There’s Something Special About Her - Chapter 20

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 20.
“Where are you headed, Runelk?”
After the night watch ended, Bono asked as I turned down a path that led away from the dormitory.
“There’s somewhere I need to stop by before bed.”
“That so? Well, hurry up and finish whatever it is, then get some rest. I heard you were quite ill.”
“Yes, I will. Thank you for your hard work, Bono.”
“Mm-hmm, sure.”
I stood there for a moment, watching Bono disappear toward the dormitory, then turned to go.
For the past year, moving only between the guard post and sleeping quarters, I had never walked these unfamiliar paths before.
“He said east, didn’t he.”
After trudging along the narrow trail that wound around the city walls, a tall tower appeared exactly as the seniors had described.
“It’s absolutely crawling with ravens.”
Black ravens perched along every branch of the towering trees, watching me intently.
I disliked their golden eyes staring down at me as if they were actually thinking creatures.
They looked like Killian Greenox.
“You’re supposed to be nocturnal, aren’t you? You should be sleeping now that morning’s coming. What’s wrong with you?”
The ravens simply tilted their heads at my grumbling and stayed put.
……At least a raven isn’t actually talking back.
“And now I’m talking to birds of all things.”
Shaking my head and continuing toward the tower, I came upon a gentle rise.
It seemed the tower had been built on this hill to make it easier for the Raven Messenger Service to find.
But a man was walking down the path toward me.
It was before work hours had even begun, yet he seemed to be on his way back from sending a message early in the morning.
‘Must have written a love letter,’ I thought.
I frowned, remembering how Bono had teased me last night, calling me lovesick.
In the moment we passed each other on the narrow path, now closer together—
Clink.
‘That’s strange.’
The familiar sound made me stop and turn around.
Could it be someone I know?
But no, he was clearly a stranger.
The man’s pace was quick; he had already faded into the distance.
“I’m sure I’ve heard that sound somewhere before.”
***
Contrary to my expectations that a place swarming with ravens would be filthy and foul-smelling, the Raven Tower was surprisingly clean and quiet.
Had it not been for the unusually high ceiling and the black feathers scattered here and there, one might have mistaken it for a small library.
‘Seems a bit narrower than it looked from outside.’
Thinking something odd about this, I ventured deeper, and a woman behind a large counter—who had been busily writing something—greeted me with a bright smile.
“Welcome. Will you be using the Raven Messenger Service?”
“Ah, yes. How much does it cost?”
“Oh my, you’re new, aren’t you?”
How could she tell?
Though I’d been living in Greenox for about a year now, it hardly seemed like I was fresh—unless my clothes still looked brand new?
As I checked my uniform, noting the white ash scattered on it from sitting by the campfire all night, the staff member apologized.
“I apologize if that was rude.”
“Not at all. I’m not new to Greenox, but this is my first time using the Messenger Service.”
“I see. Our Raven Tower doesn’t charge Greenox personnel separately.”
“I see.”
That’s where my inexperience showed, then.
Still, hearing it was free was rather surprising.
“What about long distances?”
“Those are also free of charge.”
“That’s quite a benefit.”
“However, you should be aware that it takes somewhat longer than standard messenger services.”
“Longer, you say?”
I tilted my head, and the staff member smiled kindly.
“Our ravens can only reach the smaller raven stations scattered throughout each region. From there, the recipient’s home is reached by other means, which is why it takes longer. Also, since we bundle multiple messages together before sending, even if you entrust a letter to us today, it may take time before our raven departs.”
After her brief explanation, she wrinkled her nose playfully and added,
“It’s for cost efficiency.”
“Since it’s free, 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 name of the region where you’re sending the message, I can let you know when the raven will depart.”
“Well, that’s…….”
I’d come here on impulse without a clear destination in mind.
I was about to just write down a random address, when a suitable candidate suddenly occurred to me.
“Is it possible to send it to a country other than the Empire?”
“Another…… country?”
The staff member seemed taken aback—it wasn’t common for people to send messages abroad—but quickly recovered her smile and replied,
“Of course. Though as I mentioned, it may take considerable time.”
“Time isn’t a concern.”
“Then, the destination is…….”
“Crollen Kingdom.”
“That’s quite far.”
She nodded.
“And since I didn’t write the letter beforehand…….”
“Oh, that happens when you’re eager! There’s paper and pen set out over there—please use them freely.”
At the large table the staff member indicated, fine quality paper and quill pens were laid out.
I settled into a chair in the corner and, after a moment’s thought, began to write.
[Dear Clara,
How are you?
I’m doing well, so please don’t worry too much.
It’s already been a year since I came to Greenox, and I’ve been so busy adjusting I haven’t noticed the time pass.
I apologize for my late correspondence.
The new work is fine.
My seniors treat me well, and lately I’ve been sleeping better at night.
How are you doing?
Are the flowers in the greenhouse blooming well this year too?
If you have time, please write back.
I’ll be waiting.
I hope my sudden letter doesn’t surprise you too much.
Runelk Ainsga.
P.S. – Thanks to you, I finally finished that old assignment.]
If it’s her, she’ll know who sent this right away.
After carefully blowing on the ink to dry it, I folded the letter and placed it in an envelope.
“Where is something to seal it…….”
Thoughtfully placed next to the paper and envelopes was a stamp for imprinting the Greenox Seal.
But what caught my eye was the candle sitting beside the seal.
The lit candle, meant to drip wax whenever needed, flickered in the occasional breeze but refused to go out.
Each time the flame wavered, a faint white glow rippled around the wick.
“Ha.”line>
Smiling softly, I picked up the candle and tilted it over the envelope, and dark green wax dripped down with a soft thud.

Pressing the old stamp firmly into the wax, I lifted it away—leaving a clear impression of the Greenox Seal.
Even the raven on it, its beak open wide.
“So that’s what it meant.”
I picked up the perfectly sealed letter and handed it to the Raven Tower staff member.
“Please take good care of it. It’s an important letter.”
“Of course! I’ll deliver it safely…….”
I didn’t have time to hear all of the staff member’s farewell.
There was one more thing I needed to confirm.
***
The Day of Earth—the deadline Killian Greenox had set.
Even after night watch was supposed to begin, Jake didn’t come looking for me.
I wanted to ask what excuse he’d use this time to skip my shift, since I’d already used the stomach ache once.
I no longer waited and slipped out of the dormitory immediately.
Walking through the hallway, eerily silent compared to the daytime bustle, I arrived at the third floor of the Main Hall—and as expected, all guards and knights had withdrawn, leaving the office door wide open.
A scene that recreated that night as if to mock me.
“You came.”
Killian Greenox, standing alone by the office window, spoke before I even crossed the threshold.
“I didn’t want to be kidnapped again.”
Something like amusement flickered at the corners of Killian Greenox’s eyes.
“You’ve been quite busy running around these past five days. Must have been entertaining.”
He gives me an absurd task, and to make matters worse, he stakes my life on it—and then asks if it was fun?
Killian Greenox really is a bastard.
“It was…… entertaining. All thanks to you, Duke.”
My response seemed unexpected; one of Killian Greenox’s dark eyebrows arched.
He shouldn’t be surprised so easily.
The last time I stood in this room, my heart had pounded with fear and rage; now it beat fast with anticipation.
The anticipation of seeing that smug bastard’s face go rigid with shock.
“I’ve been rather bored, to be honest. I regretted giving you five days.”
Killian Greenox’s golden eyes gleamed with cruelty.
“So I hope the answer your captain brings will entertain me. If that answer proves disappointing…….”
A large, pale hand reached for a glass filled with large chunks of ice.
“I’ll simply have to find amusement in other ways.”
Though whether you’ll enjoy it is another matter entirely.
The blatant killing intent he radiated made my skin crawl.
It felt like invisible blades were pricking my flesh.
But worse still was that he hadn’t yet unleashed true murderous intent—instead playing with his prey, letting it hover only at the nape of my neck like a hunter’s breath.
“So, care to tell me now?”
Killian Greenox tilted his transparent glass toward his lips and asked.
Beyond it, a smooth mouth curved in unmistakable mockery.
No matter what answer came from my lips, he intended to kill me.
Then my only chance at survival was to expose what he—what Greenox—had so carefully hidden away.
A truly unexpected, genuine secret.
“Greenox’s darkest secret is the raven.”
Clink.
Ice struck glass in his frozen hand.
“The raven, sir.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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