Of All Things, I Became a Crow

*Rainelle’s POV

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“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.

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*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!!

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“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!

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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!”

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“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.