Bluebird Lady and The White Lion Family

 

Sophina paused for a moment, thinking.

 

‘If the prophecy was high-level information, then what I know now is even bizarre.’

 

Perhaps an appropriate response would be to feign ignorance. After all, I figured out the answer was blue.

 

‘Canus, that kid is unnecessarily sharp.’

 

She didn’t turn her head, but she felt Ricardo’s gaze on her.

 

The corners of her lips twitched upward, and she pulled on her dainty mask.

 “I thought it was just a riddle or something. I didn’t think it was a prophecy.” — Scary. “Ah, I’m sleepy.” 

She yawned, cutting off any further discussion, then laid her head on the windshield and pretended to doze off.

 

Then she really did fall asleep.

 “Sleep well.” 

Ricardo, who had been watching her closely, gently offered his shoulder to her.

 

It was a long time before Sophina opened her eyes, sleeping soundly against Ricardo.

 — Wow, it’s snowing here! 

Canus jumped up and down like a child who hadn’t set foot on his native soil in a long time.

 

Outside the window was a spectacular view of white, fluffy snow.

 

‘Are we there already?’

 

Sophina asked, rubbing her heavy eyes and clinging to the window like Canus.

 “Wow, it’s snowing. Is it a blizzard?” 

White fluffy snow on colored roofs, a deserted but cozy city center. It was Leche’s view.

 “It’s pretty.” 

And in the center of it all, the clock tower with the inscription Edelweiss.

 

‘Huh? A clock tower!’

 

Sophina stared at it, mesmerized.

 “Come down, milady.” 

Somehow, she seems to like it. Ricardo smirked and politely held out his hand for an escort.

 

Canus wagged his tail, eager to get off as well.

 — Let me down, too! “Okay.” 

Sophina smiled sheepishly and tucked Canus into her bag as she always did.

 

They finally stepped onto Leche’s land. Sophina paddled in circles, taking in the sights of the bustling city.

 

Meanwhile, the others got out of the vehicle. Like a beagle, Sophina ran to greet Khan and Ririela.

 “Mother, and sister!” “Sophina…!” 

Ririela hugged her lovingly and heartily.

 

‘She was a good lioness,’

thought Sophina.

 

With that, Ririela prepared to weave the cloth, but then she came to her senses.

 

Then she took a brave step forward.

 “Your clothes, they look good on you.” 

Sophina had just gotten dressed before disembarking, and she flattered brightly, fondling the soft furry coat.

 “My sister bought it for me!” 

The effect was stunning.

 

The wild Ririela was frozen in place with her heart attached. As if that weren’t enough, the golden lion’s ears perked up.

 

Her humanization had been loosened a bit by her excessive joy.

 

‘This isn’t so scary.’

 

The grin was still murderous, but it was adorable, especially with those cute little feline ears.

 

Noticing Sophina’s gaze, Ririela timidly tugged at her own ears.

 

It wasn’t concealed, but they were making small talk anyway, when suddenly a gust of cold wind blew in.

 

Sophina rubbed her forearms and mumbled to herself.

 “Wow, but it’s a little cold.” 

Ricardo reacted quickly, pulling a pair of gloves out of his pocket and offering them to Sophina.

 “Here, gloves.” “Thanks. But why do you have my gloves?” “You left them behind.” 

‘Aha, so it was.’

 

Sophina scratched her cheek absently. Ricardo addressed her briefly.

 “Your hands.” 

She meekly held out her hand, and the fluffy warmth of the woolen glove brushed against her skin.

 “Shall we start with what we had planned, then?” 

At that, Khan, who had clapped her hands a couple of times to get their attention, motioned for them to move.

 

Sophina clung to her mother and threw her arms around her.

 

‘I’m going to ask my mom to buy me lots of yummy things.’

 

It was a rather selfish goal, and so the journey began. They traveled to every corner of the city, east, west, north, and south, making memories.

 

Tasting dishes they’d never tried before, seeing famous architecture, pranking each other.

 

It was a lot of fun in good company.

 

Meanwhile, as Sophina smiles broadly, her mind wanders.

 

‘I, how am I going to get out of here?’

 

She knew she had to visit the clock tower, but how and when would she sneak out?

 

Especially since I didn’t have a solo room at the hostel we’d agreed to stay at.

 

‘Ririela said we should all sleep together.’

 

Well, I didn’t mind that, but it was a little hard to squeeze in.

 

‘I’d rather find a way to be by myself now.’

 

Sophina chose a one-dimensional method.

 “Oh, my stomach!” 

It was a trick. With a sound bite, a wipe of her lips, and a grimace, Sophina slumped into place.

 

Canus, who had just had the misfortune of falling out of her bag, pointed out sharply.

 — What, if your stomach hurts, why are you holding your head and making faces? 

‘Oh, my mistake.’

 

Sophina quickly reached down and rubbed her plump belly.

 

It was a bit of a clumsy charade, but it seemed to work.  It was Ririela who first looked at her with concern.

 “What’s wrong, Sophina?” “Are you sick, sweetheart?” 

Even their mother worried about Sophina, her normally calm voice slightly strained.

 

‘Oh, I’m sorry.’

 

Sophina did her best impression of an academy student skipping class with subtle guilt.

 “I guess I ate too much and got ill, I’ll be fine after a little rest…” 

A muffled, nearly drowned voice slipped between her lips.

 

Even her hair parted like a young ghost’s to help with the acting, hiding Sophina’s face.

 

It was a compliant performance, unlike the one she’d been so fond of.

 

Distracted, Khan stroked a hand across her chin and offered a grave solution.

 “Hmm, shall we retire to the quarters I have reserved for us?” “Oh, no, you don’t have to do that for me, I’ll just go in and rest first.” 

Rolling her eyes at the unexpected turn of events, Sophina begged off. But it was no use. Her mother gently drove the nail down.

 “We’re family, it’s not fair.” “What? Yes.” 

Sophina clasped her hands together in a sheepish affirmation.

 

‘It’s not supposed to be this way…?’

 

But they’re family, and they’re worried, so what else should I say to them?

 

‘We’re family. Am I allowed to think that?’

 

It got tough. Sophina brushed her hair out of her face, her eyes moist as if she were about to cry.

 

Ririela couldn’t stand to see her face like this and reached out her hand.

 “Sophina, do you want to come upstairs with me?” 

Sophina replied, her face a mask of anguish.

 “Yes?” 

“No. Just climb up on me.”

 

Luckily, Ririela stepped up to the protective role, scooping her up.

 “Yeah, you don’t look so good.” 

Khan agreed earnestly, slinging the bag containing Canus around Ririela’s neck.

 — What, are you treating me like this? 

Canus grumbled, then glanced at Sophina.

 — Are you really sick? I thought you were playing a stupid trick. 

‘That shrewd bastard.’

 

Just as Sophina was scowling, the little snake spoke up.

 — Heh! Let me know if you need a hand, I’ll lend you my ‘Canus tail’, hmm? 

That meant she could rub his belly if she was sick.

 

‘What’s wrong?’

 

Sophia’s eyes narrowed slightly. But then her gaze shifted elsewhere.

 

To Ricardo.

 

‘Why hasn’t Ricardo said anything? Has he found out?’

 

Whiter snow settled gently on his white lashes. Ricardo blinked slowly. Then he stared at Sophina.

 

Their gazes met. Sophina buried her face in Ririela’s back, feeling uneasy in a way she didn’t understand.

 “It, tickles me…!” 

Ririela pretended not to notice. Ricardo covered his mouth with his fist and chuckled.

 

Sophina let out a small sigh. She wasn’t sure if he realized she was playing tricks or not, but she felt like it was a relief.

 

In any case, she was taken to the hotel where she was to stay.

 

It was run by the family, so they had the most luxurious rooms on the top floor.

 

In fact, the entire hotel was reserved in the name of the Chad family, so it didn’t matter which room she stayed in.

 

After tucking Sophina into the large queen-sized bed, Ririela said,

“Sophina, are you going to be alright?” “Go get yourself a nice, warm bath, sis.” 

The others had decided to take a quick soak in the warm cloths of the inn.

 

They hadn’t felt the need to go, but Sophina had insisted.

 “I’ll be there as soon as I’m feeling better,”

she added with a giggle.

 

Oh, was that too funny?

 

She rolled her eyes and swallowed dryly.

 

Just in time, Ricardo, who had changed into comfortable casual clothes, closed the distance between him and Sophina.

 

Up close, Ricardo’s blue eyes shone brightly under the dazzling chandelier.

 

Without realizing it, Sophina pulled the covers up to her chin and exposed her eyes.

 

He whispered in a languid voice, like the air in a warm room.

 “If you’re just tired, get some rest.” 

Busted, trickster. Still, he seemed to look the other way.

 

Sophina pulled up her bashful lips innocently and rolled over with her back to Ricardo.

 

And then a sneaky scowl crossed her face.

 

‘I’m screwed. I guess I can’t leave now.’

 

Amid her struggle, she heard the door slam shut. She kicked at the blankets with her foot and made a grunting sound.

 

And then she decided,

‘Oh, I don’t know anymore.’

 

Let’s just get out of here. After all, I couldn’t pretend to be sick tomorrow. It wasn’t often that I got to be alone like this.

 Poof! 

A tiny bluebird appeared, accompanied by the familiar puffy clouds.

 

‘I’ll be too noticeable if I leave,’

I thought.

 

There were servants from the mansion outside, and if she was going to use her powers, it was better to disguise herself as an animal.

 

Hiding her clothes well under the covers, Sophina used telekinesis to open the window.

 

Then, flapping her wings up and down, she flew straight toward the clock tower.

 “Twit!” 

At last, she arrived in front of the clock tower with its snow-white edelweiss.

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