Chapter 358: A Gift
“New Year’s gift?”
Hearing Rachel’s words, Armand gently touched the velvet box in front of him with his fingers. This little thing seemed to have been held by Rachel for a long time. It was already warm from the heat of her palm.
“Yup, a New Year’s gift.”
Rachel showed a big smile, trying to look like an excited little child who was happy to give someone a present.
To save her parents, Rachel had really done everything she could. She had no choice but to thicken her skin and act like a childish girl, even changing her voice to sound more innocent.
Although everything she had gone through recently had made her more shameless, sometimes maybe because too many people trusted her, it still made her feel uncomfortable when she thought about her original motive.
But she had tried to make up for it, just like now.
“There are still a few days before New Year. Isn’t it a bit early to give me this?”
Armand played with the box in his hand. From the look on his face, he seemed a little unsure.
“Of course it’s okay! I told you I couldn’t wait to give it to you, right, Dad? That’s why I came today! Open it, open it!”
Rachel scooted closer to Armand, rubbing against him as she slowly climbed onto his chair and sat on his lap.
The box was placed in the center of the table. Even when she stretched her little arms as far as she could, she could barely touch it. Seeing this, Armand reached out to help her and pulled the small box over.
“Open it and take a look, Dad. I hope you’ll like it.”
—Even if you don’t, you still have to accept it!
Click.
Under Rachel’s nervous gaze, Armand opened the red velvet box, which had been kindly provided by Salana. Judging by its texture, the gold trim on the box was definitely not just decoration, it was real gold and silver. The velvet itself also felt like it was made from top-quality material.
Compared to that, the gift inside the box looked quite simple.
“This is… a bracelet?”
Armand opened the box and found a black stretchy ribbon lying inside. A small blue crystal had been sewn onto the ribbon.
“Yes, that’s right!” Rachel quickly followed up and pushed the box toward Armand’s chest a little. “It’s a bracelet I made for you, Dad!”
“…That’s rare. I don’t think anyone’s ever given me jewelry before.”
Armand blinked in surprise as he looked at the item in the box.
He wasn’t someone who cared much about his appearance. And because of the nature of his work, he never wore any random accessories. When it came to jewelry, Armand not only had no interest. He practically knew nothing about it.
Besides, from a normal person’s way of thinking, who would give the captain of the Royal Knights a bracelet as a gift?
So when he received this kind of present, his mouth opened slightly, and his eyes widened a bit in surprise.
“Then… Dad doesn’t like it?”
Rachel watched his reaction closely and blinked at him with a pitiful look.
Of course, she knew very well. A Royal Knight Captain would never care about jewelry. To be honest, she originally wanted to give him a watch. But the production timeline was just too short, and embedding a soul stone into a pocket watch was way too delicate of a task. So Rachel had no choice but to go with the simplest method. She used a ribbon that wouldn’t stand out too much, then disguised the soul stone to look like a normal decoration and sewed it on.
“No, of course I like it.”
Hearing Rachel’s slightly upset-sounding question, Armand smiled and nodded.
“This is a New Year’s gift my daughter prepared for me. How could I not like it? I’ll treasure it.”
Even though he didn’t like wearing accessories, there wasn’t even a single decoration on his beloved sword, and was the kind of man who kept everything clean and simple, he still gladly accepted Rachel’s gift.
Not for any special reason, but simply because he didn’t want to let this gift, or his daughter’s feelings go to waste.
The bracelet Rachel made wasn’t made with any complicated techniques. In fact, you could say it was just a bracelet, far from the kind of fancy jewelry people would call “high-class.” It had no intricate carvings, no so-called ergonomic design.
What Rachel gave Armand was simply an elastic hairband with a crystal sewn onto it. No need to fuss with clasps or buttons, just slide it onto the wrist and it’s done.
“Alright, Dad’s wearing it now.”
Rachel watched as Armand easily put on the bracelet. She was happy that she had successfully given away this "important item," but at the same time, she felt a little disappointed in her heart. It would’ve been nice if Armand had let her put it on him herself. Even though it didn’t really matter, it would’ve felt more special.
But—oh well.
The color actually suited him pretty well, so this was good enough.
“Dad, I read in a book that this kind of stone is special. It brings blessings to people. I worked really hard to get it for you, so don’t lose it or give it away, okay?”
Just in case, Rachel decided to tell a little lie.
She had given him a soul stone, but if one day he felt like changing his accessories, it’s not like the stone could grow wings and fly after him shouting, ‘Don’t leave me behind!’
“Alright, alright. A gift from my beloved daughter, how could I ever lose it? I’ll always wear this bracelet and accept your blessing.”
Armand’s voice was so gentle, it sounded just like how someone would talk when comforting a child. Rachel felt like he was treating her like a little kid, but honestly… she didn’t mind at all. She actually really liked how things were at that moment.
A rare moment of peace… and warmth.
Rachel had been a little tense, so her smile had looked a bit stiff before. But now, she looked more relaxed and natural. For a brief moment, she wished time would stop right then, so she could stay in this feeling of calm forever.
But time never stops for anyone. She still had things she needed to do.
“Then… Dad, I’m glad you like it. And remember, you have to keep wearing it, okay? Because it’s my blessing for you!”
“Yes, I understand. Thank you for your blessing. I’ll keep wearing it. And in a little while, I’ll think about what kind of New Year’s gift I can give you too. Is there anything you want?”
Since he had received a gift, it was only natural to give something in return. And it was also tradition for people to exchange gifts during New Year, so Armand thought he should prepare something for Rachel as well.
“No, there’s nothing I want.”
Rachel shook her head as she listened. Since she still needed to go back to her little lab, she quickly jumped down from Armand’s lap.
“If I really have to say something I want… then— I want Dad and Mom to always be happy.”
That wasn’t just an empty wish.
She truly had been working hard all this time for that one goal.