Episode 04
No way…! No way, no way!
“…The name of this forest, ‘Mist,’ comes from the magical fog that fills it. They say the path to the demon realm is also shrouded in mist.”
“And how far is it?”
“The records vary…”
Oh my god—it’s Clemente.
That silver hair. Those violet eyes.
And the emblem engraved on the white horse’s harness—a winged diamond, the symbol of the Clartia Empire.
There was no doubt.
And the man beside him—
Marquis Cassis Dupre, his most trusted aide.
The year Bella turned twenty, Clemente came to inspect Honwood in the west.
So that’s why the estate had been so busy preparing for guests.
So it was today. Of all days… it had to be today!
I had waited eight years for this moment.
Eight years!
And at such a deeply moving, fateful scene—
I’m a chick?!
Everything was ruined in an instant.
I felt like crying my lungs out.
At that moment, Clemente turned his head.
Did he sense me?
I instinctively stepped back.
“Your Highness, where are you going?”
“I’ll take care of something.”
“Ah… yes.”
And then—
He started walking straight toward me.
Wait—here?! Right now?! Hold on, hold on!!
Sure, I wanted to see the male lead in person—
But not like this.
Not that.
Not… whatever this situation was supposed to be!
I didn’t even know how to cover a chick’s ears.
In panic, I spread my tiny wings and wrapped them around my head.
His footsteps grew closer.
Closer—
But…
There was no sound of… what I feared.
“….”
I could hear his breathing.
Right in front of me.
Slowly, I lowered my wings and looked up.
Clemente was staring straight at me.
Normally, when you look up at someone from below, they look awkward.
But Clemente?
He had no bad angles.
Even from a chick’s perspective, his face was flawless—smooth, pale, perfect.
Wow…
I had only planned to admire him from afar as Bella’s maid.
I never imagined I’d get such an absurdly high-definition, close-up view.
His amethyst-like eyes deepened.
His lips parted slightly—
And he couldn’t take his eyes off me.
Then—
He reached out his hand.
The next moment,
I was sitting in his palm.
“Ch-chirp…”
As he stood, my view shot up instantly.
But his hands gently cupped me, so I didn’t feel afraid.
He examined me again and murmured—
“…What is this adorable thing?”
…Adorable?
Me?
He carried me over to where Cassis was waiting.
“Cassis, take a look at this.”
From the palm of the Crown Prince of the Clartia Empire,
I boldly stared at the young head of the powerful Dupre family—without even a hint of courtesy.
Cassis studied me for a moment, then said:
“What… is this adorable thing?”
“Found it. It’s mine.”
Mine?!
Clemente spoke as casually as if he were stating the date.
“I’m going to raise it.”
I plopped down in shock.
Literally.
Sat down right there on his palm.
He seemed to find that even cuter, gently patting my head.
“Look at it. Isn’t it adorable?”
“Well… it is, but… won’t its mother come looking for it?”
“Doesn’t matter. I’ll raise it better.”
What kind of nonsense is this?!
What was going to happen to my life now?
Becoming the male lead’s baby bird—
…That sounded almost like a pet name.
But no.
I was literally a baby bird.
Eight years.
I had spent eight years trying to nurture Bella’s trust in people and the world.
I didn’t know how effective it had been.
But I had done everything I could.
Maybe… even as the male lead’s pet, I could still watch their romance unfold.
Maybe I could even help bring them closer.
Like—
“Let me introduce you. This is my pet bird, Ophelia.”
“It has the same name as my maid… It’s… a little cute.”
“Not as cute as you.”
“…Hmph. Don’t say ridiculous things.”
Yes.
Bella would definitely say something like that.
And secretly be pleased.
But for their romance—
This moment was crucial!
At the imperial palace, we would have to face that terrifying villainess, Camille de Baillys.
Only I knew her schemes.
And when Bella began recalling the great witch’s memories—
I had to be there for her.
To remind her: the past and present are different. You are free to live as yourself.
And that wasn’t all.
My family, the Leora household, was practically ruined.
If I stayed a chick during the day—
I couldn’t work.
No salary.
Our already declining household would collapse completely.
And worst of all—
At night, I might turn back into a human.
Clemente, who was cold and suspicious toward everyone except Bella—
There’s no way he’d just let me go.
No. I absolutely cannot let him keep me.
This was just temporary curiosity.
A fleeting whim.
At least, they would take me to the Monahan estate.
Once there—
I’d escape before nightfall.
And somehow break this curse.
While I finished my internal crisis,
The two men had already decided.
“Then hand it over. I’ll place it in a bag.”
“No. I’ll keep it.”
Clemente dodged Cassis’s hand.
“Stay here for now.”
And just like that—
I was tucked into his shirt pocket.
“…!”
It was warm.
Too warm.
Too close.
His heartbeat rose and fell beneath the thin fabric.
Isn’t this a little too intimate?!
Hey—you’re about to be taken by someone, you know?!
My fluffy face felt like it was burning.
I flapped in embarrassment.
He chuckled softly.
“Just bear with it for a bit.”
…Right.
To him, I wasn’t a woman.
Just a baby bird.
A pet.
Clemente mounted his horse.
Soon, the sound of hooves thundered, and the wind rushed past.
“Chirp—!”
He lifted his cloak, shielding me.
The wind disappeared.
Wrapped in warmth—
I began to doze off.
I shouldn’t sleep… I have so much to think about…
But exhaustion won.
And I fell into a deep sleep.
When I woke up—
“We’ve arrived at the Monahan estate.”
Cassis’s voice.
“Even at the edge of the empire… the view is magnificent.”
I stretched, peeking out of the pocket.
Below us—
The estate I knew better than my own home.
And then—
I realized.
In the original story… the first person Clemente meets here is Bella.
Which meant—
Their fateful first meeting was about to happen.
Bella!
There she was.
Standing ahead.
Wearing a simple white and navy dress—
Elegant, even from afar.
My heart pounded.
I slipped back into the pocket.
That moment—
Their eyes meeting.
The atmosphere.
The destiny.
It was one of the most breathtaking scenes in the novel.
I didn’t want to ruin it.
Not with a chick sticking out of the male lead’s pocket.
For this moment… I want even my existence to fade away.
“Let me ask you something.”
“Let me ask you something.”
KYAAA!! Is that the Crown Prince?!
“…Are you, perhaps, the Crown Prince?”
“Yes. I’ll be staying at the Monahan estate. You seem connected to this house.”
“My brother is the count… It seems we were unprepared for such an honored guest.”
“No. I arrived earlier than expected. Please don’t trouble yourself.”
Bella bowed slightly and walked back toward the estate.
Did she come out here… waiting for me?
I felt a little guilty—
But also proud.
They met. They finally met.
Curled quietly inside the pocket,
I stayed still.
Careful—
Not to disturb the lingering emotions of their first encounter.
