The Grand Duke’s Fox Princess

Episode 86: The Distance Between (VII)

“If we hadn’t gone then, you would have been brainwashed.”

“I thought you would come.”

“Do you trust me that much?”

Eristella asked perversely. Even though they joined forces temporarily, it was an act for a momentary profit and purpose.

Greta claimed she did not have much faith, but she believed in Eristella and brought about her own destruction.

It wasn’t likable, which was why an edge stuck out in Eristella’s earlier words.

“No. It’s not the belief in Your Highness the Princess… There was someone who knew my intention of creating this situation.”

“……?”

The fallen lady’s meaningful gaze reached the grand duke.

“You knew.”

“…….”

Greta was speaking while looking directly at Heinricion.

“I thought it would be better for me to take the risk of being brainwashed for the outcome the Grand Duke wanted. That’s why I did what I did.”

It meant that she knew what it would be like if their timing was off or if she got it wrong.

Heinricion neither denied nor affirmed.

True to her words, Heinricion was aware of the deal between Greta and Marquis Lateran.

Eristella said she would trust Greta, but Heinricion couldn’t just leave it to trust.

Thanks to that, he was keeping an eye on the movements of the marquisate, including Lady Greta, and he was able to sense the marquis’ ulterior motives.

Like what might happen at the place she secretly informed them.

And there was no way that he could ever be sure of the marquis’ connection to black magic as much as when he swooped down on the scene.

That’s why Greta’s words towards Heinricion sounded resentful and sarcastic.

However, she lifted the corners of her mouth. As if she was feeling somewhat relieved.

“It was a good decision.”

Her smile deepened.

“Your Highness and Your Excellency wanted to catch that black wizard, and for whatever reason, I was able to make the choice I wanted.”

“I’m glad then.”

Heinricion replied nonchalantly, as if he had no interest in achieving Greta’s goal.

Greta, staring at Heinricion, turned her head and said,

“I will be leaving soon. I don’t have any lingering feelings here anymore.”

She will be leaving the mansion soon. Probably… she wouldn’t come back again.

“Here.”

Then, Eristella held out a small box to Greta.

“I’m giving this to you, as you were one of my ladies-in-waiting.”

It contained items of Eristella that could be exchanged for money.

“It’s not a lot, but it should be just enough to use when you really need it.”

“…….”

This was the maximum consideration Eristella could give.

Greta held the box, stared at her, and quietly took it.

That was it.

Without a final greeting, Eristella turned and left the mansion with Heinricion.

*******

Returning to the grand ducal, Eristella asked Heinricion.

“Why didn’t you say anything?”

Heinricion gazed at Eristella, who was expecting his reply.

“It wasn’t for such a calculated reason.”

“…….”

“Thinking back on the situation, I think I can understand it roughly.”

When Eristella heard what Greta said, she could guess how things had turned out.

Definitely, the information that Heinricion obtained was not entirely about Marquis Lateran’s movements.

He must have also found out that Greta was investigating her mother’s death.

Heat could be seen rising and then subsiding in Heinricion’s eyes. Seeing those eyes, Eristella was convinced.

“Sometimes, people have to go on a rampage to get their anger and frustration out.”

If it was Heinricion, that would have been what he hoped for.

That’s why… It wasn’t that he pretended not to know the danger surrounding Greta, rather, he supported her determination.

—Do whatever you want.

“That way, she’ll feel less regret… You pretended not to know.”

It must have overlapped with Heinricion’s experience. The wounds and regrets he received…

“Do whatever you want.”

Even if you couldn’t change what had already happened, you still want to make a last desperate effort to shake off even a little bit.

Heinricion, too, had the moment he wanted to do that.

He must have remembered that time.

Eristella could understand. Because she was the one who stopped Heinricion from doing that.

Heinricion, who had been listening silently, suddenly stared at Eristella with a serious expression, and he slowly reached out his hand.

His hand was getting closer and closer towards her… Tak.

“……?”

Before Eristella could begin to feel bewildered, Heinricion’s smooth, outstretched index finger was pressing down between her eyebrows.

Only after stretching out the area between Eristella’s eyebrows, which had been gathering seriously until just now, did he speak with a satisfied expression on his face.

“Why should I do Greta Lateran such a favor?”

“Huh?”

“There are regrettable parts, but that doesn’t mean that what Lady Greta did has gone away.”

Heinricion still hadn’t forgiven her.

But… Heinricion, who had been speaking calmly, stayed still for a moment as if lost in thought, then slowly continued,

“I just wanted to catch it. I just made up an excuse because I never wanted to miss it.”

Heinricioin was speaking the truth, but sadly, Eristella couldn’t fully concentrate.

…His fingers were still pressed between her brows!

“…I understand, so remove this now.”

Eristella pulled her head back and forcibly pried his fingers from her forehead.

“Wait a minute. I need to check.”

She quickly turned her head to check her reflection in a nearby mirror.

The center of her forehead was red hot, like a red dot.

…He pressed so hard that it left a mark!

As Eristella glared at Heinricion, the sound of ‘Puhahahaha!’ leaked out from the corners of his lips.

*******

‘Why am I small again?’

Heinricion tried to figure out the situation even in the midst of astonishment.

Could it be that the black wizard did a trick again? Heinricion became wary of the surroundings and examined the area.

‘Isn’t it different from the last time I was hypnotized?’

It was not an illusion. But Heinricion himself was really young.

Could this be a dream?

It was then. On the table in front of the young Heinricion, a white wad of cotton was nicely laid out.

‘What is this?’

‘It’s round, fluffy, and has a sweet scent… Is it edible?’

It was when young Heinricion carefully bit it.

“Ah! Who bit me?!”

The fluffy lump wriggled and moved along with screams like thunderbolts.

Huh… a fox…?

‘Eristella? Why are you popping out here?’

“……!”

Was it a dream?

When Heinricion opened his eyes, all he could see was the white ceiling, and when he turned his head, a fox with the same appearance as the one he had seen in his dream was curled up in a circle, asleep.

He remembered what Eristella said last night.

She must have been paying attention to him by linking it to the past events of the Grand Duchy of Adelasia.

“…….”

Heinricion didn’t tell Eristella, but in fact, he was at ease from the memories that had haunted him for so long.

He no longer bothered when he thought of his parents. His green eyes relaxed slightly as he gazed at the snoozing fox.

‘You pretend to be self-centered, but are keenly attentive.’

Then Eristella, still in her sleep, frowned and rubbed her side with her hind paw.

It was the part that Heinricion had bitten in his dream.

*******

Heinricion and the fox were on their way to the office.

[I don’t quite remember, but I think I had a bad dream.]

After waking up, Eristella frowned as if she was trying to recall something. Then she stood on the shoulder of Heinricion and stared at him.

“Why are you staring?”

[I don’t know. But I feel bad for no reason?]

‘Is it just your bad personality? Are your instincts sharp?’

Although Heinricion feigned ignorance, he became curious about what kind of dream Eristella had.

‘It can’t possibly be the same dream.’

Still, he arrived at the office just in time and was able to get away from Eristella’s gaze for a while.

But this time, in the office, Rowen was waiting for Heinricion with a strange expression.

“Your Excellency. I thought I should give you a report.”

“What is it?”

“This came to you.”

‘What? Why is Rowen putting so much emphasis into this envelope?’

It was when Eristella stared at the seemingly significant envelope.

‘Is this… that?’

The Grand Duchy of Adelasia received countless letters and invitations every day.

It was impossible to upload all of them, so only selected ones could reach Heinricion.

And Rowen’s inspection was essential for the selection process.

Today, however, Rowen was faced with an envelope of problems he could not fathom.

It was the kind that had never stepped on the threshold of the Grand Duchy of Adelasia before.

“I think you will have to check and decide for yourself.”

Heinricion, too, intuitively felt at a glance that it was not an ordinary envelope.

An envelope wrapped in several layers to prevent any damage.

It was when everyone held their breaths and focused their eyes on Heinricion and the envelope.

What started with an obvious greeting at first revealed its purpose from the middle.

‘…Is it a marriage proposal?’

Ame: there’s a new announcement, which you might want to check out.

omgomgomg I CALLED IT IN THE working doc’s COMMENTS!!!!!! YAY for more drama, YAY for jealousy! Because we all know eri+cion is endgame! I’m already feeling sorry for that foolish family who sent this proposal…