I opened my eyes slowly and turned, snuggling my furry pillow. Standing up was tough when I felt so comfortable. I sat up weakly and was met with something that almost made me scream.
"Happy birthday!" I heard shouts.
"Happy birthday, my lady," Blair said, stepping forward with a cake and one candle.
"How… what? Why? How long have you been standing there?" I asked, and she grinned. That was not a response. I felt violated. What if I have weird sleeping habits? Did they see that?
"Blow it, blow it, blow it," Blair pestered, and I blew it. The smoke formed a heart before withering away like my sleep.
"Thank you," I said quietly as I got out of bed. Everyone smiled as they walked out one after another.
"We have a full plan ready for the day," she said, and I nodded. "It's your twelfth birthday, so it has to be grand because it's one of your last years as a child," Blair said. Isn't that supposed to be sixteen and seventeen? She said the same thing last year as an excuse to do something grand.
"I don't know," I said quietly. I don't want a grand birthday party. I just want a small dinner with Tyler and Lady Myra.
"All the staffs are happy that they have an excuse to party," she said. Now I can't say no.
"Please, Blair," I said, and she got the message.
"Don't worry, it's nothing much," she said, dragging me to take a bath.
I'm twelve. It feels like a dream, a dream I don't want to wake up from. I am both excited and scared, excited because it means I have successfully escaped that family, and scared because Lady Myra died not long after my twelfth birthday.
The past three years of staying with her have been very easy. She never gets angry or yells or hits me. I was already getting comfortable, but my twelfth birthday just had to show up. I don't want anything to happen to her. She has been the best mother anyone could ask for, but I'm still too scared to call her mother.
I walked out of my room wearing a simple dress, to my surprise, and made my way to the dining room. Lady Myra was sitting down reading a letter when I walked in.
"Good morning, Lady Myra," I said, and she looked up.
"Oh, good morning, Livi. Did you like the surprise?" she asked. No!
"It was something," I gave a vague answer as I took my seat. Lady Myra banned me from ever courtesying to her. She said family don't need to be polite. If I ever entered a room without courtesying to those people, I'll be 'disciplined'.
"Happy birthday, Livi," she said, and I smiled weakly.
"Thank you," I replied.
"Your maid, Blair, insisted on having a party," she started. Blair, why?
"But I turned her down. I know how much you hate those," she said, and I felt so emotional. I don't hate them. I just hate the intensity. And how did she know?
"So we decided to do something smaller than last year and the year before," she continued. That is the best present I could ask for.
"Everyone is to present their gifts in the evening," she said, and I nodded.
Lady Myra made it mandatory that everyone in her household must give me a gift on my birthday. It is a bit uncomfortable for me, but I can't say no. Honestly, I feel a bit happy about it. Everyone here treats me nicely and makes me feel like an important person. I just wish I didn't feel like they had ulterior motives.
I walked inside my room and fell on my furry pillow. It's my birthday. I can't believe I'm twelve already.
"Tyler, do you have a present for me?" I asked, and he just shrugged.
It might be surprising to others, but I became very close to Tyler. He grew bigger these past three years. It became scary. I thought he'd become bigger than the room, but he didn't. Now he's just a bit close to my shoulders. A wolf is almost the same height as me. It's embarrassing, but Lady Myra said that's the species of the wolf. She said that Tyler's type of wolves is categorized under 'magical beasts'.
Elise left a few months ago to go back to work, but I have received books every month to study. She said that I am "one of her best students" and that she enjoys teaching me. I was happy when I heard that, but it only increased my fear. Her statement would only increase the expectations on me. I want to go to the academy, but I'm scared that I won't be good enough.
"Ty, let's go to the kitchen," I said, standing up. He stood up and followed me. We snuck into the kitchen. In our minds, everyone noticed us the minute we walked in.
"My lady, you're here. Would you like to eat anything?" the head chef said. Even if I say no, they'd still stuff my mouth.
"I wanted to see the cake," I said knowingly. The cake from this morning was Blair's first step to her birthday tradition. She always makes me blow a candle in the morning, but the cake she uses is never 'her level'. Blair's opinion of a cake that should be used for my birthday is a bit.
"I was instructed to prevent you from seeing the cake," he replied.
"Oh!" As expected of Blair.
"But I was not told to stop you from eating it," he said with a wide grin. He walked away and came back with a plate with a piece of cake on it. My face was already half stuffed.
"Thank you," I said, collecting it. I looked at Tyler, and he looked like he was about to choke. I better leave before he actually does. I am expected to visit every once in a while, and my birthday is a good time. I really love the company of the people in the kitchen. They are always cheerful and nice, and they always make me the taste tester. I ate the cake there because I knew they wanted a review.
"It's tasty," I said, and everyone started smiling. I like being the reason why they smile, but I still have a lingering fear.
I walked to my room and looked at my remaining assigned books. I decided to study for the rest of the day to keep myself busy till evening.
"You look pretty as always, my lady," Blair squealed.
"Thank you," I said shyly. Blair always picks my dresses, and she is passionate about it, especially when it comes to my birthday dresses.
"Let's go. Everyone is waiting," she said, and I nodded. Tyler walked in, and I couldn't help the snicker that came out. He was wearing what was supposed to be a tie.
"Ty, you look pretty," I said, and he walked to my side. I patted his head and arranged his tie.
We walked out to the garden outside, and I was led to sit on the top of a platform that was set. The cake was dragged out. Yes, dragged. It was a five-layered cake, and each layer was very big.
They sang the happy birthday song, and I climbed a mini stairs to blow out the candle and cut the cake.
The time for presents came, and no one could hold in their excitement, except me. Everyone was more excited than I was; I didn't see the point in being excited anymore. All the butlers gave their presents, then the maids, then the chefs.
Everyone in Lady Myra's manor knew that I did not like toys. The first birthday I celebrated here, everyone showered me with toys, but when Blair saw that I didn't like them, she told Lady Myra, who in turn banned toys from presents.
It was finally time for Lady Myra to give me her present, and everyone fell silent. Her presents are always… a lot.
The first year, she gave me a horse that I do not visit because I'm scared. And last year, it was a library with all medical books you can think of. She built a new building for it. When the work started, everyone was confused as they wondered if she was building a new building for me or someone else.
Lady Myra stepped forward and gave me an envelope. I couldn't help the sigh of relief that escaped my lips.
"Open it," she said, smiling. I nodded and opened it slowly. I prayed on the inside that it won't be the deed to a house. The moment my eyes landed on the first words, tears poured out of my eyes from shock.
"What's wrong, Livi?" Lady Myra asked. I shouldn't cry; I need to stop crying. It's a good thing, so why am I crying? "Livi," she called, sounding panicked.
"T… t… thank you," I managed to get out. I was really happy. I can't believe this is happening. I will have to work twice as hard to avoid failing her. I must.