Episode 63
I tilted my head, unsure whether to say my identity had been exposed or if things were just proceeding as usual.
I touched my neck.
‘Hmm. My neck is intact, so he’s not planning on killing me. And his reaction was calmer than I expected…’
My mind, which had been racing with fear when I ran away, was now calm. I wondered if things would have been different if I hadn’t run away and talked to Cesar back then.
Lying in my room, gazing at the full moon, I discreetly checked the time.
“It’s about time.”
Just as I said that, I heard a meow, and I opened the window. I was holding cat food this time, which I hadn’t been able to prepare last time due to the rain and the chaos.
The cat, smelling the food, jumped inside and rubbed its face against my lap.
“Meow.”
Its meow was so cute that I couldn’t help but smile.
I watched the cat eat and then untied the ribbon from its tail.
“Nothing seems to be happening… but there’s a strange warning message.”
As I carefully read the message on the ribbon, I chuckled.
“Ahaha! So he knew Cesar came to visit Sylvia. How did he find out and write this?”
The Crown Prince and Cesar were rivals. It was natural for him to be wary and warn me to be careful.
He must have felt threatened, thinking Cesar would use the excuse of monster extermination to visit frequently, even though the first time had been unavoidable.
‘Was it around this time? When the Crown Prince announced his engagement?’
It wouldn’t be wise to announce his engagement to Sylvia now, while he was in a precarious position against the Second Prince, with swords practically at each other’s throats.
Rumors about the Crown Prince and Sylvia were already circulating, but there was no official promise from the Crown Prince yet.
‘Cesar loses his mind around the hunting competition.’
The thought made me sigh.
Cesar Clovis, facing a tragic ending. The villain of this novel, my former owner, and now, the person I had come to care for.
The emotions I felt when we met today resurfaced. His gentle touch, the warmth of his hand, felt both familiar and unfamiliar, making my heart flutter.
‘…Or cherish you and keep you by my side.’
He had said such unexpected words.
Or had he? Had he occasionally spoken kindly before?
I closed my eyes, and his face came to mind. I still didn’t understand why he had been so affectionate towards a mere bird.
He had held my hand that time in the rain. And he must have recognized me when we met at the Imperial Palace.
Thoughts of Cesar filled my mind. Then, a question arose, a doubt I had been denying.
‘But will Cesar really lose his mind like in the original story?’
I had that strange thought. Even though I had seen him meet the Second Prince as in the original story, despite my best efforts to change his fate, the thought persisted.
He had acted as if he would stay with Sylvia for a long time, then left without hesitation. He didn’t show any lingering attachment and even left behind a beautifully ribboned, empty box.
Then, he questioned me and warned me not to run away.
‘Is this wishful thinking, or has Cesar really changed?’
If I asked him directly, Cesar, knowing him, would probably just frown and dismiss it as a ridiculous question.
“Meow.”
The cat’s meow snapped me out of my thoughts. It seemed like it was time for it to leave.
“Goodbye.”
I bid it farewell and closed the window after it disappeared.
Even after lying back down on the bed, I felt restless.
‘I wish he had called me Lily.’
It was absurd that I was only bothered by that, not the question of whether he would confine or kill me, as if I had already forgotten about it.
And as the night deepened, I recalled the times when I used to sleep by his side.
‘I should have asked if he was sleeping well… He must have been very confused after his bird disappeared. And he took care of me when I was sick.’
Even though I knew I would inevitably have to oppose Cesar since I had sided with the Crown Prince, I kept recalling the good times and his kind side.
I felt pathetic, a worthless being who couldn’t even change Cesar’s heart and could only beg for her life to be spared.
‘Wouldn’t it be nice if he loved me instead of Sylvia?’
With that absurd wish, I closed my eyes.
Cesar sat by his bedside, looking out at the darkened window. He was used to sleepless nights after Lily, his bird, ran away.
“But I saw her today.”
He had seen her up close. He hadn’t expected to see her, but he had been happy to see her small head when he entered the room.
A smile touched his lips as he recalled her apologizing profusely, as if she had committed a grave sin, after he playfully teased her with magic.
“I truly have a bad personality.”
Cesar muttered to himself and looked at the empty birdcage.
“Lily. No, Valerie.”
When he asked her name, she gave him a name that still held traces of “Lily.” He had thought she had abandoned even the name he always called her and run away. The realization that she hadn’t unknowingly eased the anger he had been feeling.
Sylvia did come to mind when Lily said she liked the name someone called her. He would have been a little hurt if it was a name Sylvia gave her, but he knew it wasn’t, thanks to her pointedly calling him a “bad owner.”
“You must have been flustered today, but I was also very anxious. I hope you understand…”
He felt a surge of annoyance, thinking of Lily, who must be at peace.
So he subtly tested her, observing her reaction. He could easily see her flustered expression.
She was so bad at hiding her emotions.
“You said you wouldn’t run away.”
He recalled her nodding at his warning, her clear eyes blinking.
Well, he had planned on having someone watch her anyway. She wouldn’t be able to run away even if she wanted to.
“And you said you wouldn’t go to anyone else… then why was that Spirit Summoner there?”
He had placed someone to watch that Spirit Summoner, so he knew his whereabouts. He didn’t like the way he was frequently visiting the Veronica County.
That Spirit Summoner had taken Lily without permission when she disappeared last time, and he had a bad feeling that he might take her again.
He could understand her going to Sylvia. No, actually, that also bothered him a little. But that Spirit Summoner, Heron Lovisiel…
He knew it was unlikely, but he felt like he would lose his temper if she disappeared with him again.
He was suppressing his anger and worrying about whether to confine her, anxious that she might disappear without a trace this time, while she…
“…Should I just bring her back to the Dukedom?”
He knew it would be problematic to bring Lily, now a human, to the Dukedom. The rumors and the issue of her accommodations…
But he recalled her soft skin, her warm touch, the way she bit her lip. Her overall cute appearance, with her large, clear eyes, stirred something within him.
“Cherish you and keep you by my side…”
His changing feelings, growing stronger with each passing day, made him think he might do something that would scare her away if he kept her close.
His worries about Cesar were overshadowed the next day by an invitation that arrived at the Veronica County, making his mind go blank.
The invitation was, of course, from the Seirthe Marquisate. The invitation, which mentioned her regret at not being able to talk much at the previous tea party, was clearly not innocent.
‘I didn’t expect the invitation to come so soon.’
And it wasn’t just a private invitation. Lady Cartlow, whom Sylvia had become close to at the last tea party, was also invited.
I glanced at Sylvia, and she seemed to be contemplating. She knew that Lady Seirthe’s approach wasn’t a good thing, since she had heard my warning.
But she seemed to be hesitant to refuse, since it was also a chance to meet Lady Cartlow, whom she had become friends with.
‘Prea is very skillful at manipulating people.’
She wasn’t called the flower of high society for nothing.
And even the maids were excitedly discussing the invitation from the Seirthe Marquisate.
“Lady Seirthe sent an invitation? She must have been disappointed that she couldn’t get close to Miss Sylvia at the last tea party.”
“You’re right. How about you try to become friends with her this time, Miss?”
The servants at the Veronica County felt sorry for Sylvia, who hadn’t been able to properly socialize with other noble ladies her age due to her childhood illness.
That’s why they were so enthusiastic, but…
‘That person is a villainess aiming for the Crown Prince’s hand.’
“What do you think, Valerie?”
All eyes were on me when Sylvia called my name.
I almost said it would be best to avoid her completely. But knowing Prea’s personality, she would surely come up with another scheme if this gentle approach didn’t work.
And Sylvia was also considering it because Lady Cartlow was also invited.
“…Why don’t you go?”
Sylvia would be careful since I had already warned her. And I wasn’t naive enough to think such things wouldn’t happen.
I smiled and racked my brain. Everything was so overwhelming.
“Sigh…”
“Why are you sighing?”
Sylvia, handing me a lemon sorbet, looked at me with concern.
“It’s nothing! Just…”
“Lily, it’s just the two of us here.”
“No, it’s just… I did suggest you attend the tea party hosted by Lady Seirthe, but I was wondering if you’re okay with it.”
It wouldn’t be good to refuse Prea, the flower of high society. I had learned at the Imperial Palace that constantly refusing invitations was considered rude among nobles.
But the more I thought about it, the more I worried about Sylvia having to interact with someone who clearly disliked her.