The Grand Duke’s Fox Princess

Episode 79: Bait-and-Switch (XIII)

Evidence that the emperor had been subjected to black magic was not to be shown to others.

“There’s nothing to worry about. Now that he’s been freed from brainwashing, any traces left will disappear over time.”

Heinricion spoke calmly about the emperor’s condition.

“I’ve been looking at all the records of research on black magic, and among them there was data on healing wounds from black magic.”

Ever since Heinricion was aware of the reemergence of black magic in the empire, he searched for all the books on black magic kept by the Grand Duchy of Adelasia, as well as the research records of the previous grand duke.

“First of all, neutralize the black magic and protect his body and mind. He just has to get over this part.”

Heinricion, holding the fox-Eristella in his arms, could feel her fine trembles.

Trying to calm the fear-soaked Eristella, Heinricion told her repeatedly that the emperor would be fine, as if casting a spell on her. 

Did she get his consolation? He could feel the tremors in his arms lessening little by little.

As soon as the two arrived in the inner room, they carefully examined the emperor. It appeared like he would stop breathing any moment.

“I think he should be seen by a doctor.”

It was when Heinricion began to contemplate whether it would be okay to show this to a doctor.

[It will be fine. To become the emperor’s doctor, you must agree to have a special magic casted on you.]

The emperor’s doctor made an oath not to divulge the information he learned through medical treatment. It could never be divulged because it was bound by magic.

There was no chance of the secret being leaked.

And so, Heinricion immediately secretly brought the emperor’s doctor.

At first, the doctor was shocked to see the emperor’s condition, but quickly came to his senses and started treatment in the most serious places.

Fortunately, a diagnosis that there was no danger to life was made, and the fox and Heinricion let out the breath they had been holding back.

However, the problem was that the body had weakened over a long period of time. Also, since he instantaneously received a strong shock, there was a possibility that his condition would suddenly deteriorate.

[From now on, we must hide this situation as much as possible until His Majesty recovers.]

Eristella spoke calmly after confirming the emperor’s condition, as if she had never trembled.

She had the appearance of a fox, but the authority of a princess could be felt.

She was Eristella. Calm and cool. Doing what she had to do.

[There must be people who noticed the shock of the battle.]

“It was enough to make the surroundings resonate. We need a plausible reason.”

[I can’t come out myself, so please…]

“Then I don’t have time to be like this, would you mind being alone?”

[Are you worried about me?]

At Eristella’s exaggerated reaction, Heinricion let out a chuckle. Yes, even though she has the form of a fox now, she’s the princess who is stronger than anyone else.

“I’ll be back. It will take some time as I need to strengthen the Imperial Palace’s guards and hide His Majesty’s vacancy.”

[Goodbye.]

The smile on the fox’s face showed she wasn’t worried at all. 

As soon as Heinricion left the inner room, he straight away settled the situation to some extent. He disguised it as a series of accidents and thoroughly cracked down on the knights who took care of the scene.

Also, he thoroughly rubbed out his traces so that others would not notice, until the emperor regained consciousness,

However, no matter how thoroughly he handled it, he could not completely erase people’s suspicions; the emperor had to wake up eventually.

The emperor passed several hurdles. The dangerous moment came without warning, but thanks to Eristella staying awake and watching over him, he was able to pass it safely.

Heinricion, as well as Sonia and Charlotte who had both heard the situation, came and advised her to take a break as they would watch instead, but…

“You are very tired right now. Get some rest.”

“I’ll stay like this a little longer.”

“He won’t wake up right away anyway. Close your eyes for a moment. I’ll wake you up if anything happens.”

Eristella, who had been staring at the emperor without flinching, slowly said,

“…I feel most at ease like this.”

She knew it would take a while for him to wake up, but she still grew nervous with each passing day.

She couldn’t bring herself to leave until she saw the emperor getting better.

As she learned the reason and process of the emperor’s fall under the black magic, she regretted some moments.

There were definitely moments when the emperor changed.

Especially, when his attitude towards her started to change out of the blue.

However, back then, Eristella did not find the change that strange. Because already, many people hated her and pointed fingers at her.

She thought that the emperor just naturally came to hate her— So let’s not worry about it. She pretended to be okay and ignored it.

‘I shouldn’t have done that.’

There were traces of the brother she knew on his face. She couldn’t take her eyes off whenever the signs of the time he suffered alone caught her eyes.

It was then. The emperor, who had been lying like the dead until now, groaned weakly. Surprised, Eristella closely examined his condition… 

His fingers twitched.

The emperor, who had regained consciousness before Eristella’s mind registered it, gradually opened his eyes.

What he saw in front of him was a fox wagging its tail anxiously, checking his condition.

The emperor’s eyes shook slightly.

His lips parted slowly, and he uttered the name of a person he had been ignoring for a while.

“Eristella…?”

When her name was suddenly called, Eristella looked at the emperor with startled and trembling eyes.

‘…Did he recognize me?’

It was confusing to have the emperor affectionately call her by name.

At a loss as to what to do, the fox reflexively and warily backed away, and the emperor’s eyes widened sadly.

With sorrowful eyes, he looked at the fox.

Those eyes were full of longing for a precious existence.

Facing that plaintive gaze, Eristella felt her heart throb.

“It’s been a while. I really missed you.”

‘…….’

The emperor spoke with difficulty, but the fox turned around and hid behind Heinricion’s legs.

That was when the emperor’s face darkened sadly, as if the little animal was rejecting him.

In an attempt to check on Eristella’s condition, Heinricion pulled his leg out slightly, but she held onto his pants so quickly and tightly that he was immobilized.

‘Just stay still.’

The front paws which were holding on to Heinricion shook anxiously.

While the air in the room tensed, the emperor’s eyelids sank heavily.

[What happened?]

Eristella looked up at Heinricion, worried.

“I think he lost consciousness again.”

[…….]

‘I don’t know if it’s a relief or a shame.’ 

Nervous that the emperor might rise again, the fox carefully went closer.

She wanted him to wake up so badly, but when he recognized her, she wanted to hide.

The distance built up over such a long period of time created a wall between the siblings.

‘Wait. Come to think of it, now I… I’m a fox.’

‘Did he recognize me?’

Noticing Eristella’s concern, Heinricion glanced at the emperor’s condition and said,

“It’s only for a short time, but he woke up. He’s asleep again.”

[…….]

Perhaps the words that just called her out came out unconsciously.

‘Then he didn’t recognize me.’

Eristella, who was quivering with nervousness, drooped.

At the same time, she was terrified.

How would the emperor react when he sees her after fully coming to his senses?

‘…I hope he’ll be glad to see me.’

“Since he woke up briefly, I’ll call the doctor.”

Upon Heinricion’s call, the waiting doctor immediately checked the emperor’s condition.

Fortunately, he overcame the critical period and was now recovering his physical strength.

“He will be asleep for the next few days, but once he wakes up, recovery will not be difficult.”

Eristella was relieved only then when she heard that the emperor would wake up healthy soon because he was recovering smoothly.

And when night came and she returned to her original form, Eristella told Heinricion.

“If he finds out that I will become a fox as soon as he wakes up, he will be shocked again. I think it would be better to hide it for a while.”

When the emperor opened his eyes for a moment, seeing her as a fox seemed to have made him worried.

At least until he was completely healed, she thought it would be best not to tell the truth so as not to surprise him.

“If he ever wakes up during the day… I’d better stay away.”

“I think we can decide based on the situation.”

Eristella wished to see the emperor in her true form, not as a fox, when he woke up again.

At that time, she would not hide, instead, she would smile brightly. And she should tell me she was glad he woke up and that she missed him.