as I recalled the attending doctor's words.
'Yes. Let's not think negatively.'
Dante would definitely wake up and celebrate his birthday. I sat on the edge of the bed, brainwashing myself with that thought. Then I quietly looked down at Dante's sleeping face.
'By the way, you were born in the spring.'
It was unexpected. Winter was coming to an end. In two weeks, the cold wind would die down a bit, and it was the time when flower buds would start to form one by one.
I imagined a birthday party being held in the middle of a colorful flower garden. I imagined putting a hat on Dante, who was getting sick of it. A small smile escaped me without me knowing. I whispered in a small voice, "What would you like as a present?"
Dante was a very picky person to give gifts to. If he needed something, there was nothing he couldn't buy with his own money. A birthday present. I was lost in thought.
"What Dante doesn't have, but I can give you..."
What on earth could there be? Do they even exist?
At that moment, a small knock rang out on the door.
"Madam, shall I serve you food?"
It was Sophie's voice. It seemed like It was already mealtime. I didn't have much of an appetite, but if I told her I would skip It, Sophie would start crying again.
"If you keep not eating like this because you say you don't have an appetite, we'll all end up serving only our sick master!"
I sat up, recalling Sophie's voice. Sophie was right. It was foolish to skip meals and let my body waste away because I had no appetite.
'But I wish there was no meat on the menu.'
Lately, there has been at least one big meat menu on the table every day. It was the same last night. It was the moment I remembered the deer hind leg steak with a light trace of blood.
"... Ugh."
A slight groan escaped my lips. Just thinking about it made the steak that I had enjoyed until yesterday suddenly feel sick. It seemed that I had no appetite.
'I guess I should just say that I will have a light meal today.'
I rubbed my chest and left the room.
***
The moment I entered the dining room, my vision wavered. I felt faintly dizzy and my body swayed.
"Oh my!"
"Madam!"
The servants were startled and supported me.
"You've been focusing too much on nursing lately, so haven't you lost your health?"
Sophie became sad. I awkwardly made an excuse as I straightened my balance.
"No, it's okay. I just misstepped for a moment."
"But..."
"It's really okay."
I reassured Sophie, feeling embarrassed inside. It had been a long time since I felt so dizzy that my body swayed. I don't know if it was because I didn't eat properly when I was growing up, but I was eating so well that I could barely eat every meal, so what could have been the problem? Was I neglecting my body too much while taking care of Dante, as Sophie said?
I sat down at the table, hiding my embarrassment. There was no meat, but the table was filled with plentiful delicacies today as well.
"Ugh!"
I hastily covered my mouth and opened my eyes wide. The servants' eyes also widened at the sudden nausea. I saw several servants in front of me exchanging glances. Oren also hurriedly sauntering off somewhere. I tried to continue eating as if nothing had happened, but after a while, I declared that I would give up. All the food tasted fishy and I couldn't put it in my mouth.
"I'm sorry. I don't have an appetite today."
Sophie, who I thought would object to saying that I shouldn't skip meals no matter what showed an unexpected reaction.
"Yes, ma'am. Do whatever you want."
"Thank you. Then I'll go back to the bedroom..."
"Oh, no, ma'am!"
Sophie shook her head in surprise. It wasn't just Sophie. The other servants also hurriedly stopped me.
"You took care of Master all night yesterday. You should go rest today. We'll be by his side without fail!"
"Please, ma'am!"
"..."
I had nothing to say since everyone was so resolute. I couldn't help but nod my head because they didn't seem to let me go unless I agreed.
After a while, the attending doctor came to see me. He was accompanied by Oren, who had a serious expression on his face.
"Today, I'm going to do a health checkup for you as well. I'll take a quick blood test, so could you spare me a moment?"
As he said that, the attending physician who had taken my blood left the room with a strangely swift gait.
"Then get some rest today, Madam. You don't know how much the servants are worried about you."
"... I see."
If it had been normal, I would have insisted that I was really fine, but after seeing Oren acting strangely twice, I couldn't do that.
"I really don't feel well today."
When I nodded, Oren smiled with a relieved face. The servants quietly came in and burned incense. The incense helped me sleep, and soon I began to feel sleepy. Without refusing the incense, I soon fell into a deep sleep.
That day, I had a very strange dream. At first, I didn't think it was a dream. I was playing the piano as usual. Every time I pressed a key, the melody that came out warmly caressed my ears.
Yes. That's what it sounded like. There was this world.
Now that I think about it, I haven't played properly since I hurt my ear. I continued playing, feeling a sense of gratitude that was pressing my chest tightly. Until then, I had not realized that I was in a dream. However, the moment the sound that resonated as I pressed the keys became notes and floated up, the moment the notes fluttered and floated through the air and were held in my arms.
'Ah... '
I could not help but realize that this was not reality. I looked down at the notes in my arms with blank eyes. What is this?
The notes burrowed deeper into my arms. I almost lost it, so I unconsciously hugged the strange notes tightly. Then, a strangely deep sense of fulfillment welled up deep in my chest. I stared at the notes and slowly blinked my eyes. What is this? What are you? Why am I so glad to see something I have always longed for?
...The moment I opened my eyes while thinking that, this time, black darkness greeted me.
'Ah.'
I closed my eyes blankly and opened them.
There was no piano, no notes. My eyes welled up with tears at the strangely intense sense of loss. Then, another voice rang in my ears.
"Are you awake?"
I slowly looked up. In the darkness, a silhouette floated like an illusion. Still standing on the border between dream and reality, I muttered in a hazy voice.
"... Is this a dream?"
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