"Birthday?"
Iluna pursed her lips in surprise. She blinked, then spoke very seriously over the noisy street:
"Shade, only children celebrate birthdays. Today is my nineteenth birthday, and tradition says days like this aren't specially celebrated. Look, Luvia and Dorothy never celebrate their birthdays, and Galina never even mentions her birth date."
Not celebrating birthdays after growing up was a tradition in this world, unlike in the Outlander's homeland. When Angelina turned eighteen this year, there had likewise been no grand celebration.
Shade nodded, but then said:
"I'm not throwing you a birthday banquet. I just want everyone to gather for dinner. We haven't prepared any birthday gifts for you, so don't be disappointed. Emilia might give you a jar of Bean Pod Candy."
Iluna laughed as well:
"There's no need to celebrate birthdays anyway. If others found out, they'd say I was a child~"
She was too embarrassed to make any more intimate gesture with Shade out on the street, so she merely boldly hooked one finger around his and whispered:
"I'll go. And thank you."
"Do you still need to be so polite with me?"
Shade said, waving to her again:
"If nothing comes up, remember to come early tonight. Winnie and Tifa will prepare a very lavish dinner."
"I know."
Iluna nodded and stood before Blackstone Security Company, watching Shade leave. Now nineteen years old, the young lady felt that she would be looking forward to it all day.
Informing Iluna about dinner at home that evening did not take long. As usual, Shade arrived at Fragrant Residence before nine, and by then Wei Ge had already received the intelligence delivered by The Church.
Sylvia had already returned to Margaret's side. Before Shade arrived, Wei Ge had been discussing the materials shared by The Church with Flora,