Chapter 13
It was before the sun had even risen.
Aria woke to the sound of something lightly tapping—tap, tap, tap.
“…What is it…?”
The sound was coming from the window.
Half-asleep, she staggered out of bed.
Rubbing her eyes, she peered outside—and heard the sound again.
“Coo-coo!”
Huh?
Aria’s eyes widened as she flung the window open.
The white pigeon she had seen before circled around her once and gently landed on her shoulder.
“Hello. We meet again.”
She remembered how she had once relied on this carrier pigeon when she was on the verge of collapsing from fever.
Aria lifted a finger and stroked its head.
The pigeon closed its eyes tightly and tilted its head, leaning into her touch.
So whether it’s wolves, humans, or pigeons… they all like having their heads petted.
Aria let out a small laugh without realizing it.
“I can’t believe I’m talking to a bird. I really am ridiculous.”
At that, the pigeon pecked her finger—not painfully, but as if to say, “Are you ignoring me right now?”
Startled, Aria grabbed her finger.
“Coo-coo!”
“W-what?”
The pigeon flapped its wings and pointed at its leg.
A note she hadn’t seen before was tied there.
Urged on by the insistent bird, Aria untied it.
Inside was a neatly written message.
[When I thought about dying, I found it a pity.
The spring you gave me was too radiant.
I wonder how warm summer will be.
How abundant autumn will be.
How white the winter paradise will be.
I kept thinking about it. So I will endure, for as long as my life allows.
-To the Spring Fairy-]
It was a letter from the Duke’s wife.
Aria read it once, then again.
She sent this directly to my window.
The moment she realized that, she slammed the window shut and sank to the floor, her heart pounding violently.
Had she been discovered?
No… maybe the pigeon just came to me on its own. Because I sent it.
She unfolded the note again.
“Spring Fairy.”
Perhaps it meant the sender had no intention of revealing her identity.
This feels strange.
Aria had only thought she needed to do something—anything—to prevent the Valentine incident.
But she had never expected to receive a letter like this.
She said she will endure.
It wasn’t a plea for immediate salvation.
It was a declaration: that because Aria had shown her hope, she would try to survive and overcome it.
We’ve never even met.
And yet, even knowing she might soon die.
Aria suddenly felt an overwhelming desire to save her at any cost.
She immediately ran to the garden.
After pacing for several minutes in hesitation, she plucked a single freesia.
She tied the note to the bird’s leg and placed the flower in its beak, sending it back into the sky.
[I will show you everything. Spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Until the seasons turn many times and spring returns again.]
She needed a place to secretly practice singing.
That was Aria’s first thought as soon as her fever broke.
It was because she had painfully realized her limits as a ten-year-old after using the “Song of Life” to make dozens of cherry trees bloom.
Her siren abilities were intact—but her body was not trained at all.
If I try the Song of Healing or the Song of Destruction… I might die of shock the moment I sing.
Still, she had to do it to cure the Duke’s wife.
Aria raised a card with determination.
[I’m completely better now.]
“No, I think you still have a slight fever.”
Dana checked her cheeks and neck.
Aria pretended not to hear and slowly stood up.
“Miss, you really should rest one more night—hey? Can you hear me?”
She tried to escape, but was immediately caught.
She looked up at Dana with pleading eyes.
“…Those puppy eyes won’t work on me.”
“….”
“…Sigh. I said no!”
“….”
“…Haah…”
Just by staring silently, Dana eventually surrendered.
“Where do you want to go?”
[The garden.]
Aria was currently banned from going out due to overprotection.
“Alright… just a short walk in the garden.”
Dana reluctantly agreed.
“Be sure to return before sunset.”
[Okay.]
“And if you get lost, ask anyone nearby for help.”
[Okay.]
“Everyone here will gladly help you.”
[Okay.]
The instructions went on for a while.
Aria had to repeatedly wave her “okay” card.
Only then did Dana finally let her go.
Aria pretended to admire the flowers while scanning the surroundings.
A place to sing.
Then it happened.
Something suddenly rustled behind her and rushed forward at incredible speed.
Before she could react, the creature pounced on her like a predator.
“Grrr!”
“Eek!”
Her heart nearly leapt out of her chest.
Aria fell backward with a scream.
“….”
A wolf was wagging its tail, panting happily at her.
Relieved she was alone, Aria sighed.
“Bad. Don’t do that.”
She tapped the wolf’s nose lightly.
The wolf whimpered dramatically and flattened its ears.
It even knows how to act cute.
Aria smiled despite herself.
“How did you even get here?”
“Woof!”
“You came because you missed me?”
“Woof woof!”
It really seemed like it.
“Give me your paw.”
The wolf placed its paw in her hand.
“Lie down.”
It immediately obeyed.
Aria was amazed.
Is it really possible to communicate like this with animals?
She thought of her father, the Count Cortez, who once coldly ordered that all living creatures around her be eliminated.
So this is why he feared animals approaching me…
“Do you know a place in this castle where no one interferes?”
“Woof!”
“The leader of your pack is there?”
“Woof woof!”
The wolf’s leader…
Aria imagined a massive alpha wolf.
A place like that might be perfect for secretly practicing singing.
She climbed onto the wolf’s back.
“Take me there.”
The wolf dashed forward.
The leader of the wolves.
Toward Duke Valentine’s residence.
“….”
“….”
Aria and the Duke stared at each other in silence.
Only the wolf wagged its tail furiously, proud of itself.
“What… is this…”
Dwayne, the Duke’s attendant, who had drawn his sword thinking it was an attack, slowly put it back.
Aria clung to the wolf’s neck in shock.
This is the Duke’s office?
At some point, the scenery had changed too quickly.
“Hmm?”
Duke Valentine, Tristan, removed the cigarette from his mouth and studied her with interest.
“I didn’t think my hound could be ridden like a horse.”
Then she suddenly found herself lifted into the air.
Aria grabbed her worn bag strap like a lifeline, eyes darting nervously.
Seeing her obvious fear made the Duke’s smile deepen.
“Allow me to politely ask… what business do you have with this demon?”
Aria thought: I wish you’d treat me more gently than your words suggest.
“Lady, what brings you here?”
He exhaled smoke lazily.
Despite addressing her politely, there was an unmistakable sharpness in his tone.
Aria rummaged through her bag and took out a card.
She struggled to write while he simply stared at her.
Your Highness? Too formal.
Lord? No.
She wasn’t a servant.
Even if her position was uncertain, she was now part of the Valentine household.
Being too humble might not sit well with him.
After thinking, she decided on a title.
[Father-in-law.]
She held the card up close to his face.
Then, as if slightly irritated at being held by the neck earlier, she added:
[I came because I missed you.]
