YDPTB Chapter 40

The corners of my mouth kept drooping down. As I walked down the corridor with listless steps, I heard Arthur’s puzzled voice from behind me.

“By the way, brother. Is he perhaps a guest?”

“…Yes. More importantly, I’d like to hear more details about your time at school.”

At those words, I abruptly stopped walking.

A guest…?

Karhan affirmed Arthur’s question about me being a guest. I couldn’t help but stop in my tracks. I had the illusion of a rattling sound coming from my heart. Am I a guest? Starting from the thought of me being just that much to him, and honestly, the realization that our relationship was indeed that of a pet and its owner hit me simultaneously.

I consoled myself that it was no big deal, but a sense of disappointment slowly settled in my turbulent heart. Unlike me, I briefly looked back at the two standing together as brothers, then turned my face and looked straight ahead. Then, unknowingly holding my trembling hands together, I walked to my room.

I felt the attendant following behind me as I walked diligently. The attendant running to keep up with me seemed like a criminal, but I didn’t stop my steps. As I saw the familiar door, I opened it wide with both hands and jumped onto the bed. With my back to the door, I buried my face in the pillow on the bed. Soon, I heard the sound of the attendant carefully closing the door.

Why do I feel upset? Why do I feel disappointed?

Indeed, there was nothing special about my relationship with Karhan. A small companion animal… No, since that concept isn’t ingrained here, I’m probably just an animal he keeps. I should be thankful that he at least treats me like a person, and even if he calls me a guest, it’s not a relationship to feel disappointed about, so why do I feel so disappointed and hurt?

I lifted my head that had been buried and fumbled to grab the blanket, hiding myself completely. It was dark and stuffy with all sides covered, but I didn’t mind.

After staying like that for a few minutes, I heard a knock on the door. I didn’t respond. I neither asked who it was nor answered. Feeling upset, a mischievous side of me emerged. As I lay buried under the blanket, I heard the door slowly opening without permission. The sound of footsteps approaching me grew louder.

“Are you angry?”

From behind me, with my back to the door, I heard Karhan’s low voice. Covered by the blanket, I didn’t answer. Then, I felt a finger poking my bottom. I wiggled my bottom, signaling not to touch me. I’m in a bad mood right now, so don’t bother me.

“That child is my younger brother. I think he raised his voice for a moment because he didn’t know. I’ll make sure to give him a stern warning next time so he doesn’t do it again.”

Of course, I was dumbfounded and angry at Arthur, Karhan’s younger brother. But the ultimate reason I was acting like this right now wasn’t because of that child, but because of Karhan. Why does it bother me so much that he referred to me as just a guest?

When I didn’t come out from under the blanket, Karhan poked my bottom again. No, don’t poke there. I slightly lifted the blanket with a face full of displeasure. Then, I changed my position and looked at Karhan behind me. Seeing my face full of mischief, Karhan made a slightly troubled expression.

“Stop poking my butt!”

“…I’m sorry. I can’t talk to you if you don’t show your face.”

“…I want to talk like this right now.”

I pulled the blanket over my face again. I heard a groan for a moment. Still, I didn’t want to make eye contact and talk with him right now. It’s really nothing, just my own strange mood. Even though I’ve turned from a bird into a human, my emotions are running wild. I tightly shut my pouting lips.

“Are you angry because of my brother? I’ll apologize on his behalf. I’m sorry.”

“…It’s not because of that. And why are you apologizing, Karhan?”

I pulled the corners of my mouth down even further. As I remained silent, I heard a small sigh. At that sound, I felt intimidated for no reason and tightened my grip on the blanket, curling up my body. From the outside, I probably looked like a giant ball.

I heard a rustling sound, and then a large hand patted my head over the blanket. That warm touch lightly tapping me brought tears welling up in my eyes, blurring my vision. Even though I thought it was nothing, feeling this way made me utterly miserable.

Teardrop after teardrop flowed down my cheeks, gathered at my chin, and soaked the blanket. After hesitating for a long time, I finally parted my lips.

“Am, am I… a guest?”

My hidden true feelings suddenly burst out at his comforting touch. My voice trembled faintly. Speaking from under the blanket, my muffled voice came out with hot breaths. Upon hearing my question, Karhan said nothing. As the heavy silence continued, fear arose within me.

I wasn’t sure how much value I held to Karhan. He did take me to another estate in the middle of the night for my sake when I was sick, but don’t most people who love their pets do that much? Even though I had a human appearance, I worried if I had been too ill-mannered for a mere animal.

As I lay still, my heart pounding, I suddenly felt a force pulling the blanket I was tightly holding upward.

Gasp! Why are you doing that? Why are you trying to take it away?

I gripped the blanket tightly, greatly startled. However, the force pulling the blanket was much stronger than mine, making it difficult to resist. I tried not to let go, trembling my fingers, but it slipped out of my hands in vain.

With the thick blanket that had been concealing my unsightly appearance gone, cool air and bright light shone upon me. Not wanting to show my disheveled face, I lowered my head deeply and buried it in the bed.

Without a moment to breathe, as I pressed my face against the bed, I felt large hands cupping both sides of my head. Those hands gently stroked my hair, tickling my ears and cheeks. The touch was soft, as if lightly grazing.

Although not forceful, the hands with sufficient strength lifted my body to a sitting position.

“Is that why you’re angry?”

“…I’m not angry. I just felt that way for no reason. D-don’t worry about it.”

Feeling somewhat embarrassed, I couldn’t properly look into Karhan’s eyes. I lowered my gaze slightly and looked at his shoulder line. Hatefully, there was a hint of laughter in his voice.

“I should have been more considerate in my words. I’m sorry.”

As Karhan kindly apologized, my face scrunched up even more. Why are you apologizing? You just stated the truth, you didn’t do anything majorly wrong. It’s just me feeling disappointed and hurt on my own.

The tears that had barely dried welled up once more. Seeing my face like that, Karhan affectionately met my eyes.

“Shh, don’t cry. It’s my fault.”

“Karhan, you didn’t do… anything wrong…”

It’s just me feeling upset on my own. I mumbled softly, but contrary to the words coming out, the tears didn’t stop. Karhan quietly patted my head. His large hand caressed my cheek, and his soft thumb gently pressed my eyelids, wiping away the tears clinging to my lashes. Blinking my eyes, which had become much clearer after his fingers brushed past, I looked up at Karhan.

I straightened my hunched back and sat face to face with him. As I sniffled and swallowed my snot, Karhan took out a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to me. I shook my head vigorously. How could I blow my nose on a handkerchief and dirty it? Give me tissue! I mean a roll of tissue. As I sat there with a sullen expression, he looked at me with a gentle smile on his lips.

“Let’s decide together, shall we?”

“Decide what?”

What are we deciding? I tilted my head to the side, and he spoke.

“Since I thoughtlessly spoke and confused your heart, let’s decide on a better expression.”

What would be good? Karhan kindly asked for my opinion. At that, I slightly furrowed my brows and thought deeply.

How could I describe my relationship with Karhan? I was indeed the animal he kept, but now I could have a human body. Then I’m not an animal, but… a companion human? No, that sounds weird. In my heart, I wanted to be family, but we’re not related by blood, and I can’t be adopted as his child, so I gave up on that.

The most plausible option would be friends, right? Since I support a successful romance, I thought we could become good friends. I glanced up, checking his reaction.

“Well…”

“Tell me.”

“I’ve been thinking deeply…”

I drew out my words as much as I hesitated. Although my slow speech might have been frustrating, Karhan waited patiently. With a feeling of fear of being rejected, I carefully spoke.

“How about friends? If… if you don’t mind, let’s be friends.”

After saying it out loud, I felt embarrassed and my face grew hot. I lowered my gaze and glared at the innocent blanket.

I never knew that saying “let’s be friends” out loud could be so embarrassing. Friends are something that naturally forms while attending school, taking classes, and eating together. I never imagined a situation where I would have to say such words as an adult. My face felt burning hot. Feeling awkward, I fidgeted with my fingers.

Seeing me like that, Karhan let out a small laugh. That laughter made me even more self-conscious, and my already burning face felt like it would explode. I tightly shut my mouth and looked down. I heard a joyful voice above my head.

“If being friends pleases you, let’s do that.”

“…Really?”

At his willing response, I raised my gaze that had been looking at the blanket and looked at Karhan. There was no sign of displeasure in his expression. He seemed to mean it sincerely. Afraid he might withdraw his words, I hurriedly nodded, and the corners of Karhan’s mouth slightly lifted.

“Alright. If anyone asks, tell them we’re friends.”

“Then, can I tell Karhan’s brother that I’m your friend?”

I widened my eyes and looked at Karhan with great anticipation. I blinked my eyes so much that they sparkled, stretching my neck. I wanted to go to that wretched guy, Karhan’s younger brother Arthur, and confidently tell him that I was Karhan’s friend.

That hateful guy treated me like a criminal. He doesn’t know how much it hurt when he grabbed my wrist tightly. Thanks to Karhan referring to me as a guest, I was momentarily pushed back, but I kept it in my heart. Karhan seemed to understand my feelings and nodded.

“Really? He grabbed my wrist and dragged me out. Look at this.”

I raised my wrist, which had been covered by my sleeve, and showed it to Karhan. On my white wrist, there were red and purple marks. Was, was it this bad?

The colors were much more vivid than when I looked earlier. It looked like a used paint container, making me naturally let out an “ugh” sound.