Chapter 23
I moved the blue bird toward the fountain pen beside the notebook.
“As expected… this is the one I gave him, right?”
The watery blue gem set in the clip was a blue diamond, so it was definitely mine.
No matter how small it was, I was the only person who would put a blue diamond on a fountain pen.
I wondered where it went since I didn’t see it in his office.
So he was using it here.
The small disappointment I had kept in my heart melted softly.
What settled there like sunlight was warmth.
Ah, no. Don’t fall for this so easily.
If his points keep piling up like this, that’s not good!
I shook my head firmly.
I came here to uncover Lionel’s true nature!
Never forget that, Cecilia Lohaim!
If you’re done playing, you should wash your feet.
Lionel brought a bowl shaped like a rice bowl, filled it with water, and held it out.
After confirming he sat back down,
I dropped the blue bird into the bowl.
Honestly, I wondered if this was necessary,
but leaving ink footprints on such expensive furniture and wallpaper felt uncomfortable.
To him it’s just a bird…
but still, my conscience hurts.
When I pressed the tiny-steps button in the water,
splashing sounds followed.
After seeing black ink spread in the clear water,
I looked back at Lionel.
“What is he writing so much?”
Thinking the ink had washed off enough,
I floated the blue bird into the air
above Lionel’s head—
the perfect spot to react if he moved
and to clearly see the notebook.
[Reason Cecile is angry]
“What? He’s starting over from the beginning?”
At this point, diligence itself felt like poison.
Now I was embarrassed
that I had told him to think about this like homework.
I didn’t expect him to take it this seriously.
Looking at the clock,
it had already been an hour past the time he should be asleep.
My eyelids were getting heavy too.
I would definitely oversleep tomorrow.
Still, I didn’t have to go to the imperial palace tomorrow,
so sleeping late was fine…
“What time is someone who wakes at dawn to train planning to sleep?”
Well, he was sixteen—
an age that could chew stones.
But people in their growth period should sleep well!
He was already tall,
but that meant if he ate and slept properly,
he could grow even more.
Men should be big.
Tall, with big hands, wide shoulders, broad chest…
Ahem. Anyway, sleep is the best medicine.
“Beep! Beep-beep!”
What’s wrong?
Ignoring Lionel’s puzzled sound,
I flew the blue bird to the bed
and landed on the pillow.
After meeting his gaze,
I pressed the hopping button on the soft pillow.
…?
Lionel only tilted his head slightly,
as if he didn’t understand.
He’s so clueless!
I made the bird jump several more times,
then finally laid it flat on the pillow.
“Come lie down already, you fool!”
Sleepy?
Only then did he seem to understand.
I was so happy I almost pressed the nodding button—
Wait. If it understands too well, he’ll suspect something.
Fortunately, instead of questioning,
Lionel stood and walked to the bed.
Startled, I quickly flew to the head of the bed.
Thankfully, instead of reaching for me,
he turned off the magic lamp
and lay down.
Only moonlight and starlight
entered the dark bedroom
through the still-open window.
Is it really okay to leave the window like that…?
Maybe noticing my glance,
Lionel lay perfectly straight with hands folded on his chest
and asked,
Do you know how to sing a lullaby?
“Huh?”
A lullaby? Why a lullaby?
Was he asking a bird that?
You don’t know? …Lili could sing.
“What? …What did you say?”
He definitely just said Lili.
“How do you know that name?”
That was my childhood nickname,
used only by my family!
No, wait. Calm down.
Thinking back,
this wasn’t the first time I heard it.
Yesterday too, when he first saw the blue bird,
he had said Lili.
I thought I misheard because everything was chaotic…
For a moment I felt chills,
wondering if he realized the bird was a magic tool
and that I was controlling it—
but that couldn’t be.
If he knew,
he would have captured and destroyed it already.
And hadn’t he said,
“Lili could sing”?
Clearly past tense.
And I had never sung a lullaby in front of him.
A feeling… I have a feeling…
Most likely,
the blue bird he raised as a child
was named Lili.
Could it be that my blue bird doesn’t just resemble Lili,
but looks exactly the same?
Then everything made sense—
leaving the window open,
preparing cookies and water,
letting the notebook be ruined.
If I met an animal identical to a childhood pet…
I’d probably at least feed it once too.
Wait.
Wasn’t I doing something really cruel right now?
Digging into the only beautiful memory Lionel had left…?
I won’t move from here, so play as much as you want before you go.
Just don’t make too much of a mess.
If a servant sees you, I don’t know what they might do.
“…Don’t talk so kindly…”
The guilt was overwhelming.
When I die, I’ll definitely fall into hell…
Watching Lionel in the crystal,
eyes tightly closed as if keeping his promise,
I made a decision.
Let’s end the spying tonight.
And I should retrieve and destroy the magic tool.
A blue bird resembling the Lili he once raised
should never appear before him again.
I’m so sorry… what should I do…
Looking quietly at his face,
still as wax,
I slowly pressed the chirping button.
Beep… beep-beep… beep… beep-beep-beep…
Is that your lullaby?
His voice, asking with eyes still closed,
was much lower than usual—
already heavy with sleep.
His expression didn’t change,
yet strangely,
his face looked more peaceful than before.
A faint laugh followed,
so quiet I could only hear it in the silence.
You’re tone-deaf.
“What? Tone-deaf?! Seriously!”
He was the first person ever to call me tone-deaf!
In protest,
I pressed the chirping button repeatedly.
Beep! Beep-beep! Beep! Beep-beep! Beep-beep-beep!
You’re angry.
I know why you’re angry.
Sorry for teasing you.
Beep-beep-beep! Beep!
Why was Cecile angry…
“Because you called me tone-deaf!”
Just wait.
One day I’ll sing for you
and be praised as the greatest singer!
Thinking of future revenge,
I kept pressing the chirping button.
But Lionel only breathed softly,
his face completely relaxed.
He had already fallen asleep.
“…His sleeping face is so gentle.”
Breaking news.
First reveal in the Empire.
The future Crown Prince’s sleeping face.
How many people besides me
had ever seen this?
If we marry, I’ll see it every day…
That thought made my arm feel strangely ticklish.
“Yaaawn…”
I should go sleep too,
but this sight was too precious
to look away from…
Chirp chirp.
Huh? What?
Where was a bird crying at this hour?
“Why is it so bright around me… wait.”
My mind snapped awake.
Raising my crumpled body from the chair,
I saw the bright window
and screamed.
“Why is it morning?!”
The crystal showed nothing anymore.
Not Lionel’s face—nothing at all.
The light was gone.
“What do I do? What do I do?!”
No matter how many buttons I pressed,
there was no response.
The crystal too.
I didn’t want to believe it,
but while I slept,
the magic tool’s power
must have completely run out.
Which meant
“The illusion magic must be gone too…”
Seeing the bird-shaped magic stone
rolling beside his pillow,
what would Lionel be thinking?
Just imagining it
felt like a horror movie.
I almost wanted to faint
right there.