**Episode 20**
Sharp beak, talons, and wings that were large even at a glance.
The carnivorous birds of prey, flapping their wings noisily with fierce eyes gleaming, were enough to overwhelm Sharie, a rabbitfolk, just by their presence.
She was sinking deeper into her worries when—
“That bird…”
Her gaze, flitting about in confusion, landed on a much smaller bird.
It was the only small one among the powerful and imposing raptors that Lube had prepared.
“Huh? What’s a kestrel doing here?”
Lube looked slightly flustered as he stared at the tiny bird.
“My apologies, Lord Caissa. I meant to bring only the strong ones, but it must have slipped in somehow.”
“May I see it up close?”
The little bird stood out simply for being smaller than the rest.
When Sharie mustered her courage to ask, Lube hesitated for a moment, then whistled to lure the bird closer.
It fluttered over and perched on his finger, and he gently extended his hand toward Sharie.
A petite beak and bright, round eyes.
The soft brown feathers on its back looked silky smooth.
*‘Adorable…’*
And despite being surrounded by birds much larger than itself, it held its ground without the slightest hint of fear. That made it even more endearing.
Sharie’s heart leaned toward the kestrel almost instantly, but Lube still wore a troubled expression.
“My lady, that one hunts small rodents or reptiles at best, so in Barhad…”
“Then… I can’t choose it?”
“It’s not that you *can’t*,” Lube replied, clearly trying to find the right words.
“Kestrels are far more independent than other birds. They’re notoriously hard to train. And even with all that effort, they’re not particularly useful in actual hunts.”
If the world were divided into the useful and the useless, then Sharie herself clearly belonged to the latter.
Everyone treated tailless children that way.
Maybe that’s why—
She felt a powerful empathy and affection for this kestrel, written off as ‘useless’ just like her.
“I…”
She was about to insist it didn’t matter, that she still wanted to take the kestrel, when—
“If you like it, then go ahead.”
A low voice came to her defense.
“A gift should always suit the recipient’s wishes. Besides, I’m sure *you* could tame it.”
His gaze shifted toward Lube.
“He’s right. If it’s you, my lady, I have no doubt you’ll succeed. And after all, the kestrel *is* still a bird of prey.”
Lube immediately changed his tune, as if he’d never opposed her in the first place.
It was a blatant shift in attitude, but Sharie chose not to comment. Instead, she took the opportunity to speak firmly.
“T-Then I want this one.”
Her cheeks flushed pink with anticipation as she made her request, and this time, Lube readily handed the bird over.
“Very well. As you wish, my lady.”
Sharie looked down at the little kestrel, which would now accompany her during her life in Barhad.
Only now did it begin to feel real.
No matter what the future held, in this moment, she was staking her place on this snow-covered land—as a member of the snakefolk.
And strangely, she wasn’t afraid.
If anything, her heart pounded with excitement.
“Do you like your gift?”
Long fingers brushed her earlobe, as if to make her look up at him.
The touch was cold, but to her excited senses, it felt almost refreshing.
“Of course!”
Sharie nodded fervently.
“Thank you so much.”
Her eyes sparkled with delight as she looked up at the man. She had no awareness of how her face might appear to him right now.
Caissa reached for her fur-lined hat, pushing it up slightly.
When Sharie glanced up in surprise at the sudden movement—
*Smooch.*
Soft lips brushed against hers.
“Ah…!”
Her mouth opened in shock—
and immediately, a thick tongue pushed past her lips without hesitation.
As her head tilted back from the force, her body swayed—
only to be caught by a large hand wrapping around her waist.
Even through the thick fabric, she could feel his slow, languid hand tracing down the curve of her spine.
It wasn’t cold—yet a chill ran down her back.
“My lady, this bird’s name…”
Just then, Lube returned, having sent the other birds back to the training ground with only the kestrel in hand.
The sight of the two tangled together made him freeze.
“M-My apologies!”
He quickly turned his back and retreated, footsteps fading.
But the thick tongue inside Sharie’s mouth showed no intention of leaving.
“Haah…”
His greedy tongue seemed ready to devour even her breath and saliva.
The squelch of wet flesh meeting her inner walls echoed painfully in her ears.
“Hngh…”
With trembling hands, she pounded on his firm shoulders, and finally, Caissa pulled back.
“Hah… haah…”
Her breath escaped in ragged gasps between damp lips.
White mist puffed into the air—but she had no time to watch it drift away like before.
“H-Here of all places…!”
Sharie stepped back, covering her lips, her face burning with embarrassment.
That level of intimacy in broad daylight, outside no less, was far too indecent.
And someone had *seen* them.
She wasn’t the type to pretend nothing had happened—far from it. Any normal person would feel the same.
But Caissa… was not like other people.
“Why are you covering your face?”
Was he *seriously* asking?
Sharie almost raised her voice, but even then, she caught his gaze lingering on her damp lips and quickly covered her mouth again.
“Y-You really can’t do that outside.”
Her muffled protest came out as a mumble.
“It’s perfectly fine. We’re husband and wife—it’s only natural.”
This man clearly had a *very* different understanding of what marriage meant.
Sharie was too stunned by his warped sense of propriety to respond.
As Caissa strode toward her without shame, she turned and fled in a panic.
“Oh? Already done?”
Lube appeared ahead, seemingly not having moved far.
He was perched on a wooden beam, just lighting a cigar when he spotted her, his eyes widening.
“That was fast. Bit… shorter than I expected, no?”
What on earth was he talking about now?
“I mean, nothing even happened.”
Caissa, casually following behind her, replied without a hint of concern.
*Fwoosh.*
The meaning of Lube’s comment finally dawned on Sharie—
and her face lit up like a flame.
Caissa placed a light hand on her shoulder and murmured,
“Let’s begin the training.”
At his cue, Lube immediately straightened his posture.
“Yes, sir. First, please put on these gloves, my lady.”
The gloves he offered were thickly lined, with tough leather on the outside.
No doubt to protect against the razor-sharp talons of the birds of prey.
As Lube fastened a tether to the kestrel’s ankle, Sharie slipped on the elbow-length gloves.
“I’ll call you… Momo.”
The kestrel’s name was ‘Momo.’
At her shy greeting, the little bird chirped brightly and hopped onto her arm.
*‘He’s heavier than I thought…’*
Though small compared to the other birds, Momo had surprising heft.
And his talons—much sharper and longer than expected.
He looked cute, but there was no mistaking he was a true predator.
“It usually takes time to get them to perch like that. Seems he’s taken quite a liking to you, my lady.”
Lube, impressed, placed a bit of chopped meat in her other hand.
“Now we’ll start with feeding practice. Toss the meat, and he’ll try to snatch it mid-air.”
Heart pounding, Sharie nodded and tossed the treat.
But it arced gently and landed in the snow.
Momo, even as it passed right in front of him, simply tilted his little head, utterly disinterested.
“Momo…”
She called his name desperately, but the second try was the same. And the third. And the fourth.
Half-praying, Sharie threw the fifth piece—
*Screech!*
A piercing cry split the air as a *large hawk* swooped down and snatched the meat effortlessly.
Wings spread wide, it circled above before landing neatly—
on the man’s shoulder.
“That’s…”
“My hunting hawk.”
Seeing her interest, Caussa welcomed her gaze and held still so she could admire it.
It was sleek and powerful—
three times Momo’s size, with glossy black feathers and a striking presence.
Even with its talons tucked away and behaving docilely, it exuded a subtle intimidation—perhaps a reflection of its master.
“He’s quite loyal to you.”
Despite its fierce look, the hawk nuzzled against Caissa’s arm and pecked gently at his fingers.
Perhaps because of that, it seemed… a little cute now.
