CH 7

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Heinricion didn’t really think that Eristella was dead until her funeral took place.

It was a separate matter from his relationship with her or what he thought of her.

The Eristella he knew was strong. She could never have died just like that.

So, if Eristella was alive……. He looked for her, wondering if she would appear in the place where her funeral was held.

And that day, in front of the church, instead of Eristella, a fox appeared before him.

Actually, Heinricion was suspicious from the moment he first saw the fox.

White foxes were not common animals to roam the streets. The identity of the white fox was questionable, as it appeared as if the animal was exhausted from living on the road and went to find an owner.

Besides, the fox’s eyes; the mysterious gold eyes that evoked strange emotions were not those of an ordinary animal’s.

It was not unrecognizable to Heinricion.

He still vividly remembered the fox he met at the Imperial Palace when he was young.

The little fox’s eyes were also golden. He was already convinced.

This was the fox he saw when he was young.

When the princess refused his earnest request for the fox, the young Heinricion was upset, thinking that she might have sent the fox to another place instead of giving it to him.

However, since that day, Heinricion had seen the fox several more times. When he thought about it, the timings were odd.

He usually stayed with Eristella, but after she disappeared somewhere, the fox would appear. Moreover, the fox seemed to understand all human speech.

And he noticed it the last day he saw the fox.

—The golden eyes of the princess and the golden eyes of the fox were the same.

After looking at the fox and inadvertently spitting out that observation, Heinricion couldn’t see the fox any more.

From then on, Heinricion had long suspected that the fox and the princess were one and the same.

The fox seemed to be sweating profusely.

Already, the atmosphere was tense, as if Heinricion was interrogating it.

“Looking at it, it seems that something is wrong.”

Heuk. The fox shuddered in place in surprise.

Heinricion did not miss it; he looked at the fox with a sharp gaze that seemed to pierce into its innermost thoughts and continued speaking,

“Isn’t that going to lead to the fact that she came to me while pretending to be a fox?”

Heinricion muttered as if asking himself.

“I mean, there’s something you want from me…….”

Heinricion’s gaze at the fox was narrowed, as if in suspicion.

Eristella’s heart dropped with a thud whenever she received that gaze. Her heart was pounding and her mouth was parched.

Henricion’s head leaned towards one side and he opened his mouth meaningfully.

“What does the Archmage Princess not have, but I have? Oh, maybe that’s it. Things like wizard materials that my family has been studying for a long time.”

‘If you’re going to figure it all out by yourself, why don’t you ask me!’

A single tear of injustice formed in the corners of Eristella’s eyes.

However, Henricion did not care about the eyes filled with resentment, and devoted himself to fitting the pieces for the current situation.

“Then among them……. It must be black magic.”

‘…….!’

‘How the hell do you know that?’

Eristella’s eyes widened so much that she couldn’t hide it.

“I found traces of black magic when searching in the Prouthu territory.”

Heinricion continued speaking with confidence.

“There were only traces left, so I couldn’t figure out exactly what purpose it was used for, but it was used there.”

Eristella didn’t deny it; she merely lowered her eyes. It was a timid reaction indicating he was right. Upon recognizing that, Heinricion’s tenacious expression loosened slightly, and continued speaking lightly.

“There are not many places where there is information about black magic. So you targeted my mansion.”

Eristella’s eyes lit up!

‘Targeted? Oh, it’s a different… uh, different. But you’re too expressive!’

Eristella wanted to protest, but she couldn’t. The expression was a little different, but it wasn’t wrong.

Recognizing that his own predictions were all correct from her reaction, Heinricion slowly raised the corners of his mouth and said,

“I guess that’s why you’re trying to sneak into my house. With whose permission?”

‘I knew it. You’re not letting it slide.’

Eristella’s eyes were dark.

It wasn’t that she hadn’t considered this situation at all.

If her identity was discovered, how would she persuade him? She had been thinking about a number of different cases. But when she suddenly faced this situation, she was at a loss.

‘I have to come up with a reason why I can’t be kicked out……. Ah, I’m going crazy.’

The persistent stare of Heinricion kept following her, to the point that her fur stood upright and the back of her head stinged.

“Fox.”

‘…….!’

Heinricion hummed lightly.

“Fox.”

His sweet voice pressed her down.

“What are you up to.”

The expression of Heinricion, who had been playfully humming, suddenly became firm.

“I’ll bring you paper and a pen. Would you like to write it yourself?”

She felt the will to hear an answer from her.

‘This is dangerous.’

It was when she wondered how she could get out of his sight.

Tok, tok.

She heard the sound of saving.

Eristella jumped at Heinricion and signaled him to let her go. But he didn’t pay attention to that and kept his eyes fixed on her.

‘Why are you looking at me!’

‘This crazy, really!’

It was during the time when she had the urge to protest.

Tok, tok.

There was another hurried knock on the door.

“Your Highness, I am coming in for a moment.”

There was an impatient voice, thenn the door opened and Rowen entered.

At that moment, Heinricion took his eyes off Eristella and turned around.

‘Ha……. I lived.’

‘I never thought I’d be so happy to see Rowen.’

‘Indeed, you’ll see many things if you live a long time.’

At Rowen’s appearance, Eristella’s face brightened noticeably. Her eyes shone, hoping Rowen would divert the attention of Heinricion.

‘All right, it’s better if you take Heinricion out like this!’

However, it seems that it was Heinricion, not Rowen, who received her support.

Heinricion suddenly turned his head, and glanced at Eristella with narrowed eyes. Of course, with her quick wits, she avoided it like she didn’t register anything.

However, the problem Rowen brought right now took precedence over the subtle current between Heinricion and Eristella. 

“Your Highness. We have a rather urgent problem.”

Rowen’s face looked very serious as he began speaking.

Even Eristella, who had been relieved by Rowen’s appearance until now, was a little worried..

However, the moment of concern passed and she quickly shook her head.

The most important thing for her now was to buy time.

She wouldn’t have gotten out of it if he had pushed more. Then there was no way Heinricion would accept her. 

While Heinrichion had a problem, Estella had to recollect herself.

The fox’s little mind moved busily.

“Your Highness. The Marquis of Haveling dropped by.”

As soon as he heard Rowen’s report, Heinricion’s forehead wrinkled.

Eristella quickly noticed even the small change in Heinricion. The look on his face showed that he was already tired.

It was a clear sign.

“The young lord is with him.”

Rowen’s face suddenly darkened.

Leighton Haveling, a dignitary of the Marquis of Haveling.

(TL/N: dignitary – person of importance.)

He was the nephew of Heinricion.

To be precise, he was the son of Marquis Oliver Haveling, Heinricion’s half-brother who married into his wife’s family.

However, the two died in an accident a year ago. Leighton was the only heir.

The issue was that heirs under the age of 15 could not carry on the family line.

However, if there was no other heir, there was a system in which a guardian would take care of the heir until he turned 15-years-old.

Patrick, who came with Leighton, was now Leighton’s guardian.

Eristella glanced at Heinricion.

“I’ll see him soon.”

Heinricion rose to his feet.

Before he moved, he looked back at Eristella.

He seemed to ponder for a moment, but as if he had no intention of taking her with him, he headed straight for the drawing room.

Eristella quietly stepped back. She wondered what was going on, but it was more important now to be as invisible as possible from Heinricion’s eyes.