(A/N):
Drop a meme here that you find funny. Or reflects your mood.
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Meanwhile, Hage Village was experiencing a level of excitement it hadn't seen in years.
What had started as a simple birthday surprise planned by the children of the church had slowly grown into something much bigger.
Almost the entire village had become involved.
The secret had spread quickly.
Not because anyone was careless.
But because Hage Village was simply too small for secrets to remain hidden for long.
Fortunately, everyone who learned about the celebration chose to keep quiet.
After all—
This was for Father Orsi.
And nobody in the village could think of a person more deserving.
Early in the morning, villagers could be seen moving back and forth through the streets carrying tables, chairs, decorations, and food supplies.
Several women were already gathered near the church kitchen preparing enough food to feed what looked like an entire army.
Children ran everywhere carrying ribbons and flowers.
A few older villagers worked together to set up a large stage near the church courtyard.
The entire hilltop was slowly transforming into a festival ground.
"Careful with that table!"
"It weighs more than you do!"
"Then help me carry it!"
"You didn't ask!"
Laughter echoed throughout the village.
The atmosphere was cheerful.
Warm.
The kind of feeling that only existed in small communities where everyone knew one another.
A middle-aged villager wiped sweat from his forehead as he helped erect a wooden canopy.
Looking around at the preparations, he couldn't help smiling.
"Things sure have changed."
The elderly carpenter beside him nodded.
"They have."
His gaze drifted toward the church.
"There was a time when Father Orsi struggled just to keep those children fed."
Several nearby villagers quietly agreed.
Everyone remembered those days.
The orphanage had never been rich.
Far from it.
There were years when the church barely had enough supplies to survive winter.
Years when Father Orsi and Sister Lily skipped meals so the children could eat.
Years when donations mysteriously disappeared before reaching the village.
Years when corruption quietly swallowed money meant for orphanages and poor communities.
Not anymore.
After Ben became king, one of the first reforms that surprised many nobles involved the kingdom's orphanages.
The royal treasury began conducting regular inspections.
Funds were tracked.
Records were reviewed.
Officials caught embezzling money meant for children faced severe punishment.
The message from the Crown had been simple.
Money allocated for orphanages belonged to the children.
Not corrupt officials.
The results had been immediate.
Hage Village's church now had proper supplies.
The children received better food.
New clothes arrived regularly.
The church itself underwent repairs.
Educational materials became available.
Medical support improved.
And most importantly—
The constant financial pressure on Father Orsi and Sister Lily finally eased.
A woman carrying a basket of vegetables smiled.
"I still remember Father Orsi crying when the first shipment arrived."
The villagers laughed.
"He denied it."
"He always denies it."
"He was crying."
"He absolutely was."
Meanwhile, several villagers helping with the birthday preparations had received payment from the orphanage budget.
Not because the children demanded it.
But because Ben's new regulations specifically prohibited communities from exploiting free labor under the excuse of charity.
People could volunteer if they wanted.
Many did.
But anyone performing significant work was compensated fairly.
One farmer chuckled while accepting payment from Rebecca.
"I would've helped for free."
Rebecca immediately crossed her arms.
"King's orders."
The farmer laughed.
"Listen to her."
Another villager grinned.
"She's starting to sound like a noble."
Rebecca immediately pointed at him.
"Take that back."
The surrounding villagers burst into laughter.
Despite the jokes, everyone appreciated the changes.
Life in Hage Village wasn't luxurious.
Nobody expected it to be.
But people were eating better.
Living better.
And worrying less.
That alone meant everything.
As the afternoon sun slowly climbed higher, more decorations appeared throughout the church grounds.
Flowers lined the pathways.
Colorful banners hung between buildings.
Tables filled the courtyard.
The smell of freshly cooked food drifted through the air.
The children moved around excitedly, constantly checking the road leading into the village.
Every few minutes one of them would run to the hilltop.
Look toward the horizon.
Then return disappointed.
"They're not here yet."
"Maybe they're delayed."
"Maybe they're already nearby."
"Maybe Ben got buried under king paperwork."
"Maybe Asta got lost."
"Maybe Yuno forgot."
"No way Yuno would forget."
As the conversations continued, Rebecca looked toward the distant road.
A small smile appeared on her face.
Because she knew something Father Orsi didn't.
The old priest believed the three boys were too busy.
Too important.
Too far away.
But Rebecca had watched them grow up.
And she knew one thing.
No matter how much time passed.
No matter how high they climbed.
No matter what titles they earned.
When it came to Father Orsi—
They would come home.
The afternoon sun hung high above Hage Village, bathing the small church and surrounding fields in warm golden light.
Inside his room, Father Orsi had finally stopped reminiscing about the past after Sister Lily practically forced him to finish the tea she had brought earlier.
"You're thinking too much again."
"I am not."
"You were crying."
"It was the dust."
"Inside your room."
"It followed me."
Sister Lily simply shook her head.
After years of knowing him, she had long since stopped arguing whenever Father Orsi made excuses.
Eventually, the old priest let out a sigh and stood from his chair.
"I should go see what the children are doing."
That statement alone nearly made Sister Lily laugh.
For the entire day, she had been finding creative ways to keep him occupied inside the room so the preparations could continue.
Still, at this point there was no stopping it.
The surprise was nearly ready anyway.
"Then let's go."
Father Orsi nodded and made his way toward the church entrance.
As soon as he stepped outside—
He froze.
Completely.
His eyes widened.
For several seconds, he genuinely wondered if he had walked into the wrong village.
The entire church grounds had transformed.
Colorful banners stretched between buildings.
Fresh flowers decorated pathways.
Long tables had been arranged throughout the courtyard.
Children ran everywhere carrying decorations.
Several villagers were setting up chairs.
Others were moving food supplies into the kitchen.
The smell of roasted meat, bread, and sweets filled the air.
The usually quiet orphanage looked more like a festival ground.
Father Orsi blinked.
Then blinked again.
"...What?"
A group of children carrying boxes rushed past him.
One of them waved.
"Don't stand there, Father!"
"We still have work to do!"
Before he could ask any questions, they were already gone.
Father Orsi slowly turned toward Sister Lily.
Then back toward the church.
Then back toward Sister Lily.
His expression was completely blank.
The kind of expression people made when their brains stopped working.
"What happened?"
Sister Lily finally lost the battle against her laughter.
A soft chuckle escaped her lips.
Then another.
Seeing the old priest standing there looking completely lost was simply too amusing.
"Well..."
She folded her hands behind her back.
"It seems the children wanted to celebrate your birthday."
"My..."
Father Orsi stared.
"...birthday?"
"Yes."
"My birthday?"
"Yes."
"The one today?"
Sister Lily nodded patiently.
"The same one."
Father Orsi looked around once more.
At the decorations.
At the villagers.
At the children running around excitedly.
At the tables being prepared.
At the amount of work clearly invested into everything.
His mouth slowly opened.
Then closed.
Then opened again.
"No."
The answer came immediately.
Sister Lily raised an eyebrow.
"No?"
"This is too much."
The old priest pointed toward the church grounds.
"There are enough decorations here for a royal festival."
Nearby, Rebecca immediately shouted.
"We heard that!"
Father Orsi jumped.
Rebecca stood on a ladder hanging decorations while Nash stood below holding it.
Or at least pretending to.
"Good!"
Rebecca declared proudly.
"You were supposed to hear it!"
The surrounding villagers laughed.
Father Orsi could only stare.
"What have you all done?"
One of the older villagers walked past carrying a stack of chairs.
"What should have been done years ago."
Another villager nodded.
"You've taken care of everyone else long enough."
A woman carrying food supplies smiled warmly.
"Today everyone is taking care of you."
Father Orsi looked genuinely overwhelmed.
His eyes slowly moved across the crowd.
There were far more people present than he expected.
Not just the children.
Not just church members.
Almost the entire village seemed to be helping.
People he had known for decades.
People whose weddings he officiated.
People whose children he had baptized.
Families he had helped through difficult times.
All of them were here.
Helping.
Smiling.
Working together.
For him.
The realization struck harder than he expected.
His eyes immediately began watering again.
"Oh no."
Sister Lily sighed.
"What?"
"He's crying again."
"I AM NOT."
"You are."
"Dust."
Several nearby villagers burst into laughter.
"Dust again?"
"The legendary dust has returned."
"The strongest magic in Hage Village."
Father Orsi wiped his eyes furiously.
Unfortunately, that only made everyone laugh harder.
Meanwhile, hidden among the decorations, the orphanage children exchanged excited looks.
Because while Father Orsi believed this was the surprise—
The real surprise hadn't arrived yet.
Three particular guests were still missing.
And if everything went according to plan—
The old priest was going to cry a lot more before the day was over.
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(Author's POV)
(A/N)Thanks for reading the chapter!
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