Bluebird Lady and The White Lion Family Chapter 52

 

At the bluntness of the statement, Ricardo paused for a moment, then nodded obediently.

 

“…Right.”

 

Although she had a vague idea, the confirmation was as clear as a lightning bolt.

 

“So you were the cat that was lying under that tree?”

 

“A cat?”

 

Ricardo raised his eyebrows at the unexpectedly cute word.

 

“It looked like a cat.”

 

“You hurt my pride.”

 

He paused, then blurted out the word nonchalantly. It was an affirmation. Sophina didn’t let that stop her.

 

“Is that why you’ve been so nice to me all this time?”

 

“Well, whatever.”

 

Ricardo shrugged, as if the question didn’t matter. He hadn’t really been trying to be nice, just letting his guard down.

 

Sophina was a mystery to Ricardo. A danger, a hindrance, an ally, and this was no different.

 

When he realized she wasn’t breathing properly. Ricardo had given himself no warning, and breathed into the talithe.

 

It just seemed like the right thing to do.

 

‘If she were to die, I wouldn’t be able to figure out what happened to us,’ he thought.

 

It was the most reasonable thing to do under the circumstances, he rationalized to himself. 

 

Then he asked an important question,  “How did you save me, by the way?”

 

“From what?”

 

“I seem to recall that I was pretty badly injured.”

 

His memory wasn’t intact, so he’d just have to ask. But Sophina couldn’t recall the details either.

 

“I just picked some herbs in the forest, put them on you, fell asleep, and then you disappeared?”

 

Ricardo’s eyes clouded over at the answer.

 

‘So we didn’t make a pact the day we met in the forest after all.’

 

The markings of their thanatos had been carved long before that. But why did the symbols begin to emanate Sophina’s energy then?

 

The terms of the agreement were twofold, a verbal promise and the sharing of talithe.

 

Those were the two main things.

 

Even when he had contracted with the maid, he had written a vow and shared the talithe.

 

Ordinary contracts were not sealed until they had been fully fulfilled.

 

In the case of Sophina’s contract with Jane, it was still being fulfilled, so the symbols remained.

 

This means that Ricardo and Sophina still have unfinished business.

 

‘What the hell did we promise each other?’

 

And it bothered him that they were so strongly tied to each other.

 

‘It can’t be a normal contract, so there must be something else.’

 

While Ricardo was racking his brain furiously, Sophina was having her own doubts.

 

‘If you were so nice to me because I saved your life, why did you say no to being friends all these years?’

 

No way…

 

In novels, the male lead usually falls in love with the woman who protected him.

 

‘Ey, does he like me?’

 

That’s why you said no to being friends? I had a reasonable suspicion.

 

I didn’t feel compelled to keep the original story or anything like that. Based on my experiences, I realized that the original story had already been changed to some extent.

 

‘It’s not like I was the heroine, my background is more important.’

 

But I couldn’t forget. This place was already a battleground.

 

‘I’m a bird.’

 

It wasn’t that I hated Ricardo. I just didn’t want to repeat the hardships that the heroine had endured.

 

Sophina began her story with suspicion.

 

“Do you have a crush on me?”

 

“Why is the conversation suddenly going in that direction?”

 

Ricardo looked at her like he was looking at a naughty child.

 

Of course, Sophina didn’t give in and continued to glare at him.

 

Finally, Ricardo surrendered, flopping down on the flat, sprawling lawn and furrowing his brow.

 

Sophina squatted down beside him and said, “It’s important for me right now. Do you like me?”

 

Ricardo leaned in closer, slowly studying the change in Sophina’s expression.

 

“Do you want me to like you or the other way around?”

 

At that moment, a muffled voice cut through the silence between Sophina and Ricardo.

 

“I like you.”

 

It was Ririela, and she conveyed that murderous sincerity with a devilish grin.

 

Surprised by the sudden confession, Sophina grabbed her bird heart and swatted at her hip.

 

“Oh, you surprised me!”

 

“Really…”

 

Ririela voiced her opinion as she helped her to her feet.

 

Sophina tried her best to respond with an awkward smile.

 

While they were still trying to figure out what to do, Canus, who had followed them, glanced back and forth between Sophina and Ricardo.

 

Then, in a playful tone, he said.

 

— What, are you two making love or something?

 

Canus shielded his eyes with his tail and glared at them.

 

— I’m only seven, there’s no age limit.

 

“What did you say?”

 

Sophina frowned. Ririela clenched her fists tightly together, encouraging.

 

“I can see it, but that thief can’t!”

 

What?

 

Feeling dumbfounded, Sophina stared blankly.

 

Then she quickly regained her composure and scrambled to unpack the lunchbox and mats she’d brought late.

 

“Eat this, everyone!”

 

The lunchboxes were filled with various tree fruits and vegetables. It was a healthy meal.

 

“Doctor, do you want us to eat and die?”

 

Ricardo asked, continuing to mimic the role-play she thought was over.

 

Sophina took it in stride.

 

“No. Not in any way.”

 

“What the hell did you use to make it this color?”

 

Ricardo pointed to the sandwich with the green cucumber.

 

Cucumbers are a love-it-or-hate-it food, but Sophina spoke as sternly as if she were a doctor.

 

“You’re going to be a vegetarian lion from now on.”

 

“Since when are bluebirds considered vegetarian?”

 

Ricardo shook his head in response, then smirked gently. He nibbled on Sophina’s finger with just his lips.

 

“Huh?”

 

Sophina blinked stupidly and froze.

 

‘You’ve gone from being sick to being crazy!’

 

Her cheeks flushed oddly. She hurriedly snatched her hand away from Ricardo’s.

 

There was a twitching silence.

 

Canus broke the silence and shook his head nervously.

 

— What an atmosphere.

 

“Uh… Sophina, I’m good with cucumbers!”

 

Ririela, who was also bewildered, quickly changed the subject to something else.

 

Anyway, the conversation began to blossom, and the conversation turned to winter trips.

 

“So, my mother and I have been talking about traveling to another part of the country for a winter vacation, Sophina.”

 

It was Ririela who spoke first, and when Canus heard the news, he did a little tail dance of delight.

 

— Really? I love traveling! Where are we going?

 

I thought we might not be able to make it this winter since Ricardo was sick.

 

By the looks of it, we might be able to.

 

‘This trip is the best excuse I’ve ever had to search for a secret place.’

 

Sophina, eager to take advantage of the opportunity, exclaimed.

 

“How about a place called Leche?”

 

Sophina gazed at Ririela with wide eyes and gave her an unspoken signal.

 

“Mother said you might like a trip to the hot springs.”

 

‘I was actually exhausted’, but Sophina twisted that fact a bit with natural virtue.

 

‘Say you like it, say yes, please.’

 

“Say yes, say yes,” she muttered. Luckily, it worked.

 

“…I like it there. I like the hot springs.”

 

Ririela muttered, her cheeks turning red.

 

Apparently she had been to Leche before. 

 

‘Did Sophina like it?’ Ririela asked inwardly.

 

It’s like a villainous force cursing someone with black magic.

 

Beside her, Sophina exchanged a sheepish grin with Ririela.

 

At that moment, Canus stepped between them and cheerfully suggested.

 

— Let’s plan our trip, then!

 

“…Sounds fun.”

 

Ririela responded favorably, then turned to look at Sophina for agreement.

 

“I’d love that!”

 

Sophina naturally shifted her gaze to Ricardo. She twitched her tail like a child who plays with a train.

 

“Sounds good. Although probably a little noisy.”

 

Ricardo glanced at Ririela and Canus and muttered something that sounded like regret.

 

Somehow, it was a good thing.

 

Ririela quickly pulled out the map with Leche’s name on it. It was a swift gesture, as if she’d prepared it at any moment.

 

She circled the map with a red colored pencil and enthusiastically raved like a tour guide.

 

“Here, the restaurant is delicious.”

 

“It’s fun to make lotus flowers and float them down by the river in winter.”

 

“The sunrise from the top of the mountain is beautiful.”

 

It was clear that she had traveled far and wide.

 

‘Well, I don’t think we need to find the cave in the original, simply go inside the clock tower.’

 

Since we’re all traveling around together, perhaps I could sneak in whenever I have a chance to learn more about the structure of the clock tower.

 

“Why don’t we stay here?”

 

Sophina surreptitiously pointed to a hotel marked next to the clock tower. It was one of the businesses run by the Chadwick family.

 

And so, with a sudden wave of excitement, she made plans.

 

Next, the itinerary was handed to Khan.

 

Since the final decision was up to their mother, and she needed to approve it, Khan smiled as she looked at the neatly organized itinerary.

 

“Sounds like a plan.”

 

Then came the answer Sophina had been hoping for.

 

“It looks like we’ll be able to make the trip without interfering with our other duties.”

 

“Really?”

 

Sophina smiled broadly.

 

If I could find a secret location in Leche, I could expand my business with the Roneache flower without much effort.

 

Besides, there were many other rare items that could be used as business items.

 

‘Let’s just pick something that wasn’t used in the original story.’

 

It would be wrong to take things that were used by the original heroine.

 

And most of all, the suspicious information.

 

That’s the monster of capitalism. I wonder if when I return as a successful businesswoman, the informant might be the first one to offer me information.

 

‘Like the main villains, she’ll offer to sponsor me, and then I’ll really get to the bottom of it.’

 

Secretly clenching her fists together in a cute little gesture, Sophina was making plans when she noticed something strange.

 

A report on her mother’s desk that seems serious.

 

‘You’re investigating what happened on the Fall Tour?’

 

It said that there might be someone behind the weather manipulation.

 

I thought it was just an accident that happened because the weather was so freaky, but maybe…

 

‘Oh, there’s something fishy about that flag.’

 

Sophina’s lips twitched as she rolled her eyes. Khan gave her a puzzled look.

 

“What’s wrong, sweetheart?”