Daybreak

Twenty - Odilia

Ever since her injury, Odilia had been self-healing the wound using magic. However, since she was less experienced as compared to Erwin who could heal a wound with a flick of his wrist, Odilia assumed a nasty scar would remain across her right shoulder blade. Additionally, although the healing would be weeks shorter than the natural process, it was slow and gave Odilia aching pains throughout her body. She hadn't been in her bird form for as long as she had been the past few days, so she was very unhappy with the current situation.

Two days and two nights have passed since Merlin had brought her inside the palace. Odilia had learned some things while there. Mostly bad things like the prince discovering her lake.

Merlin returned to the lounge that evening carrying a wooden bowl of boiled fish. It was set before Odilia on the couch before he took off his overcoat and settled on the couch across from her. He had a bound journal, not much bigger than his whole hand and he opened it as soon as he was settled with his back resting against the pillows.

Merlin was tapping the pen against an open page which was already half filled. Brow furrowed and eyes narrow, his gray irises scrolling from top to bottom with rapid speed. However, he stayed on the same page for a long time as if he were reading the same lines twice or three times over.

He was handsome, this man. The ends of his milk-tea colored hair curled at the edges of his sculpted jaw. Merlin bit his lower lip and it defined his singular dimple on his right cheek. Odilia had to agree, thinking back to Emiko, that he was the sort of man any woman would cry for. Not that it made it any easier to forgive Merlin for making Emiko cry. Or so Odilia thought to herself afterwards.

As if sensing her gaze, Merlin glanced up and made eye-contact with Odilia. Odilia reflexively turned away, but then realized the action might have revealed how embarrassed she was for being caught. So then Odilia turned to keep looking back at Merlin, finding herself lost in his storm-colored eyes.

Merlin broke his gaze first, shaking his head and mumbling something Odilia couldn't understand, before resuming whatever task he was attempting with his journal. For some reason, this annoyed Odilia, and she made an audible protest in the form of a bird's cry before she could stop herself.

Merlin looked up, smiling when his eyes landed on Odilia once more. Odilia, in her embarrassment, thought that she might be blushing.

Merlin tilted his head to the side, watching her. Odilia bristled beneath his stare, heart pounding and shivering from the surprising bit of ecstasy she felt from being close to this man. She felt stupid. Like a fool, Odilia recognized her longing for this man's attention.

Merlin had spoken to Odilia many times before when they were alone together and she was a bird, so it was to no surprise when he opened his mouth and said, "Do you know something?"

Not being able to reply back in human tongue, Odilia blinked.

Merlin continued, "Your eyes, they're just like Odilia's."

Odilia's heart was like a race-horse.

Merlin ran a hand down his face and stroked his jaw as his eyes unfocused away from Odilia. "Come to think of it, I haven't seen her since Saihi's banquet..." He looked tired, and his silence was louder than his words when he stood and began to pace.

After a couple paces, Merlin stopped in front of Odilia and looked at her with sincerity. "Would it be weird if I were to go check up on her? I think she's at home now."

Then he commenced pacing again and stopped in front of Odilia once more. "Unless... she's not with her father but still with Emiko-" His pace quickened. "In which case it might be awkward if I were to come." He chuckled to himself. "No, perhaps visiting her home is more awkward."