Formo, now half giving up, let out a deep sigh and tapped Serdin’s shoulder with his wing as if to say let’s hurry and leave. If he kept listening to Serdin’s ridiculous talk, forget about the walk—he felt like he would clutch the back of his neck in absurdity.
Serdin raised the corners of his mouth high as if finding Formo’s urging cute, and asked affectionately.
“Pipi, did you want to go for a walk so much that you’re rushing me?”
“Peep!”
When Formo answered loudly, a mischievous look appeared in Serdin’s eyes.
“Kiss my cheek as much as you want to go, Pipi.”
“…….”
Formo furrowed his brow as much as he could at Serdin’s outrageous demand and then shouted loudly “Peep!” as if scolding him. It was such a loud and sharp sound that one wouldn’t think it could come from such a small body.
“Alright, Pipi. You’re saying to take you there first and then make the demand again, right?”
Serdin shrugged while interpreting things his own way and began walking with the small long-tailed tit. For a moment, Formo couldn’t contain his irritation at Serdin’s ridiculous interpretation and almost bit his wicked mouth, but he barely managed his anger by thinking of the pleasant word “walk.”
Serdin, with Formo on his shoulder, slowly left the bedroom.
How many boring hours had he spent confined in this impregnable bedroom? He had to kill time tediously without even being allowed to get fresh air outside. The long, long time of endurance had ended, and Formo’s jet-black eyes sparkled as he faced the world outside the bedroom for the first time.
His heart pounded wildly.
*’Finally……!’*
He had finally escaped the bedroom that was only spacious but had not a single bit of fun. Even if only for a brief moment.
Formo’s beak fell open. After all, a long and large corridor stretched out endlessly. The entire wall of the corridor, which extended so long that it couldn’t all fit in his sight, was made of gold, and colorful jewel decorations and antique paintings hung in rows on the wall.
The interior was so splendid and glittering that it strained his eyes. Formo blinked and stared blankly at the dazzling interior.
It was a sight that could never be seen in Arancha, where Formo was born and raised. That place was practical and neat rather than splendid. Having grown up in Arancha with its simple atmosphere, he couldn’t easily adjust to the magnificent interior here.
“Pipi, your jaw’s going to drop.”
Formo had no idea that his mouth had been hanging open until Serdin spoke while lightly tapping under his small beak. When Formo noticed the amusement in Serdin’s golden eyes, he twitched his beak in embarrassment and quietly lowered his gaze.
“Is it that fascinating?”
At Serdin’s question, Formo rolled his eyes, pretending not to hear. It was fascinating, but honestly speaking, the more accurate answer was that he had been overwhelmed by the splendor and couldn’t close his mouth. Formo shook his head back and forth, thinking that if he lived his whole life in a place like this, his eyes would become very tired.
Indeed, he was not a bird suited for this place. So he had to escape from here as soon as possible.
It was a moment when such determination solidified once again.
Serdin looked at the small bird that had dropped a tiny droplet of drool on his shoulder and burst out laughing. Formo didn’t know yet, but while he had his mouth wide open, a droplet of drool smaller than millet had fallen onto Serdin’s shoulder.
It was a valuable discovery made while observing Formo with a persistent gaze. Serdin became pleased at the thought of teasing Formo with this for a while. The more he looked at Formo, who had suddenly intruded into his boring and peaceful life, the more he liked him.
It had started as a snack and appetizer, but now it was different.
“Pipi.”
“…….”
Serdin looked at Formo, who had remarkable consistency in just opening his eyes narrowly without responding even to his call, and thought.
He should hide this adorable bird tightly in his arms so that no one else could covet him.
* * *
“……Peep!”
Formo was extremely angry. He was so angry that he wanted to peck at Serdin’s hateful lips wildly. He had deceived innocent him.
“What’s wrong, Pipi? Don’t you want to take a walk?”
He asked calmly, but just look at those slyly raised corners of his mouth. It was detestably infuriating. Formo jumped up and down on his shoulder and fluttered his healthy wing.
“Peep! Peeep! Peeeeeep! Peeeeek!”
The angry cries were full of injustice. If he showed a bit more emotion, it seemed like his spit would fly everywhere.
[Walk! You said we’d go! Is this outside? Is this outside?!]
Serdin, who had no way of knowing Formo’s sense of injustice, tilted his head and asked back shamelessly.
“Pipi, what exactly don’t you like?”
“Peeeeek—!”
The sharp cry rang loudly inside the “office.” That’s right. Serdin had brought Formo to the office he used under the pretense of going for a walk. Formo, who had imagined the outside with green grass and several thick trees—no, at least a few bushes growing—rubbed his tingling back of the head and glared.
At that fierce look, Serdin raised both hands and spread them wide to soothe Formo.
“Calm down, Pipi. I did this because I thought you’d move your wing if we went outside. It would be a big problem if it got worse while it’s healing.”
In the end, he was saying that they came to the office for a walk because he was worried about him. The excuse was good. It was clearly something he said knowing well that Formo couldn’t properly get angry if he gave such a reason.
Formo furrowed his round eyes as much as he could and shook his tail feathers irritably. After shaking them so fast that it seemed like his tail feathers might fall off, Formo soon let out a deep sigh and looked around the office.
The office also boasted a large size, no less than the bedroom. Formo scanned the luxurious solid wood furniture with his eyes and then pointed at the desk with one wing.
“Peep.”
It was a demand to put him down on the desk. Of course, even while making such a demand, his eyes were still fierce. Serdin firmly suppressed the urge to put Formo’s small, round head in his mouth and walked to the desk.
“Pipi, what are you going to do on the desk? Are you thinking of looking at documents?”
Serdin asked playfully and held out his index finger in front of Formo, who was on his shoulder. Formo placed his feet on Serdin’s long index finger and casually waved his wing. It was a gesture as if to say “think whatever you want.”
Serdin brought the index finger that Formo was standing on to the desk. Then Formo hopped down onto the desk. Formo shook his body to arrange the sticking-out feathers and straightened his posture.
“Pipi, stamp your footprint here for me.”
Serdin held out a piece of paper in front of Formo, who was walking around as if exploring the desk. He was thinking of bringing over an ink bottle as well if Formo allowed it.
“……Peep.”
Formo looked down at the paper held out in front of him indifferently, then turned his head away and snorted. The prince of Arancha carelessly stamping his footprint? That was unthinkable. Formo looked toward the window without giving even a glance toward the paper or Serdin.
He had been so preoccupied with being angry that he hadn’t noticed, but for some reason, the office window was wide open. Formo’s eyes sparkled. With glistening eyes like a predator eyeing its prey, Formo wiggled his bottom as if he would dash out at any moment.
Serdin leisurely watched Formo’s plump bottom swaying gently. Soon, Formo prepared to leap toward outside the window.
It was the moment when the white-haired long-tailed tit spread his wings wide like a fan and was about to dive toward outside the window.
“Pipi, no.”
Serdin stopped Formo with a deliberately stern voice.
“Do you want to never fly again?”
He also gave a warning with terrifying words.
In the end, Formo stopped wiggling his bottom and stood still, staring at the window. The window was wide open. The wind was blowing just right for flying! Even with perfect conditions before him, Formo couldn’t fly.
“You can’t fly yet, Pipi. Let’s fly when you’re fully healed.”
Serdin spoke affectionately and stroked the round back of Formo’s head. Formo felt the quite careful touch and lowered his round eyes. A deep sigh came out. He wanted to send even a brief message to his family who must be worried about him.
The paper that Serdin had offered came into view as Formo, with his gaze lowered, examined the desk. Formo looked at the paper and pondered for a moment, then pointed at it with his wing.
“……Pipi, are you serious?”
This cute bird must have finally decided to stamp his footprint. Serdin asked back in a moved voice and slid the paper in front of Formo. Taking advantage of the moment when Formo was looking at the paper, he quickly brought over a bottle of black ink as well.
Thinking that wasn’t enough, he pulled the bell rope attached to the office to call Kert.
“Huff, huff. Your Highness, I’m here.”
When Kert, who had rushed over, answered from outside the door, Serdin commanded indifferently.
“Bring a plate.”
“Pardon?”
“Our Pipi says he’ll stamp his footprint.”
“……Ah, is that so? But why a plate…….”
“I can’t have him put his foot in the ink bottle. Bring a plate.”
It was an absurdly ridiculous order, but Kert, who was in a position where he had to comply if his superior told him to, had to trudge away.
