CH 20

20. King of Birds (1)

“That is…”

She heard the secret. Lasilia calmly found a way to pass the situation.

‘It’s fine. I was only caught listening to what the bird was saying. They won’t think that I’m not the Empress.’

The problem was that she was so shocked to hear that it was born from the heart that she couldn’t think of anything else. She should have been more careful.

“…If so, is it strange?”

The doctor covered her mouth with her hand. It was to cover her bulging exclamation.

“Oh, how. No-no-No wonder, Her Majesty the Empress. It’s not anywhere else, it’s Eliarden. Witchcraft, magic, and spirits are long gone, but Eliarden still has the most powerful magic.”

The most powerful sorcery was the sorcery of subjugation related to demons and their blood.

“Since Her Majesty is inherited by the blood of a shaman, wouldn’t that be the case?”

The doctor’s eyes sparkle.

‘This isn’t it…’

At first, she thought no one would believe Lasilia when she said she talked to birds. She thought of passing it off as if the Empress had lied on a regular basis. She thought that if she was a doctor who knew the character of the Empress, she would pass on while pretending to agree with her in moderation. 

‘I think she really believes it.’

She came now and there was no way she could pretend she wasn’t back.

“What is your name?”

“Ah yes. I am a court lady assigned to the Empress Palace a month ago, and my name is Yvette.”

“Yes, Yvette. I will remember that name. Can you keep this a secret? People doesn’t want to hear that the Empress is crazy because she lost her memory.”

“O, of course!”

The court lady named Yvette prostrated herself again.

“Beep!”

The newborn bird pecked Lasilia’s hand. She said she was hungry.

“This… So what should I give you? What do birds eat?”

“Beep…”

“You don’t know either?”

“Beep!”

She didn’t know because she was just born, she said.

“What? I’ve never raised a bird before.”

Lasilia was fortunate in many ways that it was Yvette who witnessed what happened today. The doctor, who had only been in the Empress’ palace for a month, did not know the Empress very well. It was time for her to roughly guess what the atmosphere was like, but she didn’t always see with her own two eyes what the Empress did. She also had less of her antipathy toward the Empress.

Yvette raised her head cautiously, she said.

“The bird eats grain or vegetables, Your Majesty the Empress. If they are a bit bigger, they will also eat bugs. I know this well because I raised birds when I was young. Shall I come prepared?”

“That…”

“Of course, no one will know. I, that is to say, if Her Majesty tells me to do so.”

The doctor, who said that she had been in the Empress’ palace for a month, was quick-witted and kind. Besides, she knew how to take care of birds.

“Beep…”

“…”

Lasilia and the little bird’s eyes met. The little bird nodded her head once, which meant it was fine.

“Then don’t leave it to me.”

“Yes, Her Majesty! Glory comes!”

Yvette jumped up and left her room.

“Beep.”

What did the little bird say? Yvette said she was a harmless human being so it would be nice to have her by her side.

“How do you know that?”

Lasilia opened her eyes wide and tilted her head at the little bird.

“You didn’t even know what you ate.”

“Beep!”

“That is that and this is this? I don’t think it makes sense though.”

“Pippi. Beep!” said the little bird.

“Ah…”

It was born for her and it existed for her, so it could instinctively distinguish what was good for her and what was not.

“Strange… Are you sure he… So, did that demon make it with its own heart?”

“Beep.”

“Don’t you know? You don’t know who made you, but do you know you were born for me?”

“Beep.”

There were many more things that the newborn bird did not know. The only thing in the bird’s head was the reason he was born. It was created from someone’s heart to protect someone. Just like in that dream.

“Hey.”

“Beep?”

“That would be right. That you were born for someone.”

“Beep!”

The bird nodded vigorously.

“But that won’t be for me. Maybe you were born just now, so you can’t tell the difference yet.”

“Beep?”

Was this bird born for the Empress? It would be more correct to say that he was born for a real companion who was not yet known. At any given time, the Emperor would surely find the companion who was destined to be born as his couple and bring her to the Empress’ palace. This little bird might have been born in advance to prepare for the day.

“Until you meet the person you will protect, I will take care of you.”

“Beep?”

The bird blinked its eyes as if it didn’t know what that meant.

“So you’d better keep your existence a secret.”

It could be misunderstood if it became known that she was taking care of a bird that was born for a companion, not a real Empress or a real companion.

“Beep?”

The little bird’s eyes widened. What did it mean by that?

“It will take two days. I’m hiding for two days.”

If the blue moon appeared, wouldn’t the Emperor return? Before that, it was said that he would stick by her side for two months, but Lasilia didn’t believe it. It must have been a decision she made before the Blue Moon because her heart was in a hurry. Above all, it did not seem that the Emperor would be able to abandon his life for such a long period of time.

“But just in case, if the Emperor says he’ll still be in the Empress’ palace after two days, let’s pretend you’re just an ordinary bird.”

“Beep!”

The little bird puffed up its tiny thorn-like fluff and raised its voice. It was cute to show off his temper with a small body that was still less than two fingers tall, but also worried about the future.

“Sorry. But now I think that’s for the best.”

“Pip!”

“I’ll promise. I will do my best so that the person you need to protect appears.”

“Beep?”

The little bird tilted its head.

“You don’t know why? I don’t know what you don’t know. Anyway, please know that I’m trying too. Don’t be too angry.”

“Beep.”

The bird said it was too hungry to say more and sat down in a corner of the dressing table. Lasilia took her handkerchief from her drawer, folded it several times, and placed her bird on it.

“Even then, I won’t be so soft. You need a place to eat and sleep… ah!”

She just realized, within this vast imperial palace, the perfect place for a bird to stay.

* * *

“Well, by the way, Her Majesty, how on earth do you know a road like this?”

Yvette returned quickly to find new food. Fortunately, it was before the Emperor came. Lasilia, along with Yvette, went to the tower where the emperor had been hiding before. Yvette was surprised again and again as she moved along the inner road from the Empress’ palace, a corridor rarely even used by courtiers.

“You didn’t lose your memory… No no, I don’t mean that.”

“The bird told me.”

“Yes? Bird, is it a bird?”

“He seems to know the way well, having lived in the imperial palace.”

Yvette believed this without question.

“And… It’s really amazing. I thought this was a story that only appeared in the founding tale… Since the imperial palace is the beginning of Eliadon, it seems that the mysterious things of the past still remain.”

“You seem to know the story of Eliardon well.”

“Ah, yes. Before entering the Imperial Palace, I worked in the library, Her Majesty. I like to read books.”

Somehow, a conversation ensued, and that Yvette came from a suitable family of knights, and that after her father died of a chronic illness at a young age, it was difficult for her to make a living, so she gave up her studies and found a job. He even learned the trivial matter that he had come to the imperial palace, which guarantees

“Beep!”

And what the bird said was right. Yvette was harmless and helpful. She might still be a bit murky about the circumstances of the imperial palace, but she had a very knowledgeable maid besides that.

“Your Majesty the Empress. What did the bird say even now?”

Yvette asked with a curious look on her face as she saw the little bird wriggling on her shoulder and Lasilia giggling and running her fingers through her tiny head.

“They say you are trustworthy.”

“Yes? No, really? How can a bird know that? It’s really amazing.”

At the same time, the wide-open eyes seemed like a clear-headed person.

‘…But Flotta did too.’

She herself had no idea what Flotta was thinking. It was only when Flotta stabbed her in the back that she realized the betrayal.

‘I can’t rely on it too much.’

She read Lasilia’s expression. 

‘The bird did. She can instinctively know what is good and bad for the person she is supposed to protect. So, Yvette is someone who will be helpful to my real partner, not me.’

The more he did, the more he thought that she had to find her place as soon as possible.

“This is it.”

Lasilia opened the door to the northern tower.

“Huh, isn’t this the North Tower?”

After escaping the hidden passage and climbing the tower, Yvette recognized the location.

“Do you know this place?”

“No. No. I just listened. She said that there is a separate palace guard in charge of the northern tower. I heard that the job is difficult, so the new courtiers can’t even come in.”

“The job is tricky… It could be.”

After climbing all the stairs, Lasilia knocked on the door of the room at the top of the tower.

Knock, knock.

“Lord Shryden. May I come in?”

The answer came clearly.

“Welcome!”

A blush ran across Yvette’s face. It seemed like a sense of anticipation.

“A duke who lives in the tower of the imperial palace. It’s so amazing. I feel like I entered a fairy tale book.”

Lasilia laughed lightly.

“Perhaps. I feel like this is a different place too. Lord Shryden is also very amazing.”

“What should I do? Should I open the door?”

Yvette opened the door with a flushed face and bowed her head respectfully.

“Your Majesty is eating.”

Lasilia entered the room first. Then Yvette came in and shut the door. At the same time, exclamations erupted from both sides.

“Oh my god! Is that the Duke? Is it real?”

“Oh my god! King, the King has come!”

The Duke of Shryden flew in front of Lasilia.

“King! The King has come! King of Birds! Father of all birds!”

Yvette stared at the Duke of Shryden, forgetting to breathe, then lowered her voice to Lasilia.

“Are you the king of birds? Oh, so I guess you understand what the birds are saying?”

“Well… I didn’t say anything like that last time.”

Landing at Lasilia’s feet, the Duke of Shrydon lowered his head like a human and put his forehead on the floor.

“This body is the 1st of Shraiden! Greetings to the King of Birds!”

The really amazing thing happened next.

“Beep.”

When the little bird said something, the Duke of Shryden raised his head. Placing one wing in front of the chest seemed extremely polite.

“Welcome, King.”