Chapter 34: The Firebird in Her Dream

At Evan’s casual remark, even Cecilia, who had been sniffling, Hawkins, who had been watching her with pity, and Maon, who had been about to leave, all froze in place.

A moment of silence lingered in the wide infirmary.

“N-no way…! Who would do something so terrible?!”

Cecilia’s body trembled as she finished her sentence. Rage surged in her blue eyes.

“If that’s true, I won’t forgive them!”

“Calm down.”

Maon said nothing at all. Evan sensed that he, too, was considering the same possibility.

After watching Liana for a moment, Maon left the infirmary without greeting anyone.

“That guy just left without even saying goodbye…”

“It’s fine. His Imperial language is still clumsy.”

“Is that an excuse for not even greeting people?”

“He’s being rather aggressive today.”

Evan gave Hawkins a warning for his sharp comment, and Hawkins fell silent.

“Hawkins, please… calm yourself.”

“My apologies. I showed you an ugly side.”

“No, it’s all right. If someone had looked down on you, Evan, I would’ve lost my temper too.”

Cecilia said that, then gave a ruffled little laugh. Her tear-stained face shone with a bright smile, like sunlight after the rain. Hawkins gazed at her in a daze.

Silence fell once again.

All three seemed lost in their own thoughts. Only the slow ticking of the second hand reminded them time was passing. After a while, Cecilia, hesitating and fiddling with her fingers, spoke up.

“Maybe…”

Her voice was laced with hesitation.

Evan and Hawkins didn’t rush her, waiting for what she would say next.

Cecilia gently stroked Liana’s sleeping face, then cautiously withdrew her hand and looked at Evan and Hawkins.

“Liana might have jumped in herself.”

“…Is that true? Why do you think so?”

Evan’s voice dropped low. His face grew serious.

Rumors of attempted suicide were considered just as disgraceful in noble society as scandals about improper relations with men.

Such things should never be spoken lightly, or even speculated about.

“Cecilia. You mustn’t say things like that carelessly.”

It was the first time Evan, always kind and gentle to Cecilia since their first meeting, spoke sternly to her.

At Evan’s chilly, composed face, Cecilia shivered.

“Evan! Lady Cecilia would never say such things without a reason…!”

“Hawkins.”

Evan called Hawkins’ name, locking eyes with him—a silent pressure not to say more.

Hawkins bit his lip.

“Let’s pretend we never heard this.”

Even discussing such a topic could be the start of a rumor.

The biggest problem was that it was Cecilia, known as Liana’s best friend, who had brought it up.

Cecilia herself couldn’t have been unaware of how much weight her words carried as Liana’s closest friend.

Lowering her gaze, Cecilia suddenly raised her head at Evan’s words. Her steady gaze met Evan’s squarely.

“No! What if this wasn’t Liana’s first attempt? If this wasn’t the first time?! Is just covering it up the answer? If Liana… If Liana… If, by any chance, something goes wrong! The rumors aren’t the problem! Liana’s life is at stake!”

Even as she trembled and clenched her fists, Cecilia spoke clearly and firmly.

Evan was taken aback.

He had forgotten, even for a moment, that Cecilia was Liana’s closest friend.

Evan sighed.

“Then what should we do? You must have some reason to suspect this, right?”

Evan’s voice softened.

“I can’t tell you here… I’ll tell you another time.”

With tearful eyes, Cecilia looked down at Liana.

Seeing her like that, it was obvious something had happened. Evan nodded.

She took Liana’s hand, which was hidden beneath the blanket.

“Should I introduce a healer?”

Evan recalled a renowned healer living in the imperial city.

Or perhaps a priest?

“I think it’s better to first find out why she did it. Like you said, Evan, it could damage Liana’s honor. Rather than rashly bringing in outsiders, let me try first.”

Cecilia said firmly.

“…Liana must be blessed by the goddess Lafre. To have a friend like you.”

Cecilia’s cheeks flushed bright red.

“N-no…!”

Flustered, she waved her hands, looking almost adorable.

He’d felt it since their first meeting—Cecilia seemed to have a certain… charm that drew people in.

“Then what do you intend to do?”

“I have a way.”

Cecilia answered with confidence. She tucked Liana’s hand back under the blanket.

“The most important thing is to understand how Liana feels. So, here’s what I’ll do—I’ll pretend I don’t know anything and ask her…”

Cecilia whispered her plan, and Evan and Hawkins nodded gravely.

*****

‘Huh? Is this a dream?’

For a moment, Liana felt dazed and blinked.

“Young Miss! Lady Liana!”

“Young Miss! Where are you, Lady Liana!”

“Don’t tell me…! You’re not playing with fire again, are you…?”

“No! Last time, the annex nearly burned down! Oh dear!”

“Ladyyyyy! Nooooo! Lady Liana!”

“Lady Lianaaaaa!”

Rustle.

Hearing the maids searching for her, Liana finally remembered what she’d been up to.

A small face popped out from the grass. Her cheeks were puffed out as if stuffed with candy.

Blinking her big eyes, the girl—Liana herself—wore a mischievous grin.

“Heeheehee.”

“Ladyyyyy.”

“Lady Liana!”

The voices calling the little girl grew more distant.

Liana gave a carefree smile of relief, then flopped down on the grass. Her skirt fluttered as she turned over. The soft grass seemed to wrap Liana’s small body like a blanket.

“Waaah.”

Liana opened her mouth, staring blankly.

The sky above was a brilliant, cloudless blue.

Even the air felt special that day.

Liana stared vacantly at the sky. Now, she couldn’t even hear the voices calling her. No sound of insects or wind; only her own faint breathing filled her ears.

She fiddled with the grass, thinking her fingertips felt warm.

Raising her hand slowly…

A flame flickered at her fingertips.

Red and yellow fire.

Rather than frightening or startling her, it seemed fascinating and beautiful. Liana gazed blankly at the flame, which danced as if in a gentle waltz.

“A dream?”

A voice slipped out from her slightly parted lips. As if in answer, the flame danced in response, swaying side to side, almost as if shaking its head.

“Then… is it real?”

This time, it seemed to nod.

“Wow! Amazing…!”

Liana exclaimed in pure wonder, breaking into a wide grin. The flame, too, seemed to ripple joyfully.

“What are you? Are you a fairy?”

The flame quivered.

“Huh? No?”

The flame swelled and began to take on a shape.

The little flicker that had resembled a candle now curled like a caterpillar, then sprouted wings. When the wings, which had been folded around its body, spread, the bent head lifted.

“Woooow!”

It was unmistakably a bird.

Stars seemed to sparkle in Liana’s eyes.

The firebird flapped its wings in her hand and then floated into the air. Each beat of its wings scattered brilliant, colored feathers that drifted and vanished.

The bird spun once in the air as if to say hello, then landed atop Liana’s golden-brown hair.

Fearing it would burn her, Liana hunched her shoulders, only to realize it wasn’t hot at all. She rolled her eyes up to look.

“Pii?”

The little bird tilted its head as if greeting her and chirped.

“So cute!”

“Piii.”

The bird flapped its wings.

The feather-shaped sparks landed on Liana’s body, bursting into soft light.

Firebird and Liana watched each other, tilting their heads this way and that.

‘What is this?! What could it be! It’s so pretty!’

“I want to show it off!”

Liana blurted out, then gasped and clamped a hand over her mouth, worried someone might have heard.

“Pipii?”

The bird fluttered over and tapped the back of Liana’s hand.

Tap tap.

Its tiny beak pecked lightly at her hand.

“Waaah…”

‘I didn’t think I’d be able to touch it! But I can!’

“Pii?”

“I-I want to show it off…!”

“Piii?”

The bird cocked its head as if to say, What’s the problem? Sparks flew each time its little head moved.

She didn’t know if it was a fairy, a spirit, or magic, but it was so cute, she wanted to show it to everyone!

It was born from my fingertip, wasn’t it? Wasn’t it!

“B-but…”

“Pii?”

“Today, Cecilia is coming over…”

“Piii?”

Flutter flutter.

The bird circled Liana a couple of times, then tapped her hand again, cocking its head. It seemed to be asking what the problem was.

‘Am I really communicating with it?’

Liana’s heart pounded.