Episode 23. baby bird

In front of a cracked and broken mirror.

Glass shards piled up like white snow on Sepia’s head.

‘beautiful.’

Of all the images of herself distorted and shattered in front of her eyes, she was the prettiest right now.

People flock.

I could hear the crowd of people who would disappear like ghosts if I met their eyes.

‘As soon as they see my face, everyone will turn their heads… . I want you to know one thing.’

I just want you to know that I did it because I wanted you to kill me.

I want you to know that I’ve collapsed to the point where I really don’t want to breathe.

Stop now, leave me alone… .

I just wished that was the case.

There was no place for sepia anywhere in this place.

Children hide under blankets when thunder strikes. She wasn’t even allowed a blanket.

There was nowhere to run.

Even if she tried to sleep outside the dormitory, the leading members searched for her all night, and the day they caught her, she was bullied as usual.

There was no one to ask for help. Even the professors turned away because they didn’t want to have Princess Auril as their enemy.

It was a matter of life and future, so no one reached out a hand.

Sometimes I’ve thought about this.

‘If I were them, would they have helped me? Well… ?’

Even thinking about it myself, I don’t think I would have helped myself like this.

No one in this school can stand up to Princess Euryl… .

“Are you okay!?”

“What is this… . What’s your name? Can you stand up?”

“princess! Bleed out of your hands. I will do it… .”

“It’s okay, Mina. Do what you do.”

So, Sepia stood still with a blank face. Because I couldn’t believe that someone would reach out for me and look me in the eye.

Sepia firmly believed that this was a hallucination caused by my heart breaking down.

Symptoms were present a month ago.

dreams in reality.

A truly pitiful painkiller that came to Sepia after enduring bullying for too long.

Sepia took the hand that the mint-haired girl had given her with ghostly eyes. Even in my imagination, people’s hands were warm.

“Why are the bruises like this… . Who did you hit? No, why are you all still!? did you watch it? Don’t just watch, help!”

When the mint haired girl screamed, a wolf-like girl came running crying and started looking at Sepia.

Seeing the warmth of the wolf girl hugging Sepia, a look of bewilderment began to creep into Sepia’s eyes.

‘… Isn’t this a dream?’

Sepia finally looked back at the face of someone who was washing her right arm with running water.

The person who knelt down on the glass-covered bathroom floor and carefully removed the shards of glass from Sepia’s head was Princess Frill, whom she thought would never have anything to do with Sepia.

“mina. Let’s move to the infirmary for now.”

“No alternative-”

A girl named Mina began to argue with people with scary eyes, even to Sepia.

“Why are you just watching, when a person is so hurt! Why the hell nobody-”

“stop.”

“princess… !”

“I know you’re upset. Let’s focus on the injured person for now. As for what happened, you can listen to him later.”

Not realizing that more than ten bloody glass fragments had been stuck in her hands, which had never touched a blade in her life, the small-built Princess Frill struggled to get Sepia up.

Mina and Frill, and Ina, who followed a little later, helped her through the hallway… . Everyone who surrounded Sepia was just staring at it with blank faces.

* * *

‘To the morning star of the empire, the highest, most beautiful and benevolent fifth princess-’

The disgusting figure of Kiruna that Frill faced so suddenly.

The reason why Frill was able to calm down at the horrors surrounding the blood-splattered mirror for the first time in his life was familiarity.

‘Please show an example silently.’

Their silence and eyes surrounding the child were too familiar to her.

When Frill stood in front of them, everyone was silent.

Was it because of etiquette that they closed their mouths? Or, was it because he sincerely respected the imperial family?

Awe, I heard, refers to the fear that springs from too great respect.

yes fear.

There was only fear of power in the etiquette, which silenced those who feared the imperial family.

Even though a completely broken girl was sitting in front of her eyes, she closed her mouth, averted her eyes, and made her feet freeze.

When there is someone suffering in front of you, people will surely feel a little bit of a desire to help.

A fear that could even destroy an individual’s humanity existed in Kiruna.

I went out to help this child, but looking at the reaction of those who couldn’t stop me or help me, they just stood there clumsily… .

There is only one person whom they fear higher than me in Kiruna.

Auril’s sister.

‘No matter how stupid I am, do you think I wouldn’t know this?’

Even before hearing the circumstances of the unnamed child she was struggling to carry on her back, Frill’s eyes were already cold.

As the emperor’s daughter, to take responsibility for the weight of the imperial family that weighed down this child… . Frill moved Sepia to the health room without a word.

* * *

Sepia was lying on the bed in the infirmary with bandages wrapped almost all over her body, staring at Princess Frill, who had just begun to receive treatment for her punctured hand.

‘No, this is… ! princess! Get treatment right away.’

‘From him.’

‘How dare you… .’

‘Quickly. You’ll know who’s hurting more.’

At Frill’s firm command, the healers in the health room looked at her and gave sepia first aid.

Sepia looked up at the ceiling while staring blankly at the princess who asked to see her condition first, even though her soft hands were so scarred.

‘Ah, damn it.’

Am I already acting like a child? Sepia quickly wiped her eyes at her moistened eyelids.

Even in the dog dreams I squeezed out of my head to forget the pain, this never happened.

“Sorry to keep asking, what is your name?”

“This is Louis Sepia. Princess frills.”

“Do you recognize me?”

“How can I not know? You are the daughter of His Majesty the Emperor.”

Princess Frill’s expression looked sad.

“Even if I can’t tell… .”

“no. It’s not like that.”

“Ah yes.”

On either side of her, a girl named Mina and an unknown Lang tribe girl held Sepia’s hand.

‘It’s fine now. can you tell me what’s going on… ?’

Sepia saw them today for the first time saying such things.

‘Who are they? Will the Paideia student be right?’

‘No, it must have been because he didn’t know the circumstances.’

‘If I find out who I am hated by now, will they still be by my side?’

“sepia.”

“Yeah.”

“… Things seem complicated, but can you tell me a little bit about what’s going on? so that I can help you.”

Sepia continued to stare blankly at the white ceiling instead of frills.

Princess Frill, who seemed to live without thinking. That’s why he didn’t even think to beg for mercy.

It’s all the more because I found out today that she was actually a clean person… . I can’t dirty her.

I couldn’t say that your sister made me this way.

When I talked about the things I had been through, I didn’t have the confidence to completely filter the resentment out of my voice… .

Princess Auril is bad, what responsibility can Princess Frill have?

If I cling to her now and cry out for help, wouldn’t it turn into a battle of flesh and blood in the imperial family?

So, Sepia told a white lie.

“just… . It’s my fault. It happened because I was ugly, careless, and hated by everyone.”

I didn’t want to hurt Frill, but once again her expression turned sad.

“You must be afraid of me too.”

Frill stood up and ran a bandaged hand through Sepia’s bloody hair.

“I’m okay.”

“… .”

“I already know that it is related to the third sister. I can help.”

Sepia looked at Frill with surprised eyes.

If Sepia’s left hand, which the Rang girl was holding tight as if in prayer, was free, she would have risen and wrapped her hands around her.

The hope that I had never seen here was born in front of my eyes.

‘Really, can I really be saved?’

Before answering about that belief, Sepia’s mouth opened first.

“I’m really sorry to tell you, but the truth is… .”

“yes. Any words are fine.”

“Princess Euryl and… . At the student council.”

At that moment, the Rang girl’s hand, which had been holding Sepia’s left hand like a rope, loosened up.

“me… like this… .”

Frill silently wiped Sepia’s tears.

Ina’s eyes went white as if the world had collapsed.

* * *

Frill listening calmly, Mina furious, and Ina despairing.

There was not a single person who stopped Sepia from talking about what she had been through as calmly and concisely as possible here.

After finishing her story, Sepia closed her mouth for a moment and calmed down.

Frill broke the brief silence.

“mina… . Just in case you don’t know, let me ask you one thing.”

“Yes, Princess.”

“Is it true that the Agoge Dormitory does not have a magic practice room or a student-only cafe?”

“… Yeah.”

“There is no place to meet and sit lightly, and the library is cramped… . There really isn’t anything that can solve it other than food, clothing and shelter.”

“… you’re right.”

“And, even if you guys asked the student council to build more facilities like that, was it to no avail?”

“Yes, but we don’t pay for the dormitory.”

“What does that matter? The student council is a place where all students are represented. Aren’t the kids at Agoge here students?”

“Ah yes. you’re right.”

Frill looked at her bandaged hand and said to Sepia.

“Then the complaint you had towards your sister was something you could say.”

“How about the princess?”

“That’s something a student could say to someone sitting in the student council president’s seat.”

Sepia couldn’t speak any more.

Frill said to Mina and Ina.

“Mina, Ina. sepia please If you guys find a tough opponent, you can use my name as much as you like.”

“princess… .”

“sepia. I’m sorry.”

The frills are already all down, like the floor of frighteningly cold frozen snow… . He said to Sepia with cold eyes.

“I will take responsibility and solve it.”

Carly left the same words she left for Mina before leaving, and Frill left.

* * *

For Frill, the third sister was a very cool person. A man so great that he seems impossible to keep up with.

Euril’s sister studied magic diligently from a young age, and showed talent in royal studies, so she had charisma from an early age.

As if to prove his ability, he gathered supporters from the school from the first year and rose to the position of student president right away in the second year.

1st year grades were second in the Ministry of Magic. In his sophomore year, his grades dropped slightly due to work on the student council, but he was still an honor student who was ranked in the top 20 of the school.

Even if the age difference between the first and second brothers was so, the third sister was such a great person that it was hard to believe that she was one year older than Frill.

Even if Frill learns magic and learns royal studies, she knows very well that she will never be able to escape from her third sister’s shadow.

‘So, let’s make it look prettier than my sister’s.’

The fact that Frill tried hard to look beautiful from a young age was because of Euril.

Dad will love the third sister who is more capable than me, but if you want to receive at least the remnants of love left by the third sister, let’s make at least one thing better than the older sister.

The fact that Frill was obsessed with beauty, and the fact that he lived with his ears closed to magic and politics.

It was because of Euril unnie, who looked so cool, like an unreachable star.

No matter what she does, she will be worse than Euryl.

Frill’s hands trembled at the feeling of betrayal as if the sky was splitting.

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Just after hearing from Sephia about her sister’s bare face, Frill felt like she had become a completely different person.

“Oh, frills? Are you coming to see all of your sisters?”

Frill became a different person and stood in front of her sister.

In the middle of the 13th floor, where you can look down on everything from the highest place in Paideia.

As if trying to keep an eye on everything here, the window is open and clearly overlooking everything below.

Private room for the third princess, student council president Euril.

In the third year, documents handled by the student council were piled up like a tower next to her sister’s desk, who was studying to get good grades.

Feeling sick to her stomach, Frill glared at Euril.

Euril asked as if throwing, not knowing what kind of feeling Frill was feeling.

“What happened to that left hand? ah! Remember when you were six and burned your wrists by spilling black tea? Frills~ Even though you’re 17 now, you’re still the same.”

“It’s not like that.”

“… yes?”

“I guess you haven’t heard the report from Felix yet? I just came to see Sepia, who my sister was bullying.”

As soon as Sepia’s name was mentioned, Auril’s eyes cooled as coldly as Frill’s.

Euril pushed away his studies and twisted his lips.

“A kid who usually had no interest in anything other than clothes and meeting men… . I wondered why he had crawled up here all of a sudden.”

bang-!

Slamming the desk with both hands, Euril stood in front of Frill with an ax eye on her.

“So you’re trying to confront your sister?”

The bloody appearance of Euril that Frill saw for the first time was sure to overwhelm her.

Since she has dominated everyone with fear until now, she may be able to use and draw out her opponent’s fear so well.

Perhaps the royal studies that my sister learned from court magicians and aristocratic retainers were also the studies that taught those things… .

However, Frill is a newbie who has never learned anything like that.

He had never learned politics or magic, so he didn’t know how to move or handle people.

Compared to her older sister, she was never an opponent that could be defeated in a fight.

So, if it were the usual frills, she would have bowed her head to her sister in fear. And yet… .

‘In school, the cradle of learning, there are only two statuses. Anyone is just a disciple or a teacher.’

‘You are late. I’ll check it.’

Frill knew one person who would not bow his head in any fear.

‘I can’t be him, but at least to resemble him.’

I stiffly raised my head in front of my sister who was afraid of frills.

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Just like Professor Ian didn’t bow to her in the first class.

“I heard everything. The fact that Sepia told the commoners what she didn’t like in the student council, and that her sister found out about it and tortured Sepia to death.”

“Oh yeah? therefore. Do you want me to tell you everything?”

“… .”

“Come on! I’ll believe you at first. But frill, who’s on your side here?”

Sephia caught Frill’s bandaged hand as if telling her to come back to her senses and be nice again.

“Can you single-handedly cut through the numerous testimonies and evidences that contradict your claim?”

Euril pointed at the piled up paperwork, as if telling her not to make work even though she was already busy.

“Frill, you are so naive! Well, you should have learned at least one thing right… . Think you learned well this time. Punishment for a challenge is something that, as a ruler, you should, of course, thoroughly care about.”

“ruler… ?”

“yes! Since I am the ruler of this place, I have to maintain my authority. That’s how sepia was made. frills. Aside from me, my first sister and my second brother all went that far while making their own foundations that way.”

“I don’t know what I taught my sister in Royal Studies. but… .”

Frill fell in love with Mina’s unique magic and started studying magic.

Learning free magic from Ian, she firmly believed that a free and beautiful sky would now be waiting for her.

However, her little wings, which she had just spread out in anticipation, lacked strength. The fall of a baby bird that first spreads its wings is predestined.

Because the world that the frill that fell out of the window will face is not a pure white snowy field, but a place where the snow falling from the sky becomes trampled mud.

Frill experienced the dirty bottom before the sky.

It was only after seeing Kiruna’s ruthlessness that she learned while challenging magic that Frill realized.

If you learn magic, take an interest in people, and actively live your life.

If you move away from being a quiet cutie and pay attention to various things in the world.

The past, the life hidden in a beautiful dress.

That you will encounter countless adversities that you could never have encountered in your past life, when you let go without taking on challenges… .

Frill, who was clearly aware of it, cut off her sister’s hand.

I tasted a fall, but to fly up again.

“Frills… . you now… !”

“I don’t care what my sister has learned so far. The only thing I know will never change… . There are only two identities at this school.”

“What?”

“Master and disciple. Students are all in the same place in the cradle of learning. Didn’t your sister agree to that oath when she enrolled in Kiruna?”

“Who is that-”

“The reason my sister was able to bully Sepia wasn’t because she was a great person. Just because my sister is a princess! I was able to do that because my sister is the emperor’s daughter! It’s not my sister that people fear, it’s my dad!!”

match-!

It was the first time in my life that I was slapped on the cheek, but Frill did not cry.

Sepia would have hurt a lot more than this. Frill did not lose, and glared at her sister again.

“If my sister had been just the student council president instead of a princess, she would never have done such a despicable thing. Someone must have pulled her sister down from the spot. Because what my sister is doing is not right… !”

“this… !”

“If you want to be treated like a princess, go back to the imperial family. Don’t do this here.”

Fiercely holding onto her sister’s wrist who was about to slap her again, Frill spoke forcefully.

“I can’t pass sepia. i will have it give up.”