Chapter – 31
The next morning, Ted came to my room and froze when he saw the animal sleeping on my bed.
“Ah, a silver fox cub,” he said.
“That’s right. The duke found it while searching the forest and brought it to me,” I replied.
“The same cub of the fox that the wizard was said to have killed?”
I nodded, and Ted paused, as if considering something.
“Have you given it a name?”
“No. I don’t think I can take care of it, so I planned to leave it in someone else’s care.”
“Why would you give such a precious creature to someone else?”
Ted’s expression was unusually serious.
“Each silver fox has a unique ability, and how it is raised affects the development of that ability. They are beautiful, but because of this power, they are even more precious. Few people realize this, though.”
I had never heard that before.
“From what you told me, the fox you encountered in the forest seems to have a ‘protective’ ability.”
“Protective?” I asked.
“Yes. Even though the mother fox was killed by magic, the cub survived, right? That means the mother used her power to protect her young before she died.”
I never would have imagined that such a peaceful-looking cub had that kind of background.
“That protective barrier is strong enough to block most magic or magical energy.”
“I see…”
The cub seemed to realize that we were talking about it, and its eyes widened.
“And although rare, silver foxes possess holy energy. Keeping one nearby will help maintain your health, so you should raise it.”
“Holy energy…”
Because I had placed importance on magical energy, I had lost touch with the concept of holy energy in humans. Yet, humans still retained a trace of it, and holy energy was the foundation of natural self-healing.
Ted, a half-elf who still valued holy energy, was trustworthy in this matter.
Still, I hesitated, unsure if I was capable of raising such a young life. Ted, however, spoke with unyielding firmness.
“I absolutely oppose leaving it in someone else’s care. Just having the silver fox nearby will reduce the need for you to consume Vitalin.”
Thanks to Ted’s resolve, I ended up taking care of the silver fox, which I had never intended to raise.
“Besides, the capital has been quite stirred by the recent attack,” he added.
“Really?”
“Yes. The royal family and the Duchy of Lysianthus seem not to have discovered the Blue Bird organization yet, but it’s only a matter of time.”
Soon, the authorities would clamp down on illegal gambling dens, and just as Ted said, the Blue Bird would inevitably surface.
“Above all, the courage of the Leviant siblings who confronted an unknown assassin has been drawing attention,” Ted continued.
“You haven’t had a hand in that, have you, T?”
“Why, of course,” Ted said, puffing up his chest and shrugging exaggeratedly, which made me laugh.
“I also heard that the lady I serve is not on good terms with the Emperor’s sister. It’s wise to create as many defenses as possible. With a family so beloved by the people, neither the Empress nor her allies can act recklessly.”
“Thank you, Ted. Thanks to you, I can rest a little more at ease.”
“Good. Also, I’ve handled the instructions you gave to contact your friends yesterday.”
I had asked him to let Stella and Pony know I was safe.
“Very well. I’ll rest for a while, so take care of things,” I said.
Ted gave a formal bow and left the room, leaving only me and the silver fox.
Following Ted’s advice that the fox should be named quickly, I began thinking of a name.
“If I call it ‘Lex…’ everyone will know whose nickname that is,” I muttered.
I spent breakfast pondering the name.
“They say you still can’t tell if it’s male or female, so how can I choose a name?”
Even after a light walk recommended by my physician, and sitting on the bed at my mother’s urging, I still hadn’t settled on a name.
“Kyuu! Kyuu!”
The small creature, seeing me return, ran to me as if it had been waiting.
Despite its size, it ran surprisingly well.
“Kyuuu!”
I seriously considered naming it “Kyu-Kyu” when Cassie arrived.
“Milady, a guest has arrived,” she said.
She hurriedly draped a shawl over my shoulders and tied a light scarf around my neck, then invited me to sit on the bed.
The silver fox quickly jumped onto the bed and sat on the blankets.
A moment later, my mother entered with a guest.
Behind her, I could see the unmistakable golden hair of the Crown Prince, and I had to suppress a sigh.
I hadn’t taken Vitalin while resting at home.
“Well then, let’s talk. But please remember that Rosia is still a patient,” my mother said.
“I understand, madam,” he replied.
Unlike my father, my mother never forgot proper etiquette when a lady was in the presence of a foreign man, which was reassuring.
“Lady Leviant,” the Crown Prince said.
As he approached step by step, my heart thumped wildly.
“Kyuuuu!”
The silver fox, sitting calmly on the bed, bristled and showed hostility toward him.
“What is this?”
“My apologies, Your Highness. It’s still a cub and can’t distinguish between people yet.”
I quickly stroked the fox to calm it, wary of any chance the prince might harm it.
“Ah, so this is a silver fox cub,” he said, intrigued.
I worried that he might try to take it. I had arranged for the duke to bring the cub to me, but if the Crown Prince wanted it, it would be difficult to refuse.
Even though I had intended to give the cub to someone else that morning, the thought of the prince possibly taking it made me uneasy.
“Silver foxes are rare, and a cub is even more so…”
The Crown Prince seemed interested but didn’t ask to take it. I breathed a sigh of relief and greeted him.
“Lady Rosia Leviant greets Your Highness—”
“You don’t need to stand. I know you’re not well,” he interrupted.
Although it seemed a polite refusal, I did not stand, and surprisingly, he did not mock me for it.
“I was delayed visiting you because I was investigating the incident at the hunting tournament. Are you feeling better?”
“Thanks to your concern, I am much improved,” I said.
“That is good,” he said calmly.
It seemed that the Crown Prince was beginning to realize his feelings toward Merina, and the Emperor had likely instructed him to visit me. His unusually calm demeanor was proof.
The Crown Prince normally would have panicked at seeing me, but under the Emperor’s orders, he complied fairly well. I just needed to help him pass the time.
Knock, knock.
Just then, Cassie entered with a cart, and another maid moved the tea table next to the bed.
Even as Cassie brewed the tea, the Crown Prince did not intend to sit, and I didn’t insist.
Once the room was quiet, the Crown Prince approached me.
Suddenly, he grabbed my scarf, revealing the marks left by the Blue Bird assailant on my neck.
“Kyuuuu!”
The silver fox, watching the prince, leapt up and barked.
I held the fox tightly and scolded the prince.
“What do you think you’re doing?” I asked.
I was startled by his sudden action, but I wasn’t angry at his rudeness. My frustration came from the fact that if he mentioned the ugly marks on my neck to Merina, it would spread through society and sully my reputation.
“Even as Your Highness, such behavior is unacceptable. You surely realize this is extremely rude, don’t you?”
“Hah.”
The Crown Prince’s expression twisted.
You caused these marks yourself and now pretend to be shocked. Of course, you don’t remember, but still…
“What exactly is the meaning of this…?”
He reached toward my neck, but before I could even think, I pushed his hand away.
Smack!
Before the sound of impact had even faded, his hand hung in the air.
Our eyes met—he was stunned.
“I apologize, Your Highness. I have been so easily startled since that day and have acted discourteously,” I said.
I held my chest and bowed deeply to him.
Not satisfied with just that, I bent at the waist fully, and my body collapsed forward.
If you want, I can also do a more polished, novel-style English version that flows naturally while keeping all the nuances of the fox, Ted, and Crown Prince interactions. It would read less like a literal translation and more like a finished chapter.
Do you want me to do that?
