CH 45

*Rainelle’s POV

Seeing Karmeut's expression brighten up at those words, I scratched my cheek with my index finger awkwardly.

Well, since Karmeut made such a face... I think it's a good thing that I made this decision... right?

***

3rd person POV

Walking in the hallway of the palace with a relaxed walk was the First Prince who became a rightful heir through Bozcourt. A crow was sitting on his shoulder as he was walking leisurely without an accompanying escort knight, attendant, or servant.

A shining sapphire necklace was hanging on the neck of the crow, who was looking around with her purple eyes.

As if not to worry the crow sitting on his shoulder, the prince reached out his hand and stroked her wing softly. The crow responded by gently rubbing her beak against his finger.

His steps stopped. It was a place where two fully armed knights were guarding a gorgeous, large door. To the knights who gazed at him, he opened his mouth,

"I have come to see His Majesty the Emperor."

At that, the knight on the right nodded his head slightly and knocked on the door. Then he opened his mouth and raised his voice,

"Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince has visited."

"-Come in."

When permission was heard from inside, the prince was allowed to enter the room. Leaving behind the door that gently closed behind him, Karmeut slowly moved his steps towards the bed.

"Here you are, the next emperor."

The Emperor was sitting on the bed with a face that looked more sickly than when he was seen in Bozcourt last time.

Was it because the existence that had always been strong showed such an appearance? Karmeut’s footsteps stopped momentarily.

"Don't look at me so strangely like this. Because it's only a given."

Seeing the Emperor maintaining a calm attitude and saying that it was a given, the prince continued to approach him. Karmeut felt a strange sensation in his chest, but he didn't reveal it.

...but could the Emperor notice that? Because the Emperor laughed and changed the topic,

"Hum, there must be a reason why you brought your beloved pet crow."

Hearing that, Karmeut realized that the Emperor knew everything. Of course, he had guessed it to some extent since Myrdin came to him, so Karmeut answered with a smile on his face,

"Yes, wouldn't it be better to introduce her to you directly?"

Saying that, he patted the crow on the back and softly called out "Rainelle."

The crow let out a small cry and gently fly off his shoulder. The crow soon changed her appearance.

Even though he saw the crow transformed into the form of a young lady in a black feather dress, it was hard to find any surprised emotion on the Emperor's face. Rather, he looked at her, his eyes slightly glimmered with intrigue, and then he opened his mouth with a smile,

"Oh, what a beautiful girl. So, is your name Rainelle?"

"Yes, that’s right... No, yes, it is."

The emperor laughed at her who was awkwardly speaking formally and bending her waist while grabbing the hem of her skirt. Then he waved his hand and said,

"I've heard that human etiquette is awkward, so take it easy. But it will be helpful to learn it from now on. That's what my son meant by introducing me to a young lady."

Saying that, the Emperor's expression as he looked at Karmeut with a meaningful gaze was mischievous. Then he spoke as if he had never known before,

"I thought it was surprising that he came to Luwellin just for one pet, no matter how much he cherished it. I didn’t know there’s such a wonderful reason."

"Didn't you guess?"

Karmeut's eyes were fixed on Rainelle as he responded calmly to the emperor's words. His gaze was soft and sweet while Rainelle was busy wiggling her joined fingers as she was still awkward.

The Emperor watched the two, but his gaze was not like an emperor’s. As he looked at Rainelle and Karmeut with sharp eyes that it was unbelievable that he was in his bed, he opened his mouth with a smirk in his voice.

"Yeah, that's right. Anyway, seeing you come here to tell me this puts my heart at ease. Now I can relax and leave."

"You are leaving?"

The Emperor responded calmly to Rainelle's question.

"It's a trip to my wife's side. A trip everyone will take at least once."

Rainelle's expression clouded as if she understood the meaning of those words. Seeing this, the Emperor shook his head and said,

"You don't have to make such a face. It's a natural thing. A reliable successor has been decided, there is no disturbing movement inside or outside the Empire, and there is a young girl who has been brought in by the successor to be introduced. There is nothing to worry about, so why afraid of leaving? "

The Emperor, who had spoken up to that point, coughed. He coughed and coughed for a while, so he took a moment to catch his breath, then, unlike his completely ill face, he spoke with a calm expression on his face.

"It's only natural for wolves to find their mates."

Rainelle kept her mouth shut. Then, abruptly, she returned to her original form. The crow flapped her wings lightly and landed on the bed. Then she politely bowed her head and lightly rubbed her beak against the Emperor's dry fingers.

The Emperor, who blinked slowly at her action, smiled and stroked the crow's head lightly.

The crow, who had been quietly receiving the touch of his hand, spread her wings when he had retracted his hand. Then she flew over to Karmeut and landed on his shoulder. The Emperor, who watched that, turned his head towards his son.

"I understand why you introduced her. You want her to be officially acknowledged by me?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Seeing the prince nodding his head firmly, the Emperor shut his mouth. The Emperor was silent for a while, then he spoke slowly, but in a voice full of power,

"It is not human beings who can stand by the emperor. Of course, if you are a woman from a noble family, the best choice would be from a noble family because you will gain support. However, which wolf chose its companion while looking at the surroundings? If it's worth defending, protect it with your own strength. Aren't you already a wolf?"

The prince's body flinched and shook at those words.

"You don't need my approval. You're going to be the ruler of this empire from now on, so what's the point if a dying man approves it? If it's yours, if it's worth protecting, risk your life for it."

The prince turned his head and looked at the crow sitting on his shoulder. She looked back at him with blinking purple clear eyes. The prince, who watched the crow tilting her head while making a small cry, turned his gaze back to the Emperor.

The emperor, his father, was looking at him. He suddenly realized from the eyes of his old father looking at his younger, stronger, and more alive child.

He thought that the Emperor's approval would allow him to keep Rainelle safer. ...but it wasn't.

He no longer needed the Emperor's permission or approval. ...because he didn't need the power of others to protect his precious things, and he had enough power.

"...it was a stupid act."

"I'm glad you realized it now."

It was a reproachful remark, but the voice was soft. Is that why? The prince plucked up his courage and spoke,

"...Father."

"It's been a long time since you called me that."

The emperor’s eyes narrowed and his murmur of "It's been a while," felt somewhat distant as if he was recalling the past.

"I will protect them with all my might. What Father has protected, and what I want to protect.”

"It won't be easy. It's unreasonable to defend a huge empire on your own. That's why there are nobles."

"To make them believe in me, isn't it something I have to do on my own?"

"Yes, yes. Then how are you going to protect what you want to protect?"

"...I will do everything I can to protect it."

At those words, the Emperor looked into Karmeut's eyes. A satisfied smile spread across the Emperor's lips as he stared at the firm, shining golden eyes.

"---Any wolf should be like that."

The Emperor, who was smiling satisfactorily, turned his gaze to the crow. Then he beckoned to the crow.

The bird that symbolized death flew gently and landed on the emperor's hand. The emperor said as he stroked her incredibly smooth feathers with his other hand,

"Among my sons, he's the first to introduce a woman to me. So I want you to feel proud and hold my son firmly."

Hearing those words, the crow momentarily lost her center and stumbled.

"Kkak"

The emperor grinned and laughed mischievously at the crow's action of flapping her wings while making a strange sound.

"It's just a routine that our family is weak against their mates. Karmeut will be happy to listen to you, so feel free to play around with him. He will be more than happy."

Perhaps quite embarrassed, the crow's purple eyes shook like there was an earthquake. The emperor, who laughed pleasantly at the sight, waved lightly.

The emperor then said in a soft voice while looking at the prince and the crow, who had flown up with her wings reflexively to Karmeut’s shoulder,

“There is nothing I can do for you, but I will bless your future.”

Having said that, the Emperor leaned his back on the head of the bed as if he was tired, so the prince bowed his head. Then, quietly, he left the room with the crow on his shoulder.

The Emperor, watching his son to the end, closed his eyes and let out a long sigh.

---Now it seemed that there’s nothing left for me to worry about. A successor was decided, and I met someone who would become my successor's companion.

...and if it's Karmeut, he'll take good care of his sister Sepia.

Now, I can go see her.

Feeling the calm sinking of his heart, the Emperor laid himself on the bed. ---His end was coming, but he wasn't afraid at all. Beyond the end, the person he had been longing for so long will be waiting.

***

*Rainelle’s POV

"Karmeut...euu!"

I couldn't pretend I didn't see his action of avoiding my gaze slowly.

I can’t believe it! I didn't hate it, but still!!

"Why did I become like Karmeut's mate..."

Hah, my head hurts so much that my head is pounding.

As I puckered my lips while massaging my temples, Karmeut scratched his cheek and asked,

"...you don’t like it?"

"Rather than dislike, it’s too sudden. I wasn't prepared mentally, and..."

"...and?"

I was going to answer, but I stopped.

Obviously, it wasn't that I hated Karmeut. But do I like it? To be introduced as his future companion?

…I couldn't say yes without worrying about that part.

Yeah, of course Karmeut is a really cool guy. He is handsome, of high status, and has a lot of money because he is the next emperor of the empire. And he's nice to me too, has a good personality, and he's got a mountain of ability. But...

...is it okay if I like him?

Of course he's so cool, so kind, so capable, and even so handsome that it's strange not to fall in love with him. He's perfect.

...but what if the original heroine appears after this? And, what if the original heroine chose Karmeut as her target?

If so, what will happen to me? As a crow, will I not appear as the background character 1?

The idea kept me speechless. What did Karmeut think when he saw me like this? His golden eyes seemed to shake.

"...am I the only one who thought so?"

I raised my head at the trembling voice. I felt sorry for the golden eyes that shook so much. For some reason, my heart pounded when I saw him so anxious, which I could say, it was the first time I saw him like that. It wasn’t a pleasant pounding. Rather, it was heavy and made me nervous-

"No, no. It's absolutely not the case."

My heart ached at the sight, and I hurriedly denied it. I took a small deep breath as I placed my hand on my beating chest.

...I like him.

However, because of the existence of the original heroine who will appear in the future, I was afraid to reveal my heart.

In the worst case, I might disappear just like that.

That worry made my body tremble.

Still, still...

Just a little bit, can I tell him? Just a little bit so that things don't deviate too much from the original.

"I don't hate Karmeut. You’ve done so many things for me. You risked your life, didn’t you? It'll be strange that I don't like you. Me too, I also think Karmeut is precious."

"Then...!"

"But... I don't know if I love you. I’m sure you’re precious, but... but whether you’re precious as a member of the opposite sex or as a family... Honestly, I don't know. I'm sorry."

I was nervous. Karmeut might leave me in disappointment. But... still, when I think of the things he did for me, even if I can't reveal everything, it was the right thing to be honest to some extent. That was the least I could do. But, nonetheless...

I couldn't bear to face Karmeut's eyes, so I lowered my head. The silence between us was very uncomfortable, but I didn't have the courage to break it first.

"Rainelle."