Episode 16
“Lily. I was worried, but I’m glad you’re back safe.”
I rubbed my face against Lenny’s shoulder as he brought me back with my recovered jewel.
“Beep…”
‘I’m sorry for making you worry. And I was worried about losing the jewel, so thank you for finding it.’
After eating, I went around the mansion apologizing. I heard that everyone had stopped what they were doing and searched for me.
I thought no one would care about someone like me.
The people of the Clovis Dukedom cared for me more than I thought. But I had caused them concern by going out without permission.
Determined not to do that again, I returned to my new residence after apologizing to the Duke’s knights.
“Beep!”
‘I’m home!’
I greeted the empty room and fluttered into my cage.
My new residence was Cesar’s bedroom. It was an exceptionally clean and stark room, just like him. It somehow reminded me of the annex.
Entering the cage, I could finally relax.
“Beep…”
I had been busy going around and apologizing. I thought of Sylvia, who must have been troubled seeing me asleep. I shouldn’t forget to apologize to her when we meet next time.
I patted my stiff shoulders and took a deep breath, feeling a little more comfortable. Then, a sudden thought made the single feather sticking up on my head sway back and forth.
‘I was worried about you.’
“Chirp.”
‘Why did Cesar say that?’
My owner, who always treated me like I was insignificant and spoke harshly, had become a little strange. Normally, he would have been furious. It wouldn’t have been surprising if he had killed me on the spot.
“Chirp…”
I was confused, seeing him act so differently from the Cesar in the book. His usually expressionless face, now with a smile, seemed to linger before my eyes.
‘Could I really melt Cesar’s heart, like Sylvia said?’
I stared blankly at my beak. And at my protruding white belly and pink wings.
“Beep. Chirp.”
‘Sigh. What can a little bird who can’t even talk do? I should just appease him and prepare to escape when I become human. But… will I really become human again?’
My body was tired from hopping around and apologizing. Lately, I had been feeling increasingly sleepy.
Thinking I would see Cesar when I woke up, I closed my eyes.
It was dark when I regained consciousness. I quickly got up, shook my feathers, and checked if Cesar had returned.
But the bed was empty.
“Chirp?”
‘Cesar isn’t back yet? It’s really dark outside.’
I tilted my head. When I was in the greenhouse, he didn’t visit this late.
“…Beep, Beep.”
I chirped softly to keep myself awake while waiting for Cesar. I remembered his words about putting me in the monster cage.
Well, I had slept well and felt refreshed, and I was confident I could greet Cesar whenever he came.
Tick-tock, tick-tock. The sound of the clock ticking echoed in the room.
“Beep…”
‘He’s too late.’
I started to worry. I wondered if I had grown attached to Cesar, as the thought of leaving the bedroom to look for him crossed my mind.
‘It’s bad for your health to stay up late. When is he coming?’
After waiting for a long time, I heard the door creak open.
Soon, familiar silver hair came into view.
“Beep!”
‘Cesar, is that you?’
As I blinked and looked at Cesar, he walked towards me.
“You were waiting for me without sleeping, Lily?”
“Beep.”
‘Of course. You said you’d put me in the monster cage if I was asleep, so how could I sleep?’
I grumbled, but it was also a reflection of my regret for going out without permission.
“Seeing you greet me like this, it seems you’ve reflected on your actions. There’s no need to put you in the monster cage.”
“Chirp.”
‘Of course. I have no intention of going to a place like that.’
I nodded.
I fluttered onto his shoulder and, as always, started chatting.
“Beep. Chirp.”
‘I went around the mansion apologizing to everyone today. What did you do today? Did anything fun happen?’
But today, he didn’t respond, even though I was diligently trying to engage him in conversation.
Then, he changed the subject.
“The night air is still cold. You must be cold after being in the greenhouse.”
“Beep?”
I chuckled, enjoying the breeze. It was a cool night breeze, rather than cold. And I had my fluffy feathers to keep me warm.
However, I was worried about Cesar. Staying up this late because of work would be detrimental to his health.
But he showed no signs of going to sleep. Instead, he was looking out the window.
Sensing something was amiss, I stared at Cesar. He spoke.
“…I intend to wait until sunrise. So, sleepy bird, go to sleep.”
“Chirp?”
‘Wait until sunrise?’
But Cesar had just come in and must be tired. Worried that he wasn’t getting any sleep, I rubbed my face against his finger, which was stroking me.
He touched my beak.
“Beep!”
As I winced in surprise, Cesar smiled faintly. And as if it was nothing, he spoke casually,
“Since your residence is here now, I might as well tell you, I can’t sleep at night, Lily.”
“Chirp…?”
‘What do you mean?’
“So don’t wait for me until this late from now on. It’s troublesome to deal with you causing trouble while you’re tired.”
I listened quietly to Cesar and wondered why he couldn’t sleep.
I wondered if spies were infiltrating at night, but the Dukedom was heavily guarded by the knights. And even if they did get this far, they would surely be killed with a single gesture from Cesar.
I climbed down from his shoulder, where he was still looking out the window, and tugged on his sleeve with my beak.
“What are you doing?”
“Chirp!”
‘Follow me!’
Cesar looked puzzled by my actions, but he obediently followed my lead.
Soon, realizing I was leading him to the bed, Cesar asked in a puzzled voice,
“What do you want, Lily?”
“Chirp?”
‘What I want?’
At Cesar’s question, I confidently patted the bed with my wing.
“Chirp!”
‘Let’s sleep in the same bed today!’
As if understanding what I wanted, Cesar chuckled in disbelief.
“You’re full of surprises. You really are a strange bird.”
“Beep!”
‘A strange bird?!’
I hopped around on the bed in indignation, and Cesar let out a chuckle.
“Chirp.”
‘Just get in.’
I tugged on his shirt collar with my beak, trying to get him to lie down on the bed.
“Are you telling me to lie down?”
“Beep!”
‘Yes, my beak hurts, so lie down quickly!’
Cesar obediently complied. I smiled with satisfaction and then snuggled close to him as he lay there. Cesar was watching me, as if to see what I would do next.
I nestled my warm body close to his face and blinked, observing his reaction.
“Beep?”
‘How is it? Sleepy now?’
“…Are you doing this because I said I couldn’t sleep, offering to stay by my side?”
“Chir…p, Chirp…?”
It was true that I meant to stay by his side. But more precisely, I wanted to watch over Cesar’s night. I wondered if he couldn’t sleep because he was alone.
I had a feeling that the memories of being left alone in the annex after losing his parents were keeping Cesar awake.
When I was young, I was also terrified of sleeping alone. But when my mom held my hand, I could sleep soundly. Just having someone beside me made me feel safe and at ease.
Cesar’s bedroom was too lonely. It was desolate, like the neglected annex garden, as if no one would notice if he disappeared.
“Beep.”
‘So, at least until I leave, I’ll stay by your side as much as possible.’
I smiled, and Cesar quietly looked at me. His deep, luminous purple eyes, seen up close, reflected the pink bird smiling innocently.
The sound of his quietly beating heart and the warmth of his body were comforting.
After staring at me for a while, Cesar suddenly called my name.
“Lily.”
“Chirp?”
“…I hate the night.”
I knew that those carefully spoken words were a part of Cesar that he tried to hide. Contrary to his hesitant start, Cesar continued smoothly,
“Waiting for someone alone, being left alone, the darkness with no one to protect me.”
I hate it all so much.
His low, hollow voice, filled with emptiness, blended with the darkness of the night.
Amongst it all, only Cesar’s breath was close and tangible. Someone’s raw emotions resonated gently within me.
“…Beep.”
‘It’s okay, I hate the night too. Being alone is lonely. But if someone stays by your side, it’s comforting.’
I snuggled into Cesar’s embrace and curled up. A beating sound, whether it was my heart or Cesar’s, enveloped me.
I tried not to look at Cesar. Even though I knew I could see the hidden parts of him if I pieced together the fragments he revealed, I didn’t look.
The face a person, who had always hidden everything, reveals is so lonely and desolate that they wouldn’t want to show it to anyone.
But Cesar reached out and made me look at him. The wind blowing through the window ruffled his hair. His deep purple eyes, like scattered moonlight, shimmered with emotion.
“I haven’t been able to sleep at night for many years, but I think I’ll be able to sleep tonight, Lily.”
Instead of replying, I quietly closed his eyes with my small wings.
‘Yes. I hope you can sleep tonight. I might not be much help as a small bird, but it’s better than being alone, right?’
“Chirp.”
A soft chirp filled the bedroom.
I carefully settled on Cesar’s pillow and leaned against him. I felt his hand stroking me, but I wasn’t scared today.
Tonight, I didn’t think Cesar would harm me.
This is too cute for me 😭😩
😢😢😍