I Didn't Even Want To Live, But God Forced Me To Reincarnate! Chapter 16: Altaire's Sixth Birthday (1)

Day 21 Month 9, it's Altaire-oniichan's special day!

Yes, today is his sixth birthday!

Sixth birthday is special because it marks the age where one reaches their maximum mana capacity and how they are welcome to partic.i.p.ate in society gatherings, especially for n.o.bles!

Since I am his little sister, I am allowed to partic.i.p.ate in Altaire-oniichan's Debut Party! Obviously, I am getting busy because my grandparents are coming and I also need to dress up!!

The royal family is also invited but I doubt they'd come. After all, it is unusual for the royal family to grace themselves on some n.o.ble's parties, especially birthday parties. Even if we are the members of the Four Dukes! At the most, the king will come if he is not busy. But let's not expect too much. I can't deny that I am curious to know how the crown prince looks like in his… adult form? And how he is after he becomes the king.

Nevertheless, I must really dress up and behave appropriately! Alt-nii is the star in this party, but that doesn't mean I can escape the n.o.bles' judgement, even as a 3-year-old!

Also… debut party… incoming n.o.bles… That means… the Grabberton family would also be present, right?

OhmyG.o.dohmyG.o.dohmyG.o.d…!!!

I don't know if I can keep my poker face and feign as much ignorance as possible if I were to face them directly!! I need to speak only if necessary.

Oh, even if the party is usually held in the n.o.ble's house, those with small houses may rent a venue. So, Alt-nii's birthday party is held at the old Hartmann's house. For the preparations, the Sanctuaria family helped us a lot in terms of maids and other workers. Niina, Vince, and Chloe's relatives also came to help, and so they would be allowed to attend the party as well!

This will be my first time being in the middle of the crowd after my reincarnation. Of course I'd be a little nervous, even if I am only a side character. But Altaire might be more nervous than I am. He would be standing in front of all the audiences. Yes, he will stand in the middle of the taller-than-other-grounds stage in the middle of the large hall!! It was formerly the audience room and also the living room of the huge Hartmann house, and it was modified for parties like this. This large and luxurious house could have been my house, but, well, I don't really care for the luxury. Can't say I don't miss all the luxury and convenience I had as Reinst, but I won't trade the warmth of family that I know in this life for any luxury.

I can't imagine how Altaire-nii is doing right now! He must be peeking from behind the stage nervously!!

Or

Not.

Instead of him peeking the hall from behind the stage, the one who has been constantly peeking is me.

As for Alt-nii…

"Clavis, prepare yourself well! Don't you remember that you need to stand beside me at the stage? You are my appointed butler, after all~ My companion~!" Alt-nii grinned while teasing Clavis.

Clavis-nii seems very fl.u.s.tered and can't imagine the idea of him being in the center of the attention, with all the n.o.bles looking at him.

Well, usually n.o.bles would have some personal maids or butlers, but since we're broke, we have no one. In this occasion, Clavis-nii would be accompanying Alt-nii around, but standing at the stage next to him was not part of the pact. Yes, I remember that!!

"W, what are you talking about… Alt----I mean, Altaire-sama?!" Clavis stuttered.

Another point of interruption!! Not addressing Alt-nii with "-sama" suffix will cause an uproar, as Clavis plays the role of Alt-nii's personal butler in this event. It must be hard for Clavis-nii to adjust himself. I feel sorry for him. At first, he needed to adjust his habit of calling Alt-nii with "-sama" suffix into the calling of just "Alt", as he is a friend to my big brother. Now that he's already been used to calling Altaire-nii with his name only, he needs to readjust it back!!

"W-e-l-l! We agreed to that!!" Alt-nii's face doesn't show any sign of joke at all.

Clavis becomes more nervous, and I see that he is now slightly trembling!

That poor wolfie—and what a meanie you are, big brother!

I decided to step up.

"Uhm, Alt-nii, stop! Clavis-nii is really scared! I know he is only asked to follow you after you go to the stage! He doesn't need to be on the stage!!"

Clavis-nii is clearly surprised. But hearing my words, he stopped shaking and sighed in relief.

"Aaaaah, Lyra! We just got to the fun part!! Why won't you just tease Clavis with me?" Alt-nii pouted.

Uuu, talk about bullies!!

"You're teasing Clavis-nii too much, Alt-nii!" I put myself between Clavis and Altaire.

"Ah well… I'll let this go, then. Lyra is right, Clavis. Seems like you forgot what our agreement said. You'd better be thankful to Lyra! My little sister is just too kind!" Alt-nii patted my head and then patted Clavis' head.

The moment he tried to pat Clavis—Clavis dodged his patting.

"Really, Alt! If you do that again, I won't play with you anymore!!"

"Haha, alright, alright, I will make sure I don't bully you too much next time!"

"So, you're still thinking of teasing me?! Geez, really!!"

"Your reaction is cute, Clavis!"

"I am not cute!!" Clavis denied it wholeheartedly. So, it is true that boys hate being called cute?

And yup. This is the relations.h.i.+p between my brother and his very first best friend. Yup, they look like they're fighting most of the time and Altaire would seem like a meanie, but please please believe me, they are actuallllyyyy really close! When Clavis got sick the other day, Altaire-nii went out all the way to visit him in his house and lent him a CD containing his favorite holographic show! Although, Alt-nii gave it to him while saying, "You have to quickly get better and return my favorite CD! If you take too long, I'll charge you for being late!!"

I can also tell that he was worried sick when he heard Clavis' fever was so severe at that time. He didn't behave as he usually was at home.

When Clavis-nii got better and played in our house again, Alt-nii teased him first thing first, but his expression seemed relieved!!

Ah, I can't really understand the friends.h.i.+p between boys.

And, is my big brother a tsundere?!

Come to think about it, Clavis-nii could also be categorized as my first friend!!

Besides him, I sometimes went to play with the kids in the downtown whenever I strolled around there. We saw a doll show and then the performer's child would lead us to play after the show. I am not particularly close with any of them, but… it feels nice when they smiled and said, "Let's play together again next time!"

The past me would definitely not spend any time playing around since I'd get so engrossed to studying and training, hoping to get praised by my parents.

Anyway…

"Altaire, after this we will go on the stage and greet everyone. Dad will open the party, and then the floor is all yours," Dad said.

Alt-nii nodded with a bright smile on his face.

Is he seriously not nervous?!

"U, uhm, Lyra, thank you so much for your help just now! You really saved me!"

I heard a familiar voice from behind me. As I turned around, there is Clavis, as expected, but there's something I had never expected, coming from him.

His eyes are totally sparking when he looks at me!!

What's more, isn't his tail slightly waving around?!

"N, no problem, it's Alt-nii's fault for being a meanie!" I said.

Clavis smiled in response and said, "you're so kind!"

"Haha, if he ever teases you too much, just call me I will come to your rescue!" I said. Well, somehow I can handle Alt-nii better than Clavis! Is this the legendary little sister power?

"Uuu, I can't believe you are his sister!" Clavis patted my head.

And before long... finally, it's show time!