***Arc 10 One Who Doesn't Acknowledge, Chapter 249 Side Story: Days and Years***

Golden hair shining red.

The beautiful girl, having her dress removed, leapt onto the bed in her underwear, rolling around.

The lovely smile she had shown at the party earlier disappeared, and she looked uncomfortable and moody.

Kreschenta let out a deep sigh as she rolled onto her back and swung her legs.

"Year after year, it's so troublesome."

“Thank you for your hard work, Kreschenta-sama.”

Nora, the black-haired servant with a neat but unremarkable face, took her foot and carefully removed Kreschenta’s socks.

"My legs are tired, Nora.”

"Yes, understood."

Then, taking a warmed cloth, Nora cleansed her feet and lightly massaged them.

Year after year――her birthday celebration.

If it were a commoner, it would be a small, happy party at home.

But for one born into royalty, it was different.

A princess was public property, and someone like ‘me’ didn't exist.

Whether she wanted it or not, large-scale feasts and national events were held.

Showered with compliments and congratulations without a break, without being able to even enjoy the lavish meal.

Even if she possesses extraordinary intelligence and talent, she was still just a child.

Having spent the past few days preparing for the feast, Nora could see that Kreschenta was so tired that she couldn't hide, and Nora’s eyebrows furrowed.

Being born into the royal family was not as happy as people imagined it to be.

The only place in this world where Kreschenta could rest her wings was in this small world given to her.

Thinking that way. Nora didn't even feel it was a hard work serving her.

Cleaning her small feet, gently massaging them.

Nora then approached the cold dishes prepared in the room and examined them.

Nothing had changed.

However, even if there was no apparent abnormality, it was difficult to know what whether that was true.

Taking the knife and fork, Nora lightly tasted the food.

She took a sip of the soup and a piece of bread.

She washed them down with water from the pitcher, and ensuring that there was no abnormal taste, she breathe a slight relief.

Whenever she left the room, she made sure to check everything.

Perhaps she was being too cautious.

However, ever since she learned that Kreschenta had killed the other princes, she had been constantly plagued by anxiety.

Just like Kreschenta had done, perhaps other would target her too.

Wouldn't her sins come back to haunt her one day?

Nora was aware of her own nervousness, but she couldn't stop it.

"Please wait a moment for your meal."

"I understand."

After saying that she bowed her head to Kreschenta, took off her underwear, and wiped her body with her own cloth.

Kreschenta complied.

As she watched Nora's hands and the meal, she let out a yawn.

Leaning lazily against Nora with a slightly tired expression, she suddenly spoke up.

“I wonder what’s so auspicious about it?”

"...?"

"It's a ridiculous event. It's just turning a year older, how ridiculous."

‘Don’t you think so?’ Kreschenta looked at Nora.

With her transparent purple eyes.

As if despising everything.

"Even though they tried to get rid of me when I was born."

Unable to bear it anymore, Nora averted her gaze.

"This world is full of idiots. They celebrate the birth of a child no one wanted, calling it the birthday of a noble princess. How absurd."

It was a curse-like remark.

To her, who had grown up without the happiness that children should experience, that was probably how everything in the world seem to her.

When she was born into this world, what was given to her was not a blessing but a curse.

She was treated not with love, but with suspicion.

Even after she was raised as a princess, those never disappeared.

"Well, in a way, it's more convenient for them to be dump. It's better than them being smart."

――Kreschenta recalled her adorable older sister.

She was like a baby bird, following Nora around without even suspecting anything.

‘――We've temporarily decided to raise her as His Majesty's child, but just to be safe, we've decided to keep it hidden for a while. I've heard that you previously took care of a Cursed Child. If anything happens, report immediately.’

What distorted Kreschenta was everything around her.

For example, what would have happened if she had been born in a commoner's home?

What would have happened if she had grown up with the love she deserved?

Nora could never make up for everything that was taken from her.

"……I"

"...?"

“At the very least...I am happy from the bottom of my heart that Kreschenta-sama was born.”

After hearing that, Kreschenta turned to face her.

She looked up at Nora with her small body, stroke her cheek, and meet her gaze.

"Ufufu, I know. Nora wants to start over, right?"

"Start over..."

"To atone for killing Nee-sama. By serving me, to pretend it never happened. ...Right?"

"…that, kind"

The words didn't come out.

But Kreschenta seemed amused.

"Rest assured. I don't doubt you. If you continue to serve me like this, I'll forget about the past, and I'll make sure to give you something in return."

"Hg..."

"You were the one who saved me, Nora. Don't worry, I'm going to thank you properly."

That wasn't what she wanted to say.

Those were not the words she wanted to give to her.

It was not like she wanted anything in return, nor was it to atone for her sins, but such excuses seemed flimsy.

In fact, even if she said it, the girl would likely perceive it as such.

She would accept it with a sober face.

――I love you.

Such a simple phrase was harder than any words to utter for her.

“My apologies”

"…? What's wrong, Nora? Don't suddenly start crying."

She instinctively covered her face with both hands and shook her head.

Unable to give even the single word she wanted to convey more than anything.

Unable to tell her.

“Emotionally unstable, you really are a crybaby, Nora. How about you be a little more resolute as my servant?”

"My, apologies……"

"Did I say something that offended you? If you have something to say, please say it clearly, how troublesome."

Unable to say anything, she shook her head.

She heard the usual exasperated sigh, and a small palm rested on her head.

"Then please try not to make a sound. Listening to your crying while eating is doubly annoying. I'm tired."

"……,yes"

Her touch was gentle, as if soothing a child who was throwing a tantrum.

Originally, she should have been the one to do that.

Nora only, only let out a sob at how pathetic she was.

After the civil war ended, thing calmed down, welcoming the birthday celebration.

After that was over, a dubious smile crossed the face of the rather unpleasant servant, Anne, who led her to the estate.

Tired from her birthday celebration, Kreschenta headed to the royal estate dining room, fed up.

When Anne opened the door, Kreschenta was greeted by flower petals pouring down right before her eyes.

Krische and Selene, who were sitting on chairs, clapped repeatedly, and Elvena, who was holding a basket of flower petals, bowed.

The red-haired servant who was also carrying the basket greeted Kreschenta with her devious smile, as usual, wondering what the fun was.

"...What is it?"

"It's a birthday party. Fufu, Kreschenta-sama is busy with various things during the birthday festival, so we have decided to hold a small party again at the estate."

"I'm tired."

"Don't say that. Now, please take a look here."

In the center of the table were three dish of meat, pumpkin, and Lakura pies.

There were also two types of soup, fish-based and sheep-based.

There were pizzas lined up, roasted chicken, steak, sausages with cheese, and a variety of breads――the steam rising from the table was mixed with delicious aromas.

It were freshly made and crispy.

At the celebration festival――she couldn't eat any food and was extremely hungry.

Although she was half expecting it, Kreschenta couldn't hide her reaction when she saw it, and for a moment her cheeks seemed to relax.

"I-I just wanted to eat something light and go to sleep quickly though."

――However, she immediately glared at the red-haired servant with a displeased look on her face.

"Now, now, now, here."

The red-haired servant didn’t mind it.

Bery Argan brazenly grabbed Kreschenta's hand and pulled her towards the back of the dining room.

The short side of the rectangular table.

She guided Kreschenta to the seat where Selene usually sat and forced her to sit down.

"It's a long-awaited celebration, so it's no good if you look like that, Kreschenta. Ehehe, look, today, all of it is my best."

She must be unable to wait for the meal.

Her older sister looked at Kreschenta urgingly,

"Really, what not an honest child. What are you going to do about being so stubborn about being hungry?"

Selene told Kreschenta with a tired face, as if she was exasperated.

"...Shut up."

Kreschenta puffed out her cheeks and spat out a word.

However, it was a servant who crushed her pouting cheeks from behind with both of her hands.

‘Puhyu~’ a strange sound echoed,

"My, that’s no good. Today's protagonist is Kreschenta-sama, so smile, smile."

How selfish.

Why must someone like her, who is at the pinnacle of the kingdom, be treated with such an attitude by a mere servant?

The question, that had repeated dozens of times since coming here, was never answered.

"...Rather than letting me, who came back to the mansion tired, rest, you're forcing me to smile. Who do you think you are?"

"What do you mean who do I think I am? Of course, I am her Majesty the Queen's servant. Here, let's have a toast."

"I have no recollection of appointing such an incompetent servant as mine."

Even when she said that, Bery just chuckled.

While talking, she forcibly puts a mixture of wine (80% juice) into Kreschenta’s hand and enjoys herself.

A servant for Krische when it was convenient.

Selene's and Kreschenta’s servant when it suited her.

Bery Argan was truly a good for nothing.

was is extremely unpleasant and even when glared at her, she just brushed it off as if it was a wind.

How did Bery receive her gaze? ――Bery prepared a glass for herself, poured some wine, and looked at Kreschenta as if expecting something.

"……cheers"

The more you complain, the longer it would last.

Reluctantly, she said that with a sigh, and they all said in unison, ‘Happy birthday’.

The boring routines she had heard so many times, the boring flow she had seen so many times.

“I wonder what’s so auspicious about it?”

"...?"

"I, hate birthdays, they're such a hassle. It’s just turning one year older."

"...well"

Bery, who was cutting the pie for Kreschenta, smiled bitterly at those words.

"Fufu, it's just a way to celebrate. Certainly, thinking of it as just getting a year older isn't a big deal."

She cut it into bite-sized pieces and stacks them.

"Birthdays are an opportunity to celebrate the accumulation of little things. ...It's a special day to celebrate the trivial everyday things."

Bery said as she arranged it like a small mountain on a plate.

“I haven’t had a chance to celebrate Kreschenta-sama’s birthday since she came to Christand, so I thought it would be a good chance.”

"...It's a nuisance."

"Fufu, please forgive me. It's quite fun to celebrate you know."

"What a helpless servant."

Bery was just happyly.

No matter what Kreschenta said, most of the time she just looked at her happily.

She didn’t like it at all.

“I also want to express my gratitude for meeting Kreschenta-sama... In a sense, events like this may be more for the people celebrating than for the person in question.”

She said, then thinking about it a little.

She pressed her finger to her pink lips and smiled.

“Well, in any case, it will be an annual event at the mansion from now on, so please accept it as such.”

"I'm already sick of it this year. Do you understand the term 'unwelcome favor?"

“So that means, Kreschenta-sama must be grateful even for the feeling alone.”

"...talking to you gives me a headache."

She twists logic, seized upon the details, and every one or two words said would lead to three or four more in response.

She was truly a headache-inducing woman.

She really didn’t like the foolish smile look on her face either.

"Really, I wonder what's so fun about it?"

“fufu, just as I said.”

When she exasperated, asked that, Bery answered.

"I'm happy to be able to celebrate my beloved Kreschenta-sama's birthday."

Without any pretense or embarrassment.

As if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“From the bottom of my heart, I am happy about this fortuitous encounter.”

The words Bery said suddenly reminded Kreschenta of words she had a long time ago.

‘――At the very least I...am happy from the bottom of my heart that Kreschenta-sama was born.’

Why did she remember it now, she thought for a moment.

"...? What's the matter?"

Pushing it to the back of her mind, Kreschenta pointed to the chair to her left with her finger.

"...Rather than, it's a bit of an eyesore you moving about right in front of me. Why don't you sit down too?"

"My, thank you. Now, if you'll excuse me."

The short side of the rectangular table. Usually, there's only one chair for Selene.

She must have purposely prepared two chairs so that she could sit in them from the beginning, yet she acted so deliberately.

Moving the chair a little closer, Bery leaned in.

With a stupid smile on her face, Bery prepared the soup in front of Kreschenta and cut up the meat, ignoring the fact that she had been told earlier that she was an eyesore.

She was a helpless servant.

"To think this is an annual event, even harassment has its limit."

"Fufu, then next year I'll have to work even harder to satisfy Kreschenta-sama. Everything starts with the first step."

"...I've always thought this, but you're really the worst servant."

"I’m glad to hear that I can't go lower than this. From now all I need to do is accumulate good evaluations."

“It will only dig deeper into the earth.”

Bery leaned closer to her in a familiar way, as if pressing against her shoulder.

‘Will these tiresome memories continue to pile up like this in the future?’

The thought exhausts her even more, draining her energy.

"Here, say aaah."

She reluctantly took a bite of the Lakura pie that was offered to her.

"Happy birthday, Kreschenta-sama. How is it?"

The end of an utterly unpleasant day.

A tedious event that will likely be held every year from now on.

"...It's so-so."

Warm, and sweet.

The Lakura pie she put in her mouth was not bad at all.