Chapter 6
Chapter 6
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: A Tail of Worries
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"Are you excited, my lady?"
"Peep!"
"They're soap bubbles!"
"Peep peep!"
I was currently in heaven. It felt as if all the fatigue from my long day was melting away.
Soap bubbles, floating gently through the air above a bathtub full of foam.
"Peeeeep..."
This was paradise. I stretched my wings wide.
When I returned from the forest, I experienced my first taste of joy.
It was because my room had been decorated.
I had thought the original room was plenty luxurious, but Rosaria insisted it was nothing of the sort.
I didn't understand her at first, but after seeing the redecorated room, I was immediately convinced.
The room was so beautiful, it was as if it had been reborn, just like me.
A white silk curtain fluttered by the window, and next to it was a large bed that looked incredibly fluffy at a single glance.
The carpet on the floor had been replaced with a soft, white material, and there was even a table with a vase and a sofa.
As if that wasn't amazing enough...
"Here we go again, my lady!"
"Peeeep!"
When Rosaria blew hard, iridescent soap bubbles floated up into the air.
*I'll catch one this time for sure.*
Like a nimble predator stalking its prey, I held my breath and watched the bubbles.
It was actually my first time ever seeing soap bubbles.
At first, I didn't know what these round orbs floating in the sky were, so I was scared and busy avoiding them...
But before I knew it, I was putting all my effort into catching one.
Floating, floating.
"Peep!"
I kept a moderate distance to catch a bubble suspended in mid-air.
Then, waiting for the right moment, I flapped my wings.
"Peeeep!"
After repeating this a few times, just as I felt my strength draining, Rosaria announced the end of the game.
"Let's stop here, my lady. We've taken too much time."
"Peep, peeeep! Peep!"
*No! I haven't caught one properly yet! Can't we do it just one more time?*
I resisted, bracing myself in the tub and shaking my head.
Then, Rosaria played her trump card.
"Aren't you eager to lie down in your new bed, my lady?"
"...Peep?"
"It will be wonderfully cozy. You can even jump around on it."
The tempting words made the strength drain from my wings.
A cozy bed. The basket was already so comfortable, so how warm would a bed be?
I completely relaxed the muscles I had been using to resist leaving the tub.
As I willingly came out of the bath, Rosaria wrapped me in a towel and carried me out.
And then came the moment I had been so eagerly awaiting—my body touched the bed.
"Peep!"
*It's so soft.*
"Peeeep...!"
With the gentle touch of her hands drying my feathers, my eyes grew heavy.
I decided to surrender my body to the darkening vision.
"...Peeeep..., peep..."
"Oh my, my lady?"
"...Peep..."
The luxurious comfort, so different from the basket, sent me straight into a sweet slumber.
* * *
After the trip to the forest, a series of very peaceful days followed.
I grew steadily, and my body got a little bigger.
It was a tiny difference, but one of my daily routines these days was looking in the mirror.
"Peeeep."
"My lady, your tail has grown a bit longer!"
"Peep!"
I spun around in front of the mirror, trying to see my tail, which was hard to get a good look at.
My once-stubby tail was starting to take on a proper shape.
At first, I found the tail annoying because it always got in the way when I sat down.
But I changed my mind when Rosaria brought another mirror and angled it so I could see my tail.
*It's... it's pretty, isn't it?*
I really liked my tail.
It looked a bit like a horn growing out of my bottom, but she said that as I grew, it would become long and soft like an adult's.
*Then it'll be even prettier, right?*
"Your steps have become much steadier lately!"
"Peep!"
I thought the tail helped me keep my balance.
My once-wobbly steps were becoming more stable by the day.
I could even run, albeit for short distances. Though I still fell sometimes.
I spun in circles, trying to see my tail.
"Peep peep! Peep!"
"Keuk."
"Peep?"
And whenever I did, the number of days Rosaria clutched her heart grew.
I toddled over to check on Rosaria, who was slumped over with her head down.
"N-no. I must calm myself. I might hurt my lady."
"Peep peep peep peep."
"Hooo."
"Peep peep peep peep!"
I called out to Rosaria, who was muttering what sounded vaguely like a villain's lines.
I couldn't call her with words yet, but when I chirped like this, she knew I was calling for her.
"Yes, my lady. Would you like a snack?"
"Peep."
As if nothing had happened, Rosaria regained her composure and returned to her usual self.
She took snacks from a small bowl and placed them in my mouth one by one.
*Delicious!*
My tail wagged on its own.
Nothing was better than a tail for expressing emotions.
As I expressed my joy by swaying side to side, Rosaria smiled with satisfaction.
"You're in your growth period, so you must eat a lot and grow big and strong."
"Peep."
"Lately, taking care of you has been the most rewarding thing in my life. I'm so happy."
I swallowed the snack with a gulp and opened my mouth.
Rosaria placed another snack inside as if she'd been waiting.
Every day was so happy, I wondered if it was all a dream.
"Peeeep!"
*I wish every day could be like today.* I leaned against a cushion and stretched out my feet.
*But I can't live like this forever, can I? When I become an adult, I'll have to leave home.*
*No, will I even be able to stay here until I'm an adult?*
The owner of the house might change his mind and tell me to leave before then.
Because the owner didn't seem to like me.
Thinking about a future where I could be thrown out at any moment suddenly made me feel depressed.
It was very peaceful here, but I had no idea what the outside world was like.
"Peeeeep..."
A sigh escaped me. Seeing this, Rosaria spoke to me.
"My lady, is something bothering you?"
"Peep peep peep peep."
"Pardon?"
Rosaria, who was clearing away the empty snack bowl, widened her eyes. I shook my head weakly.
*No. When I become an adult bird, I have to do things on my own.*
*But the world is too harsh for a baby bird to survive!*
Besides, I was becoming thoroughly accustomed to Rosaria's care.
*What will I do when I'm alone later?*
*I don't want to be alone again.*
As I unpacked my worries about the future one by one, my tail drooped downward.
"Is something troubling you?"
"Peeeep."
I shook my head, as if to say it was nothing.
"But your tail is drooping, you know?"
"Peep peep."
*It's really nothing.*
Rosaria blinked, looking puzzled as if she didn't understand.
After sitting listlessly for a while, I pushed myself up with a grunt.
*I can't just mope around like this!*
"Peep!"
*First, let's find something I can do.*
As I finally mustered some energy, I felt my tail lift up again.
*No matter how I look at it, this is fascinating.*
The mystery of the tail.
I had a tail in my previous life, but it never reacted so faithfully to my emotional changes.
Or maybe it was just that my tail was very faithful to my emotions, but there was never a reason for it to react so strongly.
Droop.
My tail drooped again. Thinking of my past life had soured my mood once more.
I shook my head vigorously to clear away the unnecessary thoughts.
"Peep!"
*No. I'm not who I used to be anymore.*
I patted my cheeks with both wings.
*Alright. Before I become an adult, I'm going to build up enough strength to live outside the mansion!*
"Peep. Peep!"
Whoosh.
My tail stood up completely straight.
Waddle, waddle.
I walked over to the water bowl next to the snack container and dipped my beak in.
*Refreshing!*
After drinking, I wiped my wet beak on my wing.
At that time, I had no idea.
I didn't know how worried Rosaria looked as she watched me, my condition changing from one second to the next.
Nor did I know what kind of misunderstanding this would lead her to have.
If only I had known, I would have desperately tried to stop her, to tell her that wasn't it at all.