Episode 7
With his slow and languid movements, his black hair swayed, and a spark of interest appeared in his previously dry red eyes.
While I was staring at him, entranced, I suddenly came to my senses. I had forgotten for a moment while being chased by the snake, but it was almost time for Herown to meet Sylvia.
“Beep!”
‘This isn’t the time!’
“…Why?”
“Beep.”
‘I have to go.’
Whether the original story had changed or I remembered incorrectly, the Herown I met today didn’t seem to know much about me. So it was best to retreat for now.
Besides, the meeting between the two protagonists today was important. It was the moment Sylvia first realized her aptitude as a Spirit Summoner thanks to Herown.
Even if Herown wasn’t the male lead, he was Cesar’s rival, so I had to be mindful of him… But I couldn’t ruin this moment and prevent them from opposing the Second Prince.
As I was about to politely excuse myself and leave, he stroked my head. A pink feather drifted down onto his lap.
“Beep?”
‘What are you doing?’
“…Shh.”
“Beep!”
‘What! Is the snake back?’
As I trembled in fear and burrowed into Herown, he gently grasped me in his hand. His touch, more soothing and coaxing than forceful, made me relax.
Soon, his characteristically languid and drowsy voice reached my ears.
“You want me to send you back to your owner, right?”
“Beep?”
‘Back to Cesar?’
The thought of returning to my scary owner after briefly experiencing freedom was somewhat unpleasant, but since he was right, I nodded.
“I don’t want to let you go.”
“Beep?”
‘What is he saying?’
“Why don’t you just become my bird?”
“Beep…?”
‘…Excuse me?’
His ruby-like eyes, shining brightly, were directed at me, and his hand stroked my soft feathers.
“Become my bird, Lily.”
His sweet, seductive tone made my mind hazy.
‘Would it be okay to become Herown’s bird? If it’s someone who takes care of me so kindly…’
“Beep!”
‘Snap out of it!’
I flapped my wings frantically. Then, Herown, who had seemed unwilling to let me go, released his grip.
I flapped my wings, feeling much better thanks to the spirit’s healing, and flew away.
“It’s gone.”
Even as he said that, Herown’s face didn’t show any disappointment.
However, his deep interest remained. He recalled how his contracted spirit, Sylph, had treated the bird kindly.
Spirits only obey and act according to their contractor’s will. Therefore, they don’t show kindness or act on their own accord towards anyone other than their contractor.
“…That should be the case. Why did it get angry when I summoned it?”
He recalled how Sylph had glared at him, seemingly criticizing him for not helping the bird with its injured wing.
However, even if he asked why it was giving the bird special treatment, it probably wouldn’t answer. It would likely be the same with the Spirit King of Wind, whom he had personally named.
“I didn’t see any special markings, and I didn’t sense any power either.”
Still, it was interesting. The way it suddenly flew over, headbutted him, and left its footprints was amusing.
He had attended the Empire’s banquet out of obligation, but it seemed he would be staying longer. It was one of his habits to investigate things that piqued his interest, putting everything else aside.
‘It’s the Duke’s bird. I can just visit the Duke’s mansion next time.’
He thought simply and tried to fall asleep. If it weren’t for the striking woman who appeared below.
Herown swiftly descended from the tree and extended his hand to the woman before him.
“Do you need help?”
“…Yes?”
The woman’s blonde hair shone softly in the moonlight. His eyes sparked with interest. Perhaps the Empire was more interesting than he had thought.
Following the shimmering lights of the banquet hall, I safely landed on the grass outside, and let out a sigh of relief.
‘…I almost fell for his charm!’
I leaned against a tree, took a deep breath, and calmed myself down.
Becoming Herown’s bird. It was true that my heart had wavered at the sudden proposal. It was natural to choose a kind owner over one who might kill me.
But Cesar wouldn’t let me go easily. He was possessive over anything that came into his possession. Even if he had neglected it himself.
He would rather destroy it than let it go gracefully.
“…Beep.”
‘I went through all that trouble to find him, and Herown doesn’t seem to know anything about me. And my wing is bandaged from being bitten by a snake.’
Suddenly, I felt melancholic.
“Beep. Beep…”
My soft feathers were now ruffled, and the tips of my tail feathers were covered in dirt. My sparkly bird suit was torn and tattered.
Becoming a bird as soon as I opened my eyes, falling to the ground, and now facing a life-or-death situation.
“Beep…!”
‘Isn’t my bird life too hard? At least if I had possessed a beloved dog in a rich family, I wouldn’t feel so wronged!’
My melancholy turned into resentment. And I remembered the culprit behind all of this.
‘This is all Cesar’s fault.’
I gathered nearby twigs and held them in my beak. Unable to badmouth or harm him directly, I began to vent my frustration in a petty way.
Drawing Cesar’s face, the root of all my problems, I fumed with all my might.
“Beep~ Beep beep!”
‘Why do you want to kill me? What’s wrong with a small, cute bird like me? That’s why you’re the sub-male lead. Try being a little nicer. Sylvia would have dated and married you long ago.’
As I was engrossed in my drawing and grumbling,
“Only my bird would do something strange like that alone.”
An ominous voice rang out.
‘No way, is it?’
Like someone caught red-handed at a crime scene, I slowly turned around.
“Beep…”
Silver hair bathed in moonlight and cold purple eyes appeared, blending with the darkness of the night.
It was Cesar.
‘Why is Cesar outside the banquet hall? And of all times, why now?’
I froze.
“You disappeared while I wasn’t looking and you’re drawing this?”
“Beep…”
‘I’m doomed.’
A bird that wanders around on its own, gets all dolled up, then gets covered in dirt and vents its frustration by drawing its owner’s face.
‘This is a death sentence.’
Terrified, I squeezed my eyes shut and lowered my head. He called me.
“Come here, Lily.”
Feeling like I was chewing on sand, I fluttered over to him. I wondered if today was the day my head and body would be separated.
But Cesar said something unexpected.
“Are you hurt?”
“Beep?”
‘I am hurt, but…’
Perhaps blood had flowed from the wound, as the bandage was stained.
His gaze fell on my wing. Then, his hand rested on it. I felt the stinging pain subside and the plucked feathers regrow.
“Beep?”
‘Why the sudden change? They say people change right before they die.’
“Lily.”
“Beep.”
“Today, the Crown Prince approached Sylvia and asked her to dance. They looked like a good match.”
I knew he would fight with the Crown Prince over Sylvia while I was gone, but it seemed Sylvia had taken the Crown Prince’s hand again.
As I squeezed my eyes shut again at the bleak future ahead, he continued.
“After losing Sylvia like that, the bird that was on my shoulder had also disappeared.”
“Beep…”
‘I have nothing to say.’
“And after all the trouble I went through to find you, you’re drawing this.”
Flinch.
“I had you groomed, and you’re covered in dirt as if you’ve been rolling around in a mud pile.”
Flinch.
“Did you go looking for another owner?”
‘…Did you happen to see everything?’
As I froze in shock, he sighed. He snapped his fingers, and my dirty body and bandage became clean.
“Honestly, you’re such a disobedient bird.”
“Beep…”
‘I’m sorry. I was wrong.’
As I bowed my head with a dejected expression of apology, he touched the jewel on my chest. He straightened the jewel, which had become crooked while I was being chased by the snake.
Just then, a gentle night breeze blew. The night air settled, and the moonlight dimmed, creating a strange atmosphere.
Cesar, who had been quietly looking at me, opened his mouth.
“Don’t leave my side without permission again.”
“Beep?”
“Even a stupid bird makes me look for it when it disappears.”
I tilted my head, looking at Cesar, who answered curtly.
‘Was he worried? Or was that a warning?’
Unable to understand his behavior, I thought for a moment and then replied as usual.
“Beep.”
Cesar then moved. It seemed he wouldn’t punish me further.
Looking at the banquet hall, where light was still spilling out, I recalled Herown’s words.
‘I don’t want to let you go. Why don’t you just become my bird?’
There was a hint of interest in his words.
I didn’t know what about me had piqued his interest, but as I flew away, I saw a flicker of something – not quite worry – in his eyes as he watched me.
‘He’s not going to come looking for me, is he?’
“Beep…”
Cesar looked at the small bird sleeping soundly. He nudged it lightly, and it flinched and flapped its wings. It was a bird that had brazenly curled up and fallen asleep in his hand.
But strangely, he didn’t feel like punishing the bird, which seemed to have lost its fear. He wondered what kind of hardship it had faced, as his eyes kept returning to its bandaged left wing.
Cesar smoothly examined the materials he had asked his master for.
<Understanding Birds>, <Learning About Birds>
“Ha. What am I trying to do, looking at these?”
Even as he said that, he diligently turned the pages. Since one of his hands was occupied with the bird, he used magic to read.
As he flipped through the pages, Cesar recalled what had happened at the banquet hall.
After losing Sylvia to the Crown Prince, and while glaring at them menacingly, he had made eye contact with the Second Prince. The Second Prince’s eyes had been fixed on him, as if he had been observing him for some time.
He knew that the Second Prince had been expanding his power recently. But he hadn’t expected him to pay attention to him as well.
The power struggle between the Crown Prince and the Second Prince had begun beneath the surface, just as his master had said, and it was now rising to the surface.