CH 125

*Rainelle’s POV

I landed on the nearby wall of the Imperial Palace while keeping an eye on him. Then Karmeut’s eyebrows raised.

"...Rainelle."

"I'll tell you if you promise not to get angry."

I have to win this no matter what, so I said this in advance to reduce as much damage as possible...

"If you didn't do anything to make me angry, I wouldn't be angry."

---I broke out in a cold sweat at Karmeut's reply.

I can even feel cold sweat dripping down my feathers!

"Will, will you listen to my explanation?"

Karmeut nodded his head without saying anything.

Thank God! He’ll listen---!!

Believing that he would listen, I transformed into a human and landed in front of him. ---Still, I shrank my shoulders as I opened my mouth under the golden eyes that still looked at me with stern eyes.

"Um, well..."

"It’s related to the scene where all the crows in the Capital suddenly flew away to the west, right?"

"Uh, yes."

I took a look around. Of course, it was natural, but there were so many people around, from Karmeut's aides, servants, maidservants, royal guards, and even nobles. It was very crowded.

“---It’s a bit difficult to talk here. Can we talk with just the two of us?”

"...Okay."

With a deep sigh, Karmeut held out his hand. Holding that hand, we entered a room nearby.

The persistent gaze disappeared as the door closed. That alone made me feel like the pressure was gone, so I let out a breath. Karmeut then said.

"...So, what happened?"

"Umm... well, you know I'm the Queen of crows, right? Hempel-nim said that before."

"Yes, I remember."

"Since I’m the Queen, I did it because I wanted to know exactly what I could do..."

Should I continue?

I peeked at Karmeut's expression. I was troubled by his appearance that looked as if he was silently waiting for my next words.

If I say, “I send the crows because I’m curious about Namuel’s current situation,” I get the feeling that somehow it won’t end well. Then I have to come up with a plausible excuse... Ugh, what can say?!

What should I say to make sure Karmeut doesn't get angry?!!

The longer I kept silent while rotating the gear in my head, the darker his golden eyes became.

Aghhh! Think, think!!! …Oh, yeah!!

"You said that there is a large mountain range in the west. A large mountain range that divides the continent."

“The Qubelian Mountains?”

"Yeah. I wondered if there was Crovanlock there, so I asked the crows to pass on the message to others in the west if they found it. Since it's winter, I can't ask them to do anything hard..."

This is somewhat lacking credibility. ...will Karmeut believe this? I don't think he will!!

I was frustrated at the words that were not convincing even after I said so much, but Karmeut quietly nodded his head.

"I see."

"...yes?"

"If you say so, then so be it."

Seeing Karmeut smiling while saying that, I was stabbed painfully inside. My mouth trembled at the feeling of being pricked by my conscience.

Was it fun to see me like that? Karmeut laughed quietly. Then he hugged me lightly. Even at moments like this, his embrace was familiar and cozy.

"If you feel like talking later, tell me properly then."

...As expected, not even the seed was eaten1. At that thought, I took a deep breath. Then came a small giggling sound that tickled my ears.

“Is there a reason?”

"---yes."

"Is it dangerous?"

"It's not dangerous."

I was not in danger, but Karmeut was the one in danger, so I was able to answer confidently. Then he replied with a small nod of his head,

"Then that’s fine."

He whispered in my ear after kissing my cheek briefly,

"But since you made me worry, I can't just let it go."

"Ugh... sorry..."

"So see you later at night. Sleep... I'll put you to sleep."

The blatant remarks made my cheeks hot. When I raised my head to protest, my mouth was blocked.

"---!!"

The reckless but gentle kiss made my body feel weak. His eyes were shining with heat as if I’m going to be eaten, so I closed my eyes.

My body trembled automatically at the gentle touch on my waist and the deepening kiss.

Karmeut's kiss was always like this.

Should I say I was affectionately preyed on? I knew these were contradictory terms, but there was no other way to express it.

He didn't treat me carelessly and he was careful as if I was precious. But on the other hand, he was persistent like he would not be satisfied until he had tasted everything I had.

Like now.

"Haa..."

"I'll let you go now, because if I do more here, I'll forget the situation and just be with you."

He smiled lightly as his eyes were burning with monopoly desire and enthusiasm.

It was chilling because I thought I'll be eaten, but at the same time, I also thought that being eaten wasn't too bad.

"I want to be with you a little longer... but we don't have enough time to meet during the day."

"Haa, Rainelle... don't say that."

He said “I don't like it either,” and licked the nape of my neck. It felt like he was pouting.

"Mmm..."

"Because I'm holding it in right now."

His gaze as he said that was like that of a wolf facing his prey, so I was naturally nervous. While swallowing my saliva, I thought I was crazy because I once more thought that it was alright to be eaten.

Oh really. A zookeeper who wants to be eaten by a wolf has not qualified as a zookeeper anymore!

Still, if it's Karmeut, I'd think it's okay if he did as he wants.

"Oh, okay, I'll be waiting for you."

"...so don't tempt me."

Karmeut was smiling as if he was in a good mood even though he also sighed like he couldn't help it.

He kissed me one more time, but he quickly let go.

...To be honest, it was fortunate. It would be very difficult to make him understand by talking about Namuel and the future.

I began to think about what lesson was left for today, but then I shook my head.

Is class important right now? There are other things which are much more important!

I remembered Namuel. The wizard who was said to have gone to Milburn territory. Aria said that this action was unexpected. She even cursed and got angry while saying that it hadn't happened in the original game.

Is it because I’m here?

The reason why he did something that deviated from the original game was most likely because of me. It was natural to think that. Everyone except me was the same as the original.

But that doesn't mean I can’t fight for my existence...

Since the crows have set off, I should get the news soon, right? However, I did not expect that they would rush westwards at once.

I just told them to pass it on because I was in a situation where I had to hold on to something... but everyone will come back in time, right? It's winter, so I hope they don't overdo it.

I was glad that this was a time when they have no chicks. If there was an accident while there were chicks, they would starve.

Of course, when it rains, birds may have no choice but to starve... But the baby is fragile, so they have to be taken care of.

Ah, by the way, that male crow is gone.

I didn’t get any sign that he was present earlier, so that guy must have left... Moving in the middle of winter? That's actually a very strange thing for a crow. Is that guy crazy? Of course, since it's been a few weeks since I last saw the crow, maybe it has moved in autumn...

But, it's still strange even in autumn. I'd understand if crows are the type to spend the winter in a warmer place like migratory birds who then come back later, but...

Oh, I don't know. What I should focus on isn’t that male crow.

The important thing is Karmeut. Of course, the thing with that male crow bothers me, but I have my priorities.

I hope I get the news about Namuel soon.

Aria’s figure popped up in my head. I felt a bitter taste in my mouth as I remembered how she cried while expressing her insecurities.

Namuel is also a mean man.

I didn’t expect him to do such a thing to a girl’s heart.

The temptation of wanting to smack Namuel when the opportunity arises crept up inside me.

Hmph, you seem smart, but you're causing so much trouble!

Groaning inwardly, I was about to head for my room, but then I turned my gaze to the garden.

---Should I go for a walk after a long time? It seems like it's been a while since I went to the garden after I have to take empress lessons.

When I thought that it would be good to find a little leisure, I found a walk in the garden to be more tempting. It was not that I've never had tea in the garden, but I don't think I've been there since winter began.

I headed for the garden with the maids in tow. The Imperial Palace had places where the season was always spring even in winter by using temperature maintenance magic. I deliberately went to the garden where the magic circle was not installed.

And at the scenery I saw, a satisfied smile appeared on my face.

In winter, it is good to see the winter-like scenery. I'd seen it from the sky before, but seeing it in human form was nice in its own way.

The snow-covered garden was all white. The snowflakes, shining in the pale winter sun, were white and smooth.

The sight of snow was not unfamiliar. When I was a zookeeper, I always pray “Please stop snowing,” But...

Seeing snow in the garden feels different.

It was a different feeling from seeing soggy, half-melted snow on an asphalt road, or snow falling on animal excrement in their enclosure. Even though it was snow all the same, now it was cleaner, and it felt like an ornament.

Except for the promenade, no one touched the snow, so I had a strong desire to step on it at least once. The contrast between the dark tree branches and the white snow was sharp.

It even made me feel like it was a luxury to look at the snow so leisurely. It was all the more so when I remembered the ladies-in-waiting who came with me.

"Rainelle-nim, the wind is cold. It’s better to go inside..."

"I'm sorry, but I'll look around a bit more. The air is clear and fresh, so I feel really good."

I took a deep breath in the cold but clean air. It felt like the fresh air which filled my lungs was incomparably cleaner than when I was a zookeeper.

It was when I smiled because I thought that the air of my previous life was really smoke-stained air.

*flap, flap*

In the distance, over the blue sky, I saw a black dot.

...What is that?

I wondered what it was, so I narrowed my eyes and looked at the black dot.

Is a crow back?

I thought like that.

But isn’t it too soon to get some news?

How long has it been since the crows left for the west? Besides, I thought it would take a few more days because of the message relay.

Then why does that black dot fly straight at me? Is that a crow?

I tilted my head in wonder, but that dot was still getting closer and closer.

...a crow?

The black dot was, as expected, a crow. It was far away, so I couldn't be sure, but it was a crow that looked familiar somehow.

Is it Hempel-nim?

I was staring blankly while thinking so, but it wasn't until the crow flew almost over my head that I realized it wasn't Hempel-nim.

That crow...

The, the male crow?!

It was the male crow that hadn't been seen for weeks. When the crow suddenly appeared, I wondered who it was, and I got taken aback.

No, it's nice to see this guy again, but why doesn’t it go to its territory and come to me instead? If it has been away for a few weeks, its territory might be taken over by other crows! This guy should go to take care of it!!

...The male crow, who had no way of knowing what I was thinking, flew towards me at a speed close to a rush. Then its appearance changed. Huh?

My mouth fell open automatically. When the male crow was at my eye level, its appearance changed. And even the process of changing was one which I know very well.

As the crow changed into a man before my eyes, I could sense the maids stirred up behind me. The reason they don't scream in shock was because they had seen me change so many times...

---This is not the time to say this nonchalant thing! How can he turn into a human being?!!

---Huh?! No way, no way---!!

***

Translator(s) note: Who had been waiting for the male crow?! (Ririi: Me! He's cute! Hehee) And who guessed that he will turn into a human?? Congrats!

Notes:

1  Not even the seed was eaten: Even the small, trivial thing wasn’t believed↩