Bluebird Lady and The White Lion Family

Things have changed.

 

Rihentheon, who had been talking to Ricardo, was on his way to find Sophina.

 

He’d gotten here by asking around, and without being told that the door was open for guests, he’d opened it anyway.

 

Rihentheon poked his head out and looked at the informant, puzzled.

 “…Who is it?” 

I didn’t realize there was a prior arrangement, but in times like this, don’t they usually say, 

‘I’m sorry,’

?

 

Sophina quickly changed the subject.

 

There was no need to explain, and she was worried that she might be prying.

 “Oh, I forgot I had an appointment… Did you just disappear earlier?” “Yes, I had something to talk to you about.” “Young Master, could you wait a moment then?” 

But the answer came from somewhere else.

 

From the informant,

“It’s okay, it seems I’ve finished my business, so I’ll leave you to it, dear customer.” 

The informant’s green eyes widened in surprise. A shallow moisture pooled in her dark eyes.

 

‘Huh?’

 

 

Sophina scratched her head.

 

Something didn’t feel right.

 

At that moment, the informant batted her eyelashes sheepishly and walked past her without a word of greeting.

 

Or rather, she didn’t seem to be in the mood for it.

 

Just as the informant was about to leave the room, Rihentheon offered a small favor.

 “You seem to have something in your eye.” 

He gave the informant his handkerchief.

 “Please wipe it.” “…Thank you.” 

The informant accepted it with a lump in her throat.

 

What was that, this current?

 

Sophina’s gaze darted all around him at the table.

 

The informant’s footsteps echoed lonely, leaving only Sophina and Rihentheon in the room.

 

‘Did she get dust in her eyes? Why did her eyes look so red?’ 

 

Maybe I should ask her later. No, why would I care if she did or not?

 

Sophina clapped her hands to get their attention.

 “It’s almost time for dinner, would you like a cup of tea?” “Yes, thank you.” 

And so it was that she had tea time with the young master.

 

After smelling the sweet tea, Sophina slowly got to the point.

 “So, what did you have to tell me, young master?” “Ah. In a week or so, I may have to go back to the foxhound realm again.” 

And today?

 

Sophina blurted out, her eyes wide,

“Did something happen…?” “Oh, actually, there was a situation where there might be a skirmish, but I just came back from cleaning up.” “What?” 

Rihentheon snapped, his tone far from calm. He pointed to my side forehead, which was red and swollen.

 “I was beaten by my brother, and I saw my mother on the way here, and I got beaten again.” 

He’d gone to settle a dispute with a foxhound. He hadn’t handled things perfectly, and he just came back?

 

Suddenly, a memory flashed through my mind.

 

‘I seem to recall that the war in the original story started as a petty quarrel, and then things got out of hand.’ 

 

Oh, no, I thought, the young master might be back to take over again.

 

At that moment, a word was spoken that awakened Sophina’s serious thoughts.

 “Please continue to be good to my poor brother.” 

The words were spoken in the same tone as a parent telling a teacher to be good to their child.

 “Ah…yes.” “Oh… yes,” Sophina replied hesitantly. 

‘Are you telling me this because you said you might be leaving soon?’

 

I guess they’re siblings who bicker, but have their own kind of affection.

 

Sophina smiled at the thought of them as brothers.

 

Rihentheon turned his head away and coughed loudly.

 

Then he spoke his mind,

“I was surprised at first. I heard that my sister spent her birthday at the mansion.” 

Oh, you mean sister Ririela?

 

As if to answer Sophina’s curiosity, Rihentheon continued.

 “You know the story of my family, don’t you, sister?” “Ah… Well, I heard about your father. That he died.” 

Sophina shook her head, gently comforting him. She wondered why he had brought it up so suddenly.

 

‘Maybe he’s trying to thank me for looking out for his flesh and blood.’

 

Something along the lines of what he’d just said about Ricardo.

 

Sophina’s guess was correct.

 “Thank you for looking out for my family. Sister-in-law” 

Rihentheon thanked him profusely with a stiff bow.

 

Then he brought up a new point of discussion that was a little more unexpected.

 “….And you should be careful, sister.” “What?” 

Rihentheon barked out the words like a fire command.

 “Black Panthers, how vicious they are. Always practice your mental discipline so you don’t fall prey to their strange abilities!” “Eh? I’ll keep that in mind, young master?” Gasp— 

Sophina was taken aback by the fierce momentum, and she joined him in questioning.

 

Then her cheeks puffed out, and her brain kicked into high gear.

 

A black panther?

 

‘If it’s a freak of nature….’

 

The panther’s unique ability was domination.

 

An ability to get inside another’s head and control their behavior.

 

The only way to avoid falling victim to this terrifying power was to develop a clear mind. 

 

Having a clear mind gives a person more time to resist the power of others, as it allows them to use their powers longer.

 

In any case, the Panther was a beast with incredible stats.

 

In the novels, they were enemies of the Lion Clan.

 

‘The conversation I had with the young master earlier was about Ririela’s birthday.’

 

What’s the connection between that stepfather and the black panther? She said her father was dead, and her stepfather had died.

 

Wasn’t the former a natural death and the latter an accident?

 

The black panther’s reasoning was plausible.

 

As Sophina marveled at her brilliant deduction, Rihentheon laid a mine with a deep bass voice.

 “As long as I am in this manor, I will be responsible for your mental training.” 

Everyone in Chadwick House had at least one run-in with a panther.

 

So despite his troublesome behavior, he was able to withstand it to a certain extent, but his sister-in-law wasn’t.

 

If the Black Panther comes after Chadwick House as he did, then…

 

‘I’ll make sure she’s fully trained.’

thought Rihentheon. 

 

A kind but foolish sister, a mean and self-important brother, and a busy mother.

 

Among them, who can take care of her?

 

‘I’m the only one!’

Rihentheon thought to himself.

 

Besides, he’s not the kind of man to run off on a tangent. Rihentheon, in full stride, tugged on Sophina’s sleeve.

 “Come with me, sister.” “Yes?” 

Sophina had no choice but to follow, not understanding the words.

 “There’s a trick I’ve been working on for years to improve my mental strength, and it’s especially for you.” 

The effective mental training method he had developed was meditation.

 

And he does it while listening to waterfalls.

 

The sound of the waterfall washed away all thoughts and helped him focus.

 

Eventually, Sophina and the young master were able to enjoy the waterfall in the back mountains near the mansion.

 Splash— 

Whether it was water or tears of regret that fell on her head.

 

It’s been four days of this now. Sitting reverently on a slab of stone at the base of the waterfall, Sophina was displeased at the sight of Rihentheon.

 

He’s not normal, either.

 

‘This is going to make things worse…’ 

 

A bluebird, yet it appears exalted.

  

Rihentheon was teaching Sophina an effective method of mental training.

 

Ricardo had been deep in thought for days.

 “What’s so good about this guy that my wife keeps him around?” 

He didn’t like the idea of playing head games with Rihentheon. They seem to be sitting on a rock at the base of the waterfall, meditating.

 

‘She doesn’t even like water.’ 

 

Wasn’t this the same Sophina who had thrown a fit when she’d fallen into the bathtub in her animalized form?

 

I wonder if she’s joining in because she thinks my brother looked pretty.

 

‘That’s annoying…’ 

 

That’s right, I felt irritated.

 — Isn’t she important to you as well?

 

Especially after what Rihentheon said.

 

This strange feeling probably started with Leche. I’ve been conscious of it ever since. No, maybe even before that.

 

When I unwittingly said I would celebrate Sophina’s birthday.

 

Perhaps I was opening up.

 

I thought,

‘Does that mean I consider her a friend?’ 

 

No, I didn’t. It wasn’t the way I felt about my friends.

 — There are many forms of love in the world. A father’s love for his son, a son’s love for his mother, a friend’s love for his friend.

 

Suddenly, a thought flashed through Ricardo’s mind that he didn’t want to think about anymore.

 — You don’t have to call me Dad right now, just think of me as a friend.

 

The words of Ricardo’s stepfather, once his first friend.

 

‘It’s not safe to be precious.’

 

But somehow, he felt tamed by his daily routine with Sophina.

 

Ricardo’s habitual best friend, his stepfather, was once his first friend.

 

Ricardo assumed the worst out of habit. What it would feel like to lose her like that. If Sophina were taken from him.

 “Never again, not even in death.” 

Ricardo’s blue eyes deepened.

 

A distinctive lushness replaced the tinkling, echoing sound of the mind.

 

‘The pact, surely it was strong enough to bind the soul.’

 

 

Strong enough that even if I were to inevitably fall, I could channel the Thalithe to find out what was happening.

 

The connection was growing stronger, and I could feel it instinctively.

 

Ricardo was figuring out what the deal was, even though no one had told him.

 

But…

 

‘If Sophina wants to leave me of her own accord…?’

 

Do I have the right to stop her? I suddenly wondered that.

 

And the hesitation she had shown at the word of family on Ririela’s birthday.

 

The way she kept things to herself when we went to Leche.

 

For some reason, I felt uneasy. Like a bird in flight, I was afraid she would disappear without a trace.

 

Ricardo muttered slowly,

“If only I could make her stop thinking about it.” 

Shortly thereafter.

 “Are you free tomorrow, my lady?” 

Ricardo made a straight shot at Sophina.

 

It was a date request.

 “I’m supposed to train with the young master tomorrow.” “I’m sure he’ll be fine with that.” 

Of course, she had already done all the mental training beforehand.

 “No?” 

Ricardo’s eyes twisted into a crooked smile. His silky white hair fluttered in the breeze like a painting, and the early evening moonlight dazzled him.

 

The tickling smile deepened.

 

He already knew that when he smiled like this, Sophina would flinch.