Today is Ronschkaâs birthday!
Adele took Ronschkaâs hand and walked over carefully. The child had his eyes closed. And as soon as the two arrived at the dining hall, Adele opened the door without hesitation and entered.
âYou can open your eyes now.â
âHappy birthday, Ronschka!â
At the same time, peopleâs voices came crashing in. Ronschka was surprised for a moment, but soon smiled. Because Adele explained about a birthday in advance.
Originally, she was going to surprise him without telling him anything, but changed her mind in the middle.
Since itâs Ronschkaâs first birthday celebration, she wanted him to know its meaning more clearly and enjoy it. So Adele explained what a birthday is all about in detail.
âRonschka, a birthday is⊠the day you first came into the world. The first time Ronschka burst into tears.â
Adele said that and paused. How did Adele feel when she gave birth to Ronschka?
Even if it was only a few days, he was the child of the person her heart was given to.
âMom? What are you thinking?â
âNo, nothing. That day is a blessed day. Everyone who is born should be blessed. Thatâs why we eat delicious food and have fun that day.â
Adele finished her explanation with that. Ronschka didnât seem to understand, but he didnât ask more.
Thatâs understandable. Because she had never taken care of Ronschkaâs birthday as far back as she could remember. He probably didnât even know when his birthday was.
So Adele wanted to celebrate Ronschkaâs birthday well this time.
âRonschka, itâs a birthday cake!â
Leon, who jumped out of nowhere, took Ronschka by the hand and led him in front of the cake. A few small candles flickered on top of the round, white cake.
âYou can blow it out! Then your wish will come true!â
Ronschka, hearing Leonâs words, puffed out his cheeks nervously. He seemed to be planning to blow it out all at once.
Adele grabbed her chest at the cuteness of Ronschka.
Ronschka managed to blow out all the candles on the cake. Then thunderous applause followed.
Because many people were invited, the dining hall quickly became lively.
It was the result of Adeleâs request to Lucas to throw her sonâs first birthday party big. Most of them are maids, but Lucas readily agreed.
People chatted, shared food, and approached Ronschka in the middle and gave him gifts.
âYou make a bouquet every day,â said Leon. He was the first, he gifted a vase to Ronschka. Tension was evident in his voice, as if he had chosen it with great care.
Madeleineâs gift is new clothes. She said, âGood fabric came in this time.â
Kishâs gift is a notebook. âStudy hard,â he said.
In addition, small gifts and words of congratulations poured in. Except for a few people who can afford it, it wasnât expensive, but it looked pretty good as it piled up.
And finally, Adele held out the gift she had prepared for Ronschka.
âThank you for being born, Ronschka.â
Ronschka looked at Adele with an incomprehensible expression as he accepted the gift. Then he gave her a big hug.
Adel felt Ronschkaâs arms around her waist were especially strong. She understood his feelings, so she just kept quiet while patting his back.
Just then, the door opened and a cute girl came in. Her pink hair decorated with ribbons was so cute that she couldnât help but admire her.
Adele thought Lucas would be the one to come, but a girl she had never seen before appeared. Could she be friends with Ronschka? Is she the child of one of the maids?
Adele smiled as she walked over to the girl and bent her knees. When she met her eyes, she saw clear and beautiful red eyes.
The girl bowed her head and replied, âHello!â
Oh, even the way she greets is so lovely.
She then asked her name, but just then, a large shadow fell behind the girl.
Then came a low voice. âHer name is Rosaline.â
Rosaline? Adele froze as she raised her head, repeating the name in her head. Because she recognized the person standing behind Rosaline.
Red eyes and red hair. That person who resembled Ronschka was someone Adele would never forget.
Because he is Ronschkaâs biological father!
Adele forced herself to swallow the screams of despair that were about to burst out. His fingertips were trembling.
âWhy is that person here!â
Itâs like a terrible nightmare.
But the moment she heard Ronschkaâs voice, she came to her senses. This isnât a nightmare, itâs reality. It wasnât a dream to have Ronschkaâs biological father right in front of her right now.
Adele pulled herself together. What should I say? No matter how much she thought, she couldnât find the right words to say.
Long time no see? Do you remember me? Are you here because you know you have a child?
Countless thoughts ran through her head. But in the end, Adele couldnât utter a word.
Then, he spoke first. âIâve seen him a few times, but Iâm seeing you for the first time today.â
The moment Adele heard that, her mind went blank.
She clearly heard it, but she didnât understand it at all.
What are you talking about? First? First time?
Then what about the days we spent together? No matter how many years have passed, have you forgotten it completely?
How! How could you! Her anger welled up.
The person she waited for so long and longed for love has forgotten her. In fact, heâs not even worth remembering.
That fact made her sad, upset, and in pain so much that it was difficult for her to calm herself down.
âCome to your senses!â
Adele gritted her teeth. It felt like she was being eaten by a long-forgotten past.
âYou decided not to go back to the foolish past!â
She tried hard to pretend to be nonchalant.
âIâm Hayren, Rosalineâs father. Nice to meet you.â
Adele looked straight at him. She clasped her hands together so as not to tremble, her fingernails scratched them. The slight pain brought Adele to her senses.
His name⊠his name is different from what I knew. He didnât give me that name. From the very beginning, everything was a lie.
A feeling of betrayal enveloped Adele. Gradually, her eyes felt hot.
If I cry here, he will find it strange. If I make a mistake, he will find out about our past and that Ronschka is his son.
Didnât Lucas say that Hayren covets Ronschka? If he knows Ronschka is his son, he would immediately take him away.
She would let Ronschka go to whoever would make him happy. But Adele knew very well, this man could never. He would only use Ronschka until he died and then throw him away.
Adele managed to smile broadly, enduring the pain. A soft voice without trembling came out. âNice to meet you. This is my first time seeing you.â
Kish approached Adeleâs side and asked Hayren with a stiff face. âSir Hayren, what are you doing here?â
âI heard that today is Ronschkaâs birthday, so Iâm here to congratulate him. Right, Rosaline?â
Rosaline showed the gift she was holding in her arms. Itâs a box containing a spirit stone that Hayren had prepared in advance.
Seeing him, Kish held back a sigh. He knew that Lucas was trying to keep Hayren from seeing and Adele and her son.
Kish was also the one who helped gather information about Hayren and passed it on to Adele.
âThis is just a small birthday party. This is not a place for Sir Hayren to participate.â
Hayren smiled and looked back, then he added, âIf Lucas can participate, I guess I can too, right?â
After saying that, Lucas, who had just arrived, stood with a stiff expression.
Heyren looked at Rosaline and Ronschka, raising the corners of his mouth. He knew he would be rejected if he came, so he brought his daughter on purpose.
Lucas felt uncomfortable. But he couldnât say anything more. If he said something wrong, only Rosaline would be hurt.
âRosaline could just come alone and your congratulations would be delivered.â
âIâd love to, but Rosaline canât be without me. Sheâs still immature.â
âWhat are you talking about at a birthday party?â
Lucas pushed only Rosaline into the dining hall and closed the door.