In the dark of the moonless night, Iris Zehirete visited Crow’s room.
“Crow? Are you asleep?”
No reply came from the other side of the door. The room’s occupant was already slumbering, Iris figured. She gently and quietly pushed the door open.
“Crow...”
With small, silent steps, she approached the sleeping form on the bed.
He must’ve been quite tired. Dead to the world, he showed no signs of stirring.
“It makes sense,” she murmured quietly. “He’d barely woken up from almost dying and immediately had to fight.”
As she gently stroked his raven locks, a pained smile formed upon her features at the thought of what a hardworking young man he was. The slightly coarse texture of his hair felt pleasant to the touch.
This past week, she’d been wiping his hair whenever she could, to prevent it from becoming damp with sweat.
Iris chuckled. “How cruel this all is, Crow! You’re always on my mind! We’d confessed to one another just recently, and yet...” She trailed off, shedding tears she didn’t think she still had as she thought of the day when they’d strolled through Salem City.
Not a month had passed, and yet it felt like such a long time ago.
“There, on that day, we both spoke of our love for one another! How could you marry my mentor, you idiot?” she grieved, her emotions overflowing.
Iris was falling to pieces. She knelt by the bed, burying her face in Crow’s chest as he remained fast asleep.
“Why? Why has it come to this?!”
She knew why, of course. It must’ve been a bitter decision for Crow as well, offering himself up to a royal woman in order to bring the nation together. Iris would never have been able to do the same thing.
“Please, Crow! Be my lover, just for tonight!” she pleaded, straddling him. She knew full well how shameful this was. She’d sworn in front of Eldia that she would endeavor to see Crow on the throne. She’d vowed to set aside her feelings for him.
And yet, here she was. Heat rushed to her body where her skin touched his. Deep within her, the desire for her beloved welled up.
“Oh, Crow, please forgive me!” she exclaimed as she lowered herself to him and let out a soft moan.
Her ample bosom tingled as it pressed against him. His scent filled her nostrils, making her mind swim.
This is bad, she knew. It was like a drug. Before she knew it, she was panting heavily, burying her face in Crow’s neck.
Iris’s arousal only grew as she breathed him in, and she cried out, her body shuddering. His powerful, overwhelming aroma gave her goose bumps, making her back arch as it sent shivers down her spine. The smell of the man she loved was simply bewitching.
It was as though the depths of her lungs were being filled with a sweet poison, lowering her inhibitions, rendering her unable to hold back her desire.
“Do it,” a sickly-sweet voice echoed from her womb to her brain.
“Crow! Oh, Crow!” she exclaimed, unable to bear it any longer. Iris had reached her limit.
Even if just for one night, she wanted him.
“Crow!”
But then, as she leaned in to steal a kiss from the sleeping young man...
“C-Crow... I... Aaaugh! What’s wrong with me?!” She suddenly sprang up and forcefully struck the soft bed, breathing heavily. “Ugh, I’m so disgusted with myself!” she exclaimed, spilling tears of self-loathing.
The moment she had dared to initiate that foul kiss, the image of Crow’s face loomed clearly in her mind.
He wasn’t even in his twenties yet, and his youthful features were easily mistaken for a boy’s. Yet, despite his youth, he was prepared to sacrifice himself for his country. What on Earth was she trying to do to him?!
The moment she realized this, Iris’s wits returned to her.
“I’m sorry, Crow! I’m so sorry!” she pleaded tearfully, stroking him and getting down from the bed.
Quietly, she turned to leave the room. She would never make the same mistake again. This time, truly resolute, she placed her hand on the doorknob.
“Please forgive me, Sir Crow! Forgive the folly of a lowly knight!” she begged sternly.
Those were not the words of a woman in love with Crow, but a request from Iris the knight, who had decided to make him emperor.
“Rest well, my future emperor. I will defend your chosen path with all I have!”
With renewed determination, Iris disappeared down the corridor. And as she did so, she steeled her resolve to set aside her womanly pursuits. Plus, well, you know.
“Zzzzzzzz... Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz...”
The young man who was “prepared to sacrifice himself for his country” was still fast asleep, completely unaware of any of this.
As per usual, the very avatar of obliviousness. Since, you know, Iris thought they’d confessed their feelings to one another, but from Crow’s perspective, they’d simply declared their mutual affection as mentor and disciple.
So they weren’t on the same page. They weren’t even on the same book.
Iris Zehirete had steeled her resolve for no reason whatsoever.
With all that wasted steel, she should’ve just forged a knife to stab him with, frankly.
“Zzz...” What was that smell, anyway? It was nice! Also, was someone saying something? No, right? Yeah, no. Anyway, I love this tall, fluffy bed!
And so Crow continued to enjoy his peaceful sleep all by himself, carefree, as ignorant as he was infuriating.
Even his reason for going along with the plan to scold the emperor was just so he wouldn’t embarrass his mentor. He lost no sleep over it.
What an infuriating man! The worst timing, the worst judgment, and overflowing with a very questionable innate sense of goodness.
“Zzz...” Shit’s been crazy lately, but I really do want a girlfriend when things quiet down. Wouldn’t it be grand if a busty cougar showed up?! A rich lady, who wouldn’t expect me to be responsible for anything! That’d be awesome!
He slept on, completely unaware of the growing seriousness of everything around him.
And that was when, like the Grim Reaper, a woman appeared before the irresponsible, clueless bastard.
“I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry!” came a voice from the shadows in the corner of the room. “I’m sorry, Sir Crow!”
Like water from a fountain, a peach-colored woman sprung forth from the shadows!
Her name? Fiana von Alithlai. One of the branch commanders of the imperial knights and the female head of noble House Alithlai. The biological mother of young Tiana, who had taken Crow’s chastity while he slept. Also, a widow.
CONTENT WARNING: The following scene contains a depiction of sexual assault that may be upsetting to some readers. Please use personal discretion if you are sensitive to content of this nature.
“Oh, he still breathes! Sir Crow, you yet live!” she exclaimed, her voluptuous form crawling like a dog toward the young man. Tears spilled in large drops from her narrow eyes, leaving damp streaks on her face like a slug might.
“Sir Croooooow!”
The reason this widow was so desperate was that she was convinced it was her own fault that Crow was on the brink of death.