Looking for a Husband to Confine Me - Chapter 66.1

Schedule: Tue and Sat

Damian contacted me early this morning, just as the sun began to rise. A tapping at the window roused me from sleep. Tap, tap, tap. The rhythmic sound initially made me think it was raining. But the source wasn’t rain; it was a shimmering, pale green, bird-shaped something.

“What is that…?” Just as I began to wonder if I was still dreaming, the bird’s beak slowly opened.

“Amelia. Did you sleep well?” Along with the tapping on the glass came Damian’s slightly husky voice.

“…Damian?” He’d appeared in many forms, but never a bird. Though surprised, it felt strangely natural, given it was Damian.

“How… how is this possible?” I asked, tapping my finger back against the glass, mirroring the bird.

“Let me in, and I’ll explain.” The translucent, pale green bird shimmered as it spoke.

“How do I know this is really you?” Sleep was now a distant memory.

“Who else would be visiting you at this hour? I should be worried.”

“…Fine, come in.”

Despite my lingering suspicion, his words convinced me. It had to be Damian; no one else would say such a thing. As soon as I opened the window, the small bird flitted inside. It was about the size of a sparrow, small enough to cup in my hands. However, its shimmering, almost holographic form, made it seem less like a living creature.

“What’s going on? And why this form…?”

“Cute, isn’t it?”

“It would be much cuter without that voice.”

“You’re funny.”

The bird nudged my hand with its beak. I flinched and moved my hand slightly, and it nuzzled its tiny head against my palm. “I came to ask you on a date.”

“…A date?”

“Are you free, Amelia?” The voice emanating from the small beak was undeniably Damian’s, and the form, despite everything, was undeniably cute. But acknowledging its cuteness felt like playing into his hands, so I remained impassive. “Unfortunately, I’m busy today.”

“…?”

The sparrow-like form shimmered, its features indistinct. Yet, I could almost feel the tiny head looking up at me, its small eyes wide with an unspoken why.

“…I have to meet with Prince Haroon of Kisha.” I finally relented under its imaginary gaze.

“What about afterward?”

“Give it up for today.”

“I suppose I’ll have to go alone then.” Damian’s tone was playful, but it didn’t sound like a simple date.

“Go where?”

“The orphanage.”

So that’s why he came so early. He could have given me more notice. Not that I would have canceled my plans with Haroon.

“Isn’t this a bit much? You said you hadn’t been there in almost five years.”

“I made a promise.”

A promise I’d also made. I forced a smile. “If you’re busy, it can’t be helped. Actually, I might be unavailable for a while.”

A note of concern laced his voice. Even if I didn’t go, he would go alone. But I had made a promise too.

“After I meet with Prince Haroon, I can go.” I said, tapping the tiny bird on the head. And so, we made plans… Tap, tap, tap. I tapped my fingers restlessly against my arm. Over an hour had passed since our agreed-upon time, and Damian was nowhere in sight.

“He wouldn’t have gone without me…” I muttered, frowning. As unpredictable as Damian could be, he didn’t seem like someone to break a promise, especially one made that very morning, after waking me up.

“I should have brought it with me.” I nibbled on my lower lip, recalling the morning’s events. The small, bird-shaped object was a magical tool, designed to transmit voices over long distances. After our conversation, it hadn’t flown away, so I’d left it on my side table. I’d assumed, naturally, that Damian would retrieve it.

“…Naturally?” I frowned at the thought. I trusted Damian, implicitly it seemed, enough to believe he wouldn’t deceive me or break a promise. My unexpected realization startled me, but reconnecting with Damian was more pressing. I should go back to the manor. Waiting any longer seemed pointless. If our paths had simply crossed, we could communicate through the magical tool.

“You haven’t left yet, Amelia?” Just as I turned to leave, Ricardo’s voice stopped me. He looked at me quizzically. His gaze questioned why I was still here after so long. “I thought you had an appointment with Ditronil.”

“I suppose we missed each other.”

“Ditronil wouldn’t…” Ricardo muttered, his expression hardening as I offered a strained smile. He, too, seemed puzzled by Damian’s absence.

“Weren’t you heading home, Ricardo?” I asked, remembering Haroon’s words from earlier. Haroon wasn’t with him. He must still be at the exhibition. Instead, several of Crowe’s knights stood behind Ricardo. They didn’t look like they were going home. More like they were heading somewhere in a hurry…

“Something came up.” He answered curtly. His evasiveness suggested the matter was confidential. I nodded. “I’d offer you a ride back to the manor, but…”