ITDSF 14

Chapter 14

I was certain of it.

Set didn’t like me.

I understood that it could be because we weren’t the same kind of snake, but it still hurt a little.

I curled up my body.

Not everyone could welcome me, so I knew it couldn’t be helped, yet I still felt bad.

I hid the colored paper I had wanted to give him behind my back.

“Lady Irene, please don’t be too upset. You can become friends with Young Master Set.”

“Peep…”

“You want to be friends with me?”

Set tilted his head expressionlessly. I cautiously poked my head out.

If I say I want to be friends, will you accept this?

The half-folded paper butterfly was all crumpled. But it was the only thing I had.

“You’re a strange kid. You’re a bird, yet you don’t seem scared of me.”

“That’s Lady Irene’s charm.”

“Everyone else is usually too busy trembling and running away.”

Set strode over and held out his palm. Watching his reaction carefully, I handed him the colored paper.

“Since you’re giving it to me, I’ll accept it for now.”

“…Peep.”

“But I’m not particularly happy to see you. I’d rather you stay out of my sight from now on. If you want to keep living, that is.”

As the atmosphere took a dangerous turn, Rosaria’s expression hardened.

“Young Master, if you say anything further, I’ll have no choice but to report it to the family head. Please mind your limits.”

“Ah, right. Then I should stop here. It would be troublesome if Father found out.”

A haughty smile, remarkably similar to Kaid’s, appeared on Set’s lips.

From Rosaria’s arms, I looked at Set.

Just as he was about to turn away, his gaze dropped to my leg, and he spoke in a disdainful tone.

“I was wondering where that smell of blood was coming from. Looks like you fell and got hurt.”

At Set’s words, Rosaria examined my leg.

The injury was only a tiny scratch since I hadn’t fallen very hard, but her face immediately turned pale.

“Lady Irene, when did you get hurt…? Did this happen when you fell earlier?”

“Peep.”

For some reason, it started hurting again only now. Maybe it was because the tension had finally worn off.

It stings, Rosaria. Blow on it for me.

Watching me receive care, Set frowned.

“I really don’t need a sibling like you. Getting hurt just from falling over. You’re so weak.”

With that single sentence, I became a weak little baby bird.

The outing ended like that.

After returning to my room and washing up, Rosaria applied medicine to my leg and carefully covered it with a bandage.

It hadn’t even been that long, but it felt as though ten million years had passed. I lay on the bed, hugging a pillow.

“Peep… peep…”

My voice was low and subdued, as I was still hurt by what had happened.

“Lady Irene, are you still feeling very upset?”

Rosaria asked as she stroked my head.

I slowly nodded.

The lingering impact of that intense first meeting in the garden refused to fade.

Staring at the ceiling, I blinked my eyes wide awake.

Even though it was time for a nap, I couldn’t fall asleep easily.

“Why can’t you fall asleep? Should I close the curtains?”

“Peep.”

I shook my head. I didn’t think darkness would help me sleep.

For some reason, it felt as if every sense in my body had become unusually sharp.

Maybe it was because I had been affected by Set’s pheromones earlier.

Even Rosaria’s slightest movement made me tense.

I squirmed and tossed about.

“Lady Irene?”

When I suddenly let out a pained sound, Rosaria called out to me.

But instead of answering, I burrowed deeper under the blanket.

“Peep… peep…”

My heartbeat had suddenly started racing for no apparent reason.

What’s wrong with me?

As I tilted my head in confusion, Rosaria lifted the blanket with a worried look.

“Lady Irene, do you feel unwell anywhere?”

“Peep…”

Not really…

I fiddled with my fluffy feathers. Somehow, it felt as though a warm, fuzzy sensation was spreading throughout my body.

Feeling as though I absolutely had to find a comfortable position, I pulled the blanket tightly around myself.

As I rolled around restlessly, Rosaria gently patted my back.

“Would you like me to lull you to sleep?”

“Peep.”

“Please let Lady Irene fall asleep soon. The stars and the moon are already sleeping.”

“Peep.”

Rosaria pulled the blanket up to my chest.

The cozy warmth wrapping around my body made my previously alert eyes grow heavy.

I struggled to keep them open, but they slowly closed again under her gentle pats.

Whimpering softly, I rubbed my head against the pillow.

“Why don’t you want to sleep today? Is it because of what happened earlier? It’s time to sleep.”

“Peep peep peep peep.”

“Yes.”

“Peep peep peep…”

With the steady rhythm of her patting, my consciousness gradually drifted away.

Late that night, when everyone had begun falling asleep,

Rosaria anxiously checked on Irene’s condition.

Irene had slept the entire day without waking up once.

Rosaria, who had prepared a meal for the time Irene usually woke up, paced around the room.

“Why is she sleeping so long? She needs to eat dinner too.”

It would have been fine if she simply slept soundly through the night, but if she happened to wake up at dawn, her sleep schedule could become completely reversed.

Rosaria wanted to avoid that at all costs.

Should I wake her up?

“Was she really that tired? …Maybe I should go find Hestia.”

But what if Irene woke up while she was gone?

She wouldn’t do anything dangerous by herself, but she might become frightened if she realized she was alone at night.

If she tried to leave the bed during that brief absence, it could become a serious problem.

After all, Irene still couldn’t fly.

Honestly, that had been unexpected.

Most children started showing interest in flying once their tails began to grow, but Irene’s growth was somewhat slow.

Part of that was due to her environment.

If Irene had originally had a proper guardian, she might have grown faster.

“…I hope she grows up without any problems.”

There were occasional cases of young beastfolk who failed to develop properly and remained permanently in animal form.

Since Irene had already experienced the growth pains associated with her first awakening, she wouldn’t fail to gain a human form entirely, but Rosaria still couldn’t help worrying.

Even a minor sign could affect a child’s growth.

Very little was known about the growth process of the bird clans.

The development of each clan was considered a secret, and bird clans mostly lived in the skies, so encounters with them were rare.

“Ah… What should I do? If I’d known this would happen, I would have tried to build a better relationship with them at the border.”

Thinking of the bird clan that guarded the eastern border region, Rosaria let out a regretful sigh.

If she had done that, perhaps she could have asked them for help.

Rosaria looked down at Irene, who was sleeping peacefully, unaware of the world.

The Irene who never slept throughout an entire day was now lying perfectly still.

What if this was a warning sign connected to her second awakening?

Any abnormal symptom that appeared before a growth stage couldn’t be ignored.

Rosaria’s brows furrowed.

“No, this won’t do. I should go see Hestia after all.”

She rose from her seat.

After grabbing the doorknob and preparing to leave, Rosaria turned back one last time.

“…I’ll be back soon, Lady Irene.”

Carefully making sure not to make a sound, she opened the door and left the room.

A short while later, the eyelids of the sleeping Irene began to tremble.

“Peep, peep…”

As though searching for a safe place, her tiny wings moved about restlessly.

Before long, she started burrowing deeper into the blankets, finding a cozy spot to hide.

One corner of the blanket rose slightly where Irene had nestled herself.

Visible through a small gap in the blanket, Irene remained fast asleep, breathing softly.

The body that had been curled up tightly gradually relaxed and stretched out comfortably.

Only a tiny opening remained in the blanket—just enough for her to breathe.

And then it happened.

A soft, fluffy cloud of pheromones began to drift out around Irene’s small white body.

The scent was sweet enough to tickle the nose.

It lingered around her protectively, refusing to leave her side.

Until Irene opened her eyes.

Throughout the entire night. Until dawn arrived.