Chapter 13

Rendel hesitated for a moment at Ellen’s words before nodding in agreement.

“I suppose you’re right. When it comes to the flow of mana, it would certainly be better for you to take a look rather than a physician.”

Rendel chuckled, feigning wonder at why he had insisted on a doctor for so long, then turned back to Ellen with a grave expression.

“I shall ask Her Ladyship about it. If she permits, would you be able to take a look a bit later?”

“Of course, Mr. Butler. In fact, I wouldn’t mind seeing her briefly before the lesson.”

Sensing that he might be able to resolve the situation immediately, Ellen couldn’t hide a flicker of urgency. Rendel, however, gave him that same good-natured smile.

“I appreciate the sentiment, but that isn’t within my authority. Besides, the Young Master insisted on treating you to a meal before the lesson.”

“The Young Master… treating me?”

Ellen caught himself reacting with a look of utter disbelief and quickly clamped his mouth shut. Fortunately, Rendel didn’t seem to notice anything amiss and continued.

“Yes. The Young Master prepared the meal as an apology for canceling the previous lesson on such short notice.”

Rendel added as he watched Ellen hesitate, “If you haven’t eaten yet, please follow me. We’ve recently replaced the chef due to some issues, and his skills are quite impressive.”

‘The doors to the Grand Duke’s mansion were closed for the past three days. When did they change the chef?’

Ellen’s mind began to race again. He had come today intending to kill that fox and trigger Esteban’s rampage, believing it to be the simplest solution. However, it was also true that if he could find a way, causing Esteban to lose control directly was a far more certain outcome.

Fingering the pill in his pocket, Ellen looked at Rendel’s expectant face and replied, “Since he went to the trouble of inviting me, I cannot commit the discourtesy of refusing.”

***

I could feel the mana inside my body running wild. My heart pounded incessantly as if someone were working a pump, and the resulting fever made every breath a struggle.

‘I’m cold—no, I’m hot.’

One moment I was shivering so hard my teeth clattered; the next, I was drenched in sweat. My bones felt like they were being stretched like taffy, making my whole body ache, and a sharp ringing filled my ears. My head felt like it was about to split open.

My senses were almost entirely cut off, and I had no idea where I was, but the pain wracking my body was agonizingly vivid. It hurt so much that tears leaked from my eyes involuntarily.

Just as I thought I might actually die, a familiar scent drifted to my nose. A citrus fragrance with hints of mandarin cleared my foggy mind, bringing to life a face as refreshing as the scent.

Silver hair shimmering in the sunlight and red eyes like rubies.

Esteban Hadel Winchester.

The name flashed through my mind like a lightning bolt, and as my consciousness returned, a fit of coughing seized me. I doubled over, hacking repeatedly until droplets of blood splattered across the bedsheets. I stared, wide-eyed, at the fact that I—someone who was the picture of health—was actually coughing up blood.

“What on earth did I eat…? Huh?”

The voice I heard was both familiar and strange. No, not the voice—it was the…

“What? Why does it sound like I’m… speaking?”

It wasn’t a series of high-pitched yips. It was my own voice. Only then did I notice the small, white hands gripping the bed. Moving faster than my thoughts, I threw back the covers.

Beneath the thin negligee were undeniably human legs. When I wiggled my toes, ten small, round toes wiggled back at me. I blinked in a daze and raised my hands to touch my face. It was smooth skin, devoid of fur.

“N-no way… Could it be?”

I practically rolled off the bed and looked around the room. My field of vision was much higher, and my steps were awkward as I rushed toward the mirror on the wall. After taking a steadying breath, I stood before it—and gasped, my hands trembling as I touched the reflection I couldn’t believe.

It was gone. The snout that had constantly bumped into Esteban’s legs, the palm-sized ears that were my signature of cuteness—all of it!

“I did it! I finally did it! I can humanize now…!”

“Y-you… You actually humanized?”

At the sound of a voice that was half-groan and the echo of approaching footsteps, I spun around. White hair and a sharp, fierce expression. Dark eyes shook violently with shock.

“I never imagined you’d actually succeed in humanizing… I suppose it’s a good thing I came early.”

The sound of grinding teeth filled the room as a murderous aura flared in her eyes.

“…Beth.”

I swallowed hard and took a step back. Blood was dripping from the dagger she held. Beth watched me stumble backward, taking a slow step toward me.

“If you want to blame someone, blame your greedy parents.”

‘Even for a villain, isn’t insulting my parents a bit much?’

“This is all your family’s fault for leaving Anif and coming to Winchester.”

“…What?”

“The moment a mere shifter dared to enter human territory to help a Winchester, this was destined to happen.”

I twisted my lips into a smirk and spoke to her. “Seeing as you’re talking so freely, I guess you’ve given up on hiding it.”

“There’s no need for such tedious effort for a beast about to die.”

“…….”

“Well, don’t feel too wronged. Esteban will rampage regardless—whether it’s from eating the food with the medicine or from seeing your dead body.”

“Do you really think you can get out of here safely if you stab me to death?”

“It doesn’t matter. I never planned on leaving this place alive.”

Beth laughed like a demon, her eyes unfocused. I wiped my sweaty palms against my negligee and thought: ‘Don’t panic. Just one moment… if I have just one tiny opening, I can do it.’

“So, you’ll have to die here, Poblian Fennec!”

The moment Beth lunged at me, a loud crashing sound erupted from the doorway.

“Miss Beth…?”

Lani stood there, a plate of beautifully sliced rabbit-shaped apples shattered at her feet. In that split second of distraction, I lunged forward and reached my hand toward Beth.

***

Ellen took a spoonful of the cream soup served to him while glancing at Esteban.

Esteban Hadel Winchester. The sole heir to the Winchester Duchy and a boy possessed of a staggering amount of mana.

‘Rumor has it he has more mana than even the current Grand Duke.’

Having felt Esteban’s mana firsthand, Ellen suspected the rumors weren’t an exaggeration. The boy’s power was beyond anything an ordinary person could fathom.

‘It’s time to break his spirit. Or perhaps he’ll just go half-mad when he realizes he’s slaughtered everyone around him in a rampage.’

“Sir Ellen.”

Ellen flinched at the cold, monotone voice calling his name just as he was tightening his grip on his spoon.

“Ah, yes, Young Master.”

“There have been several opportunities to slip it in. Why haven’t you done anything yet?”

“…Pardon?”

“Given how boldly you returned, I doubt you’re having second-thoughts about your actions now.”

A chill ran down Ellen’s spine at Esteban’s words. Only then did he notice that Esteban was sitting there in his full formal uniform, unlike his usual attire. Facing Ellen’s visibly panicked expression, Esteban gave a thin smile.

“So. When were you planning to use it? That thing meant to force me into a rampage.”

The sea is eerily calm before a storm. Esteban’s eyes looked exactly like that sea.