Episode 8
However, he was, above all, the head of the noble faction, so he had no intention of getting involved in that fight, no matter how much he disliked the Crown Prince.
Furthermore, the exponentially increasing monster problem, which was already a headache, was rumored to be connected to the Second Prince, making it even more unappealing.
“…But if Sylvia turns to that Crown Prince…”
The Tower Master had spoken playfully, but having known him since childhood, he couldn’t have missed Cesar’s true nature.
That’s why, despite always maintaining neutrality, the Tower Master had given him a warning disguised as advice, driven by personal feelings. A warning not to tread a path clearly destined for ruin.
“Even though he knows I won’t listen…”
If there was something he wanted, he had to have it. If there was a light he couldn’t possess, he had to grasp it somehow. That was his way.
As Cesar’s eyes darkened, he heard a chirping sound.
“Beep… Beep.”
“Are you awake?”
Cesar looked at Lily, thinking she had finally woken up, and then rubbed his temples in disbelief. The pink bird, its feathers ruffled from sleep, was peacefully twitching its feet and mumbling in its sleep.
“…How peaceful.”
Letting out a dry chuckle, Cesar examined Lily. As if having a good dream, Lily unconsciously rubbed her face against his hand.
“Beep… Beep…”
An insignificant, small, and vaguely identified bird. But it was the bird Sylvia had entrusted to him.
Since it was such a free-spirited bird, he had engraved a tracking spell on its jewel, but he hadn’t imagined it would actually disappear.
Moreover, seeing it injured, as if it had been attacked by something, made him strangely uneasy.
“…This is strangely irritating.”
If it was irritating, he could just get rid of it. But whether it was because of Sylvia’s request or a change in his heart, he didn’t feel like killing it.
He wondered if the insignificant bird had used some kind of trick.
“What did you do to me?”
But even when he poked its beak, the stupid bird just smiled in its sleep.
Cesar recalled the soft, pink feathers that had brushed against him and the jet-black eyes that had looked only at him. Come to think of it, he had become accustomed to visiting the bird before leaving the mansion and upon returning.
At first, he had simply been intrigued by a creature that greeted him like that.
‘Beep! Beep!’
The bird’s warmth against his hand was quite comforting. The fact that something was waiting for him made him feel strangely… something. He could almost hear its small, cheerful chirps in his ears.
“…Beep.”
The small bird’s drowsy chirp in its sleep reached Cesar. He stroked Lily’s head. Soft feathers brushed against his fingers.
The bird, sleeping soundly as if comfortable, smiled in its sleep as if pleased.
“Sleeping well, aren’t you?”
It felt foolish to ponder so deeply over a bird that was sleeping so soundly, as if oblivious to the world. If he liked something, he kept it by his side; if it bothered him, he got rid of it. That was his way, and he could do the same this time.
Strangely, it was the first time he hadn’t felt like killing something that irritated him… but he dismissed it as a trivial matter.
However, contrary to his thoughts, Cesar didn’t move the hand he had offered to Lily until the carriage reached the mansion.
Screech. As the carriage arrived at the mansion, he unconsciously thought he should ask his master for new materials related to birds.
A few days had passed since the Emperor’s birthday banquet.
“Beep.”
I spread my small wings and flew around the mansion. The maids passing by greeted me.
“Good morning, Lily. You seem to be in a good mood today.”
“Beep!”
As I replied cheerfully, bright laughter filled the air.
After the birthday celebration, I was freed from the cage and allowed to roam freely. So I explored every nook and cranny of the mansion and familiarized myself with the servants’ faces.
‘It would be good to have at least one person on my side. I should go to the training grounds today!’
As I vigorously flapped my wings and approached the training grounds, Lenny, the Vice-Captain of the Duke’s Knights, greeted me. I fluttered onto his shoulder, and Lenny’s usually stoic face softened.
“Lily, you’re here?”
“Beep!”
‘I’m here. What were you doing today?’
I settled comfortably and glanced around the training grounds.
“Beep.”
‘Training hard as always, I see.’
I watched the knights diligently running around the training grounds and ate the dried fruit Lenny gave me.
As if noticing my arrival, the knights’ voices grew louder.
“It’s Lily!”
“Lily’s here!”
“Beep!”
‘Hello! I’m here!’
As I greeted them cheerfully, a brown-haired knight suddenly shouted,
“Vice-Captain, we want to be with Lily too!”
Lenny replied in a sharp, cold voice, unlike when he spoke to me,
“It seems you have the leisure to be distracted even while running. Run another lap.”
Someone whined,
“That’s not fair!”
“The one who just answered, run two more laps.”
I silently prayed for the knight’s stamina. And after watching for a while, I prepared to go somewhere else.
“Lily. Are you leaving already?”
“Beep.”
‘Yes. I’m leaving now so I don’t disturb your training.’
“Be careful. Come again anytime.”
“Beep!”
‘Yes! I’ll be back!’
I replied with a smile and left.
Unlike Cesar, everyone in this mansion was kind to me, a bird. Thanks to them, making allies within the mansion was progressing smoothly.
Since there was still time before the next event after the Emperor’s birthday, I was feeling relaxed. As I was wondering where to go, I suddenly felt drowsy.
“Beep…”
For some reason, sleepiness washed over me. Normally, I would have slept in my cage in the greenhouse, but after wandering around the mansion, I was quite far from the main building where the greenhouse was located.
As I was looking for a place to rest, I saw a shabby annex amidst the dense bushes.
“Beep?”
‘I’ve never seen this place before.’
‘So there’s a place like this in the Clovis Dukedom.’
As I looked around curiously, I saw a swing in front of the annex, perfect for lying down on.
“Beep!”
The sun was shining warmly, and the dense leaves provided cool shade. Since it would take time to fly back, it seemed like a good idea to close my eyes and take a nap there.
For some reason, I didn’t see many servants bustling around like in the main building, but the quietness was rather pleasant.
‘Then I’ll take a nap.’
I was lost in a deep sleep, not knowing when I had drifted off.
“Lily!”
“Beep?”
‘What’s that sound?’
I shook off my sleepiness and tilted my head. Mariette appeared in front of me, as I sat slumped on the swing.
“Why are you sleeping here? You’re not supposed to come here without permission.”
“Beep.”
‘That’s why there were no servants here.’
I nodded and perched on Mariette’s finger. I blinked and wagged my tail feathers.
“Beep.”
“I’m not falling for that!”
“Beep…?”
‘Not even this?’
I blinked and drooped my tail feathers. Mariette hesitated and whispered,
“Really, I’m only letting this slide this once. You can’t come here again. Understood?”
“Beep.”
“You really seem to understand when I talk to you like this. What am I saying, as if Lily understands anything. Ha. It’s a good thing the Duke didn’t see this.”
To be treated like a stupid bird that doesn’t understand anything… I felt annoyed and expressed my dissatisfaction.
“Beeeep—!”
“Oh, Lily. I’m sorry. Are you angry?”
“Beep!”
When I got angry, Mariette laughed and apologized. Then, she suddenly looked at the annex and sighed deeply.
“I wonder why the Duke keeps this place, even though he has no good memories of it. And he hates it when others come here.”
“Beep?”
‘What’s that supposed to mean?’
Puzzled by her words, I looked at the annex. Compared to the extremely neat and luxurious Duke’s mansion, it was rather shabby and dilapidated, but there didn’t seem to be anything particularly strange about it.
‘Is something hidden here? Or is there something I don’t know?’
“Anyway, Lily, let’s go back. Did you have a good nap?”
“Beep.”
“Then that’s good. You can’t come back here. Okay?”
I blinked and gave her my best puppy-dog eyes. But I didn’t answer that I wouldn’t come back. It’s natural to want to go somewhere even more when you’re told not to.
Back in the greenhouse, I was lost in thought. No matter how I thought about it, something felt suspicious.
‘Isn’t there always a painful past of the male leads hidden in places you’re told not to enter? And the novel didn’t delve into Cesar’s past properly.’
“Beep.”
‘When should I sneak in?’
I was lost in thought, having already ignored the warning not to enter.
Just then, I heard the greenhouse door open. A familiar voice reached my ears.
“Were you well, Lily?”
“Beep.”
Hiding my true intentions, I greeted Cesar as he approached.
Unlike how leisurely he seemed in the romance fantasy novel, the Duke was very busy. So Cesar only stopped by the greenhouse briefly when leaving or entering the mansion.
I fluttered over and perched on his shoulder. As I rubbed my head against him familiarly, his hand tapped my beak.
“At least you’re not asleep like last time.”
“Beep…”
There was a time when I was so tired that I didn’t notice Cesar’s arrival, and he was definitely teasing me about it.
“Beep. Beep.”
As I chirped with a hint of displeasure, Cesar pressed down on my ruffled head feathers. It was a gesture as if asking where I had been rolling around today.
“So, what happened today that made you chirp like that?”
“Beep. Beep.”
‘Nothing really happened. You wouldn’t answer even if I asked about the annex. You don’t even understand bird language.’
Even though I knew it was pointless, I chattered beside him out of habit.
Cesar listened without interrupting, as I chattered away. Even though all I said was “Beep” and “Chirp.”
‘Seeing this, I understand why the male leads in romance fantasy novels seemed so leisurely. They must have been so busy that they occasionally wasted time like this.’
Bro not him falling for a bird 😭👍
No, he’s falling for the bird😭