Bluebird Lady and The White Lion Family Chapter 37

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Chadwick’s largest party hall was packed with guests.

 

From the fresh, vibrant, colorful decoration that evokes the early days of summer.

 

The walls were lined with rose vines and the beautiful chandeliers were woven with flowers.

 

It created a very different mood from the usual banquet.

 

Some guests felt that they were tired of the usual grandiose banquet atmosphere.

 

And it seemed to work subtly.

 

“Wow, the decoration looks quite refreshing.”

 

“Yes, the food also looks lovely with these white flowers, I think they’re called Roneache flowers?”

 

The lions paced around, whispering their admiration in hushed tones.

 

Of course, not all of them were favorable.

 

“Ahem, it’s an important banquet, and the atmosphere seems too festive. I don’t like it.”

 

James, the elder lion who’d challenged Sophina at the last wedding, coughed and complained.

 

For a moment, the conversation moved on.

 

“By the way, I heard you have a very special gift for the blessing at this banquet.”

 

At the mention of the Roneache flower, James sounded skeptical.

 

“Such a useless flower.”

 

“I mean, it’s not like it’s a great shade tree, and it’s kind of cumbersome.”

 

Some lions agreed with him.

 

But others disagreed, thanks to the rumors Sophina had spread through Jane.

 

“Still, it’s a fairy tale flower, and I like that it’s not common.”

 

“Hohoho, whatever it is, the important thing is that it solves a problem in the realm, like the economic woes of small businesses.”

 

“I know, I thought the bride and groom were visiting from out of town and wouldn’t be interested in the estate.”

 

These differing opinions were quickly reconciled.

 

We’ll have to wait and see, this banquet, and that bluebird.

 

The lionesses’ eyes fell on Sophina, who was dressed in a white, fluttering chiffon kimono.

 

She was chatting with her mother.

 

“I see you’ve put a lot of work into this.”

 

Khan looked at her warmly and complimented her,  “Especially you, sweetheart, you’ve worked so hard.”

 

Sophina’s cheeks flushed at the recognition of her hard work.

 

“I heard you have something special in store for this blessing, can we look forward to it?”

 

“It’s …!”

 

Sophina nodded vigorously. At the same time, her mind drifted off for a moment.

 

‘I’ll be able to do a good job…?’

 

Alas, she had failed to reveal the true nature of the Roneache flower.

 

I had to come up with another way to get everyone’s attention.

 

As a result, the plan was to package it as appealingly as possible, showing the purification process in action.

 

The idea came from Canus.

 

Canus had been the center of attention at their wedding and hadn’t come to the banquet because he didn’t like lions.

 

Anyway, the flowerbeds were filled with the violet Roneache flowers that had been requisitioned.

 

‘A presentation like this will be memorable,’ Sophina thought.

 

Besides, it accomplished the goal of introducing the flowers in the first place.

 

Judging by the chatter of the lions, it seemed that she had succeeded in earning the title of being a fairly competent bluebird with an understanding of estates’ affairs.

 

Things went according to Sophina’s plan.

 

The banquet, despite its size, was not arduous, as it was all about having an enjoyable time.

 

After asking for permission and gathering the guests in the garden, Sophina placed her hand on the white giant tree.

 

“Tell me if you’re tired.”

 

Ricardo, who had been trailing behind as she walked, stood dutifully by her side.

 

His brow quirked slightly at the stench that only lions could smell.

 

“I’ve heard they’re supposed to neutralize it, but believe me, they’re not very effective.”

 

There were a few grunts of doubt mixed in with the admiration.

 

“I see you’ve infused it with Thalithe. Surely this is something others can do as well?”

 

The comments were mostly about how it’s not a big deal, so why make a big deal out of it?

 

At the expected question, Sophina stared at the violet flower in the corner she’d deliberately left behind.

 

Then she glanced at Ricardo.

 

Ricardo quickly injected the giant tree with his thalithe.

 

However, the brilliant purple petals barely changed, fading slightly.

 

Strangely, the Clyde tree did not respond well to thalithe from anyone other than Sophina.

 

Perhaps Canus had been right about the energy source.

 

The lions, meanwhile, blinked questioningly.

 

“I see no change, even with the power of the Little Lord.”

 

“Yes. Shall I try?”

 

One of the lions seemed curious, so he sneaked up to the tree and breathed his thalithe into it.

 

One by one, the other lions joined in, dousing the tree with thalithe.

 

But when it didn’t move, they all came to the same conclusion.

 

“Looks like the little lady’s thalithe is the only thalithe that will work.”

 

“Hmph, that’s certainly interesting.”

 

The lions’ faces turned favorably to the situation.

 

“Great.”

 

Some of them, like James, were still not pleased.

 

In any case, the important work was done.

 

Sophina and Ricardo distributed the white flowers to the lions, then returned to the banquet hall.

 

“That was wonderful. Now, don’t you think it’s time to enjoy the feast, my dear?”

 

Khan praised, stroking Sophina’s head as if he had been waiting for this.

 

“Oh, and my son.”

 

Khan’s gaze then turned to Ricardo, who was at Sophina’s side.

 

“Why don’t you step outside the banquet hall for a moment? I was told your sister would be arriving today, but she hasn’t shown up,” Khan ordered his son sharply.

 

Ricardo nodded his head in compliance and moved away from Sophina with a slightly rueful step.

 

Sophina was puzzled, glaring at the back of Ricardo’s head, which had been smoothed to cotton puffs.

 

‘Huh? I wonder what was that conversation about?’

 

As Sophina froze, Khan began to introduce her to acquaintances who might be able to be of assistance.

 

As she was being led around by her mother’s hand, Sophina suddenly remembered something.

 

‘Ricardo’s sister is supposed to attend, but I don’t see her…’

 

What would I do if I ran into her, I wondered, running through a simulation, but she was nowhere in sight.

 

Sophina’s musings were interrupted.

 

As if to warn her not to relax, a loud noise came from the opposite direction.

 

Two lion beasts were arguing near a long table of food.

 

Apparently, they were arguing.

 

“Mother, I’ll go check on them.”

 

Sophina, who had been eyeing the dishes, told her mother stiffly.

 

As the head of the banquet, I couldn’t just leave them alone.

 

‘Ricardo left the banquet hall earlier and hasn’t come back.’

 

If anyone could do it, it was Sophina.

 

The moment she stepped into the center of the commotion, the impatient lion overturned the food.

 

“If you’re going to do this, hit me!”

 

The milky, creamy pasta with firm noodles slammed into the opponent’s left cheek.

 

‘Wow, to see a pasta slap in action,’ Sophina marveled to herself.

 

Quickly regaining her composure, she chided the already food-covered pair.

 

“Excuse me, please don’t do this with the food,” she said, but it didn’t work.

 

The two lions argued with each other and began to create a scene out of a stage play.

 

Steaks rained down from all directions.

 

‘It’s not like they’re playing dodgeball,’ cried Sophina, who had been dodging the debris with aplomb, stomping her feet in frustration.

 

Meanwhile, several of the elder lions watching the mayhem exchanged glances.

 

“Isn’t that a little too much for an act?”

 

“Maybe it’s just because they’re usually at odds, but it looks like they’re fighting.”

 

They whispered covertly.

 

The elder lions had essentially planned to ignore Sophina’s presence.

 

Until they saw Sophina grab the snake at the banquet with her bare hands.

 

She seemed braver than they thought, so they decided to test her.

 

This is the result,

 

“We’ll probably leave them alone. Fighting is the most entertaining spectacle in the world.”

 

One of the elder lions, who was enjoying the slightly twisted scenario, casually remarked.

 

“Man, this place makes good cookies.”

 

The others munched on their butter cookies and watched the fight.

 

In the center of everyone’s attention was Sophina, who was struggling with the situation.

 

‘Should I use my powers to stop them?’

 

I wished I had a better way to do this.

 

For now, she decided to resolve the situation with peaceful discourse once again.

 

‘I don’t think there’s any food left to throw.’

 

No one was hurt yet.

 

Unfortunately, Sophina overlooked one thing.

 

The belligerent lions were a fearless race that would fight with their gums if they had no teeth.

 

“There’s one more to go.”

 

And with that, the grizzled lion threw the plate of food at her opponent.

 

A classical piece of melodic drama from somewhere.

 

Then a piece of music played.

 

However, the problem was…

 

The plate flew out of the lion’s hand and into the hands of the young woman.

 

‘No!’

 

Sophina sneakily used her ability to deflect the trajectory.

 

Luckily or not, the man was quicker to catch the plate and break it.

 

“… This is annoying.”

 

The slightly husky voice sharply cut through the atmosphere of the banquet hall.

 

The blonde woman blinked coldly, not bothering to wipe the blood from the shards of glass.

 

Golden eyes that seemed to devour anything in sight, a muscular frame that felt well-honed despite the clothes she wore.

 

And most of all, the fierce piercing of her eyes.

 

It was a force that sent chills down my spine.

 

“Master Ririela?”

 

The surrounding men covered their gaping mouths with their hands and spoke in tones of fear.

 

She was Ririela Chadwick, a woman who frightened even the lions of her own kind.

 

The lions, who had been dutifully exchanging food and engaging in physical discourse, fell to the ground.

 

It was a sign of submission.

 

“Please, let me live.”

 

“Well, we didn’t do it on purpose, things just happened…”

 

Ririela’s gaze didn’t even flinch at the sight of them begging so desperately.

 

Trudging on, she approached the lions.

 

Without a word, she grabbed both lions by the scruff of the neck and threw them into the air.

 

A golden aura formed on Ririela’s right wrist.

 

She had used her powers.

 

The poor lions flew through the ceiling in a parabolic arc, becoming stars in the sky.

 

A moment later, there was a thud, the sound of something hitting the ground.

 

‘Surely they’re not dead? That’s a lion of superior physical strength.’

 

Sophina’s jaw dropped in horror.

 

It was the same for the others.

 

The elder lions, the ones who had planned this, tried their best to look the other way.

 

“Hahaha, keep your mouths shut and enjoy.”

 

“Ohoho, what happened?”

 

Everyone quickly looked away from Ririela and prepared to scurry away.