Episode 108
I thought about what I could do to make Cesar happy when he returned from the banquet. It would have been nice to make something for him now that I had two free hands, but…
‘These damn useless hands.’
I cursed, looking at my hands.
I wanted to make something for him, even if it was simple. But there weren’t many things I could make in a short amount of time, and even those were beyond my capabilities, with hands more useless than a bird’s wings.
It was late. He would return around dawn, and I had nothing prepared.
‘Well, I’m the gift. I can wait for him and greet him… would that be enough?’
“Sigh.”
Everything I had was given by Cesar, even my social status was created by him. I, a bird reincarnated as a human, didn’t have anything to give him.
I sat dejectedly and waited for Cesar. I didn’t know when he would return, but the only thing I could do, having prepared nothing, was to greet him.
‘…What did I give Cesar when I was a bird?’
I seemed to have a lot to give back then. Jewels, flowers…
But those jewels were also given to me by Cesar, and I doubted the wealthy Duke would be happy with a few jewels or simple flowers.
‘As a human, the best gift would be money.’
But he was overflowing with money. A small amount wouldn’t even make a dent.
‘Well, what can a penniless person like me give him? It’s better than giving him something cheap and seeing him throw it away.’
I was listlessly watching for the carriage when I saw the lights in the distance, outside the Dukedom’s gates.
The gloomy expression on my face vanished, replaced by a bright smile, and I went to greet Cesar. Since it was early dawn, there were fewer servants than usual.
Cesar got out of the carriage, and I ran towards him.
“Why aren’t you asleep yet?”
His indifferent tone, as if it were just another day, deflated me.
I had waited for him all night, without even changing my clothes.
“…I thought you would like it if I welcomed you.”
I pouted and replied.
‘I waited all this time… what a disappointing response.’
I felt a little sullen but decided not to sulk; Cesar must be tired after attending the banquet. So I erased the pout from my face and was about to go inside with him when,
He suddenly lifted me into his arms.
“W-what are you doing?!”
As I was startled by the sudden change in height, Cesar said,
“Lily, you said I seem to be in a good mood, but you don’t. Am I wrong?”
I saw his eyes crinkling playfully. He kept lifting me and holding me close, making my heart race.
“That’s not true…”
“It seems like it is. Why would you be in a bad mood? You asked me to wait for a proper confession.”
He suddenly brought that up.
“I’m not upset about that! Hey!”
“You are upset. It’s late; let’s go inside so we don’t disturb the knights training in the training grounds.”
I nodded, having no way to refuse. The servants bowed their heads and made way for us.
Arriving at my room, not Cesar’s bedroom, I blankly waited for him to put me down.
I felt the soft bed beneath me.
“So why were you in a bad mood?”
As Cesar asked gently, now that we were alone, the words I couldn’t say before came pouring out.
“Just…”
“Just?”
“I waited… and I wasn’t happy with your reaction…”
I wanted to die of embarrassment after saying that. What a childish reason.
“I’m sorry. I-I think I was being a bit… sulky… So please forget what I just said.”
I knew my face was burning, even without looking in the mirror.
As I kept my head lowered, Cesar gently lifted my chin, his luminous purple eyes meeting mine.
“There’s no way I wouldn’t be happy. I came back early because I was worried you might be waiting for me without sleeping. You used to do that when you were a bird.”
“Th-that’s true…”
He took my fidgeting hand.
“If you were upset because of me, please don’t be anymore, Lily.”
“I’m not upset anymore.”
“Really? That’s good.”
He smiled and then sat down beside me instead of returning to his bedroom. It seemed like he wanted to make sure I was okay.
I waved my hands dismissively.
“I’m fine now. You can go back. You should get some sleep.”
“I can’t sleep anyway.”
Hearing his nonchalant reply, I hesitated. At this rate, Cesar would spend the rest of the night working without any sleep.
“Should I sleep beside you tonight? I always did when I was a bird, but I hadn’t thought about it since becoming human…”
I stopped mid-sentence. His face was now right in front of mine.
“As a bird? The servants will find it strange.”
His eyes shimmered with an unreadable emotion. It felt like he was about to cross a line.
My throat suddenly felt dry.
“But I can’t sleep beside you as a human.”
I barely managed to finish my sentence and exhaled shakily. My body instinctively recoiled as he leaned closer. The atmosphere felt charged.
“Why not?”
His question, whispered in my ear, was seductive. His fingers, toying with the ribbon of my dress, were a clear sign of his intentions.
I felt like a ripe fruit before a hungry beast. If I gave the wrong answer, I would be devoured whole.
‘Don’t be swayed, Lily…’
I gulped, barely managing to regain my composure, and pushed Cesar away.
“Not yet…”
“Why?”
“Because… you haven’t properly confessed yet. So we can’t do this.”
“I was just saying we could sleep together. What were you thinking?”
His smiling face was calm, and his innocent blinking eyes almost made me think I had truly misunderstood.
But I knew what would happen if I was swayed by his words.
“Don’t lie. Do you know how many times I’ve been fooled by you, Cesar?”
Just sleep together? In all the romance fantasy novels I’ve read, there was never a case where it was just sleeping together!
This was a statistically proven fact.
Cesar, as if devising another tactic, tilted his head and asked,
“Can’t you pretend to be fooled, knowing it’s a lie?”
I was speechless.
I realized, yet again, that I was weak to his charms. Seeing Cesar looking at me with pleading eyes and a slightly downcast expression, my resolve wavered.
‘Should I just do it?’
I shook my head, pushing away the thought.
‘Do what?! I don’t even know what will happen at the hunting competition!’
Well, that’s true. I don’t know what will happen at the hunting competition. Uh…
My racing heart slowly calmed down.
Cesar, seeing me lost in thought, silently took off my shoes and placed them neatly under the bed. I hadn’t even realized my shoes were off.
Then, I felt the soft bed against my back as he gently pushed me down.
‘Huh?’
I looked up and saw his face.
His long, slender fingers caressed my cheek. I closed my eyes at his touch, and he spoke,
“Shouldn’t you change your clothes and wash up, Lily?”
Come to think of it, I was still wearing the elaborate dress from the banquet, and Cesar was also still in his formal attire.
“…Yes.”
Just as I thought he was saying that because he was about to leave, his next words shook my resolve.
“I can help you. If you’ll allow me.”
His considerate question, acknowledging my hesitation, made my lips part slightly. I couldn’t find a reason to refuse him.
And I was weak.
“It’s late, Lily. Too late to go back to my bedroom.”
His whispered words, like a final blow, shattered my remaining resistance.
I gave in to my instincts, pulled him down by his collar, and kissed him. His eyes widened for a moment and then closed.
His laughter enveloped me. My unquenched thirst was slowly being satisfied.
It was a deliberate seduction, too obvious to be considered a trick, and I willingly gave him my breath. I, who enjoyed everything about him, was already completely smitten.
Poke, poke.
I poked Cesar’s cheek. He was fast asleep.
I woke up feeling refreshed, without any pain, and wondered if it was a dream, but seeing Cesar sleeping soundly beside me, I knew it wasn’t.
He must have cast a healing spell on me while I was unconscious.
‘He’s showing no signs of waking up. Is he finally enjoying a good night’s sleep?’
He was sleeping soundly beside me, as if his insomnia was gone.
I had things to ask him about the banquet.
I had glossed over it because he had arrived late and seemed preoccupied with other things, but I was curious.
As I waited for him to wake up, he suddenly pulled me closer. I let myself be pulled, touched his arm which was wrapped around my waist, and asked,
“Are you awake?”
There was no response.
Seriously, when is he going to wake up?