Of All
Things, I Became a Crow: Side Story #13
Translators: Nyx and Ririi Rain
*Rainelle’s POV
“Really? I am……”
"Yes, that is right.
At that time, I also examined the physical condition of the crow who took a
human figure with an egg in her stomach, so it's accurate."
The words made me feel indescribable.
I felt various emotions swirling in my heart.
"...ah."
Unknowingly, tears welled
up and flowed down. I was not sad, but tears just came out.
"Rainelle."
I felt Karmeut approaching
who then giving me a gentle hug. I tried to calm down by wiping the tears
flowing on my cheeks with my hands.
Seeing me like that,
Hempel-nim just bowed deeply.
"Well then, I will
leave the two of you alone."
After saying that,
Hempel-nim changed into the form of a crow. Then, with a swish, he flew away
through the open window.
More than minding
Hempel-nim's actions, I clung to the warmth embracing me.
"Karmeut..."
He hugged me tightly
without saying a word.
I calmed down by taking a
deep breath in his arms.
"I, I have a
child."
"Yes."
"I've touched it
several times, but I can't feel anything. Still, I have a child."
"Yes."
"...what I heard just
now is true, right? I didn't just hear something wrong, did I?"
"It’s not wrong,
Rainelle. I heard the same thing."
At those words, tears came
out again. Karmeut wiped away my tears and said,
"Don't cry,
Rainelle."
"I don't know why
tears are coming out."
Saying so, I sniffed.
"When I heard that
what I thought was real, I was like..."
He quietly patted me on
the back without saying anything. At his action, one of the words that had been
lingering in my mind popped out.
"I'm confused, but
I'm glad. Yes, I'm glad."
Yeah, I was happy. I was
worried, anxious, and at a loss, but the feeling of joy was greater than any
other feelings.
“There is Karmeut’s and my
child here.”
I raised my hand and
stroked my stomach. ...Unsurprisingly, I didn't feel anything.
However, thinking that
there was a child here, I felt different for some reason.
"I didn't even think
about it before, but suddenly, it feels like I've been given a present."
"...I'm glad you feel
that way."
At that, I raised my head
and looked at him. Karmeut had a genuinely relieved expression on his face.
"It was a child
neither I nor you expected. So I thought maybe... maybe, maybe you don't like
kids. You may not want to have children yet."
I was taken aback by the
words, but then I understood. It was because I remembered that not everyone is
happy about having a child.
“・・・To be honest,
I was surprised. My heart is still beating hard like this.”
Saying so, I placed my hand
on my chest. My thumping heartbeat could be felt by my fingertips.
"Yeah, it’s still the
same now. I'm surprised and feel awkward. I'm worried about whether I'll be
able to raise a child well. But..."
I thought of the child who
will be born in the future. What will the child look like? Will the child
looked like me, or would the child be like Karmeut?
Thinking of that brought a
smile to my lips.
"It’s my and
Karmeut's child. How could I hate or reject the little one?"
Karmeut's eyes widened at
those words.
"...Thank you for
thinking that way, Rainelle."
"Of course. It's the
child of the person I love."
Karmeut kissed his lips
lightly at the words. It was a light, ticklish kiss like a baby bird's fluff.
"Karmeut."
"Yes?"
"Is the child in my
belly an egg or a human baby?"
"Well, I'm not
sure."
"Who do the little
one resemble more? I want the child resemble Karmeut."
"I want the child to
be like Rainelle."
"Why?"
"If it's a child
resembling Rainelle, the child is sure to be lovely."
"I thought Karmeut's
young appearance would be lovely."
At that, he replied with a
small smile.
"...Either way, the
little one is our child. The child will be very, very lovely, and we can't help
but love the little one."
At those words, I burst
into laughter without even realizing it.
"Yes, I think so
too."
Then he kissed me again. I
shrank my shoulders as I giggled at the touch on my forehead, cheeks, the
bridge of my nose, and my lips.
"Rainelle, if you want
anything, just tell me. Especially, don't hold back on what you want to
eat."
"Okay, I get
it."
"And I'll cancel all
your schedules. Of course, assuming you want to. I have no intention of forcing
you to do something or stopping you from doing it."
"Yeah, I know. I know
Karmeut isn't like that."
"Is there anything
you want to eat right now? Or something you want to do?"
I shook my head at those
words.
"I don't have
anything on my mind right now."
"Really? If you have
anything, let me know anytime. I will listen."
I nodded my head, but then
I involuntarily gave out an exclamation of “ah!” at a crazy thought that I
suddenly have.
"Ah...! Then the
reason why are birds are acting strange..."
"You mean the
magpies?"
"Yeah. I was
wondering why they suddenly jumped at the maids and pulled out their hair...”
Could it be that the birds knew that I am
pregnant?
I thought like that. Then
Karmeut opened his mouth with a small smile,
"They are very
keen."
“Yeah, but I’m a little
sorry.”
"A little
sorry?"
"...Even if it was
done for my sake, pulling out the hair of innocent maids wasn't a good
thing."
How painful is it for your hair to be plucked? Hearing that, Karmeut burst into laughter.
"That's true."
"I'm going to gather
the birds and say something. That they don't have to be too
overprotective."
At that, Karmeut nodded
his head and carefully reached out his hand and then swept it across my
stomach.
"...I can't feel
anything."
"Right? It's strange
that it's there."
Karmeut chuckled lightly.
Then, cautiously, he asked a question.
"Rainelle."
"Yes?"
"I'm thinking of
throwing a party and let other people know."
"Oh... is that
so?"
"Usually, it’s like
that. The fact that the empress is pregnant is something to be blessed not only
in the Empire but also in other countries."
Of course, I shook my head
at his act of adding the part that he wouldn't do it if I didn't want to.
"I see. Okay. Let
them know."
"Are you okay with
that?"
"It's something they
will find out over time anyway. It would be better to inform them in advance.”
Karmeut laughed. Then he
took my hand and said,
"Well, let's hold a
party that doesn't overwhelm and strain you."
"Okay."
"Take it easy. Don't
think about anything bad."
"Yes."
"...And you don't
need to feel sorry for the maids, but you can do what you think is right."
"...I feel sorry for
their hair."
“That much, I will give
instructions to treat them. That's far better."
I had to convey deep
condolences to the maids. And as Karmeut said, I will do what I think I should
do. I have to call the birds right away and say a word to them.
“Karmeut, transform into a
wolf.”
At those words, Karmeut
immediately changed into his wolf form. My own big, reliable wolf with golden
fur.
The wolf brought his nose
to my belly and sniffed a few times. Then he carefully put his head on my lap
and looked up.
I enjoyed the warmth as I
gently stroked the wolf's head.
“I hope the child grow up
healthy.”
At that, the wolf wagged
his tail.
The fact that I was
pregnant was very surprising. I was still full of anxiety and worry.
But.....
Still, I was happy and
excited.
***
*3rd person POV
The news of the Empress's
pregnancy quickly spread throughout the Empire.
'The Queen has a child.'
'There are eggs.'
'It's still in the stomach, but it's a precious
child.'
'It's a lovely child.
'Queen's child.'
'So, we have to protect it.'
And such news also spread
immediately through the mouth of birds.
"You guys can't do
that!"
...Of course, the magpies
were scolded by Rainelle.
"I'm very grateful
that you think so important of me, but the maids are people who help me. That's
why you shouldn't attack them."
Rainelle had gathered the
magpies and birds around. They were peeking up with wings drooping down. The
wings on Rainelle’s back folded and unfolded.
"...And, I wish you'd
let me know I had a child."
'I didn't know how to say.'
'Right, I didn't know how to put it.'
'Can't tell the Queen what I don't know first.'
'That's right.'
'And humans are dangerous.'
'Right, dangerous.'
'They take the eggs out of the nest whenever
they have a chance.'
'That's right!'
'The Queen's egg can be in danger, so I have to
protect it!'
At that, Rainelle touched
her forehead.
No, she knew very well why
they said that. Why do people raise poultry like chickens and ducks? They eat
meat, but don't they also take out the eggs and eat them?
In addition, it was only
recently that mass breeding had become possible as the price was not cheap, and
so Rainelle had heard that in the past, there were many cases where eggs were
stolen from bird nests for consume purpose. She thought that was why the birds
say things like that.
"Guys, among the
humans here, none of them are going to eat my egg... well, egg or human
child."
'Really?'
'Why?'
'Humans like eggs, right?'
"If they eat my
child, they will be bitten by my companion."
...First of all, Karmeut
won't stay still, but before that, she can step in and personally bake the
person. She thought: ‘They should be
grilled very nicely.’
As she looked at the birds
with that thought in mind, the birds glanced at each other, chirping and
whispering.
'The Queen's child is special!'
'It's precious!'
'But since the Queen says it's safe...'
'I'll listen!'
'If I want to see it, can I come and see it?'
"Sure, anytime."
'Wow! Exciting!'
'I'm allowed!'
'I have to come see every day!'
'Still, I have to protect the Queen!'
'Because the Queen is precious!'
I burst into laughter at
the sight of the chirping birds.
Rainelle: ‘Our child is loved even before being born.’
***
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