Chapter 113
If I can’t reveal my powers, perhaps I should follow my uncle’s advice and seek asylum abroad or hide in the countryside.
When that thought crossed my mind, I felt depressed. Without realizing it, my tail drooped and my pointed ears fell flat.
Nurse Mary, noticing my change, exclaimed in surprise.
“Oh my, Miss Shushu. Are you hungry? You look so down!”
“Kyaang? That’s not it….”
“What am I thinking? I’ll prepare a meal right away. Just wait a moment.”
Why does everyone think I’m hungry whenever I look down?
I’m seriously contemplating important matters here.
Just then, the bell on the clinic door jingled.
At the same time, I caught a familiar scent.
I instinctively wagged my tail and turned my head toward the door.
But the visitor moved even faster, rushing toward me in a surprise attack.
“Lady Yudis?”
“Kyaaaa! Shushu! I missed you so much!”
Yudis pulled me into her arms, rubbing her cheeks against mine, stroking my fur, and kneading my soft jelly paws at a terrifying speed.
Trapped in Yudis’s embrace, I struggled for breath and cried out.
“Kyang, have you been well?”
“No, I haven’t! I spent nights crying because I missed you so much. Oh, you adorable, fluffy fox Shushu, it’s been too long.”
Yudis hugged me tightly to her chest, her eyes glistening with tears.
Feeling her sincerity, I rubbed my face against her cheek and gently wagged my tail.
“I missed you, too.”
“Really? You precious thing!”
Yudis showered me with kisses, blew raspberries on my round belly, and only then did she finally let me go.
I emerged from Yudis’s embrace completely disheveled.
Next time, I should be in human form. Yudis’s intense reactions are scary.
Just then, the door to the dispensary opened, and Uncle James came out.
“Lady Yudis, you’re here.”
“Yes. Shushu has been imposing on Doctor James. I’m always grateful.”
The doting Yudis who had been adoring me just moments ago was gone, replaced by someone who greeted Uncle James with formal respect.
Uncle James glanced at me and smiled gently.
“It’s no imposition at all. Rather, Shushu is like a gift to me. Please, have a seat.”
The clinic atmosphere became peaceful for a while as we drank the tea brought by Nurse Mary.
I lapped up the tea with my tongue, while Yudis watched me with a look of absolute adoration.
“By the way, Lady Yudis, how is the Grand Duke doing?”
It had already been a week since I came to Uncle’s clinic.
I had expected Karden to visit at least once during this time, but whether he was busy or not, there was no word from him.
They say no news is good news, but isn’t this a bit too indifferent? After saying he would visit every other day.
Yudis’s expression hardened, and she scratched her cheek awkwardly.
“Actually, there was an accident at the recent hunting competition, and my brother has been busy dealing with the aftermath.”
“An accident?”
“There was a hunting competition hosted by the House of Lords, and a Count was attacked while trying to catch a rabbit.”
“At a hunting competition, they would have taken thorough safety and security measures. Who could have attacked him?”
Uncle James asked incredulously.
“A wolf shapeshifter who was the Count’s servant went berserk at the hunting grounds and attacked his master.”
“What?”
Uncle and I exchanged shocked glances.
“Why did the shapeshifter suddenly go berserk?”
“They’re investigating that now, but apparently the shapeshifter had been drinking Turba medicine like water. Among shapeshifters, Turba is used for physical recovery.”
“Ah… Turba side effects, then.”
“Yes. The wolf shapeshifter is now imprisoned underground. Fortunately, the berserk symptoms have subsided, and he doesn’t remember what he did. The Count avoided fatal injuries and is recovering.”
Uncle James let out a soft sigh.
“That’s somewhat fortunate. If word got out in the capital that a shapeshifter servant killed his master, the oppression and negative public opinion toward shapeshifters would intensify.”
Yudis nodded with a serious expression, agreeing.
“You’re right, Sir James. That’s what we’re most concerned about. The nobles are in a panic after seeing a wolf shapeshifter go berserk at a hunting ground where hundreds of aristocrats had gathered. Some are now dismissing their shapeshifter employees or treating them like potential murderers.”
“Kyaang? The situation is getting serious. What should we do?”
Yudis gently stroked my back as if trying to calm me down.
“The royal court has reprimanded Duke Berdin and brought him to a formal trial.”
“They already held a trial?”
“The situation was serious, so it proceeded urgently. There were some results. They discovered a large Turba flower plantation on land owned by Duke Berdin.”
“Really?”
“My brother strongly insisted that the Turba flower plantation should be completely burned down. But…”
Flames of anger flickered in Yudis’s blue eyes.
“Those corrupt nobles who only care about their own interests all came out in opposition. They said the Turba flower plantation shouldn’t be destroyed.”
“What? Why?”
Uncle James frowned, suppressing his anger.
“Because while Turba is poison to shapeshifters, it’s a medicinal herb with excellent effects for humans.”
“That’s right, Doctor James.”
Yudis answered in a dejected voice.
Human greed is more frightening than the toxicity of Turba flowers. Such a selfish and cruel attitude—not caring if another species suffers as long as it benefits them.
“So, what was decided?”
Yudis gave a bitter smile at my question.
“Duke Berdin argued that Turba medicine is an excellent antibiotic for humans, and that it may cause side effects in some shapeshifters. He said he would manage and treat affected shapeshifters at shapeshifter shelters. He announced that he would delegate the sales rights of Turba medicine to the royal family. Cunning bastard. He’s desperately trying to avoid rotting in the underground prison for the rest of his life.”
Yudis shook her head and clicked her tongue.
I urgently asked a question.
“What decision did Crown Prince William make?”
“His Highness had no choice.”
“What?”
Yudis heaved a deep sigh.
“His Majesty the King’s condition has worsened again. The Turba medicine is absolutely necessary.”
“Ah…”
“For now, they’ve banned the distribution of Turba medicine to shapeshifters. They’ll sell the medicine to humans only under strictly controlled conditions.”
“So in the end, nothing was resolved.”
“Right. Unless there’s an alternative to Turba medicine, nothing will change. Duke Berdin still enjoys His Majesty’s trust and continues to provide the medicine.”
Yudis was right. Though they claimed to have suppressed Duke Berdin’s influence, it was only temporary.
As long as he could produce Turba medicine, he could exert his influence again at any time.
We needed to quickly find the location where Turba flowers grew naturally. Finding an alternative that could suppress Turba’s side effects was urgent.
Yudis firmly grasped my front paw. Her eyes were filled with worry and concern for me.
“Shushu, there’s another reason why I came here.”
“Yes?”
“You should leave the capital and go to the northern castle. You can take Doctor James with you.”
“What do you mean? Why should I go to the northern castle? What about the Grand Duke and you?”
Yudis avoided answering my question directly, turning her gaze to Uncle James instead.
“Doctor James, you’ve already noticed, haven’t you? What the atmosphere in the capital is like these days.”
“Is the situation so unstable that we need to flee to the northern castle?”
Uncle’s voice was heavy and serious. Yudis nodded with a deep sigh.
“Yes. Shapeshifters are going berserk in various places. It seems to be a side effect of discontinuing Turba medicine.”
I felt my heart sink.
But I hadn’t noticed any such situation while at the clinic.
Looking blankly at Yudis, I checked her shoes. They were covered in dirt, and I could see a sword hidden under her uniform.
Yudis had never come to see me armed before.
The fact that she was carrying a sword meant the situation outside was not good.
Then, was Karden alright? He was surely at the forefront, stopping the berserk shapeshifters. That’s why he hadn’t come to see me.
“Um, the Grand Duke…”
Just as I was about to ask Yudis about Karden’s well-being.
The clinic door opened roughly, and a boy rushed in frantically.
His head was covered in dirt, and his skinny body was full of injuries.
He looked familiar. This boy was definitely… the shapeshifter boy Rudy, whom I’d met in the market alley.
With a tear-stained face, Rudy urgently cried out.
“Please help! My sister, my sister is in danger!”
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