The Harvest Mouse Exits the Fairytale Together with Cinderella - Chapter 6
He had no way of knowing the specific type of mouse, let alone the species of mice.
However, the term ‘harvest mouse’ was excessively familiar to the count.
“It’s not dirty! Harvest mice live in fields, fall asleep in flower buds, and eat only grains and pollen. It’s a clean field mouse. It shouldn’t be found in a mansion like this—there must be a reason!”
In an instant, Count Bluewood recalled Sera’s outcry but internally dismissed it.
‘That can’t be true.’
Out of the many mice, the one he happened to strike dead…
A mouse so precious that Duke Valkyriesen personally came to find it..?
Where in the world could there be such a dreadful and unfortunate coincidence?
It might be luckier to be struck by lightning while walking down the street.
‘But she said since it’s a harvest mouse, it’s not supposed to be found in the mansion.’
It wouldn’t be a common occurrence for a mouse living in the fields to be found in the mansion.
Moreover, the fact that Duke Valkyriesen personally came to demand a were-mouse child of the same kind?
‘Can there be no connection?’
If he casually dismissed it, thinking there was no connection, a sinister premonition of impending danger gripped him.
“…Why in the world would the Duke be looking for a mouse? It’s unlikely to have valuable lineage, right?”
Those with strength wield power. The world of those demonic beasts had no escape from the law of survival of the fittest.
A lowly were-mouse like this couldn’t possibly intrude into the aristocratic hierarchy.
“I haven’t heard of that either…”
“If you say you don’t know, do you think it absolves you? Say something!”
As the remaining time dwindled, the count’s already unpleasant temperament reached its peak.
“I w-would believe that, since a man as illustrious as Duke Valkyriesen is coming to search for the child personally, the child must be an important figure.”
“Damn it!”
The count stomped his foot, venting his anger, then started pacing back and forth.
“I didn’t kill it. That rat rushed at me!”
It was unjust. So unjust that he felt like he could die.
From the start, pretending to be a mouse and sneaking into someone else’s mansion, isn’t that the problem?
If you were going to pretend to be a rat, you should have been prepared to be killed!
But even if the count were to plead with the duke, there’s no way he’ll listen.
To him, the result will only be that Count Bluewood killed the mouse he desperately sought.
“What about that mouse? Where is it now?”
“Cinderella… No, pardon, I saw Lady Seraphina taking it immediately to tend to its injuries.”
“Thank goodness. Go immediately and confirm if it’s still alive.”
“Shall I take it to the physician?”
At those words, the count, who had been rubbing his face repeatedly, raised his head and muttered grimly.
“Are you crazy?”
“Pardon?”
“If it’s a werebeast, there’s no way it would quietly endure what happened to it.”
“Are you saying…?”
“You have to end its life. Without fail.”
Whether that little rat died after eating poison or got beaten to death by a maid in the kitchen, it didn’t matter.
The Duke would never accept any explanation.
The count believed that putting an end to its life was the only way for House Bluewood to survive.
“Kill the mouse. Confine Sera. Make sure she can’t escape.”
Of course, he didn’t plan to leave any variables that could hit him at the back of the head later, especially concerning the Valkyriesen Duchy.
***
Suddenly, the mouse turned into a person.
“E-Elodie? Are you truly Elodie?”
Completely bewildered, Sera looked at the child, about five years old, wrapped tightly in her arms.
“…Yes, it is you. Your fur color and hair color match.”
Fur, no, hair that was in between platinum and golden blond.
Large, round eyes surrounded by doll-like, dense eyelashes.
Striking black irises that would compel you to give everything to her if you can.
The plump and adorable cheeks were tinged with pink.
Above all, there was a decisive piece of evidence.
Cute ears were protruding through the gaps in the child’s hair.
Simultaneously, Sera realized the child’s true identity.
“You’re a werebeast!”
A werebeast?
Elodie stopped crying and blinked her large eyes.
