‘Your marriage has been arranged.”
How many times had she heard that now? She had lost count.
The first time she heard those words, she collapsed in despair.
They had told her it was the least she could do for the family, as if she were nothing more than a tool.
After going through the same thing two, three more times, she was consumed by hatred—but now, she felt nothing at all. She had simply given up.
When she was summoned to her father’s study again today, she had wondered what it might be about. And of course, it was the same old topic.
“How much are you getting this time?”
Her sarcastic tone made Count Belhart, her father, frown deeply. His expression held more disdain than any father should have for his daughter.
“Do you really think anyone would willingly accept someone like you?”
‘Of course not.’
She didn’t need to hear it to know. If even her parents couldn’t accept her, how could she expect a stranger to?
“…And if they find out, you’ll just have to return the money again.”
“If you live like you’re already dead, there won’t be a problem.”
The count turned his head away from her with disgust.
This wasn’t the first time Adela had been informed of her marriage like this.
And the suitors were always absurd. Upstart nobles trying to buy titles, or old men looking for a young second wife—so many of them, she couldn’t even remember who was who anymore.
One had even claimed to fall in love at first sight, enamored by her golden eyes and sunset-red hair.
They were all clearly unfit matches for the twenty-two-year-old daughter of the Count, but her father didn’t care. To him, these weren’t marriages—they were transactions, like bartering goods in exchange for compensation.
Each time, Adela had done everything in her power to sabotage the engagement.
She’d pretended to be insane, smashed things, and thrown such violent fits that people thought she was having seizures.
She had succeeded in breaking off every engagement, but the price was steep—she always had to face her father’s wrath.
Verbal abuse, shouting, physical violence. After each incident, she was confined to her room for days, sometimes unable to even leave her bed.
Still, she never revealed her “ability” just to get out of a marriage.
She had already endured enough hatred from her parents.
[Your father hasn’t changed one bit.]
A bird fluttered in through the window and spoke in an exasperated tone. Adela gave a faint smile with just the corner of her lips.
She couldn’t risk being caught smiling. Her father would only use it as another excuse to lash out at her. She was sick of the beatings.
[Don’t listen to him, Adela.]
At the bird’s words, she subtly nodded while making sure her father couldn’t see.
There was a secret the Count and Countess of Belhart desperately tried to hide—
That their eldest daughter, Adela Belhart, could talk to animals.
For some reason, Adela’s unflinching reaction to being told to marry again made the count follow her gaze—and he noticed the bird perched by the window. His face twisted in rage.
“What nonsense is that creature whispering now?”
“…”
“What, are you planning to summon monsters again? Who are you going to sacrifice this time?”
Her father’s barbed words made Adela clamp her mouth shut.
“You leave tonight. I won’t have you in this house a day longer.”
Without waiting for her reply, the count stormed past her and out of the study—as though even sharing the same air was intolerable.
She still remembered the day her parents first discovered her ability. Vividly.
Her life had turned into a real nightmare from that moment on.
“You tried to kill Eloi!”
The terrified screams of her parents from that day still echoed in her mind, along with the image of Eloi covered in blood.
They had been on a family outing. Adela had summoned animals to play with—but by mistake, she had called a monster.
Monsters were animals that had been exposed to specific magic for too long. They too, it seemed, responded to Adela’s powers.
That monster had gravely injured her younger brother Eloi. From that day forward, Adela became terrified of blood.
Left alone in the study, Adela returned to her room.
[Welcome back, Adela!]
The bird that had been waiting for her on the window fluttered toward her excitedly.
It perched on her hand, chirping with delight.
She tucked a strand of her red hair behind her ear and gave a soft smile.
Her golden eyes looked down at the little bird with affection.
They had always been her greatest comfort.
“…They want me to marry again.”
Her bitter words made the bird flap its wings in outrage.
[Ridiculous! If he loves marriage so much, why doesn’t he do it again instead of forcing you?]
Adela chuckled softly.
“He’s already married.”
[So? Can’t he do it again?]
“That’s not how it works.”
[Ugh, so annoying.]
The bird bristled like it was the one being forced into marriage.
[So what now? You gonna go along with it again? Then what? He’ll just beat you again when you come back!]
It seemed even angrier about the situation than she was.
Indeed, every time Adela forced a broken engagement and returned home, the count would beat her again without fail.
“…Maybe I’ll run away.”
The words left her lips before she even realized it.
[Yes! Run away!]
The bird eagerly agreed.
Adela’s full lips curved into a determined smile.
Twenty-two years—she had endured long enough. If her old friend Nello were here, he would’ve called her stubborn for lasting this long.
‘Yeah, I’ve endured enough.’
Her animal friends always said the same thing—that someday she would meet someone who would accept her completely.
Someone who wouldn’t be disturbed by her powers and who would live in harmony with animals.
‘If I’ve waited this long, it’s time I go find them myself.’
There was no way she’d meet such a person through one of her father’s arranged marriages with someone she’d never met.
“I’m going to run away.”
[That’s the spirit!]
The little bird bounced excitedly and flew back to the window.
[Start packing! I’ll take care of everything else!]
With one wing raised like a soldier giving a salute, the bird soared out of view.
Oddly, its confident tone calmed her.
So she began packing. She didn’t have much to begin with, so it didn’t take long.
She had endured for so long. In a house where she was hated by everyone.
Ironically, it was Eloi—the brother she had once hurt—who had occasionally shown her small acts of kindness that made this life bearable. He wasn’t exactly warm, but he was the only one who treated her like a human being.
Still, she had reached her limit. She couldn’t stay here anymore. She couldn’t endure another forced marriage.
She had to leave this place. Leave the Count. Leave the capital. Run far, far away.
Somewhere no one knew her. Where she could live peacefully with the animals.
Staying here was pointless.
‘No matter how long I wait here, peace will never come.’
The thought had come out casually, but once it took root, the desire to escape grew overwhelming.
She slung her packed bag over her shoulder and approached the window.
Soon, a flock of birds swooped in.
Seeing them, Adela smiled, her wide eyes curving softly.
“Will you help me?”
[Of course! Throw the bag out!]
As if it were obvious, the birds took off again.
After tossing the bag out the window, Adela pulled out a rope she had hidden under the bed—made of torn sheets, handkerchiefs, and towels, knotted together.
She often used it to sneak out to meet Radi.
Sitting on the window sill, holding the rope, Adela declared firmly—
“I’m going to escape this house.”
[Good thinking!]
A bird chirped triumphantly, flying circles nearby.
As she climbed down the rope, the birds anxiously circled her, watching her descent.
Once her feet hit the ground, Adela crept quietly through the garden, guided by the birds.
They led her to a small hole in the wall—an animal passageway.
[Adela.]
A familiar voice greeted her from the other side, and her face lit up.
This small hole had been her only connection to the outside world.
Today, she would go through it.
She pushed her bag through first. The hole was so narrow only a child could pass through, so she had also dug out some of the earth below.
Years of abuse and neglect had left her body small enough that she could probably squeeze through.
As she dug, a large white paw appeared from the other side, furiously clawing at the dirt to help widen the opening.
With the tunnel deepened, Adela crawled forward on hands and knees.
Her hands and clothes were caked with dirt, but she didn’t care.
When her upper body finally emerged through the hole, she saw Radi—the big white dog—holding her bag in his mouth, looking proud and sturdy.
She was about to smile—
Thud.
Something seized her ankle, hard.
“Ahhh…!”
She screamed as she was yanked backward.
She grabbed the wall, fighting to hold her ground.
“How dare you.”
That cold voice—it was her father’s.
His voice still struck fear into her, but this time, her desire to escape was stronger.
With her free leg, she kicked viciously at the hand holding her.
“Help me!”
