The Fluffy Baby Fox Only Bites the Crazy Villain - Chapter 34
Franz took a step forward. His large, luxuriant tail swayed elegantly.
“Ruel, I came because I have something to talk about with you. Let’s speak somewhere without humans.”
“……Alright.”
I obediently answered and hopped down from Karden’s arms. Immediately, Karden blocked my path.
“Say what you need to say here. You haven’t forgotten what the Ulpes clan did to Shushu? We can’t trust your kind.”
Karden is still bothered by how I was abandoned. I went in front of Karden and tapped him gently with my paw.
“Your Grace, please send away the soldiers around us. Franz came here alone. He might feel threatened with so many people around.”
Karden thought for a moment, then gestured to Burke.
“Everyone return to the quarters and rest.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Burke saluted and called out to the soldiers to return to their quarters immediately.
The soldiers cast curious glances our way before promptly heading to their quarters.
The only ones remaining in the training grounds were Karden and his direct subordinates – Maildra, Burke, Owen, and Ron.
They had stepped back to allow Franz and me to talk.
Ron hesitated with a worried expression, but I gave him a grin to show everything was fine.
I turned to Franz with a serious expression.
“Tell me now. Why have you come looking for me again?”
Franz’s expression darkened. In the fox’s clear eyes, guilt was embedded like shards of glass.
“When the elders said they would exile you, I couldn’t stop them. I opposed it and was forcibly detained, and when I finally escaped and went to the barrier to look for you, you were gone.”
Suddenly, I remembered the animal claw marks that had damaged the barrier’s magic circle.
“Were you the one who damaged the magic circle?”
“Yes. I damaged the magic circle trying to find you, but it was useless. I was forcibly dragged back by the clan. Then I heard they had erased your memories.”
To think they would abandon a baby fox after erasing its memories. Anger welled up at the elders’ cruelty.
“When I finally found you, I couldn’t believe you had lost your memories. I tried to make you remember, even by saying harsh things, but… it was useless.”
His eyes, like blue lakes, were trembling with anxiety and fear.
“Even though you’ve completely forgotten me, I still can’t leave you behind.”
Franz’s voice was calm but filled with deep regret.
I blinked slowly, trying to understand Franz’s intentions.
“What do you mean?”
“Even if the clan abandoned you out of fear… you are my fiancée. I’ve come to take you back. My Ruel.”
Who is whose fiancée?
I jumped up in shock right where I stood.
What nonsense is this fox talking about? Did he eat something wrong and lose his mind?
My head started to hurt from Franz’s shocking bombshell.
Then, a resolute voice rang out above my head.
“I absolutely cannot allow this.”
Karden lifted me up and held me in his arms. I struggled in surprise, but his strong arms prevented my movement.
His expression was cold and composed, but cold anger rippled in his blue eyes.
“Grrrr! What business is it of yours? Put my fiancée down this instant!”
Franz bared his sharp fangs and bristled his fur.
He looked ready to tear out Karden’s throat at any moment.
“Fiancée, you say.”
Karden glared at Franz with contemptuous eyes. Red mist began rising from his entire body.
As his internal magical power began to boil, a fierce killing intent flowed out and pressed down on Franz.
The giant silver fox struggled, showing his sharp fangs, but couldn’t move an inch, as if pressed down by invisible hands.
“Kugh!”
“Fiancée? Such words shouldn’t come from the mouth of a worthless beast who couldn’t even protect Shushu properly.”
“How dare you! Grrrr!”
Unable to endure the insult, Franz lunged at Karden. There wasn’t even time to stop them.
Karden calmly raised one arm. It was a motion to grab the silver fox’s neck as it fiercely charged at him.
Ah… He really means to kill Franz.
He was the villain who could dispose of even fierce magical beasts in an instant. Killing one fox would be as easy as stepping on an ant.
I had to stop that at least. Because Franz was still my kind, whether I liked him or not.
“Kyaang! No!”
My body moved before my mind could think. In my urgent desire to stop Karden, I couldn’t see anything else.
Before I knew it, I had instinctively bitten Karden’s arm.
My fangs pierced his skin, and I tasted the tang of blood.
The effect was immediate.
When I bit Karden’s arm, he stopped moving. Karden’s expression as he turned to look at me was full of confusion and bewilderment.
Meeting that gaze, even though it was Karden whose arm had been bitten, my heart felt like it was being pricked with needles.
In that moment of vulnerability, Franz bared his fangs and lunged at Karden.
As I was about to shout in anger at Franz’s foolish action, Karden lightly dodged to the side while supporting my body safely with his remaining hand.
He seemed worried that I might fall while dangling from his arm with my teeth still clamped on it.
Franz tumbled forward and rolled on the ground.
“You human, I won’t let this slide!”
As Franz snarled and tried to attack, Karden quickly gave an order to Ron.
“Ron, put that fox to sleep.”
“Yes, understood!”
As Ron immediately chanted a magic spell, a silvery mist rose and enveloped Franz.
Though Franz frantically tried to dodge, thrashing about, the silvery mist seeped into his forehead.
Like a puppet with cut strings, Franz collapsed unconscious.
“Franz!”
Startled, I released Karden’s arm which I had been biting, and ran to Franz.
Franz was breathing steadily, looking as if he was peacefully asleep. Ron approached to comfort me in my panic.
“Shushu, calm down. Your fiancé……”
Ron, who had carelessly said ‘fiancé,’ flinched and glanced nervously at Karden.
“No, this fox is just under a sleep spell.”
“I see. That’s a relief.”
It was strange. Seeing the silver fox sleeping like death made tears fall drop by drop.
What was this painful emotion?
Though I had no memories of Franz, an inexplicable longing and guilt washed over me, making my chest feel heavy.
Were these the feelings of the Ruel who remembered Franz?
I could feel Karden’s gaze on me, but I couldn’t bring myself to look at him directly.
After all, I had accidentally bitten his arm trying to save Franz. It was the first time I had bitten him while not in a magic rampage state.
Karden’s breathing faltered momentarily before steadying again.
But my ears could clearly hear his rapidly beating heart.
It’s because of me. He must be angry, surely.
Tears fell like chicken droppings onto my round front paws.
Karden let out a faint sigh.
“We’re returning to the Grand Duke’s mansion with the fox.”
Karden turned away immediately.
A cold wind seemed to blow from Karden’s retreating back as he walked away from me.
If he were his usual self, he would have extended his warm, large hand to hold me.
A cold wind seeped through my entire body, despite my fluffy, warm fur covering me.
Owen approached me with worried eyes and spoke.
“Shushu, are you okay? Can you walk? I can carry you.”
“N-no. I can go by myself.”
I shook my head repeatedly.
Owen continued to look at me with concern before helping Maildra carry the sleeping Franz.
My heart ached to see Franz’s luxuriant silver tail hanging limply.
***
Upon returning to the Grand Duke’s mansion, I met Betty, who was pacing anxiously waiting for me in the entrance hall. Karden had already gone inside.
“Lady Shushu, where did you go? I was really surprised when you suddenly disappeared. When did you turn back into a fox?”
“Kyaung. A lot happened, Betty.”
“Huh? What happened?”
Betty was puzzled, then jumped in surprise seeing the large silver fox that Maildra and Owen were carrying.
“Oh my, who is that large fox?”
“He’s one of my kind. His name is Franz.”
“Is he injured somewhere? Should I call for a doctor?”
“No. Ron just put him to sleep with magic to calm him down.”
The soldiers guarding the mansion rushed over to take Franz from them.
Maildra wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve and exhaled heavily.
“Lady Shushu, that fox friend of yours is quite heavy. We should move him to a guest room.”
Maildra said while rotating his shoulders as if they were stiff. As he was about to give instructions to the soldiers, I quickly stopped him.
“Maildra, please take Franz to my room. I need to talk to him when the sleep spell wears off.”
Maildra startled and hurriedly waved his hands.
“What? That’s absolutely not allowed.”
