CH 68

*3rd person POV

The banquet continued grandly and splendidly. The banquet, which lasted for 15 days, was a valuable time in itself.

Interacting with powerful people from other countries, unmarried young couple divulging their partners, and people dancing and chatting with others in order to gain favor. Those who liked to spend time outside were finding spots in the garden.

Of course, there were popular people who were targeted by other guests. Among the targeted people were Marquis Namuel, an heir of a duke, and Sir Windster, the commander of the Knights Templar. Both were young, capable, and unmarried, making them the target of girls.

But some never be touched, and those were the Emperor and Rainelle. The Emperor didn't give any space to others at all, and Rainelle doesn’t give any attention when other nobles or royalty approached her.

Therefore, Rainelle was able to pass through the banquet smoothly, contrary to her expectations. It wasn’t easy, but it was to the point of boring.

*Rainelle’s POV

Ah, I'm bored

I'm bored, I'm bored! I'm bored!!

Fancy banquet? It sounds good! Unless I'm a person with a diamond spoon, there's no way I'll ever be able to dress up like a high-class person in a pretty dress, laughing haha​​hoho, dancing, and even eating such delicious food, right?

But, after only a day or two... it's boring! It’s boring to spend the whole day like this for a full 15 days! Above all else, I am tired.

I feel like my face muscles are going to get stiff because I keep smiling! Besides, what's with these people?! Not only do noble men approach me from time to time, but there are also noble maidens approaching Karmeut!

Ugh... I hate banquets... I want to go back to my crow form... I want to sit down and eat cookies...

I was tired, so my body was limp. The chair was soft in its own way, so I began to droop as I lean myself on it...

---hah! I feel like I'm getting chills!!

As I turned my head around, I met a fierce gaze. Crap! It is Madame Fangxia!!

Those eyes are staring at me as if they are about to eat me! They are no different from those of wild beasts! Argh! She’s going to eat me up!!

I straightened his posture while suppressing the hiccups that were about to come out.

Straighten your back, me! If I don't get my posture right, I might get eaten! I might end up becoming crow meat and be presented on the table!!

The survival instinct stabbed my body.

I, I have to live! And don't make eye contact! If we met each other’s eyes, it might get harder!!

When I straightened my posture and covered my mouth with my fan, I felt the fierce gaze disappear.

Did, did she left?

I carefully looked in Madame Fangxia’s direction. Perhaps satisfied with my behavior, the lady nodded her head slightly with a soft smile on her lips, then she started talking with the other ladies beside her.

Sigh... I, I lived...

Along with the sigh of relief that I was able to live, I felt sad about my situation.

Argh! I’m a crow, y’know!! It's too much pressure to be polite all day long like this! Of course, I used to be a human, but that was before!!

No! Even when I was a human, I had never smiled so gracefully in a dress like this! That only appears in dramas and movies!!

I’m really, really, very, very, very dissatisfied!

I had many complaints, but I didn’t dare to convey any of them to Madame Fangxia.

Of course, if I don't like it, Karmeut will side with me, but... 'If the person by His Majesty’s side is not dignified, it will be like smearing dirt on His Majesty’s face.' How can I refute that extremely principled saying!

I thought that as I took a deep breath.

I wish this boring banquet would be over soon! ...By the way, this banquet will last for 15 days, right? Then maybe my wish won’t come true.

Ah ah ah ah... Why is the banquet so long... Haa, if it's like this, I have to eat cookies!

I headed towards the table where the food was placed. Karmeut was dealing with other nobles. The banquet was not necessarily a place to dance while talking hahahaha with the young girls. It was also a place where nobles can interact with each other. Besides, there were people from other kingdoms, so it will be even busier.

Well, seeing that, complaining when I'm free now may make me sound like I'm a grumbler. Young noble men were trying to get attention from me somehow, but Namuel and Galenos were adequately blocking them, so I don't have to worry about it.

I could feel the eyes of noble ladies on me though. The gazes were burdensome, but I did not avoid them.

I'm confident! …I have to hypnotize myself.

Some of them had sharp gazes. ...why?! ...well, I don’t really know why.

My heart pounded when I remembered the scenes that I often saw in novels.

Ooooh, is this what extra character's jealousy is?!

Like, ‘If it's not for you, I can win the male lead - or the man I love- !’, and ‘That naughty girl!!’ Would they think like that?! Oh oh oh! To think it really happened in real life!!

It felt kind of strange. I was already in a female-oriented game, but by indirectly experiencing such clichés, I do feel like a character…?

In cases like this, it was very typical for one person to come forward and say something sarcastic. I looked around to see if there was anyone who could argue with me.

But unfortunately(?), those people were only glancing while seeming to have no intention of talking to me.

It was a relief, but I’m kind of disappointed. Was it just my feelings?

No, no. This is better than going through something nuisance, right?

Thanks to the fact that they didn't talk to me, I can head to the plates of cookies. The chef seemed to have done his best as there were various kinds of cookies here.

When I saw them, my mouth watered. There were also a lot of cookies that I liked, so I couldn't help myself.

Admiring the chef's extraordinary sense, I reached out to a cookie plate. Then, I was about to break the cookies with my hands as usual. It was easier to eat the cookie if I break it into pieces whether when I was in human form or crow form.

But I stopped myself.

Um, what if Madame Fangxia says that this too is not a decent behavior?!

I glanced around, looking for Madame Fangxia’s figure. ...and it wasn't long before I found her.

...Oh really! I hope you don't look at me like that!!

How can you see me with a gaze that is more terrifying than a tiger’s?! No, even tigers don't stare at me like that all the time! Uuu... I'm scared of Madame Fangxia...!!

Ugh, at least tigers like boxes just like cats, and they show affection for the keeper who they've been with since they were little!

I held up the cookie, feeling the sensation of being slapped with a whip that was invisible from Madame Fangxia's gaze... Then, to make it appear as if I was eating with the utmost modesty, grace, and dignity, I nibbled on it with the smallest bites I could.

Aah... it's delicious..!! Something so delicious should be eaten with my mouth wide open! To think that I have to gently nibble this delicious thing little by little! Ahhh!!

I prayed with tears in my eyes (inside).

Please, please!! Let the banquet end soon! I don't care which God it is, please grant my wish!!

***

*3rd person POV

Rainelle was shedding tears of blood inside, but perhaps since the education from Countess Fangxia was so strict, Rainelle’s expression remained the same.

...But there were bound to be those who broke her boredom and the Emperor’s composure.

"...Um... Miel? Don't you want to enjoy the banquet?"

"The most important thing is Rainelle-nim."

"Still, you’re a great Elementalist who has signed contracts with all four major spirits. Other nobles will also want to talk to you."

Miel didn't answer, he only shook his head and gave a faint smile to reply to Rainelle’s words, so she had to give up.

Namuel and Galenos, who were watching them, felt anxious.

It can be seen that the Emperor was not pleased with Miel’s behavior, like he was saying: “How dare you act so brazenly.”

Even though their conversation was pretty ordinary, Namuel and Galenos couldn't easily intervene. Although Miel’s action was like someone who followed a noble lady without a break to get closer, there was the Emperor by Rainelle’s side.

"Marquis Miel, you won’t try enjoying the banquet? There might be someone among them who can be your companion."

"...I don't think any lady would be attracted to me, someone who had just become a nobleman. Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty the Emperor."

There was nothing wrong with Miel's words of polite refusal. Although he was a great Elementalist who signed contracts high-leveled all four major spirits, he really had just become a nobleman.

Moreover, he was not a commoner in the past, but a slave. What kind of noble girl would approach such a person?

Above all, nobles valued dignity. So an Elementalist who was a slave in the past was seen as someone not worth dealing with to those nobles.

Besides, as he had just become a noble, the others didn’t fully grasp his background, whether he was simply a working slave or a sex slave. They were careful to approach him.

Karmeut had no choice but to keep his mouth shut at the prevailing sentiment.

Karmeut: '...I'm having a headache.'

*Karmeut’s POV

A slave in the past? That’s fine. He has great talents and can be distinguished. Not being able to enjoy the banquet is also understandable because slaves who became nobles were not seen in a good light.

Although Karmeut knew those facts, he couldn't bear to let Miel approach Rainelle more than necessary.

The problem is that there’s no way to remove him.

And so? Karmeut wrapped his hand around Rainelle around her waist and pulled her closer to him. Then he narrowed his golden eyes.

"This is a banquet hall. All participants leave their weapons before entering the Imperial Palace... So, Marquis, what you are worried about won't happen."

Karmeut's eyes were not smiling as he buried his face in Rainelle's neck, who wriggled in embarrassment. When the Emperor's blatant warning made him feel life-threatened, Miel took a step back.

"…I apologize for disturbing Your Majesty by acting too much. But Rainelle-nim is a lifesaver for me. It's terrible to think that something bad might happen to her..."

"...I see. I understand what you wanted to say."

Karmeut nodded. He, too, might have been digested in orcs’ stomachs without Rainelle's help.

But he won’t let Miel approach Rainelle just because he understood. So Karmeut hugged Rainelle even tighter.

At the Emperor's attitude, Miel fixed his pink eyes on him and Rainelle. Miel couldn't approach her because of the Emperor's words, but his eyes never showed that he gave up.

Despite having those eyes, Miel bowed to them, then he slowly began to retreat. Looking at his figure with satisfaction, Karmeut took a deep breath.

...the familiar odor from the tip of his nose brought a smile to his lips.

*Rainelle’s POV

I'm at a loss right now! Very frustrating!! It's all good! I don't know why they're having a strange nerve war, but they did! Oh, it’s up to them though! You two can do it! However...!!

...everything here is fine, so let me off of it!!

As Karmeut, the Emperor, is hugging me tightly, everyone's eyes were focused on us.

So the burden is 100 times greater! What are you going to do with all this attention? Ugh! Look at the people whispering over there!!

"Karmeu... no, Your Majesty the Emperor. Can you let me go?"

I spoke respectfully while looking around and. ...I don't think it was okay to call him ‘Karmeut’ when all these eyes were on me.

Anyway, I finally looked at Karmeut, hoping that he would let me go, but I saw that his golden eyes were shining with playfulness.

"Hmm. You are rejecting me, Rainelle?"

"How dare I reject Your Majesty the Emperor?"

"Then stay like this."

...he’s enjoying this now. He’s enjoying this!! He’s doing it right now because he knew I can't move by myself since other people are watching!!

I muttered to myself as I thought that I would get revenge(?) later.

Well, I don't hate it... but should you show off like this?! You always tease me!

I like that Karmeut's arms are reliable, wide, and warm, but I’m embarrassed! My face is not thick enough to be held in the arms of a handsome man in front of others!!

I was more used to being hugged as a crow. Being in this position was difficult for me.

Uh, I have to get out of this place somehow! But how do I get out?! Is there no other choice than to turn into a crow?!!

Considering that there was no doubt that Madame Fangxia would scold me, it was an option I could never choose.

But more than being scolded, I want to run away from the current situation! Ok, fine! I will transform! I will transform and fly away---!!

"Your Majesty, Rainelle-nim. Would any of you like something to drink?"

Suddenly, two glasses of drinks came into view.

"...Marquis Miel?"

With a gentle, pretty smile, I tried to reply to Miel, who had come with glasses,

"Oh, thank you. I just happened to be thirsty---"

But before I could end my reply, Karmeut reached out and took a glass. He handed me the glass and then he took the other one that was in Miel's hand.

Seeing Karmeut’s action, Miel's pink eyes gleamed strangely.

...Ugh---! I feel like I'm sitting on a cushion of thorns! No, why is there such a strange atmosphere when these two just face each other?!

In the original game, wasn't it loyalty? ----Didn’t they have a relationship of a capable Elementalist and an Emperor who trusted him?!