“You look magnificent, my child. Even if you’re the Prince of Birds or whatever, you won’t be more splendid than our Hadel.”

Whether he’s the Prince of Spring or whatever, I don’t care.

As I watched him, I stood up from my seat. Hadel, who had his back turned and was combing his hair, somehow noticed my movement and approached me.

“Where are you going?”

“Kyu.”

“Aren’t you going to stay by my side today?”

“Kyu-kyu.”

Winter was approaching. The large stone-built castle was getting colder day by day.

It’s better to stay by Hadel’s side. But…

“If I stay by Hadel’s side, people from the capital will make fun of him for having a countryside prince.”

Princes who keep big parrots, eagles, or tigers near them exist, but there are no royal families that raise small, cute sparrows like me.

“It’s all for Hadel’s authority.”

If I become a source of amusement for Hadel, it will truly hurt my heart.

“So, let’s stay apart while the Prince of Birds is here.”

I had already decided where to stay. Two warm places in this castle.

The kitchen and Hadel’s study.

Hadel’s study needed to maintain a consistent temperature to preserve the books. So, whether it was summer or winter, it had the same temperature.

“Nobody ever comes to the study, so I can stay there comfortably.”

During the cold season, I had to stay above the kitchen stove.

“Kyu-kyu, stay here.”

Hadel called me, but I elegantly wagged my tail and left Hadel’s room.

Nevertheless, I didn’t plan to be completely stuck there without even seeing his face.

“I need to see how impressive the prince is with my own eyes.”

And I also needed to see how Hadel, our handsome prince, would react.
It hasn’t been long since I parted ways with Hadel, but my front paws are already cold due to the chill.

“Why isn’t he coming?”

I wanted to see him and get inside quickly.

How much time had passed since I wiped my front paws and sat down while thinking about it?

Without any fuss, the Prince of Birds and his entourage arrived at the castle.

I widened my eyes at the shimmering silver hair from afar.

“Oh, that person is the Prince of Birds.”

There was no need to find out who he was. His face was just like the one in the portrait.

“In reality, he looks even more similar to Esphen.”

In the portrait, he was a young prince, but the man in front of me now seemed to be of a similar age to Esphen during the time when mana surges occurred.

For that reason, he looked more like Esphen.

“It’s funny that a nickname like ‘Prince of Spring’ is given to someone with such a cold face.”

I thought he must have earned that nickname by putting on a lively smile, but when his face entered the castle, it was chilling. I was still wondering in amazement.

“Hadel!”

Hadel also came out to the entrance with important subordinates. I thumped my tail happily.

“Hadel, you look handsome! You shine brightly even from a distance!”

It was as I expected. Hadel was much more impressive than the Prince of Birds.

Hadel, who walked gracefully, greeted with his distinct deep and atmospheric voice.

“Welcome to the North.”

It was a short greeting, but it sounded even more weighty. Hadel’s imposing figure and his voice combined to create a completed picture, like a painting. I jumped up and down in excitement.

“What do you think? He’s impressive, right?”

Hurry up and compliment him. Thank him for the welcome. Tell him that you appreciate it. Prince, you grew up so nicely with good manners in the North.

“If you say you missed your older brother, Hadel might even embrace you happily.”

Thinking like that, I finally realized why I had been constantly watching Hadel’s reactions and pondering whether their relationship was good or bad.

Only I, who was always with Hadel, knew.

That Hadel was lonely.

So, I hoped he didn’t know either. I hoped that his long-lost younger brother would treat him kindly, and that Hadel would realize that his family hadn’t hated him.

“I hope Hadel is happy.”

I couldn’t tell when I had grown so attached to Hadel.