🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter : 33
Siena, who had been standing still in a daze, muttered.
“What is that…?”
Behind the imperial palace.
There were rows of massive iron cages, almost like a prison.
Inside the cages were… countless birds.
No, not just birds. They’re all hawks.
And not just any hawks—completely jet-black hawks, just like Nabi.
Until now, Siena had always thought Nabi’s appearance was astonishing.
“You’re really unusual. How can you be so completely black from head to toe?”
He certainly wasn’t like ordinary hawks with brown feathers.
But… all the hawks here looked exactly like Nabi.
“…How many Nabies are there?”
And that wasn’t the only thing.
Why are there so many hawks in the imperial palace?
What made it even more unbelievable was Nabi’s behavior.
As if he were familiar with the place, he went to a corner of the cage and settled down.
That spot clearly looked like it belonged to Nabi.
Other hawks of the same species sat calmly, not paying attention to him.
At this point, she could only conclude that this place was Nabi’s “home.”
Then he must not have a separate owner…
He was a hawk belonging to the imperial palace.
So why did such a bird fly into the city and end up at our house?
Just then—
“Stop.”
A strange man’s voice rang out.
From the opposite side, a well-built man approached.
For someone working in the palace, his clothing looked rather plain.
“Miss, what brings you here? This is a restricted area. Please return.”
Though polite, his tone was firm.
“Ah… I’m sorry. I didn’t come here intentionally…”
“……”
“The hawk over there is mine. The one with golden eyes.”
When Siena pointed at Nabi, the man’s gaze shifted there.
His eyes widened slightly.
“…Oh?”
He seemed to recognize Nabi.
Siena continued.
“I didn’t originally raise him. One day he suddenly came into our house. I couldn’t just chase him away, so I temporarily took care of him.”
“……”
“Today, it seemed like he wanted to stay with me, so I brought him to the palace. I was planning to keep him inside the carriage, but… as soon as it stopped, he suddenly flew here.”
“……”
“I thought maybe he was following his owner’s scent, so I followed him here.”
The man silently looked at her.
Then he asked:
“…Did you say the hawk entered your residence?”
“Yes.”
At her answer, his brow twitched slightly.
After observing her with an unreadable expression, he spoke again.
“Miss, excuse me. Please accompany me for a moment.”
It was an unexpected request.
“Pardon?”
“There are matters to verify.”
“……”
“Please cooperate. It won’t take long.”
Without waiting for her response, the man walked toward the cages.
Then he extended his hand toward Nabi.
“Number 38.”
Without hesitation, Nabi lightly hopped onto the man’s arm.
“…Huh.”
It was clear neither of them were doing this for the first time.
Once again, it became clear that Nabi truly was a bird belonging to the palace.
But why do they keep hawks here?
And so many of them?
While she was thinking, the man started walking.
“Please follow me, Miss.”
“Ah… yes.”
After hesitating, Siena began to follow.
But is it really okay to follow a stranger?
Her steps were slightly unsteady due to her anxiety.
In the distance, she could see a clock tower.
It showed 5:30 p.m.
Sigh…
She let out a small sigh that the man couldn’t hear.
He said there was something to verify about me…
She had come here to manipulate a romantic situation, yet somehow she was being investigated instead.
* * *
The man led Siena along an unfamiliar path.
Toward the forest located behind the palace.
As they entered deeper, the light from the palace buildings gradually faded.
“Um…”
“Yes, Miss.”
“W-where are we going right now?”
“We are almost there.”
“So where exactly…?”
“I cannot disclose that until I receive permission from my superior. Please understand.”
Though he answered properly, he did not satisfy her curiosity.
He was polite, but sharp. Gentle in appearance, yet formal and distant.
That made him even scarier.
Especially because of the location.
This is the imperial palace.
Siena considered the palace in this world to be the “only thriller zone in a cheerful romance.”
And now she was being taken away by a palace official she had just met…
Into a dark forest with no sunlight.
She glanced at the man’s back.
He’s really suspicious.
His clothing was unusually shabby.
And he looked extremely muscular, like someone who trained a lot.
…Is he really a palace official?
Siena subconsciously held her breath.
What if…
What if this person isn’t a palace official, but a member of some organization infiltrating the palace in disguise?
No matter how she looked at it, that seemed possible.
Although she didn’t know exactly what the man’s job was, she was certain he was planning something dangerous.
And she was probably the target.
Why me of all people?!
“Excuse me, organization member.”
“I’m not even royalty. I’m just an ordinary human!”
An ordinary person who works like an ant every day!
She murmured while biting her nails.
“W-will they take out my organs…?”
Of course, nothing like that would happen in this all-ages game.
But she was so scared that such absurd thoughts came naturally.
“Pardon? What did you say?”
“N-no! Nothing!”
“….”
“I didn’t say anything. Haha…”
She forced a laugh, afraid of being marked by the suspicious man.
I shouldn’t have taken in that hawk…
She regretted her past self for being kind to a strange bird.
After about ten minutes of walking—
A small cabin came into view.
The man stopped and grasped the door handle.
“Please enter, Miss.”
At last, the decisive moment had arrived.
Siena stiffened her jaw.
Stay calm.
There’s a saying that even if you’re taken by a tiger, if you keep your wits, you can survive.
Her goal was to turn this crisis into an opportunity and escape safely.
I’m not scared. Not at all.
She would escape with all her limbs intact.
Self-hypnotizing herself, she stepped inside the cabin.
In the center stood a wooden table.
“…?”
Three men sitting around it suddenly focused their attention on her.
“Why is a noble lady here…?”
“What’s going on?”
Each of them looked muscular and intimidating.
One even had a scar on his face.
Siena’s face turned pale.
Damn it!
These men looked far scarier than the one who brought her here!
At this rate, she wouldn’t be thinking about escaping—she’d just hope to survive.
The man who brought her bowed slightly.
“Captain.”
“Is that hawk…?”
The man addressed as Captain looked at Nabi on his arm.
“Yes, Number 38. He just returned to base.”
“What?”
“This lady had been taking care of Number 38.”
Everyone looked back at Siena again, frowning fiercely.
…I take back saying I wasn’t scared.
This is terrifying!
She only took care of a hawk that had entered her home!
Why am I being dragged to a remote cabin and threatened with my life for that?!
The man whispered something to the Captain.
It seemed he was explaining the situation in detail.
“I see…”
After nodding seriously, the Captain stood up.
The wooden chair creaked loudly.
Siena’s heart shrank instantly.
“…Hic.”
Not only terrified—she could barely breathe now.
I feel like I’m going to have a heart attack.
The Captain seemed completely unaware of her fear.
“Miss.”
He approached her.
I’m dead now.
Just as she was about to squeeze her eyes shut—
The Captain lowered his head.
And then he spoke something completely unexpected.
“Thank you.”
