Episode 52
At the appointed time, Kaiden visited Reina’s bedroom.
“You’re here?”
“Hm?”
Kaiden let out a soft gasp at Reina’s changed appearance.
Something about her felt different, but he couldn’t pinpoint what.
Lily’s subtle yet meticulous styling was at play, though he’d never notice.
She just seemed prettier than usual.
His gaze caught an odd presence on her shoulder.
‘There it is again.’
For a week, a small bird had shadowed Reina.
Once circling nearby, it now treated her shoulder like home.
It looked ordinary, but it couldn’t fool Kaiden’s keen senses.
Even he struggled to detect its faint presence.
Clearly a mystical creature.
Reina seemed aware of it, flinching at its occasional chirps.
The bird, preening with tiny wings, looked as delicate as her.
Their similar auras kept drawing his eyes.
Despite its long presence, she hadn’t explained.
Unable to hold back, Kaiden spoke first.
“New guy, huh? Time to explain?”
“Oh.”
She let out a soft sound, as if just noticing it.
“A new pet?”
The bird bristled, flapping its wings.
Chirp!
Its feeble cry echoed, meant to intimidate but only cute.
Reina stroked its beak, calming it as it grumbled.
“I didn’t think you’d see it.”
“Others don’t?”
“They often forget it’s there. Maybe it uses some cloaking magic. Since you didn’t mention it, I thought you weren’t interested.”
“I was waiting for you to tell me.”
Reina didn’t know how to introduce Ritsi.
Even she found its form unfamiliar.
Before regression, it appeared only when she used her power, then vanished.
Now it clung to her like glue, making her forget it too.
“Ritsi’s my familiar.”
Why it followed as a sparrow, she didn’t know.
She only guessed regression changed it.
Kaiden, hearing “familiar,” looked stunned.
“That tiny thing’s a divine beast?”
“Yes. Its name’s Ritsi.”
“No trace of majesty.”
When he gestured at its size, Ritsi pecked his hand in protest.
His calloused hand was unfazed.
“Feisty too.”
Chirp chirp!
Ritsi glared at Reina, as if demanding she speak up.
‘Guess it can’t talk in this form.’
From observation, sparrow-Ritsi could barely materialize.
It had a clear aura but lacked its true form’s intimidation.
Yet it wasn’t an ordinary bird.
It didn’t eat, drink, or sleep, just existed, often forgotten.
It understood human speech eerily well, requiring caution.
Once, she’d muttered “annoying” and faced relentless harassment.
Glancing at Ritsi, she said.
“Don’t tease it too much. I’ll pay for it later.”
Kaiden smirked, shrugging.
“Tell me if it’s a hassle. I’ll shoo it away.”
Chirp chirp chirp!
Ritsi squawked indignantly.
It tried pecking his hair but was easily subdued.
“See? Just say the word.”
Chirp!
Ritsi whimpered, pleading to Reina.
When Kaiden feigned heading to the window, its cries grew desperate.
Chirp, chirp!
The pitiful sound moved her.
She gently grabbed his hand.
“Don’t. It’s usually a big, scary bird.”
“…”
With little force, his hand loosened.
Ritsi darted behind Reina’s head.
Kaiden then grasped her hand.
“Kaiden?”
A strange tension hung between them.
Ritsi tilted its head, as if saying, What’s this?
After a pause, Kaiden adjusted his grip.
“Shall we go?”
“…Yes, okay.”
Reina, dazed by his hold, followed.
* * *
In the northern city of Letter, the central hotel buzzed with Hook Company members.
This time, Arteon, the heir, joined as an aide to broaden his experience.
He glanced at the snow-covered city.
His father, the company head, was keen on the North.
Years of effort had secured their entry.
Only after establishing a foothold was Arteon sent.
The manager asked.
“Your first impression of the North?”
“Freezing as hell.”
Arteon scowled, and the manager laughed.
“Indeed. It’s always cold here. This is mild compared to winter, when they seal the outer walls and stay inside.”
“Not an easy place to live.”
“Maybe. But that’s why the North endures. Their unity is incredible.”
“Hmph. Stubborn lot. No wonder they stare.”
Arteon grumbled, gazing out.
His real reason for coming was different.
“I have a really pretty sister.”
Recalling a friend’s old words, he chuckled.
It’d been over three years since he’d searched for him.
His survival seemed unlikely, but his disappearance was suspicious.
‘Vanished out of nowhere.’
He’d expected the palace to send a massive search for a missing royal, so he’d waited.
When he finally acted, evidence was gone.
Then he remembered his friend’s words.
“The palace is dangerous. If I fall during a campaign, look after my sister. She gets lonely.”
A royal distrusting the palace.
They’d only hung out briefly because it was amusing.
If he hadn’t said that and vanished, Arteon would’ve ignored it.
He’d have gone to Polten, a trade hub, for experience.
He came here because he heard his friend’s sister was in the North.
She’d been cloistered in the palace, out of reach.
Now she’d stepped out, so he had to see.
‘Let’s see how pretty she is.’
Antes quando ela precisava não fizeram nada 🤡
Thanks for the update 💜 🇧🇷