Chapter 118

*3rd person POV

When the carriage stopped, Adriana clenched her gloved hands into fists.

“We have arrived, My Lady.”

At the action of the coachman opening her carriage door while speaking in a polite tone, she lifted her chin slightly and got off her carriage. Then, with a seemingly arrogant attitude, she looked around.

She had arrived at a tavern in a fairly bustling area of​​the Capital. Even if it was a tavern, this place was open since daytime, with a luxurious interior and a clerk in a suit. And it was a popular restaurant for its food and drinks.

“Ambrosia…”

The word for ‘food eaten by the Gods’ In Greek mythology was used as the name of the store. Then, taking a small deep breath, Adriana entered the store.

“Welcome, Miss. I’ll guide you to your seat.”

The clerk greeted her with courtesy and respect, bowing politely, and Adriana responded by gently shaking her head at the clerk’s actions.

“I want to drink owl tears.”

Saying so, Adriana held out a coin to the clerk. A platinum coin embossed with a wolf figure. The eyes of the clerk who received widened, then she said while bowing her back deeply,

“I’ll guide you.”

With that, Adriana thought to herself while following behind the leading clerk:

‘It’s just like the original.’

she was relieved to see the clerk acting according to the hidden character storyline as she had remembered, although originally it wasn’t the heroine who did this. Also, she became anxious.

Now she was in the middle of looking for the hidden character, Sedarun. Currently, Rainelle was taking classes for the empress position while keeping an eye on Namuel, so Aria had to do what she could.

‘It’s not very pleasant to go to an assassin, but…’

It was terrible to put a request to kill Namuel, but she was even more nervous because if she did something wrong, she might die and be treated as missing.

…but she believed that it was not bad to make a deal even if there was a possibility that it was a loss.

“It’s an honor to have such a beautiful lady looking for owl tears.”

The room she was guided to was luxurious. The room, in which sparkling chandeliers, paintings, and handicrafts were harmoniously arranged, was comparable to the living room of many nobles.

“Thank you for your hospitality.”

“Haha, of course I should welcome you.”

The man smiled, saying, “The customer is the king.”

Adriana smiled too as she looked at the handsome man with a soft impression which made the scars on his cheek a pity.

“But the king is always in a position where his life is threatened. Isn’t it?”

At that, the man laughed. Then he guided her to her seat.

“Sit down, Lady Adriana.”

Adriana sat down with a calm and confident attitude. Then there was a gleam of interest in the man’s eyes.

“I think you know what it means to order owl tears…”

“Should I tell in person that I want to hire an assassin?”

“No. It’s just that Lady Adriana’s reason for hiring an assassin is vague.”

The man looked at Adriana with his hands interlocked. She then responded by raising her chin slightly,

“Is there a fool who talks about everything in every detail, even though they didn’t get a confirmation that their request would be accepted?”

“-Oh, of course. Each person has a different tendency.”

“Is that so? So which one am I?”

“I think it’s too early to tell you that. Don’t you think so?”

The behavior of the man who answered that way without losing his smile gave out a sense of leeway. So Adriana grumbled inside.

‘Maybe it’s because this is an information guild, but there are no gaps.’

It was a little questionable why this place also provide assassination despite being an information guild. However, she continued while trying to convince herself that information would make it easier to do assassination,

“Well, it’s ridiculous to ask without telling the contents of the request.”

“-So, Lady Adriana, what have you come to request? Whatever it is, we are confident that you will be satisfied with what our guild can do.”

She smiled at the behavior of the man who said that she will be satisfied even though he had not heard what her request was. How confident he was.

‘Well, if he doesn’t have this level of confidence, it would be funny too.’

This was the guild to which the hidden character Sedarun belongs.

It might have been a disappointment if he was just rambling. On the contrary, it meant that she shouldn’t relax that much, so Adriana gulped inwardly. Then she looked straight into the man’s eyes and opened her mouth,

“I want to hire one of the guild members. I’ll only tell the details of the request to that person. If you refuse, I will step down cleanly, but if you accept, I want only the person involved to know.”

“Hmm, it’s not difficult, but… It’s surprising. Isn’t this the first time you’ve used our guild?”

“Let’s say I have my own information network.”

“Is that so? So who do you want?”

Adriana smiled as she looked at the man who smiled with interest.

‘I wonder if, after hearing this, he can still smile?’

“Queen’s Dagger.”

At those words, the smile disappeared from the man’s mouth.

“…You mean you made a personal request to him?”

“Is it a rejection?”

“Lady Adriana’s purpose is questionable. I don’t think there’s a situation where you need assassination.”

“Even though you’re well informed, put aside the arrogance that you can see through people. No one knows what’s inside.”

At that, the man narrowed his eyes. After a moment of silence, he answered cheerfully,

“Okay. It’s been a long time since an interesting client appeared. Under that consideration, we will give back the entrance fee.”

Adriana shook her head at his action of returning the platinum coin.

“If you really like me, how about giving me information rather than money?”

“–Oh my. You’re a person who can’t let her guard down.”

“I just know that there are many things worth more than money.”

“Alright. I’ll give you only one piece of information you want. Would you like to ask now?”

“No, I’ll put it on hold. I don’t need information right now.”

“I see. If you ever need it, please come to this place. Well then, I’ll call Queen’s Dagger for you.”

Adriana clenched her fist as the man left his seat. She repeatedly folded and unfolded them.

It was the real thing from now on. She needed to somehow convince Sedarun to accept her request to make things easier for the future.

‘To save Namuel, let’s stay alert.’

With that in mind, Adriana fixed her gaze on the door.

‘—The person who’ll come in will be very important.’

Therefore, Adriana couldn’t take her eyes off that spot for a moment or let go of her tension.

***

*Rainelle’s POV

I glanced out the window. —The sky was turning red as the sun slowly set.

OMG! It’s already this time!

Time passed and I have been struggling with classes until this point…

Haa…

I sighed deeply at the fact that I was so absorbed.

“Even if it’s not until midnight1, it’s really hard to have a class like this all day…”

Haa, I’m so tired. Still…

I continued to look out the window, feeling disturbed over and over again.

“—Where did that male crow go?”

I forgot about that guy for a while because I was so busy.

To be honest, it was weird. Wild animals with an original concept of territory react very sensitively to their territory.

It was natural. Because the territory was what made them able to survive.

However, the male crow had not been seen in his territory for days. That guy didn’t show up when I went to Aria’s manor.

“The only possibility, is that something happened…”

I wasn’t sure before as I only went back and forth once a day, but these days, I’ve been going there often because of the problem with Namuel… and I still didn’t see the guy even once, so there might be a problem.

To be honest, I couldn’t afford to pay attention to the male crow right now. Karmeut’s life is at stake now, so does the life or death of wild animals important?

“…Still, it’s pretty cute…”

But since that guy disappeared, I’m a little worried.

“…Ahhh! Now is not the time to worry about such things! I have to be studious. Maybe that guy hooked up with another crow. Now, I’m starting to think other things again…”

Is this an escape from reality? —No, but these days, schedules are worth escaping from reality! It’s very hard! I mean, it’s hard!! It’s a murderous schedule for crows!!

Everything except breakfast with Karmeut after I wake up in the morning is classes, classes, classes, and classes! Even during mealtimes, I can’t relax under Madam Fangxia’s watch, who said it’s a review of etiquette education!

Tea time is the only time like an oasis for me—!! In the name of the class, I even ate lunch and dinner separately from Karmeut—!!

Oh, really… the only time I can meet with Karmeut is in the morning and at night? Whew, of course it has to be done, but why is it so tight?!

“—XXXX. Come to think of it, isn’t this all because of Duke Howard?”

Yeah, it was because of that old man! Since that person is talking about the qualifications of an empress, I have to master it perfectly in the heat! That’s why I have to do it on this tight schedule, right?!

“Damn old man. You’ll see!!”

I’ll let you taste how shameful it is to serve a crow!!

While I was grinning at that promise, I heard the door open.

“…Karmeut!!”

“Oh, Rainelle. How was your day?”

I couldn’t help but say, “It was so hard!” to Karmeut’s gently smiling and asking behavior.

Probably because his face looked very tired, I could tell that Karmeut was also very busy.

When reading novels, I just thought “Emperors are so cool!”, but as expected, the reality was a ditch. Seeing it myself, I can feel that it was never easy to rule a country.

“—Are you alright, Karmeut? You look tired…”

“—Ah, I’m okay. It’s just annoying that the nobles keep asking for an audience or finding the chance to talk to me.”

As he said that while lightly waving his hand, I shut my mouth.

—That seems like my fault just by listening. Man, my conscience is stabbing me like crazy.

“—I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said I wanted to attend the meeting.”

Karmeut squinted his eyes. Then he shook his head and answered.

“No, Rainelle, it’s not your fault.”

“—But it is. Because I didn’t seem like the next Empress…”

“Of course, I’d be lying if I said no, but…”

He reached out and stroked my head. It was a touch that was as caring and affectionate as when I was a crow.

“Even if you didn’t, this kind of friction was bound to happen.”

“…everyone wants to bond you with their daughter?”

“Yeah. The thing that Rainelle is a crow, doesn’t have human parents, and so you don’t have social power… are all just a nice reason for their nitpicking. But like I said, the friction is bound to happen anyway. “

I was frankly moved by his behavior of saying “Don’t think too much.”

“—Karmeut is so sweet.”

Hearing me say that, he widened his eyes slightly. Then with a small smile, he replied,

“Because it’s you, I become sweet, my one and only companion.”

The words made me burst out into laughter.

Oh, really, it’s cheap to say that! Amazingly, a perfect man who has it all can even be this kind to his woman!

“You were sweet even when I was a crow.”

“You helped me back then, and you saved my life, Lady.”

“…Well, I have nothing to say.”

“In that sense, Rainelle, why don’t you return to your crow form?”

“Huh? Why?”

My eyes widened at the sudden words. Then Karmeut answered with a slight smirk,

“Why? Rainelle, you have been in human form all day because you were in class. So, there is the reason that it must be difficult… Also, you are attractive in your crow form. So, won’t you turn into a crow?”

I laughed a little at Karmeut’s explanation.

He talks like that, but isn’t he just missing the cuteness of a crow? In fact, it is indeed a happy feeling. It’s like your whole body melts when you receive cuteness from animals, especially when you are having a hard time. I can fully understand it.

So I returned to my crow form. It had been a long time since I’d tasted the feeling –well, it’s only been a few days actually- but anyway, I flew to Karmeut and hugged him with a relaxed body.

Immediately, as if familiar with it, he held me in his arms and tickled my chin, which made me let out a loud noise and bury my head in his arms.

…it feels like it’s been a long time since I’ve acted cute like this. When I have time in the future, I’ll give him a hug like this. Oh, should I ask Karmeut to turn into a wolf next time?

I fluttered my tail feathers while tasting a comfortable and warm feeling that was different from when I was a human.

It’s hard, but I’m happy. Truly.

***

Notes:

1 The average South Korean high school student generally has class from about 8 am until 9:30 pm or 10 pm. Well-known for its high-achieving students, South Korea’s education system is quite demanding. Students spend much of their time, often between 12 to 16 hours per day, at school or at a special after-school academy called a hagwon.↩