Chapter 7
Chapter 7
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: A Tail and an Insult
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"You say she seems to want to see her guardian?"
"Yes, that's correct."
Inside an office adorned with a red crest of two crossed swords entwined by a snake.
Kaide, who had been working, paused.
His red gaze, fixed on a report, shifted to Rosaria.
"The young miss has been listless lately."
"So you're asking me to come see the baby bird?"
"Yes."
Kaide wore an expression of disbelief.
Rosaria, who had recently been assigned the mission of "caring for the baby bird," had no reason to meet with Kaide for work-related matters.
Yet here she was, having shown up unannounced, demanding he meet with the baby bird.
With that same look of disbelief, Kaide gestured for her to continue.
Rosaria went on.
"Her moods are very volatile. She'll be playing happily one moment and then suddenly become melancholic. It seems she's anxious due to the absence of her guardian."
"Anxious, you say. How would you know? I was under the impression she couldn't speak."
"Ah. She's recently grown a tail."
"......Grown a what?"
"A tail."
Thinking of the baby bird growing bigger and stronger by the day, Rosaria couldn't stop the corners of her lips from creeping into a fond smile.
"When she's happy, her tail goes up or wags from side to side."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. She's gotten bigger and gained weight, too. These days, she even runs quite well. It's remarkable progress, isn't it?"
It wasn't particularly remarkable, but the way she said it made it sound truly incredible.
When Kaide showed a sliver of interest, Rosaria continued speaking without pause, as if boasting.
Her eyes sparkled, as if she had completely forgotten her earlier concerns for the baby bird.
"The way she calls for me has changed, too. I'm certain she's calling my name now. She's on a completely different level of gentleness compared to the young masters who always just call out 'Hey!' And also......."
Feeling weary, as if she would never stop unless someone made her, Kaide raised a hand.
"Enough."
"......In any case, the point is that I would like you, Lord Gaju, to visit occasionally so the young miss doesn't feel anxious."
"I'm busy."
"I request that you do the bare minimum as her guardian."
"As I recall, you recently requested a budget increase, which I also approved."
Rosaria had requested a considerable sum, and Kaide had approved it.
He had already been as accommodating as possible.
But Rosaria shook her head firmly, insisting it wasn't enough.
A growing child is sensitive. And perceptive.
No matter who was there to look after her, the absence of a guardian was a different matter entirely.
Rosaria was convinced that the cause of the baby bird's recent mood swings was the guardian's absence.
"I ask that you come see the young miss, Lord Gaju."
At her strong request, Kaide seemed to consider it for a moment, then unexpectedly nodded.
"Fine. I'll go see her."
"When do you plan to visit?"
"After I finish my work. So you can leave now, Rosaria."
Kaide pointed to the door with a crooked smile.
It was a clear dismissal.
Frowning, Rosaria reluctantly left the room.
His workflow interrupted, Kaide set down his pen and fell into thought.
Needing a guardian. Don't they usually grow up on their own?
Kaide, who based all standards of growth on his own childhood, let out a short laugh.
"The little thing grew a tail?"
Now that was a rather tantalizing and interesting story.
***
Blink, blink.
I groggily opened my eyes from under the covers.
It seemed I had fallen asleep while deeply pondering how I was going to live from now on.
*Chirp.*
Still drowsy, I rubbed my sleepy eyes and sat there blankly, looking around.
The room was too quiet.
What's going on?
Normally, Rosaria would have greeted me cheerfully by now.
Puzzled, I glanced around the room and called for Rosaria.
*Chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp.*
Silence.
*Chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp.*
Rosaria must have stepped out for an errand while I was asleep. She can't stay by my side all day, after all.
I knew that, but now that it was actually happening, I felt lonely.
To be all alone in such a big room. I wiggled my way completely out from under the covers.
When will Rosaria be back?
*Chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp...*
As I sat perched on the edge of the bed, swinging my legs, I felt an intense gaze from somewhere.
Huh? What was that?
There's no one here, so why do I keep feeling like someone is watching me?
*Chirp?*
I snapped my head up.
And was startled out of my wits.
*Cheep?!*
"You react as if you've seen something you shouldn't have."
The landlord was leaning against the doorway with his arms crossed, watching me.
Ah, you scared me.
I quickly pressed a wing over my heart. *Thump, thump, thump.* My chest was pounding.
Of all the times to run into the landlord, it had to be when I was alone.
As I stared at him with a flustered expression, the landlord approached and spoke.
"I was getting bored of waiting and was about to leave. You're awake."
"......*Peep!*"
"I hear you've grown a tail?"
To my surprise, the landlord knew that I had grown a tail.
Rosaria must have tipped him off.
I nodded slowly, backing away with each step he took toward me.
As if mocking my retreat, the landlord strode forward without hesitation.
Despite the distance, his long legs closed the gap in just a few strides.
I pressed myself flat against the wall and froze.
Wh-what do I do...
*Peep, peeep!*
Stay away! You're scary!
As I watched the landlord with utmost caution, he leaned back and sat in the chair Rosaria always used.
His blatant stare was unnerving.
I swallowed dryly, and the landlord suddenly spoke.
"Turn around."
*Cheep, cheep!*
"Rosaria said you were growing, but you don't look it. Where is this tail supposed to be attached?"
The landlord seemed genuinely curious.
Don't tell me he came all the way here just to check on that?
He was staring at me intently, like someone seeing a tail for the very first time.
I quickly hid my tail.
Why is the landlord suddenly so interested in my tail?
His expression was blank, making it hard to read his intentions.
*Peep!*
Go away!
I puffed up my body and flapped my wings.
Watching me, the corners of the landlord's mouth lifted ever so slightly.
"Is that supposed to be a threat?"
*Chirp!*
"With just that?"
For a moment, a strange light flickered in the landlord's eyes. He was looking at my wings.
My very short wings, fluffy with baby down, were raised cutely toward the sky.
"Interesting."
*Cheep!*
What should I do?
Nothing I did posed the slightest threat to the man before me.
If anything, I seemed to have piqued his curiosity even more.
After watching me for a long while, the landlord finally reached out with his terrifyingly large hand.
*Peep!*
I squeezed my eyes shut.
I expected to be snatched up at any moment, unable to move.
But as time passed, I felt nothing.
Hm?
When I cautiously opened my eyes, the landlord was muttering in confusion.
"I thought this was how Rosaria did it."
The landlord was holding out his palm, just like Rosaria did. Was he expecting me to climb on?
*Chirp?*
"Is this not it?"
When I hesitated, he pushed his hand even closer.
"I heard you've been listless lately. Why is that?"
Because if I grow up quickly, I'll have to leave the house.
"And that your tail has been drooping all day?"
"......*Cheep.*"
I had forgotten. My mood soured on its own.
I could feel my tail, which I still couldn't control at will, drooping on its own.
The landlord stared at me blankly for a moment, then picked up the snack Rosaria always prepared on the table.
Did he really think I would just gobble it up if he offered it?
"Eat."
My beak twitched, wanting to move on its own. The sweet-looking snack was calling to me.
But the snack does look delicious. Maybe just a little taste...?
Just a taste. The snack didn't do anything wrong.
I pecked at the snack the landlord offered. As I repeated this several times, the landlord spoke.
"You take it well."
*Chirp?*
"Like a dog."
......Like a what?
I spat out the snack. It seemed the landlord had decided to start a proper conflict with me.