The Fluffy Baby Fox Only Bites the Crazy Villain - Chapter 44
Following Betty’s guidance, I arrived at the banquet hall with its high ceiling, crystal chandeliers, and round white tables.
My blue dress skirt rustled against the marble floor. I held the dress hem slightly and elegantly entered the banquet hall.
Of course, I nearly slipped on the marble floor several times since I wasn’t used to high heels yet.
Thanks to my animal-like sense of balance, I avoided the disaster of falling on my behind.
At the head of the round table sat Karden, with Maildra, Burke, Owen, Ron, and Franz seated on either side.
Wait, why is Franz here?
Franz was in human form and wearing an immaculate tuxedo. With his usually loose silver hair neatly tied back, he looked like a young nobleman’s son.
For someone who hates being close to humans except during training to attend a dinner, what is he plotting?
“Shushu, are you feeling alright?”
Noticing me, Karden stood up and approached. He naturally took my hand and gazed at me quietly.
“That dress suits you well.”
“What? Oh, thank you, Your Grace.”
Being complimented so directly made me feel awkward, and I slightly lowered my head.
With Karden’s escort, I sat in the seat opposite to him.
As soon as I sat down, Ron waved his hands enthusiastically in greeting.
“Shushu, you’re so beautiful. Like a snow fairy!”
“Thanks for the compliment. Ron, you have such good taste.”
I responded with a playful smile.
Maildra and Burke also generously complimented my dress, joking that they barely recognized me all dressed up.
“Shushu, I’m surprised at how you’ve become such a beautiful lady.”
Owen also expressed his admiration with gentle smiling eyes.
Please stop with all the compliments. I know I’m pretty, but it’s a bit embarrassing and mortifying.
However, only Franz remained silent with his arms crossed and an expressionless face.
Come to think of it, isn’t this Franz’s first time seeing me in human form?
I expected him to be shocked or tease me childishly, but instead he’s blatantly ignoring me, how mean.
Annoyed by his attitude, I shot him a sharp glare.
Just then, servants appeared in line carrying silver trays with various dishes.
The banquet table sparkled softly with centerpieces decorated with pink roses and silver tableware.
The table was filled with perfectly grilled beef steak, crispy apple pie with a sweet aroma, beef stew, and all sorts of fruits and salads.
It followed the traditional order of soup, salad, fish, and meat. The dishes were served in silver tableware as if at a grand banquet.
I swallowed hard while eyeing the appetizing food.
When a maid approached to serve me, Karden raised his hand to stop her.
Then he personally cut the steak and placed it on my plate.
“Shuvelia, try this meat.”
Why is His Grace insisting on serving me? Though I didn’t understand, the steak was my priority, so I ate the meat with relish.
My eyes lit up at the charcoal-grilled aroma of the flavorful steak, the rich juices, and the tender texture.
“It’s delicious. It melts in my mouth like heavenly food.”
“I’m glad you like it. Take your time eating.”
Karden smiled contentedly while cutting more steak for me.
Looking around after eating for a while, everyone was leisurely enjoying their meal.
Usually they eat hurriedly in the dining hall, so it must have been a while since they enjoyed a formal dinner like this.
Franz was skillfully cutting meat with his knife.
How does he know dining etiquette and how to use cutlery when he lived as a fox?
As I stared at Franz in curiosity, he must have felt my gaze because he smiled mischievously.
“Have you fallen for my charm, Shushu?”
“What nonsense are you talking about? Did you eat something wrong?”
When I shouted in surprise, Franz shrugged his shoulders.
“Hmm, you’re looking at me with such passionate eyes.”
“No, I’m not. Don’t get the wrong idea.”
I glared at him and snorted. Owen, who was eating politely next to Franz, smiled.
“Mr. Franz.”
Owen’s voice was calm but had a commanding presence. Even the unruly Franz hesitated for a moment.
“While it’s nice to see you getting along well as fellow kind, I find it difficult to accept you troubling Shushu too much.”
Owen, please don’t speak so gently while flashing that knife. Your eyes aren’t smiling at all.
“I agree with Owen’s opinion.”
Karden said coldly as he set down his teacup. His eyes were glinting as cold as winter wind.
“Franz, I warned you not to cross the line.”
The atmosphere at the table suddenly became quiet. The clinking of silver utensils and glass cups stopped.
I firmly chewed and swallowed a piece of steak. What’s with this atmosphere? I’m going to get indigestion while eating.
Usually Karden is indifferent and expressionless about worldly matters, but sometimes his eyes unnecessarily turn sharp.
I guess I have no choice but to step in.
“Come on, enough. Let’s all eat happily. It’s a rare meal where we’re all gathered together.”
“Let’s do that.”
“If Shushu says so…”
Karden nodded and picked up his fork again. Owen also focused on his meal with a gentle expression.
Franz started eating meat in one bite while pouting like a sulking three-year-old. True to his fox nature, he had quite an appetite.
How many plates of steak has he eaten already? At this rate, he’ll eat an entire cow.
Franz sniffed while wiping his mouth with a napkin.
He thrust his nose in my direction, narrowed his eyes, and stared at me intently. What’s with him?
“Strange. Shushu, your scent has changed?”
“Huh? What are you talking about?”
Franz leaned in close and sniffed carefully.
“H-Hey, what are you doing?”
I pushed his shoulder away in annoyance.
“Your scent is completely different from yesterday. Did something happen yesterday?”
Franz’s eyes bore into me intensely as if trying to discover something. He wouldn’t take his eyes off me.
A changed scent – wait, could it be because of the kiss with His Grace yesterday?
How could a mere kiss change my scent? What’s going on here?
Though confused, I couldn’t possibly tell everyone the truth about kissing His Grace in front of everyone. No, I’ll never tell.
“N-Nothing happened. I just had His Grace’s mana after a long time.”
I replied primly and pretended to focus on eating again.
“Hmm, is that so?”
Franz rested his chin on his hand with a meaningful smile. My heart pounded, worried he might figure out about the kiss.
“The roast duck is served. Please enjoy your meal.”
Two servants brought in an enormous roast duck.
It wasn’t just duck-sized but more like a small ostrich. It was perfectly roasted to a golden brown, and the savory aroma stimulated the appetite.
“Excellent prey.”
Franz’s pupils flashed for a moment before he aggressively attacked it with fork and knife.
Only then could I finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Thank goodness that guy is a pig – no, a fox obsessed with food.
When I turned my head, my eyes met Karden’s. He had been intensely watching me while drinking his coffee.
Your Grace, I’m going to get indigestion from the pressure while eating.
My eyes first caught his elegant lips as he slightly raised the teacup to his mouth.
For a moment, last night’s passionate heat came rushing back, and I quickly lowered my head.
It’s not like I have some perverted demon inside me, so why do I feel so shy and my heart pounds just from one kiss?
I stabbed the innocent steak with my fork and stuffed it in my mouth.
Eating frantically to hide my embarrassment and shame, my plate was soon clean.
Then Owen placed a piece of his meat on my plate.
“Shushu, would you like my meat too? I heard you need to eat a lot of meat to maintain human form.”
I stared blankly for a moment at Owen’s fresh smile.
Then Karden placed his entire steak on my plate.
When I looked at him with round eyes tilting my head in confusion, he calmly explained.
“You must be tired from training lately. Eat plenty.”
“Ah, I’ll eat well, Your Grace.”
Then Ron cut his meat in half and put it on my plate.
“Shushu, have mine too. Eat lots and stay strong!”
“Have my meat too. You seem to have lost weight lately, it worries me.”
Maildra also gave me meat with a concerned expression. Suddenly, a 4-layer steak tower had formed on my plate.
What is this? A meat-sharing relay?
Franz’s eyes widened in shock at the sight. He pointed his fork at everyone and shouted.
“Giving meat – are you all proposing to Shushu?!”
