As Max hesitated, the hawk revealed its claws and opened its mouth wide as if to pose a threat. However, Max effortlessly grabbed the animal's thin, leathery legs and threw it into the air. The hawk plunged toward the ground for a moment before flying back up again. After having regained its balance, it flew far away as if it had learned not to mess with this specific human.

Having handled the annoying obstacle, Max muttered to the bird that remained protected in one hand, "You better do it right this time."

The bird cooed again, this time sounding rather confident than terrified. Perhaps it was because it had been saved by the very being it once thought was its enemy, but the creature now seemed determined to fulfill its responsibility. The pigeon flew up and spread its wings bravely like an eagle unlike before.

Max raised the corners of his lips when he saw that the tiny creature had landed on the familiar windowsill. However, he soon frowned. Normal beings could not see this far away. However, as a transcendent, Max could see Jubelian standing at the balcony with a terrified expression.

'It's impossible for her to know the message is from the crown prince… Then could it be?'

Just then, Max saw Jubelian stagger back from the window. Cursing under his breath after realizing the reason why his previous letter had failed to be delivered, Max scowled when he saw the pigeon eventually make its way into the frightened lady's room.

"Jubelian!" he shouted as he barged in through the veranda. He had guessed she would be responding calmly despite her fear of birds, but what he saw before his eyes was completely unexpected. The noble lady who always managed to remain collected was trembling like a terrified child in front of his tiny messenger.

"M-Max," she called tearfully as she ran into him. After hiding behind him, she requested, "P-please chase that away."

Max couldn't help but feel amused. He couldn't believe this was the same woman who had remained indifferent when he had shoved a blade toward her neck. In fact, he had thought after that incident that Jubelian was somehow incapable of feeling fear. Nevertheless, she was now holding onto him, shaking like a leaf.

"Hurry up, would you?" she urged.

However, Max was fully enchanted by this aspect of Jubelian. Instead of thinking she was pathetic for panicking over a bird, Max thought she was rather cute. A smile gradually spread throughout his face as he answered, "All right, all right."

Even after that, Jubelian pulled on Max's sleeve and pressed, "Look! I-it's shedding feathers in my room! Stop it right now, please!" She was now clinging onto his arm, confirming his speculation that she was afraid of birds. Wanting to see her tearful expression for a little while more, Max was tempted to leave the bird be. However, when he glanced back at Jubelian with a mischievous smile, the lady seemed as if she was on the verge of collapsing from shock.

Realizing he had to quickly do something, Max carefully approached the creature. "Come here," he ordered, to which the pigeon advanced toward him meekly. Perhaps it was a good choice to save the little guy from the hawk after all. With the pigeon now safely captured in one hand, Max turned around, thinking that Jubelian would have calmed down. However, he was dismayed by her response—the lady was now on her guard, standing about a foot away from him.

***

Max had caught the pigeon without a problem, but I couldn't be relieved.

"Hurry, and t-take it o-outside…!" Maybe it was because I was pressed to have the evil creature out of my room, but I couldn't speak properly. Just in case he had not understood me clearly, I frantically pointed my finger toward the balcony.

However, Max stood still, observing the bird. "This pigeon is a little strange," he said. "There's something tied to its ankle."

Only then did I realize that there was a small strip of paper tied to its scaly leg. There were only two cases where one would send a letter using a carrier pigeon—it was either the sender wanted to remain anonymous or communicate in secret. Nobles usually made contact by sending a formal letter if they wanted to increase friendship with its recipient—of course, as long as there were no problems with the contents of the letter.

In any case, a message from a carrier pigeon meant that the sender wanted me to receive it directly without having the note go through other hands, and I was sure of what its contents would be.

'It's probably a threat.'

Given my social reputation, I was confident the note contained insults directed at me. The note tied to the pigeon's leg seemed like a miniature piece of paper, but a short piece of slander could leave a lasting impact.