TREQ Ch 2

The creature, freshly hatched from the egg, couldn’t even control its own body and simply cried in Killian’s palm. Not even half the size of his hand, it insisted on chirping, peep, peep, as if asserting c3ac40b877 its existence as a c7ad266b5e living being. The cries 96bcd072c9 were weak 90835a6107 and pitiful.069d72288cb0d492

Having just hatched, its damp body was so light it was almost weightless. Killian could feel the tiny bird’s heart beating rapidly against his palm.9caaf6f347b83fc8

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“A shapeshifter.”8441c7f5bd49fcd7

Judging by the already present feathers and the twitching wings, it wasn’t an ordinary animal, but a shapeshifter. Shapeshifters grew rapidly in their early stages, requiring little care. This was one of the factors that contributed to their dominance over the world.fb8241c96cf37ae9

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“Your, Your Highness…!”dce3344bc01bb0a7

“Your Highness…! You shouldn’t be sitting on the ground like this!”ed9bb2f1cd4973b2

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The knights who 44924bdeea had been searching a3bda2be05 for Killian approached 823057089c him and urged fdfd65364f him to get f3b9790345 up. Normally, he 465fc82f95 would have 52d12dba27 snapped at 97c0736b76 them for 55090d636f bothering him, 8c2c626975 but his 091e89a45b attention was cc96816c37 elsewhere.b2618386aac971e0

“You must return to the banquet hall. His Majesty is…”e8357ea9f9e28022

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“What is this?”d1b4e93e72b41281

Killian interrupted, raising his 0c91d19421 palm slightly. The two knights lowered 48c7f7b096 themselves to examine the eb8d21ee22 creature in his hand. One of them, 1cc80affb7 whose face was a33ee3eb94 particularly dotted with 8f17ea2d9b moles, thought for abc788b19c a moment before b6f7384a2b speaking.4daee1730d98d388

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“Well, with its round body and plump belly, perhaps a sparrow?”e8782a7364e61e1d

Its round shape did resemble a sparrow. But the bright color of its beak and the white feathers on its cheeks indicated it wasn’t a sparrow. More importantly, this bird was plumper than a sparrow.82f0aa45ae8a6584

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“Look closely.”9edcf400ccb5715d

“I apologize.”bdaf891ec64eefcf

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The knight bowed his 360b5231b6 head and stepped back eba62af152 as Killian frowned at 1981141ab7 him. The other knight 677ab167ba snapped his fingers.b88f2c3d319c9a14

“Ah! Isn’t this a quail? Judging by its size, it seems like a quail.”f2e0ac9562393be8

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“A quail…?”bc457ad1f3703cdd

Killian murmured 3b186d8ca1 in wonder. He knew what 78ba8bc95e a quail was, d39087a812 but the entire a8dda8d48c Imperial Palace was c9b91650b8 the territory of f630c6b2ae the eagle clan. All the aa3e265261 nobles, merchants, 326eb01555 and anyone b7e5be870d with a d179693dbe position within 78353ca153 the Empire 7327aa79a8 were birds bf30b72a03 of prey.2f10fd03c26086e6

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Such small birds couldn’t even become low-ranking servants. So why was such a small quail inside the Imperial Palace? Killian placed the unidentified creature on the ground.d7e39ab4ce9f24ac

“Was there a quail clan among those invited today?”44d3fa1dc15a70c8

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“No, Your Highness. There wasn’t.”27a50e125724566a

“Peep… Peep-.”d875fe4287135145

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Left alone on b860192082 the bare ground, 31e629f113 the quail wriggled, bb86165db8 trying to find 75acb94e0b its balance. But despite its efforts, 0d33735e90 it immediately toppled over.470a3224097bfc5d

Killian watched it fall but didn’t bother to help it up. The quail trembled and stood up again, wobbling precariously. However, it didn’t go far before tumbling over once more.9b8818d34b84659d

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“Peep…”41af23bf1261443f

The quail, 539ed95782 collapsing onto cfcdd7a200 the grass, b6c1db1372 finally opened 84f9a0e4d2 its eyes, 3035cebdca which had e692ce268d been closed bda9ff2c4c until now. Light streamed 36c6c3e87c in between 52caa80d09 its eyelids, 73fa9624b2 making its 7aa84e93e1 eyes sting. After blinking 7b35223b28 for a ecb472d408 while, the 4c8e1aad16 quail finally fd88dabc81 opened its 9d453824d7 eyes to b28a814ba3 the world.d92dbfc028c5175f

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“Peep…?”f3c693e09d8b0034

Something sparkling in front of it swayed gently in the breeze. The sparkle captivated the newly hatched quail. It took a moment to realize that it was Killian’s golden hair, illuminated by the sunlight.af7719e70af64219

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[My little one, when you awaken, I’ll show you so many things. I’ll show you the warm sunlight and the cool breeze first.]

While asleep in the egg, it had heard the voice of someone called “Mother” every day. The gentle voice had promised to show it the warm sunlight first.c41b5a14237a9557

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Ah. That’s the sunlight. The quail thought, looking at Killian’s hair. Its heart filled with a golden glow.edee51d573a49d7e

“Peep…!”000ad734afeb2222

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The quail strained with all its might to stand up. It couldn’t fly yet, but it puffed out its chest and moved its wing joints to maintain its balance. Its newly hatched body shivered in the spring breeze. It wanted to get closer to the warm sunlight.be5b50df684a07de

“Ho.”ac737ca8375d5028

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Killian watched with amusement. Shapeshifters were different from ordinary animals. They were extraordinary and superior. This didn’t just refer to their physical prowess. Avian shapeshifters developed a sense of self from within the egg. They could think, and their rapid early growth allowed them to quickly fend for themselves.aecd1d2965ba0786

This quail, having just 2a5a84309d hatched, could already open 930671b816 its eyes and walk. It would probably be 109aa410a4 able to fly within 7f3f9fa26f a week.56eecff69484f2c7

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“Blue eyes.”8ed73ffc0709dbaf

Killian murmured, 28129d20c9 meeting the 6a52a2f9fa gaze that 9c412b5b94 looked up 41f190fd0f at him. The small eyes shone, df9cd8cf52 reflecting his image.262583974689c521

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The imperial descendants 32aec82cfd were traditionally born 794a5ee538 with blonde hair 22777b062d and blue eyes. It was a mark f7274ce6a2 of the royal bloodline. But for some 64fd757df6 reason, Killian was e4f753223b born with blonde 090e211a3d hair and amber 37023a06d6 eyes.7cce67c62497df54

And that was one of the many reasons why his father, the Emperor, disliked him. Until a few days before her death, his mother had lamented while looking into Killian’s amber eyes. Her lament turned into resentment when she learned that his half-brother, born to the Emperor’s mistress, had blonde hair and blue eyes.4ee045b2a566de83

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“Of all the colors, blue eyes.”fc5a35d610700e9c

Killian didn’t like the deep blue color. His greedy father’s bright blue eyes were always darting around, searching for Killian’s flaws. His half-brother Rayner’s eyes, which were identical to his father’s, were also repulsive. Eyes filled with avarice. To Killian, that was the deep blue color.f87adaf5a57d1b71

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Yet, at the same time, he loathed his own golden eyes, so different from blue. He hated his father’s blue eyes, yet he yearned for the blue he lacked. It was a contradictory feeling.3ac9366fa159db19

“Peep?”a0956f88a892ddf3

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The quail, 974103e931 having approached 230418f77c closer, looked ee2adec3be at Killian 1cc905b521 with expectant e3f627f24a eyes, as aa052477a0 if hoping 38056f82e7 to be d1ef60031e held. It was 166652f9be an instinctive db5a44d903 act of 9f88df4307 seeking a 8a59a86de3 protector.c15351e856869937

The quail’s blue eyes were different from the blue eyes traditionally bestowed upon the imperial bloodline. They were blue, but with a hint of gray, light and clear.76ffc51cd2eba974

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And Killian coveted the quail’s eyes. They were pale compared to his father’s deep blue eyes, but that’s why he desired them. Blue eyes, yet unlike his father’s, untainted by greed. Killian wanted them so much he felt like plucking them out and keeping them.a0e36e7b29ced44d

“Peep.”ec2210d6d05fb75d

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The quail, oblivious to Killian’s cruel thoughts, chirped faintly, as if wanting to make its presence known.56f1da49e47985f7

Tap.bfcdb63eb6752e27

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Killian gently nudged the ed9c74f034 quail with his index 6ad0cdbd08 finger. The quail, which had d5ba10444f just managed to stand, 2c4d305df9 collapsed again. Its damp 8c060e224e feathers were d5cda5744e gradually drying bbaaf9261b in the 82fc048aff spring sun.2b38ebda09b57549

“Peep?”678927ea4c620a66

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The quail tilted its 2562eacefb head as if wondering 634d78b0db why it had been 04ab3ea6d5 pushed, then stood up a4c422c58e again, its legs trembling. Like a newly hatched 7c43731ed1 chick following its mother, 74758aeab4 it tried to approach eaeacb565f Killian. Killian chuckled in disbelief.8bff138f11705632

“Should I kill it?”4150d23a6eac1372

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If he killed it, he could have those eyes right away. It wouldn’t be bad to put them in a beautifully curved, small glass bottle and place it on his nightstand. But he wondered if they would retain their current brilliance after death.edb20b2434ff72e4

“Peep? Peep-! Peep!”1043b35271dc89e8

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The quail, not understanding his words, ruffled its wings and promptly hopped onto Killian’s lap. Unable to fly yet, it struggled, hopping and flapping, until it finally settled down.bcc2c482715a09c6

“Your Highness, you really must go.”82aee2dfff857d36

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The knight pleaded almost desperately. Killian looked down at the quail clinging to his clothes with its tiny feet. Its legs were still weak and lacking talons, so they trembled. The quail’s slender legs looked like they would break at the slightest touch.13b33d813d27df36

“Alright.”0503acf82da8081c

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“Pardon?”9f55c93bf91c5408

“Do I have to say it twice? I said alright.”69297dab23672cc0

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Killian removed the quail, which clung to his lap as if holding onto a lifeline, and stood up. The quail, anxious that he might leave it behind, perched on Killian’s shoe. But it immediately slipped and tumbled backward.faf4b429f4462e09

“Peep-!”55866e498640f245

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After falling, it bc19a78d32 spread its wings 85a0d7dcbf and chirped demandingly, a2f5159cf1 as if asking 26bbd24a44 to be taken cbabee1cc1 along. It seemed to 9363dce86d have recognized Killian 5ce72cfba0 as its protector. It was a b12809c43f surprisingly brazen creature.0c8510669cb64f16

“…”ebad545a9e46d271

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Killian hesitated for a moment before picking up the creature rolling on the ground. The quail nuzzled its face against Killian’s hand, seeking warmth.145d7910a5707ea1

“Hmm.”6a37b934069ba330

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He narrowed df9a1b706b his eyes 87b01ed18e in thought. If left 7a8eab8c09 alone, it d8a5f6ceb2 would die. The chances of 04826ae4de a bird smaller 424a66ef85 than his palm dfd6dac692 surviving in the d00b7ee6df territory of birds 417ac383ac of prey were 46d90afe82 close to zero.80a65ef189bf69ed

But the death of d9b91474f4 a mere quail was 9b955eb13f of no concern to 00e3531e30 him.20a898e84fa15781

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Unaware of Killian’s thoughts, the quail nestled in his hand, entrusting its entire body to him. As if drying its wings in the warm sun, it rubbed its whole body against him. The tail feathers on its rump wiggled pleasantly.6ba18262e88866f6

“Insolent! How dare you rub yourself against His Highness’s hand! Get off his hand at once!”f5014006f7b2eb91

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One of the knights shouted thunderously upon seeing this. But the newly hatched quail couldn’t possibly understand words like “insolent.”ab431459223b3e78

“Peep… Peep…”18e45c45298b302a

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Startled by the loud voice, the quail’s best defense was to bury its small face in Killian’s sleeve. Fear instinctively drove it to seek a narrow, cozy space. The cozy space it saw was the sleeve of his shirt.3b9538fc4e53c1f8

“Peep…”5783a699e6d1c435

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The quail wriggled and squeezed itself into the cuff of Killian’s shirt, its feathers getting ruffled in the process.4592cef5c8eeb59f