Chapter 55
Chapter 55: Keeping the Appointment
***
I slowly raised my hand and gently poked the raven with my finger.
Poked it again.
After poking it several times with no reaction — it neither showed fear nor flew away, still staring at me blankly — I finally felt reassured enough to start observing it.
The raven was very large, its body length almost matching my forearm. Its feathers were glossy black. Currently, both claws were firmly gripping my right shoulder as it tilted its head while staring at me. Its eyes were an unsettling crimson color, clearly different from the black crows I remembered that symbolized death, victory, wisdom, and other multiple meanings.
Moreover, it just spoke in human language and called my name…
So after pondering for a moment, I tried speaking to it: “Can… can you talk? Do you know me?”
After asking, I found myself a bit amusing.
It’s just a raven, yet here I am asking if it knows me… Am I not fully awake or did I oversleep…
But it responded.
“Caw—— Caw——”
The raven raised its neck and called out loudly, then spread its wings, which surprisingly spanned almost 1 meter, completely blocking my vision.
It brought its head closer to my face, slightly opening its beak.
Hm? Do you want to tell me something?
I quickly moved my head closer, but suddenly felt a pain on my forehead.
This bird had pecked me twice.
“That hurts…”
I covered my forehead with one hand while expressionlessly staring at this foolish raven that dared to offend me… I don’t know if it was my imagination, but this thing actually gave me the feeling it was angry?
What are you angry about? I should be the one getting angry.
Daring to peck me… Should I steam you or would you taste better roasted?
While I was contemplating adding something to my breakfast, I suddenly noticed a roll of paper tied to the raven’s leg.
“Oh?”
I reached out my hand.
What’s this, a letter? Is it a message someone sent to Shanter Castle?
The ravens in this world can actually deliver mail?
I carefully untied the string, and the red-eyed raven didn’t resist, allowing me to remove the letter.
Then I gently opened it.
The paper was slightly yellowed, somewhat crumpled as if someone had crushed it, and there were several drops of dried blood on it.
I focused on reading the letter’s contents.
[Dear Father, Mother, Parsifal, and my beloved little princess Peylo:
It’s been a long time. Having heard that sister has returned home, I was overjoyed, my thoughts flying back to the snowy mountains of Winter City ten years ago…]
Very polite family talk, I could tell who wrote it just from the greeting. But unfortunately, the letter was only half-written, the remaining content unfinished for unknown reasons, more like an abandoned family letter with no substantial content.
However, at the bottom of the paper, I saw several lines clearly written by someone else:
[Lafayette is with me. Come to No. 1 Powell Street mansion before noon today, and I will tell you the details then. Remember to come alone, don’t tell your father and mother, or you will never see your big brother again. — Your beloved brother Edward.]
This letter is for me.
…What does this mean, Lafayette was captured? By whom? Edward… did he come here? When did he arrive in Winter City!? Why didn’t anyone discover him… What does he want to do? Where is No. 1 Powell Street? Should I tell the Duke…
My thoughts were chaotic for a moment, but it only lasted about 10 seconds before I calmed down.
Lafayette… my brother. He was supposed to arrive today or tomorrow, but now it seems he’s already in Edward’s hands. He demands that I come alone… what does he want to do?
Either way, I should let the Duke know first…
No.
Once the Duke knows, he will definitely notify the Shanter army to rescue him, which would go against Edward’s wishes. What if he gets upset… Besides, even a team captain turned out to be a traitor, who knows who else might leak information to him. The risk of information leaking is too high, I can’t take that chance.
Although it’s very likely a trap… to be safe, I must go alone first no matter what.
Thinking of this, I unconsciously started smiling.
“Hehe.”
Edward, are you trying to use me to threaten someone again? Why would you want me to come alone, instead of the Duke… Is it because you think I’m stupid, still as weak and easily bullied as the old Peylo?
Fine then.
It’s time to do something for the Duke and Madam.
“Caw—— Peipei!”
“…”
This bird is still here? Please, I don’t have time to deal with you right now.
“Peipei——, Peipei——”
“Shut up, stupid bird.”
“…”
“…”
“Peipei——, fool! Big idiot!”
“!!!”
It understood what I said?
It can even insult people!?
I stared at the raven with wide eyes, then raised my small hand and slapped its head.
“Caw——, Caw——”
The raven staggered from the hit, flapping its wings to take flight, pecked my head several times, and seeing me raise my hand again, quickly darted up high into the sky.
“Caw——”
The hoarse cry gradually faded away.
…Not angry, I’m not angry. Lafayette’s matter is urgent, I still need to go beat up Edward, there’s no reason to get worked up over a broken bird, so I’m not angry at all right now.
After calming myself down a bit, I casually discarded the ice spike.
I looked around but didn’t see the hunter. Walking past the practice field, through the corridor, I came to the high ramparts in front of the castle again.
The guards at the gate seemed to be double the usual number. Hoover’s burly figure was particularly eye-catching among the crowd, so I walked over to him.
“Uncle Hoover, good morning.”
Hoover turned his head at my words.
“Oh, good morning, little Peipei. What’s this, are you going out?”
His eyes were red, looking like he hadn’t slept well, his expression seemed somewhat haggard, did he keep watch last night?
It’s a bit strange, Hoover is the captain of the third team, he should only be managing task assignments, it shouldn’t be his turn to keep watch… Never mind, now is not the time to think about these things.
Putting aside my doubts, I nodded slightly to him.
“Mm.”
“So early? Is there something urgent?”
After thinking for a moment, I still decided to lie.
“I have urgent business, looking for Carlos.”
Hoover showed a suspicious look.
“What’s so urgent? Madam probably hasn’t even gotten up yet, you haven’t had breakfast either, right… Why not eat something before going?”
Only then did I suddenly remember that I hadn’t eaten anything yet.
This won’t do, how can I go hungry.
“Uncle Hoover, do you have any food?”
“Yes, wait a moment.” He turned and walked into the fortress, coming back shortly with two still-warm pieces of bread, “They’re eating inside right now, here you go.”
I reached out to take them, wanting to say two pieces weren’t enough… never mind, got to save face.
“Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it, we all eat what Duke gives us…” At this point, Hoover paused, “How about I go with you?”
I couldn’t let him come with me, so I immediately smiled at him and said: “No need. It’s Church business. I’ll be quick, will come back soon.”
Not everyone can get involved in Church business, Hoover knows my identity, so this way he had no reason to say anything more, he could only nod.
“Alright.” Then he ordered people to open the main gate, and after thinking for a bit, added: “Peipei, I know you’re very capable, but you also understand that this is a special situation, be extremely careful with everything.”
“Mm.”
I waved to him, holding two pieces of bread bigger than my face, took a big bite from each, then slowly walked out of the castle.