Chapter 273: Chapter 273: Party

Lana smiled warmly. She slipped the ring onto her index finger. “It’s beautiful. I love it.”

Luke’s face lit up instantly.

Before the moment could linger, Mr. Crow suddenly darted toward Lana. “I also have a gift.”

Lana looked at him in surprise.

Mr. Crow reached beneath his wing and pulled out a folded piece of paper.

Lana was stunned.

’Wasn’t he bald? How did he hide that there?’

She stared at the paper, then at Mr. Crow. He nodded seriously. “Read it later. When you’re alone.”

Lana carefully put the paper away and turned to everyone, her voice sincere.

“Thank you all for coming today, for celebrating with me, and for the gifts. I really loved them.”

Smiles spread around the room.

Lucian then spoke calmly, “Dinner is ready. Everyone can join.”

They all sat down together. Lana ate with relish, the food tasting warmer and richer than usual. As she chewed, a thought suddenly crossed her mind.

’Why didn’t Naina come?’

The realization hit her a second later. ’I didn’t even tell her it was my birthday… how stupid.’

Just as the dinner was finished, the doorbell rang.

Lucy went to open the door.

The next moment, her face drained of color.

Naina stood outside, her expression so dark it looked as though she might murder someone on the spot. Lucy backed away instinctively.

Naina stormed into the living room, where everyone had just finished dinner. She pointed straight at Lucian.

“You did this on purpose, didn’t you?”

Lucian looked at her innocently. “What do you mean?”

Naina gritted her teeth.

“You hid Lana’s birthday because you knew I’d come to see her and take up her entire day. You’re selfish. You don’t deserve her.”

Lana stared at Lucian in shock.

Lucian, however, remained calm.

“You weren’t capable enough to find out about her birthday, and now you’re blaming me for it. That’s truly ridiculous.”

Naina ground her teeth, anger flashing openly across her face.

“You were the one who hid the information in the first place,” she snapped, glaring at Lucian. “How was I supposed to find out? Our families aren’t even on the same level.”

Lucian didn’t look offended. Instead, he smiled faintly, the corners of his lips lifting with calm arrogance.

“Our background is a kind of strength,” he replied evenly. “One that you lack in comparison to me.”

After those words, he fell silent, as though the matter was already settled.

That silence only fueled Naina’s fury. She turned sharply toward Lana, her voice rising.

“See? This is exactly the kind of person he is. He deliberately hid your information so I wouldn’t get the chance to know it was your birthday.”

Lana felt a wave of awkwardness wash over her.

’This is… actually my fault,’ she thought bitterly.

She had been the one who allowed Lucian and the others to conceal her information.

She had never imagined that even the people closest to her would struggle to learn something as simple as her birthday.

Taking a slow breath, she reached out and held Naina’s hand, squeezing it gently.

“He did it with my permission.”

Naina froze.

Her eyes widened. “Why would you… ”

She stopped midway. Realization dawned on her face. Lana had another identity, one that could attract far too much attention, both good and bad.

The anger in her expression slowly faded. She shook her head helplessly and sighed. “Alright. I get it.”

Then she smiled wryly.

“Since I only found out today, I could only prepare something simple.”

With that, she took out a bouquet and handed it to Lana.

The moment Lana saw it, she was stunned.

It looked elegant and luxurious at first glance, but the uneven wrapping and carefully tied ribbons made it obvious… it was handmade. She looked up at Naina in surprise.

Naina smiled, a little embarrassed.

“I made it myself.”

Lana hugged the bouquet to her chest, warmth spreading through her heart.

Before the moment could settle, Lucian spoke again, his tone casual.

“I haven’t given my gift yet.”

He took out a box and passed it to Lana.

Curiosity flickered in her eyes as she opened it.

Inside lay a beautiful cloverleaf pendant. It was delicate and refined, but what stunned her was the clover itself… it had five leaves instead of four.

For a second, she thought it was simply an exquisite diamond necklace.

“Thank you,” she said instinctively.

Lucian’s gaze sharpened slightly.

“This isn’t an ordinary necklace. It’s an elemental pendant.”

Silence fell instantly.

Everyone stared at Lucian in disbelief. Even Lana was taken aback, her fingers tightening around the pendant.

An elemental pendant.

It was an artifact infused with elemental power, capable of protecting its wearer.

As long as wind or air elements were present, any air-based attack aimed at Lana could be evaded up to three times.

Even more frightening, if Lana ever faced a ghost while her strength was exhausted, the pendant could release an elemental attack simply by being directed toward the spirit… also up to three times.

It was nothing short of a life-saving treasure.

Such pendants were usually family heirlooms, guarded and passed down through generations.

And yet Lucian had handed it to her as casually as if it were candy.

Lana inhaled deeply, her heart pounding.

“This is too precious. I can’t accept it.”

Naina clenched her teeth, then finally looked at Lana seriously. “You should keep it.”

Lana stared at her in confusion.

’Why is Naina supporting him this time?’

Only Lucian and Naina knew the truth.

If Lana continued to stay near Lucian, danger would inevitably follow.

With this pendant, many threats could be neutralized before they even reached her.

Any assassin thinking of harming Lana would think twice the moment word spread that she possessed an elemental pendant.

For now, however, Lana was simply overwhelmed.

After a long moment, she gave up. Lucian’s stance was unwavering.

He had only one condition.

She would take the necklace.

Lucian and Lana, along with the others, finally relaxed once the party drew to a close.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep