Episode 13
The little thing flapped its wings proudly and flew onto my bed.
It was only a short distance from the windowsill to the bed, just a step or two, but it looked terribly smug about it.
Gabriella giggled.
“He must’ve been born healthy. Just like you, Your Highness.”
“You did well, Ppikppik….”
Worried that his injury might hurt, I carefully stroked the little wing joint. Ppikppik rubbed his head against my palm, as if showing affection.
— *Ppiik…*
Perhaps Lady Ea decided to listen to my prayer for once.
*Thank you, Lady Ea…*
I continued petting Ppikppik while silently offering another prayer of thanks.
Gabriella watched me for a moment and asked,
“I heard the cats in the garden were all chased out yesterday?”
Because the guards had searched the entire garden, it must have reached Gabriella and Rosa as well.
I nodded. Gabriella continued in a probing tone.
“Princess Rosa was quite upset about it…”
*Well, that’s just perfect!*
Inside, I snorted triumphantly. Outwardly, I pretended to be apologetic.
“Kitty tore my dress, so I had no choith. Thorry.”
Gabriella waved her hands quickly.
“No need to apologize! Seeing Ppikppik just reminded me, that’s all. Princess Rosa will forget soon enough.”
Actually, I’d love it if she cried about it for days.
Suddenly, the morning felt refreshing.
I stretched to hide the satisfied smile tugging at my lips.
“Yawn… I shlept well!”
—
Early the next morning.
Ppikppik made another scene, insisting on following us.
In the end, despite Gabriella’s disapproving looks, I had to hide him under her robe again.
“You really have to stay quiet, okay…?”
We had just arrived at the auxiliary palace when it happened.
The moment I was set down onto the bed, a thin voice startled me.
“Is that him? The one who made Joy get chased out?”
When I turned, Rosa was sitting up, her eyes shimmering with tears.
Gabriella was quicker to answer than I was.
“Shhh!”
Even though I’d wanted to punish Rosa countless times since we became children again, I never imagined confronting her verbally.
Because talking at this time of day was strictly forbidden.
*Rosa has never broken this rule before…*
Gabriella didn’t stop at scolding. She reached out and covered Rosa’s mouth with her palm.
Even though she was a protector every other day, she always treated Rosa with utmost respect. But now, she was so shocked she completely forgot herself.
Rosa stared at Ppikppik with tear-filled eyes, her nose and mouth still covered.
*Joy? That’s the cat’s name?*
Even in bewilderment, I tilted my head slightly.
*Joy…*
The name felt strangely familiar—but Rosa kept glaring at Ppikppik and me, so whatever faint memory I felt vanished quickly.
*She’s that upset over a cat being chased out?*
They only played together once or twice!
*And what about everything she’s done to me for years?*
After Gabriella hurried Rosa away, I looked down at Ppikppik.
He sat quietly, head lowered as if guilty.
“…You did no wrong.”
I whispered, and he let out a weak little cry—*Ppii…*
He looked so discouraged because of something Rosa said that even *I* felt bad.
*But I can’t let Rosa near him anymore.*
Suddenly, a memory surfaced.
Back when we were younger—when a cat went missing.
Back then, I never knew why the cat disappeared.
*But I do remember Rosa being incredibly depressed over it.*
Gabriella had even asked me to pretend to be gloomy too, so Rosa wouldn’t be alone in her sulking.
Eventually, Rosa snapped and took it out on a gardener.
*Was that gardener involved with the cat?*
No way to know anymore.
But the gardener lost his job, and only then did Rosa return to normal.
Thinking of Rosa’s red eyes staring at Ppikppik, a chill ran down my spine.
*No. Not again.*
Ppikppik was my friend.
I leaned in and promised firmly.
“Ppikppik, I’ll protect you.”
— *Ppii!*
Moved, Ppikppik spread his tiny wings and brushed them against my cheek.
*Smart little thing.*
Good.
From now on, I’m defending Ppikppik from Rosa.
—
“My goodness!”
Beatrice nearly jumped with delight when she saw Ppikppik fly.
She must’ve thought she was only taking care of the annoying bird for my sake, but it seems she grew attached.
Ppikppik flapped his wings proudly under her exaggerated praise.
“Ppikppik, easy… Ow…”
I tried to stop him, but it didn’t help.
At this rate, once he learns to fly farther, he may start showing off with aerial stunts.
Still, thanks to healthy Ppikppik, our morning began cheerfully.
“Same hairstyle as yesterday?”
“Yep!”
I tied my hair the way Mother liked, and for Father…
“Maybe practice a wink too?”
I blinked exaggeratedly—*wink.*
“Kyaa! Our princess is the best!”
Beatrice squealed, so excited that I momentarily forgot who I was trying to impress.
After I finished getting ready, we headed to the audience chamber.
“Mom!”
As usual, I called and entered—just as Father stood up abruptly, made a strained expression at me, and left.
*But I practiced the wink…*
My lips jutted out in disappointment as I stomped toward Mother.
Mother quickly dismissed everyone else from the room and explained.
“Because of the cat, Rosa has been in a terrible mood. She cried very hard in front of your father yesterday. He stepped out just now so she wouldn’t cry again.”
“Oh…”
I sighed.
Father thought Rosa and I were one person. Trying to get close to him by myself was going to be difficult.
*And Rosa won’t help.*
Lost in thought about Father, I heard Mother speak carefully.
“Sweetheart, Rosa has been searching for the cat nonstop, so perhaps—”
I shook my head before she could finish.
“N–No! Kitty scary!”
And this time, I meant it.
That black creature rolled its pitch-dark eyes and scratched me without hesitation.
Me! So tiny!
*And it almost chewed Ppikppik’s wing off.*
Mother let out a short sigh, then nodded.
“You’re right… We can’t keep an animal that hurt you. I’ll convince Rosa.”
I nodded quickly too.
I didn’t like that cat.
*Joy… that was its name.*
Thinking about Ppikppik possibly meeting that thing again now that he could fly made my skin crawl.
*If we hadn’t gone back in time, Ppikppik might have died that day.*
Mother jokingly bit my rolled-up hair.
“Nom nom, my tasty little black bun!”
She must have noticed my gloomy face.
I forced a tiny smile, and she winked at me.
“The Hestia siblings are visiting again today. You’ll welcome them nicely, right?”
I remembered the chocolate basket from last time and finally smiled genuinely.
“Yes, Mom. I can do it.”
Father…
I’ll charm the Hestia kids first. Then I’ll try again at dinner.
—
After breakfast, when I returned to the room, Miss Sylvia was already waiting at my desk.
She stood and greeted me, then asked immediately,
“Your Highness, you brought the bird today?”
Maybe Rosa told her about Ppikppik.
*I should’ve told Rosa about the book yesterday…*
Regretting it a little, I replied,
“Yes, teacher. He kept wanting to follow me…”
I lied reflexively, but Miss Sylvia only smiled.
“If he stays quiet like last time, he’s welcome. Actually, Your Highness—on my day off, I looked into some books…”
She opened a massive book.
*The Sun God Shamash and the Red Bird…*
I chuckled faintly.
The beautifully painted scarlet bird was lovely—but I never imagined Miss Sylvia would obsess over Ppikppik like this.
“Hm…”
As I hesitated, she turned the page.
“Look here—there’s a painting of the bird when it was younger.”
This one was much smaller, with a short tail.
*Short tail and pitch-black eyes… He does look a bit like Ppikppik.*
Miss Sylvia looked at the picture, then at Ppikppik, and declared confidently,
“This bird must be a good omen, Your Highness. A very auspicious bird.”
“A… good bird…?”
She nodded enthusiastically.
“Yes. Since you saved a good omen, good things will happen to you.”
It sounded like wishful interpretation—but I liked the idea.
I smiled brightly.
“Thank you, teacher.”
