CHAPTER 183: NOT WHAT HE EXPECTED

Raven walked in silence as the night wind blew against him, his expression neutral as two guards moved beside him. He had not had any sleep yet, nor had he spoken to Pandora. She didn’t even know he was back, given that he had not met her yet. Of course, he was sure she would be indoors, probably in her room, proofreading her book and all. The two guards had approached him.

They said they had seen something inside the carriage they had used in returning. Naturally, as they arrived, they needed to unpack the remaining things, as nothing could be left behind. But the people assigned to pack had stopped when they saw it and quickly informed the guards.

Raven wondered if it was really that serious—serious enough to make them call him at this time of the night. Not that he was sleeping...he had been busy, and the cold now brushing against his skin only made him want to sleep, which was exactly what he had been avoiding. The matter seemed serious, especially since the guards looked worried.

He wondered what was happening, what could have led two guards to come and meet him, and what they had carried that they themselves had not checked. These questions rang through his head. He knew that if it wasn’t serious, they would not have come to call him, knowing there was always tomorrow.

Finally, they reached where the carriage was parked at the corner. He yawned gently as he moved closer to check, curious.

The fire lamp was lit, casting light as they walked to the back of the carriage. The guards opened it, and Raven waited. When they finally pulled it open, Raven’s lips parted in surprise.

Inside the carriage sat a chicken. It just sat there calmly, as if it belonged there. From the way things looked, it seemed the chicken had really followed them. But how? The carriages had been thoroughly checked—how could a chicken have slipped through? This was both strange and surprising.

Strange, because the chicken had endured the entire journey without anyone noticing. Surprising, because the guards had actually called him because of this. They could have simply told him tomorrow. Even though the situation felt unusual and silly, he still would have been informed then.

The chicken’s eyes opened, clearly disturbed from sleep. The guard who moved the lamp closer to get a better look failed to realize the sharp glare the chicken gave him. Unfortunately, he was the same one who had woken the chicken earlier when they had been unpacking. After he had left, the chicken must have calmed down to sleep again—but now he had disturbed it once more.

Not realizing, the guard pushed the lamp closer as he spoke.

"It seems this chicken thought of going out and decided to join us. See, she even built a nest." He pointed. But as he moved the lamp forward, the chicken suddenly began to cluck loudly.

"Buuuuc! Baaa! Buccccc!"

The sound was so loud it echoed, and the chicken flapped its wings as if to chase the guards away.

But the guard only stared at the chicken with a raised brow.

"Why is this chicken so stubborn?" he muttered.

The chicken finally stopped clucking and sat quietly again, as though it had never made a sound.

A smirk moved to the guard’s face as he added,

"This chicken doesn’t have to worry. It can’t even choose to be stubborn once I cook and eat—"

He never finished his sentence. The chicken suddenly moved and, before anyone knew it, flew straight at him. Its wings flapped furiously as it began scratching at the guard’s face. He tried to push it away, but it left scratch marks across his skin. The chicken seemed determined, almost as if it were saying: Next time, be respectful.

"The fuck!" the other guard cursed as he stared at the unfolding fight between a full-grown guard and a chicken. This was the kind of story that, if he ever told, he would be called a full-time liar.

Really, this was hilarious—not just that, but embarrassing. They had actually called Raven, despite his busy schedule, to take a look at what they thought was a serious matter. Now everything felt like a joke because of the ridiculous fight.

Raven himself could not believe what had just happened. He remained silent, no words leaving his lips.

Yes, this was surprising and not normal at all. No one had ever reported a chicken sneaking into the royal carriage. Given that chickens don’t just wander about—especially since there was a royal poultry in the palace where they were kept—this was very strange.

But even though it was strange, never in his life had Raven thought that two grown men—guards, no less—would call him so seriously because of a chicken. With how grave they had looked, he had been expecting something important, maybe even dangerous, hidden inside the carriage. Only to discover... a chicken. At least he was glad they had informed him, but truly, they could have waited until morning.

The chicken finally pulled away from the guard and moved to the back of the carriage, sitting down and shutting her eyes as though she had not just scratched the life out of a man’s face.

The guard looked completely shocked, speechless, only staring at the two men with wide eyes. His expression alone spoke for him,

’Are you two not going to say anything? You just watched that chicken scratch me?’

Of course, he didn’t dare say it aloud. Why would a grown man admit something like that?

Raven simply decided he would inform the Queen. He always told her about the things that happened in the palace, whether important or not. She would know of this as well.

The guard turned to him, bowing deeply.

"We apologize for wasting your time," he said, and Raven nodded.

The other guard remained utterly quiet, the kind of silence that screamed he was afraid if he made even the slightest noise, that chicken might come back and ruin his face further—and that was the last thing he wanted.

Raven turned away as the guard gently closed the carriage. He needed rest now, though the breeze brushing against him made it clear he still didn’t know what to think, let alone say.

If only he knew the history of that chicken—now curled up at the back of the carriage, peacefully sleeping.