Chapter 17: Chapter 16:Thief
"My Lady, the carriage is ready."
Hearing Thomas, Morrigan took one last look to ensure she appeared appropriate. The navy blue outfit, earrings, and necklace added an extra touch of luxury.
Morrigan descended the steps gracefully, step by step. Maria stood at the door to greet her lady, her eyes lighting up when she saw Morrigan. "Morrigan, you look stunning!"
"You are like a star!"
A delicate smile graced Morrigan's face at the compliment. "Thank you, Maria."
Morrigan noticed that Maria had started addressing her by her name more often, but she didn't mind. Thomas stood by the carriage, with the coachman ready to drive.
Since this was a Tea Party at the Royal Palace, Morrigan would be escorted by the Royal Guards.
The Royal Guards were a permanent, elite organization loyal to the King and Queen.
The position of Captain of the Royal Knights was highly coveted, but since the previous Captain, the Black Knight Norman, had suddenly resigned, the position had been vacant for two months.
Morrigan walked forward step by step and gracefully ascended the carriage, with Maria waving goodbye from behind.
Nodding at Maria, Morrigan gave the command to depart. "We may go."
The horses neighed as they began to move, and Morrigan slowly distanced herself from the estate.
As the carriage passed by, many people continued about their business calmly, as if accustomed to this sight. It was normal; so many nobles passed through that people no longer found it surprising, though occasionally, children would gaze curiously.
Morrigan observed the city. When she first arrived, the class differences were visibly stark. As the carriage approached the Royal Palace, the quality of the roads, people's clothing, and the shops improved.
Meanwhile, many soldiers patrolled constantly. Despite the high level of vigilance in the slum area, corruption was rampant.
The capital was a paradise only for the rich and noble; with the common population rapidly increasing, even the capital could no longer handle it.
Although King Henry tried to implement some reforms, they were still not about the people, human freedom, or the economy. They were merely small changes created to satisfy the nobles.
According to Thomas, during the reign of King Henry's father, Edward VI, the Royal Family's authority had nearly peaked. It was such a significant shift that after Edward's death, the nobles exerted ruthless pressure on the young Henry.
As a result, the Royal Party, which supported the Royal Family, was formed, and the Reformist Party began its first major rise.
If it weren't for the efforts of Morrigan's Aunt, Queen Anna, the Royal Family would have nearly lost all its power.
Therefore, King Henry had to rely on Queen Anna and the Duchy of Thornvile. Although King Henry was a failed leader, he was not foolish.
He never attempted to make a move against Queen Anna or the Duchy of Thornvile.
Morrigan's thoughts were interrupted when the carriage suddenly stopped. Despite the abrupt jolt, Morrigan managed to stay seated.
Frowning, Morrigan looked at the coachman. "What happened?"
The coachman avoided eye contact with Morrigan, speaking nervously. "Children ran out in front of us, My Lady."
Morrigan wanted to see who these children were. "Bring the children to me."
With a slight smile, Thomas opened the door for his lady. Morrigan stepped down, commanding the crowd's attention.
At this moment, two knights brought the slightly dirty children before Morrigan. Morrigan examined them. There were two boys and one girl.
The girl had brown hair and blue eyes, wearing a tattered dress, with large, timid eyes.
The other boys were not much different from the girl. One was a tall, red-haired boy around 12 years old, with bruises on his face.
The last one had black hair and green eyes. The green-eyed boy looked anxious and nervous, lacking the stern expression of the red-haired boy.
As Morrigan examined the three children, her brow furrowed slightly. "What are your names?"
Morrigan's cold tone caused the gathering crowd to hold their breath. Even if they didn't know who Morrigan was, they could tell she was a noble.
A noble could punish even children, so most people feared confronting them.
The girl flinched at Morrigan's question, while the red-haired boy narrowed his eyes. "Our names are none of your business."
"Don't be rude, young man," Thomas said with a faint smile. "My Lady is kind. Just answer her question."
The red-haired boy, growing more tense under Thomas' gaze, hesitated, took a breath, and spoke. "My name is Ren."
"I'm Riko," said the brown-haired girl, her voice trembling, as if she was on the verge of tears.
Seeing Morrigan's gaze on him, the black-haired boy felt compelled to speak. "My name is Fred."
Morrigan's emotionless eyes assessed each of the children, who grew more nervous despite trying not to show it. After a moment, Morrigan opened her mouth to speak. "You may go."
As Riko exhaled with relief, Fred released the breath he had been holding. Ren, with a grateful expression, walked up to Morrigan and took her hand, bowing before her. "Thank you, merciful Lady!"
Even though Morrigan didn't fully understand what was happening, she accepted the thanks and didn't mind Ren holding her hand. "Alright, you may go."
"Wait," Thomas said, still maintaining his grin. His gaze caused Ren to freeze in fear. "Look at the arm where your bracelet was, my Lady."
Although Morrigan was surprised, she did as he suggested and looked at her right arm. When she saw that her bracelet was missing, she gave Ren a merciless look. "So, you're thieves."
The knights harshly grabbed the children by their necks and threw them to the ground. Riko let out a whimper, her eyes watering from the pain, while Ren felt fear and regret.
As he tried to escape, Thomas lifted Ren by the neck like a cat. "Hold on, little thief, where do you think you're going?"
Seeing Thomas' grin, Ren was frightened, but he still tried to resist with courage. "Let me go!"
The crowd looked at the thieves with a mix of pity and disgust, while Morrigan's thoughts were conflicted. The logical part of her mind argued that the children deserved punishment for their crime, while the emotional part saw them as innocent.
The brief silence was broken by Thomas's voice. "What is your decision, my Lady?"
Morrigan's eyes turned to Ren. "Why do you steal?"
As Ren freed himself from Thomas's grip, he took a deep breath, then stood still when he heard Morrigan's question, gritting his teeth. "Why?! Because we're hungry!"
"While you live in your palaces, we live with rats!"
Morrigan's eyes grew serious, while Riko and Fred silently prayed that Ren wouldn't receive a death sentence.
"Punish me however you want!" Ren rebelled. "Maybe Hell would be more comfortable than this..."
As Ren resigned himself to his fate, a conflicted expression appeared on Morrigan's face. The fact that three children had to resort to theft was a sign of how corrupt the kingdom had become.
"You may go."
"What!" Ren was shocked and elated when he heard Morrigan, expecting a death sentence but receiving none. Looking at Morrigan with a grateful expression, Ren bowed.
"My Lady, I apologize for stealing from you! Please forgive me!" Ren said with an expression Morrigan found sweet as he extended the bracelet.
Morrigan looked at the bracelet for a moment. It was something that could have enriched a family and three future generations.
"You can keep the bracelet," Morrigan said, and for a moment, Ren felt blessed. His eyes filled with tears as he looked at Morrigan with gratitude. "I-I don't know what to say, my Lady."
Morrigan let out a rare chuckle, slowly bent down, wiped Ren's tears, and pinched his cheeks. "You're a sweet child, Ren. Don't cry. The bracelet is my gift to you and your friends."
The crowd could only watch this scene in astonishment. Why was a Lady giving a gift to a thief? Nevertheless, this act touched everyone's hearts.
As Fred and Riko's eyes sparkled, Ren couldn't help but smile. "Thank you, my Lady. Really, thank you so much this time!"
Morrigan nodded, and under Thomas's watchful gaze, she returned to the carriage. After Thomas took his seat beside the coachman, the carriage began to move.
Seeing Ren, Fred, and Riko waving, Morrigan waved back, a smile on her lips. She might have given away the bracelet, but she felt very good about it.
Especially when she thought that the children would now live a happier life.
Morrigan was astonished when she saw that they were approaching the Royal Palace. It was nearly ten times larger than her own estate.
Three vast gardens surrounded the palace, with a grand statue of King Arthur standing proudly. The Royal Library was so prestigious that even its entrance was guarded by thirty elite knights.
As the carriage drew closer, Morrigan noticed the carriages of other ladies, all luxurious, yet Morrigan's own carriage stood out.
"My Lady, you will proceed on foot from here," Thomas said. Morrigan nodded and stepped out of the carriage, where she was immediately greeted by dozens of servants.
"Lady Morrigan, please follow me," said a middle-aged butler with glasses. "I am here to escort you to the tea party."
After parting ways with Thomas, Morrigan followed the butler. Shortly after, they arrived at a large garden, most of which was filled with flowers of various colors.
Morrigan thought that the flowers must be magical.
Despite her arrival, there were only three noblewomen present. They were standing and chatting with each other.
Morrigan looked at them and immediately understood who they were. The first was Viscountess Vivienne Ashcroft.
Vivienne was a Viscountess who ruled over Ashcroft City. Her husband was Darian, the master of the Merchants' Guild. Although Vivienne was a noble, her husband came from a commoner background.
Despite their wealth, Vivienne was secretly disliked among the social elite. Her reputation as a kind woman made her popular among the common people, but that didn't mean she was loved by the society.
The second woman was Countess Catriona Blackwood. She was a Countess from Blackwood City, a city loved by the nobility for its fashion and art.
Together with her husband, Count Cedric, she ruled over Blackwood City. Catriona was popular in society because she was a close friend of the Queen.
The last woman was a Baroness with short red hair. Baroness Amara Levesque, despite being of common birth, obtained her title by marrying a 60-year-old Baron.
She had a reputation for being arrogant and haughty. Thanks to her beauty, she had become a fashion icon and managed to enter society.
After examining the nobility, Morrigan took a breath and decided to approach them.
******
Meanwhile, in another place, a bald man with a scarred face looked at the bracelet in his hand with happiness.
The place was dirty and neglected, with dust falling from the ceiling, revealing its poor condition.
The bald man's name was Gale, and he was the gang leader of this neighborhood. Despite being the leader, his gang was filled with children and young people.
Gale was a man who used children for things like theft and begging. After examining the bracelet a bit longer, he turned to Riko, who was looking at him.
"Well done, my girl. You didn't act foolishly." Gale spoke sarcastically, while the bodies of Ren and Fred lay on the ground, their bruised faces indicating they had been beaten before they died.
Despite her childhood friends lying dead beside her, Riko looked at Gale with a cheerful expression.
Unlike Ren and Fred's idealistic thoughts, Riko knew they wouldn't be able to escape from Gale without selling this expensive bracelet. That's why she ratted them out.
Gale's eyes shone with appreciation as he looked at Riko. Then, he turned to a 14-year-old boy standing nearby with a mocking gaze. "Go and buy some nice clothes for the girl. From now on, Riko will be my right hand."
The boy nodded fearfully, while Riko's eyes sparkled with joy.
As Riko left with the young man, Gale's eyes gleamed with greed. "This bracelet must be worth hundreds of thousands of gold. I'm so lucky."
Confident that he would now live a comfortable and powerful life, Gale turned around and walked away.
Chapter 18: Chapter 17: Tea Party
"Squawk!"
(Translation: "I told you! I can't marry you.")
Jack looked at the female crow standing before him, accompanied by three small crows. Despite his surprise at the situation, he didn't want to deal with it now.
"Squawk!"
(Translation: "Am I not good enough for you?")
The female crow lowered her eyes, tears welling up. Jack could only sigh. He wanted to leave as soon as possible.
"Squawk! Squawk!"
(Translation: "It's not you, it's me! Don't feel bad!")
The female crow stopped crying, gathered her chicks under her wings, and looked at Jack. "Squawk!"
(Translation: "But what about my children? Who will help them?")
Jack looked at the little crows. As a human, he wondered how he could explain this to the crow. "Squawk! Squawk!"
(Translation: "I can't have kids at this age! I'm sorry!")
Jack didn't want to stay any longer. Taking advantage of the moment when the female crow lowered her head, he suddenly jumped and left.
"Squawk!"
(Translation: "How could he do this to me!")
With her head down, the female crow cried for a while, then looked at her children. "Squawk!"
(Translation: "Don't worry, my children! I'll find you a better father!")
Then the female crow went to find worms, her children's favorite food.
Meanwhile, Jack had easily flown away and perched on a branch. He sighed, "Damn, I was almost a father just now!"
Jack scanned the forest, noting that it was a nice place without any top predators. He used to explore this place in Morrigan's absence.
Bored, Jack fluffed his wings and, out of frustration, flopped onto his back, spreading his wings on the branch.
"I feel so relaxed..."
Just as Jack was about to drift off to sleep, he suddenly felt something envelop him. Realizing what was happening, he found himself entangled in nets.
"What's going on!"
As he squawked in confusion, he heard some men laughing behind him and turned his head. Recognition flashed in his eyes as he saw who they were. "Aren't these crow hunters?"
Crow hunters were poachers who used crow feathers to make wool, clothes, and other items. Crow feathers were highly useful for making potions, clothing, and more.
Jack's eyes narrowed with anger. "How dare you! You can't trap crows!"
The crow hunters chuckled at this and pulled the net they had thrown over Jack. As Jack felt himself plummeting toward the ground, he used Shadow Manipulation to cut through the net.
Leaping forward with speed, Jack launched a Shadow attack at the eyes of the leading crow hunter, seeking revenge for the crows.
"This damned crow can use magic!"
Before he could say anything more, the shadow spikes that pierced his eyes killed him instantly, and he fell to the ground. Jack quickly flapped his wings and attacked the other men.
"Run! Run!" A bearded man shouted in fear.
"You think I'll let you escape?" Jack laughed angrily, then activated Dark Transformation.
Jack's crow form vanished, replaced by a massive swirl of purple and black smoke that surrounded the crow hunters.
Seven crow hunters remained, some gripping their weapons while others stood ready. The black smoke encircled them, eventually blocking out the sunlight that had reached the hunters.
"Fuck! What's happening!" A blond-haired man screamed in terror. The darkness engulfed him, and he couldn't even see the friend next to him.
Without wasting any time, Jack attacked the blond-haired man's body. The dark smoke entered the man's eyes, ears, mouth, and nose.
The blond-haired man screamed, causing the others to panic as well.
Jack, who felt the Dark Smoke spreading into the yellow-haired man's internal organs, suddenly squeezed the yellow-haired man's organs, Jack continued despite being staggered for a second by the act of killing.
Still, Jack gathered his determination and prepared himself. He had already risked being a murderer for Morrigan.
Jack, whose conscience was relieved, convinced himself that he had killed with a justified reason. Then his eyes emitted a murderous glow. He activated the ability.
In an instant, the yellow-haired man fell to the ground, lifeless from the destruction of his organs.
"Who's dead!" While everyone else was randomly moving to see each other, Jack didn't want to prolong it any longer and used Shadow Manipulation to stab thorns into the men's foreheads.
As the Crow Hunters died, the Dark Smoke surrounding them, blocking the sunlight, began to disperse.
Everyone died before they realized what had happened.
{Level Up}
{Dark Transformation 2<3}
{Shadow Manipulation 2<3}
Jack was happy to see Level Up while canceling Dark Transformation, and after turning into Crow form, he whipped his channel.
"Thank goodness I still know where the Crow Hunters are."
The Crow Hunters were the minor villains of the Otome Game. When Alice realized that the legendary Golden Crow had been kidnapped, the quest called Crow Hunters became available.
"All Crows! I'm coming to free you!" Jack said excitedly as he flew. "And for Level Up, of course!"
******
"Lady Morrigan, welcome."
Morrigan offered a polite smile to the Ladies greeting her and then tucked her hair behind her ear. "Thank you, Lady Catriona..."
Catriona responded with a gentle smile. "I am glad you honored us with your presence. How are you?"
Morrigan was a bit surprised. Lady Catriona's speech, behavior, and gaze were all those of a perfect lady.
In addition, Morrigan noticed that the Baroness was frowning at her... But she ignored it.
"I am well, how about you, Lady Catriona?"
Catriona's smile widened in response. "You are very considerate, Lady Morrigan. I am well, thank you."
Morrigan nodded and then looked at the Viscountess with light brown hair who was eyeing her critically. A beautiful smile settled on her lips as she said, "You look very lovely today, Lady Vivienne."
Vivienne nodded almost indifferently to the compliment, a small smile forming on her lips. "Thank you, Lady Morrigan. I see you have prepared well today..."
Morrigan nodded. "Yes, after all, it will be my first meeting with Queen Anna."
Vivienne's gaze softened, and she looked at Morrigan with a slight smile. "I must invite you to my little town one day; there are jewels there that befit someone like you."
Morrigan nodded and then turned her gaze to the Baroness. Seeing the displeasure on her face, she smiled. "How are you, Lady Amara?"
Amara smiled, but her eyes did not. "I am fine, and you?"
Morrigan's smile broadened. She recalled a piece of advice Thomas had given her.
"Target the most ill-mannered lady among them and be harsh with her."
"You are speaking to the daughter of a Duke, not your friend," Morrigan said. As she gained a smile from the Countess, Vivienne frowned. "Did you receive your education slowly?"
Amara's smile faltered as she apologized. "I apologize, Lady Morrigan. Please excuse my rudeness..."
Morrigan smiled. "Make sure you improve at home."
Amara quickly nodded, and the Countess smiled. Just as she was about to speak, another person entered.
Looking at the arriving Lady, Morrigan realized who it was. It was Duchess Juliet, wife of Duke Louis of Orkney. A woman with wavy blonde hair and hazel eyes, who, despite being 45 years old, looked as young and beautiful as if she were 30.
"I was worried you started without me, but it seems my worries were unnecessary..." The Duchess's gentle voice initially reminded Morrigan of Marcus.
The Countess, who greeted the Duchess, managed to maintain a smile, though it had faded slightly. "You have arrived just in time, Lady Juliet."
"It seems so," said Lady Juliet, and then her eyes fell on Morrigan. She smiled slyly. "You look so much like your mother, Lady Morrigan."
Morrigan's eyebrows furrowed, but she managed to smile. "Is that so? I didn't know..."
Lady Juliet chuckled and said, "I knew your mother. She could be unbearable at times, but she was a good friend."
Despite her furrowed brows, Morrigan remained silent. Viscountess Vivienne intervened. "Lady Juliet, your dress suits you very well. Did you just have it made?"
Lady Juliet nodded, crafting a polite but fake smile on her face. "After all, we have the best tailors in the kingdom. Not like the amateurs."
Lady Juliet's mocking tone caused the Countess to purse her lips. Catriona understood that the Duchess of Orkney was mocking her but remained silent.
Finally, the Duchess's gaze shifted to Baroness Amara, showing disdain and contempt before quickly masking it with a gentle smile. "How is the Baron, Lady Amara? After all, he is 60 years old. He could die at any moment."
The Baroness fidgeted nervously, seeming accustomed to the Duchess of Orkney's remarks, unlike Morrigan.
Yet, she managed to smile slightly. "I take good care of him, Lady Juliet..."
The Duchess chuckled, bringing her hand to her mouth and resting her chin on her fingers. "I see, continue serving him well, in every way..."
Vivienne did not find the Duchess's thinly veiled comment amusing, but since she couldn't say anything, she simply remained silent.
"I believe our topic was not the Baron, Lady Juliet."
The Duchess shot Morrigan a disapproving look. Morrigan continued, "Your son is very successful, I must say he takes after you..."
Hearing Marcus's name, Lady Juliet was angered by his disgraceful reputation, but she quickly forced herself to smile. "Despite his failures, he has a supportive family behind him..."
"After all, every mother and father loves their children."
Despite Morrigan's narrowed eyes, Lady Juliet teased her. Morrigan replied, "If he cries 'Mother' at every problem, then it is fortunate for him..."
"After all, he has a family behind him."
As the tense exchange between the two women continued for a while longer, the Countess could only watch them with a strained smile.
Hearing the sound of high heels, the Countess was pleased to see that the person arriving was Duchess Elowen Stormwind of the Stormwind Duchy, one of the four Duchies of the Kingdom.
With silver hair, gray eyes, and tall stature, Elowen's arrival made Duchess Juliet lose interest in continuing the argument with Morrigan and she greeted Lady Elowen.
"It's lovely to see you, Lady Elowen."
"It's been a long time, hasn't it, Lady Juliet?" Lady Elowen smiled, wearing much fewer jewels and accessories than the other women.
The Stormwind Duchy, a territory constantly involved in wars and raids, was located on the border with the Wargan lands. This Duchy, always ready for battle, was entirely built around war.
Neither the Duke nor the Duchess was exempt from this.
As Elowen entered, the other Ladies began arriving as well, signaling that the tea party was almost about to start.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
200+ Power
Ranking 
1 Power
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