Bluebird Lady and The White Lion Family

 

Unsure of where to look, Sophina hurried past Ricardo and into the bathroom.

 “I need to wash myself!” 

She submerged her head in the warm water and tried to recall a funny memory.

 

I’ve done this before and dehumanized myself. I thought I was drowning in the bathtub.

 

She lifted her head back up and blew out a gasp, building up the tension.

 “Haha, that was so embarrassing and funny.” 

Finally, the mind-controlled shower was over.

 

She was horrified to see her pajamas in the private dressing room off the bathroom.

 

‘What the hell is this?’

 

The slip was a thin robe, the kind of thing a newlywed might wear on their first night together.

 

The corner of Sophina’s mouth dropped as she struggled to pull it up.

 

As expected, it was a struggle.

 

‘Do I have to wear this?’

 

Sophina pondered, furrowing her brow for some reason.

 

In the end, she decided to put it on.

 

She couldn’t just take it off. Luckily, she found a large blanket and wrapped it around herself, then crept back into the room like a burglar cat.

 “Sophina, you…” 

But the sight of her stirred Ricardo uncharacteristically.

 

With a stern expression, he grabbed the blanket from the bed and wrapped her up tightly as if she were a bundle.

 

Ricardo’s blue eyes were too dark to speak as he did so.

 

Bewildered, Sophina rolled her eyes and creaked like a woodcarver.

 “What, what are you doing?” “Hold still.” 

Ricardo clicked his tongue mockingly.

 

Then he wrapped her up, tying the knot with meticulous care.

 

It felt stiff and dull, and she swatted him fatly.

 “Hey!” 

And here I am, strutting around in nothing but a silk robe.

 

Why did I get to wear it and you didn’t? How come I’ve wrapped myself up in a pretty blanket?

 

When Sophina pouted her lips like a child with a bruised nerve, Ricardo spoke softly, like a tyrant.

 “Come on.” 

Ricardo’s sweet tone was belied by the swiftness with which he picked her up with one hand and laid her down on top of the bed.

 

She was a caterpillar in her sleep, staring at the ceiling of the room.

 

‘What the hell is going on?’

 

She wiggled her free foot. Rotating her ankle gave her no answers.

 

Then, a heavy, tickling bass sounded in her ears that she still couldn’t get used to.

 “I will sleep in the office tonight, my lady.” 

With those words, Ricardo turned off the lights in the room.

 

Darkness fell in an instant.

 

Sophina monologue in a tone that dripped with absurdity.

 “Is he in love with me?” 

There’s no need for a room. I felt a strange sensation and kicked it into the air.

 

And then…

 Thud— 

The recoil sent Sophina rolling across the bed.

 

Almost falling to the floor, she gritted her teeth and braced herself. Then she rolled back over and landed back in the center of the bed.

 

‘I feel like one of those round hot bars they sell in the village market…’

 

Sophina’s eyes widened. 

 

‘Yes, because we’re both adults now.’

 

It might be weird to sleep in the same bed as when we were kids.

 

But why does it feel so odd…?

 

Sophina closed her eyes, feeling ambivalent.

 

‘Maybe it’s a good thing.’

Maybe I should smack him in the morning.

 

With that thought, she drifted off to sleep.

 

Meanwhile, Ricardo, who had arrived at the study with a stiff gait, collapsed onto the couch.

 

He washed his face in a series of dry strokes, his face a mess.

 

The memory of Sophina from earlier was still haunting him.

 

‘I almost made a mistake.’

 

She’s a woman all grown up now, but she’s a young woman who believed she could have a child with the touch of a hand.

 

Ricardo was still in the grip of his old illusions.

 

With that, Ricardo pulled a blanket from the corner of the room, and tucked himself into the narrow couch.

 

The next morning.

 

Ricardo’s eyelashes, like a white lion in a sleeping forest, were curled.

 

Dream.

 

I dreamed.

 

A different kind of childhood dream.

 

No longer the little girl in the pink dress, but the young woman she has become, smiling broadly.

 

And around her neck was a pendant necklace made of gold cord.

 

A faint blue moonstone in a transparent heart-shaped glass pendant.

 

A moonstone?

 

The thought flashed through his mind that this was the gemstone that symbolized his Thanato. Ricardo woke up.

 

His eyelids lifted slowly, and his pupils were sharpened to the point of feline ferocity.

 “Ha…” 

What kind of dream was this?

 

Ricardo lifted the hem of his blanket and screamed in a cracked bass voice.

 

‘Why is it so vivid… like I saw it myself…?’

 

This must be the first time he’s ever seen her as an adult.

 

Could it be that the feelings he’d longed for had found their way into his dreams?

 

At the thought, the hairs on the nape of Ricardo’s neck stood on end. He covered his face with his large hands and went into the bathroom.

 

That morning, Ricardo had no choice but to take a cold shower.

  

While Ricardo was still dreaming, Sophina was already awake.

 

She looked down at the blanket, which hadn’t come undone despite her tossing and turning throughout the night.

 

‘You tied me up really well.’

 

Telekinetically wrenching herself free, she stumbled to the bed and sat up.

 

She tapped at the mental calculation as she organized last night’s events.

 

Maybe it was time to start the novel in earnest. Well, it was a little unclear if it would go according to the novel.

 

‘Maybe I should watch the original version of the story and have a reality check.’

 

Maybe it’s time to let go of the role of Male lead’s ex-wife.

 

Now that the war has ended, the main villain, the one who frames Sophina, should be introduced soon.

 

I didn’t want to be the bluebird in a lion fight.

 “I’ve got to start getting ready for the divorce.” 

I’ve been so busy taking care of my family that I hadn’t prepared myself for what would happen after the divorce.

 

Although I don’t know how things might play out in the future, I still need to plan for my retirement.

 

Perhaps I should contact the informant.

 

Oh, the sloth has agreed to take over the watch workshop for the time being.

 

‘It would be fun to buy a whole secluded, scenic island and spend the rest of my life there.’

 

There was plenty of money, and the business could be turned over to Canus.

 

As long as I had plenty of shares.

 

Sophina quickly grabbed a piece of paper and a fountain pen from the table next to her and wrote a short letter.

 

— I’d like to buy an island, and it would be nice to have some buildings built, so I can leave and settle down soon. Oh, and I’d like the climate to be a little cooler and the scenery to be beautiful.

 

And then, the hot spot of the last sentence.

 

Sophina ruffled her hair and gave a pointed look.

 “But I like it here, my family is nice, and I’ve gotten to know Ricardo.” 

Just plain sulking? Maybe I should tell him I don’t want a divorce?

 

No. Let’s not get ugly. Should I just kill Ricardo neatly?

 

And that’s how I came to this conclusion.

 

She was surprised at how radical her own inner thoughts were, and she caught herself. Then she made another assumption.

 “But what if Ricardo doesn’t like the original heroine, and the original heroine doesn’t like Ricardo?” 

Sophina nodded, her tone drained.

 “I’d rather hope so…” 

Oh, what did I say?

 

The whisper slipped out without realizing it, and Sophina slapped her cheek.

 

If I keep digging, I might just cut through to my core.

 

She clenched her hands into tight fists.

 “Let’s meet the original heroine first, and then it won’t be too late to judge.” 

Maybe I should introduce the original heroine to another man after we get to know each other?

 

What about this letter, anyway?

 

Sophina looked down at the note she’d written to the sloth.

 

‘I suppose you should buy some real estate, since more is always better.’

 

She slipped the note into her pocket.

 

No, I almost forgot.

 

I fumbled, and the paper crashed to the floor with a thud.

 

But she didn’t notice, and continued on her way. Her destination was the prison dungeon.