Do you think she wants to see her guardian?"
"Yes, it seems so."
In the office was a statue of a snake with two swords crossed through, along with a red emblem wrapped around it.
Cade froze and stopped what he was doing.
He shifted his gaze from the report to Rosaria.
"The baby hasn't been energetic recently."
"Well, would you like me to visit her?"
"Yes."
Cade thought she was ridiculous.
Rosaria had no reason to visit Cade as her only duty was "caring for the new bird."
Rosaria abruptly came and requested for Cade to check on the baby bird.
Cade was confused and shook his head, urging her for more information
Rosaria went on,
"She's been having many mood swings. Sometimes, she'll feel sad after playing and I think it's because she feels anxious with the absence of her guardian."
"How do you know that she's feeling anxious? I thought she was unable to speak."
"Oh. Her tail grew not too long ago."
"Her what?"
"Her tail."
Rosaria looked back and thought about how she watched the baby bird grow day by day.
"Her tail goes up or swings side to side when she's in a good mood."
"Really?"
"Yes, she has gotten bigger and heavier. She is also running a lot these days. Isn't that a great improvement?"
It wasn't that big of a deal but Rosaria felt accomplished saying that.
Rosaria was filled with pride when Cade showed some interest.
Her eyes glistened with worry as she thought of the baby bird.
"The way she calls my name has changed. Now she says it correctly and sweetly. She is different from the other young masters who address me by 'Hey you'."
Cade was tired. He lifted his hand up and did a stop sign thinking that there would be no end if no one stopped her.
"Stop."
"Anyway, what i'm trying to say is that you should come visit her often so she wouldn't feel uneasy."
"I'm busy."
"As a guardian, that should be the least you could do."
"Didn't you recently request to increase the budget and I gave you permission to do so?"
Rosaria had demanded quite a lot of money, and Cade approved it.
This was enough for him to understand the situation.
But Rosaria shook her head firmly, saying it was not enough.
The growing child was sensitive, and he was quick to notice.
No matter how close the child was to her maid, the absence of her guardian is a different matter.
Rosaria was convinced that the absence of a guardian was the cause of the baby bird's mood swings.
"My lord, I request for you to please visit your child."
Seeing how desperate she was, Cade nodded reluctantly.
"Okay, I will go."
"When will you be visiting?"
"After I complete my duties. So, please see yourself out."
Cade pointed at the door with a crooked smile.
It was an order.
Rosaria frowned and reluctantly left the room.
Cade put down his pen as he couldn't continue to work since his workflow was interrupted.
He couldn't believe that the child needed a guardian as he believed that they were capable of growing on their own.
Thinking about the standards of her childhood for growing up made him laugh.
"So her tail grew?"
He thought that it was interesting.
* * *
Blink blink.
My eyes opened while I was still under the covers.
The child probably fell asleep thinking about how she should live her life.
"Pii."
I sat up and rubbed my eyes. Still feeling sleepy, I looked around.
The room was too quiet.
What?
Around this time, Rosaria would have come and greeted me.
I looked around and tried calling for her.
"Pii pii pii pii."
It was quiet.
"Pii pii pii pii?"
Rosaria probably left to do her business while I was asleep. She can't be by my side all day.
I knew that already, but now that she's actually not here, it feels lonely.
I can't believe I have to be alone in such a big room. I wiggled completely out from under the covers.
When will Rosaria be back?
"Pii pii pii pii…"
I was just sitting on the bed swinging my legs, when I felt a fierce gaze coming from somewhere.
Huh? What is this?
Why does it feel like someone is watching when there's no one here?
"Pii?"
I lifted my head.
And I was horrified.
"Pii?!"
"You're reacting as if you've never seen me before."
The landlord was looking at me with his arms folded, leaning against the door.
Oh, he scared me.
I quickly put my wings over my heart. Boom boom. My heart was pounding.
Why did I run into the landlord when I was alone?
Looking embarrassed, the landlord approached me and said,
"I was about to leave, bored of waiting, but now you're awake."
"…Piit!"
"I heard you've grown a tail, is that right?
Surprisingly, the landlord knew that my tail grew.
Rosaria seemed to have tipped me off.
I nodded slowly and stepped back, matching every step he took.
As if to laugh at me, the landlord came forward without hesitation.
Even though he was still standing far away, I took a few steps back while the distance between us closed.
I leaned against the wall and froze.
W-What should I do…
"Pii, pii pii!"
Don't take another step! I'm scared!
I watched the landlord intensely as he leaned back on the chair that Rosaria usually sits.
His gaze was burdensome.
I swallowed dry saliva, but suddenly the landlord said,
"Turn around."
"Pii pii!"
"Rosaria said it was growing but it doesn't look like it is. Where is your tail?"
The landlord seemed genuinely curious.
Did he come all the way here just to check it?
He was looking at me tenaciously as if he had never seen a tail before.
I quickly hid my tail.
Why was the landlord suddenly interested in my tail?
His miniscule expression makes him hard to read.
"Piit!"
Go away!
I flapped my wings with a big puff.
The landlord's mouth lifted slightly as he watched me do that.
"Is that a threat?"
"Pii!"
"That?"
At that moment, the landlord's eyes were glaring while he was looking at my wings.
Fluffy wings soared cutely toward the sky.
"Interesting."
"Pii!"
What should I do?
No matter what I did, I was not a threat to the man in front of me.
Rather, he seemed to have become more curious.
After looking at me for quite some time, the landlord reaches his terrifyingly big hand towards me.
"Piit!"
I closed my eyes tight.
Soon, my whole body froze and it felt like I couldn't move.
However, I didn't feel pain or anything.
Huh?
Gently opening my eyes, the landlord murmured curiously.
"I thought Rosaria did this."
The landlord was showing his palm like Rosaria does. Is he telling me to get on?
"Pii?"
"Isn't this how she does it?"
He pushed his hand closer as I hesitated.
"I heard you haven't had energy lately. Was it a lie?"
I'll have to leave the estate if I grow up fast.
"And your tail has been droopy all day long?"
"…Pii."
I tried to forget, but I felt sad being by myself.
I felt that my tail, which was hidden, moved down on it's own.
The landlord looked at me and picked up the snacks Rosaria left on the table.
Does he think I'll eat it if he hands it to me?
"Eat."
My beak flinched and I moved automatically. A sweet-looking snack was calling me.
But these snacks look delicious, shall I just taste it for a second…?.
I'm only giving it a taste, the snacks are innocent.
Eating the snack the landlord gave me, he opened his mouth while repeating the act several times.
"You take it quite well."
"Pii?"
"You look like a dog."
…I look like what?
I spit out the snack. It seems like he's decided to have a serious conflict with me