Chapter 12: 8th Birthday
Aurelia: "Daniel, did you forget what I told you this morning?"
Daniel blinked, pulled out of his thoughts.
Aurelia: "For my tenth birthday celebration, my etiquette teacher asked me to learn a dance."
Aurelia: "And I specifically asked you to help me practice."
She folded her arms, pretending to pout.
Aurelia: "Miss Rosella and I waited for you for ages."
Aurelia: "But it's fine—let's practice now."
Aurelia: "Otherwise, you'll fall behind."
Daniel hesitated.
Daniel: "Ms. Aurelia… isn't it too late for that?"
Aurelia sighed.
Aurelia: "How many times do I have to tell you?"
Aurelia: "Just call me Aurelia."
Aurelia: "We're friends."
Daniel lowered his voice.
Daniel: "Aurelia… you know I'm the son of your mother's head maid."
Daniel: "My mom told me I should always show you respect."
He glanced away, embarrassed.
Daniel: "You also know that when we're alone—outside the mansion—I always call you by your name."
Daniel: "It's just… inside the mansion, I have to follow her wishes."
Aurelia softened.
Aurelia: "I know."
Aurelia: "I just felt a little disappointed today."
Aurelia: "That's all."
She smiled faintly.
Aurelia: "Come on."
Aurelia: "Let's review what I learned."
Aurelia: "Tomorrow, we'll surprise Miss Rosella."
Daniel looked at her face.
The way her excitement dimmed—just slightly—at the thought of him refusing.
He exhaled quietly.
Daniel: I lost the will to say no.
Daniel: "Alright."
Daniel: "Let's practice."
Her face lit up instantly, like dawn breaking after a long night.
Daniel chuckled softly.
Daniel: "Before we start… do your parents know you're here?"
Aurelia: "Yes."
Aurelia: "I came with my mother."
Aurelia: "She's talking with Aunt Leslie."
Aurelia: "She'll wait until we're done."
They moved into position.
Lantern light spilled across the wooden floor.
Daniel: "I heard many nobles are coming."
Aurelia froze mid-step.
Daniel: "Aurelia?"
Aurelia blinked.
Aurelia: "Ah—sorry."
Aurelia: "I spaced out."
Daniel: "Where did your head go?"
Aurelia blushed faintly.
Aurelia: "Nowhere."
Aurelia: I was just… happy.
Aurelia: "You were saying something about nobles?"
Daniel: "Yes."
Daniel: "I heard almost all Valorian nobles are attending."
Aurelia nodded.
Aurelia: "Everyone except Count Sebastian Arclay."
Aurelia: "After losing the mining rights, he refused to come."
Aurelia: "Father included the king and offered him twenty-five percent of the mine."
Aurelia: "Mother's pregnancy changed everything."
Aurelia: "Father wanted to secure my future."
She paused.
Aurelia: "There are rumors the king himself may attend."
Daniel's heart skipped.
Daniel: The king…
Daniel: My father.
Daniel: How would my mother react?
Daniel: She's been bleaching my hair for years…
Daniel forced the thought away.
Aurelia smiled.
Aurelia: "You're learning fast."
Aurelia: "You're already better than me."
Daniel: "I've always been a fast learner."
Aurelia laughed softly.
Aurelia: "That's amazing."
After a while, Daniel stepped back.
Daniel: "I think I've learned everything you were taught today."
Daniel: "You should go."
Daniel: "It's getting late."
Aurelia hesitated.
Aurelia: "Alright."
Aurelia: "Good night, Daniel."
As she turned to leave, Daniel leaned closer and whispered—
Daniel: "Good night, Aurelia."
She froze for a second.
Then smiled all the way back to the mansion.
---
Aurelia's Point of View
When Father told me he was planning a grand celebration for my tenth birthday, I was excited.
When he said it would be unforgettable—I believed him.
Then he told me Miss Rosella would teach me a formal dance.
And that I would perform it with a noble boy.
That was when my excitement faded.
I didn't want any noble boy.
I wanted Daniel.
So I made a plan.
Before my lesson, I told Miss Rosella I needed a practice partner so I wouldn't embarrass myself.
I suggested Daniel.
She agreed.
I was thrilled.
That evening, I went straight to Aunt Leslie's house beside the mansion—a small home, but warm.
Daniel was in the yard, training alone.
I interrupted him and told him Miss Rosella wanted him to be my practice partner.
He agreed immediately.
Daniel is strange.
Ever since I was little, everyone adored me.
Servants.
Guards.
Nobles.
They gave me everything before I even asked.
But Daniel…
When Mother introduced us, he barely looked at me.
It felt like I didn't exist.
I hated that feeling.
I tried to be his friend—for Mother's sake.
But sometimes it felt like I was trespassing in his world.
He always seemed alone.
Focused.
Expressionless.
Almost like a walking dead man.
Then, on my eighth birthday, I saw him laughing beside Aunt Leslie.
Smiling like a normal child.
Bringing color into a world I thought already belonged to me.
My friends noticed him too.
They asked who he was.
They wanted him to join.
For the first time, attention drifted away from me.
And I hated it.
That night, I felt empty.
Until after everyone left.
Daniel came.
He brought a small cake.
And a dress Aunt Leslie made by hand.
Then he took a hair clip from his pocket—blue gem, matching my eyes.
I wore it immediately.
Before asking anyone.
Daniel smiled wider than I'd ever seen.
Daniel: "You look mesmerizing, Ms. Aurelia."
Daniel: "As always."
That was the moment.
The moment my eighth birthday became unforgettable.
The moment I realized—
I existed in Daniel's world.