Chapter 52 – “The Bluebird (2)”:
I was sure I had followed Selene—so why is Rudolf in front of me now?
And I thought I was walking just a moment ago—how did I end up lying with my head in Rudolf’s lap?
Well, it is comfortable, though.
Twisting a strand of Rudolf’s hair that brushed my cheek around my finger, I opened my mouth.
“What are you doing?”
“…Appreciating.”
Rudolf replied in a strangely subdued, hushed voice.
Now that I looked, his eyes seemed a little puffy too.
But he didn’t look like he wanted me to notice.
Thinking it might be better to pretend not to know, I cupped his cheek with my hand.
“How’s the view?”
“It’s… beautiful.”
With his eyes tinged red, Rudolf answered calmly.
He was clearly being sincere. So why did it sound so sad?
Maybe because of the contrast between his white hair and the night sky, Rudolf looked like he could disappear at any moment.
No—he looked like he wanted to disappear.
I already knew the personalities of the characters in the original story had changed quite a bit.
But Rudolf’s was especially different, even compared to the others.
He used to be the emotionless, merciless master of the Magic Tower.
But the man who now hovered around me felt too affectionate to be discovering emotion for the first time, and far too kind to be called ruthless.
Rudolf’s hand touched my cheek—then quickly fell away, as if regretfully.
Even that was something the original Rudolf would never have done.
I knew things were different from the original story.
But people don’t change easily. Some, like Weizen, resign themselves to their fate. Others, like Ian, cling in different ways. Or like Ginger, wait for a better time.
A person completely changing like this—it just doesn’t happen.
So then, why did Rudolf change so easily?
Is this something I’ll only understand after meeting the Bluebird?
…The Bluebird.
“Ah!”
The flash of blue eyes suddenly came to mind, and I tried to sit up quickly.
I struggled at first, but managed to sit up once Rudolf gently pushed my back. Then I quickly looked around.
Selene was nowhere in sight.
“Rudolf! Did you see Selene?”
“Selene?”
“You know! The girl from the tea party. Gray hair. Eyes kind of like a cat—really cute!”
I mimicked catlike eyes with my fingers, but Rudolf just tilted his head slightly.
“The cute one is you, Jinah.”
“Ugh!”
He still hadn’t given up his nonsense.
In most novels, side characters tend to be forgettable, but Selene was especially featureless.
She had the typical muted hair color most mages had, and nearly black-gray eyes.
Oh, come to think of it—
“What about a woman with gray hair and blue eyes? Her eyes were kind of glowing blue…”
At that, Rudolf’s face instantly froze.
It was obvious—he knew who I was talking about.
“…No, I haven’t seen her.”
But his expression changed so fast that I wondered if I imagined it.
“Really? You didn’t?”
“Yeah. There was no one here. No one at all.”
Desperation flickered in Rudolf’s eyes.
Like he was silently pleading for me to just believe him.
But I had to find Selene.
She was supposed to guide me—to the Bluebird.
There was something I had to know.
So why did it feel like Rudolf was trying to block everything?
“What were you doing here, Jinah?”
Rudolf turned his head away like he was trying to change the subject. I brushed back my hair.
He was practically begging me to let it go—pretending to know something would just feel awkward.
“I was heading somewhere with Selene. She said she’d introduce me to someone.”
So what could I do? I’d just play along.
I couldn’t stay sitting on the ground forever, so I brushed off my dress and stood up. Rudolf stood with me.
“Whether it’s a person or a bird, she said I’d meet someone if I followed. Guess I was dreaming—she’s gone now.”
I said it casually as I plucked a leaf from my skirt.
Huh? There’s a flower too? It’s summer—where did a spring flower like this come from?
Just as I reached out to remove it, Rudolf plucked the flower off my skirt first.
“Let’s go back. The party’s over anyway.”
“Rudolf… do you know what the Bluebird is?”
“No.”
He answered immediately, without hesitation.
To anyone else, that would sound natural, something you’d just accept and move on from.
But not to me.
If someone hears “Bluebird,” they’d usually picture an actual blue-colored bird.
When Lozanne first heard about it at the tea party, she imagined a blue bird—or someone related to one.
That’s the normal reaction.
People don’t flat-out deny it like it’s common sense.
Which meant one thing.
Rudolf did know about the Bluebird. And he was trying to hide it.
But why? Why was he hiding it from me?
“Rudolf—”
“Aren’t you hungry?”
He cut me off with a gentle smile.
Should I press him?
I thought about it—but decided to let it go.
The Rudolf who changed the most from the original was someone who didn’t keep secrets from me. If he was hiding something now, there had to be a reason.
So just this once—I’d let it slide.
“I want to go home. I’m hungry.”
“Okay.”
Rudolf smiled softly, and I held out my hand.
Rudolf’s eyes widened in surprise.
Come to think of it, he was always the one to reach out first—I’d never extended my hand before.
The realization made me smile a little. But this was exactly the kind of moment when I had to act boldly.
“What? Is it weird?”
“Huh? No, no…”
Looking flustered, Rudolf awkwardly placed his hand over mine.
His pale, cold fingers touched mine, and I immediately gripped his hand tightly.
Startled, Rudolf flinched and struggled—but I didn’t let go.
He stared at our joined hands with wide eyes, clearly wondering what I was doing.
“Why… why?”
“You have to take me home, don’t you?”
I grinned shamelessly and shrugged. Rudolf finally relaxed.
“You’re that surprised I held your hand first?”
“No… I like it.”
His response was filled with genuine joy, and I smiled.
Kind Rudolf. Sweet Rudolf. Always honest with me.
I really hoped this kind Rudolf would become a close friend to Odelia someday.
Just like that time—when Odelia said she wanted to be his friend.
“I really, really like it.”
With a tender smile that tickled my heart, Rudolf pulled me into his arms.
I couldn’t bear to look up at his joy-filled face, so I simply rested my head against him.
And just like that, the scenery changed—we were at the entrance of the Marquis of Snifter’s estate.
Normally, I’d be sent straight to my room.
“Why aren’t you sending me to my room today?”
At my question, Rudolf quietly brushed my hair back.
From behind, I heard the murmur of the estate’s staff.
They must’ve realized I’d arrived.
I faintly heard Annie’s voice in the background.
Didn’t she say I’d be back tomorrow? Why is she here already?
Just as I turned my head in curiosity, Rudolf’s forehead rested on my shoulder.
His soft, rabbit-fur-like hair slid down over it.
“…Rudolf?”
“You seem really tired today.”
His voice was calm, different from usual. I turned my head to listen.
But I couldn’t see his face.
Though he sounded worried, his grip on my hand was firm.
He said he wanted me to rest—yet he didn’t seem willing to let go.
I gently patted his hair, wondering.
“…Go in.”
With that whispered word, the arm around my waist released me.
And Rudolf disappeared without a trace.
Normally, he would’ve wanted to stay longer—even just a minute more.
But today… things felt off in so many ways.
Will I be able to ask him next time?
No—will he even answer me properly?
“Young Lady!”
As I stood lost in thought, Annie rushed out and draped a coat over my shoulders.
It wasn’t even cold—it was summer. This seemed like a bit much.
“A coat? In this weather?”
“Waaah—Young Lady!”
But things looked more serious than I thought.
Annie’s face was covered in tears, and behind her, Weizen looked like he’d seen a ghost.
Please don’t tell me Rudolf kidnapped me again and I’ve only just come back after three weeks?
If that’s the case, then his strange behavior would make sense.
I gently patted Annie’s back and asked,
“Wait… did I go missing for three weeks again?”
“No…”
Strah answered for the crying Annie.
His voice was calm, but his expression wasn’t good. He clutched his chest like something had shocked him.
And Weizen—he couldn’t even approach, breathing heavily from afar.
“Oppa, are you okay?”
First, I had to calm him down. I reached out to him.
Weizen hesitated, then cautiously took my hand—like he was touching smoke that might vanish.
He let out a deep sigh.
His hand trembled noticeably.
“What happened?”
“…Nothing.”
He hesitated, then murmured quietly.
“If you’re safe… then that’s enough. That’s all that matters.”
He placed my hand on his forehead and closed his eyes.
It wasn’t just Weizen. Everyone in the estate was acting the same.
Like nothing else mattered if I was safe.
I couldn’t help but feel like something big had happened—something I didn’t know.
I turned to Arcon.
Everyone’s reaction was too serious for me to just ignore.
As if he understood my gaze, Arcon bowed briefly and whispered something to a servant.
Most likely, telling them to bring me some explanation for this mess.
The servant hesitated, then rushed into the mansion.
Soon, he returned holding a white box.
Arcon took the box and approached me silently.
“Get rid of it!”
Weizen, upon seeing the box, instantly pulled me into his arms.
Even without seeing his face, I could feel how violently his hands shook.
This wasn’t just concern.
“Arcon, give it to me.”
“Odelia—”
Weizen called my name like he wanted to stop me, but I gently patted his hand.
Then I opened the lid of the box Arcon held out.
…Was this some kind of threat?
