Chapter 2

‘Hasn’t his voice even cracked yet? I guess looking at his face, he’s still just a brat who hasn’t shed his boyhood.’

Of course, even so, he was an incredibly handsome brat.

As I recalled Esteban’s future appearance—destined to grow into the most handsome man in this world’s setting in a few years—my tail wagged of its own accord.

I was indulging in the idle thought that a handsome man is truly the best form of welfare in a novel when I felt a gaze landing on the crown of my head.

Esteban, who had approached right in front of me before I knew it, frowned as he looked down at me crouching at his feet.

“Why is a beast cub inside the mansion?”

“Y-Young Master, this is not a beast, but the contractor sent from the Fennec family to be your—!”

“What?”

Rendel hurriedly tried to correct his choice of words while glancing at me.

Of course, at his correction, Esteban’s face only filled with further absurdity.

“This is beyond ridiculous.”

The gaze Esteban leveled at me was filled with unadulterated distrust.

‘Yeah, I know. I know exactly how absurd it is for a fennec fox who barely reaches a child’s knee to show up claiming she’ll stop a mana rampage.’

Since I couldn’t speak, there was no way to explain the situation.

So, as a gesture of “nice to meet you,” I sat down and extended a forepaw.

At that, Esteban whipped his head away.

‘……Are you seriously ignoring a fennec fox right now?mWhat, you don’t do handshakes with fennec foxes? Is that it?’

Regardless of my shock, Esteban spoke in a sharp voice.

“Send her back.”

“Pardon?”

‘What?!’

Panicked by Esteban’s unexpected words, I looked at Rendel.

Rendel also seemed quite flustered by the remark and asked him: “W-what do you mean so suddenly…?”

“Surely you don’t think a fox that can’t even transform into a human can actually stop a rampage, Rendel.”

“…….”

“Contact the Fennecs and tell them to send a different contractor. I cannot tolerate this contract.”

It was a statement I never expected to come from someone only thirteen years old.

I already knew about Esteban’s cursed way of speaking from reading the original work, but hearing it in person was another matter entirely.

The voice I had managed to suppress even while being ignored by the Grand Duke finally burst out of my mouth, unable to be contained.

“Pya-pya-pyat!”

As I barked at him, thumping my tail against the floor, Rendel’s eyes went wide with surprise at my cry.

At that sight, Esteban’s lips twisted into a smirk.

“She’s got a temper, too.”

“Pya-pyak!”

‘Look who’s talking!’

As I huffed, sparks momentarily flew between Esteban and me.

Rendel, who was caught between us just blinking his eyes, cleared his throat with a loud ahem to change the atmosphere.

Once Esteban’s gaze returned to him, Rendel continued cautiously.

“Young Master Esteban, I am sorry to say this, but we cannot send Lady Poblian back to the Fennecs.”

“Give me a reason.”

“Because His Grace the Grand Duke has already permitted it.”

Rendel smiled like a kind grandfather, while Esteban, standing before him…

“Father is going to step down as the head of the family soon.”

“…….”

“Seeing as he’s lost his sharp wits.”

‘That’s our Esteban.’

However, even the mocking Esteban couldn’t demand I be sent back once he heard the head of the family had allowed it.

Still, he clearly wasn’t happy about it, as he slammed his door shut and went into his room.

With my incredibly sensitive hearing, I thought my eardrums had burst at the thunderous sound echoing through the hallway.

Seeing me carefully lift a paw to touch my ear, wondering if it was bleeding, Rendel offered a regretful apology.

“I am sorry, Lady Poblian. Young Master Esteban is currently going through severe mood swings.”

Watching him apologize for the umpteenth time today, I wagged my tail to show it was okay.

To be honest, from the perspective of someone who had lived as a “K-Confucian Girl” much longer than as Poblian, it felt awkward to receive an apology from a gray-haired grandfather for something that wasn’t even his fault, even if Rendel was a butler.

Rendel smiled as if thanking me for being understanding, then withdrew from the room after telling me to rest comfortably.

Looking at the guest room Winchester had provided—which was much larger than my room back at the Fennec house—I realized their wealth all over again.

Of course, since it wasn’t my money, I wasn’t particularly moved.

Glancing around the room, I hopped onto the bed without hesitation and curled up.

‘Let’s just sleep for today. Mother said the most essential prerequisite for human transformation is physical strength.’

“Bli, remember. Physical strength is a must to transform and maintain it. And then you must become skilled at handling mana…”

Recalling my mother’s worried voice, I fell into a deep sleep in an instant.

***

Perhaps because fatigue had built up, I slept for a full day before being woken by a knock on the door.

I stretched my front legs out while sticking my rear high in the air, and a maid who entered the room greeted me.

“Hello, Lady Poblian! My name is Lani, and I’ll be serving you starting today!”

Lani, who had a freckled face and green eyes, looked to be about Ariel’s age.

When I wagged my tail to say “please take care of me,” a sound like a groan escaped Lani’s lips.

“So… so cu… Ah, no, I’m sorry!”

‘Right, this is the natural reaction!’

As I wagged my tail at the blushing Lani to show it was fine, she gritted her teeth as if trying to suppress the exclamations of admiration threatening to burst out.

“Ugh, so cute…”

‘Yes, this is it! This is what I’m talking about!’

To be honest, despite the objectively cute appearance of a fennec fox, I had been feeling miserable due to the cold treatment I’d received at Winchester. I felt a strange sense of pride at the recognition I was finally getting after a full day and puffed out my chest.

Belatedly realizing her lack of composure, Lani cleared her throat and asked me:

“W-well, actually, as the head butler mentioned yesterday, a technician is coming to the mansion today to install a secondary entrance so you can move about comfortably. It will probably be quite noisy, so if you don’t mind, how about taking a tour of the mansion?”

‘I’d love to!’

I nodded quickly at Lani’s suggestion.

I had intended to look around the mansion today anyway.

That way, I could find out where Esteban frequently hangs out and be able to run to him immediately if something happens later.

Very satisfied with the proposal, I hopped off the bed, and Lani quickly opened the door, saying:

“Since you haven’t had breakfast yet, I’ll lead you to the dining hall first!”

I followed Lani as she walked ahead.

The dining hall was located at the very back of the first floor, but it seemed the other people in the mansion had already finished their meals, as no one was in sight.

Lani pulled out a chair for me and disappeared, saying she would go talk to the chef. I hopped up onto the chair she had provided.

While waiting for Lani to return, the memory of the servants I had passed on the way to the dining hall suddenly came to mind.

‘Come to think of it, I heard that in <Rampage-Watch>, relations between humans and beast-kin aren’t very good. Since there was no particular reaction, is it okay?’

In fact, <Rampage-Watch> was a story where the female lead, represented as the spokesperson for beast-kin, and Esteban, depicted as the representative for humans, bridge the deep chasm of conflict between the two races and eventually find love.

Even the female lead, a deer beast-kin who was the epitome of purity, initially faced many difficult situations from humans who hated her.

Being called a beast was a daily occurrence, and they even served her inedible food under the guise of a meal.

Back then, I thought people were being really petty using food like that…

While waiting for Lani and recalling the plot, my ears pricked up at the sound of approaching footsteps.

When I turned my head, Lani was coming toward the table where I sat, accompanied by a man who appeared to be the chef.

Seeing that only my eyes were visible above the table, Lani hurriedly brought a cushion and placed it under me.

Finally at the right height, I wagged my tail at Lani in thanks. Meanwhile, the man who appeared to be the chef placed a plate in front of me and introduced himself.

“I am Cooker, the one in charge of the kitchen at the Winchester Grand Duchy. If there is anything you need, you can let me know from now on.”

I nodded and looked at the plate in front of me.

The plate was covered with a luxurious, intricately crafted silver lid, but strangely, a scent like blood wafted from inside.

As I sniffed the air, Cooker gave a bright smile.

“As expected of a beast, you have a keen sense of smell.”

‘As expected of a beast?’

I raised my head to look at him at his quite blatant remark, but he just smiled pleasantly and lifted the silver lid.

“I wasn’t sure what to prepare, but when I asked around, I heard that beasts do not eat cooked meat.”

“…….”

“I hope it suits your palate.”

With a nauseating smell that hit me all at once, a piece of raw meat dripping with blood sat on the plate.

‘Ah, I thought things were going too well today.’