The Fluffy Baby Fox Only Bites the Crazy Villain - Chapter 56
The carriage and knights that escaped from the slave auction house were racing across the wide fields toward the Northern Castle.
I gazed at the peaceful scenery flowing past the carriage window.
Everything had been resolved and we were on our way home, so why did my heart feel so empty?
I had always known Franz would leave someday. But actually seeing the Ulpes tribe’s departing figures left a void in one corner of my heart.
“Shushu, come here to me.”
As I turned my blank gaze, Karden gently pulled me and had me sit beside him.
Karden cradled my head to rest on his shoulder.
“If you’re tired, you can sleep leaning on me.”
“I’m fine, Your Grace.”
I tried to refuse, but his hand took mine that was resting on my knee.
Our fingers interlocked without any gaps. Was it because of the warm temperature and his firm hand holding me?
Strangely, while my heart was pounding, I was enveloped in a peaceful feeling.
Just holding hands filled my empty heart, and the deeply carved wounds slowly began to heal.
“Shuvelia, look at me.”
“Yes?”
When I lifted my head absently, Karden’s lips landed on my forehead.
It was a gentle and warm kiss, like sunshine.
My forehead burned where his lips touched. Karden whispered softly while keeping his lips on my forehead.
“From now on, I’ll be your fence. I’ll become whatever you want me to be.”
Tears welled up at his gentle and warm words that seeped into my ears.
This person understands the loneliness and emptiness that even I can’t quite grasp better than I do.
Though my eyes grew hot, I deliberately pouted my lips.
“What will you become? A subordinate? Or a friend? Or family?”
Karden stroked my head with a gentle smile.
Ah, that’s cheating. After that romantic kiss, now he’s gently patting my head.
“Whatever Shushu wants most right now.”
I lowered my gaze to look at our interlocked fingers. Where our palms touched was hot, ticklish, and cozy.
Why was my heartbeat so loud I could hear it in my ears?
“For now… just stay like this.”
I whispered softly and leaned back on Karden’s shoulder.
The carriage was moving with a gentle sway, and Karden’s shoulder was firm and comfortable.
***
The carriage that arrived at the Northern Castle quietly entered through the castle gates.
By principle, there should have been a knights’ parade to welcome the Grand Duke’s safe return. However, the Grand Duke had ordered in advance to just open the gates without a welcome ceremony.
There was only one reason. He was worried about waking the sleeping Shushu.
Shushu’s human transformation had worn off in the carriage.
The beautiful woman who had fallen asleep leaning on Karden’s shoulder naturally returned to being a fox. As if it had all been a dreamlike illusion.
Honestly, Karden felt regretful.
He wanted to see Shuvelia’s form a little longer, but on the other hand, it was fortunate she had returned to being a fox.
It had been quite difficult to maintain his restraint with such a beautiful Shuvelia by his side.
Karden looked down at the cotton-ball fox curled up in his arms, breathing softly in sleep.
Could there be another being this lovable?
It didn’t matter to him what form Shushu took. She was more precious and important to him than anything else.
The moment he saw Shuvelia escaping from the auction house, Karden’s magical power boiled with maddening rage.
He was consumed with the murderous desire to kill all those who had kidnapped her and tried to make her a slave.
But Karden suppressed his magical outburst with superhuman strength.
If he had recklessly lost control, it could have led to the worst situation where he couldn’t even protect Shuvelia.
Karden stroked Shushu’s small, perked ears and whispered softly.
“Thank you for being alive, for being safe… for enduring well, my companion.”
He never wanted to feel that hellish despair again when he learned Shushu had been kidnapped.
Karden made a bone-deep vow to never let go of this precious warmth in his arms.
When the carriage that entered the Northern Castle quickly arrived at the Grand Duke’s residence’s main gate, the butler and servants who had been waiting all bowed their heads at once.
After hearing about Shushu’s kidnapping, they had all been anxiously waiting for their return, wrapped in worry and sadness.
When the carriage door opened and they saw the baby fox sleeping soundly in Karden’s arms, they rejoiced and felt relieved in silence.
Karden put his finger to his lips to signal them to be quiet, and the quick-witted butler smiled and stepped back.
The maids silently rejoiced as they watched Karden’s back as he entered the residence holding Shushu like a treasure.
Among them, Betty clutched her apron and her eyes welled up with tears of joy.
When she heard the news that Shushu had been kidnapped by slave traders, it felt like the sky was falling.
How many prayers she had offered to the gods just for her safe return.
Betty wiped her tears and hurriedly followed Grand Duke Karden.
Karden immediately went to Shushu’s room and carefully laid her in her basket.
Betty quietly approached and covered Shushu with a blanket so she could sleep comfortably.
“She must be very tired. Take care that she sleeps well.”
“Yes, Your Grace. Thank you so much for saving Shushu.”
Betty bowed sincerely in gratitude.
Karden silently nodded, looked at Shushu’s sleeping form one more time, and turned to leave the room.
The servants and maids were gathered in the hallway, murmuring in front of Shushu’s room.
When Karden came out, they all startled and hurriedly bowed their heads.
He was about to pass by the servants when he suddenly stopped his steps.
“Shushu is safe, so don’t worry anymore.”
“Th-thank you, Your Grace.”
Only then did the servants feel relieved, and after bowing their heads, they dispersed to attend to their duties.
Karden realized anew how Shushu had become someone deeply precious to the people of the Northern Castle.
He had often seen how the servants’ expressions would brighten when the small, lovable cotton-ball fox would scamper down the wide, quiet hallways.
That wasn’t all.
Even the stern and austere knights and soldiers had changed to become more energetic and bright after Shushu’s arrival.
It was as if warm spring had come to an eternally frozen castle.
A faint smile played on Karden’s firm lips.
As he entered his office, Maildra, Owen, and Burke, who had been waiting, all gave military salutes.
“Commander, you’ve arrived.”
Karden nodded before going to sit at his desk.
His gentle expression from moments ago instantly changed to one of cold ruthlessness.
“Now, it’s time to hunt that bastard.”
The subordinates broke into cold sweats facing Karden’s fierce smile.
Karden’s sharp gaze turned to Burke.
“Captain Burke, did the remaining slave traders confess about the identity of the black mask?”
“Yes. We imprisoned and interrogated them in the underground cells, but they didn’t know who the black mask was. They said the slave trader had the list of buyers and recorded it in the ledger. According to them, they kidnap shapeshifters, forcibly transform them into humans, and sell them as slaves.”
“Disgusting bastards. I should have pierced that black mask’s throat after all. I deliberately missed to capture and torture him.”
Startled by the commander’s words, aide Maildra hurriedly spoke up.
“It was wise not to kill the criminal. The proper procedure is to track down those who illegally operated the shapeshifter auction house and punish them according to national law.”
Dissatisfied with Maildra’s words, Burke fumed and shouted loudly.
“Why bother with national law for such bastards? I’ll catch them somehow and end this with my own hands!”
“Captain Burke, this matter shouldn’t be resolved with force.”
Maildra pushed up his glasses and explained calmly.
“While enslaving shapeshifters is illegal, high-ranking nobles only face simple fines. Therefore, we need to obtain the VIP customer list, catch the criminals, and stop the shapeshifter auction houses.”
“Ugh, why does it have to be so complicated.”
Burke scratched the back of his head as if it was giving him a headache. Karden, who had been listening with his chin propped up, spoke with a cold expression.
“The aide is correct. We must track down the black mask who took the ledger and find the organization that’s enslaving shapeshifters. I will find everyone who dared to try making Shushu a slave and make them pay the price. No matter who they are.”
Karden’s eyes were boiling with rage as he made his final declaration.
Watching his lord’s fierce anger, Maildra inwardly heaved a deep sigh.
‘A bloodstorm will blow through the capital. I’ve never seen His Grace this angry before.’
