Chapter 97
She looked thinner than she did in my memories, but the aura was so familiar that I recognized her at a glance.
It was definitely Blanche.
Marina seemed to realize it too.
After all, bluebirds aren’t exactly common.
“I saw her stumbling and falling to the ground, so I picked her up.”
It seemed she had recovered from her internal injuries and was on her way back to the estate when she ran out of strength and fell.
“She must have been starving for a long time—she’s so skinny. Poor thing…”
Marina looked at Blanche with pity.
After Blanche disappeared, Marina had been sad, saying that the bluebird never appeared again.
Without realizing it herself, she had clearly grown quite attached to the clever little bird.
“She doesn’t look well, so we should take her to the doctor. He’ll treat her.”
“To Lien?”
At my words, Marina’s eyes widened before she nodded in agreement.
“That’s right. Since he’s a doctor, he should be able to examine animals too, at least a little. That would be best.”
Marina carefully handed Blanche over to me.
Feeling the light weight resting on my hand, I left the room as I was.
“The internal injuries have completely healed.”
Lien answered simply after examining Blanche, but I couldn’t accept it so easily.
“Then why can’t she get up?”
“She’s just sleeping. There’s no major problem.”
“What? Sleeping? She’s not unconscious?”
The moment I asked, a loud snoring sound came from the bluebird lying there with her eyes closed.
“Pffuuu… khrrr….”
“…You’re right. She’s sleeping.”
So birds can snore too, even in bird form.
Feeling drained, I sat weakly on the edge of the bed.
“Is Ska not here?”
“He’s probably wandering around the estate. These days he’s completely obsessed with getting fed good food.”
The image of Ska acting cute toward the servants to get food came to mind on its own.
“I can imagine.”
I chuckled softly and turned my gaze back to Blanche.
When I’d been told recovery would take several years, I’d doubted it—but she really didn’t appear until exactly three full years had passed.
Counting the years, that’s already four.
Just what on earth had happened?
There were so many things I wanted to ask once Blanche opened her eyes.
And yet she’s just sleeping so peacefully?
Feeling oddly annoyed, I poked Blanche’s body with my finger. The bluebird let out a groan and flapped her wings.
She seemed to be trying to push away the hand bothering her.
I didn’t give up and kept harassing Blanche.
Before long, the bluebird flapped her wings roughly, irritation clear, and suddenly shot upright, her eyes snapping open.
<Hey! Who the hell is it?!>
“It’s me, you brat.”
When I replied flatly, Blanche froze mid-flap.
<…My king? Is it really my king? When did you grow this much?>
Ugh. You don’t even care who’s around and you’re calling me your king.
Since Lien already knew Blanche’s true identity, it shouldn’t have mattered… or should it?
A sudden realization struck me, and I turned to look at Lien in surprise.
In my previous life, I hadn’t met Blanche until after my master had left my side.
That meant Lien shouldn’t know who Blanche was, how I met her, or how she regarded me.
But he’s acting like he knows everything…?
Lien had accepted Blanche’s existence and behavior so naturally that I hadn’t even questioned it.
And it’s not just Lien—Ska too.
Just as my suspicion toward the two of them was deepening—
A flash of light burst before my eyes, and a heavy weight slammed down onto me.
Since I had already been sitting on the bed, my body tipped backward and landed straight onto the soft blankets.
“My king! I thought I’d never see you again!”
Blanche trapped me between her arms, looking down at me with a tearful face.
It was the face of the perfectly grown Blanche I had seen in my past life.
Looks like she recovered her strength as well while healing her internal injuries underwater.
I complained softly but still patted Blanche’s back as she buried herself against me, comforting her.
Normally, I wouldn’t have allowed this, but she looked like she’d been through something serious, so I figured this much comfort was necessary.
So she can calm down and we can actually start talking.
But before long, Blanche’s body suddenly lifted upward from my arms.
Lien had grabbed the back of her neck with one hand and yanked her up.
“Huh?”
Blanche, who had been looking around in confusion, went pale the instant her eyes met Lien’s.
“Uh… um….”
“Seizing an opportunity the moment it appears—how very typical of your kind.”
Lien casually tossed Blanche onto the floor.
She rolled across the hard stone floor and blinked blankly, her appearance completely disheveled.
She didn’t seem to understand the situation yet.
“Gasp!”
Finally, faced with Lien’s icy gaze, Blanche snapped to attention, hurriedly straightened herself, and knelt neatly on the floor.
She looked like a student being punished.
“So you were here as well, Teacher. I didn’t realize…”
“Does that mean you’d keep doing this if I weren’t?”
“What? No! Of course not. Absolutely not.”
Blanche hurriedly waved her hands, carefully watching Lien’s reaction.
Wow. You can actually make Blanche this well-behaved.
I looked at Lien with renewed admiration.
But he remained indifferent, continuing to interrogate Blanche as if this were nothing unusual.
“Explain how you ended up with internal injuries.”
“Yes, of course I will. But before that…”
“Before that?”
Blanche, who had answered confidently, suddenly hesitated and glanced back and forth between Lien and me.
“Could I eat something first? I’m so hungry I don’t have any strength left…”
An unexpected silence fell over the room.
But thinking about it, it wasn’t all that strange.
She’d been underwater for years without proper food—it was only natural that she’d be starving.
She was skinny even in bird form, so no wonder she’s emaciated in human form too.
By Blanche’s logic, she really did need to eat.
Clicking my tongue inwardly, I crouched down in front of her and met her eye level.
“Alright. I’ll feed you.”
“What? Really?”
“No.”
Their reactions couldn’t have been more different.
Blanche’s eyes sparkled with anticipation, while Lien stopped me with a cold expression.
“She’s this thin—how can you not feel sorry for her? I can at least feed her.”
“That could cause problems again.”
“Again? What do you mean?”
“You gave her your blood before and nearly caused a disaster.”
“Blood?”
I blinked and tilted my head.
“I think there’s a misunderstanding. What I’m giving Blanche isn’t blood.”
I do know fear.
I nearly died last time after giving Blanche my blood—there’s no way I’d forget that and do it again.
“Then what exactly…?”
“Emotions.”
“…Emotions?”
Originally, demons survived by feeding on human emotions.
That was their staple diet.
Blood was more like a special delicacy.
“In times like this, you’re supposed to give them a proper staple meal. Right, Blanche?”
“Huh? Y-Yeah, that’s right.”
“So I’ll give you my emotions. I’ve been overflowing with negative emotions lately—plenty of nutrients.”
“Th-That’s true, my king…”
I’d meant it as a generous offer, but Blanche’s reaction was lukewarm. She even looked a little disappointed.
But how do you even give emotions?
Blanche had always taken care of feeding herself before, so I’d never personally fed her.
As I stared at her blankly, she covered my eyes with her large hand.
“You just need to sleep for a moment, my king. It won’t take long.”
Sleep?
The instant Blanche finished speaking, an overwhelming wave of drowsiness crashed over me.
My body swayed, unable even to stay seated, as my consciousness faded.
Ugh. I didn’t like having my blood sucked, but this isn’t exactly pleasant either.
In my dimming awareness, I felt someone firmly catch my collapsing body.
Whose arms are these? They’re surprisingly comfortable.
That was my last thought before I fell asleep.
