Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: An Unexpected Encounter
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Hmph.
I smacked the ball with my wing.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
"You'll get hurt, Lady Aileen!"
"Peep!"
"Is it because the ball isn't going where you want it to?"
"Peep."
As I waddled around, hugging the ball tightly, Rosaria quickly raised the camera hanging from her neck.
I was resting for a moment, my cheek pressed against the soft rubber, and only turned my gaze at Rosaria's call.
"Look here, Lady Aileen!"
"Peep?"
"Oh, you're so adorable."
Only after the click of the shutter repeated several times did Rosaria lower her camera.
Lately, she had been completely engrossed in the fun of taking pictures. The only peculiarity was that all the pictures were of me.
Roll...
After chasing and batting at the stubbornly rolling ball a few times, I exhausted myself.
This ball is no fun!
"Peep peep peep peep!"
I spun around and ran toward Rosaria.
"Are you done playing already?"
"Peep."
I climbed onto the picnic blanket and sat in front of the blueberry pie Rosaria had prepared.
She said the chef had made it himself just for our outing today.
"The chef said he hopes you enjoy it and grow up big and strong."
"Peeep!"
"Is it delicious?"
"Peep!"
The heavenly taste lifted my spirits again, and as my eyes sparkled, Rosaria patted my head, telling me to eat a lot.
One big bite, then another, and the pie was gone in no time.
Next time I see the chef, I'll have to thank him and tell him how much I enjoyed it.
A gentle breeze blew. I rubbed my full belly.
"Are you full?"
"Peeep—!"
"Then shall we lie down and do some origami?"
Rosaria was meticulous.
It seemed she had prepared the next activity in case I lost interest in the ball.
She took out colored paper from one side of the basket and spread it out.
My share was all cut into small quarters.
"Which color do you like?"
"Pee-peep."
When I chose the yellow paper, Rosaria smiled brightly and handed it to me.
"We're going to try folding a butterfly, which you like, Lady Aileen."
"Peep peep?"
"Yes. First, fold it into a triangle like this."
Rosaria demonstrated slowly.
It seemed she was bothered by the time I chased after a butterfly, trying to catch it.
I worried if I could fold it properly with my wings, but as I focused and followed along step-by-step, it wasn't too difficult.
"Next, unfold what you just folded completely."
"Peep?"
"Yes, you did a wonderful job!"
This is even easier than eating star candy.
I confidently showed her the paper I had folded.
Smiling with satisfaction, Rosaria checked my work before moving on to the next step.
As we were folding the paper side by side, Rosaria's hands suddenly faltered.
"Peep peep peep peep?"
"Umm. Just a moment, Lady Aileen. I'm a little confused about the steps."
It seemed Rosaria had forgotten the next step. Well, I'll just have to wait until she remembers!
I was sure Rosaria had never done origami before.
She must have hastily memorized it to spend time playing with me, so I shouldn't rush her.
Maybe I should go play with the ball over there for a bit?
I got up slowly and looked at the ball near the fountain.
"Peep peep peep peep."
"Yes, Lady Aileen?"
"Peep peep."
When I pointed at the ball, Rosaria, who had been looking distressed, broke into a relieved smile.
"You want to play with the ball? How about just for a little while, then? I'll try to remember the next step quickly."
"Peep."
I carefully held the colored paper I'd been folding in my beak and walked to the fountain.
I worked hard on it, and I couldn't let it blow away in the wind.
If I play around here, Rosaria will probably call for me in a bit, right?
I glanced back one more time at Rosaria struggling not too far away, and then kicked the ball hard.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
"Peep. Peeep. Peep!"
I toddled along, lifting my foot to kick the ball again, when a gentle breeze blew.
I tried to catch the ball as it rolled in the wind, but I tripped on a stone and fell flat.
"Peep, peeep..."
It hurts.
"Peeeeep..."
Tears welled up and I whimpered, just as the ball, which had been rolling past the fountain toward the forest, hit something and stopped with a thud.
For a moment, I felt a strange sense of having entered a different space.
I couldn't be sure, but I knew it was someone's pheromone.
Gently, gently.
With every gust of wind, the scent of a pheromone that was both threatening and yet calm washed over me.
I lifted my head.
"I thought I heard chirping from somewhere. Guess I wasn't mistaken."
There, a boy who looked almost identical to Kaide was staring at me expressionlessly.
I had never seen him before, but I could tell the boy before me was one of the figures called 'Young Master'.
The sudden, unannounced meeting made me hiccup.
"Hic. Peep! Hic."
I forgot my injured leg, and my crying stopped instantly. The pheromone that instinctively made my body stiffen was terrifying.
Only now did I realize just how careful everyone had been around me.
Even Kaide, who seemed endlessly insensitive, had actually been extremely cautious.
The boy who came from the forest casually nudged the ball aside.
Suddenly, I remembered what Rosaria had said last time we were in the forest.
"The first Young Master trains here."
I couldn't forget the sight of the miserably fallen trees and the gouged-out earth.
The way he slowly closed the distance was like a predator approaching its prey.
"Is that your ball?"
"Peep..."
"You seem frightened. I was on my way back from training and forgot to rein it in."
His gaze, which had been scanning me, moved to the colored paper that had fallen at my feet. Does he want this?
Hic.
Hiccuping, I picked up the colored paper with my beak and offered it to him.
Th-this...
"Peep."
If you want it, take it.
It felt like a scene I'd witnessed somewhere before, but that must have been my imagination. The boy wore a bewildered expression.
"Are you giving this to me?"
"Peep."
The boy's mouth closed.
We stood a certain distance apart, neither of us moving, when I heard Rosaria's call.
"Lady Aileen!"
"Peep peep peep peep!"
I scurried to hide behind Rosaria's legs.
I clutched the hem of her pants, not letting go of my tension.
The boy's eyes narrowed, as if displeased by the interruption of Rosaria's sudden appearance.
"Young Master Set, has your training finished already?"
"It got boring."
"Please rein in your pheromones. You must have startled Lady Aileen. Shall we have some water?"
"Peep."
I was very startled.
I stretched out my wings, asking to be held, and Rosaria lifted me up.
As I sipped the water she gave me, I felt a burdensome gaze on me.
It was because the first Young Master, Set, hadn't gone on his way but was staring intently in our direction.
Why is he staring like that?
Clutching the small plastic water bottle with both wings, I turned my head, pretending not to notice.
I wished he would just leave, but Set spoke.
"So you're the bird from the rumors?"
"A bird? This is Lady Aileen. She received her name from the Lord."
"Her name is Aileen?"
"Yes. She is the youngest lady. Isn't she lovely? Lately, my greatest joy has been taking care of Lady Aileen."
"Is that why you abandoned the border and came back?"
Set retorted sarcastically. I was startled.
I already knew Rosaria was incredible, having seen her monstrous strength, but it seems she was even guarding the border.
"It is the duty of caring for the youngest lady; not just anyone can be by her side."
"I was curious which of the siblings had the faintest breath while still in the egg."
Set smiled sweetly.
"So it was you?"
You were lucky to survive. His voice was gentle, but that was the nuance.