Episode 58
“Hmm… so you suddenly became human, it was difficult to explain the situation, and you ended up running away, is that it?”
Nod, nod.
To be precise, I was running away from the villain who would kill me, but it was also true that I ran away because I couldn’t stay by his side as a human.
“Then why did Cesar lie?”
“Maybe he was worried Sylvia would be concerned? He seemed to be looking for me.”
“Perhaps.”
“But Sylvia.”
“Yes, Lily?”
“I’m not a bird now…”
There were refreshments piled up in front of me, as if I was a small bird being fed. And Sylvia kept stroking my head, saying she would find a jewel that suited me.
“Whether you’re a bird or a human, food is important. I’m so happy to be with you like this, Lily. I knew there was something cute and lovely about you from the moment I first saw you.”
I awkwardly turned my head, embarrassed by the words of the most beautiful heroine in the novel.
As soon as Sylvia learned that I was Lily, she became even more informal. And she reacted like an excited little girl, saying it was her first time sharing such a secret with a friend.
‘Now that I’ve told Sylvia everything, I should talk about the tea party.’
I kept missing the timing. Sylvia was so excited and chatty that she talked even more than I did when I was a bird, chirping away.
Still, it had been a while since I had such a comfortable conversation, so I chatted with her, smiling.
As our conversation lulled, Sylvia dropped a sugar cube into her teacup and said,
“But Lily, if you had stayed at the Dukedom in that state, you would have been suspected of being a spy. Your origins are unclear, and no one would believe you if you said you were originally a bird. And you didn’t even know how to transform back then.”
“Well…”
“Is that why you tried to avoid Cesar? But it would have been better if you had explained everything to him after you learned how to transform back into a bird. Cesar is kind.”
‘That’s because he likes you, the heroine, Sylvia.’
I still clearly remembered his cold glare and threats when we first met.
Of course, I had felt his kindness as time went on, but I couldn’t live as a bird forever, trapped in a cage, ignoring what would happen in the future.
“I already ran away. And I’m not confident I could live as a bird in a cage.”
“Lily…”
“But Sylvia.”
“Yes?”
“I’m a maid working here, so isn’t it inappropriate for you to call me by my name and speak informally…? Could you call me ‘Miss Valerie’ again?”
“No! Don’t call me that. It feels distant.”
“It can’t be helped. Then is it okay if you call me that when others are around?”
Sylvia pondered for a moment and nodded. Then, she held my hand tightly and said,
“But you have to be informal with me when we’re alone. Okay?”
“Okay.”
Her face brightened at my confirmation.
“I was so worried I wouldn’t be able to see you again since you were at the villa. I wanted to visit you, but Cesar stopped me. I was always worried about you, wondering if you were doing well, if you were sick after that incident.”
“I was also happy to see you at the Imperial Palace, Sylvia. I’m sorry I hid it from you.”
“It’s okay. You came back. And we became friends… Everything seems to be going well! I rarely receive tea party invitations from other noble ladies.”
Finally, the topic of the tea party came up, and I spoke with a firm resolve,
“Sylvia, about that tea party…”
“Yes?”
“You have to be careful. Lady Prea of the Seirthe Marquisate will approach you.”
“With bad intentions?”
“Yes… She’s in love with His Highness the Crown Prince.”
The atmosphere naturally became somber.
I had already seen her once. The noble lady who had badmouthed Sylvia, jealous of her closeness with Cesar.
I felt bad for dampening Sylvia’s excitement for the tea party. But I couldn’t just stand by and watch her get hurt after developing feelings for Prea.
“I’m sorry to dampen your excitement. But…”
“It’s okay. I expected it. I know many noble ladies dislike me. But the reason I was looking forward to that day, Lily,”
Sylvia’s eyes, which I had expected to be downcast, sparkled with life.
“Is because you’re coming with me. So it’s okay, no matter what happens. And I won’t tolerate anyone approaching me with malice.”
Seeing her determined eyes, I felt like I had made the right decision. Telling Sylvia that I was Lily, warning her about what would happen.
But what I hadn’t expected was…
“Lady Seirthe. I should see what kind of person she is.”
That Sylvia was more than just a soft-hearted heroine.
I smiled back, oblivious to the trouble that would occur at the upcoming tea party.
I looked out the window at the dark night. The incessant rain was finally subsiding.
‘It should be arriving soon.’
I waited, restlessly tossing and turning in bed. Soon, I heard a scratching sound, followed by a meow.
“You’re here.”
I opened the window, and the cat sitting on the windowsill jumped inside.
“It’s still raining; His Highness is too much. Look how wet your fur is.”
I brought a towel and gently patted the cat’s fur dry.
“Meow.”
“You want me to check it? Alright. Let’s see…”
I untied the ribbon from the cat’s tail and checked the note.
Nothing out of the ordinary. It said they were still observing the Second Prince’s movements and keeping an eye on Cesar’s contact with him. It was relatively peaceful.
‘Well, it’s always calm before the storm.’
I fidgeted and checked if there was anything from the Tower Master. I gently scratched the cute cat mail carrier’s neck and untied the bell. I saw a mana stone, emitting a faint light, inside a small pouch.
“I should be grateful that he’s consistently sending these.”
I had received additional clothes and necessities from the Crown Prince when I came here. The Tower Master only sent expensive mana stones without any other messages, as if he had decided to completely ignore me.
Perhaps it was because of the trouble I caused at the Imperial Palace, but the Tower Master wasn’t supposed to be concerned about anyone in the first place.
As the representative of the Magic Tower, his every opinion held weight, so he always remained a bystander, observing everything. His intervention with Cesar had been an exception.
“Is it the same with me this time? I’ve gotten involved in the power struggle for the throne, and Cesar doesn’t even recognize me. He doesn’t really have any obligation to help me anymore…”
It was a plausible reason, so I pushed aside my resentment towards the Tower Master, which often made me grind my teeth.
“Thank you for bringing this.”
“Meow.”
The Crown Prince was using a cat to contact me since I had left the Imperial Palace. As I gently scratched the little mail carrier’s neck, it started purring.
‘So cute…’
I wondered if this was how everyone felt when they petted me when I was a bird.
The cat, which had been rubbing against me, suddenly stood up and started scratching the wall.
“Hey, no! I can’t afford any more damage!”
I hurriedly stopped it and opened the window. It quickly disappeared into the darkness. After confirming it was gone, I closed the window and lay down on the bed.
It was the first time I had confided in someone willingly, not because I was forced to. I felt relieved, as if a weight had been lifted off my shoulders.
‘I’m glad I met Sylvia. I have someone I can trust, even if just a little.’
I had always felt a sense of loneliness, like a bird wandering after leaving its nest, but it seemed like I was finally adapting.
‘…I wonder if Cesar is sleeping well. He said he would visit again.’
It was a face that naturally came to mind at night. We always slept together during the time we spent together.
Lulled by the fading sound of rain, I drifted off to sleep.
“How do I look today?”
“You look beautiful, Miss Sylvia.”
Her eyes narrowed at my compliment. It was a warning not to call her that.
But we were in the presence of other servants. I was a maid, and she was my mistress, so I couldn’t be disrespectful.
I lightly brushed off Sylvia’s displeasure and accompanied her to the tea party as her attendant.
It was a bright summer day, the sweltering heat making me eager to get into the carriage with its cooling magic.
“Have a safe trip!”
“Have a wonderful time!”
I saw the servants gathered to see Sylvia off. She was truly a beloved young lady; I wondered why other noble ladies didn’t appreciate her kindness and warmth.
Alone in the carriage, Sylvia brought up what happened earlier.
“Lily.”
“Yes, Miss?”
“Are you really going to keep doing this?”
I saw Sylvia looking at me with displeasure. I was tempted to tease her more but decided against it; she might actually get angry. I smiled and replied,
“I was just teasing you, Sylvia.”
“I didn’t know you were chirping at me like this all along, Lily.”
If “like this” meant teasing her and grumbling to myself… then, maybe?
“Lily, why aren’t you answering?”
“No. That’s not true.”
Sylvia didn’t seem convinced by my denial. I felt like I had become untrustworthy. Well, it was just a small prank, so we ended up laughing it off.
I sat in the cool carriage and thought about what was supposed to happen today.
Besides Prea approaching Sylvia, there didn’t seem to be any other significant events. I had already warned Sylvia, so she would be careful and keep her distance.
Since this was the world of a novel, I thought things would happen as they should. I just had to make sure Sylvia wasn’t hurt by the betrayal.