The Knight Who Broke Off Our Engagement and Told Me to Never Show My Face Again Still Clings to Me Today, Even Though I Was Possessed and Turned Into a Villainess for Ten Years - 47 - Birthday 2

Why… why is Rufus here?

As I stood there confused, he gave me a small smile, stood up from the sofa, and walked toward me.

When he came right in front of me, he softly called my name, “Sadie,” with such a gentle voice that my heart jumped just from hearing it.

“Um… why are you here?”

“Your friends invited me. I can’t attend the party, but they asked me to come and wish you a happy birthday.”

“Eliza and Norman…?”

“Yes.”

I wonder if they knew how much I secretly wanted Rufus to celebrate my birthday. Remembering their words earlier, I felt so embarrassed, so happy, I almost wanted to cry.

“Happy birthday, Sadie.”

Rufus said that and handed me a large bouquet of flowers he had been holding. They were all the flowers I loved, in every color, and my vision started to blur.

I never imagined I would get to be congratulated by him.

“Th-thank you, Rufus. I’m really, really happy.”

“I’m glad.”

“I mean it. I’m so, so happy.”

“…That’s good.”

It was the best present I could have received, and I truly thanked both Eliza and Norman, and of course Rufus, from the bottom of my heart.

I gently placed the precious bouquet on the table nearby and turned back to him.

“Um… if you’d like, do you want to sit and talk for a bit?”

“Sure. But I was told I only have about fifteen minutes.”

“Even so… thank you for coming.”

“No, just seeing your face is enough for me.”

Those words made my heart pound wildly. Rufus today somehow felt sweeter than usual.

We sat side by side on the sofa. I kept apologizing because there wasn’t even time to serve tea, but I was so excited that all I could say over and over was how happy I was.

Rufus smiled gently and kept listening to everything I said.

“Is there anything you want?”

“No, this is already enough. I’ve already gotten the thing I wanted the most.”

“…The thing you wanted most?”

“Yeah. Having you here to celebrate with me… that’s the happiest thing for me.”

Without thinking, I said what was on my mind. Then I panicked and quickly shut my mouth. He might think I’m being too heavy. I was about to tell him to just forget what I said when—

He suddenly grabbed my arm, and before I knew it, I was wrapped in Rufus’s arms. Surrounded by his soft, gentle scent and warmth, I froze, even forgetting to breathe.

He hugged me tightly. I didn’t understand why Rufus was doing this, but still, I felt so happy I could cry.

When I finally relaxed and leaned into him, he suddenly pulled away and covered his face with both hands.

“S-sorry! I don’t know what came over me…”

“N-no… it’s okay.”

He was completely flustered, his ears bright red. My face was definitely just as hot, probably just as red.

Then, raising his face suddenly, he hurriedly looked at me.

“I wouldn’t do something like that with just anyone.”

“O-oh… okay.”

He must have been thinking about what happened when he was drunk before.

After that, an awkward silence hung between us for a while. But then Rufus muttered, “It’s about time,” and that moment came to an end.

“Yeah. I’ll walk you to the entrance.”

“Thank you.”

As I tried to stand up from the sofa, Rufus gently offered me his hand. Just touching his large, warm hand made my heart race all over again.

Even as we walked down the hallway, he kept holding my hand. The servants we passed all smiled kindly at us, which made me even more embarrassed and restless.

Before I knew it, we reached the entrance, and our hands quietly separated.

“Once again… happy birthday.”

“Thank you so much for today. Please be careful on your way back.”

“I will. Enjoy the party.”

Smiling as he said that, Rufus, of course, had no idea that I was going to drink poison later today.

I want to finish everything safely… and see Rufus again. As I watched his carriage disappear through the window, I thought that to myself.

◇◇◇

When I went back into the mansion and headed for the hall, I found Eliza and Norman there. I ran to them and hugged them tightly.

“Welcome back, Sadie.”

“Th-thank you, both of you…! I was really, really happy.”

“We’re glad you’re happy too.”

I thanked them over and over again, and they both looked so happy as if it was about themselves. I truly felt how lucky I was.

“By the way, your dress today is really beautiful. You look like a fairy.”

“Thank you. I wonder if my father arranged it.”

“Huh? Didn’t you know? It was Lord Rufus. He picked it for you.”

“…No way.”

Rufus had only told me earlier that the dress suited me. He never said a word about this. I already loved this dress at first sight, but now I loved it even more.

I thought to myself that next time I saw Rufus, I would thank him properly for the dress too. Just then, a maid came to tell me that Gerald and Neil had arrived.

Both of them were also invited to the party, but we had planned to meet beforehand for one last check of our plan.

“Happy birthday, Sadie. You look stunning.”

“Thank you.”

“You look like a real princess.”

Gerald and Neil both gave me beautiful bouquets and said they would prepare presents for me later. Even when I told them it was already enough, Neil just laughed and said, “I have to get you something amazing.”

Once we finished the plan review, it was time to head to the party venue. Just as we were about to leave, I suddenly remembered that I had left the necklace Rufus gave me on the table in my room. Since it didn’t match today’s dress, I had taken it off.

It probably wouldn’t get lost, but I still felt uneasy. So I decided to quickly put it in its box before going to the venue.

“I’ll just run to my room for a second. I’ll be right back.”

“I’ll come with you.”

Gerald said that it would be bad if I tripped or got my dress dirty on the way. I felt awkward saying no, so I agreed.

As we walked down the hallway, we made small talk, and Gerald seemed completely normal, which made me feel relieved. I carefully put the necklace away in its box and returned to where Gerald was waiting at the door.

When I thanked him, he called my name softly.

“Sadie… did you meet Rufus Langridge earlier?”

“Y-yeah… just for a little bit. He came to wish me happy birthday. How did you know?”

“Because you smell like him.”

My heart jumped in shock. It must have been from when Rufus hugged me. His cologne must have rubbed off on me. A heavy awkwardness filled the air, and I couldn’t stand it—I found myself apologizing without thinking.

But Gerald gave me a soft smile.

“No… actually, I’m glad.”

“Huh?”

“Now I won’t hesitate anymore.”

I had no idea what he meant. Gerald was still smiling the same way he always did, and I couldn’t tell what he was thinking.

“Shall we head back? It’s almost time.”

He offered me his hand, and I took it as we began to walk. His hand was strangely cold, and it sent shivers down my spine.