The Fluffy Baby Fox Only Bites the Crazy Villain - Chapter 20

Bert’s eyes shone with clarity, and his monstrous expression had disappeared, replaced by the face of a brave and experienced knight.

With trembling hands, Bert caressed Karden’s cheek. Karden carefully held his uncle’s thin, wrinkled hand and closed his eyes.

A hot tear rolled down beneath his long eyelashes.

“I’m sorry. I almost inflicted a wound that would have tormented you for life.”

“No, Uncle. I’m just glad you’re safe.”

Bert nodded repeatedly with a faint smile.

Wrapped in a cloak, I stood aside watching the two embrace.

Seeing Karden smile like a child made my heart ache. I didn’t know he could make such an expression.

“Uncle, how is your magical power? Are you alright?”

“Yes. I think a white fox bit me earlier, and since then my mind has been clear. Where is that fox?”

Ah, is he talking about me?

I stepped forward awkwardly. My long silver hair swayed with each step. The marble floor was cold against my bare feet.

“It’s an honor to meet you, former Grand Duke.”

Bert’s eyes widened in surprise when he saw me transformed into a woman.

“My word! A fox shapeshifter! You’re my savior. Thank you so much.”

As Bert staggered to his feet, Karden quickly moved to support him. Bert bowed his head to me respectfully.

To think that the great commander who once ruled the Northern Fort and commanded the borderlands was bowing to me. I felt embarrassed and honored, not knowing how to react.

“I only did what needed to be done. Please don’t.”

“No. If it weren’t for you… I would have inflicted lifelong pain on my nephew. I didn’t want to force him to execute his own blood. I’m truly grateful.”

Bert bowed repeatedly with thick tears flowing.

His sincere care for Karden as an uncle was deeply touching.

I also didn’t want Karden to bear such a terrible burden himself. Fortunately, I was able to absorb Bert’s rampaging magic.

Bert turned to look at Karden.

“How did you come to have such a benefactor?”

Karden’s gaze briefly turned to me. His look was so gentle and warm that it made me feel ticklish just meeting it.

Karden spoke firmly.

“Shuvelia. Shushu. She’s the only healer who can calm my magical rampages, and she’s my companion.”

“…What?”

I think I just heard something incredible.

Companion?! Isn’t that too abbreviated from ‘companion animal’?

I was too flustered to know what to do. I missed the timing to deny it.

Bert smiled kindly, his eyes crinkling.

“Ho ho. You, who never let anyone close, have taken a fox shapeshifter as your companion.”

I was flustered again by Bert’s favorable response.

Isn’t he accepting this too easily? Can humans and shapeshifters be companions in this world?

Karden bowed his head with a faint smile.

“When I was young, Uncle ordered me not to be with anyone until I could fully control my magic. I disobeyed your words. However.”

Karden paused, then came to me.

And he gently enveloped my hand. Our fingers intertwined, and our warmth mixed together.

Ah… This is the first time holding his hand since becoming human.

It felt strange even though we were just holding hands.

I could feel Karden’s heart. How happy and relieved he was right now.

“With Shuvelia, I can be completely myself.”

“Your Grace…”

I looked up at Karden blankly. My heart was trembling so much I didn’t know what else to say.

“Karden, you misunderstood my words.”

Bert spoke calmly in a gentle voice.

“What do you mean?”

“It had nothing to do with controlling magic. I wanted you to find someone who you could truly open your heart to. Someone who would understand you and see you for who you are.”

Bert’s gentle eyes looked straight at me.

“I’m truly glad… that you finally found them.”

***

Uncle Bert was moved to the main building to receive Ron’s healing magic, with Karden by his side.

I couldn’t appear before people in just a cloak, so I borrowed soldier’s clothes and boots and changed in the drawing room.

“How strange. I thought I’d turn back into a fox right away.”

I awkwardly put on the pants, top, and shoes.

After being a baby fox for so long, moving as a human felt unnatural.

Last time when I became human, I turned back into a fox in less than a minute.

This time it seems to be lasting longer. Perhaps because former Grand Duke Bert’s magic was so powerful.

As I was about to leave the drawing room, I noticed a tall mirror in the corner.

“Ah… Come to think of it, I’ve never properly seen my face, have I?”

When I transformed in Karden’s bedroom, I was too surprised and flustered to look in a mirror. And the transformation wore off too quickly.

I approached the mirror as if in a trance.

In the mirror stood a woman with long silver hair, wearing a surprised expression.

Porcelain-white skin with a slender face, a slim yet lithe figure. Large, clear emerald eyes, an elegant nose bridge above rose-colored lips. She looked mysterious and lovely, like a flower blooming with dawn’s dew.

“I can’t believe it. Was I this pretty? A short-legged, pot-bellied baby fox?”

I stared at my reflection in the mirror, entranced.

“Ah! This isn’t the time for this!”

Finally coming to my senses, I shook my head from side to side.

When I left the drawing room, the knights were standing outside murmuring. They all fell silent in surprise when they saw me.

“Could it be… Shushu?!”

“My goodness, I can’t believe it!”

Captain Burke’s eyes even turned red.

“It feels like the baby we cherished and raised suddenly grew up into an adult. sniff”

“Burke, calm down. Shushu is a fox shapeshifter. She just transformed into human form.”

Unable to watch anymore, Maildra patted Burke’s shoulder to comfort him. Owen approached with a kind smile.

“Shushu, this is the first time seeing you in human form. I was surprised to see such a beautiful lady appear.”

Owen’s natural compliment made me feel shy and embarrassed.

“Thank you for the compliment, Owen. I’m still not used to being human myself.”

Owen looked at me intently with worried eyes.

“Shushu, I heard you absorbed former Grand Duke Bert’s magic. Wasn’t that too reckless? Are you alright?”

“Yes. If anything, I’m grateful to Lord Bert. Thanks to his magic, I can transform into a human like this.”

Without thinking, I tilted my head slightly with a smile, a habit from my baby fox days.

Owen looked dazed for a moment as he watched me.

“Owen, what’s wrong?”

Owen shook his head lightly as if waking from sleep. He looked down at me with a bitter smile.

“No. I was just thinking that while Shushu was cute and lovable as a fox, as a human you’re truly enchanting.”

“…What?”

“Perhaps… it was safer when you were a fox.”

Owen muttered in a low voice. Not understanding his meaning, I just blinked my round eyes.

Just then, I felt a large hand wrap around my shoulder.

“Shushu, so this is where you were.”

“Your Grace!”

Karden wrapped his arm around my shoulder and pulled me close to his chest. I ended up bumping my head against his firm chest.

I thought I saw Owen’s expression harden for a moment – why?

“What were you doing?”

Karden’s voice near my ear was somehow full of dissatisfaction.

“Nothing at all. But Your Grace, is Lord Bert alright?”

“He’s regained stability and is resting.”

“Ah… That’s such a relief.”

Finally, I could feel at ease. I had been so worried that something might have happened to Lord Bert.

Karden brushed back his fallen bangs with a tired face. Though he looked exhausted, his eyes were more peaceful than ever.

Perhaps it was relief that his uncle had stabilized.

“Lord Bert won’t go berserk again, will he?”

“That won’t happen. Thanks to you absorbing all of Uncle’s magic, the risk of going berserk is gone.”

My goodness. Even though I’m a big eater, I ate all his magic.

Wait, then if I eat Karden’s magic too, wouldn’t his risk of going berserk completely disappear?

Without realizing it, I licked my lips remembering the intense taste of magic.

“Shushu, don’t think strange thoughts.”

“Eh? W-what do you mean?”

Oh my, how startling. He even noticed what I was thinking!

When I looked up at Karden in shock, he shook his head as if I was hopeless.

“You were planning to eat all my magic like with uncle, weren’t you?”

“H-how did you know?”

I jumped like a thief caught in the act. Karden crossed his arms and frowned.

“That’s a reckless plan. Earlier was fortunate that both uncle and you were safe, but if something goes wrong you could get hurt. So don’t even think about it.”

I didn’t like Karden’s attitude of scolding me like a child. I’m a proper lady now, not a baby fox.

I puffed up my cheeks and pouted.

“I know that much.”

Karden let out a soft laugh and stroked my hair.

“Your hair is messy. You’re the same whether fox or human.”

“D-don’t treat me like a baby.”

I squirmed trying to avoid his hand, but Karden carefully untangled my messy hair. Just like when he used to groom my tangled fur as a baby fox.

That’s when Maildra cleared his throat and stood before Karden.

“Your Grace, I apologize for interrupting your pleasant time, but where should we prepare for the former Grand Duke’s recuperation?”

“Look into the southern villa. Prepare healers, servants, and soldiers to attend to uncle as well.”

“Understood. I will prepare everything without fail.”

As I listened to Karden and Maildra’s conversation, I noticed something strange.

“Why won’t you keep Lord Bert at the Northern Fort?”

“Uncle’s body is currently very weak. The north is not suitable for recuperation. I plan to have him receive treatment in the warm south.”

Having to send his uncle far away. Karden will be alone again – will he be alright?

“Are you really okay with this, Your Grace?”

“What do you mean?”

“If even your uncle goes away for treatment, you’ll be left alone.”

Just saying the word ‘alone’ made me feel choked up.

Why am I being so sentimental today? I never used to care about Karden’s feelings like this before.

A hand gently landed on my head. Karden stroked my head affectionately with a gentle smile.

“Why do you think I’ll be alone? I have loyal subordinates, and I have my companion.”