If You Can't Fly Without Wings, Just Ride Something With Wings
If the sky collapses, there's always a hole to crawl out through....
When Dad said that, a brilliant sky suddenly appeared before Popcorn's eyes.
At the same time, a wonderful solution popped into his head.
If you can't fly because you don't have wings, then just ride something that does have wings!
In Popcorn's mind, he could already see Dad's bride soaring through the air atop a winged creature.
And right in front of her, Popcorn himself would puff out his chest, flapping his own wings to guide them straight to Dad.
Pipi... that's so cool....
The more he thought about it, the more perfect the solution felt.
It was on a completely different level from anything he'd tried before.
Alright, pipi!
Once the decision was made, he had to find something suitable for Dad's bride to ride right away.
Popcorn spent every moment from dawn until night searching for the perfect mount.
But nothing in this world ever comes easy. Every path is lined with hardship.
The first thing Popcorn approached was a winged insect with enormous eyes.
It was slightly bigger than him, with long antennae sprouting from the sides of its face and dozens of legs.
Two large, magnificent wings grew from its back, decorated with colorful circular patterns.
Beneath them hid a thinner pair of wings, making the whole thing look incredibly stylish.
Riding such a splendid insect would surely make Dad's bride happy.
Just imagining it filled Popcorn's heart with joy.
But no matter how enthusiastically Popcorn explained, the insect ignored him completely.
It stayed glued to a leaf, rubbing its legs together as if washing its face, then flew off before he could even finish talking.
The way those colorful wings sparkled as it disappeared left Popcorn feeling deeply disappointed.
It would have looked so amazing with Dad's bride on its back.
Next, he found an insect with transparent wings and a long tail.
It wasn't as flashy as the first one, but it was a bit larger, and its wings shimmered beautifully whenever sunlight passed through them.
Dad's bride would look absolutely gorgeous riding this one.
Popcorn thought this insect would work perfectly.
He spread his arms wide and explained the situation with all his might.
How Dad's bride needed a mount, how it would be wonderful if this insect could carry her here, and how Dad's bride had the most beautiful eyes in the world.
The insect stared at him with its big eyes, then suddenly opened its mouth wide.
Its jaws — or were those mandibles? — snapped shut around Popcorn.
He squirmed in surprise, but the insect refused to let go and began chewing noisily.
It tickles.
It really tickles!
Even while wriggling from the tickling sensation, Popcorn kept explaining the rest of his request.
Just as he was about to finish, the insect suddenly spat him out with a loud ptoo and flew away.
He must not have tasted very good.
Piii....
For some reason, he felt depressed.
Pipi!
No. There was no time to feel down.
He still had to find something for Dad's bride to ride.
After thinking for a moment, Popcorn went looking for a flying squirrel.
It didn't have wings, but there was a sturdy flap of skin between its legs.
It spread that skin like wings to glide from tree to tree.
It wasn't particularly impressive, but its fluffy tail looked rather nice from behind.
Maybe riding alongside that tail would make Dad's bride look amazing.
Besides, this squirrel seemed sturdier than the insects.
It gave off a sense of strength.
Perhaps this would actually be better for Dad's bride.
Most importantly, the insects clearly had no intention of listening to him.
Popcorn tried to explain the situation to the flying squirrel.
Several days had already passed while chasing after those bugs.
It was getting really urgent now.
Lately, Pudding had started producing strange sparkling powder.
Dad seemed to think it was incredibly cool and often took some from Pudding's body.
At this rate, Dad's attention might be completely stolen away.
To prevent that, Popcorn needed a major achievement.
If he brought back the bride, Dad would surely think Popcorn was more wonderful.
After all, Dad's bride had such pretty-colored eyes.
Take that, Pudding!
But the flying squirrel kept gliding from tree to tree, and when it wasn't gliding, it was scampering up and down the trunks.
It seemed like quite the greedy little thing.
Its cheeks were stuffed so full of berries that they bulged out noticeably.
Popcorn chased after it persistently, but the squirrel was far too busy to spare any time listening to his story.
It never stopped moving even for a second.
In the end, Popcorn decided to give up on the flying squirrel.
After that, he approached a bird that looked exactly like the ones he often saw in the fields.
When you think of wings, you think of birds.
Maybe he should have looked for a bird from the very beginning instead of insects.
But the bird that Dad had named Sparrow charged at him the moment it saw him and started pecking furiously.
Pipipipi!
Stop it! I said stop!
Popcorn's body crumpled and twisted under the assault.
This was exactly why he hadn't wanted to approach birds.
Whenever they saw him, they always tried to peck him or eat him.
After a brief scuffle and several escapes followed by more pecking, Popcorn barely managed to finish his explanation.
"Pipi?"
So, will you help?
When Popcorn asked, the bird swallowed him whole with a loud gulp.
Birds really were the worst.
Popcorn spent a short time inside the bird before being expelled along with its droppings.
What a stench!
That rotten bird!
He tried talking to several other birds afterward, but none of them would listen properly.
That was when he suddenly thought of the crow.
There were so many shiny things in Dad's bride's house.
Crows loved shiny objects, so maybe it would be willing to come along.
Just as he was about to fly off with that thought, Popcorn froze in shock.
Pipi?
Where is this?
Popcorn found himself standing in a completely unfamiliar forest he'd never seen before.
"Pi...."
What now.
This was bad.
It seemed Popcorn had lost his home.
Well, his way home, at least.
For a while, she had been summoned to the royal palace almost every day. But a few days ago, Marguerite stopped going.
She had been told it was fine if she didn't come.
The tutor who used to visit the house had also stopped appearing.
She didn't know about the others, but the etiquette instructor had stayed by her side until now, constantly checking her manners and conduct.
The teacher had observed every movement — the way she ate, walked, and sat — making sure each one was appropriate for royalty. Now that teacher was gone.
Since yesterday, a guard had been stationed outside her door in addition to the servant who opened it.
She had even been ordered to take her meals inside her room.
She hadn't heard anything official yet, but it seemed the day of her disposition was drawing near.
Marguerite walked to the window and gazed at the distant sky.
The only freedom she had left was looking out this window.
The clear sky held not a single cloud.
It was the complete opposite of her heart.
'Spirit.'
It had been many days since the spirit stopped coming.
Would she never see it again?
The thought made her heart ache with longing.
The spirit had been her only emotional support.
Marguerite realized her hands were trembling and clenched them into tight fists.
Don't be afraid.
Don't be scared.
She told herself this every day, but it wasn't easy.
She closed her eyes and pictured the spirit's appearance.
When she remembered how it had tried to take her away, some of her fear faded.
As she stood there like that, the butler's voice reached her.
"The marquis is calling for you."
Marguerite's body stiffened with tension as she turned around.
"A messenger has arrived from the palace. Please dress appropriately."
He didn't say whether it was the prince's messenger or the king's.
The fact that he didn't specify likely meant it was nominally from the prince.
After delivering the message, the butler left, and a maid entered shortly after.
She hurriedly changed her clothes and applied light makeup.
The maid brought out lace that matched the outfit and fastened it around her neck and chest.
Finally, she put on a necklace, earrings, and other accessories. When she stepped out, the butler was waiting.
As she followed behind the butler, Marguerite took slow, deep breaths.
Her heart was pounding so violently it felt like it might burst at any moment.
When they reached the reception room, the marquis and the palace messenger were standing without having taken a seat.
The marquis's face was rigid and tense, while the messenger wore a smile.
'That man....'
She had occasionally seen him speaking with the prince.
It seemed his main role was not to serve the prince but to advise him.
He was likely one of the king's men rather than the prince's close aide.
'As expected....'
This was a trap set by the king.
What had been mere speculation was now becoming reality.
The messenger offered a polite greeting, then smiled brightly.
"In two days, there will be an official banquet to introduce the Saintess. Lady Marguerite, please attend as His Highness the Prince's fiancée. His Highness has sent the gown and jewelry you are to wear that day."
At the messenger's words, several men stepped forward from behind him.
They carried ornate boxes in their hands.
The large one likely contained the gown, and the smaller ones probably held the jewels.
Marguerite, who had been braced for all sorts of terrible news, was momentarily stunned into silence.
She stared quietly into the messenger's eyes.
It seemed his only purpose really was to deliver the invitation to the banquet.
The messenger said nothing more.
Marguerite offered her thanks, then asked at the end:
"...Will His Highness the Prince be escorting me that day, or the Saintess?"
"His Highness has a message regarding that. While it would be natural to escort you, since this is the Saintess's first public appearance, he asks that you understand if he accompanies her instead."
In high society, it was an unspoken rule that if one had a fiancée, they would enter the venue together.
Even if the Saintess was an important figure, the same should apply.
If an escort was truly needed, there were other princes who could have done it.
The fact that the Saintess would be escorted by the prince meant this was no ordinary banquet.
It seemed the king planned to condemn her in front of everyone gathered there.
Marguerite carefully kept her expression neutral as she nodded.
"I understand."
The marquis said he had more to discuss with the messenger and sent her away.
She returned to her room and waited for a while, but the gown and jewelry never arrived.
She needed to know what the dress looked like in order to choose her makeup and other accessories.
When Marguerite rang the bell, a maid entered.
"The gown for the banquet is late. Please tell the butler to have it brought to this room immediately."
"Understood."
The maid answered with a sour expression and left.
But no matter how long she waited, the maid did not return.
When she rang the bell again, the maid finally appeared much later.
"I'm sorry, but the gown requires some alterations, so they say it will be delivered just before the banquet."
"...."
Alterations to a dress's fit or details were usually done after the wearer had tried it on.
To alter it without her even wearing it first was clearly a flimsy excuse.
Marguerite dismissed the maid and closed her eyes.
'There's something worked into the clothes.'
She didn't know what, but it was undoubtedly a trap meant to ensnare her.
The marquis must have known, yet he was cooperating. It seemed he had chosen to abandon her in order to save the family.
She felt as if her hands and feet had been bound and she had been thrown into a pitch-black cave.
Beyond her closed eyelids, the small, adorable figure of the spirit flickered like a faint light.
'Spirit.'
Please give me the strength to overcome this fear.
Marguerite clasped her hands tightly together.
The sun would set soon.
Once it did, he had to return home.
The thought of Dad's face made Popcorn's heart race with even greater urgency.
This had become a real problem.
"Pipipipipipi!"
Is anyone there!
Popcorn shouted as loudly as he could.
As he continued calling out, a white bird, a large dog, a horned bear, and a huge white earthworm all came looking for him.
"Pipipi! Pipipipipi!"
When Popcorn asked for directions home, none of them knew where Dad's house was.
They either tried to eat him, carried him around the forest on their horns, or simply left after taking one look at him.
During all this, Popcorn seemed to have wandered deeper into unfamiliar territory.
When he finally came to his senses, he was surrounded by places he had never been before — completely unknown land.
Of course, everything had been new to him from the start.
"Pipipi!"
Popcorn cried out even louder, begging for help.
Maybe, just like last time, Pudding would hear him and come.
He shouted even louder so Pudding could hear.
Pipipipipipipipipi!
Then, from somewhere, a small sound reached him.
"...Pii... piii... pi...."
Pipi?
It sounded like someone was crying.
Maybe they had gotten lost, just like him.
It bothered him.
Popcorn flew toward the direction of the sound.
After flying for quite a while, he spotted a small bird on the ground between two large trees, desperately flapping its wings.