The Crow That’s After Me
Chapter 04 —
Elena had just finished her meal and was quickly swallowing down some water when Grand Duke Varsian spoke.
“How nice it is to see you eat so well.”
When Elena glared at him, he laughed out loud.
“You can’t hide a pregnant belly by starving yourself.”
“I’m not pregnant.”
“Then your fasting must have been a childish way to attract my attention. I didn’t realize that.”
Unbelievable. Elena stared at him in shock, but he shamelessly sipped his drink. It was the same strong liquor she had nearly spat out on their wedding day, the one he had mocked her for not being able to handle.
“If it’s not that,” he continued smoothly, “then please take care of yourself, so I won’t be accused of starving my wife.”
So that was why he had personally come all the way here—to say that.
Since arriving in the North, Elena had lost some weight. It wasn’t intentional. She had told the Duke she was fine, but in truth, she couldn’t get used to the Northern food, which mostly consisted of fermented and pickled dishes.
“I’m politely asking you not to make me worry,” he said firmly.
“I’ll do that,” Elena replied, refusing to back down.
The Duke frowned slightly, dropped his smile, and stood up without even finishing his tea.
The attendants, frozen in fear throughout the tense meal, hurried to clear the table as soon as he left.
“You should be glad the Master didn’t get angry, Madam!” Mary, the maid, said as she poured Elena a cup of tea.
Elena frowned and picked up the cup. “I’m the one who should be angry.”
Mary quickly shook her head, too scared to answer. Elena, deep in thought, sipped her tea silently. After drinking half the cup, she finally spoke.
“I think I’ll go for a walk.”
“A walk, Madam?”
“Yes. Bring me my cloak.”
Since the Duke cared so much about her, it was only proper to repay his concern—her lips curled slightly with mischief. Not realizing Elena’s intention, Mary quickly helped her get ready.
“Where would you like to go, Madam?”
“Show me around the castle.”
“Oh, of course! No one knows this place better than I do!”
Elena smiled at Mary’s confident words.
She wrapped herself in a black cloak like the Northerners, but she still drew attention wherever she went. Ignoring the curious stares, she quietly took note of the courtyard, the crow tower, the stables, and the storage buildings. Though smaller than the imperial palace, the castle was by no means small. For the past seven years, since there had been no Duchess, the butler had managed everything—but soon it would all fall under her care.
As she observed the place carefully, she turned to Mary.
“Mary.”
“Yes, Madam?”
“Where are the letters sent to the castle handled?”
“They all go through the butler first, Madam.”
“All of them?”
“Yes, every single one—even letters for servants like me.”
Mary quickly added, “Not that I mind, of course.”
Elena frowned slightly. It seemed the butler’s inspection was strict.
“Go and ask if there have been any letters for me,” she said.
From the capital to the North, it took a month by carriage or about two weeks by horse. If her nanny had sent a letter as soon as she arrived at the Duke’s estate, it should be here by now. Mary nodded.
“Aren’t you tired, Madam? We’ve already walked all around; let’s go back now.”
Elena wasn’t the type to get tired from such a short stroll. But just beyond the covered corridor, she noticed a half-ruined little building that Mary deliberately avoided.
“There’s one place we haven’t seen yet.”
“There’s nothing there,” Mary said quickly—too quickly. Her voice even trembled as she called, “Madam!”
Elena reluctantly followed, but her eyes remained fixed on the old building.
Just then, she caught sight of a shadow moving quietly—like a ghost. A boy with light brown hair.
“There’s someone there,” Elena murmured.
As soon as their eyes met, Mary grabbed Elena’s hand in panic and hurried her away.
“If the Master finds out, he’ll be furious!” she whispered, trembling.
“Who is that boy that you’re so scared of?”
“You didn’t see anything, Madam. Promise me.”
“Are you really that afraid of the Grand Duke’s anger?”
Mary jumped as if burned. “The Master may seem calm, but not everything about him is what it looks like. Believe me, Madam—you don’t want to know.”
Interesting. Earlier, Mary had claimed to know little about the Duke, but now she sounded sure of him. Elena hummed softly, casting one last glance back. The mysterious boy was still standing there, watching her intently.
Later that evening, Elena was seated by the window, watching the sunset, when she heard the noise outside announcing the Duke’s return. Though their chambers were connected, he insisted on coming through the main door—as if it were a matter of formality.
Seeing him twice a day already felt exhausting. She stood and greeted him politely.
“What brings you here, my lord?”
“Does a husband need a reason to visit his wife?”
Elena almost laughed.
“You must be tired after your walk,” he said. “Please, sit.”
His tone suggested he knew everything she did. She tried not to look uneasy.
“Did you enjoy your walk?”
“Oh yes. I found something quite interesting.”
“Something interesting?”
Mary, who was nearby, turned pale and frantically motioned for Elena to stop talking.
The Duke, leaning by the fireplace, looked at Elena. His gaze—cold and sharp—carried a trace of menace. There’s something he’s hiding, Elena realized instinctively.
“The crow tower,” she said calmly. “I’ve never seen so many crows in one place. Are they all tamed?”
Pretending to be curious, she smiled faintly. The Duke stared at her for a long, silent moment. When he finally looked away, she nearly sighed in relief.
“I’ll be away hunting for a week starting tomorrow,” he said.
So he’d caught on that her curiosity was fake. Instead of answering her, he changed the subject.
“Don’t be too happy in my absence. There is no corner in this castle where my eyes and ears do not reach.”
“I’ll remember that,” she said quietly.
Surprisingly, he smiled—softly, even.
“If you behave while I’m gone, I’ll bring you a gift.”
He stepped closer and, to her shock, took her hand and kissed it. Apparently, her polite behavior pleased him.
“Please continue to behave as you have today.”
So he thinks I’m some wild creature who can’t sit still, Elena thought bitterly, but she didn’t show it.
After kissing her hand, the Duke gave it a firm squeeze before releasing it. Thankfully, he didn’t insist on dining with her and left soon after, probably busy preparing for his trip.
As soon as he was gone, Mary puffed her cheeks angrily. “I’m not talking to you ever again, Madam!”
“I didn’t even say anything,” Elena replied, amused.
“But you almost—!”
“The Duke didn’t even get angry, yet here you are.”
Mary pouted and refused to speak for the rest of dinner. Her silence, however, gave Elena plenty of time to think.
That boy… I need to find out who he is.
She made up her mind.
The next morning, Elena stood at the gate to see the Duke off. The knights, servants, and even the crows formed an impressive sight. At the front of the line, the Duke looked at her briefly—no smile, no farewell words—and rode away. She hadn’t expected anything else.
As the hunting party disappeared into the distance, Elena turned back toward the castle.
“Let’s go inside,” she said casually.
Most wives would pray for their husbands’ safety while they were away. Elena, however, had no such intention. Even if she did, would the Grand Duke be moved by her prayers? Hardly.
Instead, she enjoyed the freedom his absence brought. The servants, too, seemed more relaxed.
Mary hummed happily as she sat by the window embroidering. Elena, reading beside her, suddenly spoke.
“Mary.”
“Yes, Madam?”
“What about the thing I asked you to do?”
Mary froze. She had completely forgotten.
“Oh no! I completely forgot!” she exclaimed, jumping up. “I’m so sorry, Madam—I’ll go ask the butler right now!”
As soon as Mary left, Elena waited a moment, then put on her cloak and slipped out.
The guards by her room straightened instantly. “Where are you going, Madam?”
“I have more instructions for Mary.”
“I can deliver the message for you.”
“That won’t be necessary.”
Since the Duke hadn’t forbidden her from going out, the soldiers had no reason to stop her. She pretended to follow Mary’s path, then quietly turned down a different hallway.
The castle was unusually quiet; no one crossed her path. Everyone seemed to be enjoying the Duke’s absence.
“There it is.”
Beyond the corridor Mary had tried to block stood a small, isolated building—like a storage shed. Could the brown-haired boy live there?
Elena was studying it carefully when she suddenly felt a sharp sting at the back of her head. She ducked instinctively, and something whizzed past her face.
When she reached back, she realized her decorative hairpin was gone. Looking up, she saw a crow perched nearby—her hairpin clutched in its beak.
“Give that back!”
She stepped closer, but the crow fluttered to another tree.
As she fretted helplessly, she heard footsteps behind her. Turning around, she saw him—the brown-haired boy she had seen yesterday, standing there silently like a ghost.
