Chapter 9
9
==
The moment I finally reached out, the cat swung its paw.
"Your Highness!"
Beatrice embraced me as Icarus snatched the cat.
Then, he quickly took the small bird it was holding.
"Do you need the bird, Your Highness?"
As Icarus asked, the cat was already running far away.
"N-no, not at all!"
Beatrice interjected irritably, but I nodded to Icarus.
"Yes. Want to take it to Doctor Sam..."
If I had run away from the cat like I did when I was younger, this little bird would have died.
Thinking that, I didn't want to let the bird die.
'If Rosa can play with cats as she pleases, I can at least heal an injured bird.'
But Icarus looked hesitant.
Unlike Beatrice, he knew our situation well, so he would be calculating how much of an impact this would have.
Meanwhile, Beatrice was anxiously trying to persuade me.
"Your Highness, let's just go back. You'll have a bad dream if this goes on..."
The kind-hearted maid was just afraid I would see blood.
But Icarus seemed to have finished his deliberation and nodded.
"I'll take it to the Royal physician. But..."
Then, he bent down to meet my eyes.
He hid the bird in his hand behind his back so I couldn't see it.
"The bird is already injured, so it may not recover. Promise me you won't cry too much then."
Not to not cry, but to cry only a little.
I didn't like being treated like a child, but Icarus's pinkish eyes were serious.
If he backed down here, it would be difficult to persuade Beatrice.
"...Okay."
Having no choice, I answered, and Icarus walked out of the greenhouse.
"What kind of cat is that... I shouldn't have let it go!"
Beatrice, unable to blame me, stomped her feet, cursing only the cat.
After returning to the room, Beatrice prepared a wet towel and wiped my hands.
Then Beatrice's eyes widened.
I hadn't even felt it in the chaos, but the nasty cat had succeeded in scratching me.
One of the dress sleeves was torn, revealing a little skin.
"Let me see, Your Highness."
Beatrice turned pale and took off my dress, but fortunately, only the clothes were torn, and my skin was fine.
"Oh my, what a surprise... Your Highness, don't do that again! What's gotten into you, Your Highness, who is usually so well-behaved..."
Beatrice grumbled incessantly.
"When His Majesty the King returns tomorrow, I'll tell him to chase that nasty cat away right away. Nasty thing, mean thing...!"
Beatrice trembled with anger, but I had other thoughts.
'Am I really not hurt...?'
Maybe I was scratched a little and it healed...
Of course, it was just a hope for now.
Because there was no basis for it.
"Tritz."
When I quietly called out, Beatrice, who was putting on a new dress for me, quickly looked worried.
"Your Highness, are you feeling unwell?"
"No, not that... I want to see if the bird is okay."
Beatrice jumped at my words to go see the Royal physician.
"No, Your Highness. How long has it been since you brought the bird? The Royal physician must be in the middle of treating it, and I can't show you that!"
I had no choice but to wait a long time for the time to pass.
After constantly begging, I was able to visit the Royal physician before going to bed.
"How is the bird, Doctor?"
Beatrice asked in a cautious voice, keeping me at a distance.
She was worried that something might have happened to the bird.
'More precisely, that I would be disappointed because of it.'
The Royal physician sighed with a smile.
"Lady Beatrice. I am Songu, but I am not a doctor who treats animals."
"Th-then, did it die?"
When I poked my head in and interrupted, the Royal physician bowed.
"Greetings to Princess Rosa."
"...The bird?"
Following the Royal physician's gaze, I saw something small and red lying on a small tray covered with cloth.
'As expected, there's no smoke or anything...'
But no matter how closely I looked, I couldn't see even a small movement.
'It's not chirping like it was earlier.'
Surprised, I stopped breathing, and the Royal physician explained.
"I'm not sure if I treated it properly, but... I disinfected and stitched up the torn area, Your Highness."
"I-is it alive?"
"Yes, Your Highness. It's just tired and asleep, it's alive. Look closely."
Mustering courage, I approached and saw the small red belly slightly swelling and sinking.
"...That's a relief."
"I was going to tell you before releasing it anyway, but it's good that you came."
At the unexpected words, I rolled my eyes in confusion.
"Release it?"
"Of course, we have to, Your Highness. Birds cannot live in the palace, and this is a place to treat people."
"B-but..."
"Life is in the hands of the god Ea. I will release it after it wakes up from a nap, so please don't worry too much, Your Highness."
I glared at the Royal physician.
'To release a bird that's barely alive and entrust it to the will of the god.'
Isn't that just another way of saying they're going to abandon the bird?
"Well... I hope it gets well soon and flies away. Right, Doctor?"
Beatrice seemed to want to agree with the Royal physician's opinion, but not in front of me.
I stared at the injured bird.
'Should I ask Mother to heal it when she returns?'
But if the King uses Divinity on an injured bird, the ministers will complain.
I put my hand inside the sleeve of my changed dress and rubbed my smooth skin.
'If I had Healing Power...'
I suddenly regretted the ability that I didn't even know I had for 22 years.
I finally reached out and picked up the tray containing the bird.
"I'll release it when it wakes up."
As expected, Beatrice reacted faster.
"Your Highness, but...!"
"I'm going to take it."
When I deliberately spoke firmly, Beatrice looked at the Royal physician with pleading eyes.
But the Royal physician subtly avoided her gaze.
I realized that the bird's condition was worse than I thought, but I pretended not to know and greeted the Royal physician.
"Thank you for healing the baby bird."
"Your Highness, it would be better if I took care of it..."
The Royal physician said reluctantly, glancing at Beatrice, but I resolutely shook my head.
"Let's go, Tritz."
Beatrice sighed and carried the tray for me.
After returning to the room, I received the tray from Beatrice and gently placed it on the bedside table.
The small bird lying on the yellowish cloth was breathing weakly and sleeping.
The small wings were as beautiful as freshly reddened cherries, but they were limp and unsightly.
'Poor thing...'
It was time to go to bed, but Beatrice didn't seem to want to leave easily.
Even after I lay down on the bed, she hesitated, glancing at the red bird.
Her olive-colored light green eyes were full of worry.
'She's probably worried that the bird will die while I'm sleeping.'
More precisely, that I'll be hurt because of it.
"Good night, Tritz."
When I greeted her first, Beatrice reluctantly replied.
"Yes, Your Highness. Good night... sleep well."
I watched Beatrice close the door and approach Icarus.
I knew what she was going to say without even listening.
To get rid of it if the bird dies overnight... or something like that.
"Bird."
I called out softly only after I was left alone.
"Does it hurt a lot? I'll punish the bad kitty next time. It scratched me too."
I could see the stitched mark on the bird's small belly, which was gently rising and falling.
'What did Mother do when she used Divinity?'
After thinking, I gently covered the bird's belly with my palm.
―Chirp…….
The bird chirped faintly, probably surprised that I touched its wound.
"It's okay..."
I prayed sincerely.
'Ea, if you have given me the ability, please heal this little bird.'
Contrary to my earnest expectations, nothing happened.
I put my opposite hand inside my sleeve and stroked my arm that had been scratched by the cat again.
'Was it really just a coincidence that I wasn't hurt earlier...?'
But even if I don't have Healing Power, I can still pray.
'Ea, please have mercy on this little life...'
I held the small bird, which seemed like it would crumble if I touched it wrong, carefully in my hands and prayed for a long time.
