Page 498 of Reign

His eyebrow lifts. “Then why are you arguing with me?”

“Because it’s my birthday. We always do something.”

Every year, one of my brothers chooses the house. Someone orders a cake. Everyone talks too loudly and watches me too carefully. They fill every hour so completely that no one has to acknowledge the empty place where Mamma should be.

I have never decided what my birthday looks like.

I didn’t realize that until now.

“You don’t have to do something because they planned it,” Luciano says. “You don’t have to sit through dinner, open gifts, or make this day easier for anyone else.”

“They miss her too.”

“I know.” His hand moves into my hair. “But their grief is not your responsibility, Elena.”

My eyes burn.

He says it without anger. Without blaming my brothers for loving me the only way they know how.

“They sent your gifts,” he continues. “They’re downstairs. Your brothers are not.”

“That sounds rude.”

“It was.”

A broken laugh slips out of me.

His mouth touches my temple.

“If you want them here, I’ll call them. If you want to go to either house, I’ll take you. But you are not obligated to spend today anywhere you don’t want to be.”

I look down at the space between our bodies.

“I have so much to do. The wedding is in two weeks. I have final decisions to make, and Evelyn is expecting me to—”

“Finalizing can wait.”

“She has an entire schedule.”

“So does Santo. I ignored his too.”

I laugh again, softer this time.

Luciano tips my face toward his.

“You can work tomorrow. Today belongs to you.”

“I don’t know what I’m supposed to do with it.”

“You aren’t supposed to do anything.”

The answer settles over me.

No performance. No crowded table. No one watching to see whether I cry. No responsibility to prove that another birthday doesn’t hurt.

“What did you plan?” I ask carefully.

“Breakfast.”