CH 19

*Rainelle’s POV

As I asked the question as if I knew nothing, Karmeut shrugged his shoulders and answered,

"He's a guy full of confidence who thought that he can do anything. How do explain it with words that are easier for a crow to understand... --Yeah. He can eat whatever he wants, and there's no natural enemy to threaten his life. Would it be easy to understand to say that his kindred could feed, give him something shiny, and he can pick out female crows that he likes to join him?"

It was an explanation that made me feel that he had put a lot of effort to make me understand. It was an explanation that would be understandable even if I was really a crow.

Yep, Luwellin is the guy who's known to be the next emperor. -So, if a woman of beauty catches his eye...

The next situation could easily be imagined, so I was fed up. A guy like that won't care about his woman. No. Rather, I think he'll treat women carelessly and touched them just because they're beautiful.

"...I don't like that. I don't like him. Males who don't cherish females are rejected. But without looking at women’s feelings, I don't understand how he can do whatever he wants."

This was true for most animals. If the female does not like it, the male cannot mate with them. Since the mating itself was under the leadership of the female, most males made efforts to win the female's heart.

Some birds sang and some compete by fighting with other males to show how strong they are. There are many other ways to win the female's heart.

"Yeah-- but humans aren't like that, so you have to be careful."

I felt a hand caressing my cheek. It was a rough hand because of the calluses, but he did it so carefully that I couldn't regard it as rough.

"You-- you're really beautiful, so you have to be careful."

My face burned with those straightforward words. I thought I wanted to hurry up and turn into a crow because I didn't know what to say and my face would explode if I stayed in a human shape any longer.

*Pop*

- With that sound, I felt my body become lighter and I waved my arms, or wings. I sat down on the chandelier, feeling like I was floating

I'm so embarrassed! It's even more so because I've never been called pretty or beautiful in my entire life!! So I won't be around Karmeut for a while!! I'm embarrassed!! I feel like I'm going to experience the ugliest and happiest death in the world because of this man, so I can't get close to him! Ugh! I don't know!

*Karmeut’s POV

Karmeut held back smiling as he looked at Rainelle, who puffed up its feathers and couldn't even look at him because of shyness.

Really, what should I do if you act cute like that?

Judging from the state of things, I didn't think she'll be anywhere near for a while.

He was a little disappointed about that, but he knew that she would come to him later at mealtime, so he put aside his disappointment and leaned on the sofa comfortably.

Karmeut recalled Rainelle's human form.

...I've never seen someone so suited in black. And such a beautiful form. It's hard to tell whether the white skin made the black and glossy hair stand out or vice versa.

Her purple eyes are sparkling enough to make one think that the Milky Way across the night sky is inside her eyes.

When I thought of her smooth and red lips, I felt enraptured.

'Ah, it's really such a cheat.'

Rainelle's human form, which had so much cuteness, can only be described as a cheat as she was too beautiful.

Moreover, her blushing and shy face... It was so fortunate that I saw it alone. And I'm filled with great satisfaction at the fact that only I know about such a Rainelle. I'm so embarrassed to think that I'm so possessive.

That's why I have to protect her. All the more because I haven't firmly grabbed the right to succession, and I haven't revealed that I've awakened.

Moreover, if Rainelle mistakenly showed her human figure to Luwellin, she could have experienced something more terrible than what I had explained in an easy-to-understand way.

-That's not enough.

Karmeut's golden eyes gleamed coldly as he felt his blood getting colder just by the assumption alone.

Rainelle is second to none for him.

How could he be what he was now? How was he able to loosen his tight nerves in a place where he could be hit back if he let go of the tension even for a moment?

It was not because of the people who clung to him because of positions or powers that he was able to laugh in the suffocating Imperial Palace, but it was because of Rainelle, who was seen as a bird who brought misfortune.

I can't let Luwellin take Rainelle from me. I can't let her go through a terrible thing. I can never do that. Never--

Karmeut let out a breath that he unknowingly held and he also realized his strong grip on the armrests of the sofa. Sneakily, he turned his gaze to look at the chandelier. There, he saw Rainelle tidying her feathers with her beak.

Seeing the relaxed and laid-back appearance, the prince pressed his temples firmly, swallowing deep regret.

'...I'll have to kill Luwenlin as soon as possible and secure my right to the throne.'

If Luwellin was still alive, she would only become a risk, so killing him was her best option.

And I guess that Luwellin is also thinking the same thing, that's why I was attacked.

That would be the case as long as there are competitors. And for that reason, it was good to quickly remove the threat. If not, the surroundings won't be safe.

-That way, Rainelle can be safe by my side in her human form.

He remembered the feel of the white, soft woman he was holding in his arms. It was soft and warm to the point that he wanted to hug her at any time. There was a sweet and refreshing scent of fruit when he held her in his arms, so he wanted to bury his face in the hair that looked exactly like the color of her feathers.

Feeling his heart beating faster than usual, Karmeut raised the corner of his mouth.

-Ah, I must have been bewitched since then.

Ever since the death-symbol bird helped me to drive the orcs away in the forest. The purple eyes as pretty as violets must have harbored very dangerous magic.

Otherwise, my heart wouldn't be pounding like this.

There's no way I'd want to have her, hold her, and kiss her.

Realizing that the word 'love at first sight' would be used at such a time, the prince honestly accepted his feelings.

Yes, I was captivated at that time. By a cute and lovely crow. By a bird that symbolizes death that is free and honest with her own feelings, yet she does not leave my side.

Is it because of the delusion that death favors me? Or is it because the purple eyes are filled with mysterious and dangerous magic? -Oh, that might not be important.

Because, I've already fallen in love at first sight with a girl who looks so good in black.

***

*Marquis Wilhelm’s POV

Marquis Wilhelm was racking his chin on the sofa. Among the nobles who supported Luwellin, Marquis Wilhelm's name could not be left out of the most powerful figures.

The reason why some nobles supported Luwellin, the Third Prince, who didn't have any quality to be an emperor, was because of one fact: because he had 'awakened'.

The royals of other countries secretly denigrated the empire as a "barbaric country ruled by lowly beasts," as they can't say it out loud. It was because the bloodline of the Imperial Family was so special.

It was of one of the sacred beasts who stood by God when this land was created in the distant past. A bloodline of humans who inherited the blood of the sacred wolf, that was the Wolfric family.

'We will not expose our teeth to the Empire as long as there are wolves in the Wolfric Empire.'

It was the words of Ticarion, a mercenary from the Hoin tribe, who was evaluated as the strongest among the hybrids. In addition, he won the battle with Stone Golem by combining power and the feline's unique flexibility. He was also a mercenary of the Platinum ranking, which was only given to five people on the continent now.

A being who could be called the representative of the hybrids among humans said such a thing. And the free hybrids obeyed the laws within the empire. As such, the blood of the Wolfric family was special.

That was what such a strong man said. In the Wolfric Empire, legends related to wolves were mostly dismissed as the truth. Because of that, the situation was even more troublesome, and the marquis' forehead was wrinkled as much as possible.

'From generation to generation, the awakened person ascends to the throne, except when there are no awakened ones. History proves that.'

That was why the marquis lend Luwellin his hand. Even if he did not have the ability as an emperor, his subjects could assist him or take advantage of his gains. Of course, the latter was mostly the case, so Luwellin was overflowing with nobles who had a flattering mouth, but not the marquis.

If it was decided that Luwellin would be the emperor, the marquis would rather swear loyalty in advance to gain trust and assist him. -All for the glory of the Empire.

It was him who had plotted to assassinate Luwellin's rival, Karmeut, for the sake of that glory. It was the best choice for the marquis. If the plan succeeded and Karmeut died, it was certain that Luwellin will be generous to the marquis, and the marquis will be the one who monopolize Luwellin's trust. It was a natural action for the sake of the future.

But Karmeut survived.

The marquis was convinced of Karmeut's death until he heard reports that the prince had fled into the mountains while having a major wound on his side and only the knights he had taken with him had been successfully killed.

-But the first prince survived. And Luwellin became very angry with Marquis Wilhelm and began to distance himself from him.

It was the worst ending for the marquis.

Therefore, the marquis had no choice but to worry.

"--What was the reason why the First Prince was able to survive?"

How can he come back with such a wound, without anyone's help? Was it Windster del Galenos?

Of course, it was no secret that he had great loyalty to the First Prince. However, even if Count Falun's estate and Windster's estate were close, he won't be able to realize the prince's disappearance in such a short time.

-No matter how much Luwellin delayed it, The First Prince came back even before the search party left.

So, the possibility that the loyal man was the one who helped him was small.

--That means the prince returned on his own...

I don't know how he was able to come back or treat his wound, but one thing was clear.

The third prince, Luwellin, lacked the qualities of an emperor beyond the imagination of Marquis Wilhelm. And the first prince, Karmeut, who was able to return on his own, had something that the marquis wasn't aware of.

Should I visit him or not?

This was an important concern for Marquis Wilhelm.

It was best to decide after visiting once, but the marquis had no way to decide.

Marquis Wilhelm was well known to be Luwellin's supporter, and because of that, when the marquis meet Karmeut, it could be interpreted in many ways. But it was clear that those interpretations will never be good for the marquis.

Marquis Wilhelm agonized. He thought so deeply and carefully that no one could approach him because of the atmosphere, and after thinking of many different things, he got up from his small seat and waved the bell on the table.

"Did you call, Marquis?"

"Butler, prepare the carriage. -I will head to the Imperial Palace."

The preparations were made quickly because the Marquis had directed them directly. Marquis Wilhelm's eyes became gloomy as he left in the carriage that was led by four horses and headed towards the Imperial Palace.

"Welcome, Marquis Wilhelm. The Third Prince is..."

"...no, I'm not here to see the Third Prince today."

At those words, the expression of the chief servant, who was waiting inside the Imperial Palace to greet visitors, hardened. Knowing well what that expression meant, Marquis Wilhelm spoke without hesitation.

"Can you tell me where the First Prince is? Since I visited the Imperial Palace without any notice, the First Prince would not know my visit. With all due respect, can you tell him that I want to meet Your Highness the First Prince?"

"Please wait a moment."

He could criticize the chief servant for not managing his facial expressions like a person working in the Imperial Palace, but Marquis Wilhelm didn't say anything.

Prince Luwellin's right-hand man, though he had been cast aside now, was visiting Prince Karmeut? This was not an ordinary occasion.

Marquis Wilhelm waited while drinking tea in the drawing-room. Though the marquis thought that if he were Karmeut he had no reason not to meet him, the marquis had no choice but to drink tea to calm his nervousness.

"Marquis Wilhelm, Prince Wolfric Iveld de Karmeut has granted you an audience. Please follow me."

At those words, the marquis took a deep breath, got up from his seat, and began to walk behind the chief servant.

As he walked and reflected once more in his mind about how to deal with every situation imaginable, the marquis realized that they were heading towards the garden, not the prince's room within the Imperial Palace.

*Flap*