Episode 13
“Lily?”
Sylvia’s gentle voice pricked my conscience. I chose to feign ignorance instead of acknowledging my guilt.
“Chirp.”
‘I don’t know. A bird doesn’t know anything!’
“Lily, it’s obvious you’re avoiding eye contact.”
Ouch.
‘Was it necessary to point that out…?’
As I fidgeted in embarrassment, someone shouted.
“What do you think you’re doing…!”
The woman, who had been left soaked, stood up fuming.
“After humiliating me by drenching me, you’re now ignoring me?”
“Chirp?”
‘Humiliating? She conveniently forgets that she was about to throw tea at Sylvia.’
A maid, presumably brought by the woman, wiped her face with a handkerchief. The woman shoved the maid away irritably and, looking at Heron next to Sylvia, sneered.
“And with another man, too. Lady Veronica, weren’t you satisfied with just the Duke? Well, I suppose there’s nothing someone aiming for the Crown Prince’s fiancée position can’t do.”
“What are you talking about, Lady?”
“What am I talking about? It’s exactly as you see it. You were always next to him even though you knew I admired the Duke―”
Before she could finish, Heron cut her off. His voice was languid as usual, but with a sharp edge.
“Boring. Not interesting at all.”
The hand stroking my head slowed. Boredom crept into Heron’s usually indifferent eyes.
The woman, whose words had been cut off, flushed angrily.
“H-how dare you!”
“Do you even know who I am to speak to me like that?”
His flat voice was devoid of emotion.
“O-of course you’re a commoner… of unknown origin.”
Sensing something was amiss, the woman faltered. Heron slowly approached her and whispered,
“You know, I hate bothersome things, and I don’t want to cause trouble even after coming to the Empire.”
“…I… I can’t breathe.”
The woman’s hand trembled as if something invisible was choking her. Her face pale, she stammered,
“I-I’m sorry!”
At her desperate words, Heron smiled and stepped away.
“I’d rather not make a fuss about today’s incident. Could I ask you to take care of the aftermath?”
“…Yes!”
The pale woman, relieved to be alive, replied and looked at the mess around her. Meanwhile, Heron and Sylvia left the shop.
Sylvia seemed puzzled by the suddenly resolved situation.
She could also see spirits. But since she was far away, she would have only seen Heron whispering something in the woman’s ear. Only I, who was close to Heron, clearly saw him using a spirit to choke her.
He then spoke to me, who was huddled quietly in his hand.
“Sorry, Lily. Were you scared?”
He seemed to think I was trembling. I widened my black eyes and pressed my wing against his forehead. Heron accepted my touch.
“Beep.”
‘Hurting people is bad. You’ll go to jail.’
Tap, tap. As I tapped his forehead several times as if scolding him, Heron chuckled. His characteristically low voice resonated in my ears.
“…Strange. Everyone else is scared when I do this.”
“Beep?”
‘Scared?’
I tilted my head and stared at him. His red eyes, looking at me, were clear and transparent, and his hands were gentle.
The Heron I read about in the novel was lazy and indifferent to people… but he never intentionally harmed anyone because of his feelings. Of course, he did ignore me when I almost became snake food, but he wasn’t inherently a bad person.
Besides, he had stepped up for Sylvia and me. So I had to express my gratitude.
I gently rubbed my head against his forehead.
“Beep…”
I hoped my feelings would reach him, even if just a little.
‘Thank you, Heron.’
His long, flowing hair brushed against me. His shimmering eyes were looking at me.
“Beep?”
I blinked, stopping my movements.
‘Why is he staring? Did I get tea on myself and now I smell?’
I sniffed myself. He then spoke to me.
“Lily.”
“Chirp?”
‘Why are you calling me? Do I really smell?’
“I want you. Enough to steal you from the Duke.”
‘…Huh? Is there something wrong with my hearing?’
“Beep?”
I tilted my head again, wondering if I had misheard. Heron whispered softly, like a passing spring breeze,
“Just kidding.”
“Chirp.”
‘Phew. That joke gave me a fright.’
Relieved, I was about to head back to the mansion. Just then, Sylvia called me cautiously.
“Lily.”
Soft blonde hair and clear blue eyes, sparkling like sunlight reflecting on the water’s surface, came into view.
“Come here.”
I had no reason to refuse Sylvia’s call, so I flew to her without hesitation. Sitting on Sylvia’s shoulder after so long, I smelled her refreshing scent, like warm sunshine.
“Lily, Cesar will be worried. We should go back now.”
“Beep.”
Rumors must have already spread. It was best to stick to Sylvia’s side and try to smooth things over.
As I turned my back on Heron without hesitation and flew to Sylvia, he spoke as if feeling a little hurt,
“Oh dear. Am I after the Duke and Lady Veronica?”
“Chirp? Chirp.”
‘Why are you asking something so obvious? Of course, Cesar, who wants to kill me, comes first, and Sylvia, who saved my life, comes second.’
At my response, Heron’s languid eyes drooped. Seeing his forlorn expression, I felt a pang of guilt for agreeing so readily.
‘My slightly remaining conscience hurts seeing a beautiful person sad…’
“Lily is more heartless than I thought. I’d be hurt if I wasn’t even in third place.”
I wondered if third place was that important. Still, I could give it to him if he needed it. I didn’t like seeing a beautiful person sad.
“Beep.”
‘You can have third place.’
As I replied with a smile, Heron finally smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling. His long, flowing hair and faintly shimmering red eyes looked incredibly beautiful.
“It seems I can’t continue this outing with you today. See you next time, Lily.”
“Beep.”
‘Yes. I hope I can resolve this uneasy feeling by the time we meet next time.’
I wagged my wings in farewell, with that small wish. Sylvia also bid him farewell.
“Goodbye, Spirit Summoner.”
“Yes. Oh, before I go, Lady Veronica.”
“Yes?”
“If you need help, feel free to come find me anytime. With Lily, of course.”
Sylvia smiled and declined.
“Thank you, but I’ll be fine for now.”
“Alright, that’s a shame.”
I tilted my head, watching him disappear.
‘Weren’t they supposed to keep meeting because he was teaching her Spirit Arts? Sylvia refused him quite firmly, too.’
I felt a small sense of doubt, but getting back to the Dukedom was my top priority. I had to cover up my mistake while Sylvia was still here so that I wouldn’t get burned later.
As soon as Heron was completely gone, Sylvia’s hair brushed against my feathers. Close enough for me to feel her warm breath, she murmured,
‘Huh? Does Sylvia have something to say to me?’
I looked up at her with innocent eyes. She asked me in a tone as if coaxing a child with candy,
“Lily. So how did you get to know him?”
“Chirp?”
‘We’re headbutt acquaintances? You know, from when I left my cute footprints on his face while being chased by a snake?’
At my evasive response, Sylvia poked my ruffled head feathers.
“…Lily, aren’t you an easy bird?”
“Beep?!”
‘An easy bird?’
Both Heron and Sylvia. I didn’t understand why they saw me as an easy bird. Of course, I wouldn’t follow someone just because they offered me jewels… wouldn’t I…?
If those jewels were valuable enough to buy a mansion, I might willingly follow them.
‘Jewels are always right. Pretty, sparkly, and worth a lot of money.’
I stopped myself from nodding mindlessly and fell into thought. I recalled how I had almost been lured away by Heron’s beauty. Even I had to admit I was a bird easily swayed by temptation.
Sylvia called me again.
“Lily, why aren’t you answering?”
There was a hint of suspicion in her eyes. I avoided her gaze and replied,
“…Beep.”
‘Uh, I probably wouldn’t be easy. Unless someone offers me jewels, and unless they’re beautiful, I won’t be swayed. Probably…’
“…I don’t like it.”
At Cesar’s sudden words, as he was reviewing requests at the Opertum Trading Company, Wilhelm, the acting head of the company, replied in surprise,
“Pardon? Are you referring to the Second Prince?”
“No. It’s not that.”
“Then what is the problem…?”
Wilhelm cautiously tried to figure out what was irritating Cesar today.
“It’s a strange feeling.”
Cesar unconsciously thought of a certain bird, feeling a strange sense of unease.
He was constantly worried about the foolishly cheerful bird, which was always unpredictable and prone to flying off somewhere. He even considered moving its residence from the greenhouse to his bedroom.
His thoughts kept returning to the bird back at the mansion. It would be wandering around the mansion while he was away.
He had heard that it had become quite close to the servants in the mansion. It had even used the mansion’s knights to plant flowers in the annex garden. It was truly an audacious bird.
A chuckle escaped Cesar’s lips, and he looked slightly worried as he realized Lily had been taking longer naps lately. He would be less worried if it only slept in its cage, but he had heard that Lily was often found sleeping elsewhere.
He wondered if he should lock the cage door again.
she’s collecting hearts like Pokémon’s 😭