The Fluffy Baby Fox Only Bites the Crazy Villain - Chapter 59

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The maids exchanged meaningful glances with each other, then simultaneously held something out.

“Please accept these! Lady Shushu!”

They were handmade cotton dolls made by the maids themselves. And there were dolls of various shapes.

Dogs, rabbits, bears… and well, something unidentifiable mixed in there too. Surely they’re not voodoo dolls.

“Kyaang. Did you make these dolls yourselves?”

“Yes. Do you like them? Betty told us that Lady Shushu really loves dolls.”

“We wanted to give you gifts too.”

It’s understandable they’d think that since I was walking around with a rabbit doll on my back. But this is too many dolls.

Surrounded by over ten dolls, I held back a sigh that was trying to escape.

“Kyaang. Thank you. I’m so happy.”

I slightly bowed my head while swishing my fluffy tail.

The maids squealed like dolphins and stomped their feet in excitement.

Oh my, how startling.

“Look at those clear bright eyes. So cute. My heart aches.”

“Can’t tell who’s the doll! So lovable.”

“Fluffy cotton ball Lady Shushu is so cute~”

“Lady Shushu buried in dolls, just looking at it purifies my soul.”

Can’t I leave now? While I was stuck unable to move among the dolls,

I sensed a familiar scent and heard footsteps, then suddenly I was lifted into the air.

“How noisy. Everyone return to your posts.”

Karden, who had appeared without notice, held me in his arms and coldly ordered the maids.

The maids jumped in surprise and hurriedly bowed their heads.

“We’re sorry! Please excuse us!”

As the maids disappeared like they were fleeing, various dolls remained piled high in the corridor.

Karden carefully observed the dolls.

“You received many doll gifts.”

“Seems giving dolls is trending these days. It’s nice of them to make them for me.”

Karden’s expression darkened, and he turned his head slightly to mutter in a low voice.

“This is troublesome. There’s no differentiation this way.”

“What do you mean?”

Karden took me to his office. He set me down on my special cushion at his desk.

He habitually reached out to pat my head but stopped. I could see tiny marks on his fingers. Like needle pricks.

Could those be wounds from making my doll?

My heart ached thinking about the commander who had only wielded swords his whole life struggling with tiny, thin needles.

I whimpered while rubbing my cheek against his warm palm. To show my gratitude.

Karden reflexively tried to pull his hand away.

Where do you think you’re going? I won’t let go this time. I firmly grabbed Karden’s hand with my fluffy paw.

“Don’t run away this time, Karden.”

“Shushu?”

“You’ve been avoiding me lately. Haven’t you? Why are you avoiding me?”

“That’s…”

Unlike himself, Karden was hesitating.

For the always decisive and straightforward commander to be troubled, why?

Karden seemed to carefully choose his words before speaking.

“Now that you can fully transform into a human, it’s difficult to act casually like before. You might feel uncomfortable or offended.”

“You mean, you’ve been avoiding physical contact to be considerate of me? Not patting me much either?”

“Yes.”

Seeing Karden nod readily, I felt deflated. What, was that all it was?

“That’s not a problem at all.”

“Are you sure it’s alright? Even if you’re a fox, touching you carelessly would be disrespectful.”

“It’s fine when it’s you, Karden. So…”

I looked at Karden and gave him a challenging smile.

“Pat me right now.”

Words I would never dare say if I were human.

But what does it matter when I’m an adorable baby fox now?

Karden’s expression froze for a moment when our eyes met. Then he covered his face with his large hand.

Ah, there it is again.

That expression of pure boyish happiness.

Sunlight settled through the window behind the office desk. In the sunlight, perhaps because of his disheveled hair, Karden looked like an awkward boy who just happened to be large.

His large hand gently caressed my cheek. I purred like a cat and rubbed my cheek against his palm.

The sunlight was so warm, and his embrace so cozy that I couldn’t help but smile.

He caught my unconscious smile and smiled back.

Being spoiled in his arms, for the first time, I made a wish.

That I could stay in this person’s embrace like this.

And so Karden was forced to pat me until late afternoon.

I lay in a loaf position on his lap, purring contentedly. His touch was gentle and refreshing, making my body melt with comfort and bringing drowsiness.

After dining with me in the drawing room, Karden stood up first.

“Shushu, I have a meeting with the village elders so I must go now. Rest well.”

Karden patted my head and left the drawing room.

While wondering what to do until evening, I decided to visit the soldiers’ dining hall after a long time.

The dining hall was quiet and peaceful after the evening meal service had ended. At one table, I could see Captain Burke’s large back.

And across from him…

“Owen!”

I happily ran over to Owen. I was so excited to see him after so long that my tail started spinning like a helicopter on its own.

Owen got up from his seat and gently embraced me.

“Shushu, have you been well?”

“Owen, when did you return from the capital?”

“I just arrived earlier. It’s good to see you like this, Shushu.”

Owen held me in his arms and quietly breathed in at my fluffy nape. It tickled somehow, so I twisted my body slightly.

Then Owen stiffened and put me down.

“Sorry. I was being rude. I was only thinking of you as a baby fox…”

Owen cleared his throat awkwardly.

“Since Shushu is a lady now, such physical contact would be improper.”

This was typical of Owen, who was strict about etiquette towards ladies.

Burke heartily laughed and agreed.

“That’s right, Sir Owen. Shushu is a proper lady now, so be careful with your actions. Carelessly petting her like before would be very rude.”

I let out a small sigh and looked straight at the two of them.

“I appreciate the consideration, but you don’t need to be so formal. I’m more comfortable when you treat me like usual.”

Owen and Burke exchanged glances. They looked quite troubled. What does that mean?

Burke scratched the back of his head and said with a perplexed expression.

“We’d like to, but if we treat Shushu like before, the Commander won’t let it slide. Please understand our position too, Shushu.”

“What? Why would Karden…?”

As I tilted my head in confusion, Owen knelt on one knee in front of me to meet my eyes.

He showed a gentle smile, but it somehow felt lonely.

“The Commander ordered all troops. To absolutely never touch Shushu carelessly.”

To order the border guards not to pet me, that’s too arbitrary.

Karden’s unnecessary possessiveness is really hopeless.

I stuck out my tongue in disbelief.

“That’s ridiculous. What’s wrong with His Grace? I don’t understand. He wasn’t like this before when I could transform into a human.”

When I complained to Owen like this, he crossed his arms and nodded seriously.

“I completely understand His Grace’s feelings. Before, Shushu could only temporarily transform into a human. But now that you’re skilled at transforming, he’s warning the knights too. Though they’re all loyal subjects, there might be some with ill intentions.”

“Ill intentions?”

“Of course, if there were such people, I would handle it before it reached His Grace’s ears.”

Owen said these menacing words sweetly while smiling elegantly. The scary part was how his eyes were gleaming ominously.

Goodness, they’re hopeless. Not just Karden, but Owen is quite overprotective too.

I hopped up onto the table. There were several bottles of wine and preserved dried fruits on the table. Burke and Owen were having a modest drinking session.

“Here, Shushu. Would you like to try this preserved dried apple? It’s delicious.”

While chewing on the sweet preserved apple Owen gave me, I asked.

“Did everything go well in the capital?”

“Yes. I’m on my way back from making a request to the Helleon Guild. They said they’ll send the results directly to the Northern Fort when they’re ready.”

“What about the nobility registry and portraits? If there are portraits, I might be able to recognize them.”

I had heard about Owen’s mission from Karden.

If I see the portraits, I might be able to find them based on the black mask’s description.

“The Helleon Guild will send those portraits too. Thanks to the guild, things were handled faster than expected.”

“The Helleon Guild must be amazing.”

As I stuck out my tongue, Captain Burke nodded with a pleased expression.

“Indeed. Even more amazing since the Guild Master is His Grace’s sister.”

I had heard from Maildra that the Helleon Guild Master was Karden’s sister.

I was so surprised. The original story never even mentioned Karden having a sister.

“That’s fascinating. His Grace has a sister. I didn’t know he had one since she’s not in the family portraits hanging in the mansion.”

Burke downed a glass of wine in one go and wiped his mouth with his thick hand.

“About that, Lady Yudis removed the portrait herself. She took it down when she ran away from the Northern Fort.”

“R-ran away? Why?”