Chapter 8
“You can’t even eat properly.”
The master clicked his tongue as he looked at the snack I had spat out.
Somehow, I had suddenly become a baby bird who couldn’t even eat right.
That’s not it!
“Pii! Pipii!”
Angry, I stomped my feet and shook my head. The master smiled coldly.
“If that’s not it… did you spit it out at me?”
“Pii… pi…”
“How rude.”
The master suddenly grabbed me.
My body lifted into the air.
Startled, I kicked my legs, but I couldn’t move at all.
“Such a tiny thing.”
The master smiled arrogantly.
He was now very close.
I froze.
His face was incredibly beautiful.
His gaze looking down at me was scary, but his looks were enough to soften even that.
But I must not be fooled by his face. His personality is terrible!
I glared at him boldly. He looked me over and let out a small scoff.
“You even know how to glare?”
“Pii!”
“Not even as good as a rabbit.”
…What?
That was shocking.
I’m worse than a rabbit?!
If anyone has seen a cuter baby bird than me, show me!
That was extremely rude, especially since I’m still growing!
“Pii!”
“I feed you, let you sleep, and raise you, and this is how you repay me? Such an ungrateful baby bird.”
The master started complaining as if making sure I heard him.
I flinched.
No matter what, everything I had right now existed because of him.
Without his permission, none of this would be possible.
Slowly, I lowered my glaring eyes.
My kicking legs also became still.
The master looked at me with interest.
As if thinking, something like this exists?
“You’re small.”
“……”
“But you’ve grown a little, I guess?”
“…Pii.”
I nodded shyly.
“I heard you still can’t transform into a human. Is something lacking?”
Crack.
That’s because I’m still a baby!
I kicked my legs again in protest.
The master watched leisurely, as if telling me to keep going—
Holding me up with one hand.
Exhausted, I turned my head away.
Then I felt a finger poke my cheek.
“Pii!”
“So the little one has a temper too.”
“Pii!”
My mood was getting worse.
I tried to escape, putting strength into my wings.
Ugh…
Ugh!
Ah… I’m tired…
“Pii!”
Let me go!
I pecked his hand with my beak.
The master let out a small laugh and put me down.
I quickly ran and hid behind a cushion, peeking out just a little.
Why aren’t you leaving? Go away already.
“This is my house.”
The master read my expression and lifted his chin slightly as he smiled.
Right… this place belongs to him.
This room too. This cushion. Even that snack.
Realizing that, my shoulders drooped.
Watching me quietly, the master spoke.
“Now that I think about it, having a daughter isn’t so bad. At least for now.”
“…Pii?”
“I’ve thought of a name.”
What is he saying?
I widened my eyes.
I had never expected something like this.
“Irene.”
“…Pii?”
“That’s your name from now on. Irene Astrophel.”
At that moment, a strange feeling filled my chest.
He’s… really giving me a name?
Before, I didn’t have a name.
No one had ever called me by one.
Maybe that’s why—
I couldn’t believe it.
Irene Astrophel.
That was my name now.
I stared at him blankly, even forgetting to breathe.
“What? You don’t like it?”
“Pii!”
I quickly shook my head.
It’s not that—I was just surprised.
“Pipipi…”
What do I do… I love it so much.
I quietly repeated the name to myself again and again.
Then—
The master’s red eyes glanced toward the door.
The door suddenly opened.
“Baby! I’m late—… My lord?”
“You’re here, Rosaria.”
“Pipipipi!”
I happily greeted Rosaria, stretching out my wings.
She noticed me hiding behind the cushion and quickly walked over.
“Baby!”
I missed you!
I rushed into her arms and rubbed my face against her.
She smiled softly.
Being in her arms made me feel safe again.
“Were you very startled while I was gone?”
“Pii!”
I hugged her tightly and nodded.
After calming down, I peeked over her shoulder at the master.
He was watching us with a slightly displeased expression.
“Are you hungry, baby?”
“Pii.”
I shook my head. I was full from the snack earlier.
“Did you get along well with the master?”
Hmm… did we?
I thought about it.
He gave me snacks… and…
He gave me a name.
Thinking about it, the way he held me earlier had been quite careful too.
“Pii.”
I nodded.
Rosaria looked surprised.
The master’s lips curved slightly in satisfaction.
“So it seems.”
He stood up.
Since Rosaria had arrived, he seemed ready to leave.
As he reached for the door, he paused.
“Ah.”
“…?”
“It’s not ‘baby’ anymore. It’s Irene.”
A warm afternoon.
I was having a picnic in the garden with Rosaria.
I lay on a mat near the fountain, enjoying the sunlight.
Hugging the yellow cushion Rosaria brought, I relaxed as the warm sunlight covered my body.
Ah… this feels so nice.
“Irene.”
“Pii.”
After the master gave me a name, Rosaria started calling me differently.
Not “baby” anymore—but Irene.
It felt a little strange, but I really liked it.
I love my name!
If I could, I’d call it all day—but I can’t yet.
I don’t know why the master suddenly decided to name me, but good is good.
Doesn’t this mean I can stay here?
He said I could be his daughter for now.
That must be it.
I tried hard to stop myself from smiling too much.
I have a name now—and a place to stay!
Soft… soft…
Rosaria gently stroked my fur.
My body relaxed.
I turned over, asking her to do the other side too—
When I heard an unfamiliar voice nearby.
“Hoho, Lady Rosaria. You seem to be out for a walk with Lady Irene.”
“Pii?”
“Are you enjoying your walk?”
“…Pii.”
I nodded awkwardly and looked at the unfamiliar old man.
Recently, more people in the family had started talking to me.
Now even a stranger had appeared.
I quickly stood up.
“How polite.”
“Pii.”
“Hoho… where did such a daughter come from?”
Surprisingly, the people here were very open-minded.
Even though I’m a bird, they accepted me as the master’s daughter.
In another place, I might have been thrown out already.
Even mixed-blood children were often abandoned.
“Lady Rosaria, is it uncomfortable for you to stay in the family again after so long?”
“I’m fine. You don’t need to worry, Jeras.”
“I see.”
I learned something new.
Rosaria’s status was much higher than I thought.
Most people spoke to her politely.
Amazing… she’s so cool!
“Seeing your expression, it seems your concern has been resolved?”
“Ah, that matter? Thanks to the lord stepping in personally, it was resolved easily.”
“The lord himself?”
Rosaria looked doubtful.
Then Jeras laughed.
“It’s true. The lord swept everything away—from the Aenead Plains to the Benea River.”
“My goodness. That’s almost near the neutral zone, isn’t it?”
“That’s right. Now even the south has a safe area.”
“My goodness…”
Rosaria covered her mouth.
I was just as shocked.
