I blinked my stiff eyes. Did I die again? Startled, I snapped my eyes open and tried to get up, but like when I first became an eagle, I couldn't stand properly and collapsed back down. What, did I get reincarnated into another animal?!
"Screech-?!"
Ah, that's my screech. Glancing down, I saw bandages wrapped around my wings. These bandages must be making my movements awkward. Relieved, I looked around. Everything I saw was so shiny it was dazzling. If there's a place this extravagant, it must be Theodore's palace...
I've never been there, but maybe it's comparable to a so-called 7-star hotel. Every piece of furniture, decoration, even the wallpaper, felt like money was dripping from it. I could probably live off just one of the jewels attached as decoration for the rest of my life... And the cushion I was lying on was so soft and plush, whatever was inside it, I could sleep here forever.
The cushion was on a bed so large that ten adult men could lie on it with room to spare, and no matter how bad my sleeping habits were, I wouldn't roll off onto the floor. Look at this blanket, it's so soft I might slip off. But this frame isn't made of pure gold, is it?
I was admiring the room when the door opened and Theodore walked in. He had changed into new clothes, not the tattered rags he had been wearing when he was attacked, and he had washed properly for the first time in days, making his face even more radiant. My, how dazzling...! The true dazzling sight wasn't this room, but Theodore's face.
"You're awake!"
He strode over and sat on the bed, reaching out to me. Now that things have come to this, it's much better to get closer to him so he'll spare me even if he burns everything else down. Besides, he's so rich, I might live a more luxurious eagle life than I did in the forest. As long as my leisurely, unemployed eagle life is guaranteed, I'll acknowledge you as my master! I want to live a long and healthy life, Master!
As I obediently accepted his touch, having thrown away my human dignity in the face of overwhelming wealth, he smiled happily. Come to think of it, my wings were more intact than I thought. I should be bedridden by now, having been pierced by an arrow, but except for a slight throbbing pain, I could even move them a little.
"I called a priest to heal your wings while you were sleeping. It wasn't a high priest, so they might not be completely healed."
A priest? He called a priest? I'm grateful, but it's a bit of a burden...
In the original setting, it wasn't that there were no doctors, but the effects of divine power were, of course, overwhelming. Because of this, nobles mainly donated to the temple and received treatment with divine power when they were sick or injured. Even though the amount of donation required was unimaginable, it took a considerable amount of time to receive treatment from a high priest, so not many people could receive treatment from a priest.
But to call a priest just to heal an eagle! The Emperor's orders must have allocated a considerable budget to the Second Prince's palace and Theodore's maintenance expenses, but still, it wouldn't be a small amount. Ah, come to think of it, there was a setting that he also ran a merchant group under a false name, so his financial situation was good? Anyway!
"I feel bad that you got hurt because of me. But is it selfish of me to say that I was a little happy because it was the first time someone had stepped forward for me without expecting anything in return?"
Theodore seemed to feel guilty that I was hurt, as he said, but on the other hand, he seemed happy. I was also bothered by the fact that he, who never showed weakness in front of others for fear of it becoming a vulnerability, became soft only in front of me.
Hey, you're not doing this on purpose because you know I'm soft-hearted, are you?! I tried to shake off my uneasy feelings by saying unnecessary things, but on the other hand, I thought that even if I knew he was doing it on purpose, nothing would change much. He and I were both soft on each other.
"It would have been better if I could have called a high priest, but I was in a hurry, so I had no choice."
It's just these kinds of abuses that arise when nobles, who aren't even truly ill, frantically demand high priests for the slightest sniffle, all in the name of their authority. He muttered in a sinister voice that sounded as if he were about to say, "I'll just kill them all so they'll never be sick again." So, I quickly replied.
"Screech."
High priest, my foot! It's okay. It was my choice anyway. He smiled briefly at my screech and added.
"I've been thinking about a name for you while you were sleeping. I'm not very good at naming things, so you might not like it..."
He hesitated for a moment, then picked me up in his arms. He used to hesitate to touch me, afraid I would run away if he bothered me, but now he hugs me without hesitation.
"Shuian, from now on, your name is Shuian."
Considering he was hesitant, my name, called in a voice as handsome as his face, wasn't too bad.
If a name is proof of existence in that it is not called by oneself but by others, then I have now truly been recognized for my life here. Not as one of the many readers, but as an extra who is not even mentioned in a single line, I have come to exist as a character.
"Screech-!"
"You like it too? I'm glad."
Okay, since you gave me a name, I'll give you a nickname in return. I'm going to call you Theo now. Theodore is too long. Of course, the day I can call you that out loud will never come.
He kissed my forehead again. I closed my eyes slightly without realizing it, then opened them wide again. What, am I accepting this too naturally! I used to be a man when I was human, so why don't I feel bad?
I glanced up at Theo's face and immediately understood. The reason was that face. Yeah, it's all because of that destructive face. Please stop the face attack...!
Whether I was floundering from the face attack or not, Theo hugged me tightly and said as if muttering to himself.
"Shuian, I know that forest is your home, and flying freely there is your life. And you didn't even come here of your own will. But… won't you stay here with me?"
You should have said that before you brought me here! And at least put me down so I can run away if I don't like it! I just snorted at his attitude, which seemed to be asking my opinion but not accepting a refusal.
He's saying that because he thinks I'm a real eagle, but as someone who still has the memories of being human, I don't mind living in luxury here. As long as he takes me for walks sometimes and doesn't kill me. Especially since I really didn't want the execution ending where I was burned at the stake along with the Empire.
"You saved me, so won't you stay by my side until the very end without betraying me?"
Um... aren't you asking too much of a mere eagle? I'm just a bird! But I decided to give him the answer he wanted. Of course, he wouldn't understand what I said... But he's quick-witted, so I believe he'll understand perfectly, just like he always has!
"Screech."
Theo's face brightened instantly as he realized that my cry was affirmative.
"Yes, you promised me yourself. That you won't leave."
"Screech-!"
"Thank you, Shuian."
In the original ending, he, who could never trust anyone, burned everything down to avoid suffering any longer.
But, if someone is by his side. Even if it's not a person but a mere eagle, if there's even a little place to rest his heart. When the last moment comes, maybe he can make a slightly different choice. Maybe he won't be driven to an extreme choice.
It's still unknown how this unexpected cohabitation with the final villain will turn out, whether this story will have the same ending as the novel, and maybe we'll never know until that day comes.
But I decided to stay by his side a little longer. Not as the villain who will burn the world, but by the side of a man who has been lonely because he couldn't trust anyone.
ê•¥
I blinked open my eyes. Although it was covered by curtains, I could see sunlight pouring through the gaps, so it seemed that it was already dawn. Theo, who must have stayed up all night worrying about me, wasn't in the room. He's a prince, so he must be busy.
I didn't get up, but lay on the cushion with my eyes blinking. To be able to lie down like this with my wings spread out. The nest was too small, so I could only sit down and rest roughly... This is really luxurious...
How long had I been lying there, rubbing my cheeks against the soft blanket, when Theo returned to the room. I thought his face was already striking when he couldn't wash properly and was wearing tattered clothes, but when he properly cleaned up and polished himself, he was truly dazzling.
Readers who saw the illustrations often compared Theodore, who had a large build but a slender waistline and a well-built body with jet-black hair, to a handsome black panther. Perhaps his sculpted features and sharp, cold impression also played a part.
Theodore in person was indeed like a black panther. A giant black panther whose paw strike would send you straight to the afterlife. Anyway, please turn off the lights here... It's already dazzling... Theo, who will never know my nonsense in my heart, smiles brightly as he sees that I'm awake.
"Shuian, you're awake."
"Screech."
"Since you're up early, shall we have breakfast together?"
When he pulled the bell cord, a man entered the room not long after. I feel like I've seen that face somewhere before... If I recognize it, I must have seen it in an illustration, which means he's one of the main characters.
"Did you call for me?"
"...What about the maids or servants?"
"They're being replaced, so there's no other choice. I'll be serving you for a while."
"Looks like you're not busy."
"I wish that were the case."
The brown-haired man grumbled in a disgruntled tone, not hiding the fact that he was busier because of Theo. Listening to their casual conversation, I suddenly realized who the brown-haired man was.
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