Bluebird Lady and The White Lion Family Chapter 49

 

The men stared at Sophina, unable to hide their surprise.

 

“Did the little lady save them?”

 

“I’ve never seen anything like this before…”

 

“Heh, this is truly a miracle…!”

 

Of course, the party was no exception.

 

James, the elder lion who had been drowned and saved, first checked on his son’s condition.

 

“Uh, how… are you okay, son?”

 

Luckily, he was only fainted from exhaustion and was still breathing steadily.

 

James breathed a sigh of relief.

 

Sophina pulled out a handkerchief and handed it to the elder lion. James looked like a mess.

 

“Here, use this to wipe yourself.”

 

James’s head snapped up at the words.

 

Then, the elder lion’s eyes narrowed.

 

Tears welled up in his eyes, filled with a million different emotions.

 

A halo shone from Sophina, perhaps because she had saved both the lives of his youngest son and his.

 

A perfect smile blooms on his lips.

 

“Tha, thank you. You saved my precious, my boy, who was raised with a barren jade leaf, and I was almost blinded by the fact that he was my only heir…”

 

He thanked her, forgetting that he had been reluctant to call her a bluebird.

 

And then he vowed. He would follow her with the rest of his lion life.

 

“I truly. Thank you so much, Little Lady. I will repay this favor somehow, on the honor of House Harrington.”

 

He turned to Sophina, his voice rising to a sobbing crescendo.

 

Sophina, who had returned his greeting, narrowed her eyes at the burden.

 

‘House Harrington?’

 

It was a name she couldn’t forget if she tried. The main villainess’ last name was Harrington.

 

‘Does that mean he’s her father?’

 

Sophia’s head spun as she recalled the lineage of the various lion families.

 

That face certainly didn’t look like that in the profile she’d memorized.

 

I must be mistaken. But then thought, ‘Whoa, I hit a jackpot!’

 

It seemed to fit the wicked woman’s family anyway. If so, she owed it to the wicked woman to set her up.

 

I wonder if that elder lion would stand as a great shield if the wicked woman hates me? It was worth it to show my power.

 

Sophina thought positively.

 

The corners of her mouth twitched up awkwardly. Then she spoke in as stern a tone as she could muster.

 

“I’m happy to accept the Harrington family’s loyalty.”

 

That way, the nail would be driven into the coffin, and the Harrington’s would be on Sophina’s side.

 

It would be interpreted as.

 

As a family of villainess, the Harrington’s have quite the reputation among the lions.

 

It would help her position among the lions in the future.

 

And the effect was immediate.

 

“Huh, the high and mighty Harrington’s recognize a bluebird as their little missus.”

 

“I suppose that means she automatically passes the test at the banquet.”

 

The beast smirked as if they’d been caught off guard.

 

As the strange air hung in the surrounding air, one of the lions raised his hand and announced to the others.

 

“The bluebird, I think you’ve done enough to deserve to be here, and my family is in favor.”

 

“Ahem, so is my house.”

 

“Hmm, I guess I’ll have to make sure I get a chance to spoil her too.”

 

And before anyone knew it, the other lions accepted Sophina as their master.

 

This was the moment when Sophina’s second goal was realized.

 

‘Of course, this might be temporary, so we’ll have to keep working hard.’

 

In nature, people’s reactions change like the flip of a hand. She always had to be careful not to offend anyone.

 

Anyway, amid all this banter, Sophina smirked.

 

‘Still, I’m in a good mood right now.’

 

Just then, Khan, who was secretly smiling with pride, barged up to her and examined every inch of her face.

 

“You’re not hurt anywhere, are you, sweetheart?”

 

Ririela and Canus chimed in as well, 

 

“…That was amazing, Sophina.”

 

— So that strange power you used to shut me up at the wedding was sister’s. Well, you did good. Well done!

 

Surrounded by praise, Sophina glanced over at Ricardo.

 

Then he whispered in a small, lisping voice, ‘You were great,’ he said.

 

And Sophina’s face brightened even more.

 

The rain, which had been falling steadily, had eased in the warmth of their company.

 

It was safe enough to roam the forest again, so the beast and a few others who had been injured earlier decided to leave the forest and recuperate in camp.

 

The march continued.

 

Meanwhile, Sophina, walking steadfastly in the vanguard, noticed something odd about the forest.

 

A valley essentially bisected the forest. But on the other side of the forest, she felt like something was moving.

 

‘Who’s on the other side? It can’t be the water from the rising valley.’

 

Sophina paused and peered off to the side with her bird’s eye acuity.

 

“A flag?”

 

A black flag, freshly planted, fluttering vigorously in the rain. It was faintly recognizable.

 

“Can you shoot a bow, my lady?”

 

Ricardo must have sensed her suspicion because he pointed his finger across the valley.

 

“Yes.”

 

Swish—

 

The bowstring was drawn. Sophina closed one eye, as she had been taught, and concentrated.

 

The arrow cut through the wind and shot sharply.

 

She could faintly hear the sound of something tearing in the distance.

 

‘I think I just got through it.’

 

Almost before that thought could occur, there was a sudden rumbling, the ground shook, and lightning struck.

 

The ground cracked, not in the direction of anyone else, but in the direction of Sophina.

 

An earthquake had occurred, and a deafening noise filled the air.

 

“Huh…?”

 

A tree right next to her snapped in two and bounced toward her.

 

Ricardo, who had been watching her protectively from the side, quickly drew his sword and parried the splinter.

 

Then he turned around. At that moment, the cracked soil crumbled down the ravine, where it began to swirl again.

 

And there stood Sophina.

 

“Ricardo!”

 

Sophina reflexively reached out to Ricardo.

 

Ricardo flailed his arms as hard as he could, trying to catch her. Their fingertips almost touched, but then they slipped.

 

She had no choice but to fall. Her vision was blurred by the wobbling. She bit her bottom lip, trying to regain her composure.

 

‘The power! I must use it!’

 

Sophina quickly wrapped her aura around herself and lifted herself.

 

But it was no use. As if to mock her, lightning struck again.

 

Luckily, it wasn’t a direct strike. The rocks that fell in its wake struck Sophina.

 

Her eyes widened in shock, and she sank to the bottom like a doll with its strings pulled.

 

She couldn’t see a thing, and the murky, thick water swallowed her whole.

 

“Sophina! Ha… oh, crap!”

 

Ricardo cursed, his eyes widening at the sight. He stared in the direction of her disappearance, his eyes lost in a daze and unblinking.

 

Ricardo plunged into the mud without a moment’s hesitation.

 

There was a chilling silence. Ririela nervously chewed her lip as she cut through the silence.

 

“…I’ll go!”

 

She dived straight into the water.

 

At this surprisingly decisive act, Khan’s face sunk to the depths, and gave a stern order that made each of them cry.

 

“…I want you to organize a search party now to look around the upper and lower valley.”

 

Without hesitation, Khan followed Ririela into the ravine.

 

— You’re all so fearless in this situation. But…

 

Canus, now alone, frowned shrewdly.

 

— The rain has stopped. This change in weather… it’s not natural at all.

 

As if it had accomplished its purpose, the skies quieted.

 

🐾

 

“He won’t get mad at us.”

 

Amidst the chaos, the man who had retrieved the black flag from the forest opposite muttered nervously.

 

The black flag, with a gaping hole in the center, was covered in a swirling mass of turbulence like rain clouds.

 

It was the weather. This flag was an artifact that could control the weather at will.

 

‘I would have guessed it was some insignificant bluebird, but then it suddenly shot a bow…’

 

The man stared at the hole in the flag where Sophina’s arrow had gone through, puzzled.

 

Then he stamped his foot furiously in place.

 

In frustration, the man pulled his robe from around his head.

 

His jet-black hair matched the black robe. He had a sinister air about him.

 

“Hah.”

 

The man chuckled and ran a hand roughly through his dark hair.

 

Stupid to have given away their location and destroyed a precious artifact. Perhaps the other party had realized his identity.

 

“Still, I accomplished my goal, so you’ll forgive me.”

 

Ricardo was swept into the raging torrent.

 

And the bluebird next to him.

 

The man shook his head as he quickly erased all traces of footprints, including his.

 

‘Yes, I fulfilled the rabbit’s prophecy.’

 

The rabbit had said to dip the lion and the bluebird together.

 

I was puzzled by the advice to send a small animal that was no more than a bite away from the goal, but it turned out to be the right choice.

 

I didn’t expect the lion to jump into the ravine on its own.

 

‘I wonder if the bluebird is a weakness.’

 

Should I report this?

 

The man shrugged his shoulders and concluded in a grim tone.

 

“Perhaps not, for no unawakened lion would dare to defy the power of a creature of nature’s might and survive.”

 

But the man forgot… He had forgotten that a damaged artifact could never fully unleash its power.