Aurelia's Perspective
The room was quiet, wrapped in the soft glow of moonlight filtering through silk curtains. Aurelia sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the small box resting on her palms.
Her heartbeat was louder than the silence.
Aurelia: "Why would he give me something so carefully wrapped…?"
The ribbon was black, neat, almost overly precise—just like him.
She slowly untied it.
Inside lay a delicate silver necklace. A thin chain, elegant, and at its center, a small grey-colored gem shaped like a teardrop, matching her eyes. It felt warm when her fingers touched it, as if it carried someone's lingering presence.
Aurelia: "…It's beautiful."
Her lips curved into a soft smile she didn't even realize had formed.
Aurelia: "Daniel… you always pretend you don't understand emotions."
She lifted the necklace and held it against her chest, right above her heart.
Aurelia: "But then you do something like this."
Her reflection in the mirror looked different—softer, brighter.
She clasped the necklace around her neck.
Aurelia: "I'll treasure it."
Her fingers brushed the gem unconsciously, as if reassuring herself it was real.
Aurelia couldn't contain the excitement. She ran out of her room to see her mother.
She knocked on the door of her parents' room.
Octavia opened the door and saw Aurelia looking as if someone had graced her with a god's touch. She looked so happy that her cheeks were blushing tomato-red. And then her eyes fell on the necklace. It was beautiful, and it was doing its job precisely by making Aurelia more beautiful. She looked breathtaking.
Octavia: "Aurelia, why are you knocking so late? Aren't you tired after today's events? You should get some rest."
Aurelia: "Mom, look at this. This is so beautiful. After putting it on, I couldn't stop myself. I needed to see you and show it to you. How does it look, Mother?"
Octavia: "Aurelia, this looks gorgeous, but it is making you look more gorgeous than ever. Who gave you this gift, Aurelia?"
Aurelia: "Daniel. He was the one who gifted me this."
Octavia: "This looks expensive. Did you ask him where he got the Rudraksh for it?" Octavia worried about how a house maid's kid could afford such a gift.
Aurelia: "Mom, no one knows because he doesn't let anyone notice, but I have seen him helping people around the town, doing odd jobs. He must have saved quite a lot."
Octavia: She couldn't hide her surprise. An 11-year-old doing odd jobs for money when they provide good wages to her mother as the head house maid? I will ask him discreetly. "Aurelia, you shouldn't have taken the gift. It's expensive; he must have spent his savings. Next morning, you should return it. And darling, you have so many necklaces. Return it first thing in the morning."
Aurelia, after hearing her mother's words, felt the blush, the happiness, the excitement all vanish as if by a magic trick. Her eyes filled with tears, and just like that, for the first time in ages, she started crying like the child she was. Sniffle. Sobbing.
Octavia: "Oh! Okay, baby, you can keep it. I'm sorry. Just don't cry. Come here, a big hug for my baby." Mwah. "Sorry, darling, I must have hurt you. Come, sleep with us tonight."
Aurelia, while crying, went with her mother and slept, thinking about the dance with Daniel and the necklace. No birthday will ever top this one.
Aurelia: "…!"
---
Daniel's Perspective (Late night in his room before going to bed)
Daniel: (Expression calm, posture relaxed—but his grip tightened slightly at his side). "It's just a gift."
He exhaled slowly.
Daniel: "You have faced death so many times in your past life, but thinking about whether Aurelia will like the gift or not seems more difficult."
His mind replayed the moment he had chosen it. The gem reminded him of her eyes when she stood under the sunset light—strong, yet unbearably gentle.
Daniel: "If she hates it… I'll just pretend I don't care. So let's just sleep. Nothing is going to change if I overthink about it."
---
Next morning…
There was a knock on the door which woke up Daniel. He opened the door.
Aurelia: "Daniel."
Their eyes met. For a brief moment, neither spoke. Daniel's gaze fell to her neck.
Daniel: "…You're wearing it."
Aurelia nodded.
Aurelia: "I loved it."
That was all it took. Daniel looked away.
Daniel: "…Good."
Aurelia smiled wider.
Aurelia: "Is that all you have to say?"
Daniel paused.
Daniel: "I don't know if you can see it, but I'm a little embarrassed right now."
Aurelia: "Of course I can see it, stupid. You are blushing."
Hearing that, Daniel closed the door on Aurelia's face without thinking.
Aurelia: "Daniel! That's how you treat the princess?"
Daniel opened the door.
Daniel: "I'm sorry, Ms. Aurelia."
Aurelia: "No, there is no forgiveness for you for what you did."
Daniel: "Sorry, Aurelia. My body just did that instinctively. Let me make it up to you, so please forgive me this once. I don't like you being mad. You look best when you are happy."
Aurelia now had her head down. She was getting embarrassed. She thought she could tease him, but the situation had just gotten out of her hands. After a few seconds, she got an amazing idea.
Aurelia: "You want me to forgive you? Then let's go out, just you and me."
Daniel: "Aurelia, we are kids. We can't go outside alone."
Aurelia: "Daniel, I know you go outside from time to time, even at night. I know you are responsible enough to take care of us and strong enough to protect us. I have seen you training more than the knights and guards of our household together. So, take me outside with you. It will be like an adventure."
Silence.
Daniel was thinking,How does she notice all of this? And she still never told anyone about anything. He didn't want to take her outside alone because of the status differences, but at the same time, he wanted to enjoy a day out like a normal kid for once.
Aurelia: "Tell me, are you taking me or not?"
Daniel: "Okay. But you have to change your clothes into something that doesn't shout 'royalty,' and inform the Baroness. Ask her to provide guards who will observe us from behind."
When Aurelia heard what Daniel just said, her heart was screaming like crazy from excitement. She was expecting him to reject her because it was obvious going outside alone didn't make sense. But the way Daniel came up with everything, like he had done this type of thing many times, was impressive.
So, Aurelia did what Daniel asked. The Baroness first denied her outing, but when she said she really wanted to go with Daniel, Octavia agreed to it and asked the knights to keep an eye out for anything dangerous and keep them safe discreetly.
When Aurelia was about to go outside, Octavia's words just brought chaos into her heart: "All the very best for your date with Daniel." Those words made it obvious she was disguising a date as a normal outing, and her mother knew what she was thinking all this time.
---
Daniel's Perspective: When I said yes to Aurelia's idea, I was feeling excited to go and enjoy time with the only friend I have. And I can see on her face that she is also very excited to go outside, just us.
---
The Date
The city glowed beneath the sky. Crowds lined the streets, warm and alive. Daniel walked beside her, matching her pace.
Daniel: "You don't have to stay out if you're tired."
Aurelia glanced at him.
Aurelia: "You worry too much."
They stopped at a quiet bridge overlooking the river. The scenery was beautiful as they continued walking on the bridge.
Aurelia leaned on the railing.
Daniel: "You planned this, didn't you?"
Aurelia: "…Maybe."
She laughed softly.
Daniel: "You're bad at lying."
Aurelia: "I never claimed otherwise."
The wind brushed past them. Her shoulder touched his. He didn't move away.
Daniel: "Aurelia."
She turned.
Aurelia: "Yes?"
Daniel hesitated—something rare.
Daniel: "…I'm not good with words."
Aurelia waited.
Daniel: "But when I saw you wear that necklace…" He met her eyes. "…I was glad you liked it."
Aurelia's expression softened completely.
Aurelia: "Obviously, it was your gift, Daniel. How could I not like it? And it was beautiful. You chose that because of my eye color, right? It's greyish-blue. Last time you gifted me a blue hairpin, now this. Daniel, do you like my eyes?" Aurelia: Shit, what did I just say? Take it back, you stupid… You went and ruined it all.
Daniel: "Yes. I like your eyes. They are beautiful."
At that moment, Aurelia went silent. She couldn't think of anything after what Daniel just said. After that, Aurelia did not speak another word. She was too embarrassed to even look at Daniel.
Daniel was thinking he must have said something wrong. He shouldn't have crossed the line. After all, he is just a house maid's kid. He thought he had ruined everything, so he suggested they go back.
As they walked back, their hands brushed. Neither pulled away. As they were about to reach the gate, Aurelia brought all the courage she had just to say something.
Aurelia: "Daniel."
Daniel: "Hm?"
Aurelia: "This was a perfect date."
And then she just ran like crazy to the mansion without looking back.
Daniel stood frozen at the gate. So it was a date. She wasn't pissed at me for saying something I shouldn't have; it was the opposite. He started smiling and loved this feeling growing inside him, which made one thing obvious to him.
Daniel: "…If I have to keep her safe, I must make sure the Count won't do anything to her."