Bluebird Lady and The White Lion Family Chapter 46

 

The next morning, after a long day of grilling and roasting.

 

Dressed in a crisp white top and suspenders, Sophina packs her suitcase. She’d picked out clothes that were as comfortable as they were practical for the meeting with the mysterious informant.

 

Ricardo, noticing her carefree attire, as if she were going farming, asked anxiously.

 

“Are you sure you want to go alone?”

 

“I’m not a child.”

 

Sophina replied casually. Her eyes widened like a sparrow caught in the act, but Ricardo closed the distance between them.

 

He placed his hands lightly on her shoulders and turned her to face him.

 

“You’re fourteen?”

 

Sophina couldn’t help but stare up at Ricardo.

 

“That’s old enough.”

 

It was a completely unbelievable statement.

 

“You’re too small for that.”

 

Ricardo muttered to himself as he looked at his wife, who was tiny in every way: hands, feet, height, weight, face, everything.

 

Then Sophina raised onto tiptoe and slammed her forehead into his chest.

 

“Look. When I stand on my toes, I can reach your shoulders.”

 

“Only?”

 

“What if I’m taller than you later?”

 

She scooped up another shot, stretched her right hand above her head in a stretching motion, and exclaimed triumphantly.

 

Ricardo sat back down on the bed and gazed up at Sophina.

 

“Then I suppose I’ll have to look up at Madame.”

 

Sunlight streamed through the open curtains and fell on Ricardo’s face.

 

A ripple of color rippled across his blue eyes.

 

‘You know, it’s interesting to watch it from this angle.’

 

Ricardo’s blue eyes widened and curved into a pretty crescent shape.

 

“But will that day ever come?”

 

A glare that was clearly meant to tease Sophina.

 

She clicked her tongue, then pursed her lips.

 

There was nothing to retort she thought, ‘Everything about the Ropan Male Lead was supposed to be huge.’

 

His height, his hands, his chest, and…

 

Ahem…

 

Sophina shook her head, omitting the rest.

 

It was a gesture to clear her mind.

 

Meanwhile, Ricardo continued, “The streets are well guarded, but you’ll need an escort.”

 

He handed me a sharp dagger wrapped in a simple black scabbard. He wondered what on earth the bluebird had been thinking in dressing so out of character.

 

“Don’t forget some self-defense, though I hope you never have to use what you’ve learned.”

 

Surely she wasn’t going to go pick berries after being given a land of Roneache flowers by Mother.

 

The land was just around the corner.

 

While Ricardo was thinking this, Sophina took a playful step toward him and bowed low.

 

And then, with that, she put him in a headlock.

 

“Like this?”

 

Ricardo’s body jolted back slightly from the sudden force. Sophina leaned into his arms, almost as if she were being held.

 

With his hands gripping the sheets, he picked her up effortlessly, thanks to his inherent reflexes.

 

“That’s a weird position, but it’s like wrestling.”

 

Sophina rolled around on the bed, undaunted, and smacked him again.

 

“Or like this,” she asked, her voice a gleeful whisper.

 

“It’s tricky.”

 

Ricardo flicked a finger across Sophina’s forehead.

 

It didn’t hurt at all, thanks to the control in his strength, but she let out a small groan as she clutched her head.

 

“Ah!”

 

Ricardo smirked at her overreaction and then shrugged it off.

 

“Does it hurt, my lady, did I hit you too hard?”

 

Unaware of it, Sophina slumped back on the bed, her mouth twitching into a grimace.

 

“I think I’m going to die.”

 

Her thin voice, like a grunt, wandered around the room.

 

But there was no response. Sophina slowly raised her head and squinted at Ricardo.

 

‘Huh?’

 

He sat still on the bed with his eyes closed.

 

Ricardo whispered softly as if he were being punished, “You can do whatever you want until you feel better.”

 

Oh, how could I turn down an opportunity like that?

 

Sophina crawled cautiously to her knees and stopped right in front of Ricardo.

 

‘What shall I do, anyway?’

 

Should I paint his face? Or feed him some honey balm?

 

Ricardo’s face, bathed in thick lashes, was as clean as finely chiseled porcelain.

 

His cheeks, which are not yet fully weaned, look fairly plump, and Sophina unconsciously pokes her index finger into his cheek.

 

The same was true for the slightly cold feel of his skin.

 

And it reached Ricardo. 

 

“It tickles.”

 

His eyes narrowed and his lips curled.

 

“Ticklish? Then you need more!” Sophina burned the tickle with delight.

 

At first, Ricardo held still, but then he pulled back.

 

Until they were rolling around on the bed, tangled together.

 

At that moment, there was a knock on the door.

 

Sophina was too distracted by Ricardo’s squirming to notice.

 

Soon the door opened slightly, and Ririela peeked through the crack.

 

She knew it wasn’t polite to open someone’s door, but the lack of an answer made her do it anyway.

 

“May I come in?”

 

Ririela’s eyes widened at once.

 

She saw Sophina and Ricardo sprawled out on the bed.

 

“…Huh?”

 

Rolling her eyes, Ririela stammered and then slammed the door with a loud bang.

 

‘Sis, it’s not like that… Come back,’ said Sophina, her pupils quivering as she realized that someone else had noticed.

 

Ricardo shrugged as if nothing was wrong.

 

‘…Oh, that’s it, it’s…’

 

As Sophina was chewing on her rosy lips in disbelief, Ririela entered the room again.

 

She was in a state of giddy anticipation.

 

Hissing, snorting, and glaring at Ricardo, Ririela managed to utter the words.

 

“You, you thief!”

 

She quickly threw her arms around Sophina and stormed out of the room.

 

Ririela wiped her sweaty forehead with pride as she rescued Sophina from Ricardo’s clutches.

 

“Sis, I don’t know what it is, but can you help me down?”

 

Sophina, who was clinging to Ririela’s shoulder like a piece of luggage, asked in confusion.

 

“Uh, sorry.”

 

Ririela quickly lowered Sophina to the ground.

 

Then she urged, “If he ever does that again, come to me!”

 

“Huh? What?”

 

“…If he, uh, just like before, um…I’ll protect you!”

 

Declaring with determination, Ririela snapped her fingers as if she had something more to say.

 

But then she gathered her courage and pursed her lips.

 

“And… would you like to come with me out of the mansion today?”

 

She pulled something out of the bag she was carrying.

 

The now-tattered sweatpants that Sophina had worn yesterday.

 

In fact, Ririela had planned to ask Sophina to go shopping for clothes with her.

 

As an apology for the clothes she’d ruined yesterday, and as a way to repay her for the favor she’d given her on her birthday the other day.

 

“I’ll buy you a new one.”

 

“What?”

 

“Are you sure, and are you free?”

 

It was just a question, but I couldn’t say it outright.

 

The image of Ririela’s smiling face was too murderous. I felt like if I said no, the grass would die and it would be worse.

 

Just then, Ricardo, who had come to his senses, walked between them, smirking.

 

“I think the thief is you, sister.”

 

“Why?”

 

“Because you’re the one who interrupted our fun.”

 

Without hesitation, Ricardo took Sophina’s hand in his and lifted it as if to say, ‘Don’t you dare’.

 

Then he leaned down and whispered in her ear.

 

“It seems as though she wants to accompany you, which is better than going alone. Farewell, my lady.”

 

Seeing that, Ririela’s clenched fists tightened into fierce resolve.

 

“He’s my brother, but he’s so, so… wretched.”

 

Ririela’s suppressed anger threatened to erupt in tears.

 

When it looked like a fight was about to break out, Sophina quickly pushed Ririela’s back.

 

“Let’s go, sis!”

 

And just like that, Ririela was added to the outing schedule.

 

As she followed Ririela into the carriage, Sophina scratched her head.

 

‘How do I contact the informant? Should I think of a way to sneak around?’

 

She was a little nervous but managed to remain positive.

 

Meanwhile, Ririela was sneaking glances at Sophina and scheming.

 

‘She’d look like a chick in a yellow, frilly dress. Oh, and I’ll have to buy her some clothes for the tour.’

 

A meticulous simulation of how to dress Sophina.

 

Soon, the carriage was moving smoothly toward the busy street.

 

“Take my hand.”

 

Ririela brushed aside the escorting knights and escorted Sophina with a graceful gesture.

 

“Shall we go now, then?”

 

“Yes?”

 

Sophina instinctively recoiled at the suggestion, which had a hint of resolve to it.

 

Ririela glanced over at her and asked, “Why, you don’t want to?”

 

Perhaps it was the bright sunlight, but the fiery glint in her eyes frightened the onlookers a bit.

 

The corners of Sophina’s lips twitched upward in an affirmative.

 

“No, it’s good. I’m absolutely fine with it.”

 

They seemed to have gotten along, but Ririela’s strength was still immense.

 

Somehow, I ended up going on a date with my sister.

 

The two of them wandered around.

 

‘Wow, I think I’d rather have a special lesson like yesterday.’

 

The lion, the king of the beasts, had the stamina of a champion, after all.

 

“This time here.”

 

Ririela gestured toward the lavishly decorated dressing room.

 

It was lined with clothes that would have been worn by beasts of Sophina’s age.

 

A pale pink cotton dress, orange pumpkin pants, and an ankle-length, sheer white skirt.

 

“You’ll need a hunting outfit like that, too, if we’re traveling.”

 

Of the bunch, Ririela picked out a women’s riding suit made of sturdy brown leather.

 

The jacket was close-fitting, short, and spiky, and it looked perfect for the outdoors.

 

“Put it on, Sophina.”

 

Ririela beckoned cordially.

 

‘Why am I in this situation?’ thought Sophina, as she changed into her fifteenth garment in the dressing room off to the side of the wardrobe.

 

Her doubts didn’t last long. The staff came over to help her change.

 

‘Well, the clothes are pretty.’

 

Although she wondered what was going on, the clothes were innocent, so she decided to enjoy them.

 

Soon, after they were done, Sophina opened the door and asked Ririela.

 

“Does it look good?”

 

In response, Ririela gasped.

 

‘She’s wearing a hunting outfit!’

 

‘Maybe it wasn’t the hunting game she was after, but my heart!’ thought Ririela.

 

A surge of excitement rushed through her, and she instinctively clenched her fists. At the same time, she lightly struck the pillar.

 

Then….

 

The wall shattered.

 

There was an awkward silence.

 

Sophina tried to make amends by smiling brightly.

 

“Ahaha, do you think this building is a little old…?”

 

But she failed miserably as the next employee said, “It is a newly built establishment, Miss.”