CH 23

*Karmeut’s POV

Having said that, Rainelle shut her mouth. She tilted her head slightly, which cause her lustrous black hair to flow down her cheeks.

"That's how Karmeut came to like me, right? That's why I tried my best. At least, I hope that the people who come into this room don't hate me. They bring snacks and put pretty flowers in a bottle, right? So I thought I could give flowers."

And I felt bad about her giving flowers to others?

Karmeut shook his head as Rainelle shrunk her body. He then hugged her tightly while smiling because of uncontrollable emotions.

Oh, how can you be so cute? You're not discouraged that people don't like you, and you acted to be liked. That's why I can't take away my eyes from you.

"It doesn't make me sad, Rainelle. You can act however you want. I'm not gonna say anything about it."

"---really?"

"Yeah, really. ...but it's still a bit dangerous, so I think you should keep what I said in mind."

"You mean Luwellin?"

"Yes, that guy."

Watching Rainelle's beautiful face frowning, Karmeut let out a small sigh.

...yeah, that's why I've been busy these days. To overtake Luwellin and seize the right to succession as soon as possible.

Well, if I let the fact that I've awakened be known, I can claim the right to succession at once... but it's not the time yet.

It was difficult to capture the hearts of the nobles at once unless the time was seen as crucial.

It was necessary to be careful for now as the nobles could start a civil war after they fled with Luwellin if the fact was revealed in the middle.

With purple eyes staring at him, Karmeut folded his thoughts about Luwellin neatly and threw them into the trash can. With a spontaneous smile on his face that appeared every time he looked at her, he whispered as he ran his hand through her dark hair,

"You gave me a lot of things. ---So, no matter what you do here, I won't say anything. If you want something shiny, I'll get it and give it to you, and if you want something to eat, I can get you all kinds of delicacies. If you want a cozy bed, you can have as many as you want. So the flower you gave to the maid is nothing."

Purple eyes blinked. Rainelle, who looked at Karmeut with rounded eyes, was silent to listen to his words. As she moved her eyes to look straight at Karmeut, she opened her mouth.

"...so will you find me a mate?"

Karmeut's body froze. Rainelle tilted her head at his suddenly stiff expression, and Karmeut responded with broken words.

"No. That's, no. No, I can’t."

"Huh..."

"Do you want a mate?"

"Oh, ah...uh, um...? I'm not saying that I want a mate right now, but... I want to have one someday..."

Karmeut quenched his anger at the sight of her mumbling while looking around as if she felt that she had said something wrong.

She has a human form, but she's a crow. Animals are faithful to their instincts, not to reason. If that instinct tells her to find a mate, Rainelle will probably fly far away, have a mate, lay eggs, and raise babies.

But, can I let her go?

Lowering his neck like a beast, Karmeut's arms squeezed and hugged Rainelle. Their face drew nearer. The soft woman fell into his arms. While looking straight into the panicked, shaking purple eyes, the golden wolf said,

"Rainelle."

"Huh?"

"If you want a mate... if you think you need a male, tell me."

The prince raised his clasped hands. He bent his eyes at Rainelle, who seemed surprised, and he kissed her white and thin fingers. He whispered in a languid voice while keeping her thin waist in place as she reflexively tried to step back.

"As long as you can turn into a human, I can faithfully fulfill your needs."

Karmeut's lips ran through her fingers and went past the back of her hand, then he reached her wrist. The prince savored her pulse with his lips for a while, then, as he felt greedy, stuck out his tongue and licked it slightly.

Seeing Rainelle flinched so high that he thought that she was jumping, he parted his lips and smiled mischievously.

"It's impossible when you're a crow, but I can satisfy you while you're in human form. ...How about it? If you want to, I don't think it's bad to try it."

Her white face was getting redder and redder. She started squirming. And Rainelle, who was so hot to the point that there seemed to be a popping sound, stuttered and licked her lips.

"Uh, a, ah, eh? T, try?

"Yes, try."

As he said so, Rainelles eyes widened while she was still in his tight embrace. Maybe she couldn't take this situation, but Rainelle's body, which had been trembling, went back to the crow form with a popping sound.

"Kkaaakk!!"

Karmeut burst into laughter at the sight of Rainelle who frantically flapped her wings and flew over to the chandelier.

It was the expected reaction...but Karmeut's sadness was much greater.

If you're this shy, then what are you going to do in the future? Do I have to kiss you every time you try to become a crow?

He thought that was a good idea, so a smile descended on Karmeut's lips. Of course, earlier, he didn't mean that they could try it right now, and he had no intention of forcing her to do it if she didn't want to, so the prince decided to take it easy.

When the threats to Rainelle are gone, then I will confess. Whether she’s in her crow form or in her human form, I don't want her to leave my side. And she managed to loosen my nerves that are so tight that they seemed like they were about to snap. To the black bird who awakened my feelings of love, I will confess.

I will ask her to stay by my side. To come with me.

To get you, I'll do everything I can.

*Rainelle's POV

Argh! I stepped on a landmine! Why did that come out of my mouth?!

My heart was beating so fast that I couldn't hear anything except the beating sound of my heart. My face became hot as I remembered the softly curved eyes, his gentle golden eyes, his languid voice, and the feel of his arms that wrapped around my waist.

I felt less shy when I puffed up my feathers to the fullest and turned my head away.

Why are you talking about male crows----!!

--Huh? But really, why did I mention male crow? There was no need to talk about mating...?

Thinking about it, it was strange. There was no reason to mention male crows and mating in that situation.

There is a handsome and charming prince next to me, so why am I looking for a male crow?

Embarrassed, I had to direct my eyes elsewhere.

...Hah, maybe it's because of the crow's instincts that remained? Whether it was the first time I flew, or when I found herbs and berries for Karmeut, all because I used the crow's instincts, right? So, the thing about me liking shiny things and talking about male crows is all------?

It felt like my head was being commanded.

I, am I a human, right? But how can crow-like behaviors come out of their own accord? Huh? Oh, no! My dignity as a human being!!

I don't know if it's because of the crow's body, or maybe it's because the crow characteristics remained despite me being able to transform into a human, but my way of thinking gradually became simpler and more like a crow -compared to humans- to the extent that I felt stupid.

No, no, no! I don't like that at all!! I mean, I'm human!!

I clenched my beak to organize my thoughts.

No, let's not do this. I'm a person. Not a crow! Hoo-haa, hoo-haa. Yeah, take a deep breath—

I am a human. I'm a human-- I'm a human!!

Slowly, he lowered my gaze. Fortunately or unfortunately, Karmeut was no longer looking at me. When I saw him leaning on the sofa in a comfortable position while flipping through his book, I breathed out a short sigh of relief.

If Karmeut had kept looking at me, I might have been too embarrassed and will fly out. What had happened before was too stimulating.

When I remembered what happened earlier, heat rushed to my face again. The warm, slippery texture that slowly licked the tip of my fingers as if he was tasting the finest thing was so straightforward.

When his soft lips touch the back of my hand and wrist. And when something warm and slippery gently licked my skin, I felt a chill and a tingling sensation running down my spine, so I was worried that my head might explode.

...aaahhh!! I shouldn't have thought about it! Even thinking about it again, it was so embarrassing!!

I turned my head and buried my beak in my feathers as if I was sleeping. This way, I can express my embarrassment without looking at Karmeut! Argh! I'm so embarrassed! I think I'm going to die of embarrassment!!

If I had to choose the happiest and most foolish way to die, I'd pick the situation that just happened! OMG!! My heart is pounding!!

...that, though-- a little, good... It's like, it's like--

I thought steam was going to come out of my ears, but to be honest, I didn't hate it. To experience such a handsome man smiling at me with his eyes, licking my fingers, and kissing the back of my hand and my wrist. I can't say I don't like it.

Besides, he's not just handsome. He's also nice to me. He's the future emperor... Wow, nothing is missing? He's such a cheater. ---Come to think of it, he was a target character in the game. It was natural for him to do this. Yes.

It was somehow unfair to convince myself that this cheating ability and appearance were because he was originally a character in a female-oriented game.

Ugh, it's nice, but it's too stimulating for me. I decided to become a zookeeper because I had a hard time dealing with people after all!

Animals are good. I don't know if it's because I like animals so much, but my relationship with people was not great. I was more comfortable with animals who gave back as much as they received-  more so than people who were jealous, who made up words, cornered people, and tormented them for no reason.

I can't talk with animals, but the animals who showed their feeling through actions and being completely reliant on me were just lovely.

So I became a zookeeper. ...and I was a little frustrated by the reality that being a zookeeper doesn't necessarily mean that I can only deal with animals since the relationship between seniors and juniors was strict.

If you make a mistake or be lazy, of course the animals will get sick or die, but I thought I managed to adapt and do well. The reason I applied for the carnivores keeper was because the fierce, wild, and sexy carnivores were my ideal animals.

--Suddenly remembering the past made me depressed, but that's what happened. So I haven't even been in a relationship even once! By the way, by the way!! My, my fingers were licked with his tongue, lick-------!!

I felt dizzy. Uh, ugh---. Why am I going through something so embarrassing while I'm in human form?! Now I am so embarrassed that think I cannot transform into a human for a while!!

It's not bad, but how can I transform when my face turns red? Just looking at Karmeut makes my heart pound!!

I would die of shame like this.

Karmeut, who was casually reading a book, looked displeasing for some reason.

--Who's the one who made me like this? You're so nonchalant. Ahh, I hate you!!

I puffed up my feathers, vowing to bite his finger if I had the chance.

You're so carefree--- It's too much!

I closed my beak as I promised revenge (?) inside.

Me too- I'm going to make Karmeut embarrassed!! I'm going to make your face go red by making you feel embarrassed!!

*3rd person POV

Karmeut had to struggle to hold back his expression instead of flipping through the book pages. If there was one thing that Rainelle forgot, it was the fact that Karmeut was a high-level swordsman.

Even if he didn't look with his eyes, he could feel the presence of a crow fidgeting, flapping her wings, and often leaping on her spot. And so, he had to cover his mouth with one hand.

Karmeut was rather desperate because he knew better than anyone else that if he laughed right now, Rainelle would really be upset and wouldn't come any closer to him.