CH 86

*Rainelle’s POV

He seemed puzzled by my behavior, but Karmeut didn't say anything. Rather, he narrowed his eyes and a faint smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, like he was not in a bad mood.

I'm glad he isn't feeling down.

Thinking so, I looked around carefully.

Unlike his days as a prince, his office seemed bigger and more spacious.

Well, isn’t it obvious? It is difficult to compare the amount or the scale of the work that an emperor handles and the work that a prince handles.

Still, this is a little too… too fancy. Is this a place that was used as the office of the emperor for generations?

Maybe it was because of the crow's instinct, or it was because there were so many shiny jewels and precious metals, but I felt itchy.

...Hah! No, I decided not to cause any trouble!!

I glanced at the papers piled up like a mountain. ...I think they’ll fly in all directions if I flap my wings even once. No! I can’t do that!! Really, that would be a big trouble!!

I was afraid that I might accidentally scatter the documents. So I slowly crept down on Karmeut's arm.

"What is it, Rainelle? Are you going?"

Yes. I don't think I'll be able to forgive myself if I cause an accident while I'm here.

I nodded my head while thinking like that. Then Karmeut also nodded his head softly.

"Yeah, okay. But Rainelle, you can come to the office to play if you want."

---really? I would be happy, but with so many documents, I'm afraid...

I alternately looked at the mountain of documents and Karmeut. His golden eyes were gleaming with seriousness.

---Ugh, I don't want to come here because it's burdensome, but if I shake my head here, he’ll look like a puppy in the rain, right?

So I nodded my head slightly. Then Karmeut's expression brightened. He reached out his hand and hugged me gently. This made me feel squished, but it felt good.

The corners of his eyes curled softly when he lightly rubbed my beak and cheek. Looking at his eyes, I spread my wings and flew. As I whizzed through the window to avoid the mountain of documents, I could feel a sad gaze following me.

Sorry, Karmeut. I don't know how to read documents, and I don't want to cause trouble, so my absence is better ...maybe.

I'm not running away because I'm burdened by the stares of the servants!

Flying is more fun! I am a happy crow!! I'm a lucky crow who solved my troubles well!!

Admiring my luck, I swallowed nuts.

Wow, delicious!! If I was a parrot, I would have grabbed it with my feet and chewed it. It's a pity that I can't because I’m a crow!!

I had a slightly useless thought that parrots are better, considering what they eat. Then, like usual, I started picking at my feathers as I thought of Aria.

Aria said it was already a blessing to become a frequent visitor to the Imperial Palace... but wouldn't it be better to help her get along well with Namuel more?

...Um, y’know, no matter how faithful she is, Karmeut has so many charms, right? So, is there any guarantee that she won't look away from Namuel in the middle?

Thinking like that, I started to get anxious again. No, but Aria's eyes were full of will, weren’t they...?

Agh! No!! I shouldn't be careless! I shouldn’t be complacent! I will protect my man! Who else will protect him!!

Thinking so, I put strength to my fists, no, to my feet.

I will defend Karmeut!!

---Oh, then the next time Aria comes, I should bring it up.

Wouldn't she be grateful if I told her I would help more? Maybe because Namuel sees me as a crow, he's loosening his wall a bit.

Oh, and I'll have to think about why I'm going to summon Aria. Karmeut would grant permission if I wanted it, but still, there should be a plausible reason, right?

---But I soon realized that my worries were nothing. I have no idea what I was worried about.

Can't I just call her out and ask to drink tea together? Long live tea time! Hooray! This is a free pass!!

How nice it is that this place is not in the modern era, but in a medieval-like time inside an otome game!

Inwardly ecstatic, I picked up a dried fruit and swallowed it.

I should send a letter tomorrow and invite Aria here. And it would be good to discuss how to attack Namuel. Wouldn't it be nice to have a sister and a brother-in-law if Aria has a relationship with Namuel? Good, good~

***

After sending the letter, the meeting with Aria came in a flash. It had only been a few days since we last met, but she seemed a bit different.

"...why do you look like that?"

---Aria's face could be expressed in one word: Frustrated.

With a completely frustrated expression on her face, I could even feel an unknown force as she mechanically chewed the cookies.

"...I met Namuel while on my way here... haa."

I thought I know what was going on. Namuel had so many events that he was said to be the true male lead, but he was also difficult to attack. I knew his initial reaction even if Aria didn't say anything.

"Uh-huhu---!! I thought I got used to it by having attacked him countless times, but when I actually experienced it for real, the blow is no joke..."

Um, well... I think I can understand. When I remembered the vigilance and hostility Karmeut had when we first met, I feel a bit nauseous.

"Huhu (crying)... so I have a request..."

"---? What is it?"

"Please return to your crow form! Healing... I need healing---!!"

Her eyes were moist. If I refuse here, I think she'll cry.

Ugh, I feel the pressure!!

While having a cold sweat, I sneaked away from her gaze, but Aria's eyes persistently followed me.

...Urgh, I lost. I feel bad seeing her depressed in my own way, and it would be a problem if she said: "I give up on attacking Namuel because of this!"

I returned to my crow form. As I sat on the table and looked at Aria, her gloomy expression already receded.

"Ha-haa-oh my God... Uuu, that's so cool---!!"

"..."

"I, I want to touch you---!! I want to pet you---!!"

...here it goes. I had a feeling it would be like this. As long as I returned to being a crow, I had prepared myself for this as well.

With that in mind, I walked up to Aria with frequent steps. Then I lowered my head slightly to make it easier for her to caress me.

"Oh God---!! Can, can I touch you?!"

You’d better pet me before I change my mind. When I looked at Aria with that in mind, ---her cheeks were blushing.

Aria swallowed her saliva, then she began to raise her trembling hand. I stood still even when her hand touched my back. Aria began to gently sweep my back.

"Uu, smooth and soft---!!"

Yeah, it's smooth and soft, isn't it? How hard had I taken care of my feathers every day! Hmmm!

Thinking like that, I puffed out my chest. The corners of Aria's lips slowly rose. Then she reached out her other hand and began to rub my wings with two hands.

Oh, oh oh oh---!! You’re good at it---!!

Her hands, which were gently stroking my head, back, and wings, were so skillful that I became relaxed. But when Aria's hand crept under my wings, I came to my senses.

"Kakk!! (Not there!!)"

That’s a place where even Karmeut didn’t touch!!

Thinking so, I cawed loudly.

Aria pouted and mumbled,

"Sheesh. I was thinking of touching the underside of the warm, fluffy wings."

"Kkak!! (No way!!)"

Aria licked her lips as she clenched and scraped the table with her nails. Then she opened her eyes slightly wide as if she had remembered something, and she asked a question,

"Don’t tell me, Karmeut hasn't touched that spot?"

Yes! He hasn't touched it!

As I nodded with that meaning, Aria shook her head.

"Ha... There is no spot as good as that one, but Karmeut didn't know. Should I tell him about it?"

It was slightly tempting. But I quickly shook my head.

Think about it! The underside of my wings is my armpits, right?! That’s embarrassing in many ways!

I cawed and cawed while repeating “never” in my head. When I cawed while shaking my head vigorously like that, Aria tilted her head. Then she seemed to realize it.

"Oh! Aaah!! I'm sorry. I was only thinking about how wonderful the stroking is."

Right? You didn't mean anything, did you? Then I'll forgive you!

I thought like that and nodded my head, and Aria smiled a little too. She then lowered her shoulders and asked,

"By the way, didn't you say you have something to tell me? What's going on?"

Oh yeah! I called her because I had something to say! Right!

Like that, I quickly changed to a human and returned to my seat.

"Ah, that's... Maybe I can help."

"...help? What?"

"Attacking Namuel."

Aria’s blue eyes twinkled at those words, but she then responded with an embarrassed face,

"Of course, I would be really happy if you did... but it's my job to build the favorable feelings, isn't it? Unless I do my best, Namuel won't like me..."

"Yeah, that’s Aria’s job. There's no way I can force Namuel to like anyone."

"...then?"

"Uh... didn't I tell you? Uh, come to think of it, I didn't tell you, huh."

"Tell me?"

"You know that I can turn into a human, but my nature is a crow, right?"

"Yeah. A cute and dashing crow---!!"

I felt a sense of crisis at Aria's behavior of wiggling her fingers.

No! If I let her say anything more from here, she'll ask me to return to my crow form and things will be troublesome!

"Um, um!! Maybe that's why, but Namuel isn't very wary of me. I was surprised too. He smiled faintly the first time I saw him..."

"What?!"

I nodded my head because I understand Aria’s reaction of jumping up from her seat as she raised her voice.

Yeah, I know how you feel... I was also so surprised at first.

"Ahhh!! I can’t believe you saw that rare smile!! I can’t believe he smiled as soon as you saw him!! I envy you!!!"

...She looked as if she was really shedding tears of blood. Aria, who looked at me like things were unfair and she was envious of me, exclaimed,

"Change!! Body change!! No, let's exchange our souls!!"

"W-what?!"

"I'm so envious of that body! It's not enough to be a dignified, cool, cute, and lovely crow, you also saw Namuel's smile on your first meeting! You've got it all!!"

“No, no!! But you want to become a crow?!”

"I hope so!! Huhu--!! Is it because crows are charming birds? Ugh, I can understand, but it doesn’t mean I’m not envious---!! Uu!! How nice would it have been if I had entered the body of a crow instead of the heroine---!!"

"..."

...you don’t know anything.

But she had a face that looked like she was really about to shed blood and tears, so I can’t say anything...

No, no… thinking about it makes me a little mad?!

"Hey! You don’t know how much I suffered being a crow! You don't know how hard it was to be a real 100% crow! Not being able to change into a human from the beginning!!"

"Rai, Rainelle?"

“It was my first time flying, so I was very scared! I’m worried if I would have to eat insects! My wing got pierced by a Gnoll, and that fucking bastard named Luwellin broke my wing! Don’t say it if you don’t know anything!"

I couldn't hold back my emotions. After pouring them out, I regained my mind.

Ah! I didn't mean to say this!!

An uncomfortable silence fell between us. As I hesitated, feeling as if I had just brought up something unnecessary, Aria opened her mouth,

"I'm sorry Rainelle, for saying something like that without knowing anything."

"Oh, no, that's..."

"I was jealous that Namuel smiled the first time you met him... I'll never say that again."

Aria lowered her head while saying that with seriousness, so I was rather embarrassed.

"Ah, no, I'm sorry I lost my temper too."

Aria smiled faintly when I said that.

"Thank you for accepting my apology."

"No. I was wrong too. Anyway, Namuel isn’t very wary of me, so I think I can help you... What do you think?"

Aria was silent for a moment, then she said,

"It would be nice for you to help, but... in what way?"

"Leave that to me."

I pounded my chest as she said that.

Leave it to me! Nothing to worry about!

"I'm quick-witted and sensible, you know?"

"...I feel anxious all of a sudden."

"What are you saying? I'm acting like this out of kindness. I only have a pure wish that you can get along with Namuel soon!"

Yes, of course! I'm doing it with a very pure heart! Well, I mostly did it to defend Karmeut... but it would be fine!

When I laughed while saying that, Aria’s eyes shook nervously, but I didn't see it. I didn't see it!