SWNOVELXO Chapter 97
Despite being almost pressed against Pavellian during the ‘wall-slam,’ the crow only targeted him.
Is it because his hair sparkles?
Confused by the situation, Selleana just stood there, dumbfounded, when suddenly…
“Are you alright, Your Highness…!”
A servant rushed over in a panic. Freed from Pavellian’s flailing arms, Selleana took a step back and observed the servant.
Who is this person…?
The servant tried to chase the crow away with an empty tray, swinging it above Pavellian’s head.
“Why is this crow suddenly…!
Shoo
, go away!”
For some reason, his voice sounded awkward, as if reading from a book.
Despite the servant’s efforts, the crow continued its attack on Pavellian.
“Your Highness!”
“This damned crow!”
Eventually, the imperial guards appeared, unable to swing their swords directly above Pavellian’s head. They swung their sheathed weapons instead, to no avail. Finally, when one guard unsheathed his sword,
Caw!
As if sensing the danger, the crow abruptly stopped its attack and flew away from the gazebo.
In the sudden silence,
“Your Highness! Are you okay?”
“Are you hurt anywhere…!”
Thankfully, the situation ended without bloodshed, and the guards approached Pavellian, who was now puffing angrily, his hair all tousled.
“Why would a crow suddenly…?”
It seemed insane… It was just a wild animal’s bizarre behavior. Annoyed but unable to show it as the future supreme ruler, Pavellian forcibly suppressed his rising irritation. He had long forgotten his conversation with Selleana from a moment ago. Unable to manage his tangled hair, he hung his head low.
“Hey! Can someone fix this hair…!”
“I-I’m sorry. I don’t know how to style hair…”
“Your Highness! I will go call someone!”
One of the knights, noticing the servant’s poorly managed hair, quickly ran to the orangery to avoid any trouble.
Meanwhile, Selleana took a good look at the problematic servant.
Oh my…
Holding the tray, still unsure of what to do, he was undeniably attractive.
With brown hair casually tied back, similar to someone she knew, and large round glasses covering half his face…
He looks quite like Michi.
It didn’t take long for her to decide. While other guards were busy fixing Pavellian’s appearance, Selleana approached the servant.
“Excuse me, Servant?” With a practiced smile of the future princess consort, “Are you alright?”
“
Ah
, yes…”
“Here, you’ve got a feather stuck.”
As she plucked a crow feather from his hair and moved closer,
“
Ah
… Thank you.”
“You must have been quite startled.” Then, Selleana’s hand reached for the servant’s cheek.
“
Ah
, that…”
As he turned his head to avoid her hand, the corners of his mouth trembled noticeably. And of course, his ears were burning red.
Somehow, his expression seemed a bit blurry.
Just like when Rakrensius appeared pretending to be Collin.
With the angle allowing for a clear view, Selleana beamed with joy and relief. “Did you come because you were worried?”
“…”
“You have to tell me later how you came here, okay?”
Later. As she recognized it right away, Rakrensius, disguised as a servant, nodded hesitantly.
* * *
“
Ahahaha
! You cast an illusion spell?”
After hearing the whole story from Rakrensius, Selleana laughed until she could hardly breathe.
“To make it look like a bag of gold coins…! Shining…!”
“…Is it that funny?”
“No, it’s just… I had a similar thought when I saw the crow attacking Pavellian earlier. I wonder if it was because his blond hair was sparkling…?”
“Pavellian, you say…”
“And to think the crow actually mistook it for a bag of gold coins…!”
Ah, my stomach!
Laughing so hard, tears welled up in her eyes. Selleana dabbed at it while continuing to laugh for a long time.
It was in the deep night on Selleana’s balcony. After sending a pleasantly drunk Michi to bed with her brothers’ help, Selleana summoned Rakrensius with the locket necklace.
The dinner at the palace ended sooner than expected. The atmosphere in the dining room became as disturbed as Pavellian’s hair due to the crow attack incident. Though it was supposed to be a meeting to reconcile the royal family of Laten and Elard, Prince Erenst and the duke couple remained at the imperial palace with the imperial family members.
Had Pavellian been in a better mood, Selleana might have been detained with Michi and her brothers, but fortunately, that was not the case. Though it must have been a disaster for Prince Erenst.
“But why did you do it?”
“What do you mean?”
“Sending the crow. Were you, perhaps, jealous…?”
With a playful glance, Selleana poked his side. The man, now red to his ear tips, turned and leaned against the balcony railing.
Again, again, and again. Before, his avoidance was frustrating, but now, knowing he was shy made it endearing.
“Why? It’s normal to be jealous. Why would that be embarrassing?” Saying so, she poked his side again and again.
“It’s not that…”
Reflexively, his body stiffened. Even though her delicate fingers must have hurt, his angel’s troublesome attack didn’t stop. Rakrensius eventually looked back at her and gently took her wrist down.
“…I was worried Lady might be scared.”
“…What?”
“The crown prince was being aggressive…” Then, Rakrensius’s hand traced around Selleana’s ear, taming the hair tousled by the autumn night breeze. “I thought Lady might be startled, so I acted without thinking.”
“…”
“If there hadn’t been a crow passing by, I might have really used a mind-control spell.”
A bitter expression spread across his face as he looked down at Selleana. In the deep night with the moon high in the sky, the moonlight cast shadows on his marble-like fair face, making the worry etched there seem even deeper. He didn’t like that.
Deeply moved by his words, Selleana gently soothed her frozen lips and smiled bashfully. “It’s okay. I wasn’t scared at all. It was more ridiculous than anything. Thanks to you, I forgot all about it.”
“You weren’t scared…”
“Did you know? It’s even more pathetic to think you have to shout and bluff to gain the upper hand in conversation.” Shrugging, Selleana displayed her nonchalance.
Seeing her so composed made Rakrensius feel his worries were overblown. His embarrassment was palpable.
Selleana playfully rubbed his cheeks with both hands. “
Ah
, let’s stop talking about other men. Tell me about Master of Tower. Why did you come today?”
“…”
“Did you come because you were worried about me?”
Today, Selleana hit the nail on the head again. But unable to elaborate on why he was concerned, Rakrensius attempted to change the subject.
“…But Lady, weren’t you surprised?”
“Surprised? Why?”
“When I suddenly appeared.”
“Well, half? Actually, I knew you were there from the start.”
“What?” Rakrensius’s eyes widened in shock.
Amused by his reaction, Selleana chuckled. “On the way to the orangery. While passing through the garden maze, I saw a handsome man disappear in the opposite direction.”
“…
Ah
.”
Rakrensius slowly nodded. He had intended to watch Selleana from afar, but she had noticed him so quickly. Originally, he intended to use a spell to completely conceal his presence but opted for a servant disguise as a precaution.
Should I be glad it was useful… or would it have been better if nothing had happened?
On one hand, Rakrensius was pleased that Selleana had recognized him.
While he was digesting these complex feelings, Selleana, already smiling playfully, ventured a guess. “Shall I guess why you came?”
“Yes?”
“You don’t have to tell me if I’m right or wrong.”
“…”
Cough
, swallowing his discomfort, Rakrensius realized his attempt to divert the conversation was futile against Selleana’s determination.
“I think you came because you were worried about me.”
Each word slowly made its way to his ears as if ensuring he would understand.
“I think the person Master of Tower is wary of… is specifically the empress.”
“!”
The corner of his mouth stiffened. That alone was enough for an answer. But Selleana wasn’t looking for confirmation of her suspicions; she just hoped Rakrensius would worry less about her.
“But how did you know? I don’t think Master of Tower would have planted watchers on my side.”
Unable to let it go easily, Rakrensius was at a loss.
“Well, if it’s Tower Master’s secret, there’s nothing I can do.”
Selleana shrugged slightly, but Rakrensius’s expression remained frozen.
“Well, anyway, it’s good that you’re here… Tower Master?”
All this time, his blue eyes hadn’t left her, and finally…
“Are you crying?”
Suddenly, Selleana was enveloped in an unexpected embrace.