Chapter 86
“Wait, kid, calm down. We’re trying to help you.”
When the Helleon Merchant Guild people tried to take the shapeshifter boy away, he struggled in fear, not wanting to be taken.
“P-please spare me. No!”
Perhaps he misunderstood, thinking he was being sold somewhere else. His fear and terror of humans seemed to have reached its peak.
The guild people were at a loss about how to calm the struggling shapeshifter boy.
I hurriedly ran to them.
“Wait. Let me calm him down.”
I approached the shapeshifter boy and carefully took his hand. My heart ached seeing his skinny, scarred hands.
Startled by my sudden appearance, the shapeshifter boy flinched.
His large wolf ears were trembling, and his bushy tail drooped in fear.
But the boy’s gray eyes gazed at me. My reflection was mirrored in those fearful eyes.
“You, you too…?”
This shapeshifter boy can see that I’m a fox shapeshifter.
I stroked the boy’s thin cheek and smiled kindly.
“Yes. That’s right. Me too.”
The shapeshifter boy stared at me blankly. It was as if he could see through my human appearance to the fox hidden beneath.
“P-pretty… silver fox…”
“Thank you.”
I held back my tears and stroked the boy’s disheveled, dirt-covered hair several times.
“Those people are trying to help you. No one will hurt you anymore. So don’t worry.”
“R-really?”
The shapeshifter boy mumbled while trembling. Large tears welled up in his ashen eyes.
I suppressed my tears and nodded.
“Yes. I’m Shushu. What’s your name?”
The shapeshifter boy barely moved his dry, cracked lips.
“M-Mer.”
“Yes, Mer. I’ll come to see you again soon. Until then, eat well, get treatment, and take care of yourself. Okay?”
I promised as I gently stroked the shapeshifter boy’s head. The fearful expression on his face softened a little.
The Helleon Merchant Guild people covered Mer with a blanket and reassured him. They took him toward the guild building.
My heart felt heavy like a stone as I watched Mer’s skinny figure disappear in the distance.
“Are there many shapeshifters in the capital who are oppressed like Mer?”
Yudis, standing beside me, nodded with a grave expression.
“Yes. At least at the port, I manage it so that shapeshifters can’t be used as slaves. But in the shadowy parts of the capital, shapeshifters are still traded like objects.”
“That’s too… miserable and cruel.”
I bit my lip hard and clenched my fists.
Whether shapeshifters or humans, they’re all living beings sharing this land, yet they’re discriminated against and treated violently just because of their different race.
I wondered if the Ulpes tribe was also receiving such miserable treatment. Was Franz okay?
My heart grew heavier with worry and concern.
“Shushu, don’t make that face.”
Yudis gently stroked my head and spoke kindly.
“I’ll investigate where that guy brought the shapeshifter from. And my brother is also investigating groups that enslave shapeshifters.”
“The Grand Duke?”
“That’s why he’s been busy lately. He’s gathering information while meeting various nobles.”
“Oh… I didn’t know.”
I vaguely thought it was about border discussions as the Northern Grand Duke. But it was about matters related to shapeshifters.
Yudis lowered her gaze to meet my eyes.
“My brother said he’s doing this for you, Shushu.”
“F-for me?”
“My brother wants you to live freely as a shapeshifter in the capital. He’s preparing to enter the political arena to create that foundation. A person who detests the dirty noble society and political world full of all kinds of conspiracies and machinations.”
“Ah…”
I hadn’t thought of it. I didn’t know Karden was moving like that for me.
After I was kidnapped by slave traders, I knew he was continuously tracking them.
But I heard that the slave trader died, and there was no trace of the black mask who tried to forcibly take me.
I had forgotten about it for a while, but Karden was still working hard.
Yudis smiled bitterly and turned her gaze to the port.
Various people were busily working at the port. Among them were quite a few shapeshifters.
“My brother is even trying to legislate laws guaranteeing shapeshifter rights. With the power of House Helleide and the wealth of the Helleon Merchant Guild, it’s not impossible to gather nobles’ votes, gain the people’s support, and receive the King’s final approval. But it will take a lot of time and effort until it’s legislated.”
I hadn’t even thought about improving shapeshifter rights or treatment. But Karden was trying to change the world for me.
“Why didn’t the Grand Duke tell me about this?”
“Probably because he didn’t want to burden you. In fact, my brother earnestly asked me not to tell you this. But I thought you should know as a shapeshifter.”
“I see…”
I lowered my gaze, feeling tears welling up. I forcibly suppressed the tears that were rising to my throat.
Karden is doing his best for me like this, but what am I doing?
Recalling his reliable back, my heart ached sharply.
I merely consumed his magic, yet he’s trying to do so much for me.
While I’m a coward, constantly looking for opportunities to escape from his side.
“What… should I do?”
This question was for Yudis, but also for myself.
For me, I am still wandering without direction.
Yudis’s hand gently wrapped around mine.
“Stay by my brother’s side. That’s something only you can do, Shushu.”
“Something only I can do…”
I carefully repeated the words. It felt like such a heavy responsibility for me.
Yudis, as if already understanding my heart, patted my shoulder firmly.
“Master! Please come here for a moment. There’s something you need to see!”
A person from the Helleon Merchant Guild came urgently to report to Yudis. Yudis clicked her tongue, clearly annoyed.
“Not a moment’s rest. Shushu, it’s too crowded here. Would you like to go to the restaurant first and wait? I’ll follow soon.”
“Yes, I’ll do that.”
Yudis ordered her subordinate to prepare a carriage. She waved, her gesture conveying reassurance, and headed toward the warehouse.
While waiting at the port for a moment, a dignified carriage stopped in front of me.
A middle-aged coachman got out of the carriage, approached me, and bowed.
“Lady Shuvelia, please get in. I’ll guide you to the restaurant.”
“Yes, thank you.”
As soon as I got into the carriage, the horses started running at a fast pace.
After leaving the port, the carriage headed toward the main avenue, then suddenly turned in a different direction. It was an outlying area away from the capital.
Is the restaurant located on the outskirts of the capital?
I was puzzled but decided to stay quiet since I didn’t know the way. The carriage was still running at a fast pace, and the coachman was silent.
The scenery outside was changing to the outskirts where nobles’ townhouses were located. It seemed far from the shopping district where restaurants were.
Strange. Something’s going wrong.
I opened the small window connecting to the coachman’s seat.
“Excuse me, are we going to the restaurant? This doesn’t seem like the right direction.”
The coachman who had been cracking his whip to increase speed stopped.
He turned to look at me and bowed apologetically.
“I’m sorry, miss. This carriage is not going to the restaurant.”
“What do you mean? Lady Yudis must have told you the destination.”
I had an uneasy feeling. Who is this coachman taking orders from?
“Countess Grace wishes to meet Lady Shuvelia quietly. Please don’t worry, I’ll take you there safely.”
Countess Grace is Grand Duke Karden’s grandmother. Why does she want to meet me alone?
And even going so far as to avoid Yudis and the Grand Duke’s eyes.
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