Episode 77
“Do you have to phrase it like that?”
The emotions that had filled me fizzled out. I was annoyed by my mean owner’s words, yet again.
But Cesar wasn’t finished.
“And you’re causing trouble by creating a mess.”
I flinched.
‘Does he know I destroyed the building in the Imperial Palace?’
“You haven’t changed at all.”
His hand, now close, stroked my hair. My heart started pounding again.
Before, when I was small, his fingers were enough to pet me. But now, his large hand gently stroked my hair.
‘It tickles.’
My heart thumped like the rattling of the carriage. The words tumbled out of my mouth,
“I wouldn’t be upset that you like me as a human. I was actually scared that you would only want me as a bird…”
“Lily. Or Valerie, now, I suppose. You comforted me because you were you. So you don’t have to be a bird to stay by my side. I’m sorry for scaring you.”
The words I had longed to hear came from his lips. I pinched my cheek, unable to believe it. I felt the stinging sensation.
I had been hoping, deep down, that he might forgive me and let me stay, seeing his increasing kindness.
But I couldn’t rely on such uncertainty; my life was at stake. Knowing how deep his love for Sylvia was, I was even more afraid.
Embarrassed, I blurted out,
“…I’m the one who should be sorry, Your Grace.”
I was sorry. For running away from such a kind owner. For leaving him to spend the nights alone. For turning my back on him, even though I knew the sincerity he only showed to me.
“I’m sorry for breaking my promise, for making you lonely again. I thought you would kill me. I didn’t expect you to be so kind.”
“I told you to say that at the Dukedom.”
His fingers gently wiped the tears that had welled up in my eyes. His breath, so close, made my toes curl.
“You’re still a crybaby, even as a human.”
“N-no! I’m not… a crybaby.”
I felt tears welling up. If I cried and ruined the dress Sylvia lent me…
“Don’t cry.”
“I-I’m not crying.”
I stammered. He kept wiping my eyes and staring intently, making it hard to hold back my tears.
Then, Cesar sighed and spoke, his words striking me like lightning.
“Stop. Don’t cry.”
‘Stop?’
His uncharacteristic words sent shivers down my spine. My tears retreated.
“A-are you really Your Grace?”
“The book said this would make you stop crying.”
“No… it’s just… you saying that is so strange! And that’s something you say to children!”
“Well, seeing you stop, it seems like the book was right.”
His eyes softened. A quiet chuckle, like a gentle breeze, reached my ears.
“Lily, why don’t you come back to the Dukedom? And don’t respond to these kinds of summons.”
He flicked his fingers, and the note I had hidden disappeared as if burned by fire.
“But if I don’t respond, Sylvia might be in trouble. And you wouldn’t want that. Because you… love her.”
My chest ached as I spoke. I felt sad, unable to control my feelings for him even though I knew he loved Sylvia.
His elegant fingers poked my cheek, like playing a piano. I was trying to compose myself, but my bad owner kept teasing me, and I shook my head, trying to push his hand away.
But he firmly held my head, preventing me from looking away.
“She’s precious to me. But you’re more precious, Lily.”
“…A tiny, insignificant bird?”
“Yes. Precious both as a bird and as a human. Do you have a problem with that?”
I quickly shook my head. Cesar’s eyebrows twitched slightly; he seemed displeased.
“And you think I can’t handle a mere Marquess’ daughter?”
“But the political situation is complicated. His Highness the Crown Prince and His Highness the Second Prince are in a power struggle, and the Seirthe Marquisate is one of the Crown Prince’s core factions…”
I stopped mid-sentence. This wasn’t something I should say if he was planning to side with the Second Prince.
“You even know about such complicated matters?”
He kept interrupting me whenever I tried to compose myself. I replied sullenly,
“Do you think I stayed at the Imperial Palace for nothing?”
Actually, I had been scammed by the Tower Master and stayed there, clueless. That damn Tower Master! I gnashed my teeth inwardly and continued,
“I know you’re planning to side with the Second Prince, but even so, to think you would so easily dispose of a Marquisate…”
“You think I would join forces with that shady bastard?”
“Don’t you?”
“I saw you coming out of the Second Prince’s palace. Did you discuss that with him then?”
His reaction was strange.
“Then why did you visit the Second Prince’s palace?”
“There’s no way the Crown Prince would let me into the Imperial Palace, so I went to the Second Prince to use him to find you and happened to see you there.”
Ah, I see… What?!
Chills ran down my arms as if I had encountered a ghost in the hallway on my way to the bathroom in the middle of the night.
‘How does he know where I am?! And they met after all.’
My nonexistent feathers stood on end. His low, menacing tone made me dizzy.
“So don’t run away. You can’t escape my grasp.”
“I’m not running away. No, how could I even think of running away… I’m terrified.”
My owner’s obsession was truly terrifying. His menacing aura made me feel like I was in a thriller movie.
“Then is that settled? I’m waiting for an answer.”
“…You’re not going to side with the Second Prince, right?”
“I wouldn’t associate with such a shady bastard.”
‘Birds of a feather…’
In the novel, he had readily joined forces with the Second Prince, blinded by his desire to possess Sylvia. His definitive tone was amusing.
“But I can’t go back yet because I’m in debt. I destroyed an Imperial building, so I have to stay by the Crown Prince’s side as compensation. I’m currently at Sylvia’s mansion because… I’m worried someone suspicious like Lady Seirthe might harm her.”
“So it was you who caused that incident. The Imperial Palace bombing, as they call it, is quite the talk of the town.”
Ugh, he was hitting a sore spot. Because of that, I had to work for the Crown Prince without any reward.
Since Cesar wouldn’t pay off my debt, I either had to somehow get it waived after Sylvia became Empress or just stick to the Imperial Palace and live there.
“Knowing the Crown Prince’s personality, he wouldn’t let you be. The fact that he’s being so lenient means he must have realized you’re special.”
“Have you heard of divine power? That’s the power I used to defeat the monster.”
“A bird with divine power, not a monster. You surprise me every time we meet.”
His eyes, filled with intrigue, showed his fascination.
Come to think of it, my heart has been pounding this whole time. And he’s so close, we’re alone in a carriage, and… he even said I was more precious to him than Sylvia? He did? To me? To Cesar?
Uh… uh…?
“Wait a minute. Did you just say I’m more precious to you than Sylvia?”
I hadn’t fully processed his unbelievable words earlier. I had just glossed over it, seeing Cesar’s displeased expression.
“I did. Why?”
‘Because it’s just now sinking in!’
Come to think of it, he deliberately sent Sylvia away in a different carriage. Why? Even if he had something important to discuss with me, Sylvia knew I was a bird. There was no reason for them to be separated.
Oh no. A heat crept up from my fingertips, making my face burn.
‘Don’t get the wrong idea, Lily. It’s just a familial affection between an owner and a bird.’
I recalled the tyrants and villains from countless romance fantasy novels. No matter how ruthless they were, casually taking lives, they always cherished the animals they kept.
‘Yes! The dual nature of valuing animals over human lives!’
“Did I do well as your pet bird? We’re like family, a strong bond, right?”
“I’m not familiar with familial affection. I’ve never experienced it.”
I had made a terrible misstep. I should be apologizing for running away, yet I had brought up his painful past.
“I-I’m sorry!”
“It’s fine. You already cried while apologizing, crybaby bird.”
‘Crybaby bird?!’
“I’m human now. Why do you keep treating me like a pet bird?!”
“You’re the one who keeps referring to yourself as a pet bird. I understand what you mean by a family-like bond. The feelings you elicited from me, when you were just a bird, must be the comfort one receives from a companion animal.”
The carriage lurched. It seemed to have hit a bump. My backside lifted off the seat, and I instinctively leaned forward.
I heard a heartbeat, growing louder. It wasn’t mine. I felt fabric against my hand.
“The carriage is shaking quite a bit. The road isn’t usually this rough.”
His voice, so close, was vivid. Seeing me frozen, Cesar straightened me up. I felt his firm chest against my hand.
‘Eek!’
I bit my lip, stifling a scream.
“If you were a bird, you’d be rolling around like a ball. But you’re not.”
His hand covered mine. He traced my long fingers and my neatly manicured, pink nails.
“I’m not sure what kind of feelings you evoke in me now. You’re precious, but it feels different.”
“W-well, it’s natural to feel that way when your family suddenly changes. It feels unfamiliar and strange…”
I didn’t even know what I was saying. I was just flustered, wanting to hide my pounding heart and burning face.