Saved by Crazy Stepfather!

ber one is my mom, and number two is the penguin doll.
Allen, the one who gave me the gift, is about number three.

That was how much I liked the penguin doll.

“I like the texture, and its cheeks are chewy.”

Whenever I stretched the doll on both sides, it stretched so well, and every time I looked at it, I felt strangely better.

“I didn’t know you’d like dolls this much.”

“Really? I didn’t know either.
It’s my first time having a doll.”

At that moment, Cecilia’s expression changed slightly.

She looks anxious like a person who asks something that shouldn’t be asked.

It was then that I asked a question, while munching with my mouth and not knowing what to do.

“Oh! When is your birthday anyway?”

“Birthday…”

“The day you were born!”

“It’s already past!”

“It’s already past?”

Cecilia left the room, chewing her mouth as if she said something shameful.
The knights at the door looked surprised as soon as we came out.

“Where are you going, ma’am?”

“I’m on our way to His Grace.”

“Oh, okay, ma’am.”

“Then let’s go, My Lady.”

“Okay!”

I didn’t know how long it would take, so I grabbed her hand right away.

I never caught this because I liked her.
I just grabbed it because I didn’t know it would take long.

However, because I behaved differently than usual, Cecilia looked at me with a surprised face.

“Did you really grab-”

“Yes! When is your birthday, Cecilia?”

“I think there’s about two months after.”

“I see.
My birthday is the day you came here!”

“Oh! Is it that day?”

“Yes!”

It was the day when something like a curse began.

On my fifth birthday, I was able to use my strength and my mother almost died.

“I see…”

“I don’t like birthdays.”

“Do you hate it? But you can get a lot of gifts on your birthday.”

“I’ve never received a gift before! Except for my mom and dad… Allen is the first person to give me a gift.”

“Oh…”

Cecilia, who is listening to my mumbles, let out a small sigh.

As if it’s rather unfortunate.

“But it’s okay.”

Because my life itself was a gift.

Now that my mother is alive and I can breathe, this place itself was big enough to be considered as a gift.

“My Lady, you’re so mature at times like this.”

“Is that so?”

“But we’re almost there.”

“We’re here?”

After a while, Cecilia stopped at the big door.

“This is His Grace’s room.”

“Really? But it’s close to my room.”