TREQ Ch 5

“A worm?”

Killian’s tone, as if questioning the very notion, was heavily laced with mockery and disbelief. Worms were even eaten by chicklings.

Of course, as omnivores, there were quite a few beastkin who preferred cooked meat. However, beastkin who couldn’t eat raw food were rare. Among them, birds of prey ate small animals like rodents when they were young. He had chosen quail, considering that it was a relatively small bird.

Hans, having never seen the meals of other avian beastkin besides birds of prey, thought this would be appropriate. However, now that he had actually brought it, it somehow seemed wrong. It seemed that having deliberately caught a plump and fresh one had backfired.

“With all due respect, Your Highness, the problem seems to be that the worm is bigger than the quail.”

“…….”

Killian visually compared the quail and the worm. Indeed, the worm was longer than the quail.

“Peep-.”

As if very hungry, the quail puffed up its chest feathers and bravely stretched its beak towards the finely chopped meat. However, as the worm wriggled, it chirped, “Pip-!” in surprise and retracted its neck.

“Indeed.”

The quail buried its face in its wings as if the worm would eat it. Although it seemed hungry, it seemed to have given up on eating and hid itself once again in Killian’s sleeve.

Now adept at hiding, it backed into the sleeve, concealing its tail and body, then poked its head out.

“Fussy little thing. Get rid of the worm and bring more finely chopped meat.”

“Yes, Your Highness. Shall I also bring some grains?”

“Grains?”

“I… I vaguely recall hearing that small birds peck at grains. Since it’s still a young chick, shall I make it into a soup?”

“Do that.”

Killian nodded absentmindedly and handed the plate of worms to Hans. The quail’s eyes gleamed from within the sleeve. It seemed to think that Killian had saved it from the worm.

“Stupid creature.”

A small reprimand fell, but the quail didn’t understand. Seeing its tail tip tremble excitedly and its eyes sparkling brightly, it seemed to have taken it as a compliment instead. What a delusional little thing.

“Ha.”

Killian sighed briefly. There was no point in scolding a creature that couldn’t even understand words.

“I’ve brought it.”

After a while, Hans returned with a new tray. Finely minced meat, a soup made with grains, and crushed berries filled the tray.

“Peep-!”

Appetite piqued, the little creature emerged from the sleeve and let out a happy chirp.

However, that was all. No matter how much Killian tried to place it on the table, the quail only wiggled its rump and refused to go down. Unable to watch any longer, Killian picked up some crushed berries and held them out.

“Eat.”

“Peep! Peep!”

It pecked at the berries and swallowed them readily. Now that it was eating without fear, Killian placed the quail next to the tray.

“Peep- Peep-!”

But the quail hurriedly followed Killian’s hand. It didn’t even care if it tumbled due to its waddle. With an annoyed expression, Killian picked up the quail and placed it directly amongst the food on the tray.

However, the quail still didn’t eat, despite having the food right next to it. It looked up at Killian with a forlorn expression, seemingly anxious.

“Peep….”

Its ash-grey tail feathers drooped like an abandoned child. Even when Hans tried offering the food to its beak in Killian’s stead, it was futile. The quail was desperate to get off the tray, but even the edge of the tray was too high for the small bird.

“Could it be that this little thing doesn’t want to leave His Highness’s hand?”

“…….”

Just in case, Killian placed the quail on his hand and offered a spoonful of grain soup. It ate readily, its tail quivering from side to side.

“Peep- Peep-.”

However, the moment it was placed back on the tray, it started chirping insistently as soon as its feet touched the surface. Now, it was demanding, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, to be placed back on Killian’s hand.

“That… that impudent little thing…! Is it using your hand as a perch?!”

Hans stammered, clutching the back of his neck. He couldn’t even yell due to being in the presence of His Highness, and his insides burned with frustration.

The quail paid no attention to Hans’ words. He now wondered if the bird truly couldn’t understand human language because it was still young, or if it understood the gist and was simply ignoring him.

“Peep!”

Soon, the quail’s belly became round. The already plump, small creature now resembled a round ball with its protruding belly. After diligently drinking water, the quail wiped its beak on Killian’s hand.

“Should I throw it away?”

Killian looked down at the brazen quail, seriously contemplating it. Hans, witnessing this scene, was also dumbfounded and offered a handkerchief to wipe Killian’s hand.

“You little thing! Don’t wipe your dirty, wet beak on His Highness!”

“Pip! Pip!”

But that was when it happened. Like a loyal guard dog protecting its owner, the quail began to peck furiously at Hans’ hand.

“Wh-what is this thing doing?”

The quail’s pecking, despite using all its might, didn’t hurt. However, it was enough to offend Hans. And beside him, laughter erupted, a stark contrast to Hans’ frustration.

“Ahaha.”

“Your Highness?”

Killian burst into laughter, watching the quail fiercely drive Hans’ hand away. Whatever tickled his funny bone even caused him to chuckle. Hans looked at Killian with a bewildered expression. The quail also tilted its head in confusion.

“How can it be so stupid?”

“Peep…?”

Killian naturally took the handkerchief from Hans’ hand and spread it over his palm. Then, he placed the quail on it.

“Peep! Peep!”

Having filled its belly and now unexpectedly acquiring a handkerchief, the quail looked up at Killian as if witnessing something extraordinary. Its expression was akin to gazing upon a deity.

“Ask the head butler for a new handkerchief.”

“…Yes, Your Highness.”

Killian waved his hand dismissively and sent Hans away. Hans’s disgruntled gaze lingered on the quail until he was out the door, but the quail, preoccupied with the handkerchief, didn’t notice.

“Get off.”

Having had his fill of laughter, Killian, as if all business was concluded, placed the quail in its box and dusted off his hands. The quail hopped and jumped, trying to stay with Killian, but the walls of the box were too high for it to overcome. All it accomplished was landing on its rump.

Killian disappeared from the quail’s sight without a second glance. Even after being left alone in the box, the quail continued hopping before finally realizing that Killian was truly gone, and it became dejected. Having lost its energy, the quail soon began to doze off in the box.

🕊️⊹ ࣪ ˖️

One month after hatching, the quail had grown quite plump, and its feathers were now abundant. Although it still couldn’t fly, it now ran around confidently without tumbling.

“Peep!”

The quail spent a lot of time alone in the room. And to the quail, this room was full of wonders.

A clean, refreshing scent always permeated the room, making it feel good even just to be there. The owner of this room loved beautiful and shiny things. As a result, wherever it turned its gaze, pretty, sparkling objects caught its eye.

Of course, the most radiant of all was the man who had picked it up. The man said he was the quail’s owner. The man is the owner of everything. The quail memorized this.

“Peep-.”

The quail stretched its wings as if yawning. The gesture looked as if it were about to soar through the sky, but unfortunately, it couldn’t fly yet. Considering that avian beastkin usually took flight within two weeks of hatching, it was quite slow.

Although it hadn’t learned to fly, it was still growing well. Its legs gained strength, and it now understood words quite well. These days, it was learning simple rules and the names of objects from Hans, Killian’s personal attendant.

Avian beastkin developed a certain level of intelligence even within the egg, and their growth was remarkably rapid for about a year after hatching. Thanks to this, avian beastkin had a high initial survival rate.

‘Bed.’

The quail looked at its favorite spot in the room and pronounced the word internally. Beastkin usually gained the ability to shift into human form around the age of four or five. Therefore, the quail, still unable to speak human language, spent its days practicing the words it learned internally.

‘I want to go up there.’

The quail’s usual perch was on the nightstand, providing a good view of the room. Among the various objects, its gaze was most often drawn to the bed next to it.

Killian rarely spent time in the room, and there were days when the quail couldn’t see him except when he was asleep in bed. The bed was the place where the owner of the room, and the quail’s owner, spent the most time and exuded a sense of comfort. That’s why the quail wanted to climb onto the bed even more.

‘Should I just go up there for a moment?’

The quail could now get out of the box on its own. Although it required considerable effort using its beak and feet, the important thing was that it could get out. So, sometimes, in the middle of the night, it would secretly sneak out of the box and watch its sleeping owner.

If it happened to fall asleep, it would find itself back in the box when it woke up.

“Peep….”

The bed, covered with a soft, white blanket, looked incredibly fluffy. Sitting on the hard nightstand made the bed seem even more inviting.

The quail stared at the bed with its blue eyes, imagining itself buried within its softness and falling asleep. In its imagination, it was lying there with Killian. The thought was so pleasing that its feet twitched.

“Peep.”

If it rolled off the nightstand, it might land on the bed…