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30. Menescullen Ellinkier Bayard Pipi
The maids were given the punishment of having to read all ten books of etiquette. The reason there were ten volumes of books of etiquette was because etiquette continued to change in minor ways during the long history of the empire, but that was none of Lasilia’s business. Like the Marchioness Parshad, he was not allowed to enter the palace until he finished reading. The Empress’s palace, where eight maids-in-waiting and the servants they brought with them, left like the tide, became quiet for the first time in a while.
“I don’t know if that’s really okay.”
After swallowing a sip of cooled tea water, Yvette opened her mouth. The reason the tea got cold was because Yvette couldn’t lift the tea cup because she was constantly shaking it with her hands. Having tea alone with the Empress was a privilege that only the first maid could enjoy. Even that didn’t happen often. Yvette was crying as she held the teacup several times and felt like she was going to drop it at any moment. It was only after her tea had cooled down that she barely stopped shaking her hands. The expression on her face just before drinking tea was even solemn. Anyway, when she drank it, it was tea. Of course, the paper-thin teacup was incredibly expensive, and the tea was soft and fragrant without any bitterness even when it cooled, so it was like a dream, but it was still tea. All she had to do was drink it.
“Will I be able to fill the empty space while the maids are away? I think I can do it well, but it also seems like a bit too arrogant… Oh, I really don’t know.”
“Beep!”
Pipi, who was sitting on Lasilia’s palm and eating the stewed cherries on the cake, screamed.
“Pifi says don’t worry. It’s a deal that can be done well.”
In fact, it was a bit harsher than that, but Lasilia rephrased her words appropriately. Yvette opened her eyes wide.
“How does Pipi know that? It’s a little bird that’s just been born, right? No, of course it’s a huge leak.”
“Beep!”
Pipi shook her head left and right.
“Oh, you seem angry… Did I say something wrong?”
“Hmm… Looks like I made a mistake, not you. I guess he doesn’t like the name Pipi.”
He said she didn’t like it when even Yvette called him Pipi.
“Ah… but. He is the king of birds, but the name Pipi seems too babyish.”
“Beep!”
“Then should I change the name? Would that be better?”
“Phee.”
Pipi gave a slightly ambiguous answer. He said it needed to be rebuilt, but it was okay to call it Pipi.
“Hmm… You say you don’t like Pipi, so why don’t you need another name?”
“Beep.”
“Because Pipi is no match for the King of Birds. Yes, but?”
“Phee pee.”
“Oh, should I call you that? Why only me?”
“Phee…”
Pipi gathered his little wings and twisted them. He seemed somewhat embarrassed.
“What are you ashamed of?”
“Beep!”
When Lasilia did not understand, she lost her temper this time. Pipi, who had his eyes wide open, instead of responding, went down to the cake plate and pecked at the cake passionately.
“That’s so bloody… It seems like Pipi really likes Her Majesty the Empress.”
He said he didn’t like the name Pipi, so they carefully added ‘Nim’ after it.
“Beep!”
Even while Pipi was eating the cake, he reacted sensitively.
“I guess I’ll have to come up with a new name.”
Yvette suddenly stood up at Lasilia’s words.
“Shall I bring the naming convention? Or even a chronicle? The names of all the nobles of all time are listed there.”
“If that’s the case, don’t you already know?”
“Ah…! Yes.”
Yvette sat down again.
“Beep?”
Two people and a bird put their heads together and began to think about a name. After about two hours, Pipi finally received the long name Menuscullen Ellinkier Bayar Pipi.
* * *
“Then, Ren, can I call you this from now on?”
As she added “nim,” the honorifics naturally followed. Pipi seemed to like it even more and raised his head proudly.
“Beep.”
“Huh. He said that would be good.”
Yvette smiled broadly.
“What a relief. He likes the new name.”
“Beep beep. Beep.”
Pipi flapped his wings as if he was in a good mood.
“Uh?”
“Hmm?”
Then his small body floated in the air.
“Ren! You’re flying!”
“It’s already flying… Isn’t it too fast?”
“I know, right. It’s not even three days since you were born.”
Pipi, who had been floating about thirty centimeters from the tea table and fluttering for a while, sat down on the cake plate again, panting.
“Blood, blood…”
“He said he was tired.”
“Oh, then would you like some water?”
Yvette, who was quick-witted, poured water into the empty bowl. Pipi pecked Lasilia’s hand. It meant asking for water.
“You rascal. I thought I could drink it alone.”
Lasilia chuckled, placing Pipi in her palm and tilting her bowl of water to her mouth. It was then.
“Phee?”
Suddenly Pipi jerked his head up. At the same time, the voices of the Royal Guard rang out.
“Your Majesty the Emperor is eating!”
“Oh.”
The panic was quick. Lasilia took Pipi and placed it in her sugar jar and closed the lid. It would be best to have him inside Yvette’s hair, but if she hurriedly hide it now, she wasn’t confident that he wouldn’t ruin Yvette’s hairstyle.
“Are you here?”
“Greeting Your Majesty the Emperor.”
The Emperor, who had been dealing with nobles, palace officials, and ministers of state in the throne room all day, walked towards them, looking somewhat exhausted.
“Do you remember that I have a chance to hold your hand?”
Needless to say, it happened this morning.
“Yes. I know.”
“I have to use it now. It’s a waste.”
“I see.”
It was an opportunity that Lescal forced his way into, but she just decided to give her hand. Anyway, it was a blue moon. Lasilia held out her hand. Instead of taking her hand, Lescal said the same thing again.
“It’s such a waste.”
So what should she do?
“…Then take it later.”
“No, I have to take it now.”
“Then take it.”
“…Such a waste.”
She wasn’t sure what was a waste, but it was clear from the look on his face that he was regretting something. Anyway, Lescal took her hand. At first, he held her fingertips, then he lowered his head and breathed into her palm.
“What… are you doing?”
She felt somehow uncomfortable and a little embarrassed. As Lasilia twisted her hand, Lescal retorted softly, pressing his lips to her palm.
“Because it’s strange.”
“Which one?”
“I smell a smell that isn’t yours.”
“…?”
“It’s a familiar smell, but it doesn’t feel very good.”
“…”
It was Yvette whose complexion turned pale at those words.
“So, I’m sorry. Because I was not able to assist Her Majesty the Empress well… Shall I bring water to wash up?”
Lasilia and Lescal spoke almost at the same time.
“No. Fine,”
“That would be nice.”
“Ah…?”
Yvette, embarrassed, froze. Lasilia glanced at Lescal once and eventually nodded her head.
“Then bring it.”
“Yes, yes. Your Majesty the Empress.”
Yvette turned on her heel and hurried out. Thanks to Serven and Liyan, who had already left the scene together, in fact, only the Emperor and Empress were left.
“…I didn’t know my hands smelled.”
As Lasilia sat down on the single-seat sofa where she was originally sitting, Lescal casually sat on the armrest. He was firmly holding on to the lie that they had originally sat next to each other before she lost her memory. Still, she was concerned about her smell, so she tried to smell herself a little. There seemed to be a faint scent of tea or cookies, but that was it.
“My sense of smell is different from that of ordinary humans.”
Lescal tilted his head to the side and rested his head slightly.
“Are you saying it smells like something other than cookies or tea?”
“Yes. It smells like something alive.”
…She was sure he was not talking about Pipi. Lasilia held her gaze as it almost went to her sugar jar.
“Then it must be Yvette’s scent.”
“No. It doesn’t even smell like the princess.”
Then she guessed he really meant Pipi…
“That’s strange. I didn’t really deal with people other than the maids.”
“Simply being around people doesn’t leave a smell. This means that it was touched directly by hand.”
…That’s sharp.
“Isn’t the seat uncomfortable? If you want, I can move you to a larger chair.”
Lasilia turned her chair. Lescal held Lasilia’s hand and looked into her eyes.
“Is it here now?”
At that moment her heart sank.
“…yes? What do you mean?”
“Is that thing you touched with your hands here?”
“…”
She had to say no. However, it seemed that the Emperor’s golden eyes would never be able to tell a lie. It was then.
“Beep!”
Puck!
Pipi jumped out, hitting his head on the lid of the sugar jar.
“Beep! Beep!”
Pipi flew in and landed on the back of Lasilia’s hand, making a threatening noise towards Lescal.
“Pipi! Phee!”
“This…”
His golden eyes narrowed as he looked at Pipi. Lasilia held Pipi in her hands as if to hide it.
“The bird… I picked it up. It seems his mother abandoned him.”
“…”
“It seems like it’s following me well, so I think I’ll keep it by my side… At least until the mother appears.”
That is, until Pipi’s real companion, the owner, appears.
“…If you want, I can’t object.”
Lescal answered slowly, saying he really didn’t like it.
“I don’t like it, though.”
“Beep! Beep!”
Pipi also stood up and said, “It’s her general.”
Lescal wrinkled his eyebrows as if he was dumbfounded.
“He is not afraid because he hasn’t grown up yet.”
“Ah…?”
Lasilia flinched as if she understood Pipi’s words.
“Beep! Beep!”
She accepted, saying that Pipi would grow up soon. Lescal waved his hand in annoyance.
“Tell me when he is all grown up.”
“Beep! Beep!”
Pipi flapped his wings and said, “You really need to learn how to sit on a chair.”
Meanwhile, Lasilia closed her mouth.
“…”
She was sure. Lescal was listening to what Pipi was saying.
‘Because it’s a demon bird… Of course it is.’
There was one more thing to be careful about. She felt a little resentful of Pipi, who broke the lid of the sugar jar and ran out.
‘I have no choice but to pretend not to understand what Fifi is saying.’
Lasilia changed the topic.
“Isn’t the bird so cute? I feel like I’m already practicing. When it grows up, it will become a strong bird that can fly very far.”
“Not really. I know that when he grows up, his temper will get dirty.”
“Beep!”
It looked like Pipi was about to say something harsh to him, so she patted him on the head to tell him to stop.
“His personality will become more gentle in the future.”
“I hope so.”
Lescal took his hand stroking Pipi. Pipi got annoyed, but Lescal didn’t even blink. He buried his lips on the back of his hand and asked softly in a whisper.
“It’s a blue moon today too. Do you know?”
“Yes.”
“That’s why I’d like to get permission in advance.”
“What permission do you mean?”
The feeling of his lips tickling the back of her hand continued to take her nerves away. At this rate, it seemed like no matter what the Emperor said, she would just answer yes.
“Can I sleep in the bed today?”