Birthday

Birthday

Morning.

Karl stood before the full-length mirror, meticulously straightening his collar and cuffs.

Today, he wore a wide-brimmed top hat, a woolen overcoat, a black waistcoat, trousers, and leather boots.

The outfit somewhat resembled the Byzantine style from memories of his previous life, while adding exquisite, lavish embroidered patterns.

The whole set had cost one Gold Coin and three pounds.

For an ordinary family, saving up for a single outfit like this would likely take a year.

It cost a great deal, but the effect was equally impressive.

Karl's features were rugged, and burn scars marked his face, making him seem fierce and difficult to approach.

Once he put on this outfit, however, his bearing became far more refined. He looked more like a successful man who rarely smiled.

When he opened the door, Jenny had already prepared breakfast.

Whenever circumstances allowed, Karl never treated himself poorly. After coming into money, the first thing he had told Mary and her daughter was to improve the quality of their meals.

The extra expense placed no burden on him, yet it ensured he could start each day in a good mood.

The table was covered with cereal and milk, bread and jam, as well as dried fruit, ham, cold cuts...

A lavish breakfast, fitting for a respectable nobleman.

"Good morning, Baron Karl."

Jenny set down the fruit platter in her hands and looked over curiously.

"Are you attending a banquet?"

It was rare to see him dressed so grandly.

"Yes."

Karl nodded.

"It's Yiwenni's birthday today."

"Oh!" Jenny remembered that exquisitely beautiful girl, delicate as a porcelain doll. She nodded at once.

"Do you have time tonight?"

"What?" Karl paused with his knife and fork in hand, looking up at her. "Is something the matter?"

"Yes." With a bashful expression, Jenny took out two tickets still warm from her body. "Today is my first official performance onstage. I hope you can come. You may bring a friend."

"Congratulations." Karl smiled. Taking the tickets, he gave them a casual glance, then said in surprise, "Vim Opera House?"

This was no ordinary venue for small concerts. In Signo City, it ranked among the top three, and many grand ceremonies were held there.

"Yes." Jenny clasped her hands tightly, a blush on her face. "The Barrow Troupe has been invited to perform at the Vim Opera House this time, in preparation for the upcoming God's Birthday."

"The troupe leader said that if I perform well this time, he'll let me officially join the troupe on God's Birthday and sing hymns."

"That really is wonderful." Karl nodded. "I knew you would make a name for yourself one day, but I didn't expect to see you at an opera house so soon."

"I'll definitely be there!"

Jenny beamed.

She had actually performed onstage before, but only in small places, and she had never specifically invited Karl.

She had been saving it all for this surprise.

Watching Karl leave, Jenny fiercely pumped her little fist, her face brimming with excitement.

"This time, I'll definitely make you see me in a new light."

"Five pence."

It had rained just last night.

Thanks to Signo City's less-than-perfect infrastructure, puddles and potholes were unavoidable on the streets.

After paying the fare, Karl carefully avoided several puddles and headed toward the hotel ahead.

Before he even reached the hotel, a clamor flooded his ears.

"You spend all day hanging around with a bunch of shady friends, and whenever you've got nothing to do, you call prostitutes over to keep you company."

Kinsley roared at the top of her lungs:

"Look at the clothes in the living room! They're covered in sticky stuff—I feel sick just looking at them!"

"You think you have the right to criticize me?" A familiar voice rang out. "Which one of my friends hasn't slept with you? You slut, **, **, you bitch-born whore."

"Who are you calling that?"

"Shut up!"

Bang...

Crash...

Roars and furious curses tangled together, punctuated now and then by shouts and cries of pain.

"Stop fighting, stop!"

Tears filled Yiwenni's eyes. Dressed in a princess gown, she looked helplessly at the scene before her, crying as she rushed forward to pull them apart.

"Today is my birthday. Please, stop fighting."

"Ah!"

Someone suddenly shoved hard, sending her stumbling backward again and again. She was about to crash into the wine cabinet.

"Careful."

Karl appeared just in time. He reached out to catch Yiwenni and looked into the fray in astonishment.

What should have been a joyous birthday celebration had turned into an all-out brawl, with a crowd of people grappling and fighting.

Uncle's family was involved, along with the other guests. The entire room was chaos; even the hotel staff could not pull them apart.

Karl knew these relatives did not get along, but he had never expected things to be this bad. Once they started fighting, every one of them showed no mercy.

Even the women clawed at each other like Madmen.

"Waa..." Hearing this, the frightened and helpless Yiwenni burst into tears and threw herself into Karl's arms. "Cousin Karl, waa..."

"Enough."

Karl shook his head.

"Let's get them to stop first."

"Sit down and get some rest."

After helping Yiwenni sit down, Karl flashed into the middle of the crowd. He grabbed someone with one large hand and flung them backward.

He was powerfully built and possessed immense strength. Everyone in his path was tossed aside, and within moments, the room fell silent.

The crowd panted heavily. Karl alone stood in the middle with an unchanged expression, even taking the time to straighten his tie.

"So..."

He slowly spoke as he swept his gaze across the room.

"What is going on here?"

"Divorce!"

Someone suddenly bellowed.

"We can't live like this anymore! We're getting divorced today!"

Karl recognized him—Kinsley's husband, his cousin-in-law, a fairly handsome man.

Back then, Kinsley had been taken with that very point. Despite her family's objections, she had insisted on marrying him.

Unfortunately, after they got married, their lives were not as sweet and loving as the stories in books. Instead, it was one trivial squabble after another.

Within less than two years, they had begun living separate lives, their marriage existing in name only.

Whenever the two of them were together, they would argue. This time, apparently, was no exception.

"Fine, then divorce!"

Kinsley, her clothes in disarray, shrieked.

"I never should have married you!"

"They should have divorced long ago." Gejier, fat-bodied and small-eyed, did not try to dissuade them. He merely snorted coldly. "My daughter has been married to you for so many years. You ought to give her some compensation."

"Compensation?" Josie—Kinsley's husband—laughed coldly at that.

"Your whole family is really a pack of oddballs. But don't worry—so long as we get divorced, I'm willing to give up anything. I don't even want that courtyard in East City anymore."

"That courtyard wasn't worth much to begin with." Kinsley looked utterly disdainful.

"Don't think I don't know—you've got another sum of money deposited in the bank, and part of it belongs to me."

"Nonsense..."

"Then let's settle the accounts properly."

Karl shook his head, ignoring their quarrel as he walked over to Yiwenni and presented her with a gift.

"Happy birthday."

"Cousin."

Yiwenni sniffled, her face red from crying as she nodded.

"Thank you."

Karl turned slightly and looked at Yiwenni's disheveled hair, his gaze pausing on the familiar hairpin.

"A birthday gift from my sister."

Seeing this, Yiwenni removed the hairpin, her voice thick with tears.

"She said she spent a lot of money on it. I really like it."

"Is that so?"

Karl seemed thoughtful.

"As long as you like it."

He looked back at Kinsley, who resembled a madwoman, then gave a soft laugh and instinctively shook his head.

People, were always complicated.

"Cousin."

He raised a hand in indication.

"I've been planning to buy a house recently. Why not sell me that courtyard of yours in East City?"

"The price is negotiable."

(End of Chapter)