Originally, they were planning to head north right after the New Year's festivities, but that schedule was naturally delayed. They had to show the Emperor for three months what efforts they were making as a couple. So Karina and Jeremiah stayed together in the capital mansion during that period. Around noon that day, a crow that they had never seen before flew in through Karina's window.
Knock knock knock.
And it kept pecking at Karina's window with its beak as if asking her to open it.
Knock knock knock.
'What?'
At first, Karina was confused and didn't know what it meant, but when she discovered the crow, she couldn't hide her surprise.
'Are you asking me to open it?'
Karina opened the window just in case the crow could come in. Then the crow came scurrying into the room. Upon closer inspection, she saw that there was a round tube hanging from the crow's leg, similar to a homing pigeon, that could hold a small note. As if telling Karina to open it, the crow lifted one of its legs, which had the tube hanging from it, onto the back of her hand!
"...Are you telling me to open this?"
Karina asked that without realizing it, even though the crow couldn't possibly understand her words. Then as if to say yes, the crow poked Karina's hand with its leg again.
"..."
'Is this a dream?'
She thought about that for a moment, but then she opened the round box attached to the crow's leg. Inside, she found a rolled-up note and a silver ring.
'What is this?"
Karina unfolded the note and checked it.
"Uh...?"
And then she was surprised. That was because the note was from Mikhail.
[Karina. This is Mikhail. You must have been very surprised when I suddenly disappeared, right? I'm sorry. Something suddenly came up and I'll have to be away for a while. There's nothing wrong, so don't worry. Enclosed is an artifact made from the magic stone I brought from the mine last time. Please always wear it with you. I've also cast a spell on it, so it will be helpful if you carry it with you. I'll be back soon, so please wait a moment.]
Karina let out a sigh of relief after checking the contents of the letter. She was relieved that there was nothing wrong.
'But please tell me in advance before you go.'
She felt a sense of discontent, but then it subsided. She thought that maybe it was urgent and that it was okay to say something like this.
'By the way.'
Karina looked closely at the crow that brought the note.
'I didn't know Mikhail used crows as carriers.'
Even the crow did not leave the room until Karina finished reading the note.
'That's smart. Are you waiting for a reply?"
With a smile on her face, Karina went to her desk and took out a piece of paper and a pen. She used a paper knife to cut the paper into small pieces like a note and wrote a reply on it.
[I received the letter and artifact you sent. Thank you. I'm glad that nothing serious happened. I'm fine. Take care of the urgent matter and come back.]
As soon as she wrote the few words she needed, the note quickly filled up.
'This is all I can use...'
She was amazed at how Mikhail could write so many words on such a small note. Karina rolled up the note she had written into a cylinder and put it back on the crow's leg. But the crow did not fly away and remained still.
'Why don't you go back and stay here?'
Karina stared at the crow with a puzzled expression. The crow lowered its head as if it had understood Karina's thoughts. Then it tapped the note Karina was holding with its beak.
"Huh?"
Karina tilted her head, not knowing what it meant. Meanwhile, the crow bit off a ring with a red stone and dropped it on Karina's palm.
"Ah..."
Karina suddenly realized what the crow wanted.
"You want me to put the ring on now?"
The crow nodded as if it was the right answer. Karina laughed out loud because the situation was so funny and amazing. Then she looked closely at the ring the crow had placed on her palm. The ring was delicately crafted with soft curves and had a red stone like a ruby in the center.
'But why is it in the shape of a ring?'
The answer to the question that had come to mind came quickly. Since it had to be sent by attaching it to a crow's leg, she thought a ring would be the most appropriate. A necklace would be bigger than a ring, and two earrings would have to be sent. Karina, who quickly understood, was about to put the ring on her right hand when she heard a knock.
Knock knock.
"Your Highness, I brought you food."
It was Jen. Karina had told Jeremiah that she would eat lunch separately in her room today because she didn't want to face him yet.
"Come in."
With Karina's permission, Jen came into the room carrying a tray of food. Then, she opened her mouth in surprise when she saw Karina and the crow in front of the window.
"Oh, my? There's a bird in the room? I'll get it out right away."
Karina said to the flustered Jen.
"There's no need for that. This crow seems to be Mikhail's messenger."
"Is this the escort's letter?"
It was Jen who she had sent on an errand to the inn to find out Mikhail's whereabouts. Karina thought there was no need to hide it from Jen, who already knew the situation.
"Something came up, so I think he'll have to step away for a moment."
"Yes? If the escort leaves, who will guard the Grand Duchess?"
Jen asked back with a worried look on her face.
"So he sent me the enchanted artifact."
Karina showed off a ring with a red stone.
"It's a ring...?"
Jen looked at her with an ambiguous expression.
"Yeah. Since he had to send it to the crow, a ring shape would probably be the most appropriate. I was told to always keep it on me, so it would be suitable for that as well."
Karina spoke thoughtlessly. But as she continued to speak, Jen's expression grew darker and darker.
"No matter what, giving a ring feels a bit..."
'Ah.'
Karina realized why Jen was reacting that way.
'That's not it at all...'
Karina recalled the day they went to eat Jam Hard, when Mikhail played a mischievous prank on her and she was watching her flustered reaction, enjoying it. Immediately afterward, Karina was the only one flustered and baffled, while Mikhail acted as if nothing had happened.
'That was definitely a joke.'
Karina's eyes widened as she recalled the memory of that day. It was the same when she had asked to be hugged without hesitation the day before New Year's Day.
'And this time, he disappeared without a word.'
Mikhail would have thought of her as nothing more than a little sister who wanted to tease him.
'But if someone who doesn't know sees it, they might misunderstand?'
Karina, who had been pondering for a moment, opened the jewelry box next to her and took out a plain necklace string. She then put the ring through the string and wore it around her neck like a necklace.
"Is this okay?"
Karina shook the ring she had on her necklace as if she wanted to show it to both Jen and the crow. Jen still had a subtle expression on her face as if she didn't want to do it. On the other hand, the crow flew out the window without any regrets as if it was done after checking that it was on her body.
Karina watched the crow fly out and close the window again. Then she went to the table and sat down to eat the meal Jen had brought. Jen quickly set the food he had brought on a tray on the table.
"Your Highness the Grand Duchess."
Jen, who had been watching Karina's expression, called her in a gloomy voice. At first, Jen was worried, thinking that Karina was sick, but after hearing about what had happened at the banquet hall, she became even more gloomy.
"Why?"
Jen, who had been hesitating and moving her lips several times, opened her mouth.
"Are you really thinking of divorcing His Highness the Grand Duke?"
Karina smirked at Jen's drooping eyebrows and asked back.
"Why? Do you wish I hadn't gotten divorced?"
As soon as Karina asked that question, Jen answered enthusiastically with sparkling eyes.
"Of course! I wish the Grand Duchess would continue to stay in the Grand Duke's household!"
"If I go, someone better than me will come."
"...!"
Jen made a gloomy expression at Karina's response.
"Your Highness. Why don't you think about it again? The people of the North love you so much! If you leave like this without doing anything for them, they might all be upset."
"Well."
Karina don't know if there's anyone who would be truly sad that she's leaving, but at least she could feel that the child in front of her was sincere.
'I'm a little grateful.'
Although it had only been a short time since they met, if she added up our past memories, Jen was a kind child who always approached her first with kindness. Karina raised the corners of her lips and smiled kindly.
"Don't worry. I'll tell Charlotte that you can continue to work as before when you return to the Grand Duke's household. No, I'll tell her to treat you better than before."
"No, that's not why I'm doing this..."
Karina picked up a piece of steak in front of her with her fork and put it in Jen's mouth.
"...!"
"Enough with that story. I'll eat on my own, so you go down and eat too."
Karina started eating, interrupting Jen. Jen couldn't help but say no.
***
At the same time. Jeremiah, who had planned to have lunch with Karina today, heard that Karina wanted to eat alone in her room.
"You don't even want to see me."
Jeremiah muttered bitterly. Karina had not left her room since she returned from the banquet hall. It was clear that she was deliberately avoiding him. Jeremiah could have pushed Karina to have dinner with him at the restaurant, but he didn't want to do that. He thought she would hate him even more if he forced her to come.
"Phew."
Jeremiah sighed. Ron, who was watching Jeremiah from the side, opened his mouth slightly.
"Your Highness, how about making some food that the Grand Duchess likes? If she eats something delicious and feels good, she might come out of her room."
"I see."
At Ron's suggestion, Jeremiah thought carefully about what Karina's favorite foods were.
" ...Apple pie."
He recalled how Karina had once said she liked apple pie.
'The apple pie my nanny made was really delicious.'
Actually, it was a memory that he had forgotten for a while, but it came back to him when he saw Karina eating apple pie at a restaurant a while ago.
'And she still seems to like it now.'
Jeremiah immediately ordered the kitchen to make an apple pie. He did this because he thought Karina would be less reluctant to eat with him if her favorite food was served. However, before the apple pie was even finished, an uninvited guest arrived.
"Your Highness, we have a guest outside."
"Guest?"
Stephen, the butler who manages the capital mansion, informs him of the visit of the Marquis of Millainer.
"Without any notice?"
Jeremiah's expression turned cold. It wasn't unexpected. Given Marquis Millainer's hasty nature, it was more surprising that he didn't immediately follow them out of the banquet hall yesterday.
"I heard that he has also brought a message from His Majesty the Emperor."
Even if the Marquis had come in person, it would not have been impossible to refuse if he had brought a message from the Emperor.
"First, take him to the reception room."
"All right."
"And let Karina know about the Marquis' visit."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Stephen bowed politely and guided the Marquis into the reception room before going straight to tell Karina the news.
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