Bluebird Lady and The White Lion Family Chapter 42

 

“Really?”

 

“Oh, I’m sleeping with my sister tonight. We’ll have to cuddle so tightly she can’t get away.”

 

Sophina sneaked a peek and clung to Ririela’s arm, tenderly.

 

Ririela’s cheeks flushed naturally.

 

She affirmed slowly, like a turtle just starting to emerge into the world.

 

“…Yes.”

 

In Ririela’s eyes, Sophina shone as brightly as the sun.

 

For a long time, Sophina hugged her tightly.

 

She hoped that her warmth would bring her some comfort.

 

A little time passed.

 

After hugging her to the point of stiffness, Sophina withdrew her frozen hand.

 

The movement made Ririela look up at her like a puppy who didn’t want to be separated from its owner.

 

“Where are you going?”

 

Ririela’s softened eyes, now unusually docile, were ironic against her fierce brow.

 

Apparently, the comfort had worked.

 

“Let’s have dinner.”

 

Sophina took Ririela’s hand and hauled her to her feet.

 

Ririela blinked dazedly, “Ah…dinner.”

 

The thought of seeing her mother, Khan, at dinner made her feel awkward.

 

After all, she’d told him she was leaving the mansion.

 

With some hesitation and anxiety, they made their way down to the dining room.

 

But Khan was nowhere to be seen.

 

It was just Ricardo and the servants.

 

Even Canus, the usual chatterbox and mood maker, had said he’d eat in his room tonight.

 

Sophina glanced toward the entrance even as she sat down in her chair.

 

‘I see Mother is planning to skip dinner after all.’

 

And so began a rather dull evening.

 

The dining room was filled with the awkward clinking of utensils.

 

Ririela and Ricardo greeted each other, but didn’t speak afterward.

 

In the silence.

 

Sophina made up her mind.

 

‘I must visit mother.’

 

If she’s going to help me, I need to make sure.

 

Asking Ririela if she could go back to her room first, Sophina quickened her pace.

 

The destination was her mother’s office.

 

“Mother. May I come in?”

 

“Come in.”

 

Her mother was calmer than before, and thanks to Sophina, she was able to wish Ririela a happy birthday.

 

For such a young girl, so new to the Chadwick household, to go out of her way for the family…

 

‘I can’t even muster up the courage to talk to my daughter more.’

 

Somehow, Khan felt a little ashamed of herself.

 

‘Perhaps I was lucky to have Sophina as my daughter-in-law after all.’

 

And then, just as the thought crossed Khan’s mind.

 

Khan’s hand moved of its own accord.

 

With a genuine smile, Khan gently stroked Sophina’s hair.

 

“I’m so grateful you came to us.”

 

“No, I’m more grateful, Mother.”

 

Sophina waved her hand shyly.

 

Then she cut to the chase. A plan to make big sister Ririela’s birthday a happy one.

 

“Oh, by the way, I need Mother to help me with something about Ririela’s birthday.”

 

Hearing that, Khan hesitated slightly.

 

“Me? I wonder if I can help…”

 

After all the years she’d spent away from her children, it wasn’t easy for her to reach out.

 

Even if she’d had a moment of self-reflection earlier.

 

And then…

 

‘Maybe it was my fault after all.’

 

Khan’s face twisted into a wry grimace.

 

Meanwhile, Sophina had her inkling of what Khan was thinking.

 

It must have been hard for Mother, too.

 

She’s been at odds with Sister for so long.

 

‘But Sister didn’t seem to hate Mother. In fact, she seemed to feel sorry for you.’

 

She smiled sweetly, trying to convince Khan.

 

“She’ll love it!”

 

“I don’t know, I was never a very caring mother.”

 

“We’re family,” Sophina replied awkwardly.

 

I don’t really know the meaning of the word family.

 

Khan looked like she’d been punched in the face.

 

“Well, let’s hear what you’ve got planned.”

 

“Well…”

 

Sophina began to ramble on, but a familiar voice pierced her ears.

 

“Is there anything I can do to help?”

 

It was Ricardo. He, too, had noticed the subtle atmosphere of the mansion.

 

Ricardo’s gaze, darker than usual, locked with Sophina’s.

 

It was Ririela he was trying to help.

 

His gaze was intense, as if he were looking for salvation.

 

🪶

 

The next morning.

 

Sophina opened her eyes quickly, as if she’d been woken by an alarm.

 

She looked up to see the unfamiliar ceiling of Ririela’s room.

 

She’d talked to Ricardo beforehand, and she’d fallen asleep snuggling up to Ririela.

 

‘You sleep so well, big sister.’

 

Sophina marveled as she watched Ririela breathe lightly, as if she could be picked up at any moment.

 

She slid down from the bed, careful not to wake her, and returned with something she had prepared earlier.

 

‘I assume breakfast is being prepared in the dining room by now?’

 

The lions usually celebrate birthdays with gifts in the morning.

 

Sophina was in charge of escorting Ririela to the dining room.

 

“Happy birthday, big sister!”

 

Sophina called out cheerfully as she gently shook Ririela awake.

 

“Ugh, huh?”

 

Ririela answered sleepily, running her hands through her fluffy blonde hair.

 

‘You were asleep, so I’m a little worried.’

 

Still unsure of what was going on, Ririela followed her touch more obediently than she would have thought.

 

She was led out of the room by Sophina’s hand.

 

She held onto Ririela tightly, hiding her swelling heart and stepping carefully.

 

It was someone else’s birthday, but she was excited too.

 

In her 14 years of existence, she had never been invited to someone else’s birthday party.

 

Whenever she wished her siblings a happy birthday, she was scolded, ‘Who are you to wish me a happy birthday!’

 

Being an escort was a wonderful job.

 

I felt like a prince in a fairy tale.

 

‘I’m sure there’s a delicious breakfast waiting for us in the dining room.’

 

After descending the stairs to the first floor, they soon arrived at their destination.

 

The black cloth covering her vision was lifted, allowing light into her vision, and Ririela let out a gasp.

 

“Wow.”

 

The table was set with bubbling sodas, smoky meats, and a giant three-tiered cake.

 

Canus with his tail ready to pop a small firecracker, Mother and Ricardo each holding a different gift.

 

It was the perfect birthday morning scene.

 

Sophina took the long red silk string from Ricardo and wrapped it around her.

 

More precisely, she tied it around everyone’s waists, like weaving a sash.

 

When the string reached Ririela, she innocently declared.

 

“We’re all going to stick together today, so we don’t fall off.”

 

It was a ridiculous train wreck, but it brought a smile to everyone’s face.

 

Just then, Mother pushed the candlelit cake toward Ririela and awkwardly said, “…Happy birthday, sweetheart.”

 

Ririela’s eyes widened at that.

 

Their mother-daughter relationship had always been a bit awkward.

 

“…Yes, Mother.”

 

Ririela blew out the candle with a whoosh, her eyes widening as if she were about to cry.

 

The corners of her lips slowly curved into a beautiful smile.

 

Everyone ate the cake, a little awkwardly but happily.

 

Afterward, we spent time doing activities we could enjoy together.

 

Exchanging gifts, playing board games, engaging in meaningless small talk, finishing work, spreading out, and taking naps.

 

It was small things, but it wasn’t boring.

 

— Ririela, don’t pull me!

 

“Well, I can’t help it….”

 

Actually, it was more like a mess.

 

Every time she tried to do something new, she had to play a game of tic-tac-toe, so Ririela barely kept her center and ended up knocking over Ricardo, who was right in front of her.

 

“Let’s change the order.”

 

Ricardo was sitting right next to Sophina, and she was jealous.

 

“Oh, huh?”

 

The aftermath sent her tumbling to the ground with a scream.

 

She was joined by the others.

 

Khan, in a rare moment of embarrassment, scratched the back of her head and chuckled weakly.

 

“Well, well. This isn’t as easy as I thought.”

 

“Indeed, Mother.”

 

Sophina chuckled, too, and stood up to walk away.

 

On and on and on.

 

The march went on like this.

 

But it was a little different from before.

 

“Why don’t you walk in stride, you’ll fall again.”

 

Khan calmly suggested a good idea, as if she had been through it all before.

 

“Yes, Mother.”

 

Khan’s eyes were as sweet as ever, and Ririela smiled shyly in response.

 

It was the moment when the five-way tie was upgraded to the next level.

 

After that, time passed quickly.

 

Soon the day passed and night came, and they went out into the garden to stargaze together.

 

As Sophina watched the mother and daughter of the Chadwick family sleeping happily on the grass, she realized.

 

‘So that’s what families are like.’

 

A family that seems to be at odds with itself, but yet defined by its relationship to each other, and able to approach each other with ease.

 

A family where you could feel safe and protected within the walls of a solid fence.

 

‘I wonder if I could have a family like that.’