I Opened The Birdcage Door - Chapter 8

“…I think they came to pay condolences from the imperial family.”

 

Sophie, who found the carriage, said. I nodded to Sophie as she pushed my wheelchair.

 

I moved to the front of the carriage. The maids come behind me and prepare to welcome the high ranking guests.

 

Soon the imperial knight opened the carriage door. A pair of black shoes came down. Legs in black uniforms stepped on the ground.

 

When the carriage door was fully opened, a man appeared. A handsome man with silver hair.

 

Usher Rosien.

 

He was the Crown Prince of the Rosien Empire.

 

It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Usher. Silver hair, a dignified face, everything was the same as before.

 

He approached me with a moderately grim expression, befitting the formality of the funeral home. I bowed my head.

 

“I’m seeing His Highness the Crown Prince of the Rosien Empire. I apologize for making you walk far away with something bad.”

 

“No. It’s Duke Lowell of the Rosien Empire, and as a Crown Prince, I should definitely come.”

 

The Crown Prince moved forward with a respectful posture.

 

The nobles bowed their heads toward the Crown Prince as he entered the funeral space.

 

A normal imperial family would have gone to the front to pay tribute without lining up, but he himself stood in line behind the nobles and waited for his turn.

 

As his turn approached, he placed the prepared flowers in front of the coffin.

 

He turned to me. As if conscious of the large number of people watching, he continued in a polite tone.

 

“I express my condolences to the passing of the Duke and Duchess of Lowell.”

 

“Thank you for coming to the funeral, Your Highness.”

 

I bowed my head.

 

***

 

For a while, Sophie and other servants in charge of the funeral and I went for a walk with Usher.

 

With the knights standing on guard, we headed to the garden together. After sending all the knights in the garden away, Usher started pushing my wheelchair himself.

 

With only the two of us left, Usher spoke to me in a more relaxed tone.

 

“Since there are only the two of us, can we talk comfortably?”

 

“… As you like.”

 

As I nodded, his face softened a little. He started pouring out questions.

 

“What’s going on? What happened? I heard it was a carriage accident.”

 

It’s the same as when I was young. Always caring.

 

Usher Rosien. He was the Crown Prince of the Empire and a close friend of mine, and we were also engaged when we were young. Although our engagement was broken because of my accident.

 

“It’s just as you heard. It was a carriage accident. I am confused too.”

 

“Aileen, listen to me.”

 

He looked around to make sure no one was there, and said in a warning tone.

 

“There is already talk among the people. Who will be the heir to the Duke?”

 

“…”

 

“Your leg hurts, so people don’t think you’re going to be the successor. As far as I know, Sebastian, your husband is going to take over the title. Why haven’t I seen him?”

 

 

I just listened to Usher quietly.

 

I knew that Sebastian’s absence at the funeral today was as much a topic of conversation as the story of the accident.

 

Some of them looked around and whispered to each other throughout the funeral, as if looking for Sebastian openly.

 

“Sebastian, where is he? There will be a lot of work to be done in order to succeed to the Duchy. Since it was a sudden accident, the succession process wasn’t complete. I can help….”

 

“Sebastian is not coming.”

 

“What?”

 

Usher, who was still speaking in a resolute voice, stopped and looked at me.

 

“What do you mean? Why isn’t Sebastian coming?”

 

“Soon Sebastian and my divorce papers will arrive at the Imperial family. I’m getting Sebastian’s signature.”

 

“What did you say….?”

 

Usher opened his mouth in surprise. Questions poured out again.

 

“Why? Divorce all of a sudden? Since when did this happen?”

 

“That’s a different story, so I’ll tell you about it calmly next time I have a chance. Anyway, the important thing is that Sebastian won’t be the next Duke.”

 

“Okay….”

 

“I will inherit the title. I will follow my father’s footsteps.”

 

“…”

 

Usher’s mouth opened again.

 

“Really? Are you serious? After your legs got injured, I heard you stopped being involved in the family’s business.”

 

“Yes. I’m serious.”

 

At my firm answer, Usher looked at me as if lost for words. In those eyes, I could see a lot of questions fluctuating. He seemed to want to know what was going on in my head.

 

I almost said that I had healed my legs with magic.

 

But I wasn’t that stupid. There was no need to inform the Crown Prince, who was in a position to rule the Empire, that I used magic that was forbidden in the Empire. No matter how sympathetic he may be to me.

 

“I have my ways, so please trust me and watch over me.”

 

Usher looked at me with strange eyes. He quickly retreated slowly and muttered.

 

“Yes, you are smart, so no matter what obstacles come your way, you will be able to overcome them… … … … . I believe in you.”

 

I built a wall towards him, and Usher couldn’t get closer.

 

I wondered if I was pushing him too far, but I knew I didn’t need Usher’s help already.

 

It was something I could do well on my own too, and no matter how long the Duke’s family had been with the imperial family, in the current situation, it was better to stand alone than to hold hands.

 

Since then, he hasn’t talked much.

 

Usher quietly pushed my wheelchair around and was lost in thought.

 

Shortly thereafter, the walk was over. Usher personally pulled my wheelchair up until there was a presence of people. At the entrance of the garden, I said to Usher.

 

“From here on, I can go alone. You must have a lot of work, so please go back soon, Your Highness.”

 

“Okay… “

 

Usher removed his hands from my wheelchair and let out a pitiful voice. He was about to turn away and suddenly looked back at me.

 

“Aileen.”

 

“Yes?”

 

“If you are having a hard time, you can contact me at any time… I mean personally.”

 

It felt like Usher’s characteristic friendly energy was reaching me. I answered with a smile.

 

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

 

He waved his hand, then turned and walked away. I stared at him quietly for a while.

 

***

 

The funeral was over.

 

Just like my parents who left in vain, the funeral was over when I came to my senses.

 

All the guests who came had left, and the servants began to tidy up the mansion. I did not cry as I watched my parents’ belongings disappear one by one in the mansion. The servants looked at me with worried faces.

 

It was late at night. Almost all of my parents’ belongings were being removed, and they’ll be all cleaned up tomorrow.

 

I passed through the hallway and headed for the study.

 

Squeak. Squeak. The sound of the wheelchair was particularly loud in the quiet mansion.

 

As I entered the study, an empty chair caught my eye. This room, where my father was sitting and the sound of moving the quill, could be heard pleasantly.

 

“Aileen, my daughter. Are you here?”

 

After moving a few strokes with the quill on the document, he looked at me with a kind expression when I entered the office. Remembering his eyes, I gave strength to the corner of the desk in the study I was holding.

 

“Ha…”

 

Holding my breath, I slowly got up from the wheelchair.

 

Tap.

 

The sound of the heels of the shoes resounded. The feeling of my feet hitting the floor was unfamiliar.

 

I gave strength to the legs. My trembling legs staggered precariously as I stood on the floor. I straightened my back.

 

I took my steps slowly.

 

One step.

 

Two steps.

 

Three steps.

 

I fell down. I groaned and put my hands on the floor.

 

My heart was beating fast. I still lacked strength, but obviously I walked. I could walk.  It was definitely different legs than before.

 

The sorceress’s magic really worked.

 

I had succeeded in exchanging the fates for three tragedies and my legs.

 

I raised my head. A portrait of my parents and I together stood on the floor.

 

“Haha…. ”

 

I started laughing. I would have looked like a crazy person if people saw me.

 

But it was a deep dawn, the workers, who must have been tired from the funeral for several days, would have been sleeping more deeply than usual. My laughter soon turned into crying. As I bit my lip and cried, the taste of fishy blood passed through my lips.

 

I clenched my fists. Nails dug into the palms of my hands.

 

“Ahhhhh……I’m sorry. Father, mother.”

 

A warm energy that started from my chest rose to my face. It was so hot that my whole body felt like it was going to explode, and I couldn’t stand it.

 

It was all because of me.

 

My parents died because of me. Because I accepted three tragedies to have my legs fixed. So my parents died.

 

I was so upset that my heart raced violently when I realized that I could walk even in such a situation. I hated my existence.

 

This temperature, this air, everything was painful.

 

“Ahhhhhhhhhh….. What should I do? What should I do, mother, father…?”

 

The tears that had not flowed throughout the funeral finally burst and engulfed me.

 

I cried all night while lying down in front of my parents’ picture.