The Fluffy Baby Fox Only Bites the Crazy Villain - Chapter 36
“Shushu.”
Franz’s voice was clear and deep. If he were human, he would sound like a young man who had gone through puberty.
When I didn’t respond, Franz tilted his head askew.
“What’s wrong?”
“I’m surprised. You’re calling my name properly.”
“You don’t remember your previous name anyway. Since you wouldn’t want that, I just called you any name.”
Franz turned his head sharply and spoke curtly.
He may have grown bigger, but inside he’s still a child. I held back my laughter.
“How’s your body, are you okay?”
Franz growled while scanning the surroundings with eyes full of wariness.
“Hmph. This is nothing. Where is the one who attacked me? Where is this place?”
“This is my room. And that person is Grand Duke Karden. He’s the lord and commander of this northern castle.”
Franz sneered with a scoff.
“I knew from the start that he was the infamous Commander Helleide. But why have you become his pet?”
“Pet! Karden is not my master!”
I shouted, bristling with anger. Franz stared at me intensely and pressed on.
“Then what is that human to you?”
For a moment, I couldn’t think of a proper answer. I rolled my eyes around.
“Well… a butler?”
Franz’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“What?”
“You know, like how people who devotedly care for cats are called butlers. His Grace is similar to a butler who takes care of me. Not my master.”
Franz finally seemed to understand somewhat and nodded.
“Hmm, so that monster hunter is your subordinate then.”
“Kyaang? To say Karden is a subordinate…”
I was about to protest, but suddenly all the things Karden had done for me flashed through my mind like a slideshow.
Brushing my fur every day, personally feeding me, sometimes kneeling down to wipe my paws, always carrying me in his arms… He really is like a subordinate!
Franz suddenly came closer to me.
Before I could dodge, he licked the fur on my forehead with his tongue. The soft, moist sensation startled me.
“Kyaang! What are you doing!”
When I jumped back, Franz stared at me plainly as if wondering what was wrong.
“Your fur was tangled. You used to like it when I groomed your fur before, what’s wrong?”
Ah, right. He’s a fox. But did foxes groom each other like cats?
“You may not remember because you lost your memories, but our Ulpes tribe regularly changes where we live. It’s time for that move now. I came to get you before we move.”
“Go to the tribe that abandoned me? No thanks?”
When I firmly refused, Franz sighed.
“I know. I’m not going to the tribe either. I’m saying I want to leave together with you.”
Franz’s gaze drifted to empty space. His eyes sparkled like a boy dreaming of the future.
“Because of your constitution that absorbs magic, you grow slower than others. But after spring passes, you’ll quickly grow into an adult. Then we can marry, make a nest, and have lots of cute cubs…”
Hey, why are you blushing and acting shy? You’re beating your own drum and planning our future family all by yourself?
While I was staring at Franz in disbelief, I felt an ominous presence behind me.
Instinctively, my whole body shuddered and my fur stood on end.
A cold voice suppressing anger flew through the air.
“That is something I absolutely cannot allow.”
Karden was leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed.
He was wearing a tunic shirt with a low neckline revealing his bronze chest, and his bangs were wet as if he’d just washed.
His face was contorted, plainly showing his displeasure. His angry eyes gleamed coldly.
“Why is that beast in your room?”
Karden’s eyes flashed dangerously as he looked at Franz. Even though bringing Franz here wasn’t a crime, I felt guilty for some reason.
I wondered if the wound on his hand that I had bitten was okay.
I wanted to check Karden’s hand condition, but I couldn’t see it as both hands were in his pants pockets.
“He’s my kind. I couldn’t let him sleep outside.”
“This mansion has many empty rooms. Or we could have thrown him in the barn.”
When Karden sneered, Franz immediately bared his fangs and growled.
“What did you say, human!”
“The beast stench is overwhelming. Get out of my bedroom immediately.”
“Why is this your bedroom? This is Shushu’s room!”
What a pathetic sight – a grown man and a large fox glaring and growling at each other.
Franz might be a fox going through turbulent adolescence, but why is His Grace, a grown man, acting like a child?
Finding myself like a shrimp caught between fighting whales made me irritated. I yelled sharply at both of them.
“Kyaang! Stop fighting at night! I’ll leave instead. I’ll sleep in Betty’s room!”
As I tried to scurry out with the corner of my pillow in my mouth, Karden’s hand blocked my way.
“Shushu will sleep in my bed, and that fellow will sleep in Shushu’s room.”
At those words, Franz burst out in anger.
“What? I can’t let my fiancée sleep in the same bed with another man!”
My head started to hurt from Franz’s thunderous shouting that could deafen one’s ears.
I should have thrown him in the barn from the start as Karden said. I sincerely regretted bringing him in.
Franz quickly grabbed the corner of my pillow with his mouth. I didn’t even have time to stop him.
Before I knew it, the ill-mannered fox and the ruthless human were having a staring contest while holding onto the small pillow from both sides.
Sigh, the fight is too petty for me to want to stop it.
Karden narrowed his eyes and gave a contemptuous look.
“Your tribe abandoned Shushu, so it’s as good as breaking off the engagement. If you have any conscience, get lost.”
“What? Human, why do you keep interfering in our business? This is our tribal matter!”
When Franz threatened him by baring his fangs, a frightening madness flashed across Karden’s sculpture-like face.
“You only talk about fiancée with your mouth. If I were you, I would have protected Shushu even at the cost of my life. Or I would have exterminated the entire tribe.”
What a villain, actually talking about extermination. He acts normal usually, but he truly is ruthless/cruel to the bone.
You’re not scary at all, Mr. Villain, threatening while fighting over a small pillow with a fox.
“Kyaang, both of you stop…”
“Urgh, words from a human who doesn’t know the situation!”
Franz trembled all over as if he had suffered a tremendous insult and humiliation. Rage boiled in his silver eyes and his luxuriant tail stood straight up.
“Hey, both of you listen to me…”
The human and fox kept pulling my pillow like a tug of war while engaging in their petty power struggle.
I tried to stop them but bumped into the pillow.
With a thud.
At that moment, my thin patience snapped too.
They say a shrimp’s back breaks in a whale fight. No, this angry shrimp will make the whales’ backs break.
“Listen to me!”
What burst from my mouth wasn’t a baby fox’s peeping but a roar of anger worthy of the king of beasts.
When I swung my fluffy tail in the air, a fierce snowstorm whirled.
Karden and Franz stopped their quarrel and flinched in surprise, but their reactions were swift.
Karden blocked the snowstorm with one arm, and Franz blocked it with his tail.
Whoosh! The cold wind scattered, and ice shards fell to the floor.
With an expressionless face, I calmly ordered Franz.
“Franz, quickly clean up the ice before it melts.”
“Huh? Y-yes, understood.”
Franz startled and wiped the ice shards on the carpet with his bushy tail.
I turned to Karden and spoke in a cold voice.
“Your Grace, please show some dignity and decorum. Fighting with a fox, you should be ashamed.”
Karden hesitated for a moment and his jaw tightened.
The fierce look in his eyes that had been ready to kill Franz instantly disappeared.
“Right. I acted somewhat emotionally.”
Karden lowered his gaze. Perhaps because he had just showered, his bangs covered his forehead.
Usually, he swept all his hair back, making him look older and more intimidating, but with his bangs down, he looked much younger.
Moreover, such a docile attitude. He’s like a large dog getting scolded by its owner and becoming dejected.
Karden picked up my pillow from the carpet, dusted it off thoroughly, and smoothed out the wrinkles.
“Now, both of you go to sleep quietly. I’ll sleep in the basket in Your Grace’s room. Franz will sleep in my room.”
“Shushu, but…”
“Shhh!”
I glared at Franz, showing my fangs. Seemingly overwhelmed by my force, Franz whimpered and avoided my gaze.
“Go to sleep. We’ll talk again after breakfast tomorrow. Franz.”
Karden had already brought my basket. Complete with a soft blanket.
I hopped into the basket. Curling up inside felt like being in a mother’s warm embrace.
I could feel Karden carefully lifting the basket and moving it to the bed without any shaking.
I wanted to snicker but somehow didn’t want to be caught, so I covered my face with my tail.
