Chapter 12

“Let’s do this then. You and I will leave for the palace first.”2

“Leaving Adele?”

“It won’t be long before you and I fly away. Then, we’ll send a carriage to here. Do you know what’s a carriage?”

“I know.”

“I will send a carriage to Adele so that she can come safely to the palace without being rained on and encountering any bad people on the way. Until then, you and I will prepare a room for Adele in the imperial palace.”

“A room for Adele…”

“Where is Adele’s room?”

At Jenson’s words, Sigmund pointed his finger at the attic of the opposite house.

“It’s an attic. It’s small, neat and and nice.”

Jenson laughed and shrugged.

“But there’s no attic in the palace, so you and I will prepare a large, beautiful room for Adele. Bring a fluffy bed, decorate it with beautiful flowers, and fill the closets with dresses. How about that?”

“…”

Sigmund imagined what Jenson was saying in his head.

Pretty room, nice beds, and closets filled with clothes. And Adele smiling happily.

It was only a few days away.

“A lot, should I stay away?”

“A little.”

“How  many nights?”

“Five nights or so?”

“Five nights.”

Five nights.

Sigmund thought a little.

He have to stay away from Adele for five nights. But if he go with Adele, those bad people might bother Adele.

Just five nights.

After that, we can stay together without ever separating apart.

“Then when we go to the Imperial Palace, I don’t have to hide in the barn?”

“Of course.”

“Can I play with Adele?”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

‘I can play with Adele in bright broad daylight. I don’t have to hide anymore.’

Sigmund’s heart pounded.

Because something like this is what he wanted.

Make Adele happy, stay together without separation, but not hiding.

“Okay, I’ll come with you.”

Sigmund replied and Jenson’s grinned at his answer.

“Then shall we go right now?”

“I have to tell Adele.”

“Where’s Adele?”

“I don’t know about that. Adele didn’t come to the barn today.”

“Let’s do this then. I’ll go look for Adele and you stay still as where you are now. Okay?”

“Yes.”

Jenson, who returned to the form of a crow as Sigmund stepped back slightly, flapped his wings and flew up.

Watching the black crow fly toward the window of the attic, Sigmund squatted in the seat.

“The Imperial Palace.”

It’s was a strange word, but it felt like a good place.

It was best to say that he could take Adele with him.

“What a good day it is today… “1

Thunder rumbled again outside the barn, lightning flashing across the sky.

***

Pudduck.

Anna, who turned her head to the window at the sound of  wings, frowned her.

“Unhappy crow.”

“I know. A crow on a rainy day. A bad luck.”

Anna and Mina were busy grooming Adele’s hair for a long time.

Caught by her two cousins, Adele was confused to watch her hair turn strange without knowing anything.

Adele’s new clothes were hanging on the chair.

And shoes.

What the hell is going on here?

Adele still did not know what was going on.

Why did my uncle, aunt and sisters suddenly become so kind?

It was scary as how kind they were to her then usual.

“Excuse me, Sister Anna. I don’t know why you’re doing this all of a sudden…”

“Ask my mother later.”

“That’s  right. She’ll tell you everything.”

Anna and Mina grinned suspiciously to each other.

It was then.

Thunder-!

“Ahhhh!”

“Kyaaak!”

Anna and Mina screamed as they were startled by the thunder.

“Aaah!”

The windows suddenly burst open and the wind that poured in and the lanterns that had been left in the room shook and the light blow off.

“Kyaaa!”

“I’m scared!”

“Mother!”

Thunder and lightning, were on a clash.

Adele was left alone in the room when Anna and Mina fled from the wind and rain.

Adele wasn’t exactly afraid of this situation.

This darkness was always familiar.

This kind of rain and wind was familiar.

“I have to light the candles again…”

The embers are in the kitchen’s fireplace.

However, it was difficult to look like this and go to the kitchen.

It’s because the undergarments and the hair they combed decisively was all messed up.

Clup.

Adele heard footsteps in the dark.

It was the sound of wet feet.

Even though it was midday, it was dark outside and the room was pitch-dark.

So Adele didn’t know whose footsteps it was, even though she heard footsteps.

“Sister? Sister Anna? Sister Mina?”

But the reply that came back was a strange voice.

“Hello, Adele.”

It was the first time she heard this male voice.

“Who is…”

Who is it?

It’s my first time hearing this voice, but it’s not scary.

Why is that?

“You’re Adele, aren’t you? I’m a friend of Sigmund. Sigmund told me about you, Adele.”

“Sigmund’s…Friend?”

Adele was astonished at his words.

She was sure and that’s what she thought that no one knew Sigmund’s existence. But he’s friends?

How are you friends?

How did this man meet Sigmund without her knowing it?

Maybe he’s a bad guy.

If he had met Sigmund, he would have seen the wings.

Adele suddenly became anxious.

“How did you…?”

“Sigmund was born from an egg?”

“It was…”

“It was a big beautiful egg. Silvery shining, like that.”

Only Adele saw the egg.

After Sigmund came out of the egg, the broken eggshells were well buried in the ground.

No one saw it.

But how does this man know that?

‘Don’t tell me…’

Anxiety struck up in the depths of Adele’s heart.

‘This is the master of the egg?’

The egg containing Sigmund was in a hole in the base of the tree.

If it had been such a big egg, the bird that laid the egg would have been huge.

But no such big bird can get into the hole.

Above all, Adele has raised chickens and ducks.

Then someone must have put the egg there.

Is this the guy who hid the eggs?

‘Are you here to find Sigmund?’

Is he here to take Sigmund?

Adele’s heart throbbed.

Anxiety swept her chest and her palms were sweaty.

“A, are you…..here to take Si, Sigmund?

Adele’s voice wondered if he noticed the tremors in her voice.

The man laughed in the dark.

“Of course I’ll take him. I can’t leave him here, can I?”

“Oh…”

“You know that, right? You know that Sigmund is not a normal kid, don’t you?”

“I know that, but…”

“What did you think Sigmund was?”

“I don’t know. But Sigmund is just Sigmund.”

“Just Sigmund?”

“No. A child in need of help. A child who needs a lot of care.”

“Ah, yes it is. Aye, but there are a lot of people who will take care of Sigmund. Many people are waiting for Sigmund now.”

“Many…”

Do he has a family?

If he has a family, of course he should go back.

In what position am I to hold on to him?

“Even if I take him back, you won’t feel sad, will you?”

“I…”

“It’s only been a few days. It’s only been less than a month. It’s too short of a time to get attached.”

“No. It’s not short.”

She had affection for him since the first day.

She have already grown attached to the egg since she fell asleep holding it in her arms.

It’s only been a few days, but already Sigmund has become a precious treasure to Adele.

He is more precious than her uncle’s family who lived with her for nine years.

“Sigmund is precious. Because I love him.”

“Love?”

The man was dumbfounded but then laughed out.

Adele clenched her fists as she listened to the light wind-like laughter.

“He’s my family. Since he’s a family, I love him, and it’s sad that we’ll be apart  because I love him. It’s natural.”

“Family…”

The man was silent for a moment.

Adele’s ear caught a light breathing.

When the man thought, he didn’t say a word but then he let a small laughed   again.

“Can you say family even after you know what it is?”

“I don’t care what Sigmund is.”

“Even if it’s a monster?”

“Pardon?”

“What if one day he become a giant monster and do something scary, even though he’s so small for now? Are you’re still gonna say he’s precious? Can you call him a family then? Won’t you run away just because you’re scared?”

“No. I’m not running away. I’m not scared. Sigmund is a Sigmund in any form.”

“Aha.”

Chabuk.

(Sound effects idk how to make that sound)1

The sound of the man’s wet feet hit the floor.

And in the darkness the man walked lightly and stood beside Adele.

A cold finger touched Adele’s head lock slightly.

“Adele.”

She trembled at the whispering of the strange man.

“Sigmund has to leave now.”

“That’s…!”

“Here.”

The man pressed Adele’s shoulder with his hand.

“Listen to the end, okay? Sigmund is leaving with me now. Just wait a little longer. I’ll come to pick you up.”

“Yes?”

“I’m coming to pick you up. I’ll send you a carriage, so wait. It’ll take about five days. When the carriage comes to pick you up, don’t doubt it and get in. Then the carriage will take you to Sigmund. You understand me, don’t you?

Carriage.

Five days.

Stay away from Sigmund for five days?

Where will the carriage take her?

Is this man trying to take Sigmund to a certain place?

But.

“Yes.”

Anywhere was fine.

There was no affection here anyway.

She really wanted to leave, but she couldn’t because she had nowhere to go.

If she could, she wanted to go to Sigmund and a place where she could live in comfort.

But if she can leave now, yes. She can wait five days.

No matter how long she have to wait, she can wait if she can live without being noticed and hidden.

“Yes, I’ll wait. I’ll take the carriage.”

“You’re smart. You’re smart, but why is he stupid?”2

Muttering to himself, the man hung something on Adele’s neck.

Even in the dark Adele could see it was a necklace.

It was a necklace with a small jewel at the end.

“What is this?”

“It’s a token.”

“A token?”

“A token that connects you and me. A kind of bond that allows me to know right away what happens to you in five days. So don’t take it off your neck.”

“Okay. But your name is…”

“Jenson.”

“Sir Jenson.”

“Lord Jenson.”

“Ah, yes. Lord Jenson.”

“Let’s get along well in the future, Adele.

A tap on Adele’s shoulder pushed the man back.

“I think we’ll get along.”

“Well…”

Before Adele could asked anything again, she thought she could hear the sound of flapping and the dark room lit up.

The fire, which had been extinguished by the rain and wind, came back in.