Episode 39
“Beep.”
‘This is bad. There are holes everywhere.’
A hollow laugh escaped me as I looked at the night sky, clearly visible through the gaping holes.
“Chirp…”
‘It’s all gone…’
Seeing the tragically destroyed building and the open sky, I didn’t even have the energy to panic.
‘If I say the building was destroyed while exterminating the monster, will the Crown Prince let it slide?’
I recalled his usual demeanor and shook my head. I would be lucky if I wasn’t accused of property damage and conspiring with the Second Prince to attack the Crown Prince.
I had to get back, but I was stuck to the ground like a sticky rice cake, completely drained. I couldn’t muster any more strength, and the mana stone I had hidden in my feathers seemed to have been depleted from using that unknown power.
But I forced myself to stay awake.
‘People will surely come after hearing that noise. I don’t have time to stay here like this in my bird form.’
Dealing with the aftermath was important, but it was more important not to be seen as a bird right now.
I saw the mana stone from the monster I had defeated, sparkling in the moonlight. Unable to stand, I rolled over towards it.
I grabbed the mana stone and absorbed it as if seeking healing. Slowly, energy returned to my body, and my breathing became easier.
“Beep.”
‘Thank goodness.’
I stood up and decided to leave the scene of the incident.
Just then, I heard a scratching sound at the door. The doorknob seemed to be broken from the earlier commotion, as it creaked open with repeated attempts.
A large shadow jumped in, its soft fur brushing against me.
“Beep?”
‘Louis?’
Everything seemed huge from my small bird’s perspective. Just as I was about to greet him, Louis bit the back of my neck.
I had a bad feeling. Remembering the incident during the Spring Festival, I struggled desperately. Louis, seemingly excited, ran down the hallway.
“Beeeep! Beep!”
‘Let me go! Help!’
My body was shaken back and forth. I felt nauseous, and my head spun. It seemed like he was taking me to his owner again.
‘What should I do with this troublemaking puppy?’
Whoosh, the wind brushed against my cheeks, and then I heard the hurried footsteps of multiple people. Knights in uniforms bearing the Imperial crest passed by.
It seemed they didn’t notice the bird being carried away by an excited puppy. There was only one person who chuckled, asking if the puppy had caught a bird and was enjoying its hunt.
‘Enjoyable hunt? If a bird is caught like this, you should scold it and tell it to let go! I feel sick.’
The more I struggled, the dizzier I felt. I gave up and went limp, feeling the wind against my feathers.
‘The wind is as cold as my future.’
As I closed my eyes and thought about my hopeless future, Louis started to slow down. He finally put me down and lifted his fluffy backside.
His bushy tail wagged like a helicopter. And he barked and rolled around, as if asking to play.
“Woof woof!”
“Beep…”
‘It must be Arenz. How can I escape this time…?’
Feeling my damp neck, I looked ahead. And I froze.
“You’ve picked up something again, I see. But does your dog hunt birds?”
“No. He hasn’t shown any interest in birds since that one time at the festival… Uh, that bird…”
Arenz’s eyes widened as he saw me. Actually, I was even more surprised. I hadn’t expected the Crown Prince to be here. My future seemed bleak.
“Why are you so surprised? What’s so special about that bird…?”
The Crown Prince’s gaze naturally shifted towards me. Earlier, he must have just glanced at me without interest, but this time, he was staring intently.
Gulp. I swallowed nervously. Only Louis, the clueless puppy, was running around us and then rolling over, exposing his belly, and panting.
‘Just because you’re cute doesn’t mean you can do anything! Why did you bring me to where the Crown Prince is?!’
My short bird legs trembled. Just as I was about to flap my wings and escape, Aaron grabbed me.
“Beeeep!”
‘Let me go! You’re not supposed to grab a bird like that!’
The Crown Prince’s face, seen up close, was terrifying. It seemed even bigger from my bird’s perspective, and my body trembled.
I desperately avoided his gleaming red eyes and looked away.
‘I’m an ordinary bird. An ordinary bird.’
As I chanted that like a mantra, hoping he wouldn’t notice, he frowned.
“This kind of pink bird isn’t common. It looks similar to that arrogant Duke’s bird. Pink feathers and a white belly… Wait, didn’t you say that woman wasn’t in her room?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
His red eyes gleamed at those words. The silence of the Crown Prince, lost in thought as if connecting the scattered pieces, was unsettling.
‘I’m screwed, aren’t I?’
A chilling sensation ran down my spine, as if the bell of my fate was tolling. The bell of doom, of course.
“Beep?”
I tilted my head and smiled as if I was a clueless bird, and the Crown Prince smirked.
“The Duke’s bird…”
“Beeeep?”
‘The Duke’s bird? No. I’m just a passing bird.’
Despite my nonchalant chirping, the feather on my head trembled, betraying my anxiety.
Arenz, who was beside him, spoke to the Crown Prince,
“Why is the Duke’s bird here, Your Highness?”
“That’s what I’m wondering. I have no idea why it’s in the Imperial Palace. I’ll send it back to the Dukedom. Even that cold-hearted Duke would look for his bird if it disappeared, considering he even brought it to the banquet.”
“Chirp?”
‘Are you saying you’re going to send me back to Cesar?’
Anxious about the unexpectedly unfavorable turn of events, I widened my eyes and pecked the Crown Prince’s hand with my sharp beak.
“Beep!”
‘No! I don’t want to be roasted bird!’
He let go of me. Seizing the opportunity, I flew away from them and hid among the buildings near the devastated garden.
Unaware that the Crown Prince was smiling as he watched me.
Hiding inside the building, I shuddered and shook my feathers.
“Beep.”
‘I can’t even hide in the trees because I destroyed the garden.’
The building, with its shattered windows from the earlier commotion, had a rather eerie atmosphere.
I entered the building and cautiously assessed the situation. And I caught my breath.
“Beep. Chirp.”
‘Phew, my heart hurts.’
Thump, thump. I could hear my heart pounding. My tiny bird heart.
As the surroundings became quiet, I recalled the Crown Prince’s actions from earlier. It was suspicious that he had let me go so easily.
“Chirp.”
‘What is he scheming? I can’t stay in this bird form forever.’
If I hid in the forest at night, I would be chased by a starving snake like last time, and if I stayed in the Imperial Palace, I would be discovered and handed over to Cesar.
And if I left the Imperial Palace in my bird form without the mana stone, the Crown Prince might tell Cesar about the missing bird. Then my owner, who ran an information network, would easily find me.
‘I have to become human again somehow.’
I was worried about the punishment for what I had done, but I was more worried about being seen transforming from a bird to a human. It seemed like I had to wait until the knights were gone before making my move.
Fortunately, since the building was dark, the knights’ movements were followed by bright lights. I hid, avoiding them, and waited for the moment they would retreat.
How much time had passed?
I could vaguely see the Crown Prince giving orders to his knights in the now-barren land. I couldn’t hear him clearly because of the distance, but it sounded like he was telling them to withdraw.
I cheered inwardly and saw the first light of dawn. Hiding would become impossible once it was fully daylight.
“Beeeep?”
‘Is anyone there?’
My chirp echoed in the empty hallway. Flutter. After confirming that there was no one around, I took flight.
Arriving at my quarters, I saw the chaotic scene.
I had expected the broken mirror. But seeing the dust everywhere and the scattered, shattered objects made me frown.
“Chirp.”
‘This is serious. Who caused such destruction… well, it was me. Will I be okay?’
I had the Tower Master as my backing, but he was so unreliable that I didn’t have high hopes.
Hop, hop. I lightly hopped around and found the mana stone, shimmering amidst the chaos.
“Beep, chirp.”
I rubbed my face against the precious mana stone. After I became able to freely transform between human and bird forms, I could control the absorption of mana stones.
“Chirp.”
‘This is a good thing. A good thing.’
I wagged my tail feathers happily and picked up some undamaged clothes from the broken wardrobe with my beak. Then, I blinked in surprise, seeing my reflection in a shard of the mirror.
‘Oh, the mark from that time is still there. Is this the mark Heron mentioned?’
It was the mark that remained after the light subsided when I defeated the monster. A crescent moon, barely visible at first glance.
As I stared at it curiously, I realized someone might come in and hurriedly moved.
“Ha. I’m back, huh?”
The pain that accompanied transforming into a human wasn’t getting any easier, but I was getting used to my long limbs and body.
After getting dressed, I decided to find the Crown Prince and explain what had happened while eliminating the monster. As I carefully opened the door, avoiding the shards of glass, I bumped into something.
“Uh…”
The Crown Prince was standing in front of the half-opened door, a smirk on his face.
“Y-Your Highness…?”
‘Why is he here! He left!’
“I’ve been looking for you, but I didn’t expect you to be in your room.”
“Ah, well… I was so focused on eliminating the monster that I fell asleep…”
“Is that so? But that’s strange. There was no one here when I came.”
The Crown Prince’s eyes gleamed as he approached me, his tone probing. I took a step back.
He had set a trap. He had been waiting, knowing I would come here.
“Except that my shadow reported seeing a pink bird entering this room.”
“…”
“It’s been a while. The arrogant Duke’s bird, Lily.”
I had fallen right into the Crown Prince’s trap.