CH 91

At any rate, it was obvious that they would meet soon.

Eristella’s mind became busy.

She wasn’t a fox right now. She was completely ‘Princess Eristella’.

It was obvious that everything would be ruined if she ran into him like this.

It was a mountain beyond a mountain. Why was he even coming from over there?

However, complaining was only possible when one could afford it. The most important thing for Eristella right now was to hide from Viscount Diaclen.

But alas, the place she was in was a garden full of small flowers, without a single tree.

There was no place where she could hide perfectly right now.

No matter which way she goes, she has no choice but to run into him.

‘What do I do? First, naturally, turn my body in the opposite direction…’

Eristella turned away so that Viscount Diaclen could not see her face.

But she had to walk a long way to completely disappear. Until then, she couldn’t be sure if she would ever be able to go undetected.

It was when Eristella, with an awkward gait, took her first two steps.

At that moment, a red glaze from the sky fell over Eristella’s eyes.

It was just before sunrise.

And that meant it was time for Eristella to return to being a fox.

‘Already… has that much time passed?’

Anyway, it was fortunate for Eristella.

‘I just have to go as far as where I can hide and wait until I become a fox.’

It wasn’t difficult to get out of here after that.

Fortunately, Viscount Diaclen hadn’t noticed Eristella yet.

‘It’s done now. The grass is thick behind the trees over there. I just need to go all the way there.’

It was when Eristella reached her destination.

“Maybe… Wait a minute.”

Viscount Diaclen’s voice seemed to be calling her from behind. Eristella ignored him completely and walked away, looking only ahead.

And Eristella, barely hiding, waited until the sun came up.

It was soon.

She hoped that Viscount Diaclen would just pass by, but unfortunately he was searching around to find out where the person he had seen was.

Eristella gradually became impatient.

It was almost dawn, and she would soon return to being a fox.

‘Please, hold out until then.’

Time seemed to pass very slowly.

The moment when the sun slowly rose high and it dawned.

Eristella thought everything was accomplished.

Once she took on the form of a fox, she could overcome the current situation with ease.

‘Uh…? Why is this…?’

Eristella lifted her head and looked up at the sky.

The sun was already high up. It was definitely time to become a fluffy white fox.

Still, nothing changed for Eristella.

‘Why… Why am I not turning?’

Nervously, she looked up at the sky once more, but to no avail.

‘I’ve never had anything like this before. Why is this variable appearing now?’

Eristella still didn’t know exactly what Viscount Diaclen’s identity was, so she must never be exposed.

But he had already noticed her presence and was slowly approaching.

‘It looks like he’s following me.’

At this rate, Viscount Diaclen would find out.

In this situation, Eristella had only two options.

—Risk breaking through Viscount Diaclen and running to the carriage, or risk leaving this place using magic.

But both had a very high risk of being caught.

‘Still, there’s nothing more I can do. It’s better to do something than to get caught like this.’

Having made up her mind, Eristella was about to move.

Out of the blue, someone behind her pulled her. Hard. Surprised, she reflexively turned around and saw Heinricion.

“……!”

Due to the difference of an instant, Heinricion found Eristella first.

The fact that she had just been running away from Heinricion was completely erased from her mind.

“Cion. I’m still not back to being a fox.”

When Eristella spoke urgently before Heinricion could even open his mouth, he grasped the situation at once.

And he looked around. There was nowhere to hide.

Instantly, Heinricion hugged Eristella. Her face sank into his chest.

“Hug my neck.”

Heinricion whispered softly, and Eristella moved reflexively in response.

There was no room for worry or hesitation.

The moment Eristella embraced Heinricion, she heard the sound of the viscount approaching from behind.

“Oh, Your Excellency the Grand Duke is here.”

As if he wasn’t too flustered, the viscount spoke naturally.

“What is the Viscount up to here?”

“I felt like I saw a familiar face. But I guess I was mistaken.”

Even as he said that, the viscount kept his eyes on the person who was being held by the grand duke.

His eyes narrowed. It was as if he could see the face of the person.

“Well, would you mind stepping back? As you can see.”

Then, Heinricion expressed her displeasure and hugged Eristella even tighter.

Like he couldn’t show even the slightest bit.

At this point, it was common for one to step down on his own, if he had even a moderate amount of sensibility.

However, Viscount Diaclen still kept his stance and skillfully continued to speak to Heinricion.

“I wanted to have a conversation with the Grand Duke today, but it was a pity that there was no opportunity at the banquet hall. But to see you again like this.”

“Does it seem like it’s a good time to have a conversation right now?”

Heinricion frowned.

“I apologize, but would you give me a chance later?”

However, Viscount Diaclen did not just back down, and persistently made a suggestion.

To Heinricion, it was unpleasant and displeasing that the viscount kept speaking and glancing at him like he had every intention to bite on.

It was when Heinricion tried to push a little harder.

“I didn’t know that Your Excellency the Grand Duke had already decided on a partner.”

It was a deliberate question, to find out who the person Heinricion was with.

“Is that important now?”

The voice of Heinricion, who couldn’t have not known that, showed his disapproval toward Viscount Diaclen.

Heinricion deliberately acted emotionally.

That was probably why the arms that surrounded Eristella were getting tenser and stronger.

“Haha. no. I didn’t notice. I shall take my leave.”

Viscount Diaclen bowed politely and withdrew leisurely.

Then, the arms that were holding Eristella relaxed slightly.

“Wait a second. A little bit more.”

Eristella mumbled as she hugged Heinricion’s neck a little tighter.

She couldn’t relax because the viscount might suddenly turn around while pretending to leave.

It was only when the viscount was so far away that he could no longer be seen, not even as a dot, that Eristella untied her hands from Heinricion’s neck.

“Let’s go to the carriage for now.”

Eristella nodded slightly.

She could not be relieved until she reached the carriage. Sensing that, Heinricion wrapped his arm around her as they moved. Wanting to be cautious, she once again buried her face in his chest.

Then, for a moment, Eristella found it difficult to breathe, and when she lifted her head slightly, she saw the profile of Heinricion. It was still early in the morning and it was chilly, but Heinricion’s ears seemed red as if they had eaten the heat.

‘It’s not hot. Maybe it’s because he was nervous earlier.’

It was when Eristella stared at him with a puzzled eye.

Conscious of her gaze, Heinricion stretched out his arm and lightly pressed her head.

They arrived at the carriage while Eristella’s head was naturally lowered. Then slowly, she looked up at Heinricion, and found his ears to be back to their original color as if they had never been red.

*******

It wasn’t until after the carriage started moving that Heinricion asked Eristella what really happened.

“What happened? Why are you still like this?”

“I don’t know either. This is the first time it has ever happened.”

Eristella was very confused. Maybe, just like that, she wouldn’t go back to being a fox… However, that expectation disappeared when she turned into a fox right before arriving at the grand ducal mansion.

‘What. I’m back…’

Perhaps because of the sudden surprise, the pain appeared and disappeared as if the heart was throbbing.

With a rush of disappointment, Eristella dozed off.

It was a symptom caused by a decrease in physical strength whenever she returned to the form of a fox.

*******

After waking up from a sound sleep, Eristella was overcome with a sense of shame. It was fortunate that Heinricion was not in the room at this moment.

‘If only… I must have been out of my mind.’

Eristella, in her fox figure, shook her head, ruffling the blankets as she flailed around.

What happened today kept floating around in her head.

‘I… that… What did I do?’

She would rather it be a dream Then her heart would be lighter.

‘I must have gone crazy…!’

Everything she felt while in Heinricion’s arms vividly came to mind.

The excuse that ‘it couldn’t be helped’ drove Eris Stella crazy instead.

‘That’s the boring and obvious excuse that appears in so many romance novels!’

‘But that person is Heinricion…’

If they had even kissed each other there, as was the common plot in romance novels, Eristella would have ripped a hundred pillows.

‘…….’

Eristella’s movements froze. An absurd thought passed through her mind.

Her face became contemplative in an instant.

‘What? Did I just feel sad? No, right? Wake up, Eristella!’

Ame: HUG HUG FALL IN LOVE! KISS KISS FALL IN LOVE! NOW! PRONTO! And welcome back everyone! Didya miss our dear fox?