Chapter 12
“How hungry it must have been, wandering all the way to the main mansion of the count’s estate.”
It was unbelievably delicious. In the original story too, Cassis Dupré, who would flawlessly carry out every task Clements ordered, had a natural talent for cooking.
“That’s not all. You have unexpected skills, Cassis. From now on, I’ll entrust you with preparing the chick’s meals.”
“If it is something His Highness entrusts me with, I will gladly do anything.”
But while eating happily, a chill ran down my spine at those words.
Should one of the empire’s finest elites really be wasting his time preparing meals for a chick? Surely, there must be mountains of work ahead of Clements where the versatile aid of Marquis Dupré would be indispensable.
Well, in any case, after this one meal, there would be no occasion for me to be fed by him again.
Ugh, seriously, this guy and his excessive loyalty. Learn to say no, would you?
But when I glanced at Cassis, he didn’t look reluctant at all. He was watching me eat with an expression almost identical to Clements’.
Which meant—two dazzlingly handsome, high-born men were gazing fondly at a mere chick pecking at its feed.
“Honestly, I thought keeping it in a trunk that deep would be enough—its little wings couldn’t possibly jump out. But now I see. My child is eating well and growing strong.”
…Excuse me? Whose child?
“I sensed it during the banquet when it kept watching the surroundings—it’s a sensitive and intelligent chick. Didn’t it find its way to a storeroom hidden from people’s eyes? And it’s so sturdy, too. Truly, it will become the perfect bird to suit Your Highness.”
“You speak the obvious, Cassis. It is the bird of the royal family.”
What on earth? Now they were even praising me for escaping and hiding?
“I’m very curious to see how it will grow.”
Ha! And how would I grow? No matter how smart or strong I became, at best I’d just be a slightly heavier chicken.
The real reason these two saw me as smart wasn’t because of any chick-like brilliance—it was because I was actually human.
I needed to make them lose affection for me somehow. But how?
I emptied the feed bowl and began thinking. Just then, Clements turned away from me to read some documents on the desk, while Cassis began organizing letters at a smaller desk beside him.
Ah, I see.
Even during an inspection in the provinces, he was diligently handling state affairs through correspondence. Truly exemplary.
It was the perfect image of the crown prince—Clements, famed as the flawless heir—and Marquis Dupré, an unrivaled administrator, working side by side.
But I had to interrupt.
In romance novels, love is more important than work! For Clements to properly fall for the heroine, I had to distance myself from him. So if I had to resort to desperate measures, so be it.
Without knowing who I wanted to understand my feelings, I made up my mind and sprang into action.
“Your Highness, this is a comparative list of the capital and the regional nobles’ territories and main sources of income. The next document interprets recent noble movements, focusing on contexts and relationships between individuals.”
“Let me see.”
At that moment, Cassis laid the papers on the desk. Oh-ho, documents about nobles, eh? Must be important?
How unfortunate if a mere chick were to disrupt the review?
Clements, his deep violet eyes serious, looked down at the papers. But he never got the chance to actually read them.
Because I marched right over and flopped down in the middle of the sheet.
“……!”
“……!”
Such shocked expressions! Ha! How is that? Insolent, isn’t it? Annoying, right? Infuriating, yes?
“…Ha, this is…”
“…Adorable.”
What?
“Has the chick grown attached to Your Highness?”
“I hope so.”
Why is it going that way?! Wait a minute.
Even as I lay there confidently, I felt flustered and fidgeted. The two of them exchanged a few more words about how cute I was, then gently lifted me up and set me aside.
Heh… heh-heh-heh.
These two still didn’t understand the terror of a persistent chick. Those affectionate eyes would soon turn into looks of horror!
As they returned to the papers, I once again plopped right on top, this time more boldly.
Once again, they only praised me for being cute and set me aside. On the third attempt, Clements finally said:
“Chick, I’ll definitely play with you after I finish this urgent matter. Right now, I cannot. Forgive me.”
I ignored him and wedged myself between him and the papers again. Heh-heh! Can’t see!
“…Haa.”
When he sighed, I thought the victory was mine. Surely now he’d order Cassis to take me outside.
But I had underestimated him.
“Peep…?”
My view rose, then dipped. He had slipped me into the inside pocket of his black coat draped over his shoulder. The distance between us shrank drastically, and I could even feel the warmth of his body.
“If you insist, then stay and look together.”
Cassis chuckled beside him.
“The chick with the highest security clearance in the empire, it seems.”
And indeed, from here, I could see the documents clearly. Ack! I squirmed, stretching out my wing to block the view. After all, I was originally human—I shouldn’t be reading confidential information.
But then my view naturally shifted elsewhere—filling up with Clements’ face.
From just below his left side, at such close range, his face was clearer than ever. Just like in the forest, there was no trace of humiliation on it.
The gleam of violet eyes peeking between his long silver lashes.
The sharp yet graceful bridge of his nose. His jawline.
Every detail was burned into my sight more vividly than ever. Such overwhelming grace…
No, no! That face belongs to Bella. I must not ogle it with such indecent eyes!
I flapped my wings over his face as if to shield myself, trying to calm down. Haa… defending with his face—truly, not someone to be taken lightly. I had to focus on interfering!
My sharp eyes caught sight of his coat itself.
Clothes speak of a man’s status. This coat, meant to display the crown prince’s dignity, was the height of refinement and craftsmanship.
For instance, the embroidery on the collar—it was practically a work of art.
Purple, black, and silver threads, likely the result of a master craftsman’s days of labor. The one who designed it must also have been a true artist.
Forgive me, artisans of the imperial palace. Sobs. I don’t want to ruin something so beautiful. But for the story to unfold as it should, I have no choice.
After a few false starts, I finally jumped and hooked my claws into the embroidery’s edge. Then, with my strong beak, I tugged and tore at the stitches.
“Your Highness…! Your clothes!”
Perfect!
Even the ever-composed Marquis Dupré looked alarmed. The delicate embroidery was mercilessly shredded by the insolent chick’s claws and beak.
Now, finally—this was it, wasn’t it? That suit must cost a fortune. Surely now they’d want to throw me out!
“Pfft—! Hahaha!”
…Or not?
At the sudden burst of laughter, I froze and stared blankly at his face, now closer than ever.
Good heavens. Clements was laughing out loud.
He was already handsome just breathing, but when he laughed so freely—he was almost magical.
Though it was broad daylight, it felt like a midnight flower bursting into bloom.
Only later did I realize—he must have been tickled when I squirmed against him.
If I were in human form right now, I’d probably just be standing there like a roasted sweet potato, flushed and speechless.
No—no, I can’t get weak. Think of Bella. Bella! Give me strength!
In the end, my sabotage did nothing.
Clements merely reached out and stroked me with his fingers. Since he didn’t care about his ruined clothes, Cassis quickly lost interest and returned to work as well.
For the first time in my life, I pitied the imperial wardrobe staff. These guys—if only they applied this kind of dedication to schoolwork, they’d have topped the whole class.
Yes. Even if dragged into Korea’s brutal college entrance exams, they’d ace them with that concentration.
Time for another method. Perhaps I had been too gentle until now.
With targets this steadfast, my tricks had to grow crueler and nastier.
And then I spotted the documents.
Yes—that was it! If they needed documents to work, then all I had to do was render them useless! Why hadn’t I thought of this before? Heh-heh-heh…
“So, if you look at these numbers here—oh! The chick!”
Flutter! Like a fearless soldier charging into enemy lines, I leapt onto the desk.
“Wha—!”
“Careful!”
Their reactions were different this time, tense and alarmed.
Mocking their hesitation, I dipped one little foot into the ink bottle.
“…!”
“Peep-peep.”
And then I scampered merrily across the papers as if nothing were wrong. Especially on the exact spot Cassis had pointed to just moments ago, I stamped an ink print nice and firm.
“The—the documents… the documents…!”
It worked on Cassis. His face drained of all color. Maybe I had gone too far. Yes, too far. I’m sorry, Marquis. I really am. I hope you had backups.
But the real problem was His Highness, the crown prince…
“Unfazed by anyone’s eyes, bold and free. Truly, this proves it is the chick of the royal family. Splendid.”
…Are you serious? What is wrong with you?!
Sigh… I hadn’t meant to go this far. But since His Highness’ reaction was so underwhelming, I had no choice. Marquis, if you must resent someone, blame your lord.
