You! Don’t Press that Button! - Chap 47

As I twisted my body, flaunting my style, I could feel gazes locking onto me from all around.

“Do you like that one?”

“Chirp!”

I like it a lot! I answered with passionate flapping of my wings. Seeing me unable to take my eyes off the mirror, Karhan spoke to the tailor on my behalf.

“We’ll go with this one. Take everything else away.”

Although I had tried on various clothes and accessories, nothing made me stand out as much as these sunglasses. The sharp, glimmering sunglasses were the perfect finishing touch to my white and round body.

As the tailor left the room with a sigh of relief, carrying the items, only the two of us remained. I, who had been showing off my coolness in the mirror, quickly transformed back into human form.

“Did it suit me well?”

I asked with wide eyes. Karhan nodded and took off his jacket, draping it over me. Regardless of whether he covered me or not, I stared at the small sunglasses on my palm without concern. They looked so cute, like accessories worn by dolls. I smiled with satisfaction.

Having finished our preparations without incident, the two of us spent an ordinary day like usual. I lounged around in the room or read picture books, while Karhan went to his office or the training grounds to attend to his duties.

Despite his high position as a duke, he rarely had a day off. It was unclear whether it was because he couldn’t trust others or because he believed that those in higher positions should work harder, but I couldn’t help but worry that he needed to rest a bit.

Time flew by, and the day of the social gathering approached. I couldn’t take my eyes off Karhan as he stood in front of a large full-length mirror, adjusting his attire.

The tightly buttoned black jacket emphasized his waist while accentuating his broad shoulders, and the intricate embroidery on the collar, topped with a stag-shaped brooch, made him look even more sophisticated. The pants, not too baggy but following the line of his legs, made his legs appear much longer. Karhan, who had been looking in the mirror, finally raised his hand to adjust the cravat adorning his neck.

“Chirp!”

So cool! I raised my right wing and clenched it like a fist. Hearing my voice, Karhan chuckled softly.

“The sunglasses suit you very well.”

“Chirp!”

Karhan, you know it too! My already excited mood was further heightened by the compliment about the sunglasses. I narrowed my eyes behind the black lenses, making a face as if a human was smiling. Without taking his eyes off me in the mirror, Karhan called out to Claude, who was standing behind him.

“Is the carriage ready?”

“Yes. It has been prepared so that you can board it before passing through the main gate.”

I see. After giving a brief reply, he slightly nodded his head and checked his appearance once more. After staring at the mirror for a while, he adjusted his neatly combed hair and approached me, who was sitting on the table. He gently extended his hand, grasped me, and placed me on his shoulder.

“You can’t go on top of my head today.”

“Cheep?”

Why?

“It’s an important occasion where I need to maintain my dignity, so please bear with it just for today.”

“Chirp.”

Ah, right. I almost acted on instinct again due to my comfortable body. With prominent nobles attending, I couldn’t embarrass Karhan. I nodded solemnly, as if I had been given an important mission.

Having finished our preparations, we left the room, descended the stairs, and arrived at the entrance hall. In the center of the spacious and lavish hall, servants were lined up in an orderly fashion. As we passed between them, the servants bowed their heads in greeting one by one. Striding confidently and standing in front of the door, Claude, who had been following behind, took the lead and opened the front door. The warm sunlight and refreshing breeze that brightened the eyes brushed against our faces.

A large carriage was parked right in front of the mansion. The golden carriage, with the duke’s seal prominently engraved in the center of the roof, exuded an intimidating presence rarely seen. We descended the steps and stood in front of the carriage. As the door opened, a red chair occupying one side of the carriage came into view.

The tall Karhan entered the carriage, bowing his head to avoid hitting it. With Claude’s farewell, the door closed, and soon, the lively sound of horses’ hooves could be heard. Although it was slightly uncomfortable due to the not perfectly paved streets, the cushioned chair provided a certain level of stability.

I climbed down from Karhan’s shoulder and settled on the window sill. Through the slightly open curtain, I could see the streets. After passing through a lively village and riding for a while, the people disappeared, and a secluded forest appeared. As I was admiring the peaceful scenery outside, I began to nod off.

“Peep…”

Using the open scenery and the clattering sound of hooves as a lullaby, I eventually fell asleep. As time passed, though I couldn’t tell how long, someone poked my bottom.

“Chirp.”

Sleepy. I wiggled my bottom in response to the ticklish touch. Still not fully awake, I lay still, only blinking my eyes. I, who had fallen asleep while looking out the window, was now on Karhan’s hand. I could feel his hand gently shaking me.

“Cheep?”

I shook my head from side to side to chase away the sleepiness. As I abruptly sat up, Karhan leisurely spoke.

“We’ve arrived. It’s time for you to wake up.”

“Chirp!”

Yes, sir!

I raised my wing as if a soldier saluting, pretending to bring it to my head. It seemed we had arrived at the much-anticipated location while I was briefly asleep. Karhan chuckled at the sight of me, full of vigor.

I quickly climbed onto his shoulder and stood stiffly. As if to tell me to relax, a hand stroked my head, and I rubbed my head against it.

“Chirp, cheep.”

I’ll let you experience a successful social gathering today. Trust me. Karhan also tapped on the carriage door, as if he was ready. Then, the servant waiting outside immediately opened the door, and simultaneously, as if a blocked ear had been opened, the sound of a large gathering of people chattering could be heard.

By the time we had set off for this place, the sun that had been shining brightly in the middle of the sky was now emitting a red glow at the end of the earth.

As Karhan alighted from the carriage, Claude, who had ridden in the coachman’s seat, stood close behind him. I sat on Karhan’s shoulder and looked around. I could see people dressed in lavish clothing and animals uncomfortably adorned to match them.

It was then that I realized the clothes I had tried on were just the beginning. There were animals limping in clothes that dragged on the ground, and some even had jewels embedded in their bodies. The animals were decorated to suit the tastes of their owners, as if they were mere ornaments. I had thought the perception of animals would be poor, but I hadn’t expected it to be this cruel.

With my beak slightly open, I looked around and then blinked, staring straight ahead. Right now, as a mere animal, there was nothing I could do. I obsessively tapped my beak.

As Karhan walked along the tidy stone path towards the main gate, people’s gazes clung to him even more persistently. Some people raised fans to cover their mouths, while others watched with their arms crossed. Various individuals paid attention to Karhan.

“Chirp.”

With the gazes piercing from all directions, I somewhat understood why Karhan was reluctant to attend. They were scrutinizing and dissecting Karhan’s every action.

Karhan, perhaps accustomed to it, walked without hesitation and stopped in front of the main gate. The servant who had been checking the nobles visiting the social gathering at the main gate politely requested in a low voice.

“My apologies, but may I ask for your invitation?”

As he spoke courteously while glancing around nervously, Claude, who was standing behind Karhan, took out the invitation he had been keeping in his pocket. The servant carefully examined the handed invitation and bowed deeply.

“Your Grace, Duke of Barthes, your invitation has been verified. We wish you a pleasant time.”

With those words, the tightly closed iron gate slowly began to open. The knights standing on either side of the gate raised their spears high towards the sky.

As we passed through the gate, a garden adorned with colorful flowers and a massive mansion, large enough to accommodate hundreds of people, unfolded before our eyes. People who had entered before us were walking ahead, whispering to each other. Seeing the garden, which set the mood for the formal party, my heart fluttered with excitement.

“Chirp!”

Without realizing it, I wiggled my bottom. Karhan, with a small smile on his lips, stroked me as I sat on his shoulder. A mixture of tension and anticipation made my body tremble.

We passed through the long garden and arrived at the front door of the large mansion. As expected, there were knights standing on either side of the wide-open door. Perhaps because they had already checked the invitation at the gate, we entered through the door and stepped into the entrance hall without any restrictions. Claude, who had been following us with our simple luggage, spoke.

“Your Grace. I will leave the luggage in the room where you usually stay and return. If there is anything you need, please let me know.”

“I won’t call for you separately. Stand by.”

At Karhan’s words, Claude smiled slightly. He bowed his head, saying he understood, handed over the invitation, and walked away in a different direction from us.

Karhan and I walked along the long corridor and stood in front of a door that was particularly intricately crafted. Judging by the murmuring sound, it seemed that something remarkable was happening inside.

A servant blocking the entrance was distributing small bracelets to the guests. As Karhan approached and showed his invitation, the servant handed him a bracelet and checked something on a piece of paper. Then, grasping the tightly closed doorknob, the servant opened the door.

Through the open door, stuffy heat and noisy sounds poured out. Nobles dressed in all sorts of lavish attire were gathered in groups of three or five, engaged in conversation.

“Presenting His Grace, the Duke of Barthes!”

The servant announced Karhan’s arrival in a loud voice. In an instant, the noisy hall fell silent. The gazes of the people who had been looking at each other simultaneously locked onto Karhan and me.

“Chee… Cheep.”

Wh-what? I swallowed hard, feeling nervous. The piercing gazes of the people didn’t stop at looking at Karhan. They immediately turned their attention to me, examining me closely.

I see. The competition has already begun. I nodded my head with a solemn heart. I can’t be looked down upon here.

I stood proudly on Karhan’s shoulder. I puffed out my chest and spread my majestic wings wide. Then, from somewhere, a deflated sound of “pfft” could be heard. In the quietness surrounding us, the laughter sounded particularly loud.

“Chirp.”

Who was it? Who made that laughing sound?