I Have Reincarnated Yet Once Again-Chapter 17: – Guardian No.0: Shadow.

Knock. Knock.

Another soft rap echoed through the door of Evelyn's room, a gentle intrusion into the moonlit silence.

Inside, Evelyn stirred, a soft groan escaping her lips as she was dragged from the depths of sleep. The events of the previous evening—the journey to the familiar realm, the binding contract, and the subsequent exhaustion—still clung to her like a heavy cloak.

Evelyn: "Who...?"

Evelyn mumbled, her voice thick with sleep.

Cassy's voice comes from the other side of the door.

Cassy: "Your Highness, it's us. We have something important to tell you. Could you please open the door?"

Evelyn's brow furrowed slightly. Important? At this hour? Still feeling sluggish and disoriented, she slowly pushed herself up from the bed.

The small, warm weight nestled beside her shifted, a soft purr rumbling in response to her movement. She glanced down at the black cat, still deeply asleep, before her feet found the cool floor.

Dragging her feet slightly, Evelyn made her way to the door and unlatched it. As the doorknob swung inward, a chorus of voices erupted, bright and cheerful, cutting through the lingering remnants of her sleep.

"Happy birthday, Your Highness!"

Evelyn's eyes widened in surprise. Her sleep completely vanished, replaced by a sudden jolt of realization. Today... today was her birthday. A fact that had completely slipped her mind amidst the whirlwind of recent events.

Evelyn stared at the smiling faces before her, the cake, the unspoken joy that radiated from them. They had been busy this evening, quietly preparing this surprise while she was lost in the ritual of summoning her familiar.

Lily, ever the most perceptive and cheerful of the group, noticed Evelyn's momentarily frozen expression. A playful smile danced on her lips.

Lily: "Did you forget your own birthday, Your Highness? Just like you forget everyone's names sometimes?"

Lily teased gently.

Cassy stepped forward, her gaze warm and reassuring.

Cassy: "Don't worry, Your Highness. We're here to remember it for you."

The others echoed her sentiment with nods and murmurs of agreement.

Seeing their enthusiasm, a soft chuckle escaped Evelyn's lips.

Evelyn: "Come in."

Evelyn said, stepping aside to allow them entry.

They filed into her room, the atmosphere instantly becoming warmer and more lively. Cassy carefully placed the cake on the small table beside the couch.

Lora's eyes sparkling with anticipation as she says,

Lora: "Come on, Your Highness, blow out the candles!"

Ella: "Melinda took a long time to make this cake. It's her special recipe!"

There was a hint of pride in her voice.

Evelyn glances at the cake, a genuine note of appreciation in her voice.

Evelyn: "Really? Thank you, Malinna."

A small giggle escapes Lily but was quickly suppressed.

Melinda didn't think much about the mispronunciation of her name; she just offered a polite smile at Evelyn.

Melinda: "It was my pleasure, Your Highness."

As Evelyn leaned forward to blow out the flickering flames, Lily stopped her.

Lily: "Wait, Your Highness! You have to make a wish first!"

They in unison: "That's right!"

Evelyn regards them with a touch of her usual languor.

Evelyn: "What's the need for a wish?"

Cassy places a hand on Evelyn's arm, her expression earnest.

Cassy: "There is! If you don't know what to wish for, then just wish for a new start for the new year."

Lily's eyes widened with childlike enthusiasm.

Lily: "Since you're still a child, you have so many wishes to make! Like growing up healthily, or..."

Ella: "Or you can wish for a big birthday party on your next birthday!"

Lora: "Or you can wish for..."

Evelyn holds up a hand to pause them, a small smile curving on her lips.

Evelyn: "Okay, okay, I'll just make a wish."

Evelyn closed her eyes, a fleeting thought crossing her mind.

Evelyn: [Just make my guardians a bit more mature. Otherwise, I'm going to have to become their guardian.]

With that silent plea sent into the universe, she opened her eyes and blew out the candles. A small puff of air extinguished the flames, and the room erupted in applause and a slightly off-key rendition of "Happy Birthday To You."

Evelyn cut the cake, and one by one, they all fed her a piece, their faces filled with genuine affection. It was a simple gesture, yet it warmed her in a way she hadn't expected. After everyone had their share, Evelyn carefully cut another slice and placed it on a small plate.

Seeing that, Cassy's brow furrowed in gentle curiosity.

Cassy: "Who is that for, Your Highness?"

Evelyn: "It's for my guardian No.0."

They in unison: "Guardian No. 0???"

A hint of amusement crosses Evelyn's eyes at their bewilderment.

Evelyn: "That's right. To put it simply: Cassy's first – or guardian number one – then Gerald's second, Lily is third, 'Sora' is fourth, 'Melissa' is fifth, Claire is sixth, and Ella is seventh of my guardians. There. All in order."

A slight slip of the tongue betraying her usual struggle with names as she says.

Evelyn moved towards her bed, where the black cat still lay curled in peaceful slumber. Carefully placing the plate of cake on the bedside table, she gently scooped up the sleeping cat in her arms and turned back to face her bewildered guardians.

Evelyn: "Everyone, meet my little familiar."

Evelyn announced, a soft smile gracing her lips, "Also my guardian number zero. "

The cat, disturbed by the movement and the sudden influx of voices, slowly blinked open its eyes. And instead of the blood-red Evelyn remembered, they were a striking, luminous blue.

Everyone: (a collective gasp)

Cassy: "Your Highness... you formed a contract with a familiar? When?"

Cassy's voice was filled with a mixture of surprise and awe.

Evelyn: "This evening."

Ella: "So... that's why you forbade anyone from disturbing you today!"

Evelyn: "Yes."

Lily's attention completely captivated by the creature in Evelyn's arms, she reaches out a tentative hand. She breathed, her gaze fixed on the cat's mesmerizing blue eyes.

Lily: "It's so cute, and its blue eyes... are so beautiful."

Evelyn's brow furrowed slightly in surprise.

Evelyn: "Blue? No... I saw its eyes were red when I was forming the contract."

Cassy: "Yes, its eyes are definitely blue, Your Highness."

Evelyn checks again and saw sparkling blue eyes; confusion clouds her features.

Evelyn: "How can that be? I literally saw..."

Evelyn trailed off, a flicker of doubt crossing her mind.

Cassy offers a gentle smile.

Cassy: "You must have seen wrong, Your Highness."

Evelyn: "Maybe..."

Evelyn conceded, though a nagging sense of uncertainty lingered.

Soon, everyone was gathered around Evelyn, their initial surprise giving way to fascination with her new companion.

Lora's curiosity piqued as she looks at the cat. She looks at Evelyn.

Lora: "What did you name it, Your Highness?"

Evelyn: "Ahh... name..."

Evelyn trailed off again, her inherent weakness for remembering names resurfacing.

Cassy raises a questioning eyebrow, a hint of playful exasperation in her voice.

Cassy: "Don't tell me you still haven't named it, Your Highness."

Evelyn offers a dry smile.

Evelyn: "Haha... So, what should I name it?"

Melinda, ever so polite, offers a gentle suggestion.

Melinda: "Your Highness, it's your familiar. You should be the one naming it."

Evelyn: "Okay, fine..."

Evelyn mused, stroking the soft black fur of the cat in her arms. After a moment of contemplation, her eyes lit up slightly.

Evelyn: "Then... how about 'Shadow'? Since it's so black. What do you say? Do you like this name?"

Evelyn asked the cat directly. The black cat responded by rubbing its head against her hand, a clear sign of contentment.

Evelyn: "Looks like it likes the name."

A chorus of appreciative murmurs.

Everyone: "Shadow... it suits him perfectly. Such a cute and obedient familiar."

Everyone continued to admire the sleek black cat, their earlier confusion forgotten in their fascination.

The next day-

A neatly wrapped gift arrived at Evelyn's door, bearing the crest of the Rochester duchy. It was a birthday present, sent by her fiancé, who could not come in person.

Evelyn's lips curled slightly as she regarded the package. Perhaps this was his way of fulfilling his duty, a perfunctory gesture from a fiancé. That was her interpretation, at least.

Evelyn set the gift aside, her attention already focused elsewhere. Her days were becoming increasingly structured and demanding. She had begun a rigorous personal regimen. Each day was filled with exercises designed to rebuild her physical strength, intense magical practices to rekindle her dormant abilities, and strategic training to sharpen her combat skills.

The memories of her past lives, the knowledge and experience she had accumulated, were invaluable, and she was determined to reclaim every ounce of her former power.

The arrival of Shadow had added another layer to her life, a silent, watchful presence that stays with her. Her birthday celebration, though a surprise, was now a pleasant memory as she plunged back into the demanding rhythm of her new existence.