Chapter 39
39
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How much time had passed?
A clear, high-pitched child's voice woke Yan from his sweet slumber.
"Look over there! It's a huge bird!"
Yan's eyes snapped open.
He couldn't afford to be seen in his true form.
'With an audience, it's difficult to suddenly change my appearance...'
Forced to take flight, the child pointed and shouted again.
"Sister, over there! It's really big and red!"
"Where?"
He had to disappear like a shot, as if his tail was on fire, thanks to the children's fuss.
Fortunately, Marquis Hestia's residence was nearby.
He looked down at the Marquess's mansion from the distant sky.
Whether it was his imagination or not, the sound of a child crying rang in his ears.
'No, I'm not mistaken. A little one is crying.'
Yan gently landed on the wall of the mansion, which was as huge as a castle.
At the same time, he shrunk his body.
—Chirp, chirp...
A rather frail cry, befitting his small body, echoed in the air.
Without a moment to catch his breath, he spread his wings.
'Appearing directly in the garden would look suspicious...'
He deliberately flew towards the outside of the mansion.
However, he hadn't even flapped his wings a few times when he ran into Gray, who was standing there blankly.
—Chirp?
But even when he flew closer, Gray just stared at him vacantly.
'Wasn't he looking for me?'
—Chirp, chirp!
It was only when Yan cried out again that Gray startled and reached out his hand.
"Yan, where on earth have you been..."
Sitting on the small palm, watching the little boy's tearful eyes, he felt extremely sorry.
Then, Gray asked with innocent blue eyes.
"But were you originally such a big bird? Can you get smaller and bigger? Does Your Highness know about this?"
—Chirp, chirp, chirp!
Yan was so flustered that he cried loudly and shook his head wildly, but the innocent young master seemed to have no doubt about what he had seen.
"What? Your Highness doesn't know?"
—Chirp, chirp, chirp...
I'm going crazy, really!
As Yan pitifully cried and shook his head, Hestia's blue eyes gleamed ominously.
"Then, should I keep it a secret from Your Highness?"
Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!
This is all because of that damn Yev.
Yan cursed inwardly, but he had no choice but to nod.
Gray purely admired.
"Wow, you're really smart. But as a vassal, I need to think a little about whether I can really keep a secret from Your Highness..."
"...Hey."
At the sudden voice, Gray flinched.
"I'm telling you nicely, don't say it..."
Seeing Gray's expression, Yan quickly added another word.
"And don't shout either. Otherwise, I will formally hold Hestia accountable for your rash behavior."
Gray's mouth hung open for a while before he finally made a sound.
"...Yes. Yan-nim."
Yan's sigh was deep and profound.
* * *
The two days Yan was gone felt so long, and the tears I shed during that time filled half a medicine bottle.
'I just need to collect a little more now.'
Thinking that, I hid the medicine bottle deep in my arms.
As soon as I returned to the Main Palace, I said to Beatrice.
"I'm going to tell them to bring Yan back now. I miss him so much."
Beatrice's face lit up.
"Yes, Your Highness. That's a good idea. Grand Duke is also coming today."
After finishing our morning preparations, we went to Mother.
Mother listened to my story and happily called a knight.
"Go to Marquis Hestia's residence and bring back the Princess's bird."
I was worried that Yan might not welcome Icarus, but thankfully it was another knight.
"As you command."
After he left for the Marquess's residence, Mother said.
"Oh, dear. Several dresses to wear for the Thanksgiving Festival this afternoon will arrive. The fitting was done last time, but try them on one last time."
To try them on 'one last time,' I hadn't even seen those dresses yet.
Rosa and I were almost the same height until we were fifteen, so we could wear clothes together no matter who made them.
'Rosa must have ordered them again.'
In fact, I didn't have much interest in changing clothes, so Rosa had been in charge of the fittings since I was young.
'Since we're going to wear the clothes together anyway, whatever.'
While I was thinking that, Beatrice chimed in.
"Ah, they said they made them really fancy this time, right?"
Mother nodded with a gentle smile.
"Yes, they did. Since we have to wear white dresses for the Eah Festival, we couldn't put any of the colorful lace that our baby likes."
Rosa's taste around this time was obvious.
'Ah, I'm really looking forward to those dresses...'
I secretly swallowed a sigh, but Mother went even further.
"The cape and bracelet that your husband sent will probably look good too. Don't forget to pick out plenty of other accessories when you receive the dresses later."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Beatrice, answering politely, was all smiles.
She seemed very excited at the thought of playing dolls with me.
'Is she that happy...'
She probably wouldn't be this happy even if her own clothes arrived.
* * *
"Where's Yan?"
As soon as I finished my lesson, I asked Beatrice, and instead of answering, she picked me up.
"The knight who went to Hestia earlier returned right away. Yan isn't here yet."
"Why?"
Because I thought the knight would bring Yan back, I asked again, and Beatrice explained.
"The knight said that the Young Marquess of Hestia said he would bring Yan himself. It seems the clever young master has found an excuse to see Your Highness, don't you think?"
I smiled along with Beatrice, but it was a little unexpected that Gray was coming again.
That's because the Eah Festival, where the Thanksgiving Festival would be held, was the day after tomorrow.
'He'll have to come anyway then.'
The Thanksgiving Festival was Ruelle's biggest holiday, and during Thanksgiving Week, all nobles visited the Royal Palace with their families to celebrate together.
So there was no way Hestia would be absent.
'It just so happens that I'm the Princess on the first day.'
I was thinking it would be nice to see the Hestia siblings at the Thanksgiving banquet.
As I looked out the window in Beatrice's arms, the garden was already beautifully decorated with ribbons and lanterns in a festive atmosphere.
"I think the garden is the prettiest during the Thanksgiving Festival of the year."
Beatrice admired.
After watching the garden for a moment, the familiar Hestia carriage appeared in sight.
"The Hestia carriage is coming, Your Highness."
"Ung!"
At Beatrice's words, I pointed at the carriage as if I had just noticed it.
"Shall we go down, then?"
She quickly moved with me in her arms.
Even so, when we arrived in the garden, Gray had already gotten out of the carriage and was walking towards the Main Palace.
I quickly got out of Beatrice's arms and ran towards Gray.
"Gray...!"
Then, Gray stopped in his tracks and knelt on one knee.
"By Your Highness's command, I have brought the Mag... no, Yan-nim."
What is it.
Did he almost accidentally say 'Magical creature' just now, and when he realized he couldn't, he added 'nim' to it?
After confirming with my own eyes that Yan was safe, I offered Gray my hand.
"I didn't mean for you to come in person. Thank you, Gray."
Gray kissed the back of my hand and slowly stood up.
"I should come in person to escort Yan-nim. Your Highness, we will never forget that you sent Yan-nim to our Hestia."
It was only at those words that I felt something was wrong and looked at Yan.
Then, Yan was subtly avoiding my gaze.
'Something feels suspicious?'
Looking at Gray again, I asked.
"...Gray. Is there something unforgettable that happened?"
"Yes?"
Gray was startled and quickly shook his head.
"Not at all. Nothing strange happened. Yan-nim eats the... egg yolks well too."
"But why are you suddenly calling him Yan-nim? You didn't do that before."
"That's just..."
Saying that, Gray came closer to me and whispered.
"Watching him, Yan-nim is really smart, and I thought he was a Magical creature as Grand Duke said. If that's the case, I thought it would be rude for me to dare call him by his name..."
I dismissed my unnecessary suspicions and looked up at Gray's blue eyes.
"Gray is so kind."
"N-No, I'm not. Your Highness."
"There's no way. You're too kind."
When I kissed him on the cheek to thank him for bringing Yan, Gray looked like he was about to cry.
'Does he actually dislike skinship?'
Even though I'm four years old, I should respect other people's preferences.
Just as I was deciding to treat Gray more carefully in the future, he bowed his head.
"Then I'll be on my way, Your Highness."
"Already?"
It was getting close to the time the tailors would arrive.
Still, I had a strange feeling and looked at Yan once more.
'Gray is usually overjoyed to see me, but suddenly he's acting suspicious in many ways?'
Yan pretended not to notice and turned his gaze away again, and then Gray's answer came.
"Today is the day Grand Duke returns, and I heard the palace is busy because the Thanksgiving Festival is just around the corner. That's why my father ordered me to return quickly."
"Ah, I see."
Only then did I nod as if I understood and waved at Gray.
Gray bowed politely.
"Then I'll see you at the festival, Your Highness."
