The Grand Duke’s Fox Princess

Episode 82: The Distance Between (III)

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“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you two together like that.”

From the emperor’s point of view, it was a very unfamiliar sight to see Eristella and Heinricion worrying about each other.

“How did you end up with Heinricion? Besides, you guys seemed to be getting along pretty well.”

Definitely, the relationship between Eristella and Heinricion was so bad that even the expression of ‘it was the worst’ sounded weak.

In the emperor’s most recent memory, that was the relationship between them.

That’s why Eristella realized all over again.

The things in the past seemed far away to her.

Before anyone knew it, Eristella and Heinricion had a relationship of helping and protecting each other.

“I… I went to him because he’s the only one with whom I could discuss my problems.”

“Lala. Is that really all there is to it?”

When asked if there was any other reason, Eristella was lost in thought.

Faced with the unknown realm of black magic, she desperately needed the help of Heinricion.

But that wasn’t all the reasons.

The only person she could trust and reveal that she had become a fox was Heinricion. She had the belief that no matter how bad her relationship with him was, he would not divulge her secrets.

And a little bit of expectations… It seemed that there might have been.

“Anyway, that’s a good thing. Because you weren’t alone.”

“Yes. If it wasn’t for Cion, I wouldn’t have come this far.”

Eristella nodded proudly.

“Today, the way Grand Duke Adelasia treats you is different from before. It felt like I’m seeing you guys in your childhood.”

Is that so? In the eyes of others, Eristella was just a fox raised by Heinricion.

It was the first time she had heard of the relationship between ‘Princess Eristella and Heinricion’ from someone else’s point of view. Noticing that the emperor’s reaction was unfamiliar, thoughts started to flow.

The corners of the emperor’s mouth curled up mischievously.

“Has there been a change between the two of you? Maybe, did you guys happen to…”

“It’s not what you think…!”

Realizing what he meant, Eristella was startled. She frantically shook her hands and explained.

‘For a second, I almost had hiccups.’

“Hmm. I see.”

When Eristella vehemently denied it, the emperor’s eyes narrowed as if in disappointment.

As she proceeded to cool her face that was flushed from embarrassment, he let out a mischievous laugh. Then he had this somber thought.

From the moment Eristella was born, she lived in the Imperial Palace. Wherever she went, the place she always returned to was the Imperial Palace.

But now she was trying to go back to a place other than the Imperial Palace.

Seeing that, he realized that many things have happened so far.

It was a great pity that Eristella had to return to the grand duchy when they were finally able to face each other properly.

However, it was unreasonable for her to stay in the Imperial Palace while still in an unstable state of turning into a fox.

The emperor looked intently at his one and only sibling, whom he had reunited with after a long time. He had a lot to say, but only one statement was necessary.

“Lala. Now you have me.”

His sister who must have been alone for such a long time. He wanted to make his dear, proud, and cute younger sister comfortable even now.

He didn’t want her to be lonely anymore.

“If anything happens, you must tell your brother without hesitation.”

The kind voice overlapped with that of an older brother who protected his naughty little sister from being scolded long ago.

The brother from childhood, whom Eristella thought had long since disappeared, was here.

“And I’ll be waiting for the day I live with you again.”

“…Yes!”

That one sentence gave Eristella a place to return to anytime.

Those were the words that she had longed and hoped for a long time ago.

Excited, Eristella laughed.

‘I’m not alone anymore.’

It was certain. She had a place to go back to. Her heart was warmer than ever.

Then. Sunlight began to seep in from outside the window, and just like that, Eristella became a fox.

*******

Heinricion was waiting for Eristella rather nervously in front of the carriage.

“Wait in the carriage.”

Ignoring Rowen’s suggestion, Heinricion paced outside the carriage, constantly looking at the path leading to the Imperial Palace, waiting for someone to walk over from there.

Heinricion knew what the emperor would say to Eristella.

So, if Eristella didn’t appear on that path, it meant she chose to stay by the emperor’s side.

‘I’m okay with that.’

Even though Heinricion thought so, something was annoying him and he didn’t like it.

Thus, he waited. Even after a lot of time passed. He hoped that Eristella would come all the way here in person. May she come back to him on her own.

It was then.

He saw a person walking at the end of the path he had been staring at for a long time.

However, it was the emperor, not Eristella.

Seeing this, Heinricion’s face hardened. The emperor approached and stopped in front of him.

“Take your fox.”

The fox in the arms of the emperor jumped up and hugged Heinricion.

‘Ah. He brought Eristella here as she turned into a fox. He couldn’t let her go alone.’

Heinricon did not care much about the emperor, holding the fox tightly in his arms, cradling it preciously.

“I’ll take you back with me.”

“Grand Duke.”

The emperor called Heinricion.

“Be nice to her.”

“Don’t worry.”

With that, Heinricion and the fox entered the carriage. Without realizing it, he was stroking the fox with a gentle hand.

“Let’s go home.”

Eristella couldn’t figure out why Heinricion was doing this. But on the contrary, Heinricion was very satisfied with the fact that Eristella had returned to him.

On the way back home.

The fox fell into a deep sleep next to Heinricion, purring as if all tension had been relieved.

*******

After waking up, Eristella was still in the form of a fox.

‘It’s refreshing~!’

After returning to the grand ducal mansion, Eristella began to change.

Somewhere in her body, desire welled up.

Maybe it was because she had decided to no longer take it as natural for people to hate her.

It was probably her desperation that made her think she had to give up.

Maybe that’s why, overnight, her head was clear and her body felt lighter.

As soon as she opened her eyes, Eristella jumped up and off the bed. Then she turned her small head, looking around.

Heinricion was nowhere to be seen. She vaguely remembered she was carried by him out of the Imperial Palace 

Then tucked into bed… 

The fox’s head tilted.

‘Am I still asleep? I don’t remember, I think it’s that.’

Eristella immediately set her course and moved.

‘He will be in his office.’

‘I’m right!’

As soon as Eristella arrived at the office, she spotted Heinricion and approached him.

“Fox. You look stronger today!”

Anessa suddenly raised her face in admiration.

“Today, your tail is more upright, and your fur seems to be softer.”

Actually, Eristella also thought the same thing as she looked in the mirror before leaving the room.

‘As expected. Anessa notices it!’

Delighted, Eristella stopped in front of Anessa, her eyes shining and her tail wagging even more vigorously.

In her excitement, she even put her paw on the hand that Anessa held out.

It was when Eristella was playing with Anessa.

“Your Excellency. I will report news about the Imperial Palace.”

Before long, Rowen went up to report to Heinricion.

‘Huh? I need to listen too.’

‘Sorry Anessa, but that’s it for today.’

Eristella turned her back as it was.

Swiftly, she sprinted to the top of the desk where Heinricion was and settled down.

The report had already begun.

“As Your Excellency said, the official announcement from the Imperial Court is that the emperor took an impromptu break due to his incurable disease.”

Eheheheheh.

Eristella smiled in satisfaction. This was the method the emperor and Eristella came up with.

—Just playing innocent.

Regarding what had happened to the emperor in the meantime, the surplus of black magic should not come out externally.

The fact that the emperor had been brainwashed by the black wizards for several years would not only lower the emperor’s authority, but also bring great fear and confusion.

It was necessary to cover up this incident while finding and dealing with those involved in the black magic that remained throughout the Imperial Palace.

“I never thought it would break through that in such a simple, ignorant way.”

No matter how hard they tried to hide it, there would be people who noticed the truth. Hence, they would not believe the absurd announcement straight away.

Even so, the emperor pushed forward without batting an eye.

He said he had been unable to find a treatment for the disease and kept it a secret, but fortunately, he was somehow completely cured.

This time, Heinricion found out that the emperor was quite a shameless person.

When he was a prince, whom he often saw as a child, he was a kind and serious adult-like person.

But thanks to that, the situation was certainly sorted out quickly.

In any case, the current emperor was in good health.

If anyone had more doubts here, they could be seen as suspicious. Therefore, there was no one who could raise an issue.