I waited with great anticipation for the Prince of Birds’ response.

Smile, damn it. Be kind to Hadel.

But contrary to my expectations, the Prince of Birds didn’t utter a single formal greeting. Instead, a middle-aged man standing beside him spoke earnestly to Hadel on his behalf.

“Thank you for the welcome.”

“It seemed like you brought a lot of knights with you. Is there enough space in the tents?”

“Don’t worry. The North is filled with empty land, so setting up tents is not difficult.”

They spoke in a wobbly manner, but did it sound like they were mocking the desolation of the North only to me?

“Why isn’t that guy saying anything?”

I glared sharply at the Prince of Birds. Whether Hadel was expelled from the capital for not being able to control mana or he was removed from the throne, he was undeniably the Prince of Birds’ older brother.

In that case, when the older brother greets first, why doesn’t he respond?

Hadel’s knight, who seemed to share my discomfort, growled as he spoke.

“Why hasn’t His Highness said a word?”

“He’s tired from the long journey. Please guide him to a place where he can rest quickly.”

“Is that what you call it…!”

It happened when the knight exploded in anger and took a step forward.

Blocking the way in front of the Prince of Birds, he spoke with a cold voice.

“Do not approach His Highness the Prince of Birds. What if the flames hurt him?”

“……!”

Hadel’s face contorted at those words. I stopped watching and began to run quickly from where I was.

Now, I couldn’t just stand there and watch.

The banquet welcoming the Prince of Birds’ party was in the dining room. So, Hadel’s room should be empty.

As I entered the room through the small hole Hadel had made for me, a deeply sunk voice rang in my ears.

“Where have you been?”

“Kyu…”

Hadel.

Would it have been better if I weren’t in the room at all? Or would it be better to be in the room and not see that bastard’s face?

Either way, my heart was turned upside down.

On the floor, there was a jacket that Hadel had thrown away or worn today. Passing the boots scattered haphazardly, I crawled up onto the bed. Then, I crawled up Hadel’s thigh and perched on his thigh, leaning against the head of the bed.

“Woona?”

I glanced around, then met Hadel’s gaze. Hadel’s expression was dry. His long fingers lightly stroked my cheek.

“Did you eat more chocolate cookies in the kitchen again?”

Who said I was a chocolate cookie ghost?

I could have been angry, but instead of getting angry, I firmly planted myself in place and buried my head in Hadel’s chest. Hadel stroked my back and whispered in a soft voice.

“…Thank you.”

I pretended not to hear.

In any case, it was clear that the Prince of Birds was not the one who would soothe Hadel’s loneliness, as I had hoped.

“Sigh, why did he even come if that’s the case?”
I almost wished he hadn’t come. Due to his imposing presence, Hadel couldn’t dismiss the Prince of Birds even though he was humiliated.

Instead of being dismissed, Hadel had to eat his meals while looking at that hateful face.

“Oh! If you hate it that much, why don’t you just refuse to dine with him? Clearly, he’s deliberately leaving you alone to torment you.”

I was so annoyed that I kicked the bed with my front paws. At that moment, Hadel’s hand reached out and touched my head.

“Why are you like this?”

“Kyu!”

Why? Because of you!

“Why is he dressed so nicely? He usually doesn’t dress like that.”

Hadel was wearing a formal black jacket. Normally, he wore loose-fitting shirts, but today, for some reason, he was wearing a snug-fitting jacket that looked great on him, like a sleek black panther.

“No, why is my kid so handsome?”

Seeing him dressed up so nicely made me forget my anger. I wagged my tail vigorously.

“Yeah, let those guys act all haughty. Hadel has already won from the start. Even if he just eats without saying a word, my kid wins.”

When I firmly made up my mind, Hadel teased me again.

“Shall we go eat, Kyukyu?”

“Kyu.”

I shook my head. There might be delicious food at the banquet, but I was afraid I would get even angrier if Hadel was tormented because of me.

“Are you really not going? They say they have your favorite cheese ciabatta sandwich.”

“Kyu, Kyu…”

I shook my head. Hadel rarely spoke so much to coax me. A cheese ciabatta sandwich! I wanted to sneak into Hadel’s pocket right now.

“But you’re not going to come? Even though there’s no vegetables in the sandwich this time?”

“Kyu.”

Do you think I’m a child? How old do you think I am to try to tease me with vegetables?

When I snorted petulantly, Hadel added another word.

“If you don’t come this time, I’ll remove the ham next time.”

“Kyu!”

You’re mean!

I paced around Hadel, glaring at him with my eyes, silently asking him a question.

“Are you really just going to give me plain bread? Really?”

Did my eye contact attack work? Hadel’s broad shoulders twitched. He stared at me for a moment with a troubled expression, then bent his knees and met my gaze.

“Why are you so fond of it, but you don’t want to go?”

“Kyu.”

I pretended to lie down, as if in pain. But Hadel, who had been observing me for a long time, didn’t fall for my act. He spoke in a low voice.

“…Is it because of me after all?”

“Kyu!”

That was not what I meant, so I jumped up immediately. But my concern clearly hurt Hadel. When our eyes met, Hadel’s face contorted in anguish.

“Then, rest here.”

“Kyu, Kyu.”

Even though I called him with a pathetic voice, Hadel didn’t turn back and left the room.

As soon as the door closed, I started thrashing around fiercely.

“Kyu Kyu!”

Ugh, why are you acting like you’re hurt! Why!

“I thought I was protecting Hadel because of me.”

But if my actions only hurt Hadel, isn’t it meaningless consideration?

My head was pounding, and as I rolled around, I suddenly lifted my head.

“Yeah. I’ll just go to the pantry.”
I’m happy because I get to eat my favorite sandwich, and Hadel is here with me. There’s nothing but good things.

“They’re going to ignore Hadel whether I’m there or not. I’d better go and fight bravely.”

It’s definitely not because of the sandwich. I made my decision solely with Hadel in mind.

With that in mind, I rushed to the pantry. Finding it wasn’t difficult as long as I went where more people were.

“Hadel, I’m going!”

Since I’m going anyway, I might as well kick the hateful Prince of Birds with my hind legs.

With that thought in mind, I approached the pantry, but then I stopped in my tracks.

The Prince of Birds was coming out of the pantry, striding confidently.

“It couldn’t have finished so quickly.”

Hadel had just gone in.

There could be only one of two reasons. Either he ate before Hadel arrived, or he didn’t eat on purpose to hurt Hadel.

“Kyu!”

Either way, he was a bad guy. Annoyed, I shouted and stepped forward towards the Prince of Birds.

His sapphire-like blue eyes twisted with contempt as he looked at me. He kicked me with the back of his foot and said,

“What’s this filthy beast?”

“Kyu!”

I felt an immense shock. Since I had come to the Duchy with Hadel, my master sometimes scratched my insides, but no one had ever kicked me before.

“Did he just ignore me? And what’s with that contemptuous look?”

If I could, I would have kicked him in the back as he passed by. What did the author say about me? What, filthy?

“I’m not filthy! I’ve bathed with Hadel! Do you know how clean a chinchilla I am?”

Growling and grumbling at the nasty back, I dropped my head in frustration.

No matter how angry I got, he didn’t care.

I’m a chinchilla.

“Hadel.”

Thinking of the person who had treated me so well, I looked back. And once again, I met Hadel’s gaze just as I did earlier.

Ah, I should have just stayed in the room.