The Fluffy Baby Fox Only Bites the Crazy Villain - Chapter 33
I turned around startled, and Karden was staring at me.
Not knowing what to say, I just clutched my apron tightly.
I tried to look elsewhere, feigning ignorance.
“Do you come to the greenhouse often?”
“I come here when I need time alone. It’s good for resting when it’s quiet.”
Karden leaned comfortably on the bench, gazing at the rose garden visible through the glass window.
I found myself holding my breath at his profile. His high nose bridge, angular jaw, and black hair fall over his forehead.
Like a statue carved by God sitting next to me, I found myself staring blankly.
I must have been staring too obviously at his profile. Karden turned his head and gave a captivating smile.
“Why are you staring at me, Shushu?”
“Ah, it’s nothing. The greenhouse is just so pretty…”
I hurriedly turned my face away, pretending to be distracted.
Sigh, why is it so hot in this greenhouse?
An awkward silence fell between Karden and me.
When I was a fox, I could act naturally and comfortably around Karden, but as a human, I don’t know how to behave.
Like a broken toy, my whole body becomes stiff, and my thoughts freeze. Only my heart beats strongly.
“Shushu, are you alright after meeting your kind yesterday?”
Karden’s tone was careful. His gaze toward me was filled with gentle concern.
Not knowing what to say, I just nodded.
“That fox called you Ruel. Was that your original name?”
“I suppose so. Though I don’t remember.”
“If that’s your real name, should I call you by it from now on?”
“What?”
Though Karden usually seems indifferent and cold, he actually seems to be deeply considerate of others.
When I didn’t say anything, Karden stroked my head habitually. Just like when I was a fox.
His large hand was warm and firm, giving me stability when I nuzzled against it.
“I like it as it is. I prefer being called Shushu.”
“As you wish.”
Karden answered calmly, but looking up at his face, I saw a faint smile.
Hmm, perhaps he’s happy that he can continue calling me by the name he gave me.
Karden’s gentle attitude gradually calmed my anxious heart.
I gathered my courage and decided to honestly reveal why I was abandoned by my kind.
“Grand Duke, I found out why I was abandoned.”
“What do you mean by abandoned?”
“I’m said to be an ominous being who brings destruction to the Ulpes tribe. They say my power to absorb magical energy could become a disaster for my kind. So… they drove me away out of fear.”
Karden’s expression hardened in surprise. His straight forehead wrinkled as his eyes darkened with suppressed anger.
“They abandoned you for such a reason?”
I blankly looked up at Karden, who was angrier than I was.
Why does this person get so angry on my behalf?
Karden spoke calmly while roughly controlling his breathing.
“Shuvelia, cut ties with the Ulpes tribe. They didn’t abandon you; you abandoned them. From now on, this place is your lifelong home and homeland.”
“Grand Duke…”
Would that really be alright?
What if I really have the power of destruction as the Ulpes tribe said?
What if my power negatively affects Karden? What if I harm the kind and gentle people here?
Words have a frightening power to control people’s perceptions and actions.
The words Franz confided in me were like a poison slowly seeping into my soul.
Is it really okay for me to be here?
The anxiety and fear buried deep in my heart gradually rose to the surface.
“What if I really am an ominous being…?”
In my previous life too, I was abandoned and had to struggle alone to survive.
If I’m abandoned again in this life, could I handle it?
Karden took my hand and placed it near his heart. I could clearly feel the strong heartbeat against my palm.
Feeling that heartbeat made me feel as comfortable and secure as a newborn in its mother’s arms.
“Shushu. You are not an ominous being. To me, you are like light itself.”
“Grand Duke.”
Something welled up deep inside me, pricking at my throat.
I didn’t want to be abandoned. While desperately wanting to be loved, I was afraid of being abandoned.
He said the words I wanted to hear from someone.
Does he know what that means to me, how much comfort it brings?
Karden’s hand gently cupped my cheek.
When I felt his breath drawing closer, his lips touched my forehead.
A warm sensation spread across my forehead through his lips.
“Ah…”
Karden slowly pulled his lips away from my forehead. Then he smiled while looking at my face.
My face turned red at that moment, and I didn’t know what to do.
Karden reached out and pulled me into his arms. I fell into his chest without resistance.
While breathing in the familiar musk scent, I finally realized that this person’s embrace was where I belonged.
Like a newborn instinctively seeking comfort, I burrowed deeper into his embrace.
My fox habits emerging, I unconsciously rubbed my cheek against his firm chest.
Ah, this embrace feels so good.
At that, Karden’s breathing became uneven, and his body stiffened.
Breathing heavily, he seemed to be holding something back.
“Shushu, you were right. Sometimes it’s better to stay hidden as a human.”
“What do you mean?”
I tilted my head and squirmed in his arms, looking up.
“Every time you turn human, I can’t control myself. I’m increasingly feeling the limits of my patience.”
Heat flickered in Karden’s blue eyes as he looked down at me.
His arms tightly constricted around my body, and heat escaped from his red, full lips.
Ah, did I make a mistake somehow?
Flustered, I tried to calm my racing heart and wiggled to escape his embrace.
Just then, an urgent voice came from outside the greenhouse.
“Excuse me. Your Grace, are you here?”
Assistant Maildra opened the greenhouse door and poked his head in.
Seeing Karden and me sitting together on the bench, he was startled and quickly turned his head away.
“I-I apologize! I didn’t know you were here with Lady Shushu!”
“Ah, i-it’s fine, Assistant.”
I hurriedly separated from Karden’s embrace and stood up straight.
Oh no, we look like people caught doing something wrong.
Karden remained leisurely seated on the bench, completely unfazed. He glared at Maildra with a displeased expression.
“Maildra, didn’t I say not to let anyone in when I’m in the greenhouse?”
Maildra bowed repeatedly, looking troubled.
“I deeply apologize, Your Grace. An emergency has occurred. You need to come to the training grounds. The Ulpes tribe fox we saw at the border has appeared.”
Karden and I exchanged glances simultaneously.
Karden immediately stood up and turned to me.
“Shushu, stay here. I’ll meet with the Ulpes shapeshifter alone.”
“They’re my kind. I want to go too.”
“They might harm you.”
I shook my head and spoke firmly.
“They came here alone where there are people. There must be a reason. They might have something to say to me.”
“…Very well.”
Only then did Maildra notice my maid outfit and looked at me with bewildered eyes.
“But Lady Shushu, why are you wearing a maid’s uniform? Was that new maid I met in the hallway actually you?”
“Ah, well, it just happened. Let’s hurry. This isn’t the time for this.”
Maildra left the greenhouse first, and I stood up as well.
At that moment, my legs gave out and my vision blurred.
“Huh? What?”
“Shushu!”
Before taking even a few steps, I lost my balance and stumbled, and Karden quickly caught me in his arms.
In that instant, with a puff of white smoke, my body suddenly shrank.
The maid’s uniform fell to the greenhouse floor with a thud. I poked my head out between the folds of the uniform.
“Kyaang? I turned back into a fox again!”
Only maintaining human form for a few hours! Angry, I stomped my round, furry front paws on the ground.
Seeing me like this, Karden covered his mouth to suppress his laughter.
“Don’t laugh. I’m angry right now!”
I bristled my fur and showed my anger, but I knew. It was ultimately due to my lack of ability.
Karden, still unable to hide his amusement, reached out and picked me up.
“You’re cute even when angry, so it’s fine. Don’t be too hasty. Your human transformation practice will improve gradually.”
Karden soothed me while gently tickling my neck. Still upset, I whimpered and burrowed completely into his embrace.
“Your Grace, let’s hurry.”
Karden carried me and quickly left the greenhouse.
Held in his arms as we headed toward the knights’ training grounds, I was consumed by serious thoughts.
Sigh, this is a problem.
When I’m human, my heart races and I don’t know what to do in Karden’s embrace, but when I’m a fox, it’s like I have no shame at all.
After leaving the mansion, Karden rode directly to the training grounds on horseback. We arrived at the entrance within minutes.
Dozens of soldiers stood in a circle holding spears in the vast training ground. In the center, Franz, the noble silver fox, stood proudly.
Karden approached Franz while holding me, glaring at him with eyes full of wariness.
“Why have you come here?”
