Bluebird Lady and The White Lion Family

 

She opted to just ask directly.

 “So you took her captive?” 

Ricardo frowned for a moment, then filled in the blank.

 “The heir to the deer family?” “Yes.” 

Sophina affirmed curtly. Then he stared at her as if he didn’t quite understand.

 “Why are you so interested in this? “Well, this is where I have been keeping the loot.” 

Ricardo pointed to himself with his index finger as casually as if he were a millennia-old gumiho.

 

His blue eyes flashed with a stealthy glow like a dark night sky.

 

Even his full, smooth lips were drawn into a beautiful curve.

 

The beauty was almost too perfect, and Sophina frowned in disbelief.

 

‘You’re definitely more sly, it seems.’ 

 

She cupped her hands around her cheeks and quickly apologized.

 “No, it’s supposed to have healing properties for the deer race, and I thought it might be useful for a project I’m working on.” “Take it if you must, but don’t pay too much attention.” 

Ricardo nodded in a relaxed manner at the plausible explanation.

 

This must mean he’d managed to capture the original heroine, right?

 

Sophina pursed her lips instinctively.

 “Then where is the heir?” “Enough of this. Let’s get changed and eat.” 

But Ricardo brushed off his knees and rose to his feet, casually changing the subject.

 

Ricardo’s eyes were sharp, as if he would destroy the deer heir Sophina had mentioned at a moment’s notice.

 

I was offended that my wife was distracted by something else.

 

We hadn’t even been back together for a day yet. I had hoped to have at least a week to myself.

 

Ricardo held out his hand to Sophina without a hint of regret. She took his arm and stood.

 “I’ll see you later, my lady.” 

He nodded as he opened the door to his office with a polite touch.

 

Sophina stumbled in after him.

 “Ah, if my sister pretends to be friendly at mealtime, I’ll let it slide.” 

With that, Ricardo’s command, which sank in a little behind her back, the door closed.

 

Left alone in the silent office, Sophina sighed.

 “Well, well. He seems offended.” 

When we first met and talked, it was clear that he was happy to see me, which was cute, but there’s no telling where it’s going to lead.

 

I didn’t understand at what point he got upset. 

 

I thought,

‘He’s already in love with her, so I don’t think he’ll be offended by my interest.’

 

It wasn’t until she arrived at the lion’s estate that the romance began, having felt a subtle attraction at their first meeting.

 

‘Yes, Ricardo did seem a bit of a possessive type.’

 

Perhaps she’d subconsciously drooled.

 

Sophina’s fingers curled into a grasping fist. Her cute little cotton bat fist shook menacingly.

 

‘Ah, but why do I feel like I’m not getting any better?’

 

I guess I’m the possessive type. The thought of Ricardo having a woman to love made her feel as bad as a mother-in-law sending her precious son away to be married.

 

Anyway, what’s the bottom line?

 

That the original heroine is here or not? I’m pretty sure we met in the novel.

 

Sophina ruffled her hair into a mess that threatened to tear it out of her head.

 

I quickly recovered, changed back into my comfortable everyday clothes, and made my way to the tattered dining room.

 

It was the first time the Chadwick family had gathered in the dining room in a long time.

 

‘The dining room is more cheerful.’ 

 

The sight of the dining room so full after so many years made me feel a little melancholy.

 

‘The young master will be here soon, and the table will be fuller.’

 

As I thought this, I became unnecessarily excited.

 

Just then, Ririela’s cheerful voice broke through her thoughts.

 “Sophina, eat this, too.” 

With a toothy smile, Ririela offered the duck in front of her.

 

Duck are birds, so this shouldn’t be…

 

Sophina waved it off and handed the steaming steak to Ririela.

 “You’re the one who worked so hard, you should eat first.” 

Ririela’s mouth opened shyly. Sophina smiled and fed her the food casually.

 

‘It’s like I’m raising her.’

 

Sophina’s nose wrinkled in amusement at the sight of a baby bird being fed by its mother.

 

Ricardo, who had been staring at the disheveled figure, poked her shoulder.

 

It was a natural gesture, as if to say,

‘Don’t I have a share?’

 “Milady, what about me?” “Huh?” 

Puzzled, Sophina blinked.

 

Ricardo, however, was unperturbed and took her hand and stabbed the salad in front of her with his fork.

 

Then, wistfully, Ricardo brushed the corner of his lips with his fingertip.

 “Here.” 

What the hell, this guy. He doesn’t even like vegetables.

 

‘Have you changed your tastes?’

 

Sophina looked puzzled and followed Ricardo’s lead.

 

Ricardo’s brow furrowed for a moment at the taste of the crisp salad, but then the corners of his mouth twitched upward like a hungry predator.

 

Canus grimaced at the sight,

“Aww, couples.” “I envy you…” 

Ririela pouted her lips and knitted her eyebrows together in a scowl.

 

Meanwhile, Khan, who had been secretly beaming with pride at his children’s antics, coughed uncontrollably.

 

Perhaps it was time to keep up the facade.

 “Ahem.” 

The sound drew everyone’s attention.

 

Oh no, that was too loud.

 

After a moment’s hesitation, Khan casually changed the subject.

 “By the way, you’ve just become an adult.” 

Spring had arrived.

 

Sophina was now 20 years old, an adult. Ricardo had long since come of age,

 

‘Anyway, I have a story to tell you about this.’ 

 

Khan slurped some water and chose her words, trying to decide how to begin.

 

Meanwhile, Ririela stared at Sophina in amazement.

 

‘How time flies!’

 

There was a certain enthusiasm in the air, like she could give away her entire fortune if she wanted to.

 “Oh, right. Is there anything you’d like to keep as a memento of your adulthood, Sophina?” “I do!” 

The answer came from Canus, not Sophina.

 

Canus raised his arms with a flourish, eager to get another ping. It was the same speed with which he’d eaten Sophina’s bite.

 

Ririela timidly tried to retort.

 “I asked Sophina—” “What?” 

She couldn’t even find the words.

 “…No, I’ll buy you one.” 

With that, and a happy ending of sorts, Mother looked at Sophina and Ricardo with a hint of mischief in her eyes and asked.

 “Anyway, now that you and Ricardo are both grown up, what are you going to do with the old room?” “What?” 

Sophina asked with bunny eyes. This was something she hadn’t thought about…

 

It was a vague proposition. It was natural for the couple to share a room, and even in the eyes of others, Sophina and Ricardo were on good terms.

 

If they were to have separate rooms now, it would be a problem,

 

‘But…’

 

It’s a little dangerous for a grown man and a grown woman to share a room.

 

At the same time as the original heroine, appeared, she was left alone with the destructive husband!

 

‘I’m a woman.’

 

But why does it feel so unappealing to imagine it?

 

Sophina ponders in self-reflection.

 

Ricardo’s words rang in her ears like a bolt from the blue.

 “I don’t see why we need the guest room, Mother.” “Actually, no, but I’ve done some remodeling.” 

Khan snapped, as if she’d expected it.

 “The room is too small for you now, and I’ve chosen a decor more appropriate for your age.” 

In truth, there was no choice.

 

Sophina clamped her hand over her gaping mouth and thought blankly. Her mother smiled her one-hundred-percent genuine wicked smile and clamped down.

 “I hope you like it.” “…Yes, Mother.” “Yes.” 

With an awkward silence, the meal ended with a mouthful of food that I didn’t know whether to put in my mouth or my nose.

 

Eventually, Sophina and Ricardo were forced to head to their new, transformed bedroom.

 

She squinted at him. Ricardo’s face, now a stolid man with the thick lines of a novel, was serene.

 

In fact, only Sophina didn’t notice, and his throat, which had been flaring up, twitched.

 

But Ricardo didn’t hesitate to turn the doorknob of the bedroom door.

 

And what they saw was…

 

Red lanterns casting an eerie glow, red rose petals scattered across the wide bed, crimson wine and dessert on the table.

 

It was the scene of a carefully decorated bedroom.

 

Sophina muttered to herself in a dazed, bewildered voice.

 

Mother, when did you have this renovation done…?

 

She felt the feathers on her skin stand on end as she realized what the intentions were.

 

Taking a deep breath, Sophina finally managed to look away from Ricardo and spoke cheerfully.

 “Uh… well, there’s chocolate here! Wow, how nice.” 

The tearful endeavor crumbled as Ricardo opened his mouth,

 “…I’ll wash up first, milady.” 

Wash? He’s going to wash up?

 

What happens when he comes back?

 

There were tens of thousands of question marks in my head, but the answer that came out was a disjointed affirmative.

 “Uh, yeah.” 

Then the bathroom door slammed shut, and the sound of splashing water tickled her ears.

 

Sophina sat upright in bed, clutching at the covers, her pupils quivering.

 

‘The sound of the water is erotic!’

 

Should I cover my ears?

 

After a long moment of indecision, the bathroom door swung open.

 

Sophina’s gaze fell on Ricardo of its own accord. He was wearing nothing but a large towel wrapped around his waist.

 

He had the kind of densely packed muscles a woman could only dream of, broad shoulders that were wide open, and hard forearms that looked almost veined.

 

His hair was freshly washed and dripping from the ends, making him seem even more lascivious.

 

Ricardo ran a hand through his still-drying white hair, lazily.

 

‘When did you become a man…’

 

Sophina frowned.