Episode 46
I had intended to live a peaceful, leisurely life, unrelated to the novel’s plot, after receiving my reward. But it seemed like things wouldn’t go my way.
It was too late to back out now. And I was also concerned about Cesar, who had already made contact with the Second Prince.
If running away would only lead to more wandering, wouldn’t it be better to settle down? Since I also wanted to prevent Cesar’s tragic ending, there was only one thing I could do.
‘Sigh. After all the trouble I went through to leave him…’
Was it a pet bird’s destiny to willingly return to its cage after escaping?
Still, I touched my flushed earlobes, remembering the voice I hadn’t heard in a while.
Cesar observed the interior of the Second Prince’s palace. It was his first time here, but it clearly reflected the Second Prince’s personality.
The extravagant interior, adorned with jewels everywhere, the knights lined up with a menacing aura, and the eerily silent, doll-like servants.
He felt a sense of disgust and just wanted to leave.
The attendant, who had been guiding him, stopped and opened a door. He saw the Second Prince sitting leisurely.
Cesar entered and sat down, and the Second Prince, Cardian, spoke.
“I had another guest, so I was a little late. I hope that didn’t inconvenience you, Duke.”
“It’s fine.”
“I see. That’s good.”
Cardian looked up at Cesar, his tone indifferent. The sound of him placing his teacup echoed in the quiet space.
“Then I’d like to ask why the Duke of Clovis, the head of the noble faction, has come to me. Will you answer?”
“I thought I could find what I’m looking for if I came to Your Highness.”
“What you’re looking for. May I offer my guess?”
“As you please.”
“Sylvia Veronica. You’re in love with her, aren’t you, Duke? But she has her heart set on someone else. My brother, Aronio Or Ruperam.”
Cesar’s eyes gleamed. The Second Prince chuckled and continued,
“Both you and I… if there’s something we want, we take it.”
“I won’t deny that.”
“That’s right. I believe you and I are the same kind. So, how about we make a deal? A deal where both of us get what we want.”
Cesar remained silent after the Second Prince’s words.
It was clear, from the way he was expanding his power, that he was aiming for the throne. A bloody war of succession would soon break out, lives would be lost, and factions would crumble.
If it was Cesar, who desired Sylvia’s heart, he would have naturally sided with the Second Prince to get rid of the troublesome Crown Prince. He would have, but…
“A deal…”
Unfortunately, what he desired had changed.
“I’d like some time to think. I have some things to consider, given my current position.”
“What are you thinking?”
“What am I thinking? That’s a rather hurtful question, Your Highness.”
A deal was only a deal if both parties got what they wanted. Cesar had already gotten what he wanted on his way here, so there was no reason for him to accept the deal.
He held a strand of wavy, light brown hair in his hand.
There was no reason to stay with the Second Prince any longer. With that thought, Cesar exchanged a few more polite words and left the palace.
His heart raced, but he slowed his steps, wary of running into her again.
‘I apologize for blocking your way.’
There was no need for such an apology.
‘I apologize if my actions were rude.’
If you truly thought my actions were rude, you wouldn’t have even considered leaving my side.
He should have been angry that the voice he heard was the same as the one from his dream. He should have been angry that the voice of Lily, now a human, resembled the chirping he had always heard by his side.
But he wasn’t.
Just like when she had made a nest in his heart without him realizing, his bird appeared before him again, as she pleased.
Getting out of the carriage and being guided to the Second Prince’s palace, he had noticed a figure in black and glanced at her. But that was all.
Then, a voice stopped him in his tracks.
‘…Cesar.’
Rather than feeling offended by her calling his name without permission, his body reacted to the familiar voice.
That’s why he blocked her path.
When her green eyes met his, he was reminded of the small bird looking up at him and chirping.
Lily’s eyes had been jet-black, like the night sky. So it was more likely that she wasn’t his bird.
Yet, the glimpse of her face, pale as snow, through the robe, made him think her skin would be soft to the touch. He imagined the soft touch of human skin instead of the fluffy feathers.
He almost reached out to her.
Even though only her voice was similar, his body was telling him that this woman was Lily.
He didn’t know what to do. His thoughts were a mess.
He decided to observe her reaction and deliberately acted coldly. Her clear eyes wavered. As if realizing something, she took a step back and apologized.
He didn’t like her subdued reaction. The Lily he knew wouldn’t have acted like that. So he teased the woman, just like he used to tease Lily.
Her eyes narrowed slightly. Her words were polite, but she sounded like she was sulking and complaining.
Similar.
The moment he felt it, he stepped closer and pulled off her robe. Her eyes widened, and her wavy hair fluttered in the breeze.
As his hand brushed against her light brown hair, which might have once been a beautiful shade of pink, he was certain.
Certain that she was the bird that had broken her promise and run away.
He spoke, making sure his wary bird wouldn’t suspect anything, and gently stroked her soft hair. Her trembling eyelashes and delicate features were clearly visible.
His gaze lingered on her large, round, blinking eyes.
It was strange. When she was a bird, her chirping and antics had just been insignificant and somewhat cute. But now, as a human, he found her strangely endearing.
With that thought, he carefully plucked a strand of her hair and kept it. All he had to do now was compare it to the feather using the magical tool he had acquired at the auction.
‘It has to be her. If I can’t even recognize my own bird, I don’t deserve to be its owner.’
Cesar smirked and thought about what to do with Lily. Judging by her reaction, she was acting as if she didn’t know him.
‘She didn’t seem to have any intention of telling me. And I haven’t decided what to do after finding her. It would be better to play along for now.’
He recalled her shimmering green eyes. If he pretended not to know, Lily would also struggle to keep the secret.
He didn’t mind watching that.
He had been spending sleepless nights, longing for his missing bird, so she should endure this much to make things even.
Thinking that someone might call him cruel, Cesar recalled the Second Prince’s words.
‘Sylvia Veronica. You’re in love with her, aren’t you, Duke?’
He had desired her. Consumed by her radiant light, he had been desperate to possess her.
But she didn’t occupy his thoughts now. All that remained was the feeling of his empty heart being filled during the days he spent with a precious bird.
The only thing that bothered him was the fact that someone else could be close to Lily, now a human.
Cesar’s face hardened, and he walked forward. His guards, seeing him take a different path than the one they came from, followed him with puzzled looks.
Cesar ordered,
“Stay back.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Keeping a certain distance, Cesar heard a rustling sound from the bushes. It wasn’t the natural sound of the wind, but a slightly irritating sound.
“Eavesdropping through spirits is unpleasant. Why don’t you stop?”
His languid voice echoed in the air. The rustling stopped.
‘I was suspicious, but it was a spirit after all.’
The sound that had disappeared when he met Lily had bothered him. And the unnatural sound returning had confirmed his suspicion.
Just as he had placed someone to watch Heron Lovisiel, the Spirit Summoner, Heron had also placed someone to watch him.
He had already disliked Heron for his close relationship with Sylvia. And the fact that he had taken his bird once made him even more irritated.
‘He noticed. The information gathered through spirits is quite detailed.’
He looked towards where the sound had disappeared.
“Well, it doesn’t matter…”
His sharp eyes softened slightly.
“If it’s just a measly insect, I can just dispose of it.”
He knew its location and its face. He no longer had to search frantically; he could just get rid of it.
“I wonder when she’ll come back on her own.”
He didn’t know how long this game of pretending not to know would be amusing.
He hoped his little bird, now human, would be quick-witted. If she mistakenly thought he didn’t know and made a nest with someone else, even he didn’t know what he might do.