Chapter 65
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Dear, I believe you may be misunderstanding.
Episode 65
Selena ignored the sound of someone calling out to her and rushed straight toward the Glass Greenhouse.
Her beautiful face had turned deathly pale.
She moved to open the Glass Greenhouse door immediately.
"Gasp, huff! W-wait, Selena! It's dangerous! If the servants come, huff, huff, let's go in together then!"
Roxanne, who had hurried after her, barely managed to grab hold of her.
"Let go of me, Roxanne."
Selena shook off Roxanne's grip in one swift motion.
Was Selena always this strong? Roxanne stumbled backward in surprise.
She tried to grab her again, but the determination in her eyes and the firmness of her grip made her hesitate.
Selena opened the Glass Greenhouse door and stepped inside without delay.
There was no hesitation whatsoever.
'No, Grace. You mustn't be hurt.'
Selena's mind was consumed by that single thought.
The mere idea of someone being injured was terrifying.
* * *
Her husband, Felix, had died not long after falling down the stairs.
The doctor said Felix's death had nothing to do with the fall, but Selena couldn't shake the feeling otherwise.
'No, no.'
Accidents, whether large or small, are frightening things.
Death comes when no one expects it.
"Grace!"
The moment she stepped into the greenhouse, a wave of humid heat washed over her.
The warmth made her chest tight, and her anxiety only grew.
Cold sweat—or perhaps just sweat—trickled down her back.
Beads of perspiration quickly formed on her delicate brow.
"My lady...!"
"Oh my, what do I do!"
Countess Gestash and Roxanne, who had been anxiously waiting, could not bear to let Selena go alone.
They too quickly ushered the servants inside.
Just then, the sound of a bird's wings fluttering came from far away.
Along with it came an unfamiliar, peculiar bird call.
Chirp, chirp-chirp-chirp.
Chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp...
The two sounds intertwined as one, creating a beautiful melody.
'It's over there.'
Selena quickly turned toward the source of the sound.
Fortunately, a familiar voice reached her ears from just a few steps away.
"The world...! Are you...okay?"
Alendia!
Roxanne and Anastasia, who had been following closely behind Selena, gasped in alarm upon hearing the cry.
"Allen? Are you there?"
"Shh! Please don't call so loudly. You might startle the birds."
At Countess Gestash's concern, Roxanne lowered her voice.
"Allen? Allen...!"
Her voice was cautious, careful not to frighten any birds that might be nearby.
"Mother? Asha...?"
With the sound of parting through the lush foliage of exotic plants, Alendia emerged into view.
She widened her eyes in surprise at the rush of noblewomen pouring in, quickly covering her mouth.
"Oh my! Did my voice startle you all into rushing over? I'm so sorry. I do tend to have quite a loud voice. You must have been quite frightened."
"Allen, what's wrong? What on earth happened that you screamed like that?"
At Roxanne's pressing question, Alendia's cheeks flushed slightly.
Her face appeared even more flushed, framed by her abundant crimson hair.
"Sister, are you alright? You're not hurt anywhere, are you?"
Asha rushed to her sister's side, asking with concern.
Allen smiled faintly as if reassuring her, gently patting her sister's shoulder.
"Where is Grace? Alendia, where is our Grace?"
Worried that Grace might be hurt or something had gone wrong, Selena asked urgently.
"Ah, well, the thing is..."
Alendia turned around belatedly with an awkward expression.
Following Alendia's gaze, Asha's head turned as well.
"I'm here, Madam."
Just then, Grace's voice came from beyond the foliage.
"Grace? Grace, are you safe?"
Selena rushed toward the sound in a single stride. And at the sight that unfolded beyond, she found herself drawing in a sharp breath.
"G-Grace?"
It was a sight she could scarcely believe.
The noblewomen who had followed Selena also belatedly covered their mouths, stifling gasps of astonishment.
In their widened eyes of wonder was reflected the figure of Grace, standing like a painting in the center of the greenhouse.
"Madam..."
Grace turned to Selena with an awkward, flustered smile.
"G-Grace...Those birds are...what are they?"
Perched squarely upon Grace's slender shoulders was a white bird.
Its snow-white body had wings tipped in sweet pink, and both cheeks were tinged a rosy red, giving it an endearingly doll-like appearance.
The elegant crown-shaped crest of green feathers adorned its head, and its distinctive lilting call was utterly unique.
One thing was certain—this was a bird Selena had never seen in her entire life.
Liririt!
The white bird nuzzled its beak against Grace's cheeks and shoulders, cooing softly like a cat seeking affection from its beloved owner.
"Oh my goodness!"
Countess Gestash, who had been observing from a distance, covered her mouth in disbelief.
From her reaction, I could discern the truth.
The beautiful yet fierce and temperamental bird she had spoken of was indeed that very creature.
At that precise moment, a cry more robust and piercing than the bird perched on Grace's head rang out above her.
Kee-ree-ree!
A bird similar to the one on Grace's shoulder, yet roughly twice its size, circled around the vicinity.
Though their appearances were alike, the larger bird's wing tips were orange rather than pink.
The crown feathers atop its head were far more resplendent than those of the smaller bird on her shoulder.
When Grace extended her arm, the larger bird descended carefully onto it.
Grace laughed awkwardly, having surrendered one shoulder and the opposite arm entirely to the birds.
"They suddenly flew over and simply refuse to leave."
Those fierce and temperamental birds were beside themselves trying to nuzzle against Grace.
Countess Gestash found herself at a loss for words at this incredible sight.
The other ladies also could not tear their eyes from Grace, captivated by the spectacle.
Alendia explained the situation on Grace's behalf.
"It seems we knocked against the birdcage door inside when we fell. The birds flew out, and Cassy here got startled and ran over, then tripped. The birds were alarmed by that and tried to attack Cassy, but...."
Even as Alendia spoke, she still bore an expression of bewilderment.
"When Grace shouted that it wouldn't do, the birds simply stopped, didn't they? And then it became like this...."
Alendia laughed in utter disbelief, gesturing toward Grace and the birds.
"It all happened so suddenly that we ourselves don't quite understand what occurred."
Grace too nodded in agreement with Alendia's words, laughing awkwardly as she gazed at the bird perched on her shoulder.
Kee-ree!
Ree-ree-ree.
"...Are these two perhaps a pair?"
"Yes? Oh, yes.... I was told that keeping only one would cause it to die of loneliness, so I brought them as a pair...."
This was the first time they had displayed such gentleness and affection.
Countess Gestash gazed in wonder, alternating her gaze between Grace and the two birds.
"I've heard that some birds have a particular fondness for certain people.... It seems Miss Grace is one such person. How remarkable...."
Could these intelligent birds have understood her words?
Kee-ree-ree!
Ree-ree-ree....
The two birds soared above Grace, their beautiful voices harmonizing as they chirped and circled around her.
Truly, it was a wondrous sight.
* * *
The commotion subsided, and the tea party came to an end.
The greenhouse had grown so stifling that the ladies could bear it no longer, and they filed out en masse into the open air.
Though the gathering was not particularly large, every last guest departed with their spirits soaring at the prospect of regaling their families with the extraordinary spectacle they had witnessed.
'The daughter of Marquess Oellin, can you imagine? She possesses the most remarkable gift for commanding birds!'
The rumors would surely become distorted and embellished, and High Society would soon be abuzz with tales of Grace for some time to come.
And if word spread that the very subject of these rumors was none other than the future mistress of the Black Duchy....
'Oh, this won't do.'
Grace's once-peaceful existence would undoubtedly become quite turbulent.
'...Hmm.'
I imagined the chaos that awaited me, and let out a quiet sigh.
I would have to return to the Estate soon, and I worried what fresh uproar Father and Norman might stir up.
'What if I simply didn't go?'
Lucas had left me with quite the arsenal of excuses—a broken arm, a broken leg, broken fingers.... I could postpone indefinitely with such pretexts....
I indulged in this idle fancy and found myself smiling softly.
If I were to suggest such a thing, Lucas—that man—would surely be more than willing to orchestrate the entire charade on my behalf.
The very fact that such trust had taken root within me was both strange and delightful.
That man had an uncanny way of making me want to indulge in childish whimsy.
That clumsy, untried form of dependence I had never before permitted myself....
'No, I mustn't. I cannot afford to grow weak.'
I shook my head sharply, dispelling the reverie.
"Grace? Is something the matter?"
Behind the ladies who were departing one by one, Selena waited by the carriage and asked with concern, studying my face.
"No, I'm quite well. It's only that thinking of becoming the subject of gossip makes me feel rather dizzy."
At my words, Selena nodded in understanding.
"Don't worry too much. They're all people of discretion. But... that spectacle just now was rather remarkable, wasn't it?"
Those birds had even allowed me to place them directly into their cages.
The intelligent creatures had remained perfectly docile as I opened the bars and placed them inside with my own hands.
What was supposedly so fierce about them?
Countess Gestash had stared at me in such astonishment.
"They say these birds are quite beautiful but rather wild, yet they were so gentle before you. It's truly remarkable. Has something like this happened before, Grace?"
"Something like this?"
"Birds gathering around you, for instance."
'Hmm? Has that ever happened?'
In that moment, a fleeting image flickered through my mind.
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org