The Crow That’s After Me
Chapter 09 —
“Reply if alive.”
Elena laughed at the cheeky message. It reminded her of when she was little and played war games with her brothers. She used to team up with her second brother and attack her eldest brother, who was always busy with lessons to become the heir. Even though he would complain that it was unfair, he always let his younger siblings win…
But now wasn’t the time for nostalgia. Before Mary returned, Elena quickly turned the paper over and wrote a reply.
“Do crows go on trips too?”
That was the best question she could come up with for now. She still hadn’t decided what to think about Paido. Did he hate Theodore? Or did he plan to hand her over to his brother just to win his favor?
Besides, both she and Paido were being watched closely by the people in the castle. She needed to be extra careful.
Elena heard Mary’s footsteps returning and quickly hid the note in her hand. Sensing a snack, Donovan started hopping around excitedly. Watching him, Elena reached for her hair and pulled out the comb Theodore had given her.
“Take this.”
Donovan tilted his head. Elena waved the comb again.
“It’s something you like, isn’t it?”
Donovan only pretended to peck it a few times, then ran away from her. Elena sighed quietly. She had wanted to get rid of the thing, but even that wasn’t working out.
Soon, Mary returned. While feeding Donovan a few raisins as a treat, Elena secretly tied the note to his leg and let him fly away. That was her only hope left now.
After having dinner alone, Elena sat by the window, gazing out at the falling snow. No matter how long she watched it, she didn’t get tired of the sight.
But with the snow piling up thicker and thicker, it would be even harder to expect letters from the South. She wondered how her nanny was doing. Her father. The princess. Even her grown-up brothers — she missed them all.
“What are you thinking about so deeply?”
It was Theodore. He came right up to her without hesitation.
“Your hands are cold. You should’ve covered yourself with a blanket.”
He wrapped his warm hands around hers. Elena lowered her gaze and said nothing.
He’s being kind again. But she knew how unpredictable he was — gentle one moment, then cold and cruel the next.
“My lord,” she said quietly.
“Speak.”
“You don’t have to act like this toward me. As the master of Barcian, you have the duty to produce an heir. I’ll fulfill that duty.”
No need for all this pretending — she was saying, I’ll sleep with you anyway.
Theodore chuckled. Every time he thought he had broken her spirit, she came back with words that stung. That fire inside her only made him want her more.
Crows were greedy creatures by nature. He wanted Elena to kneel before him — to conquer her completely. His eyes gleamed with that thought as he reached out and gently stroked her shoulder.
“The nights in Barcian are long,” he said. “Shall we share a drink?”
“Thank you for the offer, but I haven’t completely recovered yet…”
“It’s a southern wine,” he said lightly. “A shame to waste it.”
Elena pressed her lips together. She didn’t want to miss the taste of wine from her homeland — not because of him.
“I’ll follow your wish, my lord.”
“No need for titles. We don’t have to be so formal, do we?”
He was truly exhausting to deal with.
“How could I call the Grand Duke by name so casually?”
She answered without much thought, and Theodore’s brow twitched. He called a servant to bring wine and add more wood to the fire.
“What did you do with the hair comb?” he asked, after tossing another log into the fireplace. The last time he saw her — at lunch — she’d still been wearing it.
“A crow stole it,” she said smoothly, without even blinking.
But her lie didn’t fool him — not in his own castle. Theodore let out a short laugh.
“How strange. All the crows here are tame. And yet one stole only your belonging? I suppose I’ll have to find out who owns that bird and punish them.”
Elena finally looked up at him. A servant entered, setting down the wine and glasses while glancing nervously between the two of them.
“That’s enough. Leave us,” Theodore said.
He poured the wine himself, filling both their glasses. Elena accepted hers and replied calmly,
“There’s always a limit to how much a person can tame a beast. Is there really any point blaming the beast?”
Theodore smiled faintly. “There isn’t a creature I can’t tame.”
Elena sipped the wine slowly. It was southern wine — something she had longed for — but she couldn’t even savor the flavor.
“I hope I’m not one of the beasts you plan to tame, my lord.”
His lips curled. “Well, the southern temptress has turned into a modest lady — wouldn’t you say that’s close enough?”
She had the urge to throw the wine in his face. Gritting her teeth, Elena replied, “Not all southern women are promiscuous.”
“Every southern woman I’ve met has been,” he said smoothly.
As if he’d met many. Aside from his late stepmother Karina, her maids, and Elena herself, there weren’t any southern women in the north. Seeing her hand tighten around the glass, Theodore smiled. He was teasing her on purpose.
Elena said nothing more and drank silently. When he kept his mouth shut, he was the perfect drinking partner — his handsome forehead, his arrogant nose, even his lips looked perfect… as long as they weren’t speaking.
Noticing her stare, his lips curved faintly.
“You go quiet when things don’t go your way. Or is it that you just don’t want to talk to me?”
“Whatever I say, you’ll interpret it however you like. So choose whichever answer pleases you.”
Theodore laughed quietly.
“I can’t tell if you give up easily or not at all.”
“It depends on the situation.”
“Then let’s talk about something you might actually enjoy,” he said.
Elena doubted that very much. She emptied her glass with a blank face, and he refilled it.
“A letter came from the Crown Prince,” Theodore said casually. “He was asking how you were. Seems he’s quite interested in our marriage.”
“I see.”
So letters from the South were getting through. Did that mean her family and the princess hadn’t abandoned her? She couldn’t let herself look shaken.
From the beginning, Theodore had suspected she might be the emperor or the crown prince’s lover. If she showed the slightest emotion, it would only confirm his doubts.
So she met his gaze and said evenly, “Your will is my will, my lord. Please respond to His Highness on behalf of us both.”
“You don’t wish to read it yourself? It looked like there was quite a bit left unsaid between you two.”
“The only message I’d send His Highness is that my married life is very satisfying.”
“I’m honored to hear that,” Theodore murmured, bringing her hand to his lips. His touch, his lips — they all burned against her skin. She wanted to pull away, but he didn’t let go.
“In the North, we have an old saying,” he said. “Even the coldest couple becomes a pair of crows once winter passes.”
“What does that mean?” she asked quietly.
His eyes glinted with mischief.
“Winter storms here can last for days. When that happens, everyone is trapped indoors until the snow stops — even me.”
He took the glass from her hand.
“So when a husband and wife spend the whole winter locked away together, their bond naturally grows stronger. Maybe we should find out if it’s true.”
They hadn’t even finished the wine. Hesitating, Elena finally took his hand and stood up. He led her to the bed and drew the curtains closed.
When she began to undo her hair, he stopped her and loosened it himself.
“I’ll give you a new ornament,” he whispered as he untied the ribbons on her dress.
“Let’s see if a crow tries to steal this one too.”
By noon the next day, Elena finally woke up. Mary helped her bathe and dress — she hadn’t even noticed that Theodore was already gone. He had said something in the morning, but she’d been too exhausted to hear a word.
“Madam…” Mary said carefully as she dressed her. Elena didn’t even have the strength to answer, just turned her eyes toward her maid.
“Shouldn’t we cover your neck?”
Mary’s face was bright red. Elena turned toward the mirror and saw the marks — the places Theodore had bitten her last night.
Did he have marks too? she wondered. He’d bitten her hard enough that she’d bitten him back in revenge.
She’d even cried in his arms… Elena frowned at the memory.
“It looks awful. Cover it,” she said shortly.
Mary quickly pulled out a long silk scarf and tied it neatly around Elena’s neck.
“Where’s Donovan?” Elena asked.
“He came by in the morning but left right after. He didn’t even look at me, that rude bird.”
I should’ve gotten Paido’s reply by now, Elena thought bitterly.
Mary brought her lunch — her first meal of the day. While she was eating, a servant appeared.
“The Grand Duke sent this,” he said.
Elena didn’t even glance at him. Mary took the item instead.
“His Grace said to make sure you wear it,” the servant added.
“How ridiculous,” Elena muttered.
“My lady!” Mary hissed, looking between her and the servant nervously.
Elena sighed and gestured for her to handle it. She didn’t even bother looking at what it was.
Mary still glanced at the unfinished food. “Should I reheat the meal for you?”
“No. Just take it away.”
Mary began brushing and styling her hair. The servant stood awkwardly by, bowing his head. Mary worked quickly, pinning Elena’s hair and attaching the new ornament Theodore had sent.
“There. Tell His Grace I’ve worn it — and that he can stop bothering me now,” Elena said tiredly.
“My lady, I swear I don’t know what will happen to you anymore!” Mary cried, pouting as she grabbed the dishes and stormed out. The servant, still looking uneasy, bowed and followed her.
Finally alone, Elena let out a long yawn. Even after sleeping late, she still felt exhausted — Theodore had completely worn her out the night before.
