The day after, Sharon witnessed Zex’s curse firsthand.
‘Ah? What did I do after that?’
The only thing she remembers for sure is that she will clung to Zex and wouldn’t leave his side.
As she recalled last night, she lifted her head to see Zex looking at her with a gentle expression.
“Good morning, Snow.”
Hearing his voice, Sharon sprang to her feet.
“My Snow is cute even in the morning.”
He gently stroked her with his bare hand, not wearing his leather gloves.
His words made Sharon’s heart skip a beat, but seeing how well he looked, she felt relieved.
‘Thank goodness. He seems all right for now. His complexion was good, and there were no signs of another curse attack. If he just rested, his injuries should heal. Or so’ Sharon thought.
“I’m off to train now, but you can still rest, Snow.”
Even though he had been in so much pain, Zex grabbed his greatsword with an unbothered look.
If he trained in his current state, it would only make his injuries worse.
He’s so overprotective of the little birds, yet so strict with his own body.
‘I have to stop him somehow!’
At this rate, he might die from overexertion before the curse consumes him.
Even though Sharon still couldn’t fly, she spread her wings and scrambled after Zex to stop him.
“! Snow. You managed to fly this far!”
Sharon hadn’t noticed herself, but she had floated in the air for a few seconds.
‘Wait, I really flew!?’
Maybe her practice was finally paying off.
Zex was as delighted as if it had been his own accomplishment.
“That’s amazing! You did great.”
Being praised by Zex, Sharon’s chest tightened with emotion.
No matter how hard she tried before, her efforts were never rewarded.
To be praised for something so small—it had never happened before.
His honest, straightforward words seeped into Sharon’s heart.
“Snow, would you like to come with me?”
It seemed Zex took the attempt of Sharon to chase after him as a sign she wanted to go along.
But she really wanted him to stop training, but that wasn’t likely.
However, maybe she could keep an eye on him to make sure he didn’t push himself too hard.
Sharon immediately nodded up and down.
And so, they arrived in the back garden of the Marquisate Estate.
It was early morning, so it was still dim outside.
The area was just an expanse of lawn, dusted with a thin layer of snow.
Beyond the estate walls, she could see the Forest.
There, Zex began to swing his greatsword with his left hand.
“I’m right-handed, but I mustn’t neglect training my left. You never know when a monster will appear.”
Zex’s training style was honestly reckless.
After a hundred swings, he moved on to Ice Magic training.
He conjured several blades of ice in the air and manipulated them freely.
Then, with the greatsword on his back, he did one-handed push-ups, sit-ups, handstands, and ran laps.
Only when the sun had climbed high did Zex finally stop.
“Let’s take a break.”
Sharon felt relieved that he would finally rest, but only for a moment.
Right in front of Sharon, Zex began to cast Ice Magic.
‘What was he planning to do now?’
She only wished that Zex would rest sooner, but then an ice bird appeared before her eyes.
It looked just like Sharon.
“How about it? I made a snow sculpture of you, Snow. I’m not good at delicate magic like this, but did it turn out well?”
The ice bird Zex had created spread its wings in the air and flew gracefully.
It sparkled in the sunlight—truly beautiful.
Seeing that, Sharon tried spreading her own wings to imitate it.
“Of course, Snow is even more beautiful.” He said it with a straight face, and Sharon froze with her wings outstretched.
Her heart pounded so fast, she felt her white feathers would turn bright red from embarrassment.
“Snow, you’re adorable, gentle, and clever. …You’re not just an ordinary little bird, are you?”
His deep blue eyes gazed steadily at her, and Sharon was startled.
“No matter who you truly are, I’ve decided to protect you. So, if you ever need help, rely on me… though I’m the one being protected here.”
Just like last night, it felt like Zex had realized something about Sharon.
Even though he didn’t know her true identity, he promised to protect her.
Those words stirred Sharon’s heart.
‘I thought I could live as a little bird forever, but… If Lord Zex would still allow me to stay by his side even after learning the truth…’
That she was actually a human who was falsely accused as a villainess and exiled and for some reason, she had been transformed into a bird.
‘I might be able to keep these things hidden and stay by his side, but for some reason, it felt wrong to do so.’
‘Maybe… it would be okay to tell Lord Zex.’
As Sharon thought that, fear took over her mind.
‘What if I told him the truth, and Zex hated me? What if, just like when I first arrived at this estate, he suspected me of being a spy? What if he accused her of deceit?’
As she imagined it, her heart grew cold as if it were freezing over.
Recalling how Leona had betrayed her, how no one would listen to her words, how everyone hurled accusations at her— Sharon shivered, dreading the same might happen again.
The very thought was terrifying.
‘…Wait. But Lord Zex isn’t the kind of person who would do that.’
She realized she was unintentionally comparing Zex to Leona, and felt ashamed for it—’I apologized to him in my heart.’
Having been betrayed so cruelly, Sharon’s heart had become so timid.
Still, she couldn’t think it was all right to keep things as they were.
As she wavered, unable to move, Zex continued kindly.
“No matter who you are, my feelings won’t change. I’m on your side.”
His sincere words moved her deeply.
Zex had spoken so openly to her.
It’s not as if she had no anxiety about telling the truth.
But when he told Sharon about his curse, Zex must have felt the same way.
If so, she had to be brave as well.
‘I’ll tell Lord Zex properly.’
That was Sharon’s resolve.
Because she wanted to be honest in front of Zex.
‘But… words won’t reach him. How can I tell him…?’
As she thought that, it occurred to her that she might be able to write.
There would be paper and pens in the study.
Next time she was brought to the study, she would try.
But, could she really pick up a pen or write in this little bird’s body?
Sharon imagined holding a pen, bent her wings, and hopped nimbly to test if she could maneuver it.
Seeing her, Zex pressed a hand to his mouth and looked up at the sky and muttered, “So cute… I could watch you forever.”
Even though she was desperately practicing, he couldn’t help but adore the little bird.
His affection made Sharon’s movements awkward with embarrassment.
But then, suddenly, a loud ringing filled her ears.
‘!? Wh-What…?’
All at once, pain squeezed her entire body, draining her blood.
Sharon lost her balance and tumbled to the ground.
“Snow!” Zex immediately noticed and rushed over.
The pain faded in just a moment.
Gasping for breath, Sharon looked up at Zex to show she was all right.
“Let’s get you back to your room right away.”
Zex scooped the little bird into his palm and hurried back to his private chambers.