Of All Things, I Became a Crow

only one conclusion:

Never! I absolutely, absolutely can’t allow anything connects the heroine and Karmeut! I'll stop it!

 

*Karmeut’s POV

Karmeut bowed his head and looked down at his arms.
Rainelle, who had been trembling with anxiety, had suddenly fallen asleep.

Her sleeping posture which was more like lying down made Karmeut wonder if it was okay for a bird to do this, but the sight of her sleeping so well made him smile.
He carefully tapped the tip of the drooping wing, but the crow did not wake up.

“…you were so anxious.”

Rainelle herself may not have realized, but she preferred the look of her crow.
Maybe it is because she is a crow in nature, but she seemed to think that if she returned to the form of a crow, she could always escape and protect herself.

Rainelle would return to her true form when she felt like she is in danger unless she wanted to be comfortable.

So far, she has gone back to being a crow to be comfortable…
Although she is in the Palace, today for the first time she was back in her crow form and ran away because of Young Lady Gwynell.

And as soon as she returned… I don’t know what made her so anxious, but she rushed into my arms without controlling her strength, and she made the kind of cry that I’ve never heard before…

There is nothing from that woman that stood out except for her suicide attempt…

What bothers me is that she asked Rainelle who she is…

She dares to speak nonsense to a being who is the Emperor's partner and the next empress.
It was hard to forgive, but it could have been said that she had been mentally confused for a while after her suicide attempt—it was an understandable excuse.

Or…

The figure of the black crow was captured in the golden eyes.
She was so comfortable and her beak was slightly open.
He couldn't help but laugh at the sight of her sleeping figure.

…Is there something that only the two of you know?

Rainelle's appearance was heart-warming every time he saw her, but his worries did not go away.

No, I had to think so.
I don't think there's anything between the two without a single point of contact before, but…

The Emperor stroked the crow's smooth feathers without hiding a sigh that flowed out of his mouth.
The texture on his fingertips was still smooth and soft, but it did not soothe the Emperor's complex heart and mind.

***

 

*3rd person POV

“…what should I do…”

When the Emperor was in the midst of his troubles, someone on the other side was also troubled.

The woman who sighed was Young Lady Gwynwll.
She nervously shook her head.
Due to her actions, her thick and shiny honey-like blonde hair fluttered in the air.

The maid swallowed her saliva while looking at the Lady’s actions, then she moved her gaze.

After her suicide attempt, the Young Lady, who opened her eyes, was very different from before, so the maid didn't know when and where the sparks would fall if she didn't take care of her.

Whether or not the Lady knew the mind of her maid, Young Lady Gwynell murmured softly,

” 'Rainelle' didn't exist before…
that means…”

The blue eyes flashed as she mumbled. Then she stood up from her seat with her fist clenched.
It was unknown what she was thinking.

“Please bring a blank letter paper and a quill.”

“Understood, Young Lady.”

Young Lady Gwynell’s eyes gleamed strangely as she quickly wrote down a letter with the paper and pen that the maid brought.

***

 

*Rainelle’s POV

For the time being, let's not be a human and take it easy as a crow.
If that's the case, I can fly and run away when I’m in a hurry! Humans can't fly! Long live the birds! I can run away to the sky ah ah ah ah!!

I rolled around on the bed in the form of a crow, then I dug into the blanket.
It was so soft! As I dug in and enjoyed the sensation, I became the happiest in the world.

After all, the heroine cannot enter the Imperial Palace.

As long as Karmeut had said that he won't let her in, she won't be able to come in.
That fact couldn't be more reassuring.

If she can't come in, we won't even meet.
She can't put a flag on! It’s like that! Ahh, I can put my mind at ease now!!

“Rainelle-nim, a letter has arrived.”

—As soon as I thought about being at ease, the maid told me that a letter had arrived, which made my heart stir.

…no! Why did something like this arrive when I just become relieved?! Can't you give me some slack?! Who's the letter from this time!!

In anger, I puffed my feathers and swished over the maid's shoulder.
The maid, who visibly flinched at my actions, carefully turned her head and opened her mouth,

“Uh…
Shall I open the letter, Rainelle-nim?”

Yes! Do it!

When I nodded my head with that meaning, the maid’s eyes trembled.
Then she carefully opened the envelope and unfolded the letter.

“Caaw? (It is the heroine again?)”

No, what trick are you trying to do?!

As I thought this, my heart pounded with anxiety.
The letter said that she wanted to meet me because she wanted to apologize for the rudeness she had done before.

I remembered at that moment that most of the girls in the original game were cancer-inducing women.

Of course, there was a lot that wasn’t like that, but you always have to be prepared for the worst to make your lifeline longer!

I just wish that the heroine would target other people rather than Karmeut, but there's a possibility that she won't, so I have to be prepared! But why is she trying to meet me like this?

Meeting itself was not difficult.
If I say I wanted to meet her, Karmeut will arrange it right away.

…the problem is that I didn't even know what to do after we met.

…so not yet, for the time being! I won't meet the heroine until I come up with a plan!

As I hardened my heart, I snatched the letter from the maid’s hand.
Then I flew to the fireplace and dropped the letter inside.

“Rai, Rainelle-nim?!”

Watching the paper burn down from the fire elevated my mood.

Good! The evidence that the letter came is gone with this! So there’s no need to reply!

Of course, it's just blindfolding myself, but what can I do if I don't want to see her?! I haven't come up with a solution yet.
There’s a chance that she could snatch Karmeut! And will I let that happen? Of course not!

Recalling the fact that I am the only one who can protect Karmeut from the original heroine's magic(?), I vowed:
Take down the heroine! I won't let Karmeut be taken away! I'm not going to let her!

***

 Notes:

1  Valhalla: Afterlife in Norse mythology↩