“Uh….”
“Pi?”
“Will you keep it a secret?”
“Pi! Piiii!”
The bird chirped as if urging her to hurry up and talk. Liana hung her head low and let out a sigh.
How could a young girl’s sigh be so heavy?
The bird let out a high-pitched “Pii” as it hopped down onto the grass.
“Ah! What if there’s a fire!”
As Liana reached out her hand, the bird fluttered and perched on her palm. There was almost no weight to it, but it felt warm and bright.
“Th-that is….”
‘I’m too embarrassed to say it!’
“Pi!”
Poke!
“Ow!”
Startled, Liana shivered when the bird poked her with its beak. Her thick hair swayed.
“Pi! Piiiiii!”
“Okay, okay! I’ll tell you! I’ll talk, alright?!”
“Pi!”
“Cecilia is…!”
Unable to withstand the bird’s urging, Liana suddenly shouted, only to wilt again. Her unsure gaze dropped to her feet. Her eyes, slowly blinking, soon filled with tears.
“She’s good at everything…!”
“Pi?”
“She’s good at everything, so she’s always praised… I’m always… only ever scolded.”
Liana’s shoulders drooped. Tears fell down her chubby cheeks.
“All the adults only dote on Cecilia… Since she’s my friend, of course—of course, I think Cecilia is amazing and I like her, but… I can’t help but feel small….”
‘Look at this, everyone. Miss Cecilia did it!’
‘Oh my! Really? Wow, that’s impressive!’
‘When will our lady….’
‘Shh! Someone might hear you!’
‘So what if they do? It’s true, isn’t it? Miss Liana isn’t lacking in anything, hmm. She’s not slow either, right? But Miss Cecilia is just so outstanding, you can’t help but compare….’
‘Huh? Why are you packing that?’
‘Ah. This? Master asked me to pack it for Miss Cecilia when she leaves.’
‘What? But that’s Miss Liana’s favorite thing!’
‘Hmm. That may be, but Miss Liana has plenty of other things too.’
‘Even so…’
‘Hey, what can we do! Master ordered it, we have to obey. Miss Liana is kind-hearted, so it’ll be alright.’
‘Sigh. Our lady really is kind.’
‘Her heart is probably purer than Miss Cecilia’s, you know?’
‘What’s the use of kindness these days!’
‘Well, since she’s always being compared, it’s nice if she’s better at something, at least. Besides, someone of Miss Liana’s high status can afford to be a bit kind! All that stuff about not being kind in this world—well, that’s just for people like us!’
‘Ah! Should I pack this dress too?’
‘Hmm. Wasn’t that just tailored recently…? That might be a bit much….’
‘Come on, let’s try to please the young lady!’
‘Our lady is Miss Liana. What are you talking about!’
‘Phew. Don’t you get it? Miss Cecilia and our lady are especially close, always together. The master and mistress adore her too. And Miss Cecilia is different from Miss Liana.’
‘What do you mean, different?’
‘Has Miss Liana ever called you by your name?’
‘Huh? Uh, no. But isn’t that normal? There are so many maids in the mansion—how could she remember all our names?’
‘Have you ever received a gift?’
‘Of course not! Even if she did, I’d refuse!’
‘Sigh. Miss Cecilia is different.’
‘What? You can’t mean just because of a gift…! That’s not it, really!’
‘No, listen. Miss Cecilia memorizes all our names. The little gifts aren’t the point, it’s that she remembers every one of us!’
‘Th-that’s impressive, but… I don’t really get what you’re saying! The one we serve isn’t Miss Cecilia, it’s Miss Liana.’
‘Calm down, let’s just listen for now. So?’
‘Sigh. For commoners like us… who knows when we’ll need help in life! When that happens, who will help us? Miss Liana, who doesn’t even know our names and is so shy? Or Miss Cecilia, who’s loved by the adults and speaks so well? Like you said earlier. Miss Liana is too kind. She doesn’t even know how to use her status. But Miss Cecilia? Her rank might be low, but her connections are impressive. She’s Miss Liana’s only real friend, and the master and mistress even give her their daughter’s things. Can you really look at this and not understand?’
‘But still…’
‘Stop complaining and hurry up. Their tastes are similar, right? Miss Liana has so many things, taking a couple of hers won’t even be noticed!’
“Uh….”
‘You still don’t get what I’m saying?’
‘No, it’s not that… Fine. I get it! I’ll go with you when we take these to Miss Cecilia.’
‘Good. Now you’re thinking straight! We’re not trying to ignore Miss Liana, you know that, right? We just want to get on Miss Cecilia’s good side!’
‘Alright, really. You’re so smart.’
‘The smart one is Miss Cecilia.’
‘Poor Miss Liana. She won’t lose everything she likes, will she?’
‘If you’re going to say stuff like that, get out! Why bring up what’s already done? So what if we give away something she cherishes? The lady can just buy new ones. And you can’t just give someone a title by taking it!’
‘Let’s hurry and finish. What if someone comes?’
After overhearing the maids’ conversation, Liana cried her eyes out under the covers that night.
So all the toys and clothes she thought she’d lost had disappeared like that.
She’d been scolded by her mother for searching all over the mansion alone, and when she said she had no idea where they were because she wanted them so badly, all she got in return was, “You’re so careless.”
She couldn’t remember her parents’ faces from back then, but the cold tone of their voices was still clear.
Longing and jealousy toward Cecilia grew side by side, making it impossible for Liana to truly enjoy seeing her anymore.
But after saying everything like this, she felt pathetic.
To spill it all to a bird she’d just met!
Liana curled up and buried her head in her knees.
She felt so ashamed of herself. She hated that she was jealous of her friend, and she hated that she was upset over a few things she’d given away. She felt so petty.
“PIII!!!”
“Eek!”
Just then.
The little firebird yanked hard on Liana’s hair. When she looked up in surprise, the face of the flame-wreathed bird seemed somehow angry.
“PI!! PIII! PI!”
Its fluttering wings were agitated. The bird seemed to be trembling.
“W-what’s wrong…!”
“PIIIIT!”
“Ow! Ow, that hurts!”
“PIIIIIII!!”
“I-it’s because… I’m scared you’ll be taken away from me…!”
“Pi?”
The firebird tilted its small head, looking confused, as it beat its wings. Liana’s face turned as red as a ripe tomato.
‘It’s so embarrassing to say it out loud!’
But, but…!
I don’t want to lose you!
“I-I have to give what I treasure… to Cecilia.”
“Pi?”
“B-because! No, I mean, since she’s my close friend, it’s only right… It’s not like I’m really attached to those things! Really!”
Liana stretched out both hands and shook them wildly.
“PIII!!”
As if telling her to be clear, the bird poked her hands with its beak.
“Ouch! That hurts!”
“PI!!”
“If adults see you, they might give you to Cecilia too.”
“Pi? Piiii!”
As if that was ridiculous, the little bird jumped up and down. Then it fluttered up, circled around Liana, and with a pop! poked her puffed-up cheek with its beak.
“Aagh!”
Even when Liana clutched her cheek and made a face, the bird didn’t stop its beak attack!
“Oww! Stop! Aah!”
“Miladyyy.”
“Miss Liana, where are youuu!”
Voices calling for Liana echoed from nearby.
Gasp.
Liana covered her mouth with both hands and quickly curled up.
‘I can’t let them find me! Not today!’
When the bird saw Liana’s tear-filled green eyes, it stopped pinching her cheek and fluttered up. Liana’s gaze was fixed on her toes, head down. The firebird fluttered around to get her attention, and soon, Liana and the firebird were facing each other again.
‘Is that what you’re worried about?’
“Y-you talk?!”
You can talk?! But you’re a bird!? Or maybe you’re not?!
‘You’re worried you’ll lose me?’
“Y-yeah.”
“Miss Liana! Where are you, Miss Lianaaa!”
Gasp.
Liana pressed her hands even tighter over her mouth. Somehow, it felt like the invisible-eyed bird was looking at her pitifully.
Every time the bird flapped its wings, sparks flew up and scattered around Liana. The softly scattering sparks looked beautiful and warm.
‘So what do you want to do?’
‘Huh?’
‘What do you want to do about it?’
‘Gasp.’
She was so surprised she couldn’t breathe.
Those were my thoughts! But we’re talking! Oh no!
Liana’s face started to flush red. It wasn’t from embarrassment, but excitement.
She could talk to a bird—heart to heart! Liana’s green eyes sparkled.
‘Um, well… For now, I’ll just pretend I don’t know!’
‘What? Pretend you don’t know me?’
“PIIIIK! PIK!”
‘No, don’t make a sound!’
Liana reached out to catch the bird, but it nimbly dodged and began circling above her head.
“PIIIII! PI!”
‘Liana is here! Come get her!’