Of All Things, I Became a Crow

Translator(s) note: (/ω＼)

*Rainelle’s POV

This is dangerous.

I tried to cool the heat on my face.

Aww, Gee, this is really hard to say. So embarrassing! My heart tickles!

I couldn't turn my head because I didn't dare to look at Karmeut’s face, but suddenly my body fell backward.

"Uh?!"

I screamed in surprise, then I swallowed my saliva a second later. Because Karmeut was right in front of my face that was facing upwards.

His appearance was different from usual until I can’t come up with any words. It was like...

It's like he has awaken his instincts---?!

Hold on! Instinct?! And I confessed, right?! Even though I took the form of a crow, we even lived together(?) in the room!

It's like that, right?! Oh, will it happen?! Will it be my first like this?!

My heart fluttered. When my delusions run rampant, a low-pitched voice reached my ears.

"Rainelle."

Huk! If you call my name in a voice so sexy that it makes my spine shiver, my heart is in danger!!

"Wha, what is it---?!"

"I told you before. If you want to mate, if you need a male, just tell me. I'll let you experience it and satisfy you."

Argh! The black desire that’s buried in the corner of my head!! To mention those words is---!!

I couldn't even respond as my face burned, but Karmeut continued to speak with a smirk and a lower voice than usual,

"Do you want to experience it now?"

Saying so, he kissed this human, no, crow, no, human, without giving me a chance to answer fully,

"Ye---!"

The sudden kiss was so deep and sticky. My back trembled at his actions of groping my teeth and entwining my tongue.

I placed a hand on his chest to try to say something and to push him away, but the attempt was stopped as my wrist was being grabbed and I was pressed against the sofa.

"---!"

The kiss grew a little deeper as he moved his head slightly. I felt his golden hair tickle my cheeks, and I eventually closed my eyes.

"...um..."

The long kiss was over. It was a kiss that was so deep that my body heat up without realizing it.

I looked at him with a flushed face. My back felt tingly at his heated gaze.

He purred softly. Kissing my cheek and the bridge of my nose, he whispered,

"I love you, Rainelle."

It felt more blatant, more instinctive than ever. But still, I had no choice but to push him back.

"Uh, wait..."

"Right now, I can't stand it."

My body trembled at the sound of his low growling voice. After he took a long breath and then exhaled slowly, Karmeut's lips touched the nape of my neck, and I shivered automatically.

"I won't be rough, so it's okay."

"Hmm..."

My body naturally heated up from his slow, seductive whisper and the feeling of the light sucking on the nape of my neck.

"Leave yourself to me."

With a voice full of heat, his eyes, which spoke more affectionately than ever, were shining softly, so my body relaxed.

I closed my eyes as I felt the collar of my clothes slowly being opened. ...It wasn't cold. Because warmth immediately enveloped me.

***

*Karmeut’s POV

Savoring the warmth in his arms, Karmeut opened his eyes.

"...Umnn..."

His body flinched at Rainelle's brief groaning. Then, being careful not to wake her up, he grabbed her by the waist.

Rainelle tossed and turned for a moment, then she buried her head in his arms and took a deep breath. A smile spread across his lips as she leaned her body against him defenselessly.

"...Finally."

His whole body trembled with joy at the fact that he had finally reached her, feeling that their body and mind were now connected.

Slightly suppressing his happiness, Karmeut kissed her white forehead.

Rainelle, who frowned slightly like she was itchy, shook her head slightly. The feeling of not wanting to wake her up and the desire to touch her a little more clashed in Karmeut.

He remembered what happened last night.

It was a hot, sweet, full, and happy time.

"Oh," he muttered briefly and clicked his tongue. It was because his body was hot enough to be uncomfortable just thinking about it.

I'll have to put up with it. I’ve done enough yesterday.

He wanted to be considerate in his own way, but he had to endure even more because there was a war going on in his mind.

“Haa…”

After exhaling, Karmeut persevered. He thought about turning into a wolf, but he didn't want to lose this warmth.

Therefore, he struggled to close his eyes, suppressing the thoughts that kept coming to his mind: the sweet scent and soft skin.

If I close my eyes, I imagine it'll be easier to endure.

*Rainelle’s POV

I opened my eyes as I felt a warm, firm touch. I still feel sleepy and drowsy.

"Are you awake, Rainelle?"

I slowly nodded my head at the voice that came with a soft touch on my forehead.

"Mmm---"

"Are you hungry? Or would you like some more sleep?"

The gentle, soft voice gradually cleared my mind. Then I realized that I was facing Karmeut's eyes head-on.

"Ka, Karmeut?"

"What is it, Rainelle?"

I was a little confused by the way he asked that question casually.

Am I a human now? And he's human too. Uh, so… last night...

Heat rushed to my face as I recalled my memories of last night.

"Uh, yesterday..."

Karmeut’s smile widened at those words. Then he whispered in a sly voice,

"Yesterday… what? If you can't remember, it wouldn't be a bad idea to do it again..."

As he said that, I got up in a natural response to the touch that gently descended my waist. But the very next moment, I felt a tingling in my lower back and had to lie down again while groaning.

"Are you okay?"

Then, as soon as he supported my body while looking at me worriedly, somehow I became annoyed.

Hah, who made me like this? Mu, of course, I also... enjoyed it, but... uhhh, huhu---!!

"Uuh, my waist..."

"...ah."

After a brief exclamation, Karmeut was silent for a moment. Then he took my hand and began to gently massage my waist.

"Uh..."

"Sorry, I think I pushed you too hard."

The rubbing while he said that was so exquisite that I unwittingly relaxed my body.

"Sigh..."

"I think it’s better if you rest without going anywhere today. Do you think you will be more comfortable being a crow?"

"...Uh, no... In the form of a crow, sitting on a perch is the most comfortable... uh, but... my waist is like this, that's why..."

Hah, I’m not lying, his kneading hands are amazing. It relaxes the muscles by using exquisite strength so that it doesn't hurt... I'm sorry, but wouldn't it be good if you changed your job to a chiropractor¹(?)?

I fell onto the bed with such useless thoughts. Karmeut smiled softly and then asked,

"Aren't you hungry?"

"Um... not yet?"

"Still, I'll ask the servants to bring something you can eat easily."

"Uh, right now?"

Isn't it a bit embarrassing to be in front of other people right now?!

Thinking like that, I looked at Karmeut. He gently stroked my hair.

"Don't worry. No one would dare to look at you."

Saying so, he covered me with the quilt. While I hid in the quilt, I watched him wave the little bell on the table.

I'm wearing clothes, but I can't help but feel ashamed! Especially the morning after he, he, he, he did that!

Because of that, I couldn't raise my head or lower the quilt until I heard the sound of someone, whether it was a servant or a maid, leaving after coming in.

"It's okay now, Rainelle."

While saying that, Karmeut lowered the quilt. I looked around carefully to make sure there wasn’t anybody else before trying to get up, but Karmeut’s hand prevented me.

"Hm?"

"You can stay put."

My cheeks heated up when I realized that I was being carried in a princess hug that I had only seen in dramas.

Mu, of course, I often morphed into a human form on Karmeut's lap, but that was when he was sitting!

Because he’s hugging me like this, uh… aahhh---!!

Feeling happy and ticklish in my heart, I buried my head in Karmeut's chest. I feel that I couldn't lift my head because of the overwhelming happiness. Then my heart trembled slightly as the sound of laughter can be heard. Feeling the vibration, I was restless, and Karmeut lowered me to the sofa.

"Come on, can you have some?"

"Uh, yeah. I think I can eat."

If I don't eat, I feel like I'm going to be crushed to death by this shameful atmosphere!

I turned my gaze to the plate of food to try to get through this situation somehow.

Fruits and salad made for easy eating, crispy baked bread, along with fried eggs caught my eye.

As I stared at the breakfast that made my appetite surge, Karmeut reached out and picked up a plate of fruit.

"You want to eat, don’t you?"

"...how did you know?"

"I've been watching you. That's why I knew."

He said so while bending his eyes, which made my heart begin to pound.

Oh, really, if you act like that all over again, I won't be able to control my heart!

But the next moment, my face really seemed to explode. Because Karmeut picked up the fruit with his hand, brought it to my mouth, and said,

"Come on, ah---."

"Wa, wait! I can eat on---!!"

"I know. But I still want to feed you."

Karmeut's expression when he said “So eat it, okay?” combined with his bright eyes…

AAHHH---!! There's no way I can't eat it---!! He’s like a puppy!

After hesitating for only a second, I finally took the fruit and ate it. His fingers seemed to touch my lips slightly, but I tried to pretend not to know.

"Tasty?"

"Uh, yeah."

That was the truth. In fact, it tasted sweeter than usual, which was surprising. While I was eating absentmindedly, Karmeut just looked at me with a very happy expression.

"...? You don't eat, Karmeut?"

"Ah, yes. I have to eat."

Karmeut, who put a piece of fruit in his mouth, was smiling. It was nice to see that he had not erased his smile from the moment I woke up in the morning, but a curiosity raised within me,

"Karmeut."

"Hm? What is it?"

As he smiled and asked back happily, I swallowed the leftover fruit in my mouth. ...Should I ask this, or should I not…

Conflict suddenly formed in my head.

Instinctively, I don't think it's okay to ask!

Feeling like that, I shook my head.

"No, no."

"Really?"

Karmeut, who had been smiling continuously, reached out and wrapped his hand around his waist.

Startled by the touch, I looked at him with my eyes wide open. Karmeut then slightly rubbed his forehead on my forehead.

"Oh, really. You can't look at me cutely like that."

Feeling anxious at his act of subtly strengthening his arms, I asked,

"...why?

"Umm, because it makes me want to eat you up."

He whispered “like last night,” and bit my earlobe which made me flinch.

Oh, I must be crazy! I feel like my body is heating up even with this kind of action! Hey, you can't do this! It's morning now! And my back still hurts!!

"That---!"

"Are you going to let me eat you? Actually, I didn't have enough last night."

I'm going to die if I feed you full, right?

"Uh, uh, I mean, I'm tired."

"Rainelle, you know what?"

Karmeut whispered like that and kissed the nape of my neck lightly. It felt as if the low-pitched voice that was lower than usual was scratching my eardrums.

"If you don’t move your body when your muscles are tight, it takes more time to recover. The best thing is to move lightly. It may be a little stiff, but your body will loosen up much faster."

I had to scream silently inwardly at Karmeut's words and tight embrace.

Okay, that’s true, but it's too much! Too much! Please cut me some slack!!

"Really can't!! …Alright?"

I looked up at him with the best pitiful expression I could make. At my actions, he smiled a little, then loosened his arms, and pulled himself away.

"Puff... I'm just kidding. I don't want to push you any further."

I narrowed my eyes at Karmeut who shrugged his shoulders.

...Is it an illusion that there is disappointment mixed in those eyes? Huh?

However, I knew that it was good in many ways to not say something at times, so I didn't bother to bring it out of my mouth.

"Haa, I guess I'll have to go out in a little while."

"...to work?"

Karmeut nodded his head and looked at me with eyes full of regret.

"I hate being an emperor at times like this. I don’t want to leave you behind."

There was deep regret in his act of kissing my forehead.

"But it's something you have to do, right?"

"Yes, it's for the sake of the empire."

"Then I'll be waiting for you, okay?"

When I said that, his eyes lit up.

"Really?"

"Really."

"Okay. I'm looking forward to coming home after work."

Having said that, he got up from his seat, bent over, put his face near my ear, and whispered,

“When I come back, I will be able to receive ‘reward’ as much as how hard I work, right?”

Actually, I couldn't figure out what his words meant, but from his sticky, bewitching voice that sounded like he was seducing me…

I think I can tell!

My face blushed and I was about to say something, but he had run away from the room as if he didn't want to hear an answer.

AHHH!

Maybe, maybe I just woke up the beast that was sleeping inside Karmeut?

Did I dig my own grave? Is it like that? I’m crying!! It's good, but it's hard!!

***

Notes:

1 Chiropractor: a practitioner of the system of integrative medicine based on the diagnosis and manipulative treatment of misalignments of the joints^↩