The White Parrot
The two envelopes Esi handed me felt heavier than usual.
“Duchess, Their Graces the Archdukes have sent letters again today.”
I took them without a word. The one from Illid I didn’t even open. I simply carried it straight to the candle on my desk and set it alight. The white paper curled black, then crumbled into a handful of ash.
After I began returning every letter unopened, I heard that Illid had started punishing his servants. So for the past few days I had accepted them—only to burn them all without reading a single line.
What could he possibly have written? He can’t be repeating the same thing every time.
There had been moments when curiosity nearly won and I almost broke the seal. But the fear that my heart might soften stopped me every time.
I opened the letter from Hellion instead. Inside was a note written in his elegant, confident hand.
It said that the report I had helped him with a few days ago had received the Emperor’s approval. Lately he was so busy with state affairs that he often sent short messages through Esi like this.
Hellion was doing everything in his power to keep the Crown Prince position from being stolen by Illid. He completed every difficult task the Emperor deliberately set before him without complaint, and even offered improvements.
Even His Majesty could find no fault with Hellion or the northern vassals. Step by step, Hellion was steadily building his own foundation.
“It’s time.”
I let out a long sigh and rose from my chair.
Today was the day Sylvia had invited all the noblewomen to a tea gathering. Usually these meetings were held in the beautiful gardens of the Regentra ducal estate, but this time she had specially reserved the imperial aviary.
I was extremely curious what my sister-in-law wanted to say, so I hurried toward the aviary.
The moment I stepped into the aviary, I was greeted by the clear warbling of larks and the cheerful chatter of noblewomen. It was a fine, sunny day. After staying indoors for several days, the late-autumn sunlight that tickled the tip of my nose felt rather pleasant.
“Duchess of Wintera, it has been a while.”
The ladies who had arrived earlier greeted me. Though my heart was uneasy because of the Archdukes, I forced a smile and returned their greetings.
“Hello, Duchess.”
Karina, who had spotted me, offered a polite bow. For some reason her expression looked unusually dark today.
Why does she look like that?
The artificial smile she always wore was nowhere to be seen. But I had no energy to spare worrying about her. I gave a small nod and moved to my seat.
A short while later, the hostess of the tea party—Duchess Regentra—arrived. The moment Sylvia took the seat of honor, she went straight to the point.
For a moment, silence fell over the noblewomen.
“Wha—? Oh my goodness!”
Rosé, who was quickest to grasp the situation, let out a delighted cry and began clapping. Only then did the other ladies offer their congratulations one after another. I took Sylvia’s hand with genuine joy.
“Sister, when did you find out?”
“A little over a month ago. Marchioness Lilche told me to wait until I entered the stable period before announcing it, so I waited until today.”
Sylvia smiled brightly as she gently stroked her still barely noticeable belly.
“I hope it’s a daughter this time. A pretty, clever girl just like Ishtel.”
“If the child takes after her mother instead of her aunt, what will you do?”
“But I adore Ishtel so much. I’m always happy and reassured knowing she is the aunt to my children.”
Sylvia laughed merrily and squeezed my hand tightly.
“If this child is a girl, will you be her godmother, Ishtel?”
“Of course I will.”
Roscien and Enrique already had Count Silanda and Julian as godfathers. If this niece turned out to be a girl, it would be my first time becoming a godmother, and the thought filled me with excitement.
“Please don’t misunderstand, both of you. I didn’t invite you just to force congratulations out of you. As you know, when a central noble family is expecting, it is customary to inform everyone—friends and political rivals alike. That is the only reason I extended the invitation.”
Sylvia spoke coldly while looking at Ebony and Karina. Ebony, who had been yawning widely in the warm autumn sun, suddenly met Sylvia’s eyes.
“Of course, please don’t worry. I understand perfectly. I have many nieces and nephews myself. Every time one of them became pregnant, my brothers and sisters made me write letters of congratulations. So I know exactly how uncomfortable it feels. Please pay me no mind. In any case, congratulations, Duchess Regentra.”
Ebony offered a bright smile. Beside her, Karina also forced a stiff smile onto her previously frozen lips.
“Duchess Regentra, what kind of gift would you like?”
“If there is anything you desire, please tell us.”
Before long, a crowd of noblewomen had gathered around Sylvia. I stood up from my chair, intending to give them some space.
Now that I think about it, I haven’t seen May.
The birds in the aviary were so accustomed to humans that they weren’t afraid of visitors. It was normal for them to perch on people’s heads and shoulders, acting cute, and their pleasant chirping added to the cheerful atmosphere.
Among them, the most lively by far was May. Normally he would have been sitting on my shoulder, singing at the top of his lungs in front of everyone. Yet today he was nowhere to be seen.
“Oh my goodness, Duchess of Wintera! Isn’t that an Ice Eagle?!”
Ebony, who had been standing in a corner of the aviary, called out in an excited voice. When I walked over, I saw little Mewl fast asleep.
“Yes, it is. His Grace Archduke Hellion gave him to me as a gift.”
“What? Really?! I begged him for just one and he refused me every time!”
Ebony stomped her feet in genuine frustration. It seemed Aron Telia had not been exaggerating when he said she desperately wanted an Ice Eagle.
“May I touch him?”
“Of course.”
After receiving my permission, Ebony carefully reached out toward the sleeping Mewl. The moment her long fingernail brushed his head, Mewl jolted awake, his golden eyes snapping open.
“Oh dear, the baby woke up.”
Ebony quickly pulled her hand back, but it was too late. Mewl had already taken one look at the stranger and become terrified. He let out a frightened cry and flew straight to me, urgently flapping his wings as if begging to be picked up.
“They say he’s the equivalent of a human teenager right now. So please don’t be too startled.”
Mewl continued crying so loudly that Ebony looked extremely awkward. I told her it was all right.
“It’s okay, Mewl. The Countess just likes you, there’s nothing to be afraid of.”
I tried to soothe him with a calm voice, but it was no use. In the end, I began looking for May—the one Mewl followed like a mother.
“Where is May?”
I scanned the area. But he wasn’t in his usual cage either.
Where on earth could he have gone?
That was when it happened.
“Kyaaaah!”
Rosé’s piercing scream tore through the entire aviary. Startled, every bird shot into the air at once, fleeing back to their cages and perches. Even Khan, who had been dozing on the highest branch, snapped his eyes open.
“What’s wrong? What happened, Rosé?”
Sylvia widened her eyes and hurried toward the sound. But Rosé jumped in front of her and covered Sylvia’s eyes with both hands.
“Duchess Regentra must not see this. Please leave quickly—hurry!”
Rosé dragged the bewildered Sylvia out of the aviary. The moment the two of them were gone, screams began erupting one after another from the noblewomen who had been standing nearby.
“What in the world is going on that everyone is making such a fuss?”
“I’m not sure either.”
I shook my head slightly at Ebony’s question. Because the ladies had pressed themselves against the aviary wall, I could clearly see the black shape approaching from a distance.
“That looks… like a cat.”
Ebony pointed at the dark figure.
“And it seems to be carrying something in its mouth?”
Just as she said, a black cat was walking straight toward me with something clenched in its jaws. When it finally stopped right in front of me, I couldn’t think. I couldn’t speak.
The cat let out a coquettish cry. The thing it had been carrying dropped to the ground with a soft thud. White feathers stained with blood. A body bent at an unnatural angle. And May’s black eyes, now vacant and unfocused.
“Th-this…”
My legs gave out and I collapsed where I stood, frantically gathering May into my arms. I wished he would show any sign of pain. Even if it hurt, I wanted him to cry out. But the little body in my hands remained completely still.
“Keeper! Keeper!”
While I sat there in a daze, Baroness Turen called for the aviary keeper. The keeper approached with a deathly pale face, examined May, and stammered.
“He… he is already… dead.”
At those words, my mind finally snapped back to reality. But instead of words, the first thing that came was tears. The droplets that rolled down my cheeks fell onto May’s cold body. Still, he remained silent.
“Keeper! Why is a cat allowed inside the aviary? No—more importantly, who brought this cat here?”
Baroness Turen raised her voice and pressed the keeper.
“Even the late Empress strictly forbade keeping cats within the imperial palace. Everyone knows cats hunt birds. Who would dare release one so recklessly?”
“Th-that is…”
The aviary keeper bit his lip hard, clearly at a loss. In the end, unable to withstand the accusing stares pouring down on him, he pointed at Karina.
“I repeatedly told Viscountess Linton to keep her cat inside her residence only, but the Viscountess refused to listen.”
All eyes turned to Karina. She, who had been quietly observing the situation, frowned and stepped forward.
“Sasha, come here.”
Karina lifted the black cat into her arms. The cat struggled and cried, trying to escape her embrace. Karina only held it tighter.
“His Majesty the Emperor personally granted permission for the cat to roam freely. I have not acted willfully.”
“You call that an excuse?! The keeper warned you—shouldn’t you have obeyed?!”
Baroness Turen was so outraged by Karina’s unapologetic attitude that she shouted.
“Remove that cat from the aviary at once! No—expel it from the imperial palace entirely! How dare something like this happen in the aviary that the late Empress cherished so dearly?!”