The Fluffy Baby Fox Only Bites the Crazy Villain - Chapter 60
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“Lady Yudis was also the captain of the Border Guard Knights. She was such a skilled swordswoman that she became the knight captain at the age of 21. In the Helleide family, both men and women had to learn swordsmanship from a young age.”
“That must have been tough.”
Indeed, they deserve to be called the Kingdom’s Sword, this military noble family. Now I understand why Karden is the way he is.
“Lady Yudis was an excellent knight captain with outstanding achievements. She eliminated hundreds of magical beasts. However…”
“However?”
“Lady Yudis declared she couldn’t fight anymore. Then she left the Northern Fort. It was a runaway.”
Karden’s sister seems to have quite the personality too. I like her straightforward nature.
“So what did His Grace do?”
Burke scratched his rough beard and explained in a serious tone.
“Officially, he stripped Lady Yudis of her right to inherit the family name. Since she abandoned her family duties. It was essentially the same as excommunication.”
“Excommunication?”
“Yes. It’s the law of House Helleide. Dying with a sword in hand is the way to protect the family’s honor and glory. Though I’m a knight too, the people of House Helleide are knights to their very bones. Lady Yudis broke that law, so she was excommunicated.”
“No matter what, excommunicating your own sister seems too harsh.”
I felt truly sorry for Karden’s sister.
Having to forcefully participate in magical beast subjugation just because of her Helleide bloodline. She must have had her own dreams and future plans.
Burke shook his head and corrected my words.
“Shushu. That’s not actually the case.”
“What?”
“While His Grace officially excommunicated his sister according to family law, he maintained her right to inheritance and privileges as a descendant. Rather, he wanted his sister to live freely.”
“Really?”
I opened my eyes wide like a rabbit in surprise. Owen, who had been listening quietly, also looked surprised at this unexpected information.
“It’s remarkable that His Grace, known for his strict nature, would allow his sister to leave like that.”
“Our Grand Duke may seem cold on the outside, but he’s a true man with a warm heart. He didn’t want his only sister to suffer at the border. Instead, the Commander decided to take all responsibility and protect the Northern Fort and border himself. sniff…”
Burke’s eyes had already turned red. He wiped his eyes with the back of his hand and downed his wine glass in one go.
The atmosphere at the table became solemn for a moment.
I never knew Karden had such a story.
When I first came to the mansion, among dozens of portraits on the wall, Karden was the only one still alive.
House Helleide was a military noble family that had protected the kingdom for generations by subjugating magical beasts.
The family prospered through those desperate sacrifices and dedication, but in the end, only Karden remained.
He probably didn’t stop his sister Yudis from leaving because he wanted to protect at least her.
What must he have felt watching his sister leave the Northern Fort?
How must he have felt guarding this desolate borderland where his family was buried? I can’t even imagine.
I held back tears that threatened to well up.
People revere Karden as the Kingdom’s Guardian Sword, but in my eyes, it seems like he’s forcefully bound by that title.
Burke, who was drinking wine, looked at me and clicked his tongue.
“Shushu, are you lonely too since the fox tribe left? Here, take this glass. Have a drink and forget about it!”
“Kyaang? Alcohol?”
All my fur stood on end and my tail went straight up. I was so happy.
Alcohol! How hard it’s been not having a single drop since possessing this body!
I wagged my tail furiously and nodded vigorously. But an unexpected obstacle appeared. It was the model student Owen.
“Absolutely not with alcohol.”
Wait, read the room Owen. This isn’t the time to interfere.
Burke wiggled his caterpillar-like eyebrows.
“What are you saying? Shushu needs to learn how to drink too.”
“Still, it’s not allowed. Shushu is a shapeshifter, and human alcohol might have negative effects.”
“Oh come on, Sir Owen. Why are you being so uptight? As they say, to be recognized as a real adult, one must know how to drink.”
That’s right. You need to know how to drink to be a real person.
Sometimes Captain Burke makes philosophical statements.
I enthusiastically wagged my tail in agreement.
Just as Burke was trying to give me wine and Owen was adamantly refusing, leading to a squabble, a large shadow loomed behind them.
The intimidating-looking chef in a black apron appeared, carrying a mug on a brass tray.
Burke and Owen froze, overwhelmed by the chef’s fierce presence.
Surely the chef isn’t planning to hit someone with that brass tray?
While everyone was enveloped in silence, the chef placed the mug in front of me.
“Shushu, try this.”
Despite his burly build, the chef with his gentle expression always gave me snacks or jerky whenever he saw me. Like an uncle waiting for his niece’s cute antics.
The chef put the mug down on the table.
Dried lemon floated in the mug, giving off a sweet and fragrant aroma.
“What is this, Chef?”
“It’s mulled wine. It’s made by boiling dried lemon, apple, wine, and honey. There’s just a wine scent, so it should be good for you to drink.”
“Thank you, Chef.”
“Feeding you well is my job. No need to thank me.”
The chef gently patted my head. Only I know that when his large hands touch me, they’re more careful and gentle than anyone else’s.
“Well then, let’s all have a grand toast.”
Burke and Owen raised their wine glasses and clinked them lightly against my mug.
As I made a toast with the two of them, I suddenly felt wistful. It would be nice if Karden were here at times like this.
“When will His Grace return? He’s quite late coming back from the Elder Council meeting.”
When I unconsciously mumbled in a disappointed voice, Burke smiled warmly and said.
“Just like His Grace’s companion fox. You’re feeling lonely without His Grace nearby, aren’t you, Shushu?”
“N-no, that’s not it. It’s just more fun when everyone gathers noisily. That’s why.”
I shook my head frantically, feeling oddly defensive.
Owen gently patted my head and showed a kind smile.
“Don’t worry, Shushu. His Grace will be back soon. For now, stay with us. It’s been a while since we’ve had time with you like this.”
“Sir Owen is right about that. It’s nice to be able to talk with Shushu like this when His Grace isn’t around.”
Burke laughed heartily while continuing to drink his wine. As expected of his large build, Burke’s drinking capacity is impressive.
He could probably handle a wine barrel instead of just a bottle without breaking a sweat.
I lightly tasted the mulled wine with my tongue. The sweet wine and lemon flavors blended deliciously.
Whew, there’s barely any alcohol, but it’s still so delicious. I’ll just enjoy the wine’s aroma.
While I was absorbed in lapping up the mulled wine, Owen handed me a small object wrapped in a handkerchief.
“Here, Shushu. This is a gift. It’s modest, but please accept it.”
“A gift? Is it really for me?”
When I unwrapped the handkerchief, a beautiful jeweled pin appeared. It was a pin with glass crafted in the shape of a snowflake that sparkled in the light.
“Ah… it’s so pretty.”
“I chose it thinking it would go well with Shushu’s silver hair.”
“Owen, thank you so much. I love it.”
I hugged the sparkling snowflake jeweled pin tightly and smiled brightly. I was genuinely touched by Owen’s unexpected surprise gift.
“When I become human, I’ll definitely wear this hairpin.”
“I’m very much looking forward to seeing pretty Shushu wearing it.”
Owen said gently with a radiant smile. His golden hair swayed slightly in the light.
For a moment, I felt as if we weren’t in the soldiers’ dining hall but in an elegant noble’s drawing room.
Burke, who was watching from the side, snapped his fingers regretfully.
“Ugh, if I had known, I would have prepared a gift too! Shushu, wait just a few days.”
“Kyaang?”
“I’ll hunt down some magical beasts and get you some magic stones. Or how about magical beast fangs? It would make a really cool necklace if we put holes in them.”
“I’ll just accept the thought, Captain.”
A necklace made of magical beast fangs sounds horrifying just to imagine. I shuddered and trembled.
As I continued lapping up the mulled wine and nibbling on the jerky Owen gave me, a question suddenly occurred to me.
“By the way, how did Lady Yudis become a Guild Master?”
Burke nodded while chomping on jerky himself.
“After going to the capital, Lady Yudis ran a merchant guild affiliated with House Helleide. Originally, it was a small guild that sold magical beast by-products like magic stones and beast hides. Thanks to Lady Yudis’s excellent business skills, the guild developed and expanded throughout the kingdom. That guild became the Helleon Guild.”
“Wow, Lady Yudis is amazing. Growing a guild all by herself. That’s so cool.”
I wanted to meet Yudis in person. Being Karden’s sister, she must be beautiful and impressive, right?
