Episode 12
One of the men, who had approached us, lowered his robe and spoke with an exasperated look.
“Heron, where have you been? Weren’t you told not to act alone?”
“I know. That’s why I left at the right time.”
The brown-haired man grumbled in response to Heron’s words.
“The right time? You hid as you pleased during the Emperor’s birthday celebration, too. And what’s with that bird? Are you suddenly raising a bird?”
Suddenly singled out, I hid behind Heron, startled by his gruff tone.
“Beep…”
‘I’m a bird regretting this outing due to various hardships…’
“It’s a bird I’m looking after for a while. You scared it with your gruff expression.”
“Ha, I see you have time to dawdle with a bird? And what’s wrong with my face!”
I thought all Spirit Summoners would be quiet and gentle like Heron, but his thundering voice hurt my ears.
They surely didn’t know that Heron, who had been dragged here out of obligation, had decided to stay in the Empire because he liked it.
Indeed, he had a lot to do back in his home country. Since Heron was so carefree and acted on his whims, it must have been a struggle for them.
‘Sigh. Why does he act so recklessly? I’m not like that…’
Well, I am like that. As I had a moment of self-reflection, he whispered to me,
“Lily, I’m sorry, but could you entertain yourself for a bit?”
“Beep.”
I nodded in agreement, but I sighed, sensing that this outing wouldn’t yield any clues about my true nature. I’d rather go back to the mansion and enjoy a nap.
As I fluttered around Heron, looking for something to do, I caught a glimpse of familiar blonde hair through a window.
“Chirp?”
‘Huh? That looks like Sylvia.’
I glanced at Heron and, seeing that their conversation seemed like it would take a while, slowly approached the window. Honestly, I didn’t even want to watch what looked like a parent and child arguing about not wanting to go home.
The place where I had glimpsed Sylvia was a luxurious-looking dessert shop. I could vaguely make out a large sign boasting that it was established by the former Head Pastry Chef of the Imperial Palace.
As I landed on the windowsill of the high-end dessert shop, I saw Sylvia’s face. Happy to see her after so long, I fluttered inside through the window. And as I was about to approach Sylvia,
I saw an unfamiliar woman sitting across from her.
‘Ah, were they having tea time together? But in the novel, Sylvia didn’t have any close noble lady friends.’
“…Even though you don’t even like the Duke.”
“Chirp?”
‘This conversation is strange…’
“I don’t understand what you’re saying, Lady.”
“You know! You know how much I’ve admired the Duke!”
Come to think of it, Sylvia often had conflicts with other noble ladies because of her close relationship with Cesar. And now, with rumors of her and the Crown Prince circulating, her behavior was understandable.
Sylvia replied in a cold tone, unlike her usual self,
“Why should I care?”
The woman’s face flushed red, and her hand holding the teacup trembled.
‘I didn’t know Sylvia was the type to be so blunt. The other lady is furious because of what Sylvia said.’
And she even raised her teacup.
‘Huh? Wait. Why is she lifting the teacup? It looks like she’s about to throw the tea in Sylvia’s face.’
Suddenly realizing what was about to happen, I flew between them in surprise.
“Beep!”
As I quickly flew in front of the woman about to throw the tea, she noticed me, startled, and fell backward.
The teacup slipped from her hand and rolled on the floor. With a crash, the teacup shattered, scattering tea and shards.
“Kyaa! A bird… A bird flew in!”
“Lily?”
Sylvia blinked in surprise and then stood up.
I flew weakly towards her with my soaked wings. Soft hands enveloped me.
“Beep…”
I wondered how many times I had gotten wet today. As I dejectedly leaned against Sylvia’s hand, she spoke with a distressed tone,
“Lily. Why did you get splashed instead of me…?”
Warm hands stroked me. I felt the refreshing scent of Sylvia and the sensation of being gently dried with a soft handkerchief.
“Chirp.”
‘But you didn’t get splashed, right?’
I smiled and rubbed my head against Sylvia’s hand.
“Lily…”
Sylvia, who had been silently watching, carefully placed me on the tea table. Then, she picked up the teapot on the table and approached the fallen woman.
The tea inside the teapot sloshed and swayed. The bewildered woman was raising her voice, complaining to a passing employee.
“Hey, how do you manage this place? A dirty bird just…”
Splash.
Before the woman could finish her sentence, tea poured down on her head like a waterfall. Her dress was soaked, making a squishy sound.
Startled by the scene, I covered my beak with my wing.
‘What’s going on?’
Everyone froze, staring at Sylvia and the young noblewoman. After pouring out the remaining tea in the teapot, Sylvia quietly said,
“…I’m sorry. My hand slipped.”
Sylvia’s apologetic bow was perfectly polite. The noblewoman, thoroughly enraged by the tea bath, retorted sharply,
“Ha, how absurd. Even a three-year-old could tell that was intentional.”
“Weren’t you about to throw tea at me, Lady?”
“Th-that was because my hand slipped…! N-no, it wasn’t because it slipped… Ugh.”
As if realizing her excuse was the same as Sylvia’s earlier words, the noblewoman clamped her mouth shut. Sylvia’s usually gentle and kind voice turned cold.
“It’s your prerogative to misunderstand, Lady. But how do you intend to compensate for my bird getting hurt because of your actions?”
“…Are you saying that filthy bird is Lady Veronica’s?”
“Beep!”
‘She keeps calling me filthy. I’m not filthy! I’m a clean bird that smells nice!’
I was already upset about being splashed with tea, and she was making it worse.
Angered, I shook my wet, fluffy body and flapped my wings. I approached the woman, who was sitting on the floor and pointing at me, and flew around her.
“Eek…! G-go away!”
“Chirp!”
‘I’m not going anywhere. Take back what you said. I bathe more often now than I did when I was human!’
“Beep!”
“Like owner, like bird!”
“Chirp?”
‘What are you saying? Don’t insult Sylvia. You can insult Cesar, but not Sylvia!’
As I was flapping my wings and fighting diligently, Sylvia reached out her hand as if to stop me, and a refreshing energy enveloped my body.
“Beep!”
‘No! I haven’t gotten my revenge yet…!’
My soaked body dried, and I was gently pulled by a strong wind and placed in someone’s hand.
“Lily. While I was having a conversation, what kind of trouble were you causing again?”
Heron spoke with an exasperated tone and pressed down on my beak.
“Chirp?”
‘Are you done talking already? You could have taken longer.’
I flapped my wings a few times in disappointment.
“So what happened? You suddenly flew inside and started fighting with a woman here. The Duke must be exhausted.”
“Beep!”
I chirped loudly, feeling wronged by Heron’s words. I was only guilty of flying over because I was happy to see Sylvia. That woman started the fight by calling me dirty.
I shook my long tail feathers and turned my head away, expressing my frustration. Just then, a questioning voice came from behind.
“Lily? That person is…”
Heron, whom Sylvia was pointing at, smiled and greeted her.
“Hello, Lady Veronica.”
Sitting in Heron’s hand, I broke out in a cold sweat.
“Chirp…”
‘Uh oh. This is bad.’
This was the dessert shop run by the former Imperial Pastry Chef. In other words, it was in the heart of the capital, a hotspot.
And here, I had flown in and attacked that woman, and Sylvia had dramatically poured tea on her. Rumors spread fast. It would reach Cesar’s ears in no time.
I could picture Cesar clutching me with a menacing aura. I could almost hear a gentle voice whispering in my ear,
‘I heard you caused trouble today. And that guy who’s been hanging around Sylvia was there too…’
Luminous purple eyes darkened. Crack. The sound of something breaking was vivid.
‘My bird seems eager to die.’
“Beep!”
‘I don’t want to die!’
I had to return to the Dukedom quickly. There weren’t just one or two pink birds, so if I went back to the mansion now and played dumb, I might be okay.
‘The bird that was here today wasn’t me. Wasn’t me.’
Chanting that like a mantra, I cautiously observed the situation. I had to interrupt their conversation and disappear with Heron quickly.
But I couldn’t hear their conversation continuing. And both of their gazes were fixed on me.
The atmosphere felt strange.
“Lily, do you have another owner besides the Duke?”
“Lily, since when have you known him?”
‘What’s going on now…?’
Sylvia and Heron’s voices were strangely cold. I broke out in a cold sweat for a different reason. It was as if they felt betrayed, like they thought they were the only one close to me, but then found out I was chirping all over the place…
But isn’t that what happens when male leads get jealous over the female lead?
‘I’m… I’m… just an ordinary bird!’
“Lily. I won’t be angry, so tell me. Okay?”
“Yes, tell us, Lily. You even refused to become my bird. I thought you only had one owner…”
Was it just my imagination, or did Heron’s tone sound sharp?
“Chirp…”
‘…Well, you see. We know each other. We know each other, but…’
“Chirp.”
‘Lily is a bird, so she doesn’t know anything.’
Bro she is cooked 🪦😭
No, deep fried