Chapter 08
One of them pecked at the monster’s two eyes. Then, the white-headed eagles worked in perfect unison to harass the blinded monster.
“Kiaaaah!”
The monster lost its direction and thrashed about in chaos. Soon after, it lost its mind and charged forward recklessly.
I watched from where I was waiting ahead and turned my head.
*Kwoom-!*
A heavy impact resonated as if an earthquake had struck.
The monster, having rammed its entire body into a massive boulder, collapsed weakly to the ground.
*Crrack.*
The rock that had shattered its skull split apart with a loud noise. The huge boulder fell, covering the fallen monster.
Soon, silence returned.
I cautiously approached the rock pinning the monster down. I needed to check if it was still breathing.
I picked up a tree branch and poked the monster’s arm. There was no sign of life.
“It’s deadā¦ā¦.”
Upon confirming the monster’s death, the white-headed eagles flew proudly towards me.
“Thank you.”
I stroked the heads of the white-headed eagles that had folded their wings and settled in front of me. Only then did I feel a sense of relief. It felt like I had gained a reliable support group.
The white-headed eagles I had petted took off one by one. However, there were only four of them in the air when there should have been five. My heart sank as I looked around.
“Ohā¦ā¦.”
One of the white-headed eagles lay dead. The wound left by the monster’s claws was severe.
I touched its body. It was still warm, but its heart wasn’t beating.
“I’m sorry.”
I hugged the body of the one who could no longer hear me.
And then.
I heard voices in a way I had never experienced before.
– That human kid is so tiny.
– And she’s awfully dirty.
It was a strange sensation, not the sound vibrating through my ears, but the meaning being directly conveyed to my head.
It wasn’t people speaking.
“Who’s there?”
The creatures hiding in the shadows slowly revealed themselves.
The animals surrounding me at a slight distance weren’t very large. They were forest animals like small roe deer, rabbits, squirrels, and foxes.
– The white-headed eagles protected that kid.
– A human who can command animals? I’ve never heard of that!
The animals each made a comment while observing me. They seemed full of curiosity about me.
“Um, excuse me.”
When I spoke, the animals were startled and hurriedly hid behind trees and into the bushes.
I gathered my courage and took a step closer.
“Oof!”
However, my short legs, exhausted from the battle with the monster, gave out, and I fell flat on my bottom.
*Plop-*
But my diaper acted as a cushion, so it didn’t hurt much.
– Pfft!
The animals giggled.
– It’s a human baby. So cute.
– She can’t even walk properly!
Maybe I seemed too much like a baby. My face flushed with slight embarrassment.
One of the white-headed eagles flew through the darkness. As it approached with a graceful flutter of its wings, a blue ribbon was tied around its ankle.
“Marilyn!”
Overjoyed, I reached out my arms and hopped up and down towards Marilyn. Marilyn enveloped me with her wings.
– I’m so relieved you’re safe, my little master.
Marilyn’s beak didn’t move. But I could clearly understand what she was saying.
“I can hear you.”
Marilyn folded her wings and stood before me.
– Your family’s ability has awakened. Congratulations.
Marilyn bowed her head respectfully, then carefully grabbed me with her talons, making sure not to tear my skin, and took flight.
– I have somewhere to take you for a moment. Hold on tight.
Marilyn flew me through the forest.
We arrived at a giant tree perched on a steep cliff, atop which was a massive white-headed eagle’s nest.
Marilyn silently pointed with her beak to a corner of the nest.
“Piiii…!”
I saw a grey puffball, its frail body curled up and shivering. It was a tiny baby bird, so small it looked like a clump of grey dust at first glance.
– The white-headed eagle that died was its mother.
Marilyn’s words clawed at my chest. I had taken the family of this tiny life away.
– We serve the powerful Tesaurus people. She gave her life willingly.
Marilyn said emphatically. Still, my heart didn’t feel any better.
– From now on, you must take care of it, little master.
“Me…?”
I pointed at myself with my chubby index finger, asking. Marilyn’s sharp, intelligent eyes, weary with age, nodded.
– I am old now. I want to spend the rest of my life back at the castle, serving your master’s estate, and then die.
Marilyn had been with my mother her entire life. Through her meetings with potential fathers, and during the time she bore and raised me.
The moment she lost my mother, Marilyn’s duty was essentially over.
“Okay.”
From now on, I had to create my own future with my own strength.
Marilyn affectionately touched her beak to my arm.
“You’ve worked hard.”
I stroked Marilyn’s head. Then, I crept closer to the white-headed eagle chick.
“Pii! Pi! Peep!”
Startled, the chick shrieked and cowered, shrinking its body. It looked just like the old me.
I lifted the baby white-headed eagle into my arms. I carefully stroked the creature, which was small but overflowed my hands.
The baby white-headed eagle was still trembling.
‘What would be a good name?’
I thought, tickling its fluffy feathers.
‘Audrey…’
The legendary female general, Audrey Astaire, was a coward as a child. But she grew into a brave warrior, defeating her enemies and becoming a hero of Euredia.
The mother of this baby bird was brave like that too.
‘I hope you become a magnificent bird like her.’
Hoping the frightened baby bird wouldn’t be scared, I held it protectively.
“Your name is Audrey!”
“Peep!”
The baby bird responded with a small flutter of its wings, seeming to like its new name. Audrey and I were carried by Marilyn back to where we had been.
The forest animals were waiting for us. Surrounded by gentle animals under the moonlight, chatting with them felt like a dream.
While I was unexpectedly having a pleasant time, the animals suddenly scattered.
Marilyn also flew far away.
“This way!”
A gruff man’s shout was heard.
Dozens of feet pounded the ground as they ran across the forest. Frightened, I held Audrey tightly.
I saw points of light moving between the trees. Soldiers in grey armor emerged from the darkness. On their chests, illuminated by the light, was the emblem of a roaring lion with two heads.
‘That’s… the imperial crest…?’
But it was different from the armor worn by imperial knights. I thought of the knights who had taken me away in my past life. An unpleasant feeling stirred.
A soldier shone a light towards me.
“Platinum blonde hair, violet eyes of a female child. Confirmed!”
A man walked out upon receiving the gruff soldier’s report. His pitch-black armor glinted in the moonlight that peeked through the clouds.
A man with a strong, rugged face, his chiseled features cast in the lamplight, creating an surreal play of shadows and light.
The huge man gazed down at me silently with his black eyes.
“I am Lev Aurede de Romanov, Guardian of the North. Count of Tesaurus. I have come to meet you.”
I looked at him again in surprise.
That man was the Black Lion, Lev Romanov.
His stature and the majesty of his armor, distinctly different from the common soldiers, certainly exuded the aura of an outstanding commander.
He muttered in a low voice.
“She is undoubtedly Eugenie’s daughter.”
He muttered my mother’s middle name and reached a hand towards me.
But his hand didn’t touch me. His outstretched fingers flinched, paused, and then clenched into a tight fist as if hesitant. His hand, grasping at the air, lost its way and moved away from me again.
“Escort the Count.”
Lev turned his cold back on me. As the soldiers who received his orders rushed towards me, he strode away. It was a starkly different figure from all the other potential fathers I had seen so far.
Perhaps I had grown accustomed to those who, upon seeing me, unhesitatingly declared me their daughter and approached. I had mistakenly assumed they would naturally be happy to see me.
Even though Lev’s reaction was probably the more natural one.
“Please climb onto this.”
Two soldiers brought a litter to carry me. I felt an unpleasant aftertaste as I was carried away on the litter.
After a while, we arrived at the place where we had been attacked by the monsters.
The carriage we had ridden in was completely destroyed, and the soldiers were gathering the scattered monster corpses around it. I knew there hadn’t been just one or two, but seeing the pile of bodies gave me chills.
We truly had barely survived.
“Oh my god, Daphne!”
“Daph!”
Albert and Keith, covered in blood and their clothes tattered, came running.
“Is the child hurt?”
Alarmed by my being carried on the litter, the two men frantically checked me over. After confirming there were no injuries, Keith lifted me into his arms.
“Daddy was wrong!”
Albert’s cheek touched my back.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t come to save you.”
Trapped between them, I shook my head from side to side to say I was okay. Keith and Albert also seemed to have no injuries.
“Peep! Peenk!”
Audrey, who had been squeezed between us, chirped in protest.
“What’s this chick?”
“This is Audrey!”
I held out my hands so the two of them could get a good look at the grey baby bird. Albert’s eyes lit up when he saw Audrey.
“According to records, it is said that a chosen Tesaurus person fatefully meets their own white-headed eagle. Daphne has met hers too.”
“Yeah!”
I nodded excitedly. Keith gently touched Audrey’s head with his finger. It finally felt like I had returned to a safe place.
While we were sharing the joy of reunion, a black shadow quietly approached.
“I’ve confirmed everyone is safe.”
Lev cut to the chase and stated only the essential.
I gasped, swallowing my breath.
The awkward meeting of the men who had all been with one woman around the same time, the first face-to-face encounter of the three father candidates!
Silence, accompanied by the curse of awkwardness, swirled around the three men surrounding me.
