Gulp, gulp, gulp.
The mature woman, the young girl, and the forty-year-old child tilted back their elegant, swan-like necks.
Himeko downed her glass of beer in one go.
Kiana downed her glass of happy water in one go.
Theresa downed her glass of bitter melon juice in one go.
"Ahhh~"
Then, all three let out a synchronized sigh of relief.
So good!
In Kiana's room, Kiana, Himeko, and Theresa sat in a circle, surrounded by a spread of snacks, desserts, and drinks.
"Happy birthday, my dear niece!"
Theresa beamed, patting Kiana on the shoulder before pulling a wrapped gift box from out of nowhere.
"This is a present from me, your great aunt."
Theresa stuffed the gift into Kiana's arms. Himeko smiled as well.
"Happy birthday, Kiana."
With that, Himeko also handed Kiana a gift.
Yes, today was Kiana's birthday.
"Mm! Thank you both!" Kiana said, a wide smile on her face as she gathered the two presents. Yet, beneath that smile lay a flicker of imperceptible disappointment.
Unlike in the past, she wasn't celebrating her birthday alone this year. She had company.
Kiana felt a sense of warmth.
But her stinky old dad wasn't here.
And… he wasn't here either.
A handsome face surfaced in Kiana's mind. But does he even know today is my birthday?
He probably doesn't.
Otherwise, he would have at least called.
Kiana glanced at the phone sitting on the table.
But the phone remained silent.
Should I call him? To tell him today is my birthday?
Kiana reached out her hand, but it stopped short of the phone, her fingers curling into a loose fist.
Him.
Otto.
Could he have forgotten about her?
"Here, dear niece. This is my favorite dessert."
Just then, Theresa slid a pastry in front of Kiana with a grin. Kiana took a bite, and her eyes lit up.
"Mmm! Great Aunt, this is so good!" Kiana exclaimed, the gloom on her face vanishing as if it were never there.
"Hmph hmph, of course it is! It's the favorite dessert of this esteemed headmaster, after all," Theresa declared, hands on her hips, her chin held high as if being liked by her was the dessert's greatest honor.
Kiana smiled, eating the pastry her great aunt had given her. Over the past few days, she had grown to respect this cheap great aunt of hers.
In a recent sparring match, Kiana had been utterly demolished.
Although Theresa looked like a pipsqueak, and Kiana had initially approached the fight with the mindset of playing with a child, less than a minute in, Kiana felt like she'd been run over by a tank.
The ever-confident Kiana couldn't even touch a single one of Theresa's fingers. A light tap from one of her tiny fists sent Kiana flying like a baseball.
They were on completely different levels.
Kiana felt that her great aunt was more terrifying than any Honkai Beast.
Is she even human?
Kiana was convinced Theresa could demolish a building with a single punch.
After the thorough trouncing left Kiana unable to move a finger, Theresa, feeling she had re-established her seniority, began to brag about her past.
Only then did Kiana learn that her great aunt had once been offered the title of Schicksal's S-rank Valkyrie but had refused the appointment.
Is this the power of an S-rank Valkyrie?
Kiana now felt that when Otto made her promise to become an S-rank, he had been tricking her, knowing she was completely ignorant.
Is this a level a normal person can even reach?!
Even for Kiana, who had never known the meaning of fear, truly witnessing the power of an S-rank made her realize it was a goal she couldn't possibly achieve anytime soon.
She still didn't know that she was basically a cheat character.
But Kiana didn't dislike Theresa. Theresa genuinely cared for her.
Having lived alone for so long, Kiana was sensitive to malice and kindness. She knew Theresa's affection was real.
Just like her grandpa's.
Kiana ate her dessert, her gaze drifting out the window. Night had long since fallen, and the moon was bright in a sky of sparse stars.
"So, Kiana, is there anyone you like?" Himeko asked, holding her wine glass. A charming pink blush colored her cheeks, and a mischievous glint was in her eyes.
"Huh?"
The sudden question left Kiana completely stunned.
Her face flushed crimson. She opened her mouth, but her tongue felt like it was tied in a knot.
She quickly chugged a mouthful of ice-cold cola to calm her nerves before finally answering.
"Auntie Himeko, wh-why are you asking that?"
The question had caught her completely off guard.
And in that first moment, a name had subconsciously popped into her head.
"Hee hee hee, this is what girls' nights are for! Talking about love and romance. It's perfectly normal," Himeko said casually. In private, she was a very bold person.
"I'll go first. I don't have anyone. And Theresa definitely doesn't either."
Anyone with improper thoughts about Theresa would be invited to have a very long "chat" with a certain Overseer.
Himeko answered for her friend. Theresa, clutching her bitter melon juice, suddenly put on a stern face and deepened her voice.
"If he's a bad boy, your great aunt won't allow you to date him."
Theresa put on her best "concerned elder" face, but it instantly melted into a wicked grin.
Her azure eyes twinkled with curiosity as she looked at Kiana.
"So, my dear niece, is there someone you like?"
"Ah, Great Aunt, not you too!?" Kiana said helplessly, looking at Theresa's curious face. She awkwardly tried to change the subject.
"These cookies are pretty tasty."
Kiana nibbled on a cookie, pretending not to have heard their questions.
But at her young age, she was no match for seasoned women like Himeko.
"Ohoho, that's a clear evasion of the question. Come on, spill. Theresa and I can give you some advice," Himeko said, wearing the same wicked grin. She could smell a story.
Theresa, getting the hint, also put on her "great aunt" airs. Despite being completely inexperienced in romance herself, gossip was a pastime every girl enjoyed.
And this was about her dear niece's love life!
The two of them looked ready to dig out every secret Kiana had.
"I, I, I…"
Facing the interrogation from these two shameless old women, Kiana stammered. She wanted to say no.
But for some reason, the word wouldn't come out.
"I need to use the bathroom!"
Kiana chose a strategic retreat. Otherwise, she felt that under Himeko and Theresa's relentless questioning, she would end up blurting out that name.
She fled the room. Even though her own room had a bathroom, she still ran out.
She needed to go outside and cool her head.
Watching her retreating figure, the two best friends, Himeko and Theresa, exchanged a look.
"She has a man," Himeko said with absolute certainty.
Silly little Kiana, trying to hide something from someone with almost double her life experience. How naive!
Still, it makes me a bit sour.
Himeko felt a pang of jealousy.
Having dedicated most of her life to her work as a Valkyrie, she didn't know many men.
And as for high-quality men…
Himeko glanced at Theresa.
"Hmph hmph, if Kiana likes someone, he has to pass my inspection first!"
Theresa wasn't thinking that far ahead. She just didn't want Kiana to be deceived. Over the past few days, she had grown incredibly fond of her.
They were like a real great aunt and niece.
"If some pest dares to trick Kiana, I'll teach him a lesson he'll never forget!" Theresa said confidently.
As the Branch Chief of the Far East, she wielded great power. And she had an Overseer for a grandpa. If she couldn't handle it, her grandpa certainly would.
"Oh, right."
Himeko suddenly clapped her hands. She beckoned for Theresa to lean in closer.
"Later, let's do this, and then this…"
Himeko and Theresa began to conspire.
---o---
Kiana, having left her room, was oblivious to the scheming of her two disrespectful elders. She walked down the corridor, dressed in a thin T-shirt and denim shorts.
She wore black pantyhose on her long legs and sneakers on her feet.
In the summer, it was an outfit that would have quite the "aroma."
But it was already winter.
Perhaps it would snow soon.
Looking outside, a cold wind brushed against her face. Coming from the warm room, the sudden gust made Kiana feel a bit chilly.
She hugged herself.
But she had experienced this kind of cold on countless lonely nights. She should have been used to it by now.
Have I gotten weaker?
She lifted her hands and blew warm air into them, just as she had always done, relying only on herself for warmth.
Kiana looked up at the night sky, where a crescent moon hung.
Suddenly.
She really wanted to call him.
To tell him that today was her birthday, and he had missed a golden opportunity to shower her with affection.
Her hands warmed slightly. Kiana reached for her pocket, but her hand stopped.
She remembered her phone was still back in her room.
Forget it.
Kiana told herself.
Forget it.
What if… he doesn't care?
Just like all the other people she had known in the past. A few days apart, and they would never contact each other again.
Kiana no longer wanted to make the call.
It was like Schrödinger's cat.
As long as she didn't make the call, the outcome remained uncertain, a superposition of hope and disappointment.
Looking up at the moon, Kiana decided this was enough. She had her great aunt and Auntie Himeko to celebrate with her. That was so much better than the past few years.
She should be content.
Contentment brings happiness.
It was a bit cold. She would wait in the bathroom for a bit before going back, to avoid being asked that question again.
So she thought.
But just as she turned to head for the restroom, a gentle voice reached her.
"Well, if it isn't my Artemis?"
Footsteps sounded.
Hearing the voice, Kiana's body went rigid, as if struck by lightning.
She turned her head.
There, the familiar figure stood in the pitch-black corridor.
The man of gold stood with his back to the darkness, the pristine moonlight spilling over him.
His emerald eyes watched her quietly.
And there she was. The same devastatingly beautiful face, her sky-blue eyes shimmering like water, her moon-white hair woven into two braids that hung down her back.
"…"
"I'm here."
Otto gazed at Kiana. He didn't use her name, but a title she was more familiar with.
"My cute little kitten."
Kiana was like a cat.
He walked forward slowly. Kiana remained frozen in place. Soon, Otto stood before her.
Kiana's back was to the bright moonlight.
She opened her mouth, about to say something.
"Achoo!"
Kiana let out a cute sneeze.
"The wind is strong out here. Be careful not to catch a cold."
Otto looked at her very un-winter-like attire and chuckled.
He raised his hand.
"The gods grant me classics, to master the art of war, to strategize from within the command tent—King of Legality."
A scarf, embroidered with the Apocalypse family crest, formed in his hands.
Standing before her, he carefully wrapped it around her neck, chasing away the cold.
Warmth enveloped Kiana, and the chill gradually faded.
She touched the scarf around her neck, her spring-water eyes looking up at him.
Otto smiled.
"Happy birthday."