CH 55

*Rainelle’s POV

I said hello, but I also tilted my head, not knowing why Namuel was here. It was the same for Namuel, because he did not hide his curiosity.

"Hello. Mm, can you turn into a human? Since it’s difficult to communicate like this."

...I can't refuse such an intelligent handsome man who spoke so politely!

So I nodded and immediately changed into my human form.

"Is this okay?"

"Yes, thank you."

The appearance of Namuel bowing his head in greeting even looked elegant. I couldn't take my eyes off the handsome man who gave off a different feeling from Karmeut.

Wow, seriously... I know he's the main male lead character, but was it like this?

"By the way, what are you doing here?"

"...? Well, since it’s a garden, I flew here for a walk…?"

Hearing that, Namuel frowned.

...huh? Did I say something wrong?

"You mean this place? This is the Imperial Palace Herb Garden..."

"...Huh? Is it? But the flowers are pretty...?"

"---You're not talking about that yellow flower, are you? A flower with soft petals and golden pollen?"

I nodded my head with “that’s right” meaning, then Namuel’s eyes opened wide and he hurriedly approached me.

"Rainelle-nim, do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?! Do you feel dizzy, nauseous, or--?!"

"Um, no? Why, why? Is that flower strange?"

I said no, but Namuel still reached out to me with a serious face. Surprised by the blue light emitted from his hand, I stood still. The light swept over my body, then soon faded.

"Ha... that’s a relief."

He breathed out a long sigh of relief. Namuel opened his mouth as he turned his gaze to the flower I was about to pluck,

"The flower's name is Priscynthia. As you can see, the petals are beautifully layered and the pollen shines like gold dust. But..."

His green eyes gleamed seriousness. I gulped at the gaze that felt somewhat intimidating, but I heard Namuel continue,

"That's a poisonous flower. The petals, pollen, stems, leaves, and even the roots all contain poison. Not to mention birds, even medium-sized monsters who eat it would have their life threatened."

I was horrified by that statement.

Poi, poisonous plant?! If eaten, even medium-sized monsters will be killed?! It's very dangerous!! Why is such a thing here?!

"It, it’s so dangerous?!"

"It's poison, but if mixed with other ingredients with the right amount, it can make effects that no other ingredient can replace. Above all, it's on the rare side, so it's grown in the Imperial Palace Herb Garden."

While saying so, Namuel's fingers gently moved his hand through the leaves of the Priscynthia flower. I was still dumbfounded.

Poison, poison?!

Oh, right. It was said that the difference between poison and medicine was slight. Pufferfish poison can also be used as a painkiller if used in an appropriate amount...

Anyway, my heart pounded in a different way than when I was with Karmeut.

Oh Lord, I'm dying! Whether it’s the Styx River1 or whatever, it’s time to go to the underworld!

I placed my hand on my chest and took a deep breath to calm my pounding heart. When I caught the sight of Namuel's bitter expression while looking at me, I felt ashamed.

"So, why do you go near the Priscynthia?"

"Ah... Just because it's pretty, I was going to give it to Karmeut as a gift..."

It is poisonous, it is poisonous! If I make a mistake, I can die, and I can kill Karmeut too?! It won’t be a repayment of favor! Argh! That's why people say knowledge is power!

"A gift...? You mean to His Majesty the Emperor? Excuse me, but may I ask why?"

"Oh, that's--- Karmeut does a lot of things for me, but I don't think there's anything I can do for him... Since I’m out, I'm going to look around, but I'm afraid to go out into town."

"Well, that's true. Humans' judgment of crows is not very good."

Yeah, I know that. A crow is a carcass-eating bird, so it is often considered ominous. ---Oh, wait. Should I ask why?

The extent of my knowledge is from my former world, right? Of course, since this place was created based on human thoughts, I decided that it would be no different, and it seems that it’s right, but---

It's different to hear it directly.

"Um, I have a question..."

"What is it?"

"I know that humans hate crows, but why is that? Mythology? I heard stories about black birds too…?"

Namuel smiled faintly.

"Hmm, of course there are several theories. Still, the bad perception is because they eat corpses. It's also mentioned in mythology, but don't crows eat corpses?"

"...? But crows aren't the only ones that eat corpses? No matter how valiant carnivores are, if they have nothing to eat, they also eat corpses."

"But don't crows have wings? Plus, they're black, which makes them stand out. It wouldn't be pleasant, but when people saw a flock of black birds flying away, they would think there were corpses. Moreover, unlike other animals, crows are corpse scavengers that were often seen on the battlefield."

---I had nothing to say.

I sighed lightly, feeling half relieved and half bitter at his words which retold the facts that I already knew and made them clearer.

"Ugh. We're hungry too, so we're eating."

"Heh--- that’s true. Don't worry too much. At least the people won’t think lightly of you."

What does that mean?

But I shut my mouth.

...Are you talking about me being mentioned by Karmeut as the future Empress? Maybe.

Ugh, that makes me feel even more grateful! That's why I feel like I need to do something more!

"Um, then I really want to give him something..."

"You mean the gift?"

I responded by nodding my head.

For now... let's find something else other than Priscynthia.

I looked around, wondering ‘what else are there?’, when a voice reached my ear,

"If you don’t mind, may I help you?"

"...Huh? Really?"

"Of course. Well, I think that the best thing is for Rainelle-nim to approach His Majesty the Emperor in your human form... ---But looking at your face, it seems impossible."

My face burned when he said suggested me to approach him in my human form. Namuel, who was looking at me, smiled a little and held out his hand to me.

"Would you like to go out to town? Maybe you can get something better there."

"Uh... But I don't have any shiny…? Humans exchange round and shiny things."

I said that on purpose when I talked about money because I feared that he would suspect that I was too knowledgeable.

Blinking my eyes and interlacing my fingers as if I knew nothing, Namuel shook his head and said,

"Don't worry about that. I'll provide it."

"...Is that okay?"

"Of course. But, if you don’t mind..."

"...?"

"---Can you go in the form of a crow? It may not be possible to communicate, but..."

It wasn't something that would come from a person who asked me to change into a human form to communicate. But knowing Namuel’s character, I nodded.

He is the son of a duke, who is the younger brother of the previous Emperor, and Namuel is also a wizard, but he doesn’t trust humans. That was why he was the most difficult character to be targeted, yet a rewarding character if the approach was successful. ...that is Namuel.

I don't know if it was because I possessed a crow, but I was more comfortable with my original form than my human one. So I returned to my crow's form and flew over to Namuel’s arm.

As the smile on his lips softened, I let out a small cry.

...Certainly, his expression is more natural and softer than before. He isn’t great with people, but he like animals?

"Do you mind if I pet you?"

To his act of slowly reaching out his hand while asking politely, I responded by raising my head and rubbing my head lightly on his hand.

A clumsy but careful hand stroking my feathers followed. It was different from Karmeut's touch, but I really liked Namuel’s touch too, which showed that he cared enough.

Slowly, I closed my eyes and let out a pleased cry without realizing it. A faint sound of laughter followed as I rubbed my head against the palm of his hand while puffing my feathers.

"Then shall we depart? Of course, His Majesty will be surprised if you just leave, so I'll have to tell him first."

Huh, are you going to tell Karmeut? No! Then there is no point in giving a present!

I bit his sleeve with my beak when he was about to walk forward and then I shook my head desperately.

No! Surprising gifts are the best!

Due to my reaction, Namuel burst out into laughter. As he tried to his suppress laughter until his shoulders were trembling, I stared blankly with my beak slightly open.

Cra, crazy. Namuel can have such a look on his face! Camera, camera!! Oh, I'm a crow now! This is a world without cameras! Uhuhuhu!! Such a shame!!

Not knowing that I was struggling with grief inside, Namuel gently stroked my head with his index finger.

...hagh, no, that’s not the point!

"Don't worry. I'll pass the message to a servant or attendant. Don't you think gifts should be worth the surprise?"

As he said that, I nodded as I felt my eyes get purified by the smile on the face of this handsome and intelligent man.

Yes! You know what I think!!

Seeing me nodding vigorously, Namuel laughed again. Then he stopped one of the servants passing by, telling him to relay the message to the Emperor that he was going out with me, and proceed to walk.

Namuel and I went out of the palace in a carriage. I looked out the window with a pounding heart.

...Am I doing things wrong?! Karmeut might be surprised, but, why did I just relax and straightly go outside with Namuel in the first place?! There's no certainty that he isn't like Luwellin!

It was then that my thoughts went crazy. I glanced at Namuel, then he smiled.

"Are you nervous?"

I nodded my head vigorously.

I’m nervous in many ways! Did I really have to risk my life to give Karmeut a present?!

"...don't worry too much. You're safe as long as I'm here, as I've sworn to protect you, Rainelle-nim."

...Eh? Swore?

I looked into Namuel's eyes at the sudden remark. But he didn't seem to be lying.

...maybe it’s because of Karmeut?

That was the only thing that came to mind.

I mean, I don't think he'd ever swear to protect me.

With those words, I could feel the tension ease away. I smiled involuntarily as Karmeut’s presence could reassure me even when the person was not here.

I nodded as a sign of understanding and rubbed my cheek on his fingers. Unlike Karmeut’s, the fingers that were gently caressing my cheek as if in response to my action were firm but smooth.

"You seem to have calmed down. Then, have you thought about what to give as a gift?"

No.

When I shook my head full of that meaning, the wizard nodded.

"Well, it's difficult to choose a present for His Majesty. He’s the ruler of an Empire after all."

I know right.

I breathed out a deep sigh without realizing it and my feathers deflated, then I felt a hand stroking the tip of my beak.

"Don't be too gloomy. His Majesty will be happy to accept any gift from Rainelle-nim."

"...Caaw? (Really?)"

"Yes, really."

Even though it must have been just a crow's cry, Namuel answered ‘yes’ and smiled while stroking my back. I blinked, feeling the clumsy but soft touch that meant as if to soothe me.

Ha, it's really fun to watch. An intelligent handsome man with a borderless smile is petting me!

But... well, it's still not as good as Karmeut. His touch is kind of awkward, his hands are smooth without calluses, and, ummm...

It felt good, but not the best. However, I was feeling sorry to assess the person who came out like this for me, so I bit his finger playfully and smiled with my eyes.

The smile on Namuel's lips thickened. Then, a softer, more relaxed voice came out through his lips,

"...I think I can see why His Majesty the Emperor loves Rainelle-nim."

Huh? What does that mean? No, I think you’re misunderstanding something. You have delusions where he truly fell in love with me?!

"Ah, we’ve arrived. ---Don't be far from me."

Huh? We’ve already arrived?! Oh, it's true! Whoa! Hold on a second!! What should I do if you open the carriage door and go out even though I am not even mentally prepared?!!

***

Notes:

1  Styx River: In Greek mythology, Styx River is a river that forms the boundary between Earth (Gaia) and the Underworld↩