"Ah. Felya," I stopped in my tracks in front of our door. "Don't tell anyone about what happened."
"How can we not tell them that?" Felya exclaimed.
"Please, I don't want them to worry." I pleaded.
She exhaled and glared at me.
"You owe me!" She elegantly stomped her way into the house. I chuckled and followed soon.
After placing my newly bought books in my room, I went downstairs to find no one around. Before I parted ways with Felya earlier, I still could see numerous maids and footmen around.
I went around the rooms and found no one, then I stepped outside to the garden.
Oh, this.
I was thrown various colored petals by the maids and was greeted with a loud 'Happy Birthday, my lady!'
Aww, I look softly at them and said my thanks. They soon guided me to the greenhouse of our home and saw the rest of my family there.
"How could you leave me alone in the house? That was scary..." I joked.
"Your mother's idea." My father immediately spoke.
"You all agreed." My mother replied.
I chuckled and shook my head. "I was joking. You do this every year, how can I not know by now?"
"She's learning. So proud..." Noah fake sniffed and was wiping nonexistent tears off his face. I rolled my eyes and then noticed there were some other people behind my family.
"Hello, Nera! Happy birthday!" Jasmine walked up to me and gave me a hug.
"Now, this is a surprise..." I widened my eyes but hugged back.
Jasmine chuckled as she backed away to stare at me with a large grin. "Your parents invited us. Father and I were really excited too..."
"I'm guessing the other wasn't?" I whispered.
After sighing, she nodded in reply. "But he does have something to ask you later."
Jamie de Vanderwale? Asking me something?
I raised my eyebrow at the giggling girl.
"You'll see. Let's celebrate first!" She held me by the arm and pulled me to the table filled with food and gifts.
"Thank you, everybody."
Truly, thankful. I am now living in this world for exactly 19 years. Almost a year ago, I fell from my horse and got my memories from my previous life back.
It was hard to accept that I'm here already but thankfully, I have another great life here. I wouldn't let myself ruin it again. I'll protect this family and my own life at all costs.
***
After a few hours of eating and unwrapping gifts, the silver head, with a scowl on his face, walked to me.
While everybody was busy doing their own thing, Jamie called and asked me to talk with him outside of the greenhouse. I was suspicious of him asking me to go but looking at him if he tried anything, I can immobilize him even without using my aura, so I guess I'll be fine. That's the worst-case scenario, obviously.
I walked out of the greenhouse and stared at where he stopped in his tracks.
Wow...
There he was, standing by the bushes, a few meters away from the greenhouse. Under the moonlight, his silver-gray hair reflected it, emphasizing every strand and the greenery around him felt right in place with his emerald eyes...
He definitely looks more feminine than I do, not to mock but to praise. What a beautiful person this is, it's unreal. If he didn't have a scowl every time he saw me, that is.
"I guess you're not out here to greet me a happy birthday."
"Of course not."
How straightforward.
"So, what is it?"
"I don't believe it."
"What?"
"I don't believe it. I refuse to." He crossed his arms.
"Yeah, what don't you believe?" I scoffed.
"That you came up with it on your own. That question you gave to Jasmine."
"But I did."
Curse these smart people! Jasmine didn't get suspicious of me yet here is her brother asking me!
...Which is true.
'I read this from the novel and I have memories of a world where plants are used as medicine, I didn't come up with it myself.'
I can't tell him that!
He laughed mockingly at my statement, his voice ringing in my ear repeatedly.
Ah, this is the first conversation we're having but I already hate this guy. He's a worse version of Noah... I couldn't even bear to imagine it when Mother told us that Father was like a worse version of Noah but there he is, standing right in front of me. This one is probably worse than both, with his stuck-up noble stature and seemingly bottomless arrogance.
These stubborn-headed smartasses make me want to punch them. I can with Noah but what about this guy...?
I closed my eyes at the thought. No, he's the Young Master of the Vanderwales, how could I?
"If you did, then good job. You actually did something right with your life, rather than asking people if they want a punch."
My mouth gaped, how did he guess what I was thinking? I wheezed and crossed my arms in annoyance.
"Punch? What do you mean...?" I stitched my eyebrows together.
Jamie scoffed. "...As expected of an idiot like you."
Ticked off by his reply, I grumbled, "You think being knowledgeable is the only thing worth doing in this world?"
He raised his eyebrow at my words. "Obviously."
"Everybody has their own worth." I scoffed. "Can't believe someone called the 'Genius of the Century' is this narrow-minded." I rolled my eyes and soon noticed the grim expression on his face.
"...Genius of the Century." Jamie scoffed.
I raised an eyebrow but didn't continue to pry. "Is this the only thing you wanted to talk about?"
'Cause if you continue, I'll show you how being knowledgeable isn't the only thing that's worth it.' I wanted to continue but chose against it since I don't want to beat up someone so defenseless.
Even though I mentioned that he is a carbon copy of his father, I doubt that he has the same strength as him. I can't feel anything from him.
And I'd rather not resort to violence. I'll be stooping down his level if I did.
"Actually, no. I wanted to clarify something." He faced me, eyes looking down on me as if I was something insignificant that caught his attention, and he dislikes that very much. "Why did you mention plants to Jasmine as an alternative to magic in terms of healing?"
Oh, crap.
I don't know how to use logic my way out of this, and I'm talking to THE Jamie de Vanderwale here!
"Oh, I don't know. I just blurted it out." I looked at the night sky to avoid his stares.
"Hmm," He chuckled. "But why specifically plants?"
"I told you, I don't know!"
Ah, this beautiful bastard! So annoying!
"Are you sure? Because if it was 'random', as you said, then you could've said something else."
"Yeah, I could have, but I didn't and said plants."
"Because you know that they'd work."
"Why would I ask Jasmine if I knew they'd work?"
"She told me that it isn't something you can solve on your own, so you asked her for help which means that prior to you speaking to her, you already had an idea of how it works."
"Ugh," I groaned as my head started to hurt. "Stop asking me stupid questions!" I marched my way out of the conversation and walked back inside the greenhouse, leaving him alone.
I don't care anymore!
"They aren't stupid! You're just hiding something!" He shouted and with my sensitive hearing, I could hear him even from inside. "...You could've had 30 points."
He also probably knows that too. He's really a Noah but amplified!
No.
He's just a Jamie! He's overthrown my brother off the 'Top 1 Most Annoying Person' in one conversation! What a feat!
...But what does he mean by 30 points?
"What's wrong with you?" Noah asked as he chomped on food in front of me.
Speaking of the devil.
"Nothing." I walked away since I didn't know what I would do if I didn't.
I might suddenly punch him. Wait, it's fine, this is Noah.
I walked back and punched his back lightly which made him let go of his platter. Lightly for him is strongly for others, but it's fine.
"Hey! Do you think I'm going to let you do whatever you want just because it's your birthday?!" He took the fallen plate and glared at me.
I shrugged and walked back to the table.
Feeling a lot more refreshed after punching my brother, I'd probably do it again later.
Jamie de Vanderwale, I hope to not talk to you ever again.
"Tch." I clicked my tongue in annoyance.
To shake me out of my thoughts, Jamie walked back in and when he noticed where I was, he walked to me and smirked. That made me have goosebumps all over my body, not out of pressure but out of provocation.
"Show me that being knowledgeable isn't the only thing worth doing in this world."
"Bring it on. Go to the Knight's Exam in December," I put my hands on my hips. "I'll drag your arrogant ass away."
"Hypothetically. I don't want to be dragged in reality either way." Jamie rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. He then waved his hand as he walked back to his family's seat. "Anyway, good luck with that."
I felt my face copy his usual expression at me and sigh out loud to calm down.
My birthday ended with a really annoying note and that note is Jamie de Vanderwale.