The Fluffy Baby Fox Only Bites the Crazy Villain - Chapter 74
In the original story, the King of Arden cleverly exploited the magical power possessed by the Helleide family.
He attached the title of “Guardian Sword” to the Helleide family and had them guard the barren north, keeping them under surveillance.
Moreover, most men in the Helleide family died before reaching their 40s due to the side effects of magic power. It must have been a win-win situation for the king, as these threatening existences took care of themselves.
I looked at Yudis with renewed appreciation. As expected, she had the sharp judgment befitting a renowned merchant guild master from the capital.
Yudis continued with a grave expression, her fists tightly clenched.
“What if His Majesty the King falls for Shushu’s adorable cuteness and takes her away!”
Cancel what I just thought. Why has Yudis become such a doting fool?
Where did my cool, charismatic, strong older sister go?
I expected Karden to naturally scold Yudis for her unnecessary worry.
Karden nodded with a solemn expression.
“You’re right. I absolutely cannot allow that. I will not let royal authority take Shushu away.”
“Of course. We must prevent it even if we have to mobilize my merchant guild and the Helleide family’s military force.”
Yudis exclaimed dramatically, slamming her palm on the table.
I looked back and forth between the siblings, who were being unnecessarily grave and serious.
This was a touching scene of sibling affection, the first time they had agreed and united in heart since reuniting.
The problem was that they were contemplating treason.
I couldn’t help but sigh. To go as far as risking treason for such a reason.
“Both of you, calm down!”
Unable to watch anymore, I intervened by tapping my front paws, and only then did Karden and Yudis regain their composure.
Yudis crossed her arms, still clearly showing her displeasure.
“His Majesty the King trusts our family, but the problem is those sycophantic nobles. They’re desperate to find our weaknesses and attack us. If we hadn’t been dealing with monsters in the borderlands, they would have treated us like monsters ourselves and driven us out long ago.”
Karden picked up his teacup calmly, showing no agitation.
“I know. They fear our power. We just need to use that fear appropriately. That’s enough, Yudis.”
Yudis sighed lightly and nodded. Karden’s gaze turned to me.
“Shushu, I won’t force you. Will you come to the capital with me?”
Since it’s the king’s order, I should naturally go to the palace. But even if Karden hadn’t suggested it first, I have a crucial reason to go to the capital.
That’s to meet Olivia, the female protagonist of the original story.
In the original story, Olivia was the only healer who could control Karden’s magic power most stably and perfectly.
Now, Karden will fulfill his duty as the kingdom’s Guardian Sword rather than being an evil mastermind. The risk of him committing treason seemed lower.
The problem is me.
That night at the knight’s banquet, when I swallowed Karden’s magic power. I craved him like a hungry monster then.
That’s when I realized: for me, magic power is something that makes me thirstier and more greedy the more I consume it.
I understood why the Ulpes tribe wanted to abandon me.
They must have known I could lose my reason and go berserk to obtain magic power.
It’s not that bad yet, but if I continue to consume Karden’s magic power, I might go mad trying to take everything from him.
If that’s the case, Karden needs a real healer who can provide stable treatment. For now, Olivia is the only one I can think of.
I absolutely cannot tell Karden my real reason for going to the capital. Maybe I should confide in Yudis later and seek her advice.
I unconsciously turned my gaze toward Yudis and was startled.
“Our adorable Shushu, what are you thinking about so deeply?”
I don’t know how long she had been watching me, but Yudis was observing me intently with sparkling eyes.
“Shushu. When we go to the capital, I’ll make you the finest noble lady. Dresses, jewels, accessories—just name it. I’ll do anything for you, even if I have to uproot the foundation of my merchant guild.”
“Kyaang? You don’t have to go that far.”
“Don’t be modest. This is big sister’s love.”
Yudis smiled brightly and hugged me tightly.
Even as I struggled to break free, she was already too captivated by my fluffy fur and tail to let go.
I was about to ask Karden for help when Yudis’s murmur reached my ears.
“I don’t want you to fight monsters in the borderlands. I’ve devoted my youth here, and I’m sick of fighting now.”
Being held by Yudis, I couldn’t see her expression, but her whispered voice sounded somehow lonely.
Karden was silently drinking his tea, so he probably didn’t hear her words.
Yudis said she fought monsters in the northern castle during her early to mid-twenties.
Perhaps traces of that time remained, as her hands were thicker-boned and rougher than those of women her age.
Faint scars remained on the back of her hand.
I could understand how Karden felt when he sent Yudis away from the northern castle.
He didn’t want to see his younger sister suffering in this cold, harsh border region.
I slightly stuck out my small tongue and licked the back of Yudis’s hand, hoping her past wounds would heal this way.
“Kyaa, that tickles, Shushu.”
Yudis giggled like a young girl, enjoying it.
“But I love it. Will you lick more?”
“Please stop making such dangerous remarks. It’s troublesome.”
“Don’t be so serious like a human, Shushu. You’re losing your cuteness.”
“I’m a fox shapeshifter. Should I transform into a human right now?”
I spoke with a deliberately serious attitude. I may be a fox right now, but I’m also a mature adult with intellect.
I thought Yudis would be disgusted, but instead, she shrugged with a satisfied smile.
“It doesn’t matter. You’re equally cute either way. Now I understand why adults say they still see their children as little ones even when they’re grown up.”
“What?”
“When I first saw Shushu as a woman, I thought you were a fox who had bewitched my brother. But now you’ve become a fox who’s stolen my heart. No matter what form you take, you’ll always be my cute little fluffball.”
Ah… I’ve lost. Yudis was truly sincere about me.
Yudis was busy hugging me tightly, rubbing me all over, kissing my pink paw pads, or touching my fluffy tail.
With her face flushed from evident excitement, she began to adore me to her heart’s content while exhaling through her nose.
“Kyaang, stop, stop it!”
“Shushu, let me touch your paw pads just a little more, okay? Please. Just once.”
I felt suffocated and tried to ask Karden for help, but he was already in a serious discussion with Maildra in another part of the office.
“You need to urgently resolve this issue before going to the capital.”
“I see. I’ll do it immediately.”
“Kyaang? Your Grace. Please help me.”
Either not hearing my desperate plea for help or ignoring it, Karden left the office with Maildra.
How cruel. Leaving Yudis and me alone.
***
A week passed, and finally, preparations for going to the capital were complete.
Maildra was put in charge of the northern castle’s overall management, and Burke was assigned to train the knights and soldiers.
Among the main members going to the capital, Owen and Ron would lead the advance party, with about 50 elite knights and soldiers as escorts.
I was to ride in a large, luxurious carriage with Yudis. I left the Grand Duke’s residence transformed as a human to practice my human form.
In truth, I didn’t have the confidence to travel with Yudis in fox form for an extended period.
It was obvious she would torment me by adoring me excessively throughout the carriage ride.
When I transformed into a human and was about to wear casual clothes, Yudis strongly objected and insisted on dressing me up herself.
The problem was that it took several hours to get ready, leaving me exhausted before we even departed for the capital.
“Though I dressed you, you’re a perfect masterpiece, Shuvelia.”
Dressed in a men’s formal attire, Yudis examined me in my dress with a satisfied smile.
The bright and lovely pink dress was harmoniously adorned with lace and ribbons, with the chest area decorated with silk roses.
“Isn’t it too fancy? I feel like I’m attending a ball.”
“We’re going to the capital, so we need to dress more splendidly. This is the latest fashion. It goes so well with Shuvelia’s silver hair.”
My hairstyle was loose with ribbons and small roses as decorations, creating a cute and lovely, fairy-like spring impression.
I was grateful to Yudis, who had worked hard directing the maids to dress me up since dawn.
I’m an only child, so I know nothing about sisterly affection. But if I had a reliable older sister who cared only for me, would it feel like this?
I gently took Yudis’s hand as she sat next to me in the carriage.
“Thank you, Lady Yudis. For giving me this beautiful dress as a gift and for dressing me up. I’m sorry that I’ve only been receiving from you without giving anything in return.”
Yudis smiled generously and patted my shoulder.
“Don’t say that. You’re like family to me. What wouldn’t a big sister do for her little sister?”
