“PEEP PEEP!”
A few days after we received word of the Maldion Empire’s collapse, I was having a particularly busy day. I went out to the garden and had a seat on the bench, hoping to lighten my mood and get a little rest. As I gazed at my servants washing bedsheets outside, I noticed Tweety approaching them.
“Peep? Peep? Peep peep peep?” He cocked his head, observing the sheets hanging out to dry. The white cloths flapped with each gust of wind.
Perhaps Tweety believed them to be animals, seeing as they were constantly in motion. He chased after them, pecked them with his beak, chirped at them, and frolicked about like it was a game.
I enjoyed watching the innocent creature have his fun. Somewhere along the way, Tweety spotted me.
“Peep!”
He ran over and engulfed me in his soft feathers, living up to the Cuddle Bird name. His fluffy, lemon yellow plumage tickled my cheeks.
“Hehe! There’s no need to rush. I’m not going anywhere.” I smiled a bit sadly as I let Tweety do as he pleased.
The Gardener Cats were on full alert as always, and Tweety was missing them. That was why I let him cuddle me as much as pleased. At the very least, I could give him all the love he was missing out on.
“Peep! Peep! Peep peep peep!” He chirped me a satisfied tune.
Cuddle Birds feed off magical energy. Each individual bird prefers a different kind of energy.
Tweety was a particularly picky eater and never showed any interest in magical energy if it wasn’t mine. My magical energy was a strange thing. For one, it had developed a bit of an “air” attribute—perhaps it had something to do with regaining my past life memories. Still… Well, as long as Tweety was happy, I was more than happy to spend time with him.
As I enjoyed the heartwarming snuggles from Tweety…
“What’s that…?” I looked up and spotted something flying in our direction in the distance.
They were too big to be birds. Suddenly, I was terribly uneasy.
“Dragons…”
They grew closer, slicing through the air with their wings.
The soaring, crimson, Flying Dragons were an emblem of the Ringrard Empire.
✦ ✦ ✦
I was informed that the Flying Dragons and their party flew to the outskirts of the royal capital and landed near the palace wall. I hurried to the palace to greet the party as the Wolfvartian queen at His Majesty’s side.
At the center of the group, with flowing red hair the color of fire, stood the emperor of Ringrard—Emperor Ishnad. Our eyes met. For some reason, I felt like he shot me a harsh look with those silver eyes like steel.
“Why have you come here without any word? You’ve upset the townsfolk, sending Flying Dragons over the capital with no warning.” King Glenreed challenged the emperor. He was a daring presence, refusing to back down even with the ruler of a great nation before him. With his imperial soldiers behind him, Emperor Ishnad met King Glenreed where he stood. His cape fluttered around his body.
“I know it’s a disturbance. Forgive me. I’ll be gone as soon as my business is finished.”
“And what business do you have here?”
“I’m taking a criminal into custody.” His deep, clear voice sounded strangely amused. When he strode toward me, his combat boots clacking against the ground, I became certain. He was looking at me like I was prey. “Laetitia. I’ve received word that you inflicted harm on Ileze, the fourth-born princess of the Maldion Empire. Our country will be making sure you pay for your crimes.”
“What did you just say…?” King Glenreed glared at him even more menacingly.
Despite the chill running down my spine, I tried to calculate Emperor Ishnad’s true intentions.
“I know it was a long journey, but have you fallen asleep standing up?” King Glenreed retorted. “You’re babbling nonsense. Laetitia didn’t harm Ileze. There’s absolutely no reason to turn her over to you.”
“It’s a lawful demand. The Maldion Empire has abdicated their throne and turned control over to me.” Emperor Ishnad held up the emperor’s golden seal. It was a carving of a fox—the Maldion Empire’s Sacred Beast. It was something that belonged only to the ruler of the country. “Now that I control the Maldion Empire as well, I have a right to demand the punishment and transfer of anyone who harms their royal family. I’m told that Laetitia here poisoned Ileze and caused her to collapse.”
“You’re wrong.” I was absolutely firm. I addressed the imposingly tall emperor, making sure not to reveal any fear or weakness. “It was only a coincidence that Princess Ileze collapsed at my villa.”
“A coincidence that also claimed two of Ileze’s maids on the same day?” Emperor Ishnad laughed mockingly.
Princess Ileze’s maids were both noblewomen from Maldion, which meant they’d inherited at least some of their blood from the royal family. It seemed they’d fallen victim to the same curse that came through the Wing Chord.
I truly hadn’t done anything wrong, but could admit that, to an onlooker, I came out of this appearing guilty. Not that I had any intention of sitting back and letting him falsely accuse me either.
Quietly, like a challenge, I gazed up at Emperor Ishnad, his crimson hair dancing in the breeze.
“Putting on an act won’t save you. Drop it already so we can take you back to our homeland as the criminal you are. It will be of benefit to this country as well.”
He reached his hand out toward me.
I nearly stumbled backwards out of reflex. But I remained standing and struck his hand away.
“…I see.” Perhaps startled by my counterattack, Emperor Ishnad squinted his eyes slightly before letting out a sigh. “How cold. I may treat you like a criminal, but I’m not going to be cruel to you.”
“I refuse to be called a criminal over something I had no part in.”
When he heard me emphasize my innocence again, Emperor Ishnad chuckled.
“How amusing. In that case, you’ll have to find a way to clear your name, Laetitia. If you can’t do that, I’ll be taking you home with me for real this time.”
“I couldn’t ask for anything better.”
“What a courageous thing you are. I’ll be back in one month to hear what you come up with.”
After those final words…
Emperor Ishnad turned, mounted his dragon, and disappeared into the sky.