It has been three years since I was born.
Although my speech is still a bit awkward, I think I’ve gotten much better at talking.
“Da-u! Go to library. Ride.”
“Woof!”
As usual, once I wake up, I ride on Da-u and head to the library.
Now that I’ve turned three, I’m allowed to leave my room on my own.
Even though I’m a capable three-year-old who can walk by myself, this house is enormous. Riding on Da-u’s back is much faster.
As I ride on Da-u, I pat his head.
“Da-u, you’ve grown so big!”
“Woof!”
Da-u wagged his tail proudly.
When we first met, Da-u wasn’t much different in size from me.
If anything, he was even smaller.
But now, if Da-u stands on his hind legs, he’s taller than Father.
As we walk toward the library, we run into my sister Lydia.
My sister is eleven years old. Lately, she’s been growing taller and becoming prettier and cuter.
She’s a sister I’m proud of.
“Oh, Luria. Where are you going on Da-u? You’re not planning to go outside, are you?”
“Not outside! Library!”
The other day, I tried to ride Da-u outside and got scolded badly.
Mother told me it’s because everyone is worried since we were attacked shortly after I was born.
So, I don’t go outside the house without permission.
“You’re going to the library? …But Luria, you can’t read, can you?”
“…I can read a little.”
My sister always hits where it hurts.
In my previous life, I was treated like livestock starting at the age of five, so I only received proper education until then.
I can manage picture books, but I can’t read difficult books.
“It can’t be helped. I’ll read to you.”
“Thank you! Big sister!”
“Woof!”
Together, we head to the library.
“So, what kind of book do you want to read, Luria?”
“Goats! A book about goats!”
“Goats?”
“Yes! When I grow up, I want to live with goats.”
“I see… I hope you can.”
“Yep!”
When we reached the library, my sister started looking for a book about goats.
“There doesn’t seem to be one…”
“There isn’t?”
“But I found an animal encyclopedia. How about this?”
“Read it!”
My sister sat in front of a large reading stand where the encyclopedia was placed.
She let me sit on her lap, and we read together.
“Big sister, what does it say here?”
“Hmm, Mammalia, Carnivora, Felidae, Panthera…”
“That’s hard. Read it!”
“Alright. Its primary habitat is—”
While my sister reads to me, I desperately try to memorize the words.
The ability to read changes the amount of information you can gather dramatically.
“Woof.”
Da-u, too, was intently looking at the encyclopedia.
Despite her busy schedule, my sister spent a whole hour with me.
“Thank you! Big sister. I learned a lot!”
“I’m glad. If you ever want to read a book, just let me know, my dear Luria.”
Riding on Da-u’s back and holding my sister’s hand, we walk together.
“Oh, Luria. You’re as adorable as ever.”
“Big brother!”
We run into my older brother, who is wearing athletic attire with a wooden sword at his waist.
My brother, Gilberto, is thirteen. He still has a bit of childishness but is starting to resemble Father.
My sister is heading off to learn etiquette, while my brother is going to practice swordsmanship in the courtyard.
Swordsmanship practice seems much more exciting than etiquette lessons.
As royalty, or rather because we’re royalty, we must learn to protect ourselves.
I thought it wouldn’t hurt to see what swordsmanship training is like.
“Big brother, I want to watch too!”
“Swordsmanship training?”
“Yes!”
Until now, I’ve never been allowed in the courtyard or outside.
Father is overly protective.
But I’m three years old now.
Even if I can’t go outside, I might be allowed in the courtyard.
That’s what I thought.
“Well, you are three now, Luria.”
“Yes!”
“Alright… If the instructor gives permission, you can watch.”
“Thank you!”
“Woof!”
“But if the instructor says no, you have to give up, okay?”
“Got it!”
“Woof-woof!”
Da-u seemed happy too.
Parting ways with my sister, I headed to the courtyard with my brother.
After getting permission from the swordsmanship instructor, Da-u and I were allowed into the courtyard.
As expected of Father’s royal mansion, the courtyard was magnificent.
“It’s so big.”
It felt much larger than when I peeked from inside.
Looking up, I could see the blue sky. The spring breeze felt refreshing.
I took a deep breath.
How many years had it been since I last inhaled such pleasant outdoor air?
In my previous life, I was usually confined to a livestock shed and transported in cramped boxes when I went outside.
Once on-site, I was forced to use magic through a slave collar.
I had never experienced the sunlight and the pleasant outdoor breeze like this.
“Fuu, haa.”
“Wafuu.”
Da-u and I took deep breaths together.
“Did you enjoy being outside, Luria?”
“It feels great! Big brother!”
“I see. That’s good. But listen, Luria, I’m about to start my swordsmanship training, so you mustn’t come near me, alright?”
“Understood! I won’t get close to you, big brother!”
“Good. You’re such a good girl, Luria.”
My brother patted my head. Da-u also got a head pat and wagged his tail happily.
I lay down on the ground, using Da-u as a pillow, and watched my brother.
He was diligently swinging his wooden sword.
“Hmm.”
As expected, maybe I should learn swordsmanship too.
There are dangerous people among humans.
The more ways I have to protect myself, the better.
“I’ll ask Father about it later.”
Muttering to myself, I lazily watched my brother.
The coolness of the ground felt nice.
…
“Ahhhh! Luria! Are you alright?”
“Hmm? What’s wrong, big brother?”
I woke up to the sound of my brother’s panicked voice.
It seems I had fallen asleep, lulled by the pleasant sunlight.
“What is this?”
I found myself surrounded by a large number of birds.
There were eagles, hawks, owls, pigeons, sparrows, even parrots.
Smaller birds were perched on my stomach, while larger ones quietly nestled around me.
“What’s this? Did you all come to play?”
I stroked one of the birds nearby.
The birds didn’t run away and stayed still as I petted them.
“Coo-coo!”
How cute.
My brother, who had rushed over, saw me calmly stroking the birds and seemed to conclude there was no immediate danger.
“Are you really okay, Luria?” he asked, sounding a bit more composed.
“I’m fine. They’re all good kids.”
They must have come to keep my belly warm while I was sleeping.
Animals are often gentle creatures.
“It looked like the sky burials they perform in the East, so I was really shocked,” my brother admitted.
“Big brother, you’re such a worrywart. Hmm?”
“Chirp!”
It wasn’t just birds—there were animals too. What’s this?
It looked like a squirrel but was much larger.
“A prairie dog…? Why is there a prairie dog in the courtyard…?”
My brother stared at the animal, dumbfounded.
“Chirp?”
“I like the courtyard; it’s full of animals! I’m so happy!”
“If you’re happy, then I’m happy too, Luria,” he said, though his smile seemed a bit strained.
◇◇◇◇
The birds surrounding Luria in the courtyard were also guardian beasts, just like Da-u, who protected the spirits.
The guardian beasts began gathering near the mansion shortly after Luria was born.
However, they couldn’t enter the mansion, and Luria never came outside.
So, the guardian beasts had been waiting all this time.
Da-u was an exception, having boldly snuck past the mansion’s security to reach her.
“Coo-coo!”
A guardian pigeon was thrilled to be petted by Luria.
To the guardian beasts, Luria was like a cherished pet to humans—a precious being whose mere presence brought them joy.
Her scent soothed them, and being doted on by her made them ecstatic.
That’s why the guardian beasts continued to gather around the mansion, longing to meet her.
Incidentally, the prairie dog had dug its way under the mansion to reach the courtyard.
