Chapter 57

*Baron Guillaume’s POV

Crows.

A kind of bird that flies in search of death, eating corpses, and making unpleasant eerie squeals like scraping sounds of metal.

If it was before the coronation ceremony of the current Emperor, it was a bird that Baron Guillaume would not help but despise. However, after the shocking coronation ceremony, the bird was no longer a stranger among the nobles.

In front of him was the crow favored by the Emperor and was the one that appeared at the coronation ceremony. If the person hadn’t seen a bird with both the appearance of a human and a crow, the person would have heard of it. The rumors spread quickly.

Baron Guillaume was the former. He had personally seen a crow transform into a human. His shock at that time was immense!

How can I explain the possessiveness I felt at the time when the bird I thought was only ominous changed into a beautiful and alluring figure that I couldn't find anywhere else?

However, at the same time, I thought that it was not suitable unless it was an emperor’s because it’s so beautiful and rare, so I could easily suppress my possessive desire.

But that doesn't mean that he doesn't feel sorry for himself, so he went to the slave market with the slave he loved and went to buy the slave he liked.

Baron Guillaume swallowed his saliva and looked carefully at the crow.

—It is wearing a gold necklace with sapphire on it. If my memory wasn't wrong, I'm sure…

"Marquis Namuel. I'll take the liberty of asking. Is that crow…"

"Your prediction is correct. It is the bird that His Majesty especially cherishes."

"Well then…! Can you show me the evidence?!"

The Baron went on to say while stroking away his cold sweat with the back of his hand. The appearance of the crow and the subsequent appearance of Marquis Namuel could not be taken lightly.

Even now, Marquis Namuel was still looking at the crow and paying attention to it

…that said, there’s a very high possibility that the crow is really the Emperor's bird. But that doesn't mean the situation is bad.

Slaves are always the property of their masters. Of course, since there is no reason to oppose the greater power, it is not bad to bow my head and sacrifice my slave, but he’s too precious for me to do so. Yes, unless the Emperor himself is involved, there is no need for me to hand this slave over to anyone.

After all, a noble is a noble. Whether they have power or not, they could claim the basic rights of nobles.

And so, Baron Guillaume clenched his fists as he uttered words that might have been reckless.

*3rd person POV

Hearing his words, Namuel narrowed his brows as if he was displeased. Namuel was a noble with so little influence that he could be not remembered immediately. Of course, he was indifferent about it since he was a wizard, and the influential nobles were essentially familiar with his appearance and basic information. But…

‘He recognizes His Majesty's bird, but he still dares to question it?’

With that thought in mind, Namuel began to ponder how to cook the nobleman in front of him.

"Caaw!"

A cry was heard. Not only the two men’s eyes, but the eyes of those who were away of some distance were also drawn to the crow.

Namuel shook his head at the sight of the crow who cawed as she tilted her head.

"…No, Rainelle-nim. You don't have to show yourself."

As Namuel spoke to the crow politely, Baron Guillaume's complexion and the faces of the onlookers changed.

The baron's face grew whiter little by little, but the majority of the onlookers said, “isn't that guy crazy?”, which was a very natural attitude.

Baron Guillaume: ‘Who would be polite to a mere corpse-eating ravenous bird? Is this the Emperor’s bird? Ha! No way!’

The crow clenched her beak in dissatisfaction. Then, in the next moment, something happened that surprised everyone present.

It was because the crow's body grew large in an instant, and the bird soon changed into a human figure.

The appearance of a beautiful woman in a dress made of black feathers shocked everyone, including the slave who was beaten.

"Rainelle-nim…"

Namuel, the only one who was not surprised, called the crow, no, the woman, as if worried. But Rainelle responded by shaking her head.

“Now you believe?”

"Yes! I'm sorry for being rude!!"

Baron Guillaume lowered his head so much until he almost hit the ground and shouted.

Baron Guillaume: ‘It really is, truly, His Majesty's bird!

The bird was so beautiful and rare that he didn't even dare to touch her.

Savoring the feeling of being thoroughly betrayed by his own doubt that remained in the corner of his heart, the baron’s body shook.

Noting that the being in front of him would be the next Empress, he warned himself not to act rude.

Baron Guillaume: ‘But because of my petty pride and selfishness that I don't want to lose this slave, I had already done something rude!!’

The baron's face was drenched in cold sweats as his body shook in fear of what punishment he would receive. His face turned white, then blue, then purple.

"Hey, why were you beating him?"

A clear voice reached his ears. The baron, who raised his head, leaned back in surprise and fell on his butt. It was because Rainelle, had come close, squatted, and was looking down at him before he realized it.

"That, that, that, that—!! Um, slave, without knowing gratefulness, tried to run away…"

"—Can't he run away?"

"Slaves belong to their owners, Rainelle-nim. It is unacceptable for an object to run away on their own will."

Namuel explained on behalf of the bewildered, stuttering baron.

Namuel's gaze went downwards and then turned to the slave who was watching them carefully.

*Namuel’s POV

Among slaves, looking like that, he should be classified as a special product from the highest class. The skin is fine except where he was hit.

And, seeing that there are no calluses, he is probably a sex slave…

He looked quite smart, and seeing that he was accustomed to the treatment, he might have been a slave from birth.

When he thought about it that far, he seemed to understand why the baron was whipping him. He was brought up after great ‘care’, but he dared to dream of escaping, so it was bound that the baron would be angry.

No one would even care if his head was to be cut off on the spot. To slaves, freedom was not an area where they were not allowed to dream unless their master gives it to them.

But Rainelle didn't seem to understand. As she frowned, she said,

"Isn’t he human?"

"He’s a slave."

"That human, the humans watching, Namuel, and that person all look the same. Then why?"

Namuel, who was momentarily speechless at those words, shut his mouth. Rainelle fixed her clear purple eyes on Namuel as she really didn't seem to understand and still asked why.

"—I think you can think of it as human culture and rules…"

"…Really? Got it."

If you asked more ‘why’, the explanation will be more and more difficult, but Rainelle nodded calmly and said ‘got it’.

"But, I don't like him being hit… what to do?"

"…it's up to the master, I can't do anything about it…"

Rainelle puffed up her cheeks at those words, and her gaze turned to Baron Guillaume.

"Did he escape? And so, you hit him?"

"Yes, yes."

"Then you don't need him?"

Baron Guillaume could not answer hastily. Because he could sense that something was wrong with the atmosphere.

And it must have been the same for Namuel because he said to Rainelle as he frowned slightly.

"Rainelle, do you like that slave?"

"If he doesn’t want this slave, I'll take him."

"…I guess it's a matter of asking the master and His Majesty the Emperor…"

"You said you were going to help me choose a present. Can't we just say that we decided on that?"

Namuel looked flustered as he saw Rainelle’s desire to take the slave away by force.

It was because he expected that she would choose, in his opinion, flowers and trinkets which were strange and beautiful in the eyes of crows but of no great value to humans. However, it deviated greatly, so he couldn't help but be puzzled.

We cannot solve this problem on our own…

Of course, it wasn't that difficult to buy a slave. It was a little different when the other person is a noble, but if you pay a corresponding price, it was normal that the slave would be given without any complaints. And Namuel was able to pay for a slave no matter how expensive the slave was.

But the problem was that the gender of the slave was male.

The next empress -a crow- brought a male slave as a gift for His Majesty the Emperor? Furthermore, the slave is likely to be a sex slave?

…He couldn't even imagine what would happen after that, so Namuel took the most rational and neat way that he could choose.

"Oh, excuse us. We haven't asked who you are until now."

“Yes, yes! My name is Guillaume de Nicolai, I hold the baron title!”

"Okay, Baron Guillaume. Can you come to the Imperial Palace right now?"

"The, the, the, the Imperial Palace?"

"Yeah, it's probably best to bring this matter up to the Emperor directly, so we can both be satisfied."

At those words, Baron Guillaume looked at Namuel with his mouth wide open without even protecting his dignity.

"Well, that means…"

"We'll talk about the details on the way. There are too many eyes here."

Indeed, it was. Rainelle was constantly looking around, perhaps uncomfortable as more and more spectators flocked in. The Baron realized that this was not the time to find an excuse, so he nodded hurriedly and ordered his entourage to bring a carriage.

Is the situation crazy for the slave? He sat there blankly. After returning to her original form, Rainelle landed on the slave's head and he blinked.

Seeing her puffing up her feathers and swinging her tail feathers like she really liked the progress, Namuel let out a long sigh inwardly.

…I have a feeling that today is going to be a long day.

Was his foreboding right? Suddenly, someone spoke to them,

"Heh heh… I thought this side of the market was buzzing for some reason… if it isn't Rainelle-nim."

"—!! Myrdin-nim!"

Namuel replied in surprise. The person who smiled faintly while stroking his silver beard was the head of the Imperial Mages1, Myrdin.

In an unexpected place, in such a situation, Namuel lost his composure due to an unexpected person that he met.

Was it fun to see him like that? Myrdin said softly,

"It's an old man's pleasure to see young people in a lively place. I came here thinking that something interesting has happened…"

The eyes of the old wizard fell on Rainelle. Upon receiving his gaze, the crow cawed and bowed her head to greet him. Myrdin smiled and held out his hand.

Then, as the crow flew and landed on the old man's arm, a small smile appeared on the edge of the old man’s lips and creases appears on his face.

"I've seen the situation earlier, so I've got a rough idea. Rainelle-nim, do you like that slave?"

A satisfied smile appeared on the corner of the old wizard's lips as the crow nodded while cawing.

"I see. Then this old man should step up and help you."

"…Yes? M, Myrdin-nim will?"

Namuel called him in a fluster, but the old wizard just stroked the crow's black feathers with an inexplicable smile.

"Now, now. Let's try to sort things out. What's your name?"

"I, I'm Baron Guillaume de Nicolai."

“Baron Guillaume. Can you sell that slave to me?”

The Baron's expression distorted at those words. However, that did not make him crazy enough to spit out harsh words to the head of the Imperial Mages.

"Ha, but I cherish this slave very much… It's a slave I brought up with a lot of effort."

"Well…, it's difficult to make the best slaves."

"Yes, yes. So it's a little difficult to sell this one…"

While wiping his cold sweat with a handkerchief, the baron seemed to have no intention of stepping down. Seeing him like that, Myrdin slowly stroked his white beard and looked at the Baron and the crow alternately, then he spoke again with a smile,

"Is that one slave really worth that much? More than a fair price from an Imperial wizard and winning the favor of the next most honorable being?"

The Baron's gaze focused on the old wizard and the crow. A being who the Emperor himself directly said to be the next Empress, and an Imperial wizard who had served the Imperial Family since the time of the previous emperor.

The Baron's eyes trembled so much as he looked at them. Then, slowly, he opened his mouth…

***

Notes:

1 I think we’ve never mentioned this, so… A mage can be a female or a male magic practitioner. A wizard is a male magic practitioner while the female magic practitioner is called a witch. ↩