Chapter 7
“You think he wants to see his guardian?”
“Yes, that is correct.”
Inside the study, where a red banner bearing two crossed swords entwined by a serpent hung prominently on the wall, Kaid’s hand came to a halt.
His crimson gaze, which had been fixed on a report, shifted toward Rosaria.
“The little one has seemed rather listless lately.”
“So you want me to come see the baby bird?”
“Yes.”
Kaid stared at her as though he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
Recently assigned to the task of taking care of the “baby bird,” Rosaria had had no reason to interact with Kaid over work.
Yet she had suddenly come barging in and was now demanding that he go see the baby bird.
Kaid wore an incredulous expression and gestured for her to continue.
Rosaria went on.
“His moods fluctuate quite a bit. He’ll be happily playing one moment, then suddenly become depressed. I believe he may be feeling anxious because his guardian is absent.”
“Anxious? How do you know that? I was under the impression he couldn’t speak.”
“Oh. His tail has grown recently.”
“…What has grown?”
“His tail.”
Rosaria couldn’t stop the corners of her lips from twitching upward as she thought of the baby bird, who was growing by leaps and bounds with each passing day.
“When he’s in a good mood, his tail rises or sways from side to side.”
“Really?”
“Yes. He’s grown bigger, and he’s gained weight, too. These days, he can even run quite well. Isn’t that remarkable progress?”
It wasn’t particularly remarkable, but the way she said it made it sound like a momentous achievement.
As Kaid showed the slightest hint of interest, Rosaria continued talking without pause, as though proudly showing off her charge.
Her eyes sparkled as if she had never been worried about the baby bird in the first place.
“Even the way he calls me has changed. He definitely calls me by my name. He’s much gentler than the young masters who always just call me ‘Hey.’ And then there’s…”
Kaid, beginning to feel weary as it seemed like the list would never end unless someone stopped her, raised a hand.
“Enough.”
“…Anyway, the conclusion is that I would like you, as the head of the family, to visit the little one from time to time so he doesn’t feel anxious.”
Kaid seemed to consider her strong request, then unexpectedly nodded.
“All right. I’ll go see him.”
“When are you planning to visit?”
“After I finish my work. So stop bothering me and leave now, Rosaria.”
Kaid crooked a smile and pointed toward the door.
It was a clear dismissal.
Rosaria frowned and reluctantly left the room.
With his train of thought interrupted, Kaid put down his pen and sank into contemplation.
He needed a guardian?
Didn’t children normally just grow up on their own?
Kaid, who measured all standards of growth against his own childhood, gave a small snort of laughter.
“A tiny thing grew a tail?”
That was surprisingly intriguing.
Blink, blink.
I opened my eyes beneath the blankets.
I must have fallen asleep while deeply pondering how I was supposed to live from now on.
“Peep.”
Still drowsy, I rubbed my sleepy eyes and sat there blankly, looking around.
The room was too quiet.
What was going on?
Normally, Rosaria would have cheerfully called out to me.
I looked around the room in confusion before calling for Rosaria.
“Peep-peep-peep-peep.”
Silence.
“Peep-peep-peep-peep?”
I guess Rosaria had gone out to take care of something while I was sleeping.
She couldn’t stay by my side all day, after all.
I knew that.
But now that I was actually alone, I couldn’t help feeling lonely.
I had to stay by myself in such a huge room.
I wriggled my way completely out from under the blankets.
When was Rosaria coming back?
“Peep-peep-peep…”
I sat down heavily on the bed and swung my legs back and forth when I suddenly felt a hot gaze from somewhere.
Huh? What is it?
There was no one here, so why did I keep feeling as though someone was watching me?
“Peep?”
I abruptly raised my head.
And nearly jumped out of my feathers.
“Peep?!”
“You’re reacting as though you’ve seen something you weren’t supposed to.”
The owner of the house was leaning against the doorway with his arms crossed, watching me.
Oh, you scared me!
I hurriedly pressed a wing against my chest.
Thump, thump, thump.
My heart was beating rapidly.
Of all times, I had to run into the owner while I was alone.
Seeing the startled look on my face, the owner approached me and spoke.
“I was getting bored waiting and was about to leave, but you’re awake.”
“…Peep!”
“I hear you’ve grown a tail.”
Surprisingly, the owner already knew that my tail had grown.
Rosaria must have told him.
I slowly nodded, backing away with every step he took toward me.
As though mocking my retreat, the owner continued approaching without hesitation.
Despite the distance between us, a few strides of his long legs were enough to close it in an instant.
I pressed myself tightly against the wall and froze.
Wh-What do I do…?
“Peep, peep-peep!”
Don’t come any closer! I’m scared!
I stared warily at the owner, and he sat down, leaning his back against the chair Rosaria always used.
His unwavering gaze was unnerving.
I swallowed hard when the owner suddenly spoke.
“Turn around.”
“Peep-peep!”
“Rosaria says you’re growing, but you don’t look much bigger. Where exactly is this tail attached?”
The owner genuinely seemed curious.
Don’t tell me he came all the way here just to check that?
He stared at me with the persistence of someone seeing a tail for the very first time.
I hurriedly hid my tail.
Why was the owner suddenly so interested in my tail?
His expression was blank, making it impossible to read what he was thinking.
“Peep!”
Go away!
I puffed myself up as much as I could and flapped my wings.
Watching me, the corners of the owner’s lips lifted ever so slightly.
“Is that supposed to be a threat?”
“Peep!”
“With something that pathetic?”
For a moment, a strange glint flashed in the owner’s eyes.
He was looking at my wings.
They were still so small, covered in soft baby down, and adorably sticking straight up toward the ceiling.
“Interesting.”
“Peep!”
What am I supposed to do?
No matter what I did, nothing I tried was even remotely threatening to the man standing before me.
If anything, I seemed to have only made him more curious.
After staring at me for a long while, the owner finally reached out with a terrifyingly large hand.
“Peep!”
I squeezed my eyes shut.
He’s going to grab me!
I expected his hand to seize my entire body, leaving me completely unable to move.
But even after several seconds passed, I felt nothing.
Huh?
I cautiously opened my eyes.
The owner was muttering in confusion.
“I think Rosaria does it like this.”
Just as Rosaria often did, the owner held out his palm toward me.
Is he telling me to climb onto it?
“Peep?”
“Is this not it?”
When I hesitated, he brought his hand even closer.
“I heard you’ve been rather listless lately. Why are you feeling down?”
Because if I grow up too quickly, I’ll have to leave this house.
“Rosaria says your tail droops all day, too.”
“…Peep.”
I had forgotten about that.
My mood sank all over again.
I could feel my tail, which still didn’t move according to my will, drooping on its own.
The owner stared at me for a moment before picking up one of the snacks Rosaria always prepared on the table.
Does he think I’ll just gobble it up because he’s offering it to me?
My beak twitched automatically.
The sweet-looking snack seemed to be calling out to me.
But snacks are delicious… Maybe I’ll just have a little taste…
Just a taste.
The snack hasn’t done anything wrong, after all.
I pecked at the snack the owner held out, taking bite after bite.
I repeated the action several times when the owner finally spoke.
“You take it quite well.”
“Peep?”
“Like a dog.”
…Like what?
I immediately spat out the snack.
Apparently, the owner had decided it was time for the two of us to have a proper conflict.
