Ever since that day when Zex sent Sugar away, an awkward atmosphere had lingered between them.
Sharon had never interacted with many people to begin with and of course she had never quarreled with Leona.
So, without knowing how to make up, time simply passed by.
Since then, she hadn’t slept together with Zex.
Sharon slept alone inside her birdcage.
She found it unbearably lonely and realized she had grown accustomed to the warmth of sleeping beside him.
‘What should I do…?’
Ever since she had refused him that one time, Zex had stopped inviting her.
It wasn’t that she disliked sleeping with Zex.
Without even a chance to explain, lately, perhaps due to the increased frequency of Magical Beast appearances, Zex had been leaving the mansion more often.
It felt as if he was avoiding her, and her chest ached.
While she was curled up in her makeshift bird’s nest, deep in thought, Zex, having finished his preparations, spoke to her.
“I might be home late today. Be a good girl and wait for me, all right?”
Sensing Zex’s voice moving away, Sharon hurriedly flew out.
Because Sharon disliked cages, he always left the door open for her.
‘Come back safely…!’
Sharon saw Zex off as he set out for the subjugation.
She moved to the window, and kept her eyes fixed on him, watching as he mounted his horse and rode out of the mansion until he disappeared from sight.
At that moment, she spotted a white tiger in the mansion’s garden.
“Sugar!”
Sharon immediately slipped out through the vent as she had before, hurrying to meet Sugar.
“I’m sorry about last time—it was my fault. You weren’t hurt, were you?”
“It wasn’t your fault. Humans can’t understand the language of animals, so there’s nothing you could have done.” Sugar, not seeming to mind at all, spoke with a laugh.
Seeing that Sugar wasn’t injured from Zex’s attack, Sharon felt relieved.
‘More importantly, you seem rather down.’
“Sugar… will you listen to me for a bit?”
While burying herself in Sugar’s fluffy fur, Sharon began to speak in a quiet voice.
“I heard about Lord Zex’s curse. I had no idea it was something that threatened his life… I was at his side all this time, knowing nothing of what he carried. I’m truly the worst.”
Even though the birds had told her he was cursed.
Sharon never imagined it was something so grave, something that endangered his very life, and so she’d been enjoying a carefree little bird’s life.
No one treated her as a nuisance—she was welcomed, cherished, doted upon—treasured.
She didn’t deserve any of it, and yet, somewhere along the line, she’d become conceited.
“It’s true the man’s curse is eating away at his life, but knowing that doesn’t mean you can do anything about it. Did anyone blame you?”
At Sugar’s words, Sharon shook her head.
The indigo ribbon Zex had given her swayed with the motion.
“I’d originally decided I wouldn’t stay here long, and yet, I found myself wanting to remain—just a little longer, a little more. It was just too comfortable… I know it’s selfish, but after hearing His Highness’s story, I realized I shouldn’t stay here after all… So I forced myself to fly away, but in the end, all I did was make Lord Zex worry and put you in danger. Because of me, everything turns out badly…”
Sharon’s actions always seemed to make things worse.
As she fought back tears, Sugar gently rested his front paw—soft pads and all—on her head.
“Don’t be so down. If you truly wish to leave here, I’ll do everything I can to help you.”
“Sugar…” Moved by Sugar’s strong words, Sharon lifted her face.
“But are you really sure?” Staring intently into her face, Sugar waited and asked, “How do you really feel? Do you hate that man?”
“Of course not! I want to stay by Lord Zex’s side… but because I love him, I don’t want to cause him any trouble!” Prompted by Sugar, Sharon blurted out her feelings.
Words she hadn’t realized were in her heart tumbled out, settling there with a quiet certainty.
‘That’s right. I love Lord Zex.’
Perhaps Zex only doted on her as a little bird, but Sharon’s heart was always racing because of him.
When they slept together, when she was wrapped up in his large hands.
She, who was nothing but a burden, found herself almost believing she could become someone irreplaceable to Zex.
Because she loved him, she couldn’t stay by his side.
“If I stay, Lord Zex won’t be able to fulfill his duties as Marquis of Halbügen, and he’ll be forced to live with that curse all alone…”
She didn’t want Zex to be left in solitude.
As a little bird, she could do nothing to support him.
She needed to prepare to leave right away.
“If that’s what you want, I won’t stop you… So, what should I do?”
“Thank you, Sugar. First, I’d like to get some clothes while there’s no one around!”
If she were to suddenly turn back into a human, she’d need something to wear.
Today, nearly all the staff of the mansion had gone out for the Magical Beast subjugation.
Right about now, perhaps Ella, whom Zex had asked to look after her, might be searching the room for the little bird.
She had to act swiftly, before anyone noticed she wasn’t in the mansion.
With that in mind, Sharon hurried to the laundry with Sugar.
On the drying racks hung servants’ uniforms and sheets.
“Ah, Sugar. Could you get me that dress?”
She pointed to a black maid uniform.
With her tiny body, there was no way she could carry clothes, so she asked Sugar.
Sugar nimbly grabbed the maid uniform in his mouth and placed it on his back.
“I’d like you to hide this outside the mansion for me.”
“Very well. Understood.” Just as Sugar nodded, a sudden commotion arose from the direction of the mansion.
“Lord Zex…!”
“This is bad.”
“Get the medical kit at once!”
“What happened to Lord Zex!? Is he all right!?”
Hearing the tense voices, Sharon could no longer stand still, “Sorry, Sugar. I’m going back!”
Her preparations to leave would have to wait for now.