Chapter 21. King of Birds (2)
“King of Birds?”
“Father of all birds…? Not the baby of all birds?”
While the humans looked back and forth in confusion between the two birds, the tiny one leapt from Rasillia’s palm.
Duke Shuraiden was one of the largest species among parrots, and the small bird was barely the length of two fingers. Compared to the Duke, the little bird seemed more like a bug than a bird.
As the little bird landed on the ground, Duke Shuraiden flattened himself onto the floor to match its eye level.
“Ppi ppi. Ppiiipi.”
The small bird muttered something and pressed its forehead against Shuraiden’s.
It was hard to describe exactly what the sensation was, but it felt incredibly mystical against the skin.
“Goodness… This is more like a fairy tale than a fairy tale, Your Majesty.”
Yvette tugged at Rasillia’s sleeve and whispered. As unbelievable as the scene was, she seemed so entranced she didn’t even realize what she was doing.
“Indeed.”
Moments later, the little bird lifted its forehead and fluttered its tiny wings toward Rasillia with a chirp.
It was asking to be picked up again.
Duke Shuraiden flinched and bowed deeply.
“Oh dear, allow me to escort him back to you!”
The humans were startled at his words.
Even though Shuraiden was a parrot and of a breed known for excellent mimicry, he was still a bird. It was always more like imitation than actual speech. But now, he had spoken—for real.
If someone had covered their eyes, they’d have thought it was a human speaking.
“He seems a little… different now.”
When Rasillia commented, Shuraiden let out a very human-like cough.
“Ahem. Yes. The Father of All Birds has granted me the ability to speak the human tongue. From now on, I shall serve as His mouthpiece.”
“What…? A bird can grant such power?”
“And that’s not all. He’s still young, which is why he cannot yet use the full extent of his power.”
“Astonishing.”
“Wow… Truly amazing. No, it’s mystical.”
As the humans expressed their awe, the little bird wiggled its tail proudly.
“You weren’t just any ordinary bird, huh?”
“Seriously. I feel like we shouldn’t treat him like a bird. Maybe we should even use honorifics…”
Rasillia paused as she reached out to stroke the bird.
Somehow, it didn’t feel right to touch him casually.
“Then what should we call you? Won’t you tell me?”
“Piii…”
The little bird lowered its head shyly. When Rasillia didn’t understand, Duke Shuraiden stepped in.
“His Majesty wishes for Your Majesty to bestow a name upon him.”
“Me? But he’s the king of all birds—can I really do that?”
“He would be honored.”
“Hmm…”
Rasillia nodded after a moment of thought.
She was only caring for him temporarily. Even if he was the king of birds, he hardly needed looking after. Still, they’d be together for a while.
There was no need to know his real name. The bird had its own true master.
“Then I’ll call you Pipi.”
“Ppiit?”
The bird stumbled in shock.
“Why? You don’t like it?”
“Ppiiip!”
Once again, Shuraiden intervened.
“Isn’t that a bit… simplistic? Perhaps something more befitting the most noble and powerful creature among land animals?”
“Oh… I guess you have a point. I’ll need to think about it. Right now, I can’t think of a name grand enough for such a majestic bird.”
“Ppiit! Pit! …Ppii?”
The bird, clearly dissatisfied, seemed ready to throw a fit—but then suddenly froze.
“Oh no… It seems a guest has arrived at my estate,” Shuraiden murmured.
Tap tap tap tap!
Even the humans could hear the urgent footsteps echoing through the halls.
“Someone’s coming.”
Rasillia quickly placed the tiny bird on Shuraiden’s back. His elegant feathers flared, concealing the little bird completely.
“Take care of Pipi. Don’t let him be seen. And you, Pipi—stay quiet.”
“Ppi!”
“Oh, to hide His Majesty’s glorious form… what a tragedy…”
No matter how noble and mighty he was, for now he was still a baby bird not even the size of two fingers.
Bang!
The door to Shuraiden’s room burst open—not just opened, but ripped apart.
Pushing through the broken door was the Emperor, face twisted with rage.
“Y-Y-Your Majesty… Hic!”
Yvette hiccuped in shock.
He was unmistakably the Emperor.
But his appearance was half-transformed. His eyes gleamed gold, and his left arm was covered in black scales with crimson claws. No wonder the door was shredded.
He recovered this morning, but… again already?
As Rasillia stared at him grimly, the Emperor suddenly rushed toward her.
Too fast. It reminded her of the moment last night when the shadow knights were flung aside before they could even react.
“Your Majesty!”
Rasillia instinctively stepped in front of Yvette and Duke Shuraiden.
It wasn’t a conscious decision. Her body simply moved on its own. As if to shield those behind her, Rasillia firmly grasped the Emperor’s arm.
“Have you lost control again?”
“… …No.”
Thank goodness. He was lucid enough to speak.
“Then why so suddenly—?”
“Because you were gone.”
With his unaffected right hand, the Emperor pulled Rasillia into a tight embrace.
“I had to find you.”
But what Rasillia didn’t hear in those words was everything else that happened:
In a frenzy, he had washed, changed, and rushed to the empress’s palace, only to find her missing once again. The guards swore they hadn’t seen her leave.
His mind went blank. And by the time he regained clarity, the transformation was already in progress.
His nonhuman senses followed her scent. His inhuman speed carried him to the northern tower. His razor-sharp claws shredded the door hiding her from him.
This transformation was unlike any before.
Until now, his demonic blood had been nothing but a curse—a burden. But this time, he summoned it of his own will.
Because he had to find her.
As Rescal tightened the arm around her waist, the sound of fabric crumpling followed.
“I… I apologize for leaving without notice, Your Majesty.”
Rasillia spoke with a complicated expression.
It was her fault. She had forgotten that it was still during the Blue Moon phase.
The fact that the Emperor, who normally disliked her, now relied on her so much meant that he was in desperate need.
Rasillia felt sorry for not realizing that, and her heart ached at the thought of him enduring the pain of transformation again.
“I feel like… I can’t take my eyes off you even for a second.”
He murmured as he drew even closer.
Before she knew it, his left hand was wrapped around her back. His breath tickled her neck, and his hand subtly caressed her skin.
Rasillia’s cheeks flushed red.
I mean… I do feel bad, but… this is getting weird.
When his lips brushed her cheek, it was impossible not to remember the kiss they shared on the bed.
What was meant to be a simple kiss on the cheek had turned into a kiss wild enough to leave her breathless. Rasillia remembered exactly how it happened.
That was the last straw.
“Your Majesty. I believe it’s time to let go now.”
Rescal stiffened.
“…Why?”
“Because your body appears to be fully recovered.”
“It’s not.”
“I believe it is.”
Rasillia twisted her shoulders to glance at his left arm.
It was now perfectly human, not a trace of the scales in sight.
Rescal fell silent for a moment before answering.
“…My body may have recovered, but the shock of your disappearance still lingers.”
“Once your body’s recovered, your mind will soon follow.”
“Perhaps… but not yet.”
How fragile was this man’s heart? Even if it was the Blue Moon…
Rasillia silently swallowed her sigh.
“Then what do you suggest I do?”
“Stay like this. Until I feel calm again.”
“And how long will that take?”
“I don’t know. All I know is that I was deeply shocked when you disappeared. Not once—but twice.”
“…”
“Yes. Twice.”
Her guilt from leaving him behind began to dissolve at his words.
This man doesn’t know when to stop.
Like a stray dog loitering in front of the temple. Draw a line, and he’d pretend not to see it.
I’ve had enough trouble from people like that.
The high priest must’ve dealt with the same.
He wouldn’t have been able to drive the dog out of the temple, and yet keeping it around would’ve been a constant annoyance. If he could, he probably would’ve poisoned its food.
Rasillia had one rule for dealing with dogs like that.
Once the boundary was drawn, it had to be upheld. Otherwise, the dog would become impossible to manage.
“In that case, Your Majesty should punish me. For startling you.”
Rescal lifted his head.
“Punish you?”
“Yes. It was my fault for leaving without a word. I believe confinement would be appropriate. I will reflect on my actions in my chambers.”
His golden eyes slowly rolled.
“I wasn’t going to punish you… but confinement doesn’t sound too bad. I could join—”
“No, Your Majesty. I was the one at fault. There’s no reason for you to be punished as well. I’ll reflect alone.”
Rasillia’s principle was clear. But sadly, Rescal was not a dog.
“You’re just using that as an excuse to push me away.”
“Is that how it sounded? Because it felt more like Your Majesty was using my mistake as a reason to break our promise.”
“You misunderstood. I didn’t intend to break it.”
“Is that so? Even though your lips touched my cheek?”
“You…”
Rescal’s lips twitched slightly as he looked at her.
“You really do…”
And just then—
“Your Majesty!”
Thundering footsteps echoed through the tower as the Shadow Knights stormed in.
“Ah-ha. You found him after all.”
“Whew… thank goodness.”
Riyan and Serven were both drenched in sweat.
While Serven wiped his brow with his sleeve, Riyan caught his breath and glanced over Rescal.
“And it looks like you’ve recovered.”
“Ah… seems that way.”
Serven sighed in relief after wiping off his sweat.
“Again, we’re truly relieved, Your Majesty. When your transformation began earlier, it was honestly terrifying… Hmm?”
Serven suddenly cut off and squinted suspiciously.
“There’s a problem. An uninvited guest is here.”
He pointed the tip of his sword behind Rasillia.
“Eek! Are—are you referring to me?!”
Yvette, who had been holding her hiccups the whole time since Rescal’s arrival, let out a startled cry.
