TIRS 64

CHAPTER 64…………….

: Piya Has Turned into a Human!

[SYSTEM] You have failed the quest and will receive a penalty.

I stared at the system notification with a look of despair.

“How about spending some time with me on the last day of the festival?”

Enzer, having finally snapped out of his competitive pride, returned to his usual charming self and asked with a grin.

“I already have plans with Maria that day.”

Unlike Azester, in Luenhart, the power of the temple outweighed the king’s authority.

Instead of telling me to break my promise with the saint, Enzer proposed an alternative.

“Then, while you’re staying in Luenhart, let’s spend at least one day together.”

“…….”

I couldn’t answer immediately.

Because the young ladies had been listening in on our conversation with keen interest.

‘This kind of thing should only be said in private!’

I mentally scolded Enzer, but…

“All right.”

Against my will, my lips betrayed me and accepted his proposal.

[SYSTEM] As a quest failure penalty, you accept ’s date invitation.
[SYSTEM] ’s affection decreases by 17. (Affection: -441)

At the same time, an alert notified me that Helena’s affection had dropped.

Glancing back, I saw Helena, unable to interrupt our conversation, clenching her fists tightly.

I had a feeling this was going to be exhausting.

Even though I had failed the quest, I couldn’t bring myself to admit that Anselot was inferior to Enzer.

Back at the prince’s palace, I cornered people and demanded their opinions.

“You are honest, so tell me what you really think and feel.”

“Ask anything, my lady.”

Claus replied in a solemn tone. My trust surged, and I asked with burning eyes:

“Who’s more handsome, Crown Prince Enzer or Prince Anselot?”

“…….”

Claus remained silent for a moment. Then, in a firm voice, he answered:

“I know that disobeying a command from my lord is not proper for a servant. However, I was also taught that failing to call wrong what is wrong is the greatest disloyalty.”

“Uh…?”

“Judging a person by their outward appearance is not right, Your Highness.”

“…….”

Thanks to him, my mouth went dry.

“I… I’m sorry, Sir Claus.”

I had to apologize in front of his unwavering principles.

Next, I went to Illei.

“Illei, what do you think?”

“Handsome?”

Illei tilted his head in confusion.

“I mean… whose face looks better between the two of them?”

“?”

Illei had no concept of being handsome.

For my last hope, I tried asking Piya… but

“Piya, you…”

Chirp! Churrrp! Churrrriiiiip!

—Bad Anselot! Naughty Anselot! Down with Anselot!

I gave up asking Piya altogether.

In the end, I failed to get answers from anyone.

Some time later, on the last day of the festival, when I had promised to meet Maria…

Even though it was still early, Maria had arrived at the prince’s palace. I served her tea and casually asked:

“What do you think, Maria?”

“Hmm… You mean, who’s better-looking between Prince Anselot and Crown Prince Enzer?”

Maria set down her teacup and answered in a gentle voice.

“Neither is particularly great, but if I had to pick the less bad one, it would be Prince Anselot.”

As she spoke, a very kind and serene smile stayed on Maria’s face.

“…So you think Crown Prince Enzer is more handsome than Anselot?”

“If I must answer, yes.”

Maria’s clear answer hit me like a bolt of lightning, and I buried my head in the table.

“This is impossible.”

Everyone could see that Anselot was far more handsome. Why? Why?

Had my eyes really been clouded by some sort of enchantment, as Enzer claimed?

No, that couldn’t be. Anselot and I weren’t even lovers…

Maybe the Luenhart kingdom just had strange standards of beauty.

After all, aesthetic standards vary by culture.

But no matter how different the standards, could anyone really say that Crown Prince Enzer was more handsome than someone like Anselot?

While I was lost in confusion…

“Oh, by the way. I brought a gift for Prince Anselot.”

Maria held up a small box to get my attention.

“A gift for Anselot?”

“Yes. After the misunderstanding last time, I thought we could reconcile.”

It wasn’t a misunderstanding—it was a real kidnapping…

‘Maria really is an angel.’

I admired her generous spirit.

Inside the box were beautifully decorated cookies.

“Did you make these yourself?”

“Hehe. During the festival, the temple sells cookies infused with sacred power.”

“Sacred power?”

“Yes, these cookies carry the power of Amor, the goddess of love and truth.”

Listening to Maria, the ordinary cookies suddenly seemed sacred.

“And here’s a gift for you, Louibel.”

Maria smiled and handed me a present.

A cookie box similar to Anselot’s. And…

“A monocle?”

I tilted my head at the shiny silver monocle, and Maria explained kindly:

“It’s the latest trend in Luenhart. I infused it with sacred power, so this monocle will protect you from danger.”

“Thank you so much.”

I accepted the gift without hesitation.

[SYSTEM] You have obtained <Maria’s Monocle Infused with Sacred Power>.

“I didn’t even think about gifts.”

“For me, just going to the festival with you is the greatest gift,” Maria said.

Maria was just too kind.

At that moment, we heard footsteps and turned our heads.

Anselot and Piya had just entered the reception room.

Piya, whose size had noticeably grown in the past few days, was being held by Anselot’s hand.

Chirp!

—Ruru! Bad Anselot is being mean to Piya!

Piya flapped her wings and pecked at Anselot’s hand.

Churrrp!

—I’ve heard dogs aren’t touched while eating!

Recently, Piya had been growing so fast that I was genuinely worried about her.

‘What if her belly bursts?’

‘No way. Even if birds are greedy, they’re not that stupid.’

‘She couldn’t even fly properly the last time she overate.’

Anselot had started managing Piya’s weight, which left her in a foul mood.

“Oh my.”

Maria covered her mouth with both hands, looking shocked.

“Being so rough with such a tiny bird…”

Although it was Piya pecking at Anselot’s hand, Maria didn’t know the context and thought Anselot was being rough.

“Just in time, Anselot!”

I quickly greeted Anselot and diverted the conversation.

“Maria brought you a gift—cookies infused with sacred power…”

Then…

Churrrriiiip!

—A sacred cookie for someone like Anselot!

Piya, no longer restrained, grabbed the cookie from Anselot’s hand.

“Ah…!”

A look of surprise flickered across Maria’s face.

Chirp Chirp!

—Cookies! Cookies!

Piya gleefully nibbled on the cookie.

Bang!

A loud noise and a white smoke engulfed Piya…

“Chirp?”

From the mouth of a pretty girl with light green hair tied in pigtails came a “chirp.”

Covered in cookie crumbs, she tilted her head, and I screamed.

“Piya!”

“Chirp?”

“A cookie that turns a bird into a human! I’ve never seen anything like this!”

Louibel exclaimed in excitement.

“Hoho, it’s a magical cookie that transforms someone into the form they admire most.”

“So she admired me enough to become human!”

Not at all.

The cookie Maria brought was supposed to turn the eater into an animal.

Anselot was supposed to eat it, become an animal, and I could enjoy the festival with Louibel without him around.

But that gluttonous little pig-bird ate the cookie instead and turned into a human!

It was like trying to remove one bump and accidentally adding another.

Of course, it wasn’t permanent; she would return to her normal form in a few days…

“Oh my, you’re so cute, Piya!”

Maria, whose attention had been stolen by the little pig-bird, muttered in resentment—silently.

“You’ve really become a cute little girl.”

She smiled gently.

“Chirp? Ruru?”

Piya tilted her head, looked at her small, plump hands and body, then understood the situation and jumped.

“Waaah! Piya has turned into a human!”

Piya cried and nestled into Louibel’s arms.

“Don’t cry, Piya. You’re so cute like this.”

“Piya is supposed to be the great guiding bird king… what now?”

Maria comforted the sobbing Piya.

‘Stop crying and get off Louibel, you pig-bird.’

Maria tried to subtly pry Piya away from Louibel, but Piya clung even tighter, weeping.

Anselot, realizing Maria’s intention, narrowed his eyes and glared at her.

“Oh, right. Anselot. You have something to say to Maria.”

Louibel patted Piya’s back and subtly gestured to Anselot.

Anselot, reluctantly, offered a half-hearted apology.

“I suppose I must apologize for last time.”

His tone sounded more like a complaint than an apology.

“For Louibel’s sake, I’ll accept it specially.”

Then, Piya, who had stopped sobbing, lifted her head and widened her eyes.

“Why, Piya?”

Louibel asked, and Piya whispered something in her ear.

In that instant, Louibel’s face turned pale, as if facing a great disaster.