Birthday Blues
Children: Happy birthday, Catherine!
Catherine: Oh, my! A party? And this is all for me? Thank you! I'm so happy!
Girl: Mommy said we have to give you a big party 'cause you're the mayor's daughter!
Catherine: I beg your pardon?
Girl's Mother: H-hey now, stop all that talk! Ha ha! Oh, I'm sorry, Catherine. She does love to make up stories!
Boy: This is for you, Catherine! Dad said to give it to you and tell you to please do your shopping at his shop!
Catherine: Er, yes. Thank you.
Catherine: (What an awful dream. I can't believe it's already my birthday again...)
Catherine: (The rich daughter of the mayor... I never want to be viewed through that lens again.)
Catherine: (It's fine. I'm no longer simply "the mayor's daughter." I'm a perfect woman who's exceedingly capable!)
Catherine: Good morning. Er, where is Father?
Butler: He left for Saint Lotier, but should return within the week.
Butler: Speaking of the master, he left a birthday present for you in my care.
Catherine: I see. Please put it in my room.
Catherine: (I suppose Father won't be wishing me a happy birthday in person this year, either.)
Southern Grastaea Country Town Quinbell
Becky: Pheeew! It's finally over... My brain is absolute mush... I'm going to collapse...
Sandy: That's because you don't study until the night before an exam! Cramming like that always hurts your brain.
Catherine's Friends Becky and Sandy
Catherine: Sandy is correct. Exams are things one must always face under perfect circumstances. It would be good of you to learn this, Becky.
Becky: Aaaaanyway, now that the exam's over, why don't we talk about something FUN?
Sandy: That was a quick recovery!
Catherine: I don't believe she's learned a thing.
Becky: It's your birthday soon, right, Cat?
Catherine: And what of it?
Becky: We should put a party together for you!
Catherine: I must respectfully decline.
Becky: Aww, AGAIN?
Catherine: I appreciate the sentiment, but I fear I am going to be quite busy.
Sandy: I told you she'd say no, Becky.
Becky: But I want to celebrate with you...
Sandy: What if we threw you a smaller, more intimate party? Would that work?
Sandy: I know you're helping out with all of your father's mayoral duties, but surely you've earned a LITTLE time for fun.
Catherine: Well, I don't... Um...
Catherine: Oh look, my escort is here! Looks like my proxy mayor work calls. Ta taaa, ladies!
Sandy & Becky: ......
Catherine: ......
Catherine: (To be honest, a perfect woman such as me is barely bothered by the demands of a busy schedule.)
Catherine: (But I turn down birthday parties so I don't have to feel like that again...)
Girl: Mommy said we have to give you a big party 'cause you're the mayor's daughter!
Catherine: (That birthday party was not about celebrating me as a person at all, and the memory is still sour. But...)
Catherine: (Oh, ENOUGH, Catherine! Get a grip! How long have you known those two? Have you ever seen even a hint of ulterior motives from them?)
Catherine: Sandy and Becky are my best friends, and they should not be made to suffer at the hands of my own cowardice!
Catherine: I hope they are still in the plaza.
Becky: ...I want to celebrate with her...
Catherine: (That's Becky's voice!)
Becky: ...I mean, Cat's the mayor's daughter...
Catherine: What?
Sandy: ...just give her a present and call it good!
Becky: ...Cat's rich enough to get whatever she wants...
Catherine: And just what is THAT supposed to mean?!
Sandy: C-Catherine!
Becky: Oh yay! Does this mean you finished all your proxy mayor duties?
Catherine: Spare me your churlish attempts at distraction and answer my query!
Catherine: What did you mean by what you just said?
Becky: Uh, did I even say something just now...? Oh, RIGHT! The "rich" thing!
Becky: Well, since you're pretty bucks up and the mayor's daughter and all, we wanted—
Catherine: To throw me a birthday party?
Becky: Yeah!
Sandy: Becky. Shut up. You idiot. Look, Cat, it's not what you're—
Catherine: Isn't it, now?
Becky: Huh?
Catherine: I thought you were my true and bosom companions, but in the end you are no better than common lickspittles.
Becky: Cat, are you mad at us?
Sandy: Listen to us, Catherine. Becky was—
Catherine: Your words already came to my ears louder than cannon fire.
Catherine: You wish to throw me a birthday party due to my wealth and standing!
Sandy: Look, you're getting part of this, but you're missing the REAL part.
Catherine: You two sought to debase yourselves in order to curry my favor! Admit it!
Sandy: Are you SERIOUSLY accusing us of that?!
Sandy: Ugh, you are such a...PERSON sometimes! Here's a tip: Drop the deluded persecution complex for a second—you'll feel better.
Catherine: Oh, if only this were a delusion!
Catherine: I thought you two were different. Truly I did.
Becky: Hey, Cat! Come back!
Catherine: (I don't want to be in Quinbell anymore... But where can I find a place where people see me for who I am, as opposed to what I have or can be used to gain?)
Catherine: (Say, that's right! I could go to the people who helped with the village festival!)
Catherine: Right, that's everything! Take these documents to the town hall and the youth organization and let them know I will be going away.
Butler: As you wish, young miss. But where will you be going?
Catherine: To learn from a prince. Quickly, now! Ready the carriage!
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