TPOVF 20

Chapter 20

“Ruki, where are you going?”

After my night shift ended, Senior Bono asked me as I headed not toward the dormitory but elsewhere.

“I have somewhere to stop by before I sleep.”

“Really? I don’t know what it is, but finish it quickly and go to bed. You were really sick, you know.”

“Yes, I will. Good work, Senior Bono.”

“Yeah, sure.”

I stood there for a moment, watching Senior Bono head toward the dormitory, then moved my feet.

It was an unfamiliar path—one I had never walked in the past year, during which I’d only gone back and forth between the post and the dormitory every day.

“It was to the east, they said.”

After walking for a while along the narrow path that curved around the city wall, a tall tower came into view, just as the seniors had described.

“It’s full of crows everywhere.”

On the branches of the tall trees, black crows sat in rows, watching me.

I didn’t like their pale yellow eyes, staring down at me as if they could actually think—like they were sentient.

Just like Killian Knox.

“Aren’t you nocturnal? It’s almost morning, you should be sleeping. Why are you still up?”

Even at my provocation, the crows only tilted their heads and remained perched.

…It would be a problem if crows actually answered back.

“Now I’m talking to birds, of all things.”

I shook my head and continued walking toward the tower, eventually coming upon a low hill.

It seemed the tower had been built on a hill so that messenger crows could find it easily.

But then a man was walking down the path from above.

It was still before working hours began—he must have been coming out after sending a morning message.

*’Probably wrote a letter to his lover.’*

I frowned, remembering how Senior Bono had laughed at me last night, treating me like a kid.

In the meantime, as the man drew closer and we passed each other on the narrow path—

*Clink.*

‘Hm?’

I stopped at the familiar sound and turned around.

Could it be someone I knew?

But it was definitely a stranger.

The man was already far away, walking quickly.

“I’ve definitely heard that sound somewhere before.”

Contrary to my expectation that a place swarming with crows would be dirty and smelly, the Crow Tower was fairly clean and quiet.

If not for the unusually high ceiling and the black feathers scattered here and there, I would have believed it was a small library.

‘Isn’t it a bit narrower than it looked from outside?’

Thinking it was a little strange, I went further inside. A woman behind a wide counter, who had been busily writing something down, greeted me with a bright smile.

“Welcome. Are you here to use the messenger crows?”

“Ah, yes. How much does it cost?”

“Oh my, you’re a newbie.”

How did she know?

It’s been about a year since I joined Knox, so I’m not exactly a newbie—but maybe my uniform looks brand new?

As I checked my uniform, which had white ash scattered here and there from sitting by the campfire all night, the Crow Tower employee apologized.

“I’m sorry if that was rude.”

“No, it’s fine. I’m not a newbie, but this is my first time using the messenger crows.”

“I see. Our Crow Tower doesn’t charge Knox members separately.”

“I see.”

So that’s where my inexperience showed.

Still, the fact that it was free was quite surprising.

“What about long distances?”

“Long distances are the same.”

“That’s great welfare.”

“However, you should keep in mind that it takes a bit longer than ordinary messenger crows.”

“Takes longer?”

As I tilted my head, the employee smiled kindly.

“Our crows can only go as far as the small Crow Towers scattered across each region. From there, another method is used to reach the recipient’s home. Also, since we bundle multiple messages together for each dispatch, even if you leave your letter with us today, it may take some time before the crow departs.”

After finishing her brief explanation, she wrinkled her nose playfully and added:

“For cost-effectiveness.”

“It’s free, so I don’t mind.”

It was a reasonable and practical explanation.

“Of course, if you’re lucky, it might arrive sooner than expected. If you tell me the region you’re sending to, I can let you know when it departs.”

“Hmm. Well……”

I’d come here on a whim, but now that I was actually here, I didn’t have anywhere to send a letter.

I thought about just writing any random address, but then a suitable candidate came to mind.

“Is it possible to send to another country, not the empire?”

“Another…… country?”

It seemed not many people sent letters abroad, as the employee hesitated for a moment before regaining her smile and answering.

“Of course. But as I said, it may take a long time.”

“Time doesn’t matter.”

“Then, where would you like to send it……”

“The Kingdom of Crollin.”

“That is a bit far.”

She nodded.

“But I didn’t bring a letter with me.”

“That happens when you’re in a hurry! There’s paper and pens over there—feel free to use them.”

On the large table the employee guided me to, there was good-quality paper and a quill pen.

Settling into a chair in the corner, I thought for a moment before writing the letter.

—

[Dear Clara,

How are you?

I’m doing well, so don’t worry too much.

A year has already passed as I’ve been busy adjusting to life at Knox.

Sorry for the late reply.

My new job is fine.

The seniors treat me well, and lately, I’ve been sleeping well at night too.

How about you?

Are the flowers in the greenhouse blooming well again this year?

If you have time, please write back.

I’ll be waiting.

I hope this sudden letter doesn’t startle you too much,

Runnelck Ains.

P.S. – Thanks to you, I finally finished that old homework assignment.]

—

That woman would immediately recognize who sent it.

After blowing on it to dry the ink, I folded the letter and placed it in an envelope.

“Now, something to seal it with……”

Next to the provided stationery and envelopes, there was conveniently a stamp with the Knox insignia.

But what caught my eye was the candle placed next to the stamp.

The lit candle, ready to drip wax at any moment, somehow managed not to go out despite the occasional breeze.

Whenever the flame flickered uneasily, a faint white glow shimmered around the wick.

“Hah.”

I chuckled softly, lifted the candle, and tilted it over the envelope. With a heavy *plop*, dark green wax dripped down.

Pressing the old stamp firmly on top and lifting it, a clear Knox seal appeared—complete with a crow with its beak wide open.

“So that’s what it meant.”

I picked up the perfectly sealed letter and handed it to the Crow Tower employee.

“Please take good care of it. It’s a precious letter.”

“Of course! I’ll deliver it safely—”

Sorry, but I didn’t have time to listen to the rest of her greeting. There was one final thing I needed to check.

—

***

—

On Earth Day—the last day of the deadline Killian Knox had set.

Even though night had fallen and the time for the night shift had passed, Senior Jake still hadn’t come to find me.

I’d already used the stomachache excuse—I wanted to ask what pretext he’d used to get me out of duty this time.

I didn’t wait any longer and immediately left the dormitory.

Walking through the eerily quiet hallway, so still it made the daytime bustle feel like a lie, I arrived at the third floor of the main building. As expected, all guard and knight personnel had been cleared away, and the office door was wide open.

It was a scene that seemed to mock me, recreating that night exactly.

“You’re here.”

Killian Knox, standing alone by the office window, spoke even before I crossed the threshold.

“I didn’t want to get kidnapped again.”

At my answer, something resembling a smile flickered in Killian Knox’s eyes.

“You’ve been busy running around for five days. Must have been fun.”

He gives me an absurd mission, puts my life on the line on top of that, and asks if it was fun?

Killian Knox really is a son of a bitch.

“Fun…… it was. All thanks to you, Your Grace the Duke.”

At my unexpected reply, one of Killian Knox’s dark eyebrows rose.

He shouldn’t be surprised so soon.

The last time I stood in this spot, my heart had pounded with fear and rage—but today, it raced with anticipation.

Anticipation of soon seeing that smug monster’s face freeze in shock.

“I was rather bored, you know. I even regretted giving you five days.”

Killian Knox’s golden eyes gleamed cruelly.

“So I hope your visit pleases me. If your answer disappoints me—”

His large, pale hand picked up a glass of liquor with a massive chunk of ice in it.

“—I’ll just have to find my fun in other ways.”

Though whether the crew member would enjoy it too, I couldn’t say.

The blatant killing intent he shot my way sent a chill down my spine.

It felt like invisible blades were pricking at my skin.

But the fact that he wasn’t yet wielding outright murderous intent—instead toying with his prey, lurking just at the nape of my neck—was even more vicious.

“So, will you speak now?”

Killian Knox tilted the transparent glass to his lips and asked.

Beyond it, the curve of his smooth lips was unmistakably mocking.

No matter what answer came out of my mouth, he intended to kill me.

If that was the case, the only way for me to survive was to expose what he—and Knox—had hidden so carefully.

The real secret that no one could have ever expected.

“Knox’s darkest secret is the crows.”

*Clink.*

The ice clinked against the glass in his momentarily frozen hand.

“The crows.”