Chapter 94
A heavy silence descended in the carriage.
“Why did you break your promise not to go out alone? I told you to take escort knights for your safety.”
Karden’s expression directed at me was stiffly rigid.
My heart sank at this unfamiliar expression I’d never seen before.
I lowered my gaze and bit my trembling lips tightly.
“I-I’m sorry. I didn’t intentionally break my promise… I was curious about who was behind this.”
“Behind this?”
“I noticed thugs following me. So I deliberately pretended to fall into their trap.”
Karden swept back his disheveled bangs with a deep sigh.
“Such dangerous tasks are my responsibility. Why did you put yourself at risk by taking matters into your own hands?”
“But I could have handled those thugs…”
I started to protest out of frustration, but closed my mouth.
When the thugs poured that strange vial on me, I vividly felt my magical power churning.
My whole body trembled with the intense murderous intent I’d never felt before.
If Karden hadn’t appeared then, I might have pursued those men to the end and killed them with my own hands.
I dropped my head weakly.
“I’m sorry. My thinking was… shortsighted.”
I absolutely didn’t want him to know that I had changed like that.
Karden’s large hand cupped my cheek.
When his warm touch met my skin, I felt tears welling up.
“Shuvelia, such things are my duty. Please let me protect you.”
“Your Grace.”
“I get anxious when you’re not in my sight. To an unbearable degree.”
Karden stretched out his other hand and wrapped it around my shoulder.
As I nestled into his broad embrace, his rough breathing and rapidly beating heart echoed in my ears.
Karden buried his face in my hair and whispered desperately.
“I’d feel more at ease if you’d just turn into a fox and stay in my arms forever.”
I reached out and embraced his broad back.
Why does this person feel more anxious and afraid than I do?
I want to protect Karden.
Because I don’t know when my instinct to crave his magical power might awaken.
But right now, reassuring Karden, who was like a wounded and anxious boy, took priority.
“I’ll do as you say, Your Grace. I’ll stay right by your side.”
I whispered, exhaling against his collar. Karden’s prominent Adam’s apple trembled.
“Don’t leave my side, Shuvelia.”
Karden’s hand carefully touched my cheek, tenderly caressing the skin with gentle strokes.
My eyes curved softly at his tender touch without me realizing.
The fingers caressing my cheek moved to my chin.
His finger gently pressed against my lower lip.
The heat from his fingertips felt like it was stirring my insides.
I kissed Karden’s finger while meeting his gaze.
Even in this moment, looking at Karden stirred an intense longing deep in my stomach. My throat burned dry.
I was confused whether this was truly wanting him or craving his magical power.
“Karden…”
To hide my confusion, I traced his prominent cheekbone with my finger.
And without hesitation, I pressed my lips against his hot ones.
Receiving Karden’s excited sigh that he couldn’t hold back any longer, I reached out and wrapped my arms around his neck.
Hoping this kiss would somehow quench my burning thirst.
***
On the table lay a large map of the Arden Kingdom with chess pieces placed throughout.
And at the position of the royal castle stood the king chess piece.
The man in the black mask held the queen chess piece and looked down at the kingdom map with cold eyes.
“How did it go? Report.”
At the black-masked man’s question, the knight standing behind him bowed his head.
“Yes. The Turba potion seems to have had a temporary effect on the Ulpes fox. The effect wasn’t as strong as with other specimens. I presume it’s because of the abilities that fox possesses.”
The black-masked man’s eyes narrowed.
“By abilities, do you mean her power to devour magical energy prevented the Turba’s effects from spreading?”
“Yes. Next time, we’ll test a stronger potion.”
“How did the other specimens react?”
“I’ll show you directly.”
The knight called for subordinates waiting outside the office.
Two subordinates brought in someone with a hood over their head.
The hooded man with bound arms was dragged in docilely like a doll, offering no resistance.
When the hood was removed, the face of a shapeshifter with beast ears on his head was revealed.
Unable to fully humanize, he still had a tail and patches of fur growing on his face.
His unfocused yellow eyes stared into space, and around his neck was a shackle collar.
Small magic circles were engraved on the collar, which glowed red with a buzzing sound.
The knight opened the lid of a brown vial and held it in front of the shapeshifter’s nose.
“The Turba potion triggers an immediate reaction just from smelling it, without drinking.”
No sooner had the knight finished speaking than the dazed shapeshifter’s yellow eyes began to roll wildly.
“Grrrr…”
The shapeshifter began making ferocious sounds, baring his sharp fangs.
Fur and beast claws instantly grew from what had been ordinary fingers moments before.
“Raaaar!”
The shapeshifter raised his claws, trying to attack the knight before him.
Though he couldn’t move due to the ropes binding him, he struggled violently to break free.
The knight respectfully addressed the black mask.
“You just need to command him to stop. He absolutely obeys the Master’s voice.”
The black-masked man glared at the shapeshifter with a cold sneer.
“Stop. Listen to your master.”
As the black-masked man’s voice echoed, the aggressive shapeshifter instantly became docile.
The shapeshifter looked up at the black mask with fearful eyes, bowing his head.
“Kneel before your lord, insolent creature!”
When the thug holding the shapeshifter kicked his knee, the shapeshifter knelt obediently without even a scream.
The black-masked man watched with apparent satisfaction.
“The effect is immediate. Both the potion and the artifact.”
“Yes. Turba has proven sufficiently effective on shapeshifters. It increases violence, decreases rational judgment, and maximizes animal instincts. We’re currently mass-producing it, with enough dosage prepared to administer to hundreds of shapeshifters.”
The corner of the black-masked man’s mouth twisted upward.
“How far has the production of artifacts to control them progressed?”
“The quantity you specified has been adequately prepared. It’s possible by the date of the royal ball, Master.”
The black-masked man nodded with satisfaction at the knight’s loyal answer.
The black-masked man picked up a sharp dagger next to the map and stabbed it into the king chess piece on the royal castle.
The king chess piece shattered into pieces. The black-masked man placed the queen chess piece on those remains.
“I’m quite looking forward to this ball. Let’s see how far my queen can go.”
***
After a long time, I sat around the breakfast table with Karden, Yudis, and Owen.
Ron couldn’t join us as he was sleeping in after staying up late for magic research.
I wore a simple dress with my hair tied back tightly, nibbling on bread and soup.
After returning with Karden in the carriage last night, I had slept deeply for the first time in a while, feeling refreshed in both mind and body.
It was such a peaceful morning that the thug attack incident felt like a dream.
Strangely, I used to always return to fox form after a day, but now I was maintaining human form, perhaps able to transform at will.
I was enjoying a leisurely meal, chatting with Yudis, while Karden was listening to Owen’s morning report.
After the report ended, Karden casually said while drinking his coffee.
“Shuvelia, today we’ll go to see His Highness the Crown Prince.”
I paused mid-spoonful of soup. Yudis’s expression also hardened.
“The Crown Prince, you say?”
“Yes. Originally, we should have an audience with His Majesty the King, but since His Majesty’s health is poor, we must see the Crown Prince instead. I’ll attend with you, so don’t feel burdened…”
Karden’s words were cut off. Yudis struck the table and jumped to her feet.
“You’re saying His Highness the Crown Prince wants to meet Shushu today?”
Yudis’s teacup almost tipped over. Owen quickly caught it.
He tried to calm Yudis with a composed voice.
“Lady Yudis, please don’t get excited.”
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