Episode 57
Thinking it was naturally about her, I replied with a smile,
“Yes, what is it?”
“That person has a close friend, and there’s another person they just became friends with.”
‘Wait, besides me, the only friend Sylvia has is… Cesar.’
I quickly realized that this story was related to Cesar.
The night my ears turned bright red came to mind.
Cesar had immediately left for the County to exterminate the monsters. And I hadn’t seen him because I had stayed in my room, pretending to be tired, until he left.
So I had been trying to bury that memory,
I smiled awkwardly and nodded. There must be a reason why Sylvia was bringing this up so indirectly.
“But for some reason, one of them seems very uncomfortable.”
This must be about me.
“And that person tried to be considerate, but due to unavoidable circumstances, they’ll have to frequently bring that friend in front of the uncomfortable friend.”
That meant Cesar would be visiting the Veronica County often.
What should I do? That was a bit problematic.
My heart, which had just started to flutter, wasn’t a good sign in this uncertain situation. Moreover, I had come here as a maid because I had something to do.
But if I was distracted by seeing Cesar, I might miss important events or make mistakes.
As I waited for Sylvia to continue, her quiet voice reached my ears,
“But, you see, if they do this, will that friend dislike that person?”
‘Huh? What does that mean?’
I blinked, wondering if I had misheard. Sylvia, looking a bit distressed, clasped her hands together anxiously.
“W-what do you think, Valerie?”
She was even stuttering.
Sylvia seemed more afraid of me distancing myself from her than I had thought. I had no reason to dislike Sylvia in the first place.
‘Hmm. How should I phrase this to ease her worries?’
I chose my words carefully, looking at her anxious eyes. I suppressed the emotions welling up within me and replied,
“I don’t think so. Why would they dislike them? If I were in their shoes, I wouldn’t feel any dislike.”
“Really?”
Her clear eyes widened, and her tense lips softened into a relieved smile.
Seeing her like that, I felt how kind and gentle she was. She cherished her relationships with people regardless of their status and worried about such trivial things, afraid I might dislike her.
And here I was, trying to stand by and watch the hardships she would face, accepting it as her fate.
The guilt I had been trying to ignore suddenly rose in my throat like a thorn.
“Then, may I ask you something?”
“What is it?”
Sylvia’s voice, now free from worries, was bright. It made me feel a little anxious.
I slowly spoke,
“Miss Sylvia, if someone you considered a friend… ignored the pain and hardships you were about to face, simply saying it was fate, could you forgive them?”
The world of the novel was kind to the heroine, but also cruel. It gave her trials and forced her to overcome them.
And Sylvia did.
She had been happy to make a friend her age and treated her sincerely, but she was betrayed. She woke up on a ship after being kidnapped and was heartbroken by the betrayal, but she used the Spirit Arts she had learned to escape.
As a result, her abilities would grow stronger, and the villainess would be removed from the stage, a typical series of events in a romance fantasy novel. But it didn’t mean Sylvia wouldn’t be hurt. She would shed tears.
That’s why I waited for her answer. I had never been truly honest with her, despite calling her my friend.
“I haven’t thought about it before, but I think I would forgive them. If it’s a predetermined fate, you never know what might happen if you interfere. Even I would hesitate out of fear. Even if it meant something bad happening to my friend.”
Sylvia’s words, surprisingly realistic for someone who seemed to only talk about ideals, made my heart feel heavy.
Then, Sylvia gave me another answer.
“But I think I would still act, despite my better judgment. My mind might know what’s right, but my heart wouldn’t. I hate seeing my loved ones get hurt.”
“…”
“What about you, Valerie? Could you forgive that person?”
I slowly shook my head at her question.
“…No. I don’t think I could forgive them.”
There was no way I could forgive myself. I had never been honest with her, despite smiling brightly and calling her my friend.
I had deceived her from the beginning while accepting her kindness. I hated myself for that, so I didn’t think I could be forgiven.
“Miss Sylvia.”
“Yes?”
Sylvia, with her usual gentle and kind expression, smiled.
“What if I had a secret I was hiding from you?”
Sylvia replied,
“It’s okay. We’re friends. You can tell me when you’re ready.”
And she was worried about such trivial things, afraid I might dislike her.
Her endlessly considerate attitude touched my heart. I realized I shouldn’t hide anything anymore from Sylvia, who had saved my life and treated me as a precious friend.
“Even if it means I’ve met you before?”
Sylvia froze, seemingly surprised by my question. Then, her chair screeched as she stood up abruptly.
“We’ve met before? I didn’t know!”
Startled by her flustered reaction, as if apologetic, I exclaimed,
“N-no! That’s not what I meant!”
“Then?”
“Well… when you saw me, didn’t anyone come to mind? Someone small and cute…”
Like a bird.
My face flushed, embarrassed to describe myself like that.
From the moment we met, Sylvia had been treating me as if she recognized me, stroking my hair and giving me nuts. She would surely figure it out if I continued like this.
“I did feel a strange sense of familiarity. I wanted to take care of you and be close to you whenever I saw you.”
Sylvia’s eyes scanned my face.
“It’s strange. Like you said, Valerie, you felt so familiar and comfortable that I immediately asked you to work at our mansion.”
Sylvia stepped closer and placed her hand on my head. She stroked my hair and then poked my cheek.
“Yes. Like I said before, you remind me of the bird I looked after for a while.”
She gently cupped my face in her hands, her eyes crinkling with a nostalgic look.
“And your names are similar, too. Valerie. Lily.”
“What if…”
“Yes?”
“What if I told you I was that bird? Would you believe me?”
“Pfft. I didn’t know you were so playful, Valerie.”
I had mustered all my courage to tell her, but Sylvia didn’t seem to believe me. I rolled my eyes, wondering how to prove it.
Then, Sylvia said something unexpected.
“Lily is currently staying at the Duke Clovis’s villa. That bird is very precious to me. I might be angry if you joke about being Lily, even if you’re Valerie.”
Sylvia was frowning, trying to look serious, but it wasn’t scary at all. The softhearted Sylvia had completely fallen for my bad owner’s lie.
Sylvia, and…
Cesar, too.
I had spent the most time with them, yet the ones who recognized me were the Crown Prince, whom I didn’t want to be involved with, and Heron, whom I had only met a few times.
I couldn’t help but feel a little hurt, even though it wasn’t Sylvia’s fault.
“Why don’t you believe me, Sylvia, even though I finally told you?”
Sylvia paused, hearing the words I used to say inwardly as Lily slip out.
“Will you believe me if I show you my bird form?”
I had completely forgotten to address her as “Miss,” despite knowing I should act like a proper maid. The owner of this mansion should have scolded me, but Sylvia, looking at me with uncertainty, just nodded.
I looked around, glancing at the rain pouring outside.
“Are you sure no one will come in here?”
Sylvia quickly locked the door and drew the curtains. Seeing her eyes sparkle with anticipation, I couldn’t help but smile.
My life had been a series of threats and dangers, but I felt at ease at the County’s mansion—except when Cesar visited.
I closed my eyes and focused on returning to my bird form. I felt my body shrink, and my vision darkened.
Wiggle. I couldn’t fly inside the long, flowing dress, so I wriggled my small body and squeezed my way out of a sleeve.
“Oh my.”
I saw Sylvia covering her mouth with her hands. I ruffled my head feathers and fluttered over, landing on Sylvia’s lap.
“Lily…!”
“Beep.”
‘See? Do you believe me now?’
As I proudly puffed out my chest and wagged my tail feathers, a soft hand stroked my head.
“You became human? Then you really understood what I was saying before?”
“Beep!”
‘Of course.’
Sylvia’s face brightened at my nod.
She looked at me curiously, examining me from every angle. Then, as if realizing something, she asked,
“But Lily, why are you here? Becoming human is one thing, but did you run away from the Dukedom? You shouldn’t have. Everyone will be worried.”
“Chirp?”
‘“One thing?” Is the surprise of a bird becoming human that insignificant? Why are you focusing on me running away?’
I saw Sylvia looking at me with a slightly stern expression. I didn’t understand her point at all.