Chapter – 30
“Ha!”
My father came into my room with Lexian and let out a bitter laugh, as if he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
“I never thought this would happen… that my children could completely deceive me like this!”
He paced through my bedroom in a fluster.
“What? You faced an assassin together with Calvin? And… what? Rosia, you went to look for the Silver Fox alone? That brat Calvin just let you go by yourself?”
I had convinced Calvin to say that we had traveled together and only separated at the last moment when speaking to my parents.
Lexian had also written his report as if Calvin and I had been traveling companions, considering my situation.
Thanks to that, the Blue Bird villain who had ambushed me was described as “a powerful adversary even the promising Sir Calvin struggled to face,” and my father didn’t know the details.
Even though he could see the report as a high-ranking official, it was false.
But today, out of nowhere, Lexian had come and told my father the truth.
“Rosia, no going out. Even if the wound on your neck heals, it’s forbidden! If you must go, you will take all the family’s knights with you.”
“Father—”
“Do you understand? Absolutely no going out until I give permission!”
Perhaps my father realized that I could have truly died, because his tone was unusually strict.
“Duke, speak with Loa if you must. And thank you for speaking honestly to me.”
After restraining his excitement, he gave Lexian a word of thanks and left. I worried he might be crying somewhere outside.
For a while, silence filled the room.
I wondered if my father had forgotten that a lady and a strange man shouldn’t be alone together, or if he had grown to trust Lexian so thoroughly that he didn’t even send Cashy into my room.
I was somewhat distracted by how unusually full Lexian’s arms seemed, but I asked another question.
“…Why did you tell Father the truth?”
“Because you might do something dangerous again.”
Lexian’s answer was correct, and I had no reply.
“More importantly, what about that medicine? The one you took, Rosia?”
“Should I tell Lexian?”
“If you don’t, I’ll tell the Marquis immediately.”
“…Are you threatening me?”
“It was unknown to the Marquis, right?”
So it was a test? Ridiculous trap, but I had no choice but to fall for it.
Seeing that Lexian seemed ready to tell my father immediately, I obediently explained.
“They’re just a few supplements and medicines that activate the body.”
“I see. That explains why you, who have no visible muscle, can shoot arrows so freely and ride horses.”
I avoided Lexian’s piercing gaze.
“I understand that it was to win the hunting competition. But such supplements only strain the body and can’t bring real improvement.”
I knew that. I truly did.
“So, Rosia, come to the Duke’s residence every weekend. I will personally help you strengthen yourself.”
“…Excuse me?”
“Come to the Duke’s residence every weekend and do strength training under my supervision. I’ll also teach you swordsmanship. Calvin seems too busy to train you.”
“Does Lexian have that much free time?”
“I’m already at an advanced level, so I don’t need more training.”
Lexian shrugged his shoulders proudly.
Normally serious, this display of arrogance was almost endearing.
I nearly smiled but quickly stiffened my face and shook my head.
“Thank you for the offer, but I’ll decline. I only need to learn basic strength training, and our family’s knights can train me.”
“It’s better to learn from someone reliable than a knight of mediocre skill.”
“I have no intention of seriously learning swordsmanship.”
Judging from Lexian’s attitude, he seemed to have feelings for me, but I couldn’t allow myself to grow closer to him here.
It was as if, in each cycle, he was becoming more aware of his feelings for me—emotions from his previous life accumulating. I had to push him away.
“If it’s just strength training, it’s far more efficient to do it with the knights at home. Going to the Duke’s residence would be a waste of time.”
“That’s true. Then have me check your progress regularly.”
“Why should I do that?”
“Why? Rosia, you are like a younger sibling to me, aren’t you?”
Lexian used my usual excuse perfectly. Although he started it, it was cleverly applied.
He glanced at me, displeased with my reluctance, and took something from his coat.
Surprisingly, it was alive.
“A Silver Fox pup.”
The tiny Silver Fox, small enough to fit in Lexian’s right hand, had red eyes just like mine. Its tail swished cutely.
It didn’t seem to plan on escaping from Lexian’s palm, perhaps still too young to be wary of humans.
“Its mother died, but fortunately, the pup inside survived. I found it while searching.”
“That’s… a relief.”
I closed my eyes briefly, remembering the cruel death of the Silver Fox, then opened them again.
“I want you to take care of it, Rosia.”
“Me? Why?”
“The Silver Fox is a rare creature, sought even by the royal family. But you were the one who found it, so I think it should go to you.”
“I…”
Could I really be responsible for something if I failed to twist the story and ended up dying shortly after?
Before I could answer, Lexian placed the Silver Fox in my hands. The fox curled its tail around my finger and lay down.
“They say a Silver Fox is a spiritual beast. If you keep one from a young age, it will repay its master’s kindness. I hope it will help you, Rosia.”
The fox pressed its small head into my palm. Its fur felt different from silk—so soft.
“I’ll also check that you’re keeping up with your strength training. If you came to the Duke’s residence too often, it could harm your reputation.”
After bowing with his right hand over his chest, Lexian left my room, seemingly determined not to take my refusal.
I stared at the closed door in a daze.
“He’s completely self-willed.”
“Kyuu?”
“He already has the habit of doing whatever he wants without listening to me.”
Usually, Lexian acted on his own for my sake—facing the Crown Prince, fleeing to save me, protecting me from danger.
Even if I told him to stop or to leave, he never held back to prevent me from being in danger.
It was a bad sign.
“Why do you keep coming closer even when I push you away?”
I never wanted to see him die a terrible death again.
If I said that my presence might put him in danger, would he distance himself from me? No—when I had said something like that, he had gently hugged my shoulders and whispered:
Even if that ending comes, I will stay by your side.
Plop. Drip.
“Ah…”
Emotions buried deep inside me had turned to liquid and flowed out.
Everyone stands in the same place like a predetermined role, but only Lexian shows a different side with each cycle.
It’s as if he shows me that my repeated return to the same time hasn’t been in vain.
How could I not love him…?
“Kyuu!”
The tiny Silver Fox, no bigger than my palm, suddenly leapt onto the bed and stood on its hind legs. Its left front paw grabbed my pajamas while the other stretched out.
As if trying to wipe away my tears.
I carefully picked it up. With its tiny front paw, it tapped my cheek, then rubbed its head against me.
A kind of comfort I had never received before.
My tears stopped, and I unconsciously smiled.
“Are you telling me not to cry? Thank you.”
I gently stroked its small head. The fox purred and shivered. At first, I thought it was angry, but when I paused, it held onto my finger, asking me to continue.
I stroked it again, and the Silver Fox started purring more deeply.
For a fragile little life to rely on me like this felt completely new.
“Can I really keep you?”
If anything happened to me, you’d die before even fully growing.
Yet if I let you go, you’re too small and weak to survive on your own.
“What should I do…”
