“The hubby and I are both technically on leave, but we’ve been assigned to protect you,” said Elena. “Anything you need, anything at all, you just say the word!”
I felt so lucky to have such people around me.
“By the way, your elder brother and the imperial princess visited while you were asleep,” said Elena.
“My brother, I get, but the imperial princess too?”
“It’s not at all strange for the princess to visit one who has made such a contribution to the well-being of the nation,” said Elena. “She put off visiting for a time when His Highness informed her that you were unwell, but everybody in town is talking about you. The public believes it only a matter of time before the emperor awards you a medal of honor and a monetary reward.”
Elena was kind enough to leave out exactly what the medal was for.
“Elena,” I said. “Ern, I...”
“I know. I’ve already heard. That said, I know there’s still so much I don’t know...” Elena paused to squeeze my hands. “I know that death wasn’t what she wanted. But this wasn’t the worst of all the possible outcomes, and I know that Ern loved you. Even I know that beyond a shadow of a doubt.”
I heard the sorrow at the edges of her voice as she went on.
“I know I’m among those who never stopped her walking the path she chose, but all the same I think her loss a tragedy. We weren’t friends, exactly, but we worked together on many occasions.”
“She was never one to wear her heart on her sleeve,” I said, “but I can say with certainty that she never hated you.”
“Even though she used me as her errand runner?”
“When she forced things on those around her, it was proof that she trusted them.”
Elena’s smile was a wry one, to be sure, but I didn’t detect any resentment in it. A quiet melancholy filled the air for a moment, but Elena was quickly back to her usual self.
“Lord Bahre saw fit to have some goods delivered as a get-well present,” she said. “Your cook is beyond excited about it. He’s whipping up something he says is a staple in a nation across the sea. There’s lots of water, it’s kind of soupy, and it’s easy to eat, he says?”
I looked up suddenly.
Could it be...?
Before I could ask, however, Charlot darted off the bed and underneath it. I expected her to run amok, but she came out meowing as she held something in her mouth.
“Ch-Charlot...?” I uttered. “What is that...?”
It was the strangest thing. It looked like—no, it was—a small bird of some sort, but what puzzled me was the fact that it was entirely black. What I mean by that is that it offered nothing in the way of light and shadow—it was pitch-black, and it didn’t reflect any light whatsoever. It had two white dots where one would expect eyes. The bird resembled the ghosts I’d seen during my experiences next door, but it was far easier on the heart and eyes, what with its adorable circular shape.
Charlot was all set to simply take the bird out into the hall, but fortunately, Elena was there to stop her. The little birdlike creature stood on shaky feet, then tumbled to its side.
“Karen,” Elena said. “What is that?”
There was doubt in her eyes as she stared closely at me.
“I don’t know. I really don’t. Don’t ask me...”
Charlot, meanwhile, was readying herself like a predator about to pounce on its prey.
“Elena, you know I’d never try to hide something like this from you.”
“Yes, but... Whatever it is, it’s definitely connected to all of this. That’s no ordinary bird.”
It looked like it had been cut right out of a shadow art display. When it folded its wings, you couldn’t even make them out on its spherical body, which, let it be known, was the cutest and most charming thing ever. The bird’s vacant stare was just as endearing. As you might have expected from its build, the bird wasn’t particularly agile, and if left to its own devices in the natural world, it would have been the dictionary definition of the word “prey.” Still, whether or not such a strange bird could even be ingested at all was still something of a question mark. It clung to me when I picked it up, and, for a bird, its mood was delightfully easy to read.
“It likes you,” said Elena.
“I wonder why...” I murmured. “And you can look at me like that all you want, but I’m telling you, Elena—I haven’t seen this bird anywhere before!”
I tried putting the bird on my shoulder, where it sat triumphantly for a few moments before tumbling down into my hands. It was the weirdest thing... The creature took the form of an animal, but it made absolutely no attempt to stop or break its own fall.
“A bit dense, isn’t it?” mused Elena. “I see a resemblance to you in the clumsy movements...”
“Oh, come on, I’m not that bad!” I declared. “And how about not saying such cruel things like you’re simply talking about the weather!”
“I think it’s best that you keep a hold of the bird for now. But take good care of it—Charlot clearly has her eyes on it now, and it’s only a matter of time before Blacky joins the hunt.”
“Huh? Wait. You want me to look after this?”
“There’s no better person for it.”
And just like that, it was decided. Wendel arrived a few moments later with some bitter tea, which I sipped at while we caught up. Things grew livelier still when Geoff arrived with Chelsea, who was as delightfully childlike as ever. It was a relief to see her looking so well, her condition so stable.
I love talking to everybody like this...
But...is that heartless of me, I wonder? To be able to smile and laugh with Ern gone?