Father, I Won’t Do Anything

‘How coincidental that this is happening during Marilyn’s birthday party…’

Jaina gazed at the invitation before her with a slightly troubled expression.

Despite the lack of evidence, the mere existence of an unfounded rumor made her want to refrain from social gatherings.

‘Marilyn told me not to come, but I can’t really miss it.’

While Marilyn had been considerate, Jaina wanted to celebrate her dear friend’s birthday precisely because she was a considerate friend.

‘I have nothing left to lose anyway.’

If Jaina had even ten more years to live, she might have postponed it until next year out of consideration for Marilyn.

But Jaina would die this year.

Before her death, she wanted to attend her friend’s birthday party.

“Miss, we’ve arrived.”

With the coachman’s assistance, Jaina alighted from the carriage. However, she had requested that her attendant not announce her arrival.

“Then I shall escort you inside discretely.”

Without surprise, the attendant led Jaina through a secluded path and carefully ushered her into the manor. Marilyn had clearly forewarned him.

“Jaina, you made it!”

Marilyn rushed over in a high-pitched voice and embraced Jaina.

“You didn’t have to come, but I’m glad you did despite the trouble!”

“It’s your birthday party, of course I’d come.”

Marilyn’s birthday party was being held in the manor’s gardens. Behind Marilyn, servants were busily carrying various items. However, even in their hurry, they kept glancing this way. Jaina was well aware those glances weren’t simply due to her presence.

“Hey, why are they looking at our Jaina like that!”

As Marilyn angrily raised her voice, the servants turned away with sheepish expressions.

Marilyn grasped Jaina’s hand. Jaina gave an awkward smile.

“I’m not sure if I should have come here.”

“Don’t say that.”

“I prepared something in case people focus on me instead of you…”

Jaina showed Marilyn the vial she had brought. It contained a shimmering brown liquid.

“If you pour this potion on your hair, it will change your hair color.”

Even just altering one’s hair and eye color could significantly change a person’s overall appearance.

Jaina was a newly debuted lady, so there weren’t many who knew her face well.

“How about introducing me as a distant relative of yours?”

“Jaina, you’re a genius!”

After pouring the potion Hilvenzia had given her onto her hair, Jaina became a lady with the comparatively common brown locks. Not stopping there, Marilyn took her to her room and curled Jaina’s naturally straight hair.

Adding the bonnet she had brought, covering her hair deeply, from a distance it would be hard to recognize her as Jaina without close scrutiny.

“Wow, you really do look like a different person. Even I might not recognize you at first glance.”

Deliberately having Marilyn go ahead first, Jaina entered the gardens sometime after her with the time gap.

Fortunately, Marilyn had excluded those most likely to make unkind remarks towards Jaina, such as Countess Milpres who had caused friction previously.

Jaina let out a chuckle.

‘The Countess Bondrewd must have given quite the scolding…’

Having brought a cousin brother as her partner for the debutante ball meant it would be difficult for the current Count Bondrewd to arrange her marriage through his connections.

In that case, she would have to meet suitable grooms at social gatherings as much as possible.

Despite it being her own birthday party, Marilyn couldn’t only invite close friends.

As the hostess, the Countess Bondrewd wouldn’t want to miss this opportunity for Marilyn to shine at this soiree celebrating her birthday.

Being the main guest, eligible bachelors would undoubtedly seek glances at Marilyn, and perhaps one would even consider proposing to her.

‘An outdoor birthday party is quite lovely too.’

Today’s party venue had been arranged entirely according to Marilyn’s tastes.

An impressive fountain with refreshingly cascading water, a well-tended garden blooming with exquisite fresh flowers.

Glancing around, Jaina spotted their group of friends as well. However, they were either conversing with partners or had come with family, preventing them from gathering together.

‘Anyway, I’ll be leaving shortly.’

She had decided to stay only until Marilyn cut the cake, made a wish, and received her birthday gifts.

‘Marilyn looks so happy.’

Despite the intertwined considerations of family interests, Marilyn seemed truly happy being celebrated by everyone. Seeing that made Jaina smile proudly like an older sister.

However, not everything went smoothly.

“Lady Marilyn, isn’t your exposed shoulder a bit too excessive today?”

“…Count Hilfran.”

Marilyn’s radiant expression subtly contorted. Sensing something amiss, Jaina watched the situation closely.

-There is someone I’m concerned about, actually.

Marilyn had mentioned this before.

-An uncle I have to invite due to my parents’ business dealings, but his gaze towards me feels rather unsettling.

“Hmm hmm. In any case, happy birthday. Here, take this.”

“Ah, thank you.”

It wasn’t yet time to receive birthday gifts. However, it seemed unwise to refuse at that moment.

Yet Count Hilfran brazenly disregarded such propriety after failing to observe it himself.

“Why don’t you open it?”

With no choice, Marilyn undid the wrapping on the gift she had received. Her complexion stiffened.

“…”

“It’s a ring. Why don’t you try it on?”

“It seems like too extravagant a gift.”

Without hesitation, Marilyn extended the ring case back towards him, having not even tried it on. Count Hilfran’s expression instantly crumpled.

“What’s this? Surely you’re not rejecting it because you dislike the ring?”

“No, that’s not it.”

“Then is it me you dislike?”

Despite Marilyn’s polite refusal citing it as excessive, Count Hilfran persisted relentlessly. The atmosphere grew uncomfortably tense.

“You’re aware of my close relationship with Count Bondrewd, aren’t you?”

Marilyn was inherently honest and straightforward by nature. She wasn’t the type to beat around the bush in such situations.

However, she deeply loved her parents and became timid when it came to matters that could harm them.

And unfortunately, at this moment, both Count and Countess Bondrewd had briefly stepped away.

‘What should I do? I can’t intervene directly.’

If the ‘Lady Jaina’ from the rumors stepped forward now, it would only escalate the commotion further.

‘In that case.’

Jaina snapped her fingers.

“Ugh, what, what is…?”

Grrruuurrrgggle! Grrrooooorrrggglllee!

Embarrassingly loud, unmentionable noises erupted from Count Hilfran’s abdomen.

“Ah, no I…”

However, before Count Hilfran could offer any excuses, his stomach flipped again.

Grruuurrrgggle, poooot, phhhhhsssshhh!

People covered their faces with disgusted expressions. Marilyn, who had been nearby, swiftly retreated with a look of contempt.

“Ughkk!”

Twisting his legs, Count Hilfran scurried away in evident discomfort. People furrowed their brows with disdainful expressions.

‘Count Hilfran’s reputation will likely become a laughingstock now.’

Jaina’s mother, Bezrice, had been of the Black Night race. As her daughter, Jaina was born with an affinity for the ‘Darkness’ element and could skillfully wield curse-type magic.

Though the ‘Sky’ element she had inherited from Diamid was her strongest affinity.

‘It’s good I didn’t go overboard.’

Before Count Hilfran had left, Jaina had cast an insomnia curse on him.

Unable to sleep properly for several days, the dazed Count Hilfran would no longer have the energy to persistently harass Marilyn.

Jaina tilted her head.

‘Why do I feel like I’m starting to resemble Hilvenzia…?’

Marilyn looked straight at Jaina.

When Jaina gave a coy blink, Marilyn responded with a bright, polite smile.

Shortly after, standing before the cake, Marilyn joyfully blew out the candles with a radiant smile. That smile etched itself into Jaina’s eyes, shining brilliantly under the sunlight.

‘She certainly knows how to captivate people.’

Marilyn’s presence seemed to leave a deep impression not just on Jaina, but others as well, as several men approached her.

“Happy birthday, Lady Marilyn. Let’s talk more later.”

Jaina quietly presented her gift during the gift-giving time before turning away. Then she pulled her bonnet down lower.

It was time to return to the Magic Tower.

‘I should start planning my exit timing…’

As Jaina gradually made her way from the center of the birthday party venue, it happened.

“Ah, Lady Jaina!”

Jaina’s eyes widened at the loud voice calling out to her.

“Lady Jaina, you say?”

“The Jaina from those rumors is here…?”

She couldn’t fathom why Raikis had appeared before her.

Frozen in place, Jaina surveyed her surroundings with only her eyes moving.

“How did you…?”

She had been under the impression the performer wasn’t Raikis. From a distance, Marilyn’s face seemed equally bewildered, clearly not having expected this.

Raikis spoke calmly, as if addressing Jaina’s unvoiced question.

“The performer originally scheduled suddenly fell ill, so I came as a substitute. I couldn’t let a young lady’s birthday be ruined, after all.”

His latter words sounded utterly repulsive.

Had Raikis been slightly more considerate, he wouldn’t have loudly called out Jaina’s name here.

‘Clearly, his intention was to draw attention.’

Feigning nonchalance with an unfazed expression, Raikis remarked brazenly:

“Oh dear, have I been impolite? Even though you changed your hair color and covered your face with a bonnet due to those recent rumors circulating, I still failed to read the situation…”