The Grand Duke’s Fox Princess

Episode 12: Shaky Permanent Residency (I)

It really seemed like Heinricion’s pet fox.

When Eristella and Heinricion were young, something different, but similar, happened.

Little Eristella used to play with her maids every day, sneaking off in the spirit of playing hide-and-seek with them.

And Heinricion, who came to the Imperial Palace as her playmate, tried his best to pursue Eristella, despite the impossibility.

“Are you going to keep following me?”

“Yes.”

“If you’re going to give up halfway, don’t follow me from the beginning.”

“I won’t give up.”

Actually, Eristella was very bothered by Heinricion. But Heinricion was persistent.

“Really? Then, follow me.”

Little Eristella ran away.

The young Eristella was exceptional, even if not for her natural magical powers.

On the other hand, the young Henricion was relatively small and his stamina was weak, so it was difficult for him to handle Eristella.

Of course, he couldn’t keep up with her purely on his own will. In the end, he could not put strength in his body and fell, collapsing in exhaustion. If one thought about it, it would not be an exaggeration to say that the foundation of his basic stamina was created by Eristella.

But before that, Heinricion couldn’t catch up with her no matter how hard he tried. In the end, it took him a year before he was able to properly chase after Eristella.

“Hand.”

“……Yes?”

“Come on, hand.”

Eristella reached a hand out to Heinricion, wildly shaking it. At first, Heinricion shifted his eyes in embarrassment, but slowly, he took Eristella’s hand slightly.

Then, Heinricion’s feet slowly rose. At one point, the child’s entire body was floating in the air. The hand that was in Eristella’s was his only link to the ground. 

“Huh? Uh, huh?”

“Can you follow me now?”

It seemed more appropriate to say that Eristella was dragging Heinricion, but in any case, Heinrichion was able to follow without falling behind any more.

At that time, when she first said ‘hand’, he pretty much immediately held it out like a puppy.

‘How did I end up doing it?’ As soon as Heinricion said ‘Hand’, Eristella reflexively stuck out her front paws, and a clear liquid glistened in the corners of her eyes.

However, unlike her complicated feelings, Heinricion was enjoying it very much.

“What can I say? You’re listening well.”

Heinricion grabbed her paw, shaking it, and raised the corners of his mouth.

As if it was a great thing, he felt very proud that she was listening to him.

“Please, I hope the fox will follow Your Excellency well in the future.”

Rowen still glanced at Eristella with a suspicious gaze, then turned around as if to retreat. As soon as Rowen was completely out, the exhausted fox flopped down. 

Keukeuk.

‘I think I heard someone laughing?’

Eristella’s head turned quickly. She headed in the direction of the terrifying laughter.

Heinricion was red in the face as he forced himself to hold back his laughter with his head down. His shoulders went up and down. He couldn’t help it.

His heart was tickled at the sight of her moving with her paws, following his movements with concentration. It was a stimulus that tickled the most sensitive areas.

*******

Every time the cute four feet moved forward, they overflowed with energy.

The dignified posture at every step reminded one of a triumphant general.

The upward curve of her lips.

The tail swung left and right with a lot of strength.

As soon as she made eye contact with another person, she raised her head even more triumphantly.

Eristella had her reasons for doing this.

‘The negotiations with Heinricion are over, and from now on, I’m officially living in the grand ducal house!’

She no longer needs to panic for fear of being found out and kicked out.

‘I’m not a non-paying lodger, but a real customer!’

She was just so happy that she had a place to stay.

Kekek.

It hurt her pride, but the benefits came first.

“I think the fox is in a particularly good mood today.”

“I know. Its footsteps are very…”

‘Is it cool?’

“It’s so cute!”

The voice of admiration as the employees looked at the fox caught her ears.

‘Uh……?’

Eristella’s dignified steps stopped.

‘What did you say now?’

‘How graceful, yet so modest and majestic, are my steps?’

‘I, who has learned the etiquette of the imperial family from the moment I started walking?’

‘To be…… cute?’

Eristella looked at her reflection in the mirror to confirm the unbelievable reality.

Four short legs.

A plump jelly bar that one could see at a glance whenever she took a foot off.
(TL/N: ahem, her tummy XD)

Fluffy fur.

No matter how she walked, she was far from dignified.

‘Hah, it’s all because of these unavoidable short legs.’

‘Still…’

Eristella, who had been deeply saddened, recovered quickly. The corners of her lips, which had suddenly risen, seemed to make her feel better.

‘Because being cute isn’t that bad.’

She took a strong step again.

From this day on, she was determined to walk around the mansion proudly.

“Where are you wandering around like that?”

‘Why. It doesn’t matter where I go!’

‘I am now a fox who can go anywhere here proudly!’

It was when Eristella lifted her head.

“Let’s go. Leighton is here.”

‘Leighton?’

Ah. Okay. Leighton’s here.

But what happened this time?

Wasn’t it all worked out? Hopefully there’s no other problem.

*******

Tachak— As soon as the drawing room door opened, Leighton ran and hugged the fox.

“I missed you!”

Contrary to Eristella’s concerns, the reason Leighton visited today was to spend the night here before leaving for the Magic Academy.

Not long ago, Sophia Haveling, still the most powerful in the family, sorted out the problem with great anger.

Perhaps it wasn’t just a rough fix; Leighton’s face looked brighter.

“Leighton, it’s a good thing you’re here. I wanted to see you before you leave.”

“Me too. I’ll miss you, Uncle. And…”

“And?”

He was definitely different from the last time. His face looked lively and strong, and it felt like he had grown a little taller in the meantime.

Anyway, Leighton’s condition now definitely seemed better than before.

When Eristella was looking at Leighton’s change with satisfaction…….

Leighton hugged her tightly once more and said,

“Thank you. Fox.”

So he knew that the fox had helped him.

‘It’s rather late. I should have done it sooner.’

Eristella coughed for nothing and gave an answer that could not be delivered.

‘……Well, but now it’s a little…… Leighton?’

She thought it was heartwarming up to here, but Leighton didn’t think about letting her go, he kept hugging her.

‘Hey, can you just stop?’

‘Why is he so strong? Wasn’t Leighton timid and delicate?’

It was at the moment when he wouldn’t budge no matter how much Eristella pushed.

Leighton raised his head and shouted to Heinricion.

“Uncle. May I take this fox to the Magic Academy?”

‘Uh……?’

“I heard that when students enter the Magic Academy, they often take their pets with them.”

What was this all of a sudden.

Eristella looked at Heinricion in bewilderment, but he did not respond.

‘You’re not going to send me, are you?’

‘Look at my eyes!’

‘I mean, look into my eyes!’

“I’ll give you another animal.”

‘Yes, you should!’

“I like this fox.”

However, Leighton’s persistence was also formidable.

‘No, thank you for liking me, but…….’

‘Whichever the case, it’s hard to go with you. Heinricion should hold onto me.’

Eristella wasn’t quite sure.

She turned her gaze away, unable to see Leighton’s twinkling eyes in this difficult situation.

“Let’s think about it slowly. You should rest for now.”

Heinricion led Leighton into the room instead of giving a clear answer.

Eristella was glad he didn’t answer right away, but she was nervous.

No. How did this happen?

She had to find a way to get back to her original form while staying here.

Knowing all that, would he still let her go?

‘……It can happen too.’

Since it was Heinricion, he might.

He was very affectionate with his family, and especially fond of Leighton.

Thus, there was a good chance he wouldn’t be able to turn down Leighton’s request.

*******

‘I think I’ll have to get confirmation from Heinricion.’

Heinricion’s heart might weaken when he was with Leighton, so Eristella waited for the two of them to be apart.

As soon as she confirmed that Heinricion had headed for the office, she was racing down the hallway to convince him.

“Fluffy.”

A voice that still seemed young was heard calling someone from behind.

Without checking, she knew it was Leighton.

‘By the way, what did he just call me?’

Eristella tilted and turned her head.

“Wow. You must understand what I’m saying!”

Leighton smiled brightly and his feet tapped with joy.

“In the future, when I raise you, I will name you ‘Fluffy’.”

‘This. Shit.’

‘I should’ve pretended I didn’t understand. I shouldn’t have reacted.’