Bluebird Lady and The White Lion Family

Sophina placed the flowerpot under a sunny window.

 

The letters she had received from Ricardo were kept on a separate table by the window.

 

The warm, sun-filled room gradually filled with Ricardo’s gifts.

 

There were berries from a tree that only grew in Ricardo’s region, a blue forget-me-not with a sweet flower, an adorable blue bird that he had carved out of wood. 

 

And a music box that came with a note saying that the flower thrived without him.

 

Sophina’s room gradually grew fuller. Before she knew it, almost four years had passed, and she was spending the winter of her 19th year.

 “Wow, time flies. I thought we had to wait longer than this in the original.” 

Sighing, Sophina pulled out the letters from Ricardo out of habit and looked at them.

 Age 15. 

When they were just starting to write to each other.

 

The handwriting was terse, asking how the other was doing.

 

Missing you was always at the end.

 Age 16. 

Ricardo had been busy in the spring, and his letter had arrived late.

 

It said he was sorry.

 Age 17. 

The summer seems to have been incredibly hot.

 

Ricardo writes that he climbed a tree for a nap and almost fell off.

 Age 18. 

In the fall, Ricardo gave away a handmade wooden bluebird for my birthday.

 

In my reply, I joked about how ugly it was.

 

But honestly, it was kind of crude.

 

Most recently, at age 19, a portrait of Ricardo in winter arrived.

 

This was the result of my curiosity about how Ricardo had grown up, so I asked him if he could send me a black-and-white photo.

 

His white hair had grown in length, hanging over his eyes, and his blue eyes sparkled brightly.

 

However, his face was a little more brawny and skeletal than I remembered.

 

Would it be awkward to meet him?

 

Sophina bit her lip and turned her attention back to her memories of Ricardo.

 

It wasn’t until she looked at the precious gift, stained with the passage of time, that she realized.

 

‘You’ve grown up with me.’

 

So when we meet again, perhaps we could laugh, with a bit of innocence and a lot of heart.

 “I’m going to miss you…” 

Sophina monologues to herself as she watered the now-grown oak tree.

  “I miss you more and more.” 

The same could be said for Ricardo.

 

Ricardo’s barracks was covered with traces of Sophina. 

 

The long-awaited letters from her, the big stuffed animal he’d cuddle with at night, the medicines she’d insisted he take, the sword she’d made especially for him.

 

And a sloppy handkerchief that Sophina had made for him.

 

Ricardo’s world was now colored by Sophina.

 

Distant or not.

 “What will she be like when I meet her?” 

Ricardo took out the portrait of Sophina, reached out and unfolded it.

 

Then he squinted and gazed into the stars. Her soft, watercolor-blue hair was the softest color he’d ever seen, and her chestnut eyes sparkled like no other.

 

‘Just like I remember.’

 

I looked at the portrait of 19-year-old Sophina and had no idea.

 

Had she gotten cuter? Or more mature and beautiful.

 

The corners of Ricardo’s mouth curved upward.

 

I wondered. The grown-up Sophina.

 

Would she find me strange?

 

I was worried. Perhaps I should greet her politely first.

 

It would be fun to watch her frozen in place.

 

The smile on Ricardo’s face deepened at the thought of such a future.

 

Just as Ricardo was about to slip the painting into his leather pouch with a smile on his face, a servant knocked on the barracks door.

 “Master, we are ready.” 

Ricardo dressed and muttered slowly to himself.

 “It’s time to see the end.” 

Ricardo had a good feeling. He had a feeling he would see Sophina soon.

  

Meanwhile, inside Sophina’s office at the Chadwick House.

 

Standing there, besides Sophina, was a young boy with dark hair and eyes.

 “Sister, have you seen the paper?” 

It was Canus, who had humanized.

 

Humanization typically takes place around the age of 10, so Canus was now able to change his appearance at will.

 

‘You don’t look that familiar.’

 

Sophina shook her head in disbelief.

 “A newspaper? Not yet.” 

She should have known… Canus was quite the cutie.

 

At first glance, he’s cute, like the protagonist of a loving parenting movie, but upon closer inspection, he’s more like a snake.

 

Anyway, when Canus first humanized, she was quite surprised.

 

I quickly regained my composure by asking him what was wrong with him.

 

Ugh, barely able to keep her mind off of it, Sophina pulled the newspaper Canus was reading closer to her.

 “Come on. Anything good in there?” “Yes. The lions have won a great victory this time. The enemy must be running out of steam and retreating in droves.” 

Canus explained, running his fingers over the glossy front page of the newspaper.

 

He and Sophina shoved fountain pens, papers, and other items into a small bag.

 “This war is coming to an end.” 

For some reason, it felt good. It had been a long day, and it seemed like the war would be over by this time.

 

A spontaneous humming came from Sophina.

 

Canus glanced over at Sophina, who seemed a little excited.

 

And then she spoke in a terribly patronizing tone.

 “Oh, by the way, doesn’t Canus have a tie?” 

Sophina was beginning to prepare to head out.

 

Canus must have realized this, because he cried out to play with her.

 

That snake never changes from one humanization to the next.

 

It’s very consistent. Sophina clenched her teeth at the sound of a tongue that could have cooled a millennium.

 

Canus whimpered innocently, not sure if he recognized her feelings.

 “I want to see the outside world too!” “Then you go on your own, and I’ll go on mine.” 

She dismissed him cynically. It’s not like the little snake could do anything on his own.

 “You said you’d be around for a while anyway.” 

Besides, Canus was practically a Chadwick family member now.

 

Maybe he’d gotten a taste for money, staying on.

 

Well, he said he’d gotten permission from his parents anyway.

 

‘Maybe he’s just going with the original.’

 

As I recall, Canus was also in the original story.

 

‘I know I’ve changed it a lot, but maybe the main flow is still the same.’

 

Sophina said, shoving her things into her bag as if she didn’t care.

 “I’m going anyway!” “Disgusting!  

Canus grumbled, and the carriage carrying Sophina rolled smoothly out of the manor. Her destination was none other than the clock workshop.

 

She had originally requested to find out about the land of war, but she insisted on seeing it for herself.

 

Business was good as ever.

 

Cures, supplements, even metallurgy.

 

The new branch of food and household goods was also breaking sales records.

 

We were making things like dry bread and canned, sealed food for the war effort.

 

Like the one I gave to the master the other day.

 

Hygiene was important in wartime, so we searched for plants that were good for cleaning and produced soap and other daily necessities.

 

Many of the seeds we brought back from the secret location had mysterious effects, so we planned to expand our business into medicine.

 

To do so, he needed land for research, so he contacted an informant.

 

‘We’ve put out a recruitment notice, and with the war, unemployment is high, so there will be plenty of applicants.’

 

Just then, the escort knight who had followed them spoke to Sophina.

 “We’ve arrived, little lady.” 

Sophina was escorted into the watch workshop.

 

The workshop was unusually empty. A large suitcase held what she assumed to be documents.

 

‘Something’s wrong…’

 

She looked around, puzzled by the eerie silence.

 “What is it, why is it so quiet?” 

Suddenly, Sophina’s eyes caught sight of a notebook on the table.

 

‘What is it?’

 

Just as these questions were hanging over me, I heard a strange voice.

 

— It’s a diary. I’ve always been a writer. Sophina, why don’t you join me in a shared journal?

 

A low, female voice with a familiar ring to it.

 

‘What is this?’

 

A feeling similar to the one I had once had when I glimpsed memories of the original heroine in the secret place.

 

At the time, I thought it was the aftermath of touching that strange pocket watch.

 

Sophina narrowed her eyes and covered her ears with her palms.

 “It’s been a long time, customer.” 

Just then, an informant popped up from the room next to the counter, where I thought no one was.

 

‘You sound…almost exactly the same.’ 

 

Sophina stared at the informant as if mesmerized.

 

The tone of the voice in the strange vision overlapped with that of the informant.

 

‘What, am I mistaken, or am I hearing nonsense because of a lack of energy?’

 

Then she struggled to control her expression and blurted out.

 “You saw it two weeks ago, when you burst into the mansion out of nowhere.” “Oh, that’s just because I wanted to renew my friendship with you.” 

Tsk

, Sophina lowered her head and grunted.

 “To hell with friendship.” 

After so many years of battling and roasting, she’d developed a bit of a love-hate relationship with the dubious informant.

 

Not that she didn’t trust her completely.

 

Despite the fact that the information she’d been given had been so detailed that it had caught her off guard at times, Sophina steadied her nerves and stared at the informant.

 “But what’s all this? You’re packed like you’re about to leave…” “Bingo.” 

The informant made a circle with her fingers and spoke in a soothing, tinkling bass voice.

 “Don’t be too sad, I’ll see you again.” “What? Suddenly?” 

Sophina’s voice rose naturally. She was puzzled. Why would someone she’d gotten along with so well leave?

 

‘I’m still in need of more information.’

 

Actually, it was for a rather impure purpose.

 

The information he was giving me was too good to let go, so the corner of his mouth subtly turned upward.

 

I couldn’t see it clearly through the mask, but it was a smiling face.

 

Like someone overjoyed to be reunited with someone they’ve missed.

 “Yes, suddenly, because I have someone I need to meet.” 

Sophina’s eyes narrowed strangely.

 

Then she tugged at the hem of the informant’s robe, possessed by the lingering feeling of regret.

 “Where are you going? We have a contract, and we’ve been getting along just fine.” 

And I’m supposed to tell her about today’s request.

 

The contract doesn’t specify this kind of situation, so it’s hard to prevent it.

 

Well, for the record, I’m sure she has her own personal reasons, so I understand the temporary deviation.

 

Sophina asked, her tone a little blunt.

 “No, if you leave, when will you be back?” “The answer came back in a cheerful, booming voice. “Soon, but why are you so obsessed with me, dear?” “Obsessed? Me?” 

Was it not regret, but obsession?

 

Sophina’s facial muscles stiffened, while the informant smirked.

 “How do you know I’m obsessive again?” “Ah…yes. Well, go away. Go away for good, I’ll let you go.” 

Sophia said, half-seriously, half-jokingly, and shook her head.

‘I feel a little weird.’ 

 

But at least she’s coming back. If she was going to leave, she’d sneak out. 

 

Sophina decided to be generous and let the informant go.

 

The informant patted the counter desk leisurely with her hand.

 “The information you requested is here.” 

Sophina glanced up and asked,

“So, how do we fulfill requests while you’re away?” “Oh, the owner of the workshop before me has agreed to take over for a while. He’s a sloth, but he’s a good handyman, so you can just ask him.” 

Judging by the way she said it, she doesn’t realize that the sloth and I know each other.

 

The sloth must be good at keeping secrets.

 

While Sophina racked her brains, the informant snapped her fingers as if it had just occurred to her.

 “Oh, and good news.” 

What the informant had to say was very welcome news indeed.

 “The war will be over soon, so take care.” 

The bell above the door jangled audibly, accompanied by the light tread of a woman’s shoes.

 

The informant walked away.

 

So much for that, then.