The Grand Duke’s Fox Princess

Episode 55: Precious Things (III)

*******

In front of the fountain in the backyard.

Heinricion and Eristella were sitting side by side.

While staying in the duchy, Eristella had many conversations with Heinricion.

However, it was not in the form of Princess Eristella.

Until now, the two of them had been so far apart that they could not look at each other despite being in the same space. 

So, even if there were many things Eristella needed to do with Heinricion, it was completely different to sit side by side like this as ‘Princess Eristella’.

It felt as if their shoulders were touching. Both had the same thought, but they didn’t say anything. The sense of distance was clearly different from before.

Eristella dipped her legs in the fountain and played with water.

“As expected, something must be lost once to know its value.”

‘In an instant, everything I had disappeared. It’s still me inside, but it wasn’t me.’

Accepting that fact was difficult at first, but now it felt natural.

“I took it all for granted… Right now, everything is very precious and I want to protect it.”

When Eristella returned to her original form, it became clearer. How valuable those times were.

And how much she didn’t know that.

How arrogant and immature she was to think it was okay not to have anything else since she had it all.

As a fox, there were moments when Eristella realized how dear the things she had given up were.

But even if she said this, Heinricion wouldn’t know. They were just her own musings.

“I realized. I didn’t know anything when I was around.”

Heinricion listened and looked at her with empathy.

“I discovered too late how valuable it is and how much I want to protect it.”

“Oh…?”

The moment Eristella turned her head to the side and saw Heinricion, she flinched.

Their gazes were at the same level. Was that why? Why does Heinricion look different?

Perhaps it’s just a feeling

But oddly, she couldn’t take her eyes off him.

Unconsciously, Eristella stared at Heinricion.

In that state, she captured a wonderful image of him in her eyes.

‘This is why I fell in love with you.’

It was Eristella’s favorite look.

‘I can never confess.’

That’s right. Eristella’s first love was actually Heinricion.

She willingly gave up before it could continue.

‘You have always been like a painting to me. So I couldn’t say.’

‘That my first love was you.’

Eristella vowed to hide it until the end.

It was when she looked at him and remembered the feelings she had put aside a long time ago.

Heinricion paused as he casually reached out to Eristella.

It was a mistake.

He had gotten so accustomed to her being a fox that he stretched out his hand towards her as if to lift her up.

Eristella, who noticed that fact, was also embarrassed.

“But who’s your first love?”

Flustered, Heinricion uttered anything to change the topic.

But as soon as those words left his lips, he regretted it.

“No, it’s just…”

The moment Heinricion was about to say she should ignore it.

Eristella, whose eyes became round, covered her mouth, and eventually…

Hiccup.

‘Wow, what’s happening all of a sudden? It’s shocking.’

Eristella was so startled that her face was completely ripe. For a second, she almost confessed. Was he aiming for something like this?

‘Wake up. Eristella. Never say it. Mental strength…’

Hiccup.

“!”

‘What. This is crazy.’

Hiccup.

‘I’d rather be a fox. ‘

Hiccup. hiccup.

‘Ahh, I’m going crazy.’

Hiccup.

‘Please stop! Ugh.’

Eristella’s hiccups were endless. They didn’t want to stop at all. Eventually, she sat back, held her breath, and pounded her chest until they ceased.

…Hiccup.

The two became more embarrassed. What should they do about this atmosphere?

“Shall we go back?”

“…Yes.”

Heinricion and Eristella trudged along.

With a span of distance that maintained the awkwardness.

They tried not to look at each other, but it meant something different.

It was not because they didn’t want to see each other, but rather they were hesitant about what expression to make and what words to say when their eyes met.

…How embarrassing.

*******

Sonia was waiting in front of the bedroom.

She noticed Eristella approaching with Heinricion from the end of the hallway, and she just stared blankly.

Sonia had already been informed, but this was the first time she had seen her return as ‘Princess Eristella’. Complex emotions could be seen flashing through her eyes.

“I will go in first.”

It seemed that the two of them needed time alone. Heinricion made room.

After that, only Eristella and Sonia were left in the hallway.

Sonia’s lips parted slowly.

“Long time no see, Your Highness.”

There was no change in her expression, and she spoke with a calm voice without any inflections.

“Yes. Nice to meet you, Sonia.”

So Eristella responded with a smile.

At that moment, Sonia’s face, which had been composed all this while, collapsed.

“…I think I saw you yesterday.”

Sonia’s voice was trembling, filled with air.

In the end, she bowed her head.

“Sonia. Are you crying?”

Sonia’s shoulders were shaking. It was the first time Eristella had seen Sonia shaking so much. In surprise, she approached her.

“No. I’m not crying.”

In an instant, Sonia’s complexion changed, and she denied it as if she never did.

Her tears, which had been welling up until now, were already gone.

“Why will I cry because of Your Highness? I don’t think of you that much.”

With great determination.

‘Oh, it’s embarrassing for those who were worried.’

Eristella gazed down at Sonia, not hating it.

‘You still can’t stand the shame.’ 

There was a smile, and then a laugh.

She only returned to her original form for a while.

Up till now, it felt unfamiliar. But when Eristella looked at Sonia, it was as if she had returned to the former days again.

*******

‘I forgot.’

Eristella, now in her fox form, was tormented by Charlotte, who ran to the grand ducal mansion early in the morning and learned about the situation.

“Why are you telling me now!”

“It was still unfamiliar, so I was busy adjusting.”

“So you mean you didn’t think of telling me until you went back to being a fox again?”

Charlotte’s aura was terrifying; even Heinricion was avoiding her eyes.

“Come see me next time.”

“What are you talking about? If I go off like this, I can’t see anything.”

“Then?”

“Of course I have to wait here today. I will make sure I see you no matter what.”

“…….”

‘Oh my. I’m in trouble.’

At this rate, the fox would have no choice but to be held captive by Charlotte today.

Judging by the glint in Charlotte’s eyes, she would be impossible to stop.

Eventually, the fox sat down with Charlotte, ate lunch and dinner, and waited until midnight.

Heinricion had long since fled from Charlotte.

Thus, only Eristella and Sonia were under Charlotte’s terrifying pressure, and after waiting for a long time, the clock finally pointed to the right time.

“Is it now?”

Right when Charlotte looked at her watch and asked.

There was a change in the spot where the fox was.

First of all, Eristella, wearing a light dress prepared in a hurry, was looking at Charlotte.

“…….”

“I don’t feel very happy to see you like this.”

“What…?”

“I thought you would have aged, but it’s the same.”

Charlotte mumbled seriously as she stared intently at Eristella’s face.

Eristella’s lips widened at the absurdity, and Charlotte continued, solely focusing on what she wanted to say.

“It’s okay now since I saw it with my own eyes. I will go back now.”

“Like this?”

Charlotte turned around without hesitation, waving her hand. Upon seeing the cool and light footsteps, Eristella’s jaw was about to fall off.

The sudden change in attitude after making such a fuss was absurd, but she soon accepted it.

‘What would have happened if Charlotte had shed emotional tears?’

She would most certainly have hives because it was unfamiliar. Thinking so, Eristella laughed with the thought that she was fortunate.

‘I have someone to tell when I return.’

When Eristella first became a fox and couldn’t return to her human form, there was no one.

She was all alone.

But now there were three.

Perhaps that’s why, rather than future worries, anticipation grew.

*******

From midnight to six o’clock before morning.

Eristella was acclimating to a life where she would be in her original form for six hours a day.

In addition, Heinricion restricted access to some parts of the grand ducal mansion so that Eristella could move freely when she was human, even creating a magic barrier.

Thanks to this, Eristella was able to move without discomfort even at midnight.

Since she moved throughout the wee hours of the morning, she increased the amount of time she napped in her fox body in the afternoon.

It was when Eristella was finally dozing off after enduring the urge to nap this particular afternoon.

By the time she woke up, it was already midnight.

In addition, Sonia, who went out in the afternoon for business, told Eristella that she had something to say as soon as it was midnight.

“I met an acquaintance at the Imperial Palace today.” 

“Really?”