Theodore burst into cheerful laughter upon returning to the bedroom. He must have been holding it in the whole time, because he hugged me tightly and laughed so hard I almost got squished.
I get that you're happy, but let go a little…! Eagle needs air…. Orca also told him to keep up appearances, but he was chuckling to himself as well.
"Oh, you adorable thing. How did you come up with that idea?"
I appreciate the praise, but stop kissing me! After struggling to get away, Theodore showered me with kisses for a while before finally letting me go after another tight hug. I quickly escaped and flew up to the perch installed in the bedroom to groom my feathers. My feathers… are damp….
"You were like that at the hunting grounds earlier too. Shuian is usually such a good and gentle bird, never whining or being stubborn, but when I thought we had enough and tried to turn back, you kept tugging at my sleeve, insisting we catch more prey. It wasn't difficult, so I gathered more marks, but I was puzzled. So that's why."
Me, good and gentle…? I don't know if he's forgotten all the times I threw a tantrum or if he's just wearing rose-tinted glasses when it comes to me, but those words definitely aren't a good fit to describe me.
Of course, that aside, it's true that I played a big part. If I hadn't been there, Ricardo would have won without a chance to catch either the white fox or any other fox. Even if Ricardo had won, it wouldn't have changed much, but I was still annoyed that things were going the way the Empress wanted.
"You always seem to guide me down the right path."
"Screech."
Of course! Just trust me. Would I ever suggest something that would harm you? Orca, who had been watching us as if he couldn't believe how much we were doting on each other, said in a very gloating tone.
"It's been a long time since I've seen the Empress look so dumbfounded."
The sight of the Empress and Ricardo, along with everyone else, unable to speak easily, creating a silence among so many people, was even overwhelming. And the fact that we were the cause of it was nerve-wracking, but also thrilling in a way. It was like a natural disaster that had stirred up a tidal wave in a calm sea.
"Thanks to you, things will be quiet for a while."
"She'll need time to scheme, after all."
Theodore tapped the table lightly with his fingertips and raised one corner of his mouth. He looked like a mischievous boy who had come up with a wicked prank, clearly enjoying this moment.
"Spread the rumor that Shuian might actually be a divine beast. If he really is a divine beast, or even a spirit creature of that caliber, staying by the Second Prince's side, wouldn't that put the First Prince's faction, who have been spreading rumors that I'm cursed, in a very difficult position?"
Whether I'm really an eagle, a divine beast, a spirit creature, or just a smart bird, it doesn't matter anymore. The nobles have probably already unconsciously superimposed the images of Artes and Dux from the founding myth onto Theodore and me.
Moreover, in a situation where it was difficult to choose a winner due to the tie, I even demonstrated extraordinary intelligence and resourcefulness by immediately bringing back prey to add to the score.
People are sometimes very irrational and enthusiastic about things that are as abstract as myths. Especially if that object is the monarch, who must be the strongest and most noble. What if this rumor spreads among the people of the empire?
The tide has already begun to slowly turn in our favor. In any fight, it's important to seize the initiative and strike first!
"And we need to make a cloak. It will be decorated with the white fox Shuian caught. Tell them to handle the leather carefully so it doesn't get damaged. And the fabric…."
Theodore held out the white fox he was holding and pondered for a moment before raising the corner of his mouth.
"A silver color that shines like Shuian's feathers would be nice."
Orca grimaced as if disgusted. It was clear without him saying anything that he thought we were being excessive. Besides, the white fox was the first prey Theodore had ever brought back.
The prey collected at the hunting festival is usually taken by the hunter, but most wealthy high-ranking nobles leave it all behind. Then it is distributed to the residents of the slums in that person's name. In other words, it's a donation.
A considerable amount is collected, and they try to hunt as cleanly as possible to get the best price for the hides and meat, so it was truly a festival that everyone could enjoy.
Theodore had never taken any of the prey he had hunted before. The white fox I caught was the only one. Ricardo also meets the female lead later and catches the strongest monster at the hunting festival with his own strength for the first time, then takes its horn as a token and has it made into a necklace to share with the female lead.
In short, bringing back prey was a pretty meaningful thing. Even though it was a hunting festival he participated in just to solidify his position and upset the Empress, I was proud that it seemed to be a day that would remain in Theodore's memory for a long time.
"Will you be attending the hunting banquet?"
"Not particularly. They're already fired up enough, so there's no need to provoke the Empress any further. You never know what she'll do when she's cornered."
Even in the original story, the Empress went so far as to dabble in forbidden rifts and demonic energy. So, now that we haven't fully established ourselves, it was time to adjust the pace rather than push her too hard.
"Oh, and make sure the cloak is enchanted with protective magic so it doesn't get damaged. And cleansing magic too. So it doesn't get stained or discolored. Especially tell them to be careful when handling the white fox fur."
"...Why are you doing this to me? I already have so much work to do, and now you're telling me to tear up the garden and make a cloak with a ton of magic on it…. I think I'm going to die from overwork."
"Die after you make the cloak."
Orca squeezed his eyes shut. His patience in desperately trying not to curse out loud was quite impressive.
"Now Shuian can go outside without feeling uncomfortable. You must have been frustrated because of me."
In fact, I had never been outside the castle at all, and I didn't go out of the bedroom or office unless I had to. I had hardly created any opportunities to run into anyone in order to inflate the rumors about me. Orca had suggested it first, but I was the one who ultimately agreed.
He had made a playground in the office for me and created fun things to do everywhere in the bedroom, so I didn't really have anything to be bored about.
When I was human, I would get terribly bored if I didn't have my phone for even a short time, but after spending a month in the forest as an eagle with nothing to do, I seemed to have become accustomed to leisure and relaxation.
When I came down from the perch, Theodore noticed and offered his arm, so I immediately perched on it. Don't worry about the small stuff! Swinging is more fun than you think. It helps me sleep too.
"Screech-"
I rubbed my forehead against his neck and gently pecked at his hair, and Theodore chuckled and stroked my head.
"Yes, yes. Thank you for being so understanding. Instead of attending the banquet, let's eat a lot of delicious meat for dinner."
Great! I'll wipe out all the meat in the Second Prince's palace!
ê•¥
The next day. I must have been very tense yesterday, because I slept longer than usual and didn't wake up until almost lunchtime. I slept so soundly that when I opened my eyes, I was sprawled out in the middle of the bed with my wings fully extended.
If it had been any other day, Theodore would have woken me up or carried me to the office while I was sleeping, so the fact that he had left me alone meant that I must have looked really tired.
Too lazy to even get up, I rolled around in bed for a long time, scanning the decorations on the ceiling with my eyes, when there was a knock and the maids came into the room.
One of them, Annie, was my personal maid, and she washed and replaced my cushion every day and polished the perches and swings until they shone. Since they were made of wood, she also took care to prevent splinters or anything else that might hurt me.
She didn't have to change my clothes or assist me with bathing every time, so she had less work than the other maids, but she always seemed more tense than the others, as if she thought she would be severely punished if she made a mistake.
"Lord Shuian, I will replace your cushion."
She wasn't stuttering as much as she had on the first day, and her face wasn't as pale, but she was still afraid of me, but somehow today felt different.
The other maids also kept glancing back at me as they cleaned and changed the bedding. Annie, who would usually quickly retreat and do other work after replacing the cushion to avoid bothering me, was doing the same.
"...Did you hear the rumor?"
"About the hunting festival yesterday?"
"Yeah!"
Puzzled, I listened to the conversation the maids were having as they went into the bathroom to clean. If it's about what happened at the hunting festival, is it about me?
"The First Prince and the Second Prince tied for the first time, but then Lord Shuian caught a beautiful white fox, and the Second Prince ended up winning."
"Really? I heard he caught a bright red rabbit."
"...There's a bright red rabbit?"
"I don't know."
A bright red rabbit… Isn't that just blood…?
"Lord Shuian might not just be an ordinary eagle."
"That's true. He understands everything the Prince says."
"Maybe he's not just well-trained, but actually a divine beast?"
"That's ridiculous…. Then the divine beast chose the Second Prince?"
"Of course!"
"Oh, then the Crown Prince appointment…."
"Shhh!"
The two were startled and lowered their voices. They always had to be careful not to talk carelessly about the Crown Prince appointment, as they could be severely punished. Now I understand what's going on.
What happened at the hunting festival yesterday must have spread as a rumor even faster thanks to the Empress gathering more people. Especially among the servants, who are very interested in the affairs of the nobles.
Comments Box