Chapter 3
Chapter 3
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: A Pink Ribbon
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I shivered, unable to bring myself to get into the water.
What if it was scorching hot or freezing cold?
I lifted a tiny foot and poked at the water. But it was warmer than I expected.
"Peep! Peep!"
Relieved, I jumped into the water in one go and flapped my wings.
I couldn't remember the last time I'd had a bath.
Flapping my wings was like splashing around, but my mood was at its absolute best.
Rosaria smiled fondly and gently wet my body with water.
"Shall we go out and play when your bath is done?"
"Peep!"
"I think you'll love it, Young Lady. The flowers are in full bloom."
Flower viewing!
Brimming with anticipation, I stomped my feet wildly.
Splash, splash.
Tiny bubbles formed with my movements, and water sloshed and splashed about.
Droplets that didn't even make it out of the tub popped and fizzed around me.
At the sight, Rosaria’s eyes widened. "Oh, my?" she said, clutching her heart again.
"This is dangerous... At this rate, I might break everything."
Hearing her mutter darkly with her head bowed, I quickly stopped what I was doing.
I had a feeling something truly terrible might happen.
In the end, I stayed still, and the bath was over.
Unfortunately, she said my body was still too young for bubbles. It would have been nice, though.
I was wrapped in a fluffy towel. The gentle touch, carefully drying me off, felt wonderful.
"Chiiirp. Chiiirp."
The chirps came out on their own.
"Does that feel good?"
"Peep."
"Now, what should our Young Lady have for lunch? Was it berries you were eating?"
Rosaria looked at the berries still left in the basket and frowned.
"This won't provide enough nutrients."
Indeed, eating only berries for a long time seemed like it would take a toll on my body.
Without a proper supply of protein, my growth would surely be stunted.
Rosaria let out a deep sigh.
"I'll have to prepare some nutritious baby food. And toys for the Young Lady, and a bed... It seems I'll have to request a separate budget."
"Peep?"
"What's the point of just giving you a room? You need everything necessary for your life here. Just trust me, Young Lady."
...What if I get kicked out for needing money?
Shouldn't I stop her?
When I looked at Rosaria worriedly, she picked me up and smiled reassuringly.
"I may not look it, but I have some pull in this family."
Before leaving the room, Rosaria held me up and stood in front of a mirror.
In the mirror, a small, pure-white baby bird was sitting cutely.
I lifted a wing slightly. I moved my feet, too.
"Peep peep!"
That's me!
As I pointed at the mirror and chirped, Rosaria nodded and took something out of her pocket.
It was a tiny pink ribbon.
"This is a gift to commemorate our first meeting today, Young Lady."
Rosaria tied the ribbon loosely around my neck so it wouldn't be tight and asked how I liked it.
I awkwardly fiddled with the end of the ribbon, then brought my wings to my cheeks.
"Peep!"
"It seems you like it."
"Peep!"
"Now that you're all dressed up, shall we go out?"
When we left the room, a hallway made of marble came into view.
Sunlight streamed through the large windows, dazzling my eyes.
Wow, it really feels like I'm in a castle.
As I was looking around, my gaze captured by everything, I heard a soft laugh from above.
Every time I saw a fascinating fixture, my body would bob with excitement.
Rosaria slowed her pace so I could look around to my heart's content.
"Peep!"
"Shall we go over there?"
I could see a garden with a huge fountain.
We can view the flowers there! When the petals fall, it'll be like snowflakes.
Right foot. Left foot. Right foot. Left foot.
Just as I was stomping my feet as if I were walking, I felt a familiar yet chilling presence.
I instinctively turned my head toward where I felt the gaze.
There, a man with black hair and red eyes was watching me with a blank expression.
He let out a scoffing laugh, as if he couldn't believe he was seeing me here.
Soon, his tightly closed lips parted, and a cold voice drifted over.
"I said to do as you please, but I didn't think you'd actually be strutting around my house."
It was the master of the house.
I quickly hid the wings I had boldly stretched forward.
Of all the times to run into the master of the house. I couldn't be unluckier.
"Peep, peep..."
"You've frightened the Young Lady."
"Ridiculous."
"Are you all right, Young Lady?"
Rosaria asked worriedly, patting me.
I was just glad to have someone to rely on in that moment.
I sought Rosaria's embrace and snuggled into her arms.
Feeling the master of the house's intense gaze on me, I curled up into a tight ball to hide, and Rosaria soothed me.
"Don't worry, Young Lady. I'm here."
"Peep..."
"Your ribbon is crooked. Let me fix it for you."
It seemed the knot had come loose from my squirming in her arms.
Sniffling, I stayed still and let Rosaria do as she wished.
The ribbon was gently tightened again, settling the pink bow on my head.
"There, all done!"
"Peep."
"Our Young Lady is so cute! Don't you think so too, Gaju-nim?"
Rosaria asked the master of the house. With the ribbon on, I secretly glanced at him.
Does the master of the house really think so?
For a moment, our eyes met.
I hadn't expected him to be looking at me.
*Flinch.*
"Ch-chirp..."
My body flinched noticeably in surprise, and the master of the house's brow furrowed.
His eyes were fixed on the pink ribbon on my head.
I fidgeted needlessly and swallowed dryly.
Finally, an answer I thought I'd never hear came from the master of the house's lips.
"Making a fuss over a single ribbon."
* * *
The master of the house seemed to dislike me even more than I had expected.
If he keeps hating me like this, I might really get thrown out.
"Don't be so sad, Young Lady."
"Peep... Chiiirp."
"Look at this! Flower petals."
Rosaria threw the flower petals she had prepared high into the air.
Petals of various colors fluttered and drifted down.
I looked up at the sky, then plopped down and swished my wings. The lawn was covered in a thick layer of fallen petals.
"Peep! Peep!"
"Aren't they pretty?"
"Peep!"
"When you get bigger, Young Lady, you'll be able to look down on them from the sky."
Woooow. Really?
Seeing my sparkling eyes, Rosaria nodded.
"Of course. You're still a baby, but..."
But her expression gradually grew strange, then serious.
Puzzled by her change, I moved closer.
"Peep?"
"Oh my goodness, Young Lady. What should I do?"
"...?"
"I can't teach you how to fly, Young Lady. Because I don't have wings!"
Rosaria looked completely shocked.
Well, that's obvious since she isn't a bird. So she was planning to teach me that, too.
When I patted her to say it was okay, she shook her head.
"I wanted to teach you so many things, Young Lady."
"......."
"Since it's come to this, I'll at least teach you how to hunt perfectly."
She's going to teach me how to hunt?
I looked at Rosaria in surprise. No one had ever taught me something like that before.
Rosaria was overjoyed at the fact that she had something to teach me.
"The hunting methods of our clan are so perfect that everyone wants to learn them."
I do want to learn, but...
Can I, who was born only a few days ago, learn to hunt already?
I fell into deep thought.
"The Young Masters knew how to hunt from the moment they were born, but you don't, Young Lady, so I will teach you with all my heart."
"...Peep?"
Listening to Rosaria, I tilted my head at her unbelievable words.
How can someone know how to hunt from birth?
The Young Masters who live here must be incredible. That's something you can't learn without a guardian teaching you.
Rosaria continued, as if to resolve my curiosity.
"We know it instinctively from birth."
"Peep, p-peep?"
"If we just create the right environment, you'll be able to do it splendidly too, Young Lady."
Is that really possible? I could see the determination burning in Rosaria's eyes.