Chapter 53. Sunflower (7)
“Akina is an incredibly useful bird. It understands speech well, and above all, it has a mysterious ability to find its way no matter where it is on the island.”
Iago said this while watching Elena carefully cradle the sleeping baby bird in her arms.
It’s like a living navigation system.
“Did you expect this to happen?”
“Hmm… I thought it might.”
Iago added with a warm smile to Elena’s question.
“Last time, I think I startled you a little.”
“Ah, yeah.”
Elena nodded awkwardly.
The truth was, she had been startled—by the new side of him that was so very fitting of the Black King.
“I wanted to tell you—that it doesn’t matter to me whether you’re a priestess or a savior.”
For a moment, Elena was struck speechless, blinking in surprise.
With a tender smile, Iago leaned closer and whispered softly,
“Elena, you’re still the gift and blessing that God has sent me.”
How did he know? That she wasn’t really a priestess—and that deep down, she was a little afraid of it.
She didn’t care about being a “savior” or whatever else—it was all just a nuisance.
Just one thing worried her. That he might be disappointed. That he might stop caring for her. And so, she had used Reina as an excuse to avoid him.
“……”
Something welled up in her chest, and Elena blinked rapidly.
Pretending not to notice, Iago continued,
“I also read in some books that raising animals helps a lot with emotional stability.”
“…Ah, yes.”
She had once heard her psychiatrist mention animal therapy as well.
“There are studies that show keeping a pet helps overcome depression.”
“But I don’t even have time to feed, walk, and put one to sleep.”
“……”
She hadn’t realized it back then, but that doctor had been a truly good doctor. And she had been a rather bad patient.
“Keep it with you all the time. I worry about you, Elena.”
Iago’s tone was matter-of-fact.
He worries about me?
Startled, Elena flailed like a broken robot and blurted out,
“What? Don’t worry! I might be broken, but I’m still a priestess. If things get bad, I can just blast thunder and run away!”
“But when you’re trapped in a desert like before, your weather powers don’t help much, do they?”
Iago’s reply was unexpectedly firm.
“…Well. That’s true.”
His words were reasonable enough that Elena just bobbed her head in agreement.
“Normally, I’d want to assign you a bunch of guards, but I know you’d hate that.”
She had always thought she understood him best, but now she realized just how thoroughly he understood her. It made her chest feel ticklish.
“Instead of guards, it’ll be good to keep the bird with you. It puts me at ease too.”
“…Alright.”
Still unaccustomed to being on the receiving end of someone’s concern, Elena just nodded awkwardly.
“Oh! A name! What will you name it, Elena?”
Iago, back to his usual playful self, asked with sparkling eyes.
“A name…? Hmm. Do I really have to give it one?”
“Of course! I even give names to my belongings and dolls.”
“Hm. Well… I’ll think about it. Maybe I’ll give it one, maybe I won’t.”
Holding the baby bird close, Elena spoke offhandedly.
“Ohhh, you’re awake? What name should I give youuu?”
Elena, her face completely expressionless, opened the door, rushed to the bed, and rubbed her face against the little bird’s face.
Her voice came out short and soft—so much so that it surprised even her.
Apparently, such baby-talk just slipped out naturally when faced with small animals.
Even in front of Iago, she had forced herself not to act like this—it was too embarrassing.
Honestly, I’ve always wanted to raise a pet…
The chick chirped and fluttered its tiny wings as Elena hugged it tightly against her chest.
“Sorry… for taking you away from your mom. I’ll take better care of you instead…”
She felt the small creature’s heart pounding rapidly against her own chest.
A heartbeat a little quicker than hers. A high, almost hot body temperature. Soft down.
She could feel warmth seeping into the frozen parts of her heart.
“What name would be good…”
This little one who had arrived like a gift.
“Donatella.”
She remembered hearing the word once in Italy, when she went to import fabrics for a fashion company.
It meant “gift of God,” and was often given to beloved daughters.
“You’re my gift, Donatella.”
Elena whispered, gazing into the little bird’s black eyes that seemed to already understand her.
The next morning.
Iago came to Elena’s room early.
He dismissed all attendants and firmly shut the door.
Naturally, the palace servants watching whispered to one another, delighted:
“Oh my, from the morning…”
“Well, he is a young man in his prime. It’s only natural.”
But inside the room—
Iago, his massive frame hunched down small, sat on the floor beside Elena, both of them watching the baby bird.
“She eats so well. Dona.”
“Donatella. Call her by her full name.”
The night before, Andre had brought a little basket lined with cushions and blankets for the bird to sleep in.
He had even prepared goat’s milk.
Elena, putting off her own breakfast, carefully fed the bird spoonful by spoonful.
The chick swallowed eagerly.
So this is what a mother feels like when feeding her child.
Even without eating, she felt full.
Watching her, Iago said,
“Once Dona’s finished, you and I will have breakfast together.”
“…Donatella.”
At Elena’s stubborn correction, Iago shook his head with a sigh.
“Honestly, if perfect Elena is lacking anything at all, it’s naming sense. If it were me, I’d call her Dodo or Nana.”
“What? That’s so childish.”
Elena shot back coolly.
“Names should be simple and cute, you know.”
Still sitting close together, they bickered lightly until—knock knock—Andre entered with a tray.
“I arranged for breakfast here. Did Dona eat well?”
“It’s Donatella!”
While Elena shouted—a rare outburst—Iago grinned in triumph.
Because Iago kept urging her to eat more, Elena ended up overeating at breakfast.
Her stomach feeling heavy, she leaned back against the sofa.
After eating so little over the past two years, her digestion hadn’t fully recovered.
Andre approached gently.
“Lady Elena. You should take a walk today too.”
“Huh? Uh… yeah…”
Elena, who disliked physical activity, avoided his eyes awkwardly.
Ignoring her reluctance, Andre clapped his hands brightly.
“Since you ate so well today, how about a light jog? Sweating will make you feel refreshed and improve your appetite even more.”
“Uh… but, exercise is a bit…”
Like a teenager dodging a nagging mother, Elena rolled her eyes and mumbled evasively.
She couldn’t even remember the last time she had run until breathless.
Even the few steps she’d taken while chasing a terrorist last time had left her exhausted.
Andre narrowed his eyes at her.
“You must take walks. Honestly, you hardly move at all.”
As they half-bickered, the door suddenly burst open without a knock.
Curly sky-blue hair entered her view.
Reina stormed in unannounced, making Andre—so particular about etiquette—frown slightly.
Ignoring him, Reina ran straight to Elena and cried,
“Elena! Why didn’t you come to my room today?”
“Well, it’s only morning. But Reina, are you sure you should be moving around?”
“Mm-hm! The doctor gave me permission! He said I should walk slowly now so my muscles don’t weaken.”
With her trademark bright smile, Reina added,
“This afternoon, they’re going to take my stitches out. Will you come with me?”
“Ah, well…”
“That won’t be possible.”
A sly voice cut Elena off.
Andre, unusually firm, was staring at Reina.
“Lady Elena has to go for a walk. She hasn’t been able to recently because she was visiting you.”
Which was true—Reina had insisted on keeping her company constantly.
“No matter how much you dislike it, you must at least get sunlight and move once a day.”
“What?”
Reina widened her eyes, then suddenly beamed like sunshine.
“Come on, there’s no need to force yourself to do things you don’t like! We only live once. Enjoying the moment is what matters.”
Andre looked flustered at that.
To ease the tension, Elena smiled awkwardly.
“A short walk is fine. Andre only says it for my sake… and besides, I need to take Dona for a walk too.”
“Dona?”
“…Ugh, why am I like this. It’s Donatella.”
Elena shook her head at her own slip.
Just then, hearing her name, Donatella poked her head out of the basket.
“Ohhh, so you meant this blue bird. She’s adorable!”
Reina squealed in delight.
Before Elena could stop her, she reached out for the bird’s wing.
“Piiiii!”
Donatella screeched sharply, flapping her wings.
“Kyaaah! Th-that startled me!”
Donatella fluttered up and landed softly on Elena’s shoulder, glaring warily at Reina.
