Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Aileen Astrofel
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"You can't even eat properly."
The landlord clicked his tongue, looking at the snack I'd spat out.
Just like that, I was a baby bird who couldn't even eat properly.
That's not it!
"Chirp! Chirp, chirp!"
As I stomped my feet and shook my head in anger, the landlord gave a cold smile.
"If that's not it, don't tell me you spat it at *me*?"
"Chir, chiiirp..."
"How rude."
The landlord snatched me up. I felt my body lift into the air.
Startled, I flailed my legs, but I was completely helpless.
"You tiny thing."
The landlord smirked. My body tensed as he brought me right up to his face.
His face was stunningly beautiful.
His languid downward gaze was terrifying, yet his appearance was captivating enough to overshadow even that.
But I couldn't let his good looks fool me. The landlord had a rotten personality!
I glared defiantly at the landlord, and he scoffed as he looked me over.
"So you know how to glare, do you?"
"Chiiirp!"
"And here you are, less than a rabbit."
*Crash.*
What a shocking thing to say. Me? Less than a rabbit?
That's not true. If anyone has ever seen a baby bird this cute and pretty, I dare them to show themselves!
It was an incredibly rude thing to say about me, especially since I'm still growing.
"Chiiirp!"
"I feed you, give you a place to sleep, and raise you. And this is the thanks I get? What an ungrateful little bird."
The landlord began to complain, making sure I could hear him.
I flinched.
After all, I knew that my current life was only possible with his permission.
I sullenly lowered my defiant gaze.
When I stopped squirming and tucked my feet in neatly, the landlord looked me over with an expression of curiosity.
His gaze seemed to say, *So such a creature actually exists.*
"Small."
"..."
"Still, have you grown a bit?"
"...Chirp."
I gave a timid nod.
"I heard you can't even take human form yet. Are you lacking somewhere?"
*Throb.*
It's because I'm still a baby!
As I kicked my legs in protest, the landlord settled into a leisurely posture, as if daring me to continue.
Holding me with just one arm,
Exhausted, I sulkily whipped my head away.
Then I felt a finger poke my cheek.
"Chirp!"
"The little thing knows how to throw a tantrum, I see."
"Chirp!"
My mood souring, I strained my wings, trying to break free from his grasp.
Nngh.
Nngh!
Ugh... I'm out of energy.
"Chirp!"
*Let me go!*
I pecked his arm with my beak, and he chuckled before setting me down.
On high alert, I scurried behind a cushion to hide. Then, I peeked my head out.
*Why aren't you leaving? Go away already.*
"This is my house."
The landlord, seeming to read my thoughts, lifted his chin and smiled.
Right. This was his house. This room was his, too. So was this cushion, and that snack.
As the reality of my situation sank in and my shoulders slumped, the landlord, who had been watching me quietly, spoke.
"On second thought, having a daughter might not be so bad. For the time being, at least."
"...Chirp?"
"So I've thought of a name for you."
*What is he talking about?*
My eyes widened at his unbelievable words.
I was hearing something I'd never expected.
"Aileen."
"...Chirp?"
"From now on, that is your name. Aileen Astrofel."
In that moment, an unfamiliar emotion washed over me.
*Is he really giving me that name?*
I'd never had a name before, so no one had ever called me by one.
Was that why?
The fact that someone had called me by a name felt utterly unreal.
Aileen Astrofel. It seemed that from now on, this was my name.
Forgetting even to breathe, I stared blankly at the landlord.
"What, you don't like the name?"
"Chiiirp!"
I quickly shook my head to show that wasn't it. I was just a little surprised.
"Chirp, chirp, chirp..."
*Oh, what do I do? I love it so much.* As I chirped my new name to myself a few times, the man's red eyes glanced toward the door.
At that same moment, the door burst open.
"Young Lady! I'm so sorry I'm late... Gaju-nim?"
"You've arrived, Rosaria."
"Chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp!"
I greeted Rosaria happily, stretching my wings wide.
Spotting me behind the cushion, Rosaria hurried over.
"Young Lady!"
*I missed you!*
I snuggled into her arms, rubbing my cheek against hers, and Rosaria laughed softly. A sense of calm washed over me in her familiar embrace.
"Were you startled that I wasn't here?"
"Chirp!"
I hugged Rosaria tightly and nodded.
Once I'd calmed down a bit, I peeked over her shoulder at the landlord.
He stood at a slight angle, watching us.
He wore an expression of vague displeasure.
"My dear Young Lady, are you hungry?"
"Chiiirp."
I shook my head. I was still full from the snack I'd eaten earlier.
"Did you get along all right with the Gaju-nim?"
*Hmm. Did I?*
I had to think about it. The landlord had given me a snack, and... he'd given me a name.
Come to think of it, his touch had seemed very careful when he first picked me up.
"Chirp."
When I nodded to say that I had, Rosaria looked surprised.
The corners of the landlord's mouth curved up in satisfaction.
"So she says."
The landlord straightened up.
It seemed he was about to leave now that Rosaria had arrived.
Just as he grabbed the doorknob to leave, the landlord paused.
"Ah."
"...?"
"From now on, she's not the Young Lady. She's Aileen."
***
It was a warm afternoon.
I was having a picnic with Rosaria in the garden. Lying on a mat spread out by the fountain, I soaked in the sunlight.
I hugged the yellow cushion Rosaria had brought and lay down, letting the warm sun envelop me.
*Ah, this is nice.*
"Lady Aileen."
"Chirp."
Ever since the landlord gave me a name, the way Rosaria addressed me had changed.
From 'Young Lady' to 'Lady Aileen'.
It was a little awkward, but I liked it very much. I love my name!
If I could, I'd say it all day long. But I couldn't do that just yet.
I didn't know what sudden whim had possessed the landlord to give me a name, but a good thing was a good thing.
*Does this mean I can stay in this house for now?*
He did say he would acknowledge me as his daughter for the time being, so that seemed to be the case.
I had to struggle to keep the corners of my beak from curling up into a goofy grin.
*I have a name, and a place to stay for a while!*
*Rustle, rustle.*
The ticklish sensation of a hand stroking my soft feathers made my body go limp with relaxation.
I rolled over, wanting her to stroke the other side, when I heard an unfamiliar voice chuckling nearby.
"Ho ho, Lady Rosaria. It seems you've come out for a walk with Lady Aileen."
"Chirp?"
"Are you enjoying your walk?"
"...Chirp, chirp."
I gave an awkward nod and studied the unfamiliar old man.
For some reason, more and more people in the family had been coming up to acknowledge me lately.
This time, the appearance of an old man I'd never seen before made me bolt upright.
"How well-mannered you are."
"Chirp."
"Ho ho. And where did such a lovely daughter come from?"
And surprisingly, the people here were incredibly open-minded.
Even though I was a bird, they seemed to accept me as the landlord's daughter without a second thought.
Anywhere else, I probably would have been cast out long ago.
After all, even those of mixed blood were often abandoned by their own clans.
"Lady Rosaria, is it not uncomfortable for you, staying at the family estate after so long?"
"I'm quite all right. You needn't worry, Jeras."
"I see."
Another thing I'd recently learned was that Rosaria's status was much higher than I'd expected.
Most people spoke to her with formal deference.
*She's amazing! So cool!*
"Seeing your bright expression, it seems the matter that was worrying you has been resolved?"
"Ah, that matter. It was resolved quite easily, thanks to the Gaju-nim stepping in personally."
"The Gaju-nim did?"
*That can't be right.*
Rosaria's expression was one of complete disbelief.
At that, Jeras chuckled.
"It's true. The Gaju-nim swept them all away, from the Anead Plains all the way to the Benea River."
"Goodness. Then that's almost to the neutral zone, isn't it?"
"That's right. It's as if a new sanctuary has been created in the south."
"Goodness."
Rosaria covered her mouth. I was just as stunned.