Cry , Even better if you , beg

A white pigeon flitted from the other side of the river.

"... Phoebe?"

Leyla gasped in disbelief.

"Phoebe!"

She blurted out its name when the bird grounded on the balcony railing. One of its legs was tied with a red thread. It was unmistakably her carrier bird, Phoebe.

"Why did you fly here?"

She went up to the railing where Phoebe was resting.

Phoebe's role as a letter-deliverer came to an end with Kyle's departure. These days, the bird has become her cherished pet. When the Duke went out for upland hunting, she always confined Phoebe in a cage. But, on the other days, she let that pigeon to roam freely around the Arvis forest.

"You can't come here. Here is... ."

Leyla darted a wary look towards the Duke. They met eyes as his gaze swiveled from the children's boat to her.

"Phoebe?"