CH 18

*Rainelle’s POV

The light wasn't as strong as when he first ate Crbanlock and became a wolf, but the image of a faint halo that surrounded him as he turned into a wolf was so cool that I couldn't help but fixed my eyes on him.

As if the light had become solid, the shiny golden fur was mysteriously shining as it sifted through the sunlight. The golden wolf appeared with a light shift of his neck and he fixed his shining golden eyes on me.

It was normal to be scared if a wolf the size of a cow had their eyes on you, but this wasn't scary. On the contrary, the gold-colored eyes were shining brighter and more beautiful than jewels, so I couldn't take my eyes off them.

Karmeut, or rather, the wolf that Karmeut had changed into, let out a short bark. Then he tapped my torso with his long snout. It felt strangely ticklish when his moist nose touched me, so I puffed up my feathers. The wolf opened his mouth and raised the corners of his mouth as if he was laughing. Then he stuck out his tongue and licked my beak with the tip of his tongue.

It was no different from a puppy that was acting cute, but for some reason, my face heated up. The wolf lowered his head and trembled lightly, as if holding back laughter, at my action of flattening my feathers and backing away.

Then, just like when changing into a wolf, he returned to his human form.

"Well, it's like this."

...and it was only then that I realized that Karmeut had changed his form to demonstrate transformation.

Uh, umm... Even if you do that, I won't be able to get the hang of it...

My wings drooped in embarrassment and I looked at Karmeut. What does he get from my gaze? He rubbed my chin with his hand while having a troubled expression.

"Ah... you can't get a sense of what it's like. Because you can only see myself changing."

Yes! That's it! I don't understand how the transformation works even if I look at it! So explain with something different!!

As I nodded my head energetically, Karmeut laughed. Stroking my head affectionately, he said while bending his eyes gently,

"Seems like changing into a wolf isn't suitable. Well, you don't have to think too hard. Just think what you want to be... was that explanation helpful?"

Yes! It helps! Of course, it's still vague...

But I nodded because it was much better than not being explained.

Let's see, what form do I want to be?

Spreading my wings, I flew and landed on the floor.

A human. Human form----!!! I want to become the owner of the thin and white arms that I had before! Wearing a black feather dress!! A human!

How long did I repeat those thoughts of wanting to become a human? Suddenly, I felt my arms and legs stretched out. How should I say this? It felt like my skin was peeling off when I scratched my skin in the middle of summer? I closed my eyes tightly while experiencing a strange sense of itchiness and coolness.

"-You did it, Rainelle."

...I did it?

Hearing those words, I opened my eyes and looked at my body. When I saw the black feather dress and white arms, I could intuitively feel that I had succeeded. With a happy smile on my face, I threw a question at Karmeut, who was staring at me,

"...Am I pretty?"

His golden eyes widened at my question. Then he burst into laughter and held out his hand.

"Come on, come here."

His soft and gentle smile was so wonderful that it made my heart flutter, so I couldn't reach out and grab his hand right away. I hesitated as I felt my face burning, but Karmeut smiled softly and took my hand.

"It's okay. Come here."

A warm feeling ran through my hands. ---It was a familiar warmth. I felt relaxed by the same warmth that I felt when I was a crow. Was it because I was used to it, or was it because of another reason...?

As I felt an indescribable emotion tickling my heart, I walked by being led by Karmeut.

"You asked me if you're pretty, right? Now, here's the mirror."

There was a full-body mirror where Karmeut took me. There was the thought that it was an expensive object because this world had a fantasy background based on the medieval era, but that thought disappeared as soon as I stood in front of the mirror.

"-This, is me...?"

Why is there a goddess in the mirror...?

Rather than being surprised, my mouth opened spontaneously in a feeling of absurdness.

No, crazy. Is this face real?

The wide-open eyes were a mysterious purple color. It was violet-purple, but the strangely sparkling eyes seemed to contain the Milky Way.

The white skin could not be explained other than that it was fair. The long straight hair that stretched to the hips was black with a green and purple luster like a crow feather. The sharp nose, moist-looking red lips, and dense facial features made the face seem cute but somewhat arrogant.

In addition, the black dress wrapped around the entire body was made of crow's feathers, so the feeling of having feathers remained.

...And I am the owner of this figure that can only appear in novels! Besides, although it wasn't all exposed because it was covered by a dress, the body is also gorgeous! And wow, look at this chest! I didn't grow like this in my last life!! What about the back?! I can't see my legs because of the dress, but I think it's going to be smooth! My thighs are going limp! Oh, my god, my thighs are losing their strength! I can't believe this is possible!

Oh my God! God! I'm sorry for cursing you until now! You drew a big picture, but I was ignorant and cursed at you! Hit this poor, uncivilized bird's head very hard!

I couldn't believe it, so I squished my face with my hands. When I saw the goddess in the mirror doing the same thing, I thought that this was really me.

But I still can't believe it! I can't believe it because she's so pretty! Is this for real?!

"What do you think? Pretty?"

"Yeah--! I don't believe it, this is my face...?"

"Yes, it's your face. You have a very beautiful human figure."

Karmeut's image, who was smiling until his eyes, was reflected in the mirror. His large, firm hand grabbed a handful of black hair, lifted it slightly, and then he gently kissed the hair.

He didn't even touch my skin directly, but my face got hot.

I shrank my shoulders in shame and turned away my head slightly.

A low laugh then tickled my ears. I bowed deeply at the sound of laughter that was right next to my ear.

"Are you embarrassed?"

"Ah, um... I mean, uh...it's like when you kissed my beak, but it's ticklish for some reason, uh--!!"

Damn it, this is embarrassing!!

If I didn't cover my face with both hands, I felt that my face was going to explode, so I desperately buried my face in my hands. I feel like I'm going to die out of shame because I think that I'm red all the way to the end of my ears, and when I heard Karmeut's laughter, I wanted to hide in a mouse hole.

"It's okay. You're very pretty and lovely. You don't have to be so shy. Your crow form looks pretty too."

"--Re, really?"

"Yes, the crow had smooth, glossy feathers and pretty eyes like violets. Clever, very charming. Wouldn't it be strange that it isn't lovable?"

Is that really true?

The thought crept into my head. When I slightly raised my buried head and looked at Karmeut, I met his golded eyes right away.

As I trembled slightly in surprise, I felt a gentle touch on my cheek. It was as if the touch told me not to be surprised. It was the same touch I received when I was a crow, so I unwittingly relaxed. The tension in my body was released.

It was an unconscious act to rub my cheek against his hard, callus-filled palms. I was late to realize that I had done exactly what I had done when I was a crow, but Karmeut didn't seem to mind.

In reflex, a sigh of satisfaction came out of my mouth.

"Hah..."

"Do you like being caressed?"

"...yes, Karmeut's touch is gentle, and it feels good."

"-Yeah, I'm glad you like it."

A soft voice tickled my ears, and the hand that caressed my cheek was gentle and cautious. It felt so good to be petted like when I was a crow, and a smile came out naturally.

Due to the habits when I was a crow, I came to Karmeut's embrace. When I felt the firm, cozy, and warm arms, I lost all my strength and became relaxed. I rubbed my cheeks against the wide and solid chest. Then, I went stiff.

"...Ah!! So, sorry!!"

Only then did I realize what I had done and bowed my head while blushing. When I'm a crow, I'm not human, so I could be held in his arms as much as I want, but when I'm a human, being held in the arms of a man is... that's... that's... argh!! What have I done?!

I shook my head while holding my cheek in a flustered manner. Then, suddenly my body got trapped.

Huh?

I couldn't help but blink my eyes when I was hugged in a firm and cozy arms.

"It's all right. If you want, you can hug me anytime."

His soft voice tickled my ears. My heart began to pound with the voice that seemed to permeate my heart.

"You are free to do whatever you want, my dear Rainelle."

His voice was so nice to hear that I had to bury my face in Karmeut's arms to hide my burning face.

"Um...Karmeut?"

"What is it, Rainelle?"

I opened my mouth to avoid the pleasant but awkward atmosphere.  I lifted my head slightly and looked into his golden eyes to ask what had been on my mind for a while.

His gentle glowing eyes were shining prettier than jewels, and I was momentarily dazed, but I soon regained my senses and asked the question.

This is more important than you think!!

"That... should I call you Your Highness too? Do you feel better when I talk like other people, like when the servants talk to you...?"

I'm a human who possessed a crow, but Karmeut didn't know that, so I had to act like I was awkward about relations between people. But I'm truly curious about this.

He's in the Imperial Family, so isn't he one of the people of the highest position in the empire except for the emperor? Besides, isn't he a person who might become the emperor in the future?

Of course, it would be nice if things went well with Karmeut, but I don't know if things will go according to what I want.

I asked the question while looking at him seriously, but Karmeut laughed.

He seemed to be entertained and dumbfounded at the same time.

"Rainelle, it's like a promise made between people."

Describing courtesy as a promise, Karmeut gently curved his eyes.

"So you don't have to do that. Feel free to call me Karmeut. Or do you want to speak formally?"

I shook my head after thinking for a while. Even though I played the game a few years ago, he was still one of the characters that I had successfully captured. It was strange to speak formally now, and I wasn't happy to distance myself like that.

How much work have I done for Karmeut?!

"No, I just want to stay like this."

"Then do it. I have no intention of forcing you to do anything."

The corners of my mouth naturally loosened at the stroking on my head. I've felt this ever since I was a crow, but Karmeut's hands are really amazing.

My body just got relaxed on its own. As he rubbed my head while I entrusted my sagging body to him, he asked affectionately,

"Rainelle, I have a request, can you please do it?"

"Hm?"

Request? Is there anything Karmeut can ask of me?

I was a crow who had nothing. I couldn't figure out what he wanted from me, so I tilted my head, and Karmeut opened his mouth.

"For the time being, except when I'm around, I want you to be in your crow form."

--Crow?

I wondered why he asked me such a request, but suddenly I thought of Luwellin, a character that didn't actually make an appearance in the original game. It was strange that the character, which had only been mentioned briefly, became a typical villain 1 and became a concern for Karmeut.

If I asked Karmeut, "Is it because of Luwellin?" right now, I thought I would look too smart, so I kept silent for a while before asking,

"...you don't like me being human?"

"I don't like it? No way."

Karmeut's behavior of shaking his head immediately while saying no was somehow cute. Perhaps not knowing how desperately I tried to hold back my laughter, the future emperor patted me slowly on the back and continued,

"Luwellin... he's dangerous, remember? The man who transformed into a wolf. You scratched his nose with your claws."

"...yes, I remember. And Karmeut was angry."

"Ugh," he groaned softly, while his mouth and golden eyes twitched.

"I was afraid that Karmeut might get hurt, so I tried to stop him even when I'm scared... I was really sad at that time. Do you know?"

"Ugh---, yeah, sorry, I was wrong."

"-It's okay. I accepted your apology that time. By the way, is that person dangerous? Why?"