Of All Things, I Became a Crow: Chapter #64
Translators: Nyx and Ririi Rain
(ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧
*Rainelle’s POV
"It is an honor to
meet you, Rainelle-nim. I am Countess Fangxia, and I will be in charge of
Rainelle-nim's etiquette training."
A neat middle-aged woman
in a green dress with braided brown hair was gracefully bowing her head to me.
...so much pressure! The atmosphere of ‘I'm strict’ reaches
all the way here!
"P, please take care
of me..."
“I apologize in advance
for the fact that my attire may have been inappropriate as I came here
immediately after the Emperor’s call.”
"It's okay... But
why...?"
"Rainelle-nim is the
future companion of His Majesty the Emperor and the mother of the Empire. How
can you be treated lightly?"
The pressure increases! The Emperor! So she
came right after Karmeut's request? No, was that a request or a command? This
person will be the one who educates me! Argh! It already feels like I can't do
well!!
"I, I see."
"His Majesty asked me
so that you won’t make a mistake in front of people from other countries at the
banquet in a month. Of course, it's not that they don't know that Rainelle-nim
is a crow. However, you will be participating in the banquet as a human. In
addition, there will be a lot of occasions where you will need to attend as a
human, so it would be better to learn it well at this time.”
Madame Fangxia, who uttered those words without taking a breath, blinked her eyes
slowly. The moment she took a breath after made my heart shrivel up.
Uu, I'm scared!!
"A month can be short
and can be long. Of course, it is not a time full of leisure... In the
meantime, I will make sure you get used to it."
This is what it feels like to be prey in front
of a beast! Ahh!! (Screaming)
Sa, save me!!
If I don't do it right, I feel like I'm going
to be ripped to pieces by those eyes!! Ahh!!
The preparations for the
banquet continued.
*Karmeut’s POV
Writing letters to invite
the royal family and influential nobles of each kingdom was just the basics.
When there was some room, the papers
piled up again. Karmeut sighed inwardly. Still, at
the same time, his hand holding the quill did not stop.
Well, anyway...
It is a good opportunity in many ways, so I
didn't think it is a big hassle. Of course, it does bother me as I don't think
I'll be able to see Rainelle very often.
"Your Majesty."
"Oh, yeah."
His thought strayed for a
moment and he started checking the documents again.
I’ve had a lot of work since becoming emperor,
but if I work a little harder, I'll have time to go see Rainelle.
When he thought of her, his
hands sped up.
Just the thought of meeting her after work
makes my hands move faster.
He himself thought that
his behavior was funny, but he couldn't help but be excited with anticipation.
Ah, I want to go see her right away.
A smile hung on the Emperor's
lips as he felt excited just thinking about it.
*Rainelle’s POV
"Straighten your
back. The smile you're making right now is so awkward. Relax your facial
muscles a little more, and raise the corners of your mouth slightly to give
yourself a graceful and elegant smile."
It wasn't loud, but in
response to her powerful voice, I straightened my back. Then, I tried hard to
gently loosen the muscles of my face that seemed to be convulsing.
"Gracefully. Raising
the corners of your mouth slightly and smiling gracefully will raise your
dignity."
"Haa, but I didn't
know it was this hard to smile..."
"Nothing is easy in
this world. Just practice until you get used to it."
Hhh---!! That's true, but it's also the scariest thing
in the world!
"There is so much to
do, not just posture and smile. You have to attend the banquet, so you have to
learn how to dance. And table manners, and..."
I wanted to run away from
the constant stream of words.
I'm sorry, Karmeut! No matter what, four hours
of continuous etiquette training is too hard!
I will escape! I will run away!! Then I will get away from
the devil(?)!!
I lifted my foot and crept
slowly.
No, should I just turn into a crow and run
away? Ho, then that elegant lady won't catch me, so let’s---!!
"Rainelle-nim, for
your information... you must never change into a crow and run away."
Hiii!
"There's no way it's
not allowed to change into a crow and run away because it's uncomfortable in
the banquet hall. Of course, to His Majesty the Emperor.
"It's not acceptable
to turn into a crow and run away because you feel uncomfortable at the banquet hall. Of course, His Majesty won't scold you. But if His Majesty's
companion turns into a crow and runs away from the banquet hall..."
"Sorry, sorry, sorry!
I won't do that!"
"You have the right
mindset. I'm very happy to be of some help to Rainelle-nim."
"Ah, ha ha ha ha..."
"For reference, if you don't
follow the proper dining etiquette, you will have a hard time eating."
"You're too much!! You're the
devil!!"
"After all, I am a noblewoman.
And no lady uses such a word."
"But, but it’s just
eating!!"
"Rainelle-nim. Dining is a place
of exchange. In such a place, you can't afford to be laughed at by others, so
you can’t do whatever you want."
"Is, is that so? But feeding is
to live..."
"It's not 'feed', it's 'dine'."
"Still---!!"
"Rainelle-nim? Now you are a
human being, not a crow. Besides that, you will have a higher status than
anyone else. It is very difficult if you do not set an example for
others."
My body trembled at Madame Fangxia’s
gaze, which seemed to say: “This is the truth”
with flashing eyes.
Scary! It's really scary!! It feels like I’m
facing a strict teacher in high school all alone! I feel like I have to start
begging for something that I did wrong!!
"And what's with that
tone? As I have repeatedly said, Rainelle-nim, you should learn graceful and
dignified words, posture, and behavior. It seems that you are not used to your
body yet, so I will have to tell you more meticulously and in detail."
At those words, I unwittingly opened my mouth, but
I covered what I was about to utter in surprise with my hand. Then I thought to
myself:
Karmeut, save me! This is hell!!
***
"Okay, haa, it's
over... I escaped from hell..."
It was after dinner time
that I was able to escape, although not really, from
Madame Fangxia.
Can you believe that it took two hours just to
eat?! Why are there so many types of knives and forks on the table, and why are
there so many things one shouldn't do?!! I'd rather not eat!! Ugh!!
"Ugh... I ate, but I
don't think I ate..."
Was it because I ate with a lot of tension, or
was it because it took too long to eat? ---Maybe both? Haa…
"I'm hungry... I'm
hungry..."
"...Rainelle-nim. Should
I bring you something?"
One of the maids, who were
standing next to me, spoke as if she felt sorry for me. My eyes lit up at her
words.
"Really?!"
"Oh, yes, yes. What should
I bring you?"
"Fruits and cookies!
The one I ate with Karmeut!!"
The word came out at once.
Sweet and crunchy cookies along with fresh and moist
fruit are the best to eat anytime, anywhere! So let's eat that!!
A faint smile appeared on the
maid's face. She said, “Wait a minute” and left.
Oh yeahh! Snacks, Snacks!!
When I had the hope that I
could fill my hungry stomach with snacks, it was only then that the surrounding
area came into my eyes.
"...Oh, I have to
sleep here now."
Sleeping alone. It seemed
to be the first time since I met Karmeut.
No, I met Karmeut on the day I possessed a crow
in this world, so I think it's the first time since I came here. I usually
sleep in crow form on a perch, so it's also my first time sleeping in my human
form.
It felt a little more
luxurious than the room I shared with Karmeut. Somehow, it was full of softer
and warmer colors. Should I say that the interior decorated in pastel tones feels
soft and warm just by looking at it?
The bed looked fluffy, and
the dressing table, which seemed to have been prepared for me, was neatly
arranged with various tools. There were perches all over the place.
I could see Karmeut's
thoughtfulness here too, so I laughed.
...even if there are perches, I can't turn into
a crow. I need to get used to it.
Still, Karmeut prepared them. Isn't it
politeness to use them at least once?
No, no, if I turn into a crow, I'll get too
comfortable! That's why I have to hold it in!
As I shook my head, I
pressed down the desire to turn back into a crow.
*knock, knock*
Oh! Knocking! Nice timing!
When I said “come in”, the
maid who had left earlier came in while holding a tray.
"Wow...!!"
"I brought warm milk
too just in case... Would that be all right?"
"I've never tried
it... but I want to try!"
"Yes, please be
careful as it may be hot."
It was the first time I
drank milk after having a crow's body.
I’m in human form now, so… it’s okay, right?
But I'm still worried, so I'll drink little by little.
I grabbed the steaming
glass, blew it to cool it down, and drank it little by little. The savory taste
of warm milk lingered in my mouth.
This is it! If I eat cookies with this---!
"It's good---!"
Wow, how long has it been since I drink like
this?! I'm so happy---!!
I shook my body lightly at
the happiness that spread throughout my mouth and smiled.
Sigh, when one’s really tired, sweet things are
the best!
I ate cookies, fruits, and
milk like crazy. Maybe it was because I didn’t eat dinner that I felt it was more
delicious and filling.
I was full and I sleepy after
I ate all the food that was brought. When I rubbed my eyes while yawning
involuntarily, a maid opened her mouth,
"Would you like to
sleep?"
"Yeah... I'm
sleepy."
"Then I think it
would be better for you to change into clothes that are comfortable to sleep
in."
"...this won’t do?"
"Wouldn’t it feel
uncomfortable? We'll help you to get more comfortable clothes."
"But..."
---Doesn’t it mean I have to change out of my
feather dress? What if when I take it off and return to my original form… I
become like a plucked chicken? Ugh! I absolutely hate that!!
"I don't want to!
This is my outfit that changed from my feathers! I might be a featherless
chicken when I get back to normal!!"
"But if you sleep in
that kind of clothes, you're going to ruin them! Why don't you change into these clothes again before you change?"
"Aaah! You maids are just doing
what you want!!"
"Rainelle-nim!! If you keep doing
that, Madame Fangxia will be angry!"
"Ugh!!"
Tha-, that's not okay!! If you say that, the devil will
come up from hell, skewer me, and then sizzle me in the
fires of hell!
"Hey, why do you say
that?!"
"Rainelle-nim, please regard it as being loyal to dignity
and culture. Now, you need to change clothes. Pajamas are light and feel good,
right?"
"Ahhhh!! Karmeut help me!!!"
"...this won’t do. Let's hold
Rainelle-nim down!"
"Hey, is this a rebellion?! This
is a rebellion, right?!”
"If you transform into a crow, we
will tell Madame Fangxia!"
"Ahhh!! I hate you all!!"
...and so, I ran away, but
I was eventually caught by the maids. And I was half forced to change my
clothes.
Sniff---!! I, I've got all my feathers
stolen!"
Contrary to how it looked, I didn’t properly resist the maids who have tremendous
power.
The pink pajama is thin and soft, but...!
What if I have pink feathers when I transform
into a crow?!
"Hey, hey--- I'm
going to turn into a crow now, so take a look at me, okay? Can you tell me what
color my feathers are?"
After saying that, I immediately
turned into a crow without giving the maids a chance to respond. Feeling
lighter, I sat down on a nearby sofa and looked at the maids.
"Caaw? (What’s the
color of my feathers?)"
I asked the question out
of anxiety, but the maids couldn't understand a crow's language. But since I
had told them before changing my form, one of them opened her mouth.
"It's alright,
Rainelle-nim. There's a mirror over there, would you like to check it yourself over
there?"
Oh right! There’s a mirror on the dressing table!
After giving my thanks by bowing my
head to the maid for reminding me, I flew to the dressing table. Then, looking
at my reflection in the mirror, I was greatly relieved.
Ahhh thank God...! My feathers are black! Not
pink!! The crow's identity has been preserved!! A bird with pink feathers,
black beaks and legs, it's strange to even imagine---!! ...isn't it? Or would
it have been okay?
Anyway, I was relieved
that my feathers were intact and I changed into a human form again.
---Oh oh, cool! This is the pajama I wore
before!
"Haa, it's all
good..."
"Are you relieved,
Rainelle-nim?"
"Yeah! I was worried
that my feathers would turn pink or I even might have no feathers!"
I muttered: "I can't
fly without feathers after all," and let out a sigh. Then I saw the maids
smiling. ---what? I'm serious about that!
"This is an important
matter! There is nothing sadder than a bird that can't fly!!"
"Yes, yes, you must
have been worried. We’re sorry, Rainelle-nim. You must be tired today, so you
should get a good night's sleep."
"Oh, right... Then good
night."
I laid down on the bed. The
maids covered me with a soft blanket, and when the lights were put out, darkness
came.
I’m really alone. I’m sleeping alone in human
form.
When I was with Karmeut, I
would see Karmeut lying on the bed when I opened my eyes. I didn't know it
would be awkward to sleep lying down like this instead of sleeping sitting on a
perch.
We didn't sleep in the
same bed and I didn’t use my human form, but we were still in the same room
then. There was no one here now, so...
"...it’s cold."
As if feeling the air had cooled
down, I dug into the blanket.
...Somehow it seems difficult to fall asleep
today.
***
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