MFTR 74

Chapter 74

 Because My Gift Is Only Just Beginning

Above all, Annette seized the rare chance to tease Cardin, so her hand skipped over the big box in the center.

Instead, she reached for the smaller ones—cute ornaments perfect for a desk, pretty hairpins, and even handmade chocolates from a famous patisserie in the duchy, tucked inside with a note saying, “Enjoy these secretly without the master knowing, milady!”

Looking at the variety of gifts chosen with her in mind, Annette felt her heart swell with emotion.

Among them, the pair of children’s shoes adorned with lace flower decorations on the instep, purchased by the ducal knights pooling their money together, stood out most.

The box holding the shoes was filled to the brim with fresh flowers in every color.

Nearly on the verge of collapse from enduring Cardin’s oppressive presence, a pale Samuel managed to say, “Those were prepared so that milady will always walk on a path of flowers from now on,” conveying their heartfelt intention.

Annette was slightly moved, wondering how those stern knights could come up with something so thoughtful. Maybe it was because their lord, the duke, was such a kind person? She glanced at Cardin.

He seemed thoroughly sulky, as if completely displeased that she was opening every gift except his.

Startled, Annette thought she should stop teasing him and finally open his gift, so she reached out her hand.

But before she could, Cardin handed her a flat square box and another fairly large one—not as big as his, but sizable nonetheless.

“This one’s from our nephew and Lady Melin of the Marquisate, and this one’s from my mother. For reference, my brother and sister-in-law sent theirs too, but they haven’t arrived yet.”

“Their Majesties, the Emperor and Empress as well?”

She had meant to soothe Cardin quickly, but what he said was too surprising to ignore.

Now that I’ve heard that, I’m way too curious to just let it go.

Casting him a quick glance, Annette decided to wait a little longer before cheering him up and promptly opened the gifts he handed her.

The first one she unwrapped was from Mikhail and Audrey.

As if to prove how inseparable the two were, they had sent a matching set of a hardcover book and a beautifully handcrafted bookmark.

“Lady Melin said she’d send me a novel that’s trending in the capital lately—this must be it.”

Annette spoke in an excited voice, but Cardin only gave a slight nod.

His eyes now drooped downward completely, his face utterly deflated.

“Hmm…”

This won’t do.

Glancing around, Annette tugged lightly at Cardin’s sleeve and motioned for him to come closer.

Even while sulking, Cardin yielded and leaned in, and Annette whispered softly so only he could hear:

“Honestly, I saved the gift I was most excited about for last. If I opened it first, I wouldn’t be able to appreciate the others properly—and that would feel a bit rude, wouldn’t it?”

It was an especially careful remark, considering the senders of the first and second gifts were standing right there.

“Really…?”

His voice trembled as he asked, his expression filled with deep emotion—so different from the dejected man just moments ago that it was almost unbelievable.

When Annette nodded earnestly, Cardin broke into a blissful smile.

Is this really the same man who looked so miserable just a minute ago?

Cardin’s joy, like someone who had just escaped hell and entered heaven, left Samuel and Larisa dumbfounded.

Samuel, in particular, felt a surge of respect for Annette, who managed to completely change his lord’s mood with just a few words.

Annette was just as pleased, finding Cardin’s happiness utterly adorable.

How could a grown man sulk so easily and cheer up just as quickly? It was beyond cute.

Is this what people mean by wearing rose-colored glasses…?

Love really is blind.

Still, she worried that Cardin might get so carried away that others would notice how much she doted on him.

So she quickly changed the subject and asked,

“Then, may I open Her Majesty the Dowager Empress’s gift now?”

“No!”

She had assumed he would want her to save his gift for last as the “most anticipated one.”

But to her surprise, Cardin rejected the idea immediately.

“Open mine first. I’ve been waiting far too long.”

“Really?”

She felt a little guilty, realizing just how impatient he had been, but then he chuckled and whispered,

“My gift is only just beginning. Even if you open it now, the very last present will still be mine.”

…Of course.

Though she gave him a look, Annette felt a twinge of nervousness.

After all, this entire party, the servants and knights, even acquaintances from the faraway capital sending their blessings—it was all thanks to Cardin.

And it doesn’t look like this was planned overnight, either…

The thought that his gift was “just beginning” left her feeling overwhelmed, touched, and even a little pressured.

“Princess, hurry. I’m dying here.”

“Ah, alright.”

She hadn’t meant to drag it out, but now she felt bad for making him wait. Quickly, Annette untied the ribbon on the largest box and lifted the lid. Her expression immediately turned strange.

Something about this felt oddly familiar.

“Well?”

“Um… it’s a doll?”

“That’s right!”

Cardin grinned, taking an adorably small doll from the big box and handing it to her.

Annette looked down at the pink rabbit plush, which fit snugly in her arms, with a complicated expression.

Then she realized why it felt so familiar.

Larisa’s strawberry socks!

It was exactly how she had felt back then.

…

Looking back, most of the gifts she had received were things suited to her current body.

She understood that was inevitable and felt grateful, but still—

You, of all people, shouldn’t!

Annette was about to scold him for treating her like a child when she noticed the bandages on Cardin’s fingers.

Her eyes trembled as she examined the doll’s stitching and then his hands.

“Don’t tell me… you made this yourself?”

“Ah! How did you figure that out? So embarrassing…”

Cardin smiled sheepishly, asking if it was really that obvious.

Unbelievable!

Samuel shivered, recalling the scene in the office earlier—his lord finishing the doll with professional precision, then deliberately sticking a bandage on his perfectly fine finger.

And now he asks how she noticed?

The sheer audacity made Samuel shake his head.

Meanwhile, Annette, still in disbelief, asked again while looking between the doll and Cardin,

“You really made this yourself?”

“Yes. I stitched it together, thinking of you the whole time. I picked it up from watching my mother work when I was young—it turned out to be more useful than I expected.”

“Oh! I used to mend my clothes when they tore during hunts too. And since you’ve been to battlefields…”

Annette nodded to herself as if convinced.

Samuel almost blurted out a denial.

Torn clothes? This man hated even a speck of blood and would change into new clothes immediately. And as for sewing—Samuel had done his repairs for years, even for other knights.

Feeling wronged, Samuel turned sharply to look at his master.

Cardin just smiled as if to agree with Annette.

Samuel’s neck tensed, but he said nothing. He had already caused enough trouble earlier that morning. One more mistake and he might really lose his life.

He let out a heavy sigh and kept his mouth shut.

Meanwhile, Annette—feeling awkward about scolding her fiancé after all the effort he put in—fiddled with the doll’s red ribbon bow.

Then she tilted her head in curiosity.

“But why are this rabbit’s eyes so sparkly?”

They gleamed like the precious gems she had seen in the dressing room.

“Don’t tell me…”

“That’s not the main feature,” Cardin said proudly, pointing to the rabbit’s belly.

“Here, Princess. Press this.”

Annette, still doubtful, pressed its belly gently.

And then—

—Princess, happy birthday!

Cardin’s voice burst out from the doll.

Startled, Annette almost dropped it, but Cardin grabbed her hand and chuckled.

“Princess, do you dislike my handmade gift that much?”

“N-no! It’s just… the voice…”

“Did it scare you? It’s a magic device.”

“A magic device?”

Since coming to the Alkhan Empire, Annette had met her first mage—and now, her first magical tool.

Fascinated, she examined the doll carefully and pressed the belly again.

Cardin’s voice came out once more.

“Wow, that’s amazing.”

“I had Martin make it for me.”

“Martin? But he must be busy making healing potions…”

“He raised a huge fuss, of course. But what’s more important than your birthday gift? Certainly not some potion—”

…

“I’ve been waiting so eagerly for that potion,” he lied smoothly, sensing danger.

Annette stared at him for a moment before smiling in relief.

“I thought for a second you didn’t really want me to return to my original body.”

“That’s not true! I can’t wait for you to come back.”

“Really? You’re not secretly happy I’m still in a child’s body?”

If he showed even the slightest sign of that, she looked ready to tear him apart.