"My… birthday?"
Gwen looked at the elegant Viktor in front of her, her whole body frozen in place.
The cello music around them shifted from its originally gentle rhythm to something light and cheerful, and the lights throughout the restaurant reflected more brightly from the crystals overhead.
Everyone's gaze was focused entirely on the two of them.
It was as if everyone present tonight was here solely to celebrate her.
Gwen had never experienced a feeling like this before.
Because of her childhood, no one had ever celebrated for her.
Only when Kefra was at home would that sister who loved her most secretly prepare two cakes for her.
But as Kefra grew up and left home, that small surprise was stripped away from Gwen's life.
Over time, even she herself forgot this day, this special day that was special to her every year.
At this moment, Gwen seemed to understand.
Why Liya had tirelessly helped her put on makeup and design such an exquisite dress.
Why Viktor had suddenly invited her to dinner.
So it turned out that from the very beginning, they had already been preparing this.
An indescribable emotion slowly rose from the depths of Gwen's heart, quietly brewing.
She remembered now.
Today was her birthday.
A day she herself had almost completely forgotten, yet it was Viktor who reminded her.
This person she had once hated the most.
Gwen stood there stiffly, feeling as if a huge stone were hanging over her heart.
She wanted to say thank you, to thank Viktor standing in front of her.
But her throat felt like it was blocked by something, and she couldn't say a single word.
She stood there, but her heart grew anxious.
Clearly, countless eyes were watching her.
If she didn't respond at all, wouldn't that make Viktor awkward?
'Move, Gwen.'
'It's just one sentence. Is it really that hard?'
'Please…'
"I…"
"Hm?"
Viktor smiled at her.
That smile was an expression Gwen had never seen on Viktor's face before.
'Was he… happy?'
'Just because of me?'
'For someone like me?'
Even as she remained silent, his gaze stayed gentle.
Like a bright moonlight.
Guiding her, illuminating her.
"You don't like it?"
"N-no… that's not it."
Gwen shook her head and hurriedly spoke.
But her voice sounded a little hoarse.
Gwen felt nervous, and a bit regretful.
Regretful that she had spoken at all.
How could her voice sound this bad?
Viktor would definitely be laughed at by others.
Perhaps noticing her slight embarrassment, Viktor leaned forward a little, in a gentlemanly manner, and slowly took her hand.
The touch of his broad palm came through the gloves.
A warm sensation brushed against her palm, making her feel a tingling numbness.
He was holding her hand again, yet this time felt completely different from before.
Her heart felt itchy somehow, yet there was also a strange sense of reassurance.
As if someone had built a steel fortress around her, protecting her.
Viktor's voice slowly sounded beside Gwen's ear, "Then, it's time for us to dine."
"Miss Gwen."
The moment his words fell, flames surged up from the floor of the restaurant, shooting straight toward the sky.
On the ground, the released verdant greenery quietly ignited, and the slender tree trunks were wrapped in flames.
Leaf buds burned, and at the instant they were engulfed by fire, clusters of crimson flowers burst into bloom.
Like epiphyllums blooming, bringing beauty to everyone for a brief instant before being devoured by flames, carrying an even more exquisite brilliance.
The temperature gradually rose, yet the surroundings only became pleasantly warm.
Like sitting beside a fireplace, quiet and cozy.
Then, the expanding flames gradually enveloped Gwen and Viktor together.
The massive restaurant opened its dome, and a castle of fire slowly took shape from within.
Under everyone's stunned gazes, the plants that sparkled with embers gradually turned to ash, drifting through the air.
A sheet of flame suddenly roared up, fluttering for a moment.
The two figures within the flames seemed to turn into ashes after the fire dispersed.
Like a streak of light ignited in the air, quietly departing.
And after they left, the huge cake on the table was sliced automatically, as if by a blue magical dagger.
Uniform slices of cake were divided onto countless plates.
They slowly floated through the air, as if lifted by invisible hands, and were placed steadily in front of everyone watching.
The nobles stared at the cake before them, recalling Viktor's wondrous magic, feeling a bit at a loss.
Who would have thought, they just came out to eat, and ended up getting cake too.
Perhaps… Viktor wasn't as cold and unapproachable as others claimed?
In any case, this time, Viktor's extremely high-profile celebration of Gwen's birthday would soon spread throughout the entire royal capital.
———
Gwen slowly descended to the ground and gradually opened her eyes.
What greeted her was an enormous and luxurious private dining room.
Candlelight lined the walls above, countless points of light stretching toward the ceiling.
The floor beneath her feet was incredibly soft. When Gwen looked down, she saw that red wool carpets covered the entire room.
Massive crimson, silk-like curtains hung ten meters down to the floor.
Transparent windows surrounded the room. Looking out from inside, they were in the highest rooftop private room of the entire restaurant.
Through the windows, every movement of the crowd below could be seen clearly.
The attendants inside the room stood neatly on both sides, their movements elegant, every one of them extremely respectful.
Before them was a very long dining table. On the white tablecloth were golden plates of varying sizes, filled with delicacies, extravagant beyond measure.
"Isn't this… a bit too wasteful?"
"I didn't know what you liked to eat, so I ordered one of every dish."
As Viktor spoke, an attendant pulled out the chair in front of him and let him sit down.
Another attendant stepped forward to hand him a napkin, but Viktor waved his hand. A flame ignited out of thin air, transforming into a burning napkin that hovered in front of his chest.
Then he casually snapped his fingers in the air, and the dishes around them floated up, rotating one after another in front of Gwen.
It dazzled her eyes.
Whatever she wanted to eat, with just a thought, the dish would float to her the very next second.
Ever since getting to know Viktor, Gwen had always believed that magic was an incredibly wondrous and convenient power.
The attendants stared in a daze. Watching Viktor's effortless actions, they felt rather unnecessary.
'You're this amazing, what do you even need us attendants for?'
Viktor nodded slightly to one side, and the attendants immediately understood.
With keen awareness, they all turned around in unison and neatly exited the private room.
In the vast room, only Viktor and Gwen remained, sitting across from each other.
She lifted her head and glanced at Viktor.
The man before her was calm and composed, holding his knife and fork, eating slowly.
Even the way he chewed made Gwen feel it was incredibly elegant.
She had only eaten with Viktor twice.
And every time, she felt that Viktor's elegance wasn't something trained later in life, but a temperament ingrained deep in his bones.
He perfectly embodied the gentle elegance of nobility.
Just watching him was a kind of enjoyment.
Gwen gradually relaxed, opened her mouth, and said gratefully, "Thank you… for getting me out of that situation just now."
In a situation like that, if Gwen hadn't said anything, both of them would only have been ridiculed.
After all, being unable to say even a single sentence, was that the mindset a former Royal Knight Commander should have?
Thankfully, Viktor had suddenly taken her away, quickly pulling her out of the crowd's gaze.
It was as if he had anticipated it all along, always ready to help her out.
"It's fine."
Viktor didn't lift his head and continued eating at an unhurried pace.
Gwen lowered her head, her hands rubbing together restlessly at her waist, and nervously asked, "Th-then… um."
"How did you know my birthday, and why… did you do all this?"
'Why are you being so good to me?'
That sentence, Gwen didn't say out loud.
She was afraid that he would simply reply that this was just basic courtesy as a noble.
For some reason, she didn't want to hear those words come from Viktor's mouth.
Aside from Kefra, she couldn't think of a second person who had ever celebrated her birthday.
She wanted to quietly preserve this moment in her heart, even if this so-called kindness was nothing more than her own wishful thinking.
Viktor picked up his knife and fork, cut off a thick piece of steak, and speared it with the fork.
"Open your mouth."
Gwen froze, her small mouth slightly opening.
She was just about to say something, when Viktor had already stood up, reached out, and brought the piece of beef toward her mouth.
Gwen leaned back slightly, staring at the steak, her face instantly flushing red.
"I-I… I didn't mean that…"
"Open your mouth."
The calm words carried an unmistakable tone of refusal to be denied.
Under Viktor's gaze, Gwen's mind fell into chaos.
She couldn't help but close her eyes and slightly part her lips.
The steaming piece of beef was placed into her mouth.
Gwen chewed, feeling the juices burst across her mouth, warmth flowing over her tongue.
It was clearly just an ordinary steak, a normal taste.
Yet right now, it felt unbelievably delicious.
Gradually, Gwen began to sink into it.
She didn't want to open her eyes.
Didn't want to see Viktor disappear in front of her once she did.
Better to just let it stay like this.
Soft rustling sounds came from beside her as Viktor sat back down.
He picked up his knife and fork again, casually speared a piece of cake, and put it into his mouth.
After chewing slowly and swallowing, Viktor's voice gently sounded by Gwen's ear.
"After we finish eating, don't go home yet."
"I'll take you somewhere."
"…!?"
As if she had thought of something, Gwen's face flushed crimson.
She suddenly opened her eyes, completely unable to stay calm anymore, hurriedly stood up, and waved a hand frantically in front of Viktor, loudly stopping him, "N-no… no way!"
"That kind of thing should at least wait until after marriage…"
Viktor, "?"