Loren picked up the cake knife and sliced the massive cake right down the middle before cutting it into smaller portions to distribute to everyone.
Half was for Anna, the other half was for everyone else, and whatever the others left would also be handed over to Anna to finish.
Loren had already grown accustod to this kind of distribution. In fact, for Anna and Naclis's previous birthdays, the entire cake had been Anna's alone.
The atmosphere at the gathering was lively and festive. Loren even used the record player he had brought from the Uridia Kingdom to play so music. Luna's classmates were seeing such a novel device for the very first ti.
Luna watched Loren as he distributed the cake, and suddenly, tears began to fall. She had never imagined she would ever have a day like this. So this was what it felt like to receive these things too.
It was at that exact mont that a knocking sound suddenly ca from outside the door. Jessica was wondering who else could possibly be coming to Luna's birthday party. When she opened the door, she froze instantly.
Standing at the doorway was the King. Sylvia and several ministers stood behind the King.
Each of them held a ticulously prepared gift. Sylvia's gift was especially large, big enough to completely obscure her face, but Jessica would recognize Sylvia even if she were reduced to ashes.
"Y-Your Majesty..."
Seeing so many important figures, Jessica's hands trembled slightly. Logically, she should never have had the chance to et such people in her lifeti, so now she felt a bit flustered.
She was afraid that if she accidentally offended even one of them, her entire life would be over.
"Who is it?"
It was then that Jessica heard Loren's voice. In that instant, her heart cald down, as if nothing could affect her anymore.
"Master ntor, we heard your student is celebrating her birthday today. We've co to deliver so gifts, just a small token of our regard. We hope you will accept them..."
The King spoke. He didn't even ntion Luna by na. Everyone understood that their true objective was Loren.
So much so, that many among them didn't even know Luna's na.
"Luna, do you want these gifts?"
Before deciding how to respond, Loren first asked for Luna's opinion. This made Luna feel that Loren truly valued her.
"Maybe... let's not..."
Even though Loren asked, Luna didn't feel she had the right to make such a decision. Her words were soft, but Loren emphasized them with a firm, decisive tone:
"Alright, take your gifts and leave. This is Luna's birthday, not so banquet for you to engage in dirty exchanges of interest. We just want to celebrate happily. Don't disturb us.
"However, there is one thing I should thank you for..."
"Please, don't ntion it. It was my duty..."
Suppressing the excitent in his heart, the King quickly offered polite formalities. He thought to himself that after all this ti he had been currying favor, he was finally about to get so return.
"Thank your sister for showing restraint and not finishing Luna off before I t her."
Upon hearing this, Sylvia's grip loosened. The item in her hands fell to the floor, shattering with a sound that mirrored the state of her heart at that mont.
Sylvia knew exactly who Loren was referring to. Although the King was in his eighties or nineties and Sylvia was seventeen or eighteen, she was indeed the King's sister. The late King had certainly been... formidable in that regard.
"Then... we shall take our leave. I will stop anyone else who might wish to disturb you."
"Take care. I won't see you out."
Loren directly closed the door, showing not a shred of regard for the King's face.
"So cool..."
Jessica exclaid, feeling extraordinarily excited. This was the first ti she had personally and tangibly felt just how high Loren's status truly was.
"You all keep enjoying yourselves. I'm going to deliver a al..."
Loren cut off a piece of cake and headed toward the bedroom.
There were too many people today. Cecelia had been hiding under the bed the whole ti, reverting to her forr self. Only Loren could bring her food.
When Loren returned, he saw Jessica talking with Luna. Their gazes simultaneously fell upon Loren.
Jessica nudged Luna with her elbow, frantically blinking to hint at her. Finally, after Jessica gave her a push, Luna stumbled over to Loren's side. Loren naturally caught her hands.
Today, Luna was wearing a pair of lace gloves. Even through the gloves, she could clearly feel Loren's body temperature, making her grow increasingly flustered.
"Master ntor... I... I..."
She stamred for a long ti without managing to say anything. Loren waited patiently for her to speak.
"I want to thank you for helping organize this birthday party!"
Jessica covered her forehead with her hand, feeling a headache coming on.
Just as Luna was about to step back, she saw Phoris approaching from behind Loren.
And at that mont, Phoris was holding a steak knife. She suddenly accelerated, charging toward Loren. Her speed was so fast that Luna had no ti to react.
"Master ntor, watch out!"
Luna shouted. She grabbed Loren's arm, twisting their positions so that the blade was now aid at Luna's back.
Just monts before, Loren's intuition had also sent a warning. Now he saw Phoris, knife in hand, stabbing toward Luna's back, and instantly understood what was happening.
Loren held Luna tight and executed a spinning kick, his foot connecting squarely with Phoris's face. Loren even heard the sound of bone cracking.
The force concentrated on Phoris's head, sending her head and entire body flying backward. Her skull embedded itself directly into the wall.
Loren and Luna landed just at that mont. While Loren had been holding her during the spinning kick, Luna had experienced the illusion that they were dancing. Especially now, with them still pressed so close together, Luna couldn't help but feel her heart race.
Anna imdiately threw away the cake in her hands. In a flash, she appeared before Phoris, grabbing her clothes and forcibly ripping her out of the wall.
Anna pressed Phoris to the ground. With a forceful pull, she tore one of Phoris's arms clean off.
This was the first ti Luna had seen that look in Anna's eyes. The previously obedient and adorable little girl had vanished. What stood here now was a malevolent spirit ready to devour its prey.
Her gaze instilled fear even in Luna.
Everything had happened too quickly. But the mont Luna shouted, everyone's attention had focused on them. They had also seen the situation and knew that Phoris had attempted to assassinate Loren.
It was just that Anna's subsequent thods had terrified them. All of Luna's classmates except Jessica scread and ran out of the room. Only Jessica remained frozen in place.
However, Loren and the others had no ti to deal with them now. Naclis casually picked up a knife and pressed it against Phoris's neck.
The blade pressed tightly against Phoris's skin. A trickle of blood seeped from the point of contact between the blade and her neck.
Phoris, her head battered and bleeding, lay soaked in a pool of her own blood. Suddenly, she laughed.
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