Episode 15
As if oblivious to my inner turmoil, Sylvia whispered in a soothing voice, like a lullaby.
“I had many good people around me. Thanks to them, I learned how to give love, but Cesar must have been very lonely, as he doesn’t reveal his true feelings even to me.”
“Beep?”
“…But I think with Lily, Cesar might show his hidden true self.”
At Sylvia’s words, I recalled what happened at the annex.
‘Thank you, Lily.’
Cesar, expressing his gratitude, was different than usual. His lonely and desolate profile might have been a side of him he didn’t want to show.
But that was all it was. As a mere bird, I couldn’t converse like a human or make him fall in love like Sylvia could. I didn’t understand what she was expecting, even though I knew.
Sylvia’s soft voice enveloped me like a dream.
“Lily, this might be a selfish request, but do you think you could melt Cesar’s heart?”
Just like you melted mine.
“Beep…”
I hesitated and looked up at Sylvia. There was no way I could do what even the heroine couldn’t. I was just a small bird, busy trying to survive.
If only Sylvia, the heroine, would choose Cesar, the sub-male lead, everything would be peaceful.
From what I’ve seen, Cesar was a very lonely person. He seemed to really dislike it when someone left his side. Even if he wasn’t showing his true feelings now, Sylvia was the heroine, so she would eventually seep into the cracks of his heart.
But knowing that the human heart was something I could never control, I had no choice but to nod.
“Beep.”
‘I’ll listen to you. So, please choose Cesar this time.’
Even as I chirped with that wish, I knew the chances of Cesar winning against the Crown Prince were slim. It would be much faster for me to become human and leave before he turned villainous.
‘My precarious life. I need to find a way to become human and escape before the full-fledged war of succession begins.’
Unaware of my hidden agenda, Sylvia smiled brightly like a blooming flower.
“Thank you, Lily.”
Her silky, smooth blonde hair brushed against me. Sylvia was smiling, but worry bloomed within me.
‘Nothing worse can happen today, right?’
Just as I thought that, the carriage lurched violently. Sylvia blinked in surprise.
The carriage, which had hit a bump, resumed its smooth movement. Relieved, Sylvia checked on me, her eyes worried that I might have been startled and hurt myself.
“Lily, are you alright?”
I smiled and tried to lift my wing. As if a mere carriage could affect me… It did.
“Beep…”
‘I think I’m dying…’
I climbed down from Sylvia’s shoulder and slumped against her hand. A groan escaped me due to the terrible motion sickness.
She stroked my belly and spoke in a sympathetic tone,
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know you got motion sickness in carriages.”
I had been fine at first. Thanks to the magic Cesar had cast, it had been surprisingly peaceful.
But as the carriage ride continued, I started feeling nauseous. I had been able to endure it until a moment ago, but the sudden lurch was the final straw.
‘Ugh. I feel completely drained.’
“What should I do? I have a few teleportation scrolls from Cesar, but the destination is set to the Count’s mansion…”
“Chirp…”
‘We can’t be late…’
But I was too drowsy to continue the thought.
I remembered the spirit waking me up from my nap. I recalled the outing with Heron, the fight with the noble lady who tried to throw tea at Sylvia, and flapping my wings tirelessly.
‘What an eventful day.’
My eyes fluttered closed. The setting sun felt like it was warmly embracing me.
“Chirp…”
‘I’m sorry, Sylvia. I’m too sleepy.’
I passed out.
Intense sunlight poured down as if to roast me alive. I rubbed my eyes and woke up.
“Beep.”
‘Is it morning?’
The sunlight streaming through the window was blinding.
‘Birds are nocturnal, but I’m a morning bird, so if I were human, would that mean my days and nights are reversed?’
Having just woken up, my thoughts were disjointed.
After spacing out for a while, my mind gradually cleared. I looked for Sylvia, who had been beside me when I fell asleep. This was probably Sylvia’s mansion.
“Chirp.”
But I couldn’t find Sylvia, no matter how much I looked around.
She must have been troubled when I fell asleep, so why isn’t she here? And why does this place feel so familiar?
“Lily, you’re awake?”
“Kya! Lily, we were worried. Did you sleep well?”
‘…Why are the maids from the Duke’s mansion here? And that familiar ceiling and my cozy cage. Wait, why am I at the Duke’s mansion?’
“Lily, where did you disappear to yesterday? Do you know how surprised the Duke was when he brought you back asleep?”
‘Wait, what did you just say?’
Just then, I heard the door open. The maids, who had been looking at me with bright eyes, quickly bowed their heads and stepped back.
As soon as I saw Cesar, I felt a cold sweat trickling down my feathers.
“You can all leave.”
“Yes, understood.”
On their way out, the maids all made encouraging gestures, as if cheering me on. A sense of foreboding washed over me.
‘No! Don’t go! Where are you going, leaving me alone!’
I called out desperately, but they heartlessly closed the door.
Thud, thud. I heard Cesar approaching. My little bird heart pounded.
I pretended to be tired and curled up. A chillingly cold voice called me.
“Lily. I know you’re already awake.”
“…”
“Do you want to test my patience?”
At his words, I cautiously lifted my head. Cesar’s sharply gleaming purple eyes were visible between my fluffy pink feathers.
“…Beep.”
A tiny, almost inaudible sound escaped me.
“Ha.”
I flinched at Cesar’s sigh. I wanted to scold my past self for falling asleep so carelessly. If I could turn back time, I would have returned to the Dukedom before he brought me back.
“Lily.”
“Chirp… Beep.”
I cowered and cautiously gauged Cesar’s mood. I was scared, not knowing what he would say.
“Why did you throw the jewel away in the forest?”
“Chirp…”
‘I didn’t throw it away. Heron threw it away, and I was just as surprised…’
The jewels Cesar gave me were all quite valuable, so there was no way I would throw away such precious things. However, Cesar, who couldn’t understand bird language, seemed to have misinterpreted my hesitation.
“Were you really planning on running away?”
“Beep…? Beeeep!”
I vigorously shook my head. Cesar tapped my cage.
“So you weren’t running away?”
“Beep.”
“Then did you really go flower viewing? Without your owner’s permission?”
“…Chirp.”
‘…W-well, it wasn’t flower viewing, but I went out with a spirit for a while, and then I fell asleep on the way back.’
I lowered my head, unable to make any further excuses.
“And I never told you to get yourself hurt in some strange place.”
His words reminded me of the fight with the woman who tried to throw tea at Sylvia. He seemed to have heard everything already.
“Beep.”
I rolled my eyes, assessing the situation. Cesar’s expression didn’t look good.
I tried to explain the situation to him with my small body. But Cesar preempted me, stroking my head and saying something unexpected.
“I was worried about you.”
“Chirp…?”
I wondered if I had misheard. But I hadn’t. I could clearly see the concern in his purple eyes.
I hadn’t even been this surprised when I was chased by a snake.
‘I can’t believe it. Did he just say he was worried about me…?’
“You took off the jewel without permission and didn’t come back for half a day.”
“Beep…”
‘W-well, that’s…’
“While I was worried sick, you were sleeping peacefully in Sylvia’s arms.”
“Beep…”
“Do you know how worried everyone in the mansion was when you disappeared?”
At Cesar’s words, I hung my head low. I hadn’t realized other people were worried about me. I had only been thinking about getting scolded by him.
My face flushed red. I didn’t know why I had become so thoughtless after becoming a bird. To cause such trouble… It was all my fault.
“Chirp… Beep.”
Tears welled up in my eyes. I felt sorry and ashamed of myself.
It was pathetic to cry after causing trouble. I tried my best to hold back my tears.
Cesar’s hand gently wiped my eyes. His touch, like a soft feather, like the occasional gentle side he showed, threatened to make my tears fall.
“…Honestly, you’re so unpredictable and reckless.”
“Chirp…”
“Your residence will be my bedroom for the time being. You must be hungry, so eat when the maid brings your food.”
“Beep?”
‘…Aren’t you going to scold me more?’
I went out without permission and made everyone in the Dukedom, including Cesar, worry. I was such a terrible bird.
“Do you want to be scolded more, Lily?”
“…Beep.”
“If not, don’t disappear without my permission again.”
“Chirp?”
“That means stay by my side.”
A small teardrop fell.
Through my blurry vision, I caught a glimpse of Cesar’s smile. It was different from his usual smile, somehow lonely, yet warm like a gentle fire…
It felt as if the cracks in the door, frozen like a snowy mountain in midwinter, were slowly starting to open.