I’ve Been Exiled, But I’m Alive and Well - Chapter 116 (Patreon)

"Speaking of which, when is your birthday, Elle?"

When we left the restaurant, we went to a general store.
Jed asked me when I was looking at the merchandise, and I replied, "My birthday was six months ago.”
When I celebrated my eighteenth birthday, I didn't think I'd be kicked out of the country.

"When is yours?"
"Two weeks from today.”
"Two weeks from now, huh… Looks like we won't be able to celebrate it in this country.”
"What do you mean?”
"All celebrations are prohibited exactly two weeks from now.”

Exactly two weeks later was the day the Prince and Noble Consort Blanche's first child was born and died at the same time. It was not a stillbirth, but he died right after birth. For this reason, it is the rule of the Principality of Agreable to forbid celebrations and wear black clothes.
This applies to tourists as well. We will not be able to celebrate Jed's birthday.
I don't even know if I'll be with him until then, though.
After a brief explanation, Jed showed a cloudy expression.

"What happened to the Prince and Noble Consort’s child?”
"I heard that after the funeral, they were buried in a cemetery outside Arburn.”

My father told me that there was one thing that was puzzling him: the people who attended the funeral said that there was no body of the child in the coffin.
The funeral method in the Principality is cremation. The bones are supposed to be left behind after being burned, but there are stories of people not being able to find them. There is even a story that the midwife who took the child from Lady Margaery was secretly killed.
The deeper you think about it, the less likely you are to come to a good conclusion.

"Will the Prince and the Noble Consort visit the grave?"
"I wouldn’t know that…”

I know the truth.
The Prince doesn't visit the grave, he just instructs his attendants to bring flowers. Lady Margaery seems to be the same way.
Even though it was the grave of their first child, which they had longed for, they treated it poorly. It was as if there was no one at the grave.
I felt a sense of discomfort, but a young noble lady from a neighboring country shouldn’t get involved.

"If you want to know more about the Prince and Noble Consort, you should go to the Central Library.”

The entrance fee is high, but even commoners can enter the Central Library, which has a large collection of books, and I'm sure he can get some knowledge there. When I suggested it, Jed smiled and said, "I don't want to know that much.”

"Is there anything you want? I know it's been six months, but let me congratulate you.”
"No, thank you.”
"That's cold.”
"It's weird that you want to celebrate a birthday that happened six months ago.”

I was starting to think he was a good guy after all the help he gave me, but he's still a weirdo.
If he was a normal person, he wouldn't have asked me to celebrate my birthday of six months ago.

"I'd rather celebrate with you, is there anything you want?"
"Are you sure?"
“We can't celebrate on the day of your birthday.”

I'm only giving you this gift because I owe you and your birthday is coming up. It has no deep meaning. If Giselle knew, she would probably give me a cold stare. After looking around the store, he said, "I would like a watch. I don't have one” while smiling innocently like a child.
So, we headed over to where the pocket watches were lined up. They seemed to be reasonably priced and looked well-built to last a long time.

"I don't really know which one is better.”
"How about this black watch?"

An overall black pocket watch with a lion on the lid, suitable for men.
I chose it because I wanted to see Jed's reaction when he saw the lion engraved on it, the symbol of the Fall Empire's royal family. I have a bad personality.

“It’s nice.”

A big smile. I was trying to make him upset, but he was having none of it.
At any rate, his joy of receiving a watch was infectious.

"I'm going to go buy one.”
"Are you sure you don't mind?”
"Don't worry about it, birthday boy."

I went to the shopkeeper and asked him to wrap it carefully.
Is it for your boyfriend? He made fun of me, but I shook my head. Jed was not my boyfriend, nor was he my friend. We're a little closer than acquaintances.
In the first place, there are only two friends left of mine.
Giselle and one other person.

"Thank you for waiting.”
"Thank you very much.”

Maybe we can go to the Fall Empire after we leave Arburn.
I might be able to meet my other friend.

Next chapter: https://www.patreon.com/posts/55746926