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āBut your self-study through books can only go so far without a teacher to help.āĀ
āItās okay. I donāt want to burden your Majesty any further.ā
The Empress hearing that answer looked at Damian with a mixed expression.Ā
How would one describe that look?Ā
Should it be described as feelings of pride and pity mixed together?
After a while, the Empress nodded.
āVery well. Iāll go disturb the Imperial library later on.ā
āWhat?ā
The Empressās unconventional statement took Damian by surprise.Ā
At the same time, the Empress took a deep breath.Ā
āIād like to help find a teacher for you but itāll be difficult, to say the least.ā
Obviously, the Emperor will attempt to interfere.Ā
Unfortunately, even if I do find a teacher, thereās no guarantee that the Emperorās influence hasnāt reached any if not all the teachers.
But thatās pessimism talking, thereās-Ā
Damian interrupted the Empressās train of thought with a reply.Ā
āThank you, I really appreciate your consideration, Your Majesty,ā said Damian with a bright smile.
āYou donāt have to thank me so much. Your Highness is the heir to the throne.ā
The Empress resolutely shook her head and commented.Ā
āItās rather unfortunate that you never had an opportunity to receive an education until now.ā
āI agree with Her Majesty.ā
The Duke, who had been watching the situation silently, inserted himself into the conversation.Ā
Huh? I donāt remember the Duke being friendly with Damian. Doesnāt the Duke dislike him?
I glanced at the Duke.Ā
āBy the way, Your Highness.ā
āYes?ā
āAbout the advice to use public opinion to pressure the Emperor into supporting Margrave Antes.ā
Damian stiffened his shoulders slightly.Ā
āDid Your Highness come up with this on his own?ā
The Duke had posed his question in a calming voice to prevent any insinuation of putting him on the spot.
āā¦ā¦Yes I did, is there a problem?āĀ
āNo, itās not a problem.ā
The Dukeās eyes which were focused on Damian, for a moment stood out with a certain distinction.
āItās rather that not only I but Her Majesty, the Empress as well owes you a great debt.ā
āWithout your advice, the dinner with Margrave Antes could have taken a toll for the worst, not to mention the threat of the magical beasts at the frontier if the Emperor didnāt give his supportā¦.but I digress.ā
āYour idea was pivotal to the success of our dinner with Antes. Thank you, Your Highness.ā
Yep, thatās my boy, Damian! Heās so smart!
I feel proud of him, like a mother proud of her child.
Damian, who wasnāt accustomed to receiving compliments from others, scratched his cheek with a shy look.
Then he turned and looked back at me.Ā
ā¦Why is he looking at me all of a sudden?
āBy the way, Charlize.ā
āHm?ā
āSince itās my birthday, that reminds meā¦.when is your birthday?ā
Oh, dear.Ā
Why did it have to be that?Ā
Iām embarrassed now that the Dukeās and Empressās gazes are fixated on me and I donāt see any way I can change the subject.Ā
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Well on the bright side, itās not a difficult question to answer.Ā
I opened my mouth without hesitation.Ā
āI donāt know.ā
āā¦.Huh?ā
At my unexpected answer, Damian made a bewildered face.
I kindly added an explanation.Ā
āIf I donāt even know the faces of my parents, how would I know about small details like my birthday?ā
āNow that you mention it, I remember Charlizeās records, particularly her date of birth being stated as āunknown.āā
After the Empress said that, the atmosphere somehow felt all serious, leaving me a bit confused.Ā
The Empress had narrowed her forehead in thought.Ā Ā
The Duke also squinted his eyes at me.Ā
ā¦..Not to mention, Damian too.Ā
Suddenly, Damian opened his mouth.Ā
āAlright, let your birthday be May 7.ā
May 7? Why randomly pick May 7?Ā
I looked at Damian with a puzzled look.Ā
āItās the day, the day you and I first met,ā Damian added in a firm voice.Ā
āI-Is that so?ā
Wow, he remembered that?Ā
Unlike me, who was embarrassed, Damianās demeanor remained unchanged.Ā
āIāll make sure to remember your birthday from now on.ā
āā¦ā¦That wonāt do. Charlizeās birthday should be on May 28.ā
The Empress interrupted with a voice full of envy.
Really? Do I have to choose between May 7 or May 28 now?
This could get out of hand. Where did the date May 28 even come from?Ā
Worried, I tried to speak but-
Are they?
āWhy should Charlizeās birthday be the day she met the crown prince?ā
The Empress clenched her fists.Ā
āIf thatās the case then Charlizeās birthday should be on the day she and I met!ā
ā¦.Well, this is happening. Ugh, how did things turn out like thisā¦
At the absurdity of it all, I stood there, watching the rivalry that somehow sprung up between the Empress and Damian.Ā
āI said it first!ā
āNo, thereās no law that says you can designate a day just because you said it first?!ā
The Empress and Damian didnāt give each other a single inch of ground when it came to my birthday.Ā
And the Dukeā¦ā¦
āā¦..thatās my sister, there she is acting in such a way.ā
Itās so childish.Ā
The Duke shook his head, his emerald-colored eyes becoming dim.Ā
It was like he was reflecting on the past and how the Empress, the sister he cherished, came to this.
Regardless, the quarrel between the Empress and Damian intensified with every waking moment.Ā
āLetās do this instead.ā
āWhat do you mean?ā
āWhy donāt we ask Charlize to choose, instead of arguing between ourselves?ā
The Empressās expression upon saying that was one of confidence, completely sure of victory.Ā
At the same time, the two glanced at me.Ā
āCharlize, when do you want your birthday to be?ā