Episode 17
Cesar quietly watched the sleeping bird. Its white belly rose and fell with each breath. When he touched its face, it stirred as if tickled.
Cesar loathed revealing his vulnerabilities to anyone. But strangely, the things he tried to hide kept leaking out in front of this bird.
It was just a small bird, barely the size of his palm.
“Lily. Why do I keep revealing my weaknesses only to you?”
Cesar quietly recalled the past.
Raised by strict parents, he hadn’t learned how to properly give or receive affection. When he was a little older, his parents died due to his uncle’s scheme to seize control of the family. It was supposedly a carriage accident.
But at his parents’ funeral, he hadn’t felt any emotion.
He didn’t react strongly when he was left alone and neglected in the annex, when his title was taken away and he was driven out, or even when he finally reclaimed his rightful place with his master’s help.
That didn’t change even after he became an adult.
There was only one exception. When he met Sylvia, he was drawn to her radiance. He was unconsciously drawn to her innocent and bright nature.
But their starkly contrasting differences made him hide his true self even more. He didn’t want to reveal his deepest emotions, the desire to possess the light he had lacked in his childhood.
But he found himself letting his guard down in front of this bird. He would find it flying freely, having crossed his boundaries.
“Is this why everyone keeps pets? Still, I hope it doesn’t do anything like not recognizing its owner.”
Cesar already knew that Lily had accompanied that Heron fellow. He was worried that the bird, which kept acting so recklessly despite having a perfectly good home, might run away and never return.
Lily didn’t know that this anxiety blooming within Cesar prevented him from treating her as he had before, prevented him from getting angry and punishing her.
So naturally, she would never know that Cesar had isolated the noble family of the woman who splashed water on his bird, or that he had severed trade ties with the trading company she was associated with.
Cesar realized that a small bird had made a nest and settled in a corner of his heart.
Sitting beside the sleeping bird, Cesar whispered softly as if singing a lullaby.
“Stay by my side like you did today, Lily.”
Cesar, who had coveted Sylvia’s irreplaceable brightness, realized something. He could only reveal his true self in front of this bird.
He also realized he had been thinking about the bird waiting for him at the mansion more often.
But strangely, Cesar didn’t dislike it. He liked the way its tail feathers perked up in surprise whenever he threatened to throw it to the monsters, the way it would approach him and chatter, seemingly forgetting its fear.
He had something he didn’t want to lose.
But the more he revealed himself, the more he imagined the small bird leaving without looking back.
“I’m a greedy person. I never let go of something that’s come into my possession.”
“…Beep.”
The small bird murmured in its sleep, unaware of its situation.
Although it was still some time before sunrise, Cesar closed his eyes, lulled by the warmth in his hand. As if the years of sleepless nights were a lie, he drifted off to sleep.
He hoped the incredibly warm presence in his hand wouldn’t disappear.
Before being swallowed by sleep, he had a feeling, almost a certainty, that this bird might one day become his most precious possession.
“Beep. Beeeep.”
I chirped cheerfully, wiggling my hips. The warm sunlight and the spring air made me look forward to the upcoming festival.
Of course, it also meant I would have more to do, but I put that off for my future self.
‘For now, I’ll just enjoy the joy. The Spring Festival, full of energy and blooming flowers!’
The Empire’s Spring Festival was described in the novel as a spectacle of blooming flowers, so much so that it was called the Flower Festival. It was said to have various attractions, even drawing visitors from other countries.
“Beeeep.”
‘It’s great that I can see it, even as a bird. Besides, I loved the festival scenes in the novel.’
I carefully checked if the jewel on my chest was securely attached and fluttered over to Cesar.
He had just finished preparing to go out, so I pleaded with him to take me along. He initially refused firmly, but after my persistent requests, he sighed and agreed.
He often went out, but the fact that he was going somewhere with other knights meant they were undoubtedly preparing for the upcoming festival.
‘I’m so excited. He must be going to prepare a gift for Sylvia for the festival, right?’
I sat on Cesar’s shoulder and imagined a pleasant day.
But I realized my mistake within a few hours.
‘What is going on?’
I trembled in fear, facing the scene before me.
“Maintain formation! Even a graze can cause poisoning!”
The knights busily drew their swords, and the monsters they were facing growled ferociously.
‘What, what! Why are there so many monsters in front of me? And everyone is drawing their swords, preparing to fight?’
…I thought we were going to prepare for the Spring Festival, but it turned out to be an expedition to exterminate the monsters swarming near the Dukedom.
“Beep!”
‘I want to go back!’
“…Beep.”
“Is Lily sick?”
Lenny, who was next to me, looked at me with concern. I straightened my tail feathers, pretending to be fine.
I couldn’t let it show. I had pestered Cesar to bring me along. I couldn’t tell him I was disappointed because of my misunderstanding, even if I died.
Moreover, everyone was praising me, saying I was admirable. They even called me the protector bird of the Dukedom, and I just awkwardly laughed it off. How could I say I wanted to go back now?
I calmed myself down by looking at the flowers blooming throughout the forest. And I saw Cesar having a serious conversation on one side.
“The number of monsters has increased abnormally more than we expected.”
“Sigh. What’s the damage to the village?”
“Fortunately, there are injuries, but no casualties.”
“Then that’s good.”
I twitched my tail feathers, listening to their conversation.
The monster activity would eventually die down later in the novel, so I didn’t have to worry about it. The real problem was the power struggle within the Empire.
I recalled the timing of the Second Prince’s schemes. The real action started during the hunting competition, after Cesar joined hands with him, so for now, it was just groundwork.
The Crown Prince would come to inspect the area during the festival to check on the suspicious Second Prince’s movements… but he would just flirt with Sylvia and then go back.
I shook my head, thinking of the Crown Prince, and quietly sat next to Lenny, watching butterflies fly by.
Since that night I thought I had become closer to Cesar, I slept by his bedside instead of in the cage. Since Cesar often came to his bedroom late, I usually fell asleep first.
Actually, I was a little sleepy now.
‘Why am I so sleepy? Is it because the spring air makes me drowsy?’
“Lily looks sleepy. I’ll tell the Duke and take you to the carriage.”
“Chirp?”
‘Huh? No, I’m fine. I can’t be the only one sleeping while everyone else is working!’
As I flapped my wings, insisting I was fine, Lenny chuckled.
“It’s like you understand what I’m saying. Lily, I’ll take you to the Duke. Go rest in the carriage. The Duke has cast a protection spell on the carriage, so the monsters won’t be a threat.”
“Beep…”
‘It’s rude to refuse twice…’
After some deliberation, I fluttered onto Lenny’s shoulder. As we approached Cesar, he paused his conversation.
“What is it?”
“Duke, Lily looks quite tired. Would it be alright if I took her to the carriage?”
“I knew it from the moment she insisted on coming, but she held on for quite a while.”
“Beep?”
‘Huh? Did he know I was mistaken?’
As I glared at him with narrowed eyes, Cesar said,
“It seems Lily has a complaint.”
“That’s not true. She’s smiling.”
At Lenny’s gesture towards me, I hurriedly forced a cheerful smile and chirped.
“…Beep.”
It must be my imagination that it sounded like a dying chirp. As I cautiously observed the situation, Cesar stroked my head.
“I thought you’d cling to me and complain, but you quietly followed. Even birds mature, it seems.”
“Beep?”
‘Did he just compliment me?’
I hadn’t done anything praiseworthy, going to rest while everyone else was working hard…
“Chirp…”
My conscience pricked me at the unexpected praise. His warm gaze made me want to hide somewhere. But since there was nowhere to hide, everyone saw me flapping my wings in embarrassment.
I could feel the knights around me trying to suppress their laughter. I felt like my feathers were turning red.
“Beep!”
‘I’m leaving! I’m leaving! Stop laughing at me!’
I tried to fly away quickly. But Lenny spoke from behind me.
“Duke, Lily is going somewhere other than the carriage.”
I hurriedly made a U-turn.
‘I definitely didn’t just fly off without knowing where I was going. Definitely not.’
I still felt my face burning.
Arriving at the carriage, I sat quietly on the cushion. If I disappeared again, Cesar would definitely not let me off the hook.
Besides, I didn’t have the courage to go anywhere without a protection spell. In a place swarming with monsters, a small bird like me would be swallowed whole.
Being alone in the carriage made me feel bored. As I rolled around on the cushion, something touched my shoulder.
“Chirp?”
‘What’s this?’
I turned around and saw a box tied with a ribbon. Judging by its cute appearance, it seemed to be something for me to play with, so I untied the ribbon.
Inside, there was a sparkling jewel. The jewel, shimmering as if studded with stars, was captivatingly beautiful.
“Beep.”
‘I’ve never seen such a beautiful jewel.’
As I reached out my wing to add the jewel to my secret stash, it disappeared along with a flash of light the moment it touched my feathers.
“Chirp!”
‘It disappeared!’