#39
Early morning, before the sun had risen.
Noah carefully slipped out of Aeongi’s tight embrace. After putting on the slippers placed under the bed and draping the cardigan that hung on the chair, Noah began running down the long corridor as soon as he left the bedroom.
There were several sayings associated with Arhen’s Day.
One of them was that whoever opened their gift first would be blessed with good fortune for the coming year. Though this applied mostly to children, and had nothing to do with Noah who had no siblings his age, Noah was faithfully following the saying.
Isn’t that what the end of the year is all about?
The very idea of ending one year and welcoming a new one made people excited.
Love suddenly blossoms, and you reach out to people you haven’t contacted in a while.
A feeling of happiness and excitement kept growing for no reason.
Before his transmigration, on the morning after Christmas, Noah would find cash instead of presents by his pillow. While that was still technically a gift so he couldn’t complain, here he had real thoughtful presents waiting for him.
“Good morning.”
Noah’s face broke into a wide smile as he entered the main room, cheerfully greeting the servant who passed by him.
Noah’s small body couldn’t help but dance in front of the large decoration that Aeongi had knocked over yesterday, forcing them to rebuild it. Swaying and singing carols that the people here wouldn’t understand, Noah wandered among the piled-up presents.
“This is amazing.”
Who in the world dislikes presents? Sitting among the large gift boxes, Noah’s laughter rang out.
“Are you that happy?”
“Of course! Oh, I should greet Arhen first, first things first.”
Stopping his running around, Noah knelt in front of the fireplace, clasped his hands in front of his chest, and closed his eyes.
“Thank you, Arhen, for bestowing your brilliant light and blessings.”
“You must have done many good deeds, young master, for Arhen to give you so many gifts.”
“I was good, wasn’t I? I listened well to mom and dad. Arhen is the best!”
I’m sorry. I know Santa doesn’t exist. Whether it’s Santa not existing or Arhen not existing, it’s all the same. These are probably all bought by Loren and Lucas, but they think I believe these are Arhen’s blessings, so I’ll play along.
“Our Noah. Happy birthday.”
Noah, who was about to open the biggest present first, hugged Loren back as she embraced him, kissed his cheek, and whispered.
“Thank you for giving birth to me and raising me, mom. I love you.”
Noah’s birthday was on the day Arhen’s blessing descended, which was also the last day of the year. That’s why the first thing Noah heard on Arhen’s Day was “happy birthday.”
“When did our son grow up so much?”
Noah smiled brightly in Loren’s embrace as she caressed his cheek and kissed his forehead and cheeks. When she kissed his cheek, he would kiss hers in return, and when she playfully touched his nose, he would do the same to her.
After playing with Loren like this, Noah dove back into the pile of presents as soon as he left her arms.
As Noah was opening gifts at random, Aeongi, who had been prowling between the presents (though Noah hadn’t noticed when he arrived), brought a small box in his mouth. Noah put down what he was holding and took the box.
“Is this yours this year? Should I open it for you?”
The presents piled here weren’t just for Noah. There were also gifts from Lucas to Loren, from Loren to Lucas, and even presents for Aeongi—all mixed together, prepared by Noah’s family for each other.
When Aeongi nudged the gift with his nose as if to say “don’t say that, just open it,” Noah began unwrapping the box immediately.
“Wow~ Really…”
An exclamation of wonder escaped Noah’s lips as he opened the small box Aeongi had brought.
Animals will be animals. Among all the many gifts, what Aeongi had chosen was a small pin for himself. Even Loren, who had initially been afraid of Aeongi, had now completely accepted him as a pet.
Seeing Aeongi swishing his fluffy tail around, Loren had taken out a knitting basket she’d kept aside, and what she made were small ribbons.
Though hesitant to put them on Aeongi, Loren, together with Noah, had attached the ribbons to Aeongi while he was napping. Contrary to their expectation that Aeongi would shake them all off when he woke up, he happily walked around swishing his tail adorned with dangling ribbons.
And the next day, only one small red ribbon remained on Aeongi’s tail.
Since then, whenever Aeongi stayed at Schwein Castle, he always wore a small ribbon on his tail. Some days Loren would attach it herself, and on days she forgot, Aeongi would bring her the color of ribbon he wanted.
“Oh, this one’s different?”
As Noah was about to attach the ribbon from the box to Aeongi’s tail, he noticed that the size was different from usual. He tried placing the ribbon on various parts of Aeongi’s body.
“Aeongi, did you already find your gift?”
“Mom, this is too big.”
“Yes, this is a special ribbon.”
Taking the baby blue ribbon from Noah’s hand, Loren attached it to one of Aeongi’s ears.
“Aeongi’s wearing an earring.”
Though Aeongi fluttered his ear a few times, seemingly unused to the ribbon, he didn’t try to remove it, just like the day when the ribbon was first attached to his tail.
“We have one for our Noah too.”
And a bow tie of the same color and design as Aeongi’s was placed around Noah’s neck.
“Loren, what about me?”
“…Would you really wear this?”
Lucas, be jealous of what’s worth being jealous of.
And so, Noah’s birthday and Arhen’s Day were filled with warm laughter.
* * *
After spending a warm year-end with his family and returning to the academy, Noah propped his chin on his arm at his desk and fiddled with a small ribbon with his other hand. He didn’t remember bringing it, but when he opened his pencil case in the classroom, he found the ribbon Aeongi had been wearing.
It seemed Aeongi had been playing with it and put it in there.
Noah gazed indifferently at the students entering in groups and at those who seemed to be new students entering the classroom nervously by themselves, all while fidgeting with the ribbon. The academy was generally excited with the start of a new semester, the arrival of new students, and the beginning of new classes.
But none of that had anything to do with Noah. It wasn’t like he hadn’t experienced the start of a new semester once or twice before, and the rumors about Noah that had started last semester had transformed into something even more bizarre.
Last year, they said being close to him brought misfortune, but this year they claimed even making eye contact would bring a curse. Everyone’s imagination was so vivid. When Elisa found out and was upset about it, Noah begged her not to let this rumor reach home.
If his desire to prevent Loren, who believed her son was well-adjusted and attending the academy happily, from getting hurt was 10, then his anxiety about what Lucas might do if he found out was 90.
Tired of watching the students, Noah played with the ribbon. Twirling it and stretching it while waiting for class to begin, the classroom gradually became noisier.
Since it was the first class on the first day, there probably wouldn’t be any late students, and the classroom was filled with the sound of children talking, introducing themselves, and greeting each other.
“Why is no one sitting there?”
“Shh. Keep quiet. That’s Noah Schwein.”
“Noah Schwein?”
“Yeah, my brother told me that misfortune comes if you go near him.”
Kids, I can hear everything. Why pretend to whisper?
If I were a normal child your age, I’d be hurt and crying at those words, but I’ve lived quite a long time.
You think you’re ostracizing me? Sorry, actually, I’m the one ostracizing you.
This is definitely the first class today, so it will end early. What should I do after it ends?
Should I go to the library before Matthew arrives?
Last semester, Raymond had helped select his courses, but this semester, Noah did it himself. And Matthew, who had forcibly obtained Noah’s schedule, had created a similar schedule for himself, making the absurd claim that Noah would be lonely and needed company.
Lost in these thoughts, Noah stopped his finger, which had been moving quickly, when he sensed someone beside him. With the movement, the ribbon he’d been playing with snapped away.
“This…”
This and that. Noah’s pupils trembled slightly as he saw the hand that put down a book beside him and picked up the fallen ribbon, offering it to him.
I like having my desk space to myself, you know? Plus, the students were just talking about Noah. So it’s impossible that this person hadn’t heard. And it’s not like there are no empty seats in the classroom.
Moreover, this seat was one that students didn’t prefer.
Who likes the front-center seat closest to the teacher? It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it Noah’s dedicated seat, who had lately developed an interest in studying.
“Oh. Thanks.”
Noah raised his fingertip to lightly take the ribbon from the child’s hand.
The child’s palm, which had been facing up, moved slightly, changing to a posture that seemed to offer a handshake. Only then did Noah slowly raise his head.
“Hello, I’m Derik.”
Oh my goodness… this can’t be happening.
A perfect-looking young nobleman with silver-white hair, deep gray eyes, flawless fair skin, and an appearance that seemed straight out of a webtoon was smiling at him.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
