The Fluffy Baby Fox Only Bites the Crazy Villain - Chapter 69
In the original story, Karden’s uncle died from a mana outburst, and Karden lost his mind from the shock of losing his blood relative.
The Arden royal family, recognizing the seriousness of the situation, urgently dispatched the healer Olivia.
But I had absorbed the mana and healed his uncle, and Karden’s mana had stabilized as well. There was no need for the royal family to call a separate healer.
There was no reason for Olivia to come to the northern castle. Yet she appeared as a candidate for his fiancée…
It gave me chills, as if an invisible force from the original story was trying to pull the narrative back to its original course.
What if things go wrong?
What if Karden meets Olivia and becomes obsessed and goes mad, just like in the original story?
I recalled Karden’s miserable and tragic end that was vividly described in the original story.
A cruel, blood-soaked ending so horrific that I could hardly bear to remember the words.
“Lady Shushu? What are you thinking about so intently?”
“Kyaang! You startled me!”
Betty had somehow appeared and was whispering in my ear. Betty was holding a pale yellow dress with lace.
“Betty, when did you come in?”
“Just now. You were deep in thought and didn’t even notice me enter?”
“Ah, that… I was thinking about how fun the banquet would be.”
Though I had made up an excuse, Betty clapped her hands and smiled brightly.
“Right? I’m so excited about the banquet too. Everyone can dance happily after such a long time. Plus, I get to dress you up, Lady Shushu.”
“Huh? Dress me up?”
“It’s a special banquet. Hurry and transform into a human. I’ll make you look pretty.”
“Ah, I still can’t stay human for very long.”
“Even a few hours is fine. Come on, Lady Shushu.”
Unable to resist Betty’s repeated requests, I took a deep breath. Then I concentrated and swished my tail.
A pure white mist rose, and my body instantly began to grow.
With repeated transformations, the pain of muscles and bones growing had disappeared, and the speed had dramatically increased.
In an instant, I changed into a human. My flowing long silver hair covered my body.
“Our Lady Shushu will catch a cold. Hurry and put on some clothes.”
Betty helped me put on underwear and a chemise, clearly prepared and eager for this moment.
“Since today’s banquet is a casual gathering, I prepared a pure empire-style dress that doesn’t need a corset.”
I could see my reflection in the long mirror, wearing a light pink dress. It felt awkward and embarrassing to transform into a human and get dressed up after so long.
Betty quickly sat me at the dressing table, applied makeup, and beautifully braided my hair with roses.
“You look so beautiful and lovely. The Grand Duke will fall in love at first sight!”
“Huh? W-why bring up the Grand Duke?”
I pouted my lips, feeling unnecessarily shy. Betty smiled knowingly.
“Oh my, look at you blushing. I know you like the Grand Duke too, Lady Shushu.”
“L-like him? I just treat the Grand Duke professionally.”
Betty’s strange comments are making my face burn.
Betty nodded like an older sister consoling her youngest sibling and took my hand, leading me.
“Now, since we’re all ready, we should head to the banquet hall.”
I awkwardly held up the hem of my dress and stood up.
“Um, Betty, thank you sincerely for making me look pretty.”
“Dressing up Lady Shushu is my pleasure.”
I stepped out of the bedroom holding Betty’s hand.
What if I run into Karden on the way? As I looked around nervously, Betty smiled gently.
“The Grand Duke is already at the banquet hall with Aide Maildra.”
“I see.”
Feeling both relieved and somehow disappointed, I headed toward the banquet hall.
***
A huge bonfire burned in the center of the training ground where the banquet was being held, brightly illuminating the surroundings.
About a dozen large tables that could seat a hundred people each had been set up, with dozens of barrels of alcohol at each table.
On one side, whole roasted pigs on iron skewers were turning over the bonfire. The appetizing, savory smell spread far and wide.
In a large tent on one side of the banquet hall, a mobile kitchen had been set up, with chefs preparing food and maids constantly carrying dishes.
Knights and soldiers were sitting, drinking, and chatting boisterously.
Musicians had been invited as well, playing lutes, trumpets, and horns to liven up the atmosphere.
The knights, having shed their heavy armor, were enjoying the banquet with relaxed expressions, eating meat and drinking alcohol.
As I was looking around the tables, someone gently wrapped their arm around my shoulder and pulled me.
“Ah?!”
Startled, I turned around to find Karden holding me to his side.
“You startled me. Your Grace, you should have made your presence known.”
I gave him a slight glare, but Karden was staring intently at my appearance. His blue eyes burned with such heat.
“I didn’t expect you to transform into a human, so I didn’t recognize you at first.”
“It must be the makeup. Betty’s makeup skills are almost like transformation magic.”
Feeling shy, I twirled my hair around my finger as I made excuses.
Karden’s hand gently grasped my hair.
In his large hand, my silver hair rippled like moonlight.
“The dress suits you well.”
Karden whispered softly as he gently kissed the ends of my hair.
His eyes remained fixed on me the whole time.
I tried to smile casually, afraid he would notice my rapidly beating heart.
“Th-thank you. The knights’ banquet is quite lively and nice. Where is everyone?”
As I looked around, trying to escape the awkward atmosphere, Ron stood up from the opposite table and waved happily.
“Shushu, you’re so beautiful! Like a princess!”
Ron quickly ran over and smiled brightly at me.
“Thank you, Ron.”
Maildra, Burke, and Owen also approached me. They all looked at me with wide eyes.
Burke wiped the tip of his nose, his eyes reddening as if he was moved.
“Sniff. Our Shushu is ready for marriage now. To think she’s grown so beautifully.”
“Captain, someone might think you raised Shushu yourself.”
When Maildra pointed this out with a smile, Burke immediately frowned.
“That’s just a figure of speech. I’m proud but also sad to see cute Shushu grown up like this.”
“I agree with that sentiment.”
Owen nodded and took Burke’s side.
Dressed in a frock coat instead of armor, Owen looked handsome and dignified like a young nobleman.
They say clothes make the man, and Owen is unrecognizable dressed like this. Instead of a rugged knights’ banquet, he looks like he should be attending a royal ball… what a waste.
“Everyone, take your seats.”
At Karden’s command, everyone guided me to the main table.
Ron was chattering away, Karden was escorting me with affectionate glances, and Maildra, Burke, and Owen were laughing cheerfully behind us.
Suddenly, I remembered when I was a baby fox abandoned in the cold snow.
Back then, I was thrown into this world alone, but now I have precious and reliable people around me.
It must be because I met Karden that day.
Perhaps after meeting him, when we had no connection before, these precious relationships formed, the story changed, and fate altered.
I realized the identity of the uncomfortable feeling that had been swirling in my head until just now. It was anxiety.
Anxiety and fear about the changes to the original story I knew.
But I realized there was no reason to be anxious.
When I had these people walking beside me, why was I afraid? How foolish.
The time I’ve spent with them is real and an unchangeable truth.
“Shushu, come sit here.”
Karden seated me in the chair at the head of the table. As he sat next to me, people took their places on either side.
Their warm smiles were illuminated by the bonfire light in the banquet hall.
Looking at these precious people who were like a sturdy fence around me, I too smiled brightly.
As I felt the dark anxiety that had deeply infiltrated my heart gradually faded away.
When the knights’ cups were filled with beer or wine, Karden stood up and raised his glass high.
“My loyal knights!”
