Musou Knight: Crow of Cinders-Chapter 37: Interlude - Change of Heart

Chapter 37 - Interlude - Change of Heart

Lia was born a commoner. Her mother worked in a brothel, and her father did not exist. If one did, only her mother knew, and she never spoke of him.

Growing up in poverty, Lia learned lessons no aristocrat ever bothered with. She gained the skill of detecting lust in eyes, greed in a merchant’s smile, and wicked intentions lurking behind affable gestures.

By the time she was ten, she had already decided the world ran on self-interest. The poor clawed for scraps while the rich clawed for indulgence. Men clawed for women, and women clawed for their lives.

Lia had seen drunkards beating her mother. She had seen nobles tossing coins for a night. She had seen soldiers boasting of honor while ripping her mother’s skirt. To Lia, men were nothing more but lustful beasts with superficial masks.

At 13, she trusted no one, not even those who claimed to protect her or her own mother. Men began looking at her with gleaming eyes, and she knew what they yearned for.

Fortunately, a year later, her mother sold her to a servant from a royal palace, who took Lia to become a maid. She then met Lenitia, and her world changed for the better. At 17, she enrolled in a knight academy. Two years later, she attained level 4, surpassing Lenitia’s strength.

Not long after, an edict from Constantia King arrived. Lia was requested to accompany Lenitia to Avaritia.

Then she met Crow.

At first, she despised him. His strange crows unsettled her. His sudden rise in strength made her suspicious, and his eccentric cart seemed like a spy’s disguise. She was confident that Crow lied.

Despite her suspicions, Crow’s eyes and actions debunked her worldview. Aside from his cart and pets, he never displayed the same traits or had the eyes of the men in the slum. She believed he lacked the worldly experience to be seduced by female physicality and scent, yet the spy suspicion lingered.

Then, Lenitia and Lia were ambushed. Crow went missing, which threw her theories about Crow out of the window. They met him again when they were vulnerable. At that time, Lia was ready to fight for her life if Crow were to lust after them.

Crow then betrayed every expectation. Not only he asked nothing in return, he chided them and handed them magical food. Having offered his help, he departed without asking for anything in return.

Lenitia fed Lia the food, and the wounds were healed. The poison in her veins was dispelled from her body. This proved that Crow was never a spy or a lecherous man as she had believed.

Guilt washed over Lia. She wanted to apologize to him and thank him for saving their lives. Thus, she asked Lenitia to follow him again.

When they met the third time, Lia was certain. Crow was never interested in them.

Lia managed to apologize properly. However, when she requested Crow to help them get back to Constantia, he refused outright.

This reminded her of her former principles and beliefs. If the world operated on self-interest, could she hire him by giving him something? But with what? Her body?

Losing her innocence was nothing if she could bring her benefactor home in one piece. She then tested Crow if the choice was worth it.

She pretended to steal Crow’s clothes while she wore nothing but bandages. But when Crow saw her, he scoffed and gave her spare clothes. In exchange, he wanted nothing but food.

This troubled Lia. If Crow had no desire for her body, she didn’t know what to offer to change Crow’s mind.

Lia tried being direct by negotiating, yet he scolded her again and asked for food instead of sex.

She was embarrassed. This was the first time that a man disregarded her charm.

Fortunately, Crow showed interest in cultivation methods. He changed his mind and escorted them.

Later, Crow pulled Lia over. At first, she thought that Crow had changed his mind. She tried to take her clothes off, but she got scolded again. He handed her a mysterious wooden token and asked her to imbue her energy into it.

But when she complied with the request, a fine magical horse appeared. Crow, without batting an eye, gave it to her.

Lia was stunned. Then, she realized.

Was Crow trying to win her heart? Did he use this as his way of wooing someone?

Lia chuckled that Crow finally cracked. Despite that, Crow demonstrated he was a man with many mysteries, and she hoped to discover more about him.

Later on, Lia pranked Crow by walking around half-naked. She noticed Crow looked away in a hurry, but his face was red to the ears. Finding him cute, she kept teasing him during the trip, touching his thighs and chest while on horseback.

It worked. She noticed how Crow purposely adjusted his seat, avoiding touching Lenitia with his certain part. His ears got so hot that she wanted to nibble them. Playing with him, she breathed on his neck throughout the trip, making his ears redder.

This confirmed that Crow was a gentleman with great self-restraint. Lia decided to seduce him harder, not for the desire, but for fun.

However, they then encountered a checkpoint on a bridge, which was occupied by Avaritia’s forces. Crow made an absurd decision to cross the river by letting the horse run on water.

Despite the insanity, it worked. The horse leaped across a wide river with ease.

This was her horse! The gift that Crow had given her!

Lia’s heart fluttered. If the horse was so precious and magical, why did he give it to her? Was Crow sincere all along?

Her feelings for Crow evolved from hatred, moving through suspicion and regret, before ultimately blossoming into curiosity and then interest.

She made up her mind.

Before some wicked slum women could find Crow, she had to mark her ownership.

Crow wooed her first. Then, wouldn’t it be alright if she wooed him back?

She made her battle plan, starting by offering a leg massage. Then, she tempted him by touching the forbidden part.

At long last, Crow’s shell cracked. He pushed her down.

Lia had no regrets losing her first to him. In fact, she was happy that it was him and not some ugly old men. She swore she would treasure him.

However, she heard something during the intimate moment. As a level 4 knight, she had a keen sense.

Lenitia, who was supposed to be asleep at the time, was peeking at them with wide eyes.

Lia laughed, yet she pretended not to notice.

The connection between Crow and Lia intensified, as if Lia were teaching her princess the art of intimacy. Despite her efforts, she ended up overexerting herself and excited Crow. She was defeated, body and mind.

Lia had no regrets. This was her first love.