Rebirth Of The Duke's Daughter

Chapter 14

As the week passed, Mila found herself filled with joy as she celebrated her seventh birthday. The celebration was small but warm, with her father, Trivett, Emmett, and Sara gathered around her. She couldn't help but wish that Leo could be there as well, but he was stuck at school, unable to leave his studies. Still, she had heard from one of his letters that he had made a real friend there, someone who was also the son of another Duke. That news had made her smile, knowing Leo wasn't alone.

The day had been filled with laughter and sweet cakes, and Mila savored each bite, enjoying the company of those she loved. But eventually, her small stomach had its fill, and she found herself unable to eat another morsel. With a contented sigh, she retreated to her bed, lying back to let the food settle. The warmth of the day and the comfort of her bed made her feel utterly relaxed.

Just as she was drifting into a light doze, she heard a faint scratching at her window. Curious, she sat up and listened more closely. The scratching continued, and a smile spread across her face as she realized who it must be. "Jero!" she exclaimed, quickly getting up and rushing to the window.

Opening it, she was greeted by the sight of Jero, the Crested Eye Quetzal, perched on the sill. Excitement bubbled up inside her as she spotted the small basket tied to his leg. She had been looking forward to seeing what ZH, her mysterious pen pal, had sent her for her birthday.

"Thank you for coming!" Mila said warmly to Jero as she laid out a few bird seeds nearby. The bird chirped in response, pecking at the seeds as she untied the basket and carefully brought it inside.

Her heart raced with anticipation as she removed the cloth covering the basket. Inside, she found an assortment of little sweets, each one looking more delicious than the last. But what truly caught her eye was a small hairpin nestled at the center of the basket. It was adorned with a purple pearl, its hue slightly darker than her hair but a perfect match nonetheless. Mila's smile widened as she realized how thoughtful the gift was—ZH had paid close attention to her likes and had chosen something that suited her perfectly.

She carefully put the hairpin in her hair, admiring how it looked in the mirror. It added a touch of elegance that made her feel special. The sweets were tempting, but Mila knew she couldn't eat them all in one go, not after the feast she had already enjoyed. She decided to save them for later when she could savor each one slowly.

Turning back to Jero, who was still nibbling on the seeds, Mila felt a surge of gratitude. She wanted to thank ZH properly, so she sat down at her desk and began writing a letter.

'Thank you for your gift! I love it a lot! I hope that one day, we will be able to meet face to face. What do you want for your birthday?' - Mila.

Mila realized, with a pang of guilt, that she had never asked ZH about their birthday. It made her feel like a terrible friend. After all, ZH was her first real friend, and she didn't even know something as basic as when they were born. The thought that ZH could potentially be a beast—or perhaps something else entirely—only added to her uncertainty. But regardless of who or what they were, they had become an important part of her life, and she regretted not knowing more about them.

After tying the letter to Jero's leg, Mila waved as the bird flew off, her heart full of hope that she would soon receive a reply. She then moved to the balcony, where she could see the snow gently falling, blanketing the world in a serene, white silence. The sight brought a smile to her face as she remembered her own birthday, which fell at the end of the fall, just as the last leaves were dropping and the first snowflakes began to drift down.

The thought of her birthday led her to think about the event that awaited her after winter ended three to four months from now. 'What am I going to do? How am I going to find them?' Mila wondered, her thoughts turning to the three beasts—Vivian, Kate, and Skye—that she knew were meant to be hers. Despite being aware of their existence, she still felt so young and inexperienced. The challenge of finding and forming a bond with them seemed daunting, and she couldn't help but worry about how she would accomplish it.