Chapter 96
“Shushu, are you nervous?”
Cradled in Karden’s arms, I slowly took deep breaths.
Right now, I’m an adorable, lovable fluffy fox.
Since morning, I’d been thoroughly bathed and received the finest grooming, making my silver fur glisten in the sunlight.
A pretty blue ribbon was also tied nicely around my neck.
Karden too looked more splendid and handsome in his pure white frock coat with a blue cravat. The same blue color – it’s just like couple items.
“Kyaang, I’m fine. I’m ready.”
Though I spoke confidently, I couldn’t help my voice trembling slightly.
That’s understandable since we’re currently inside the royal palace.
After crossing through a magnificent corridor with brilliant chandeliers, gold decorations, marble floors, and endless tall ivory pillars, we finally stood before the Crown Prince’s office.
I’m glad I came as a fox. If I had been in human form, I might have tripped over my dress while walking due to nervousness.
Karden gently stroked my back. It was a comforting touch, noticing my tension.
“Don’t worry. I’m here with you.”
I nodded and came down from his arms.
Since this is an audience with His Highness the Crown Prince, I should observe proper etiquette.
I held my head high and stared at the Crown Prince’s office door.
Just then, my eyes met with the chamberlain standing in front of the elaborately decorated office door.
The dignified, gray-haired chamberlain’s strict expression immediately softened when our eyes met.
But he quickly returned to his original expression.
“His Highness the Crown Prince is waiting. Please enter.”
As we entered the office, a splendid study came into view.
A spacious drawing room filled with bookshelves containing thousands of volumes, and beyond the large sunlit windows stretched a private garden.
A young man with golden hair stood by the window.
Dressed in a green uniform, he had emerald green eyes that reflected the light of summer.
So that’s William von Royston, the Crown Prince and male protagonist of the original story.
William, who had been admiring the garden outside, slowly turned his head.
As his gaze fell on Karden, his eyes curved into a bright smile.
“Hyungnim! You’ve come!”
William smiled brightly and ran toward Karden with open arms.
Like a younger brother meeting his respected hyungnim, the Crown Prince embraced Karden warmly.
The Crown Prince welcomed Karden with childlike, genuine joy.
“How many years has it been since I last saw you? I’m relieved to see you in good health.”
“Thank you for your warm welcome, Your Highness.”
Karden bowed stiffly while being forcibly embraced by the Crown Prince.
William’s eyebrows drooped slightly, looking disappointed.
“Hyungnim, please stop with the formalities. Haven’t I always asked you to think of me as your younger brother?”
“I appreciate your words, but as a subject of the kingdom, I will observe proper etiquette.”
I stared blankly, alternating my gaze between William the Crown Prince and Karden, who were still embracing in their warm reunion(?).
Were they this close?
In the original story, they seemed to be wary and hateful of each other.
William’s green eyes sparkled as he looked at Karden with admiring eyes.
“Karden, you are my distant relative, so naturally you’re like family. Family should certainly be comfortable with each other.”
In the original story, Karden was described as a distant collateral relative of the Crown Prince’s maternal family.
Is that why the Crown Prince treats Karden like an older hyungnim and follows him?
William beamed with a broad smile while examining Karden, but soon his gaze turned to me.
“Could that fox be…”
As he stared at me intently with curious green eyes, I nervously gulped.
William momentarily looked dazed, then his expression softened like butter melting.
“What an adorable, fluffy fox.”
Disregarding the Crown Prince’s authority, William approached me and knelt on one knee.
“Kyaang? Your Highness?”
I was the one surprised. As I jumped back, trying to retreat, the Crown Prince extended his hand with a sunshine-bright smile.
“You’re Shushu, right? Thank you so much for coming.”
Golden hair glistening in the sunlight, a beautiful appearance as if sculpted by gods, and lips tinged with rose-petal pink.
Goodness. He’s like a golden-haired prince straight out of a fairy tale.
I stared blankly up at William, entranced.
Reflexively, I gently placed my small front paw on William’s palm.
“It’s an honor to meet Your Highness, the Star of the Kingdom.”
Though in fox form, I greeted him with utmost formality, my fluffy tail swishing gently.
William smiled brightly and carefully embraced me.
“To think such a lovely being exists. You’re the healer who stopped my hyungnim’s rampage. Thank you so much.”
“Oh, no. It was simply my duty.”
I habitually checked William’s pulse with my front paw. By just touching someone’s wrist with my paw, I can tell their physical condition or what’s bothering them.
William appeared healthy on the outside with a bright complexion, but he seemed to have a naturally weak heart. He appeared to have a physically frail constitution.
In the original story, too, Crown Prince William was sickly and suffered many illnesses as a child.
I closed my eyes tightly and used my healing power.
A soft light emanated from my front paws and seeped into William.
“So this is that healing power. How fascinating. I feel lighter.”
William gently stroked my back and whispered affectionately.
“I want to make you my exclusive healer. Won’t you live with me in the palace?”
If I were in human form, I would have been immediately captivated by such a beautiful prince speaking in such a sweet voice.
“That’s not possible, Your Highness. Shushu is my companion.”
Ah, I momentarily forgot. Karden came with me.
Come to think of it, the entire time I was with the Crown Prince, Karden had been standing to the side, glaring with cold eyes.
His brow was deeply furrowed, emanating a subtle aura of anger.
William turned to Karden with a surprised expression.
“This is the first time I’ve heard you speak of a companion, hyungnim. Shushu must be very precious to you.”
William bowed respectfully toward me.
“Shushu, please continue to take good care of my hyungnim.”
After our greetings, we sat around a tea table and enjoyed a peaceful tea time.
William elegantly set down his teacup and began to speak.
“Originally, I had planned to dispatch Lady Olivia as your exclusive healer, Brother.”
Wait, wasn’t it the Grand Temple that was going to send Olivia to Karden?
As I looked at Karden with wide eyes, he gave a slight nod.
“I heard the Grand Temple was planning to send Lady Olivia, but did Your Highness intervene?”
“Yes. But upon learning about the excellent healer Shushu, I withdrew that plan.”
William said with a smile directed at me. Karden’s expression darkened slightly.
“I’ve heard Lady Olivia is a healer with exceptional skills. Please don’t worry about me and make her Your Highness’s dedicated healer. Your Highness’s health is the priority.”
So Karden also knew that Prince William had heart problems.
“For me, the well-being of my hyungnim, who guards the kingdom’s border,s is more important.”
William spoke calmly but sincerely.
Were they always this sweet with each other?
In the original story, these two fought to the death over possessing the healer Olivia.
The pure, pitiful golden-haired Crown Prince and the strong, cold northern Grand Duke with black hair.
The look in the eyes of the two facing each other conveyed genuine care and concern.
I was entranced, admiring the two of them.
I think it’s fine even if the original genre changes. The content has changed anyway.
Suddenly, I even suspected that my reincarnation as a fox in this story might be part of a divine plan—to save the villain from doom and preserve this warm brotherly love.
“Shushu, what’s wrong?”
Karden asked curiously.
“Oh, nothing. May you two forever love…”
“What?”
“No, I meant you two seem to have met after a long time, so please talk more. Kyaang.”
I hurriedly corrected my slip of the tongue while vigorously swishing my fluffy tail.
William changed the subject with a gentle smile.
“Hyungnim, since you’ve come to the capital after so long, will you attend the upcoming royal ball?”
Karden thought for a moment, then turned his gaze to me.
“Shushu, what do you think? Would you like to attend the ball?”
“What? Yes, I’d like to attend once.”
After all, a grand, magnificent ball with brilliant chandeliers and women in beautiful dresses is something everyone wants to see at least once.
William gently took my front paw and spoke kindly.
“I’d also very much like to see Shushu attend the ball as a beautiful lady.”
“Kyaang? Th-thank you, Your Highness.”
While I was happily discussing the ball with William, the chamberlain approached.
William’s expression instantly changed from that of a kind younger brother to one of a dignified Crown Prince.
The chamberlain spoke in a respectfully low voice, and William’s expression turned serious.
After the chamberlain left, William let out a deep sigh.
“What is the matter, Your Highness?”
“More bad news has arrived. There’s been another violent incident involving shapeshifters employed by certain nobles.”
/ᐠ. .ᐟฅ/ᐠ. .ᐟฅ/ᐠ. .ᐟฅ/ᐠ. .ᐟฅ/ᐠ. .ᐟฅ
T/n: I know most of the readers know already the term “hyungnim” if not from novels then from K-idols or K-dramas, but for the chance that there are some who don’t know the term, “hyungnim” (형님) is a respectful Korean term used by males to address an older brother or an older male they respect as a brother figure. It carries more formality and respect than the casual “hyung” (형). In this translation, I decided to keep “hyungnim” untranslated rather than using “brother” because it better conveys the specific relationship dynamic and level of respect William shows toward Karden. The term reflects not just family relation but a deep sense of admiration and deference that would be lost in the English equivalent. Also, to be honest, I’m not a fan of using the sister/brother address if they are not related by blood. Okay, here they are distant relatives but not “real” brothers, so it still counts as a reason for me to keep the original term. ｡ﾟ+.ღ(ゝ◡ ⚈᷀᷁ღ)
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