NOVEL NEXT The Fox Tames the Villainous Grand Duke
Chapter 12
When I left the Grand Duke’s castle, I went out on all fours, but when I returned, I came back in his arms.
“Your Highness. I think you were bewitched by a real fox.” I deeply sympathized with Fior’s words. All the way back, Epher looked at me as if honey were dripping from his eyes, which made it uncomfortable. It was more burdensome to carry me like a baby. “Do you really have to carry it like that? Your Highness.” Fior, who was struggling to pull the two horses that were trying to go somewhere else, grumbled and asked. “I’m afraid it’ll go somewhere else again.” “Do you like it that much?” That’s what I wanted to ask. Epher kept his eyes on me and smiled brightly. “Look at Sienna’s eyes. It’s abnormal not to like it.” No. I think you look really abnormal. What did I do to make you want to find me so desperately? Of course I’m a charming and cute fox, but did we really bond that much? That wasn’t Epher’s only abnormal behavior. As soon as I returned to the Grand Duke’s castle, Epher took me for a walk in the garden. “Sienna. This is your home now.” On one side of the garden was a small house I hadn’t seen before. ‘Ah… No wonder, the servants were making something. That was my house.’ I felt bad because I felt like I was being treated like an animal, but looking at the state of the barn, I couldn’t say I hated it—. ‘What, how is this stable?’ It looked a lot better. As Epher put me on the ground, I looked around and saw the place I called ‘my house’. First of all, it was very big. It looked at least 20 pyeong, and it was even a duplex. A slightly larger tree grew from the first floor to the second floor. On the first floor, there was grass, sand, and sturdy stumps, and in front of them was a clear stream. ‘Whoa… Can you make this in just a week?’ I couldn’t stop admiring the appearance, as if the mountain had been reduced to a small size. There was a staircase going up to the second floor on the side, and a fairly comfortable nest was also prepared. There were several fluffy cushions, the bathroom was very large, and the rice bowl looked like gold. ‘No, why did you go to such trouble to decorate my house?’ How can this place be called a stable? From the fox’s point of view, this was a five-star hotel, no, heaven. “Sienna, do you like it?” At Epher’s question, I stopped while looking at the house. “You seem to like it. Look at the tail wagging.” My tactless tail. I must have been blinded by such a good nest without even realizing it. I tried to keep my tail as still as possible so it wouldn’t wag. On the contrary, the nine tails became very wild when they became conscious. Yeah. Honestly, I felt good. To the extent that I want to live as a pet, not as a companion. Has anyone ever done this for me in my life? If everyone found me with nine tails, wouldn’t they say ‘I’m disrespectful’ and run away with my tail falling off? He came in front of me and stroked my forehead, then took his handkerchief from his pocket. “Here. This is yours. Wouldn’t this be more comfortable than a leash?” Epher hung a handkerchief around my neck beautifully, drew back a little, and observed me. “Since it has white fur, I thought it would look good with any handkerchief.” It was quite soft and of good quality. It had stripes of white and sky blue, and at the end, the word ‘Sienna’ was embroidered very finely. ‘Sienna…’ I see. This is the name you gave me. I felt strange. Living for a thousand years, there were some words that decorated me. I was also called the ‘thousand-year fox’ because it ‘lived for a thousand years’. Or, since it lives in Seolryeong, North Hamgyong Province, I was also called “Seolryeong Fox.” I was called ‘White Fox’ and was called ‘White Tiger’. I was also called ‘nine-tailed foxes’ because I had ‘nine tails’. The titles that came along naturally felt like ‘convenience store part-timer’ or ‘lady in room 205’ in terms of human beings. I can’t remember my original name because it’s been a long time. When I went down to human society, I usually used the name that was most common at the time. Was it Baek Gaedung, Baek Mihee, or Baek Sujin? Is it because the origin name is the first gift given by my parents? The name that changes frequently is always awkward, and I always feel like it doesn’t belong to me. I am Roselia now, but when I think of Roselia, I think of the real Roselia, not me. It felt strange to have someone give me a name. By the way, I think they usually give animals food names like ‘Choco, Mango’ or colors like ‘Blackie, White’. For a name given to an animal, it seemed like a human name. Is that why? Sienna. A name that is pretty enough to be mistaken for the name of a lover Epher longs for. It felt like I was wearing the mask of a beast, and he knew that I was a human. It can’t be. Epher touched my cheek and chin with a slightly larger hand. I looked up at him. Epher’s eyes, smiling brightly at me, felt warmer than his warm touch. He flashed a pretty angelic smile and blushed. “Fior, isn’t Sienna so cute?” Behind him, Fior frowned as if he was about to vomit. * * * At the end of a strange day, I lay on the bed and looked at the ornate ceiling chandelier and pondered. Does it make sense that someone who will be his wife is looking for him to the extent that she has been wandering around Mount Tiris since the day she came to the castle? Yeah. The ‘Fox’ isn’t in the Grand Duke’s castle, so he finds it. I understood that. But isn’t that a bit excessive? ‘No. I’ve only been a fox for about three days, isn’t it…?’ He searched for it so desperately that I thought Sienna was his lover. But I can’t believe that’s me. It was a fox the Grand Duke decided to raise. Anyone who sees it will think I’m a companion animal he’s had his entire life. The more I thought about it, the more absurd it was, and I couldn’t understand his actions. But one thing I know for sure. The Grand Duke Epher didn’t marry Roselia in a spurious way because of a love affair. ‘Then why did you talk about marriage with Roselia?’ I was curious, but I quickly shook my head. ‘Do I need to know the circumstances of the madman? I just need to take my share.’ Fortunately, since I came back, Epher didn’t have to go out all day. ‘Anyway, we’ll be able to run into each other often now, so I’ll have to get in touch with the Grand Duke and build up my strength.’ A few days passed like that. In the meantime, I’ve encountered Grand Duke Epher quite a bit, but I’ve never come in contact with him. Even getting close was as difficult as picking stars from the sky. First of all, let’s talk about the meal times that I promised to have with the Grand Duke ‘several times a week’. I put on the best-looking and most elegant dress that Roselia had brought from Fellua, and I combed my hair well. If I want to get close, I have to have the right formality. Looking in the mirror, I repeated my cultured voice tone several times and practiced a reliable smile. When I was ready, Elaine, whose face I had seen more often than that of the Grand Duke, came out to meet me. “This way, Your Highness the Grand Duchess.” What do you mean Your Highness Grand Duchess? The corner of my mouth went up involuntarily at that title, but I followed Elaine without showing off my excitement as much as possible. Their destination was the dining room on the first floor of the Grand Duke’s castle. Epher sat at the end of a long table and stood up when he saw me. “You’re here.” He pulled out the diagonal left chair and waited until I sat down. He’s polite and such a gentleman. ‘Look. As expected, he’s not ignoring me.’ As soon as I sat down, the servants brought the tray and put it in front of the Grand Duke and me. One wall of the dining room is entirely made of glass, so the warm sunlight shines on the food. “….?” There is a Grand Duke next to it. Even though there’s food in front of me. I was a little embarrassed. “Uh… Is this lunch?” Three pieces of bread that look like cheese balls, smaller than a rice ball? When I saw Epher with a surprised face, he said without moving his expression. “…It’s an appetizer.” Ah. Appetizer. As I took the bread in my hand, Epher cleared his throat a couple of times and said. “I want you to keep your table manners.” Then he took the fork in front of him and dipped it into the bread. I put the bread I was holding down quietly and followed him while giving Epher a sidelong look. After a while, when the noodles and meat dishes were served, Epher let out a very small sigh and said, “Don’t you learn table etiquette at Fellua family?” “Why?” Epher hesitated for a moment as he picked up the middle of the three forks, then evaded his words. “…No. Eat comfortably.” I lowered my head and looked down at the fork I was holding. Could it be that you ate it with the fork on the far left? I had never seen anything about dining etiquette in novels, so I didn’t know. No, even if I knew, who would know which table etiquette is used among the many novels? It was said that appetizers were also served, so I thought it was French dining etiquette and just picked up the outermost fork and knife. It’s a bit unfair. ‘Tsk… It’s like I can’t even use chopsticks.’ Still, Epher didn’t nag like the Heavenly God, but rather took up a knife or fork first whenever a new food was served. ‘Are you telling me to watch and copy?’ I don’t know if I should say he’s considerate or not. In the end, I couldn’t even have a proper conversation with him, let alone get close to him, because I ate with a side glance. As I always say, if I lived for a thousand years, this difficulty was only a stone’s throw that I met on the street. I didn’t give up and tried to get close. Although I could go casually to the Grand Duke’s room. I thought it would be suspicious if I went there without any business. I always went for a walk after lunch, so I thought it would be fine if we bumped into each other often to make a good impression. And so, when the Grand Duke was strolling in the garden. Under the guise of coincidence, I ran into him. As soon as Epher saw me, he looked a little surprised and lightly nodded at me. “I came out after a meal to digest it lightly.” “Is that so?” “….” “….?” He’s really an impregnable fortress like man. (t/n : 철옹성 means impregnable fortress or a word literally meaning a fortress built in a sturdy manner like an iron pot, referring to something strong enough to resist attack, or its state.) I think I’m making it clear that I want to be close like this, but don’t we usually keep talking out of courtesy? But there was actually a deeper problem. Do you know what he’s saying by answering so coldly? “Have you seen a fox nearby?” This punk treats me as an invisible person and only looks for me.
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