Chapter 111
Being away from the Grand Duke’s side to stay at my uncle’s house.
This was the decision I made yesterday at dawn, watching Karden sleeping soundly beside me.
If I stay by his side, I’ll likely crave his magical power even more intensely.
Perhaps if our bodies are distant from each other, my longing for his magic will subside.
I could continue living safely under protection at the villa, but there would be restrictions on helping shapeshifters.
Because whatever I do, Karden and Yudis would worry and try to overprotect me.
“I’d welcome you anytime, of course. But has His Grace the Grand Duke given permission?”
I couldn’t find words to answer my uncle’s question.
Honestly, I hadn’t told Karden. It was obvious he would oppose it.
I raised my head and spoke firmly.
“I haven’t told the Grand Duke yet. But my decision won’t change.”
Uncle James pushed up his glasses and observed me carefully.
“Seeing how adamant you are makes me even more concerned. Did something happen at the ball?”
I couldn’t help but hesitate. Should I honestly tell my uncle about my changes?
Uncle James was the only person who could help me now.
I couldn’t just sit by and watch as my power continued to change.
Clasping my hands tightly together, I opened my mouth with difficulty, speaking from a desperate heart.
“Actually, my power is changing strangely. I need to find the cause. Uncle, please help me.”
“Changing? In what way?”
Uncle James’s tone immediately became serious.
I explained to my uncle about meeting the berserk shapeshifter in the garden on the night of the ball, and how it had obeyed my command.
My uncle let out a sigh close to lamentation, then rubbed his face with his dry hands.
“Making a shapeshifter obey, and one not even of your own tribe… This is the first I’ve heard of such a possibility.”
“So you don’t know either.”
Uncle James shook his head.
“I came to the capital when I was young, so I don’t know much about the situation of the Ulpes tribe.”
“Then who should I look for to find out?”
My uncle stroked his chin and furrowed his brow.
“Perhaps the Ulpes leader would know the truth.”
“By the Ulpes leader, do you mean the chief who leads the pack?”
At that moment, Franz flashed through my mind.
Franz, whom I had seen like a vision at the ballroom.
At first, I thought it was an illusion, but it was definitely him.
Why did he appear at the royal ball?
Why didn’t he acknowledge me when he saw me?
As my mind became complicated with questions about Franz, Uncle James continued speaking.
“Yes. I’ve heard that the Ulpes elders only reveal the tribe’s secrets and essential laws to their leader.”
“So finding the Ulpes tribe is the only way. Uncle, have you met them in the capital?”
Since he’s an uncle who interacts with various shapeshifters in the capital, there’s a possibility he’s met the Ulpes tribe.
“I did interact with the Ulpes tribe a few years ago, but recently I haven’t been able to see them. I heard they were coming to the capital, but after that, I couldn’t find any trace of them.”
Wait, something’s strange.
I raised my voice urgently.
“That’s strange. The Ulpes tribe definitely went to the capital first. I saw with my own eyes when they left to train foxes capable of human transformation.”
Uncle James’s eyes shook with a confused light.
“Is that true? If they came to the capital, I should have known.”
My uncle paced anxiously and continued his explanation quickly.
“My shapeshifter patients bring me information every day, so if the Ulpes tribe had come to the capital, I would know when and where they settled. I thought they hadn’t come to the capital this year because there was no news, but why is this happening…?”
My heart sank.
The vision of Franz I saw that day at the ballroom might have been real.
Perhaps Franz appeared before me that day to…
Was he trying to ask for my help?
“Something must be wrong. Franz is a leader who would sacrifice himself to protect the Ulpes tribe. I think something has happened to them.”
Franz, Rena, and the Ulpes foxes flashed through my mind.
Although the Ulpes foxes feared and hated me, they were still of the same tribe.
If something happened to them, I couldn’t help but worry.
“Wait, did Franz become the next leader?”
“Yes.”
“Well, so that fierce-eyed fellow finally became the leader.”
My uncle’s expression softened briefly.
Does Uncle also have memories of Franz? His eyes became distant as if recalling old times.
“That one would risk his life to protect the tribe. As you said, something might have happened to them. I’ll actively look into it.”
Uncle James gently held my hand. Then he looked at me with a gentle smile.
“Ruel, thank you for saying you’ll stay with me. I’m infinitely happy to be able to take care of my precious niece. I can repay the debt I owe to your mother in heaven.”
Somehow, tears welled up, and I forcibly swallowed.
“I’m the one who should… thank you, Uncle.”
***
That evening, I had dinner with Karden and Yudis after a long time.
“Shuvelia, try this meat. It’s well-cooked, isn’t it?”
Yudis placed steak on my plate, attentively serving food.
I forced a smile and ate the meat, but I couldn’t taste anything at all.
If I were going to my uncle’s house tomorrow, I needed to tell them now.
Since it was obvious how Karden and Yudis would react, I found it difficult to speak.
“Shuvelia, is something troubling you?”
Karden asked quietly. During the meal, his gaze had been fixed on me.
Since he was someone who didn’t miss even the slightest change in my expression, I couldn’t delay any longer.
I put down my fork and took a sip of warm tea.
After calming my mind, I looked directly at Karden.
“I have something to tell you. I’m going to my uncle’s house tomorrow. I want to help my uncle with his work for a month.”
A suffocating silence descended over the table.
The first to break the silence was Karden.
“Why? If you want to help Doctor James, you could commute from here.”
He stared at me with piercing eyes. Caught in his gaze, I drew in a trembling breath.
As expected, I didn’t think Karden would readily agree.
Karden is usually gentle and affectionate toward me, but sometimes, when he reveals his intense possessiveness, he feels like a sharp blade.
“Uncle is researching an antidote for Turba. I want to help too. It’s cumbersome and time-consuming to travel back and forth from the villa. And I want to spend time with my uncle, my only family, even if just for a month.”
“Shuvelia.”
Karden’s sharp voice pierced my ears.
“Brother, stop it. It’s Shuvelia’s decision. Please respect it.”
It was Yudis who helped me.
Yudis gently took my hand and gave me a kind smile.
“I understand your intention. Do as you wish. We can’t take away your time with family.”
“Lady Yudis…”
“But I want you to remember this. Although we’re not related to you by blood, we’re family who care about you, worry about you, and want to protect you more than anyone. You’ll definitely return here after a month, right?”
Seeing Yudis’s blue eyes full of affection and trust for me, tears welled up for some reason.
I swallowed my tears and just nodded.
At that moment, Karden grabbed my wrist. His body temperature where we touched was hot.
“Brother!”
Yudis shouted sharply, but Karden had already wrapped his arm around my shoulder and forced me to stand.
“Your Grace?”
“Shuvelia, let’s talk. Yudis, don’t interfere.”
Karden’s voice was colder than ever before. Yudis’s expression hardened at his intimidating attitude.
Without time to shake off Karden’s strong grip, I left the drawing room with him.
As we walked down the long corridor, Karden held my wrist and walked resolutely without saying a word.
I felt anxious because I couldn’t see his expression as he only looked ahead.
Is he angry with me now? Is he misunderstanding that I’m leaving his side?
But how can I convey that all of this is for him?
Though I could feel his body temperature and pulse while holding his hand, I had never felt his heart so distant as now.
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