Chapter 89
Karden supported his grandmother to sit comfortably in the chair and called a maid to bring hot towels.
Meanwhile, Karden was carefully massaging his grandmother’s knee. The Countess waved her hand dismissively.
“I’m fine. Remove your hand at once.”
“Nothing is more important to me than your health, Grandmother. I apologize for not being able to take care of you by your side.”
“Don’t say such things. When one gets old, it’s natural for a body part or two to break down.”
I couldn’t just stand by like this. I stood up from my seat and spoke decisively.
“Your Grace, I’ll heal the Countess.”
“Shuvelia, wait-.”
Karden tried to stop me, but I gave a slight bow and quickly entered the side room next to the drawing room. Then I concentrated and transformed into a fox.
I worried that the Countess might be surprised to see me as a fox, but treating her knee was the priority now.
I hurriedly ran back into the drawing room and stood before the Countess.
“Kyaan. Countess, may I examine your knee for a moment?”
The Countess, who had been frowning in pain, discovered me at her feet and her eyes widened.
“What is a baby fox doing here?”
I placed my fluffy front paws on the Countess’s knee and concentrated. Light began to glow softly from my tiny paw tips.
“My goodness! How remarkable.”
Unable to contain her surprise, the Countess exclaimed repeatedly. As the light seeped into her knee, her complexion gradually became more comfortable.
“Countess, are you feeling better now?”
I asked, standing upright on my hind legs with my front paws still on her knee.
The Countess, with an expression suggesting she didn’t know what to make of this, gently stroked my pointed ears.
“Miss Shuvelia, thank you so much. To heal me like this. Being treated by the hands of an adorable fox makes me feel like I could run right away.”
“Kyaan, I’m glad I could help.”
Only then did Karden release his tension and sigh with relief.
“Grandmother, I’m relieved you’re feeling better. Shushu’s healing power is excellent, so your knee won’t hurt for a while.”
“Indeed. Now I understand why she became your healer.”
The Countess smiled, took me into her arms, and stroked my luxuriant tail.
“How can you be so cute and lovable? Miss Shuvelia, wouldn’t you rather live with this old woman than with that stiff and boring Grand Duke?”
“Kyaan? What?”
The Countess glanced slightly toward Karden, then held me tightly in her arms.
I was confused by the Countess’s suddenly changed attitude.
Being held in the Countess’s arms reminded me of my own grandmother’s warm embrace back in the countryside, bringing tears to my eyes.
“Countess.”
“Yes. Tell me anything. Shuvelia, or may I call you Shushu?”
“Kyaan. Call me whatever you wish, Countess.”
I wagged my tail gently.
“Regular treatment is important for your knee, Countess. Would it be alright if I visit once a week to treat you?”
My healing power wasn’t complete, so it would be difficult to fully cure the knee with just one treatment. If I consistently infused healing power, the Countess would surely become healthier.
“To think of this old woman so kindly. How could I refuse when such an adorable friend offers to keep me company and treat my knee?”
While still in the Countess’s arms, I glanced at Karden. He was standing with his hands behind his back, looking at his grandmother with a pleased expression.
When our eyes met, his eyes curved gently into a smile.
Almost thanking me.
The Countess, who is precious to Karde,n is equally precious to me.
He had to leave his family too early to subjugate monsters.
I only hope that his grandmother, one of his few remaining blood relatives, stays healthy and by his side for a long time.
At that moment, the drawing room door opened and the butler hurriedly entered with a middle-aged man carrying a medical bag.
“My Lady, are you alright? I’ve brought the physician.”
Perhaps because he was a stranger despite being the physician, Karden immediately blocked his way.
“My grandmother is fine now, so you may leave.”
“Pardon? What do you mean, Your Grace?”
The butler looked bewildered, not knowing what to do, and glanced between the Grand Duke and the Countess.
The Countess shook her head as if she couldn’t help it. Then she whispered softly in my ear.
“Karden is being overprotective because of you.”
“Kyaan?”
The Countess stroked me and gently mediated.
“Grand Duke, please step aside. Doctor James is a trustworthy person who has treated me for many years.”
“As you wish, Grandmother.”
Karden complied and made way. Only then did the butler guide the physician in with an expression of relief.
The physician with a gentle impression approached the Countess and first examined her complexion.
“My Lady, how is your knee? I heard the symptoms had worsened.”
“Doctor James, welcome. Fortunately, the symptoms have improved.”
“I’m very glad to hear that. Let me prepare some medicine for you first.”
The physician sighed with relief and opened his medical bag, then his gaze fell on me sitting on the Countess’s knee.
A strange light flashed and disappeared in his serene gray eyes.
I was startled but curled up to avoid his gaze. I shouldn’t reveal that I’m a fox shapeshifter to a stranger.
The Countess seemed to understand this well and didn’t mention at all that I had treated her.
The physician took out several medicine bottles from his bag and began combining them. I peeked at him from the Countess’s embrace.
There was a familiar scent coming from the physician called James. Why, when I’ve never met him before?
“Take this medicine with water when you’re in pain.”
The physician respectfully handed the medicine bottle to the Countess.
“Thank you, as always, Doctor James.”
The Countess smiled warmly and instructed the butler to take the medicine bottle. Meanwhile, the physician’s gaze lingered on me.
I blankly looked up at his gray eyes.
Beyond those clear and calm gray eyes, what I clearly saw was…
A large, elegant white fox.
Could this physician also be a fox shapeshifter?
I wanted to confirm it right away, but I couldn’t bring myself to ask. Just as I’m pretending to be an ordinary fox, he might want to hide that he’s a shapeshifter.
The physician looked at me while asking the Countess.
“What a cute fox. Is it your pet, My Lady?”
“Not my pet. My grandson’s companion.”
“I’m surprised the Grand Duke keeps a fox. That’s unexpected of him.”
James smiled and respectfully bowed his head toward Karden. Karden silently nodded.
“Well then, I’ll be going now. Please contact me anytime if there’s any health concern.”
“Very well. Thank you for coming. Butler, please see Sir James out.”
James picked up his medical bag, respectfully bowed to the Countess, and turned to leave.
Oh no. I can’t let him go like this…
With an urgent and anxious heart, I couldn’t bear it and suddenly stood up.
After James left the drawing room, I noticed a small medicine bottle had fallen on the carpet. I quickly picked it up with my mouth.
“This belongs to the physician. I’ll go return it.”
I quickly took the medicine bottle in my mouth and left the drawing room.
This was the first fox shapeshifter I’d met in the capital. He might even be from the Ulpes tribe. He might know where Franz is.
The long corridor felt so distant. As I ran down the corridor so fast that I was almost out of breath, I saw James’s back in the entrance hall.
He was about to open the door and leave.
Oh no. I can’t let him go like this!
“Kyaan! (Wait!)”
Would he understand the shapeshifter language?
James, who was about to open the door and step out, stopped and slowly turned around. Seeing me coming with the medicine bottle in my mouth, his eyes crinkled in a smile that revealed his pleasure.
“What a clever fox. Thank you for bringing the medicine bottle.”
James knelt on one knee before me and met my gaze. While gently stroking my ears, he whispered softly.
“To meet you like this… I can’t believe it. Ruel.”
“What…?”
“I’m also a shapeshifter. I’m hiding my identity for certain reasons. I’ll contact you soon, so let’s meet again.”
In James’s eyes, looking down at me, there was an inexpressible mixture of longing, regret, and sadness.
What relationship did this person have with Ruel?
I could only blankly watch James’s retreating figure.
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