Chapter 73

#073 As Long as It's Not Me (3)

"Just now..."

It was a sensation that couldn't be mistaken.

I sat in the center of the circle, staring intently at the chimney swift that was tilting its head from side to side.

The sacred circle had returned to its perfect round shape, as if it had never been distorted.

But I had definitely seen it.

The moment the bird landed, the golden circle had wavered like a broken TV screen.

"Kid, are you really a divine bird?"

-Beep beep beep

The small bird chirped naturally.

The three lesser pandas were already hiding behind my legs.

Were they scared? Or still unfamiliar with the bird?

-Keek keek keek

Demi bravely stepped forward and stood in front of me, opening and closing its tiny mouth in a threatening manner.

The smallest of the three, it really acted like the leader, just as I had said.

I couldn't help but laugh, finding it both admirable and cute.

"Demi, it's okay."

I calmed the little one.

Even without any concrete evidence, I had a strange certainty that this chimney swift wouldn't harm me.

It was definitely not an ordinary animal.

But what filled my heart was more curiosity than anxiety.

[Should I give it some ether?]

My voice resonated as if through a microphone. The bird didn't seem startled at all.

Demi sprouted a palm-sized palm leaf from its toes, ready to use it as a shield if needed.

I took a deep breath and slowly released ether, passing it to the chimney swift.

Imagining I was giving it a spoonful of syrup medicine helped me control the amount.

However,

"...It's not eating."

To be precise, my ether wasn't being absorbed into its body at all.

I was a bit flustered and gave it more ether.

But the ether just returned to me.

"This can't be."

This bird, which had momentarily disrupted the sacred circle, didn't react to ether like a normal human or animal.

I sat cross-legged in the circle and extended my hand.

"Come here, okay."

-Beep beep

The chimney swift hopped a few times toward me, tilting its head repeatedly, then flapped its wings a few times.

It looked very comfortable settling into my palm. It seemed to have taken control of the situation.

Demi, Lea, and Perry finally relaxed and crawled between my legs, spreading out.

A handful of chimney swift, a tray of lesser pandas.

"Do you dislike being called 'Gul' or 'Duk'?"

-Beep beep beep!

The response was a bit loud. It clearly hated the name Crystal had suggested.

The bird understood words remarkably well and seemed to enjoy human touch rather than avoiding it.

I wondered if it might be a divine bird's offspring.

Maybe that's why it was still clumsy at absorbing ether.

I didn't know if divine birds could reproduce or if the deity had sent it in an underdeveloped form.

Unlike the lesser pandas, who mostly stayed in my room with me, the chimney swift had roamed around for the past four days.

It usually perched on Crystal's shoulder and, yesterday, seemed to have spent the day in the prince's room.

It was a truly free spirit.

Even when I offered it food or water, it showed little interest.

I wondered if it caught bugs outside.

"Crystal can't seem to give up on 'Gul' and 'Duk'."

-Beep

The bird seemed a bit dejected.

This morning at the dining hall, Crystal had even suggested a name like 'Gulbi'.

If she couldn't come up with a name using 'Duk', she might suggest 'Gulda' tomorrow.

[What about 'Dukshim'?]

I cautiously suggested.

No matter how I thought about it, 'Dukshim' seemed the best name using 'Duk'.

I thought 'Sylph' would be nice, considering it was a kid I met on a windy cliff, and 'Nan' (鸞) for wishing it to become a magnificent bird.

But I couldn't ignore Crystal's efforts.

[It's not bad, right? I hope you live a determined life wherever you go, Dukshim.]

The bird blinked its black eyes rapidly. I felt sorry; I knew it wasn't the best name.

-Beep beep beep!

The bird opened its yellow beak and responded enthusiastically.

It didn't peck my palm, so it didn't seem to dislike the name.

Was it something like, 'I'll accept it because of your effort, human'?

-Flap

Dukshim flapped its tiny wings and descended.

Then it buried itself in the plump tails of the lesser pandas, using them as a nest.

Demi, who had already fallen asleep, grumbled.

"Go to sleep first. I'll do 50 cycles of ether circulation and then sleep."

I whispered.

I knew my legs would soon be numb from the divine birds, but I decided to treat it as part of my training.

To take care of them properly, I needed to become a stronger priest.

With a 'whoosh', the golden ether spread throughout the sacred circle again.

*

May 31st was a day with gentle breezes and clear sunshine.

"Happy birthday, Prince Yeseo!"

"Thank you."

"Happy birthday. May the glory of the deity be with you."

"Thank you. Have a good day."

No matter where I walked in the palace, servants and attendants would rush over to greet me.

I smiled brightly and accepted the congratulations from each one.

It was almost heartbreaking and embarrassing that everyone I met today was saying such nice things to me, even though the real Prince Yeseo couldn't hear them.

The busy emperor sent a handwritten card and a bouquet of flowers through the head attendant.

Cardinal Boutier kissed my cheek on her way to work.

"Prince, these are cannelés we baked this morning. We made about a hundred because you like them."

"Oh, why so many... I'll enjoy them. Thank you."

"Yes! I'll have them delivered to your room right away."

A few kitchen servants bowed deeply and retreated.

I wondered if this was typical of the northern people; everyone was very generous.

For breakfast, I received a birthday feast that could have broken the table, and it took 2.5 hours to finish it, even with Bénguameng and Ganael's help.

"Prince, with what you received today, you could eat for a year."

Ganael, who was following me, marveled and laughed.

I nodded and accepted another attendant's bow.

My relationship with Emperor Frédéric wasn't bad, but because I was a hostage, we couldn't have a public birthday party.

We also couldn't exchange monetary gifts as usual.

I thought it was for the best since I didn't like loud and burdensome celebrations.

But things turned out this way.

Everywhere I went, strangers offered me homemade food, and I tasted all the bread and desserts, knowing it was rude to refuse their efforts.

Everything was delicious, but I was worried I might be too full to eat lunch.

How much has the story of the 'Great Demon Purge' been exaggerated?

"Prince, happy birthday! You're even wearing a koko outfit."

Then, a familiar voice rang out.

Crystal, with her hair high up as usual but dressed in a rare dress, was quickly approaching from the other side of the corridor.

She smiled like an angel and handed me a small package.

"It's a book. Actually, I was planning to give you a pirate ship..."

"Huh?"

"Just kidding! Anyway, it's the best-selling book in the empire right now. I'm sure you'll like it. I asked Cardinal Boutier, and she said it's fine to give books as gifts."

Her light blue eyes sparkled happily. I smiled and expressed my gratitude.

In the end, I received a gift from Crystal.

"Thank you. I'll enjoy reading it."

"Anytime. Did you receive a gift from the duke?"

"No."

Not only did I not receive a gift, but I hadn't even seen him today.

It was hard to believe he could be so indifferent to someone living in the same house on their birthday.

Well, I didn't really expect anything from the prince, so I wasn't disappointed.

Crystal's eyes widened in surprise.

"That's strange. I thought he would give you a grand gift, befitting a royal."

"Not really. We're not that close."

"Come on, you know each other well, don't you?"

She winked alternately with her left and right eyes.

It was always surprising, but wait. Why is she talking like that?

"You know that, too, don't you? It's our secret, after all."

"You're right. Where are you going?"

Crystal laughed, seemingly giving in, and changed the topic.

When I said I was going to receive confession, she happily offered to escort me, saying it was a service for the guest of honor.

Bénguameng and Ganael seemed pleased as I walked with her.

"By the way, I named the chimney swift. It's called Dukshim."

"Oh, that's completely my style! You named it well."

It felt good to see others more excited about my birthday than I was.

*

[Please confess when you're ready.]

"Yes, yes, Prince... ..."

The man standing outside the confessional was breathing rapidly, his voice trembling.

I waited quietly for the penitent to start speaking.

In my hand was the travel book Crystal had given me, *Perfect Guide: Conquer the Empire in a Week (Map Included)*, which was published in April this year and packed with the latest information.

I wondered why I hadn