CH 87

*Namuel’s POV

Namuel, who walked down the hallway, lifted his glasses slightly.

Mages of the Imperial Palace had a lot of work to do as they received full support from the Imperial Family. There were more than a dozen types of magic circles installed in the Imperial Palace, and it was the mages’ responsibility to manage them.

If the research that was carried out on an individual or imperial basis was included... it was almost to the point that sleeping time was a waste.

As Namuel, the wizard, went to take care of the magic circle installed in the garden, he sighed briefly.

"Which of the magic circles installed in the garden is the problem...?"

All kinds of rare plants were growing in the garden belonging to the Imperial Family, and magic circles were essential to manage them. From the magic circle that controls the temperature to the magic circle that provides moisture, creates wind, and sometimes concentrates the magic.

This time, the place to be worked on was a place where the plants only grow where the average temperature was up to 40 degrees Celsius, so Namuel let out a brief sigh.

After drawing a magic circle with grounded magic stone on his clothes and robes, he entered the steaming garden.

According to the gardener, there seemed to be a problem with the watering magic circle. As if to prove that, he could see the yellowing tip of the leaves, so Namuel hurried.

The problem is simpler than I thought. It is a problem that occurred when the magic power is running low, so it is a problem that would end by replacing the magic crystals with the ones I have with me.

Some plants were planted for ornamental purposes here, but there were also many plants that could be used as materials for medicines or magic reagents. For that reason, he had been feeling nervous. Now knowing that the problem could be solved, he breathed out a sigh of relief.

"Caaw-"

There was a crow’s cry. Namuel turned his head at the familiar cry.

"---Oh, Rainelle-nim."

The crow, who was sitting nearby the tree with blinking purple eyes, spread one of her wings and shook it slightly as if to greet him. Then it spread both of her wings and began flying around him.

Seeing the crow's action, Namuel stretched out his arm. Then the crow, which sat gently on his arm immediately, let out a short cry.

"It's been a while, Rainelle-nim. How have you been?"

Rainelle nodded her head as she gave him a brief cry. Then she gently rubbed her beak against Namuel's finger. The crow's actions brought a smile to Namuel's lips.

It was not too much, but the crow's expression of affection was very cute.

"Gee, if you're like this with me, His Majesty the Emperor won't like it very much."

As he said so, the smile on Namuel's lips showed no sign of fading.

Was it because she knew what he meant? The crow cawed once, and then slowly began to move away.

Perhaps intending to move to the wizard’s shoulder, the crow moved her body up along his arm with her slender feet. In response, the wizard kindly raised his arm to help her climb up easily.

The crow, who could more easily climb onto his shoulder due to his action, puffed up her chest out and inflated her feathers as if she was in a good mood. Namuel smiled a little at Rainelle's behavior of flicking her tail feathers in a good mood, then he asked,

"Excuse me, Rainelle-nim, may I touch you?"

The temptation of the smooth and soft feathers was unbearable. Namuel couldn't stand the desire to touch the shiny black feathers that shimmered green or purple depending on the angle.

However, Rainelle was not just a crow, but the companion of the Emperor. As he might do a great disrespect if he touched her recklessly, it was only natural to ask for permission.

Hearing his question, the crow gave a happy caw and nodded her head. After she gave her permission, Namuel reached out his hand and brushed her feathers.

As before, her feathers are so soft and smooth.

When he felt the smooth texture and the high body temperature specific to birds on his fingertips, he felt much better despite being in such a hot place.

Namuel felt sorry for the crow when he noticed her panting with her beak slightly open and her short tongue sticking out.

"Sorry, I didn't take into account the fact that we’re still in a place that’s meant to grow plants that live in hot areas."

Moreover, the color of crow is black.

So Namuel hurriedly moved his legs and exited the garden.

Namuel made a water shower for the crow when they had left the garden. Then the crow spread her wings and she flew straight into the water shower.

She happily flew through the water shower, then she sat on a nearby tree branch and shook her body. She then repeated to go rushing into the water shower again to cool her body again. She did it until there was no room for Namuel to stop making the water shower, but Rainelle seemed very happy.

The wizard burst into laughter at the innocent behavior. Then, in a playful voice, he asked her,

"Rainelle-nim, do you want me to make a puddle of water for you?"

"---! Caw!"

Namuel laughed at Rainelle who let out a loud cry. He then made a puddle of water on the floor.

"Caw!"

With an even more excited cry, the crow inflated her feathers and jumped into the puddle. She then rolled over her body happily in the puddle under the sun.

The crow, who had cooled herself to her heart's content in the pool created with magic, shook her wet feathers and landed on a nearby stone. Then she started picking at her wet feathers with her beak.

Her body trembled. Perhaps she felt a little cold even though she was under the sun. When Namuel saw the crow trembling slightly, the wizard gathered his magical powers.

*Whoosh*

A warm wind wrapped around the crow. Rainelle squinted her eyes and enjoyed the breeze as the wind blew until it dried the crow's wet feathers. Then, when the wind stopped, she began arranging her feathers and let out a happy cry.

After that, she flew over to Namuel's shoulder and rubbed her beak on his cheek, as if it was natural. At such a cute act, the wizard smiled and stroked her smooth wing.

The feathers, which had become softer and smoother, even gave off a fragrant smell. As if she found the wizard's touch to be pleasant, the crow made a pleased cry and playfully bit his gray hair again and again.

"---? Caw!"

"Ah---!"

When the crow, who had tilted her head, suddenly flew up, Namuel let out a sad voice. Then, in the next moment, his eyes widened slightly in surprise.

"Oh, Rainelle-nim."

The crow, which had flown in a swish, hovered over a lady who wore a dress, then she landed on the lady’s arm. With a smile in her eyes, the hand wrapped in white gloves stroked the wings of the crow in familiarity.

"---! Oh, Sir, please excuse me."

Then, perhaps having noticed Namuel, the young lady hurriedly bowed her head and greeted him.

"You don't have to worry too much."

Namuel responded by shaking his head lightly to her action.

The owner of the Imperial Palace, including the garden, is the Emperor.

Therefore, it didn't make sense for him to receive an apology.

"...By the way, I've never seen you before. Did you come to see Rainelle-nim?"

The wizard questioned her while raising his glasses with his index finger.

The fact that there is a noble lady in the Imperial Palace… and seeing Rainelle who flew to her without her hesitation…

It was a conclusion he drew from those two things.

The noble young lady, whose complexion had darkened slightly at the words ‘never seen you before’, greeted him with an elegant smile.

"Nice to meet you. My name is Gwynell von Adriana."

"...Ah, you are the daughter of Count Gwynell. I am the eldest son of Duke Sharmalt, Namuel."

"Ah---!! I've heard of that name. Many people said that you are a wizard who has a promising future."

“Rumors often contain exaggerated expressions. There is no end to the path of magic.”

Adriana shut her mouth at his cold, snappy, and dry response.

Rainelle, who found the situation uncomfortable after a while, cried out dissatisfiedly. She then flew to Namuel and sat down on his shoulder. After that, as if she was reproaching him, she stared at him with her purple eyes.

"Rainelle-nim."

While saying her name, Namuel reflexively reached out his hand to the crow, but the crow avoided his touch. Then she flew to Adriana's arm and sat there.

"Rain, Rainelle-nim."

Embarrassed, Adriana spoke to the crow, but she didn't budge. Rather, the crow rubbed her beak against her finger which made Adriana's lips loosen.

"Rain, Rainelle-nim---!!"

Adriana, who moved her feet around with her cheeks dyed red like she was not sure what to do with her cuteness, stroked the crow's back gently.

Adriana burst into a brief exclamation as the crow cawed as if in a good mood.

Adriana looked very happy, but Namuel feel complicated about what he saw.

Rainelle, although capable of taking on a human form, was essentially a crow. Perhaps that was why there were a lot of times where she acted on instincts, and one of them resulted in her being very wary of people.

Of course, Prince Luwellin had put her in a tough situation... But even before that, she wasn't one to approach people first.

It was amazing he showed affection to His Majesty the Emperor.

Even the servants who cleaned and maintained her room had never touched Rainelle in her crow form. Rather, Galenos and Namuel were exceptional as they were able to pet the crow.

But she not only sit on the arm of this noble young girl whom I have never seen before, she even allowed her touch!

The scene was fascinating, but it wasn't very pleasant at the same time.

Feeling something close to sadness, Namuel looked at Adriana. Her blonde hair which was thick and as shiny as honey along with her blue eyes were impressive.

---But that’s that. What is hard to understand is why Rainelle-nim allowed this girl to touch her. Concealing those feelings, Namuel spoke up,

"Lady Adriana, if you don't mind, may I ask you a question?"

"---? What is it, Marquis Namuel?"

As she opened her eyes slightly wide and asked back, the wizard spoke again,

"How did you meet Rainelle-nim?"

"...Ah, Rainelle-nim had a tea party not too long ago. I met her for the first time then."

At those words, Namuel's brows narrowed.

...I heard that Rainelle-nim’s strange behavior started after the tea party that was recently held.

The Emperor got concerned, so Namuel had been informed at that time. It was not strange for Karmeut to talk about it with Namuel as Namuel was obliged to protect Rainelle according to his oath.

Among the tea party attendees, I heard that there was someone who Rainelle-nim felt uncomfortable with... Isn't it this person?

Namuel furrowed his eyebrows slightly, but because he had not heard of anything after that, he didn't say anything out of the ordinary.

"I see. I think you’re lucky."

"Why do you think so?"

"Rainelle-nim is someone who doesn't easily allow others to touch her. You’re amazing."

At that, Adriana turned her gaze to the crow. The crow, which had been swaying her tail and letting out small cries, raised her head and met Adriana’s gaze.

The crow tilted her head while blinking her clear and shiny purple eyes. After cawing, she jumped and landed on Adriana's shoulder.

Namuel kept quiet as he saw Rainelle rubbing her beak against Adriana’s cheek.

Could she be using a bewitching technique on Rainelle-nim by any means?

Seeing Rainelle's friendly attitude, which was enough to make him think like that, Namuel secretly used magical powers. Then he scanned Rainelle’sl and Adriana's bodies with detection magic.

The result is clean. Except for the resizing magic and the feeling of a spirit on Rainelle-nim’s necklace, there’s nothing.

Unable to believe the fact, Namuel frowned. Then he mumbled unknowingly,

"...Then, what is..."

"...Marquis Namuel?"

"No, no. It’s just intriguing. Rainelle-nim had experienced hardships when the current Emperor fights for his succession rights, so..."

"Hardships?"

"Yes. It was so bad that her wing was injured."

Adriana's eyes widened at those words. She exclaimed in an exasperated voice while reflexively embracing Rainelle's torso,

"?! Rainelle-nim, show me where---!!"

She raised her voice in anger. Seeing her reaction, Namuel shut his mouth. The wizard then answered while showing a smile that didn’t mean anything as he still stared at the girl who wrapped her arms around the crow,

"You two seemed close."