Chapter 99
I felt dazed, like someone had struck the back of my head.
What did I just hear? That Doctor James is Ruel’s uncle?
Having no memories of Ruel, I was flustered and didn’t know how to react.
James lowered his head with a bitter expression.
“It’s understandable that you’re surprised. You’ve never met this uncle before. I’m sorry for appearing before you as your uncle only now.”
I swallowed hard and asked in a trembling voice.
“…Why didn’t you look for me?”
It had always been a question. When I possessed her, young fox Ruel had been abandoned by the Ulpes tribe.
Ruel must have had parents or relatives, so why didn’t anyone come to rescue or take her?
Was she abandoned even by her own blood? My heart ached at the thought. I felt sorry for Ruel, whose situation was similar to mine.
Uncle James’s gray eyes trembled slightly.
He exhaled, seemingly trying to suppress his rising emotions.
“Your mother, my sister… died from childbirth complications after giving birth to you.”
“Ah…”
No one had told me about Ruel’s mother, but I had vaguely sensed it.
That Ruel’s mother was no longer in this world.
Tears flowed down my cheeks without me realizing it. My heart felt like it was being torn apart.
Uncle James’s hand grasped mine.
His eyes were reddened, and his voice trembled as he tried to hold back tears.
“At that time, I was working as a doctor after being adopted into a medical family. I couldn’t reveal that I was a shapeshifter, so I couldn’t visit my sister. The elders told me that my sister had died during childbirth along with her baby. Foolishly, I believed them…”
“They lied. The Ulpes elders!”
Anger toward the Ulpes elders welled up inside me. Uncle would have been Ruel’s only blood relative, yet they prevented them from meeting.
“Yes. It seems they tried to hide you thoroughly because they knew you possessed a power that could bring misfortune to the tribe. But while in the capital, I began to hear rumors about you.”
“Rumors?”
“Rumors about the emergence of a being who would bring destruction to the Ulpes tribe spread secretly among shapeshifters. I instinctively knew that you were the subject of those rumors. So I made every effort to find you.”
“I see…”
“I was surprised to learn that you had entered the service of Grand Duke Helleide, but I was also relieved. You would be safe there. By divine providence, I was the physician in charge of the Grand Duke’s grandmother. Naturally, I came to know information about you as well.”
Uncle James urgently grabbed my shoulders and spoke emphatically.
“Ruel. It’s not that I didn’t look for you. Believe me. I was preparing to take you away safely.”
“Preparing?”
Uncle James took a moment to compose himself before continuing.
“When my sister was pregnant with you, she came to see me in the capital.”
“What?”
“Your father had died in a monster attack at that time. He died bravely fighting to protect your mother and you in her womb.”
“Ah…”
I listened to Uncle James’s words in a daze.
My breathing became labored with the overwhelming pain. I couldn’t bear the heartache over Ruel’s pitiful fate.
“I asked my sister to come to the capital and live with me. But she said she wanted to raise her child freely in the northern snowfields. I respected her decision and sent her back. I shouldn’t have let her go…!”
Uncle James’s face contorted with agony and sorrow as he clenched his teeth.
The veins on the back of his hand holding mine stood out.
His entire body trembled with guilt for failing to protect his only sister.
“Uncle James…”
“Still, I’m thankful to meet you safe and sound like this, Ruel.”
Uncle James removed his glasses and wiped the tears from his eyes.
“Don’t worry about anything. Let’s seek asylum abroad together now. In the country where I’m going, shapeshifters’ rights are recognized. You can live freely there. I’ll make you happy, just as your mother wished.”
“Asylum abroad?”
I was dumbfounded by Uncle James’s unexpected proposal.
My uncle held my hand firmly and spoke with a hopeful expression.
“Yes. I’ve been working as a doctor in the capital and saving money to take you away. All preparations are complete, so I can take you anytime.”
“B-but this is too sudden. I only learned today that I have an uncle.”
I shook my head, pulling my hand away from Uncle James’s grasp.
My uncle gazed at me with gentle eyes, seemingly understanding.
“I understand how you feel. It must be sudden. But Ruel, please believe my sincerity. I want to spend the rest of my life protecting you and making you happy.”
His words conveyed his sincerity. But asylum? I had never considered it.
“Thank you for your words… but I have no intention of seeking asylum.”
My uncle’s eyes flashed sharply for a moment.
“Don’t tell me it’s because of Grand Duke Helleide.”
“What?”
I looked up in surprise.
“The Grand Duke openly calls you his companion and keeps you close. Do you share the same feelings?”
I couldn’t answer. I couldn’t decide where my heart should be either.
I wanted to be by his side, but at the same time, I feared my power that might harm him.
Perhaps taking my silence as an answer, Uncle James continued with a cold expression.
“Shapeshifters and humans cannot be united in the Arden Kingdom. Even if they marry, they cannot receive blessings. Here, shapeshifters are nothing more than slaves or objects. Grand Duke Helleide is not your destiny. So forget him.”
I was momentarily speechless at my uncle’s firm but strict words.
I was well aware of the harsh reality he spoke of. That’s why I never dreamed or desired it from the beginning.
Anger welled up inside me from indignation and defiance, but after taking a deep breath, I looked straight at my uncle.
“That’s not for you to decide, Uncle. It’s my choice to make. I’ll pretend I didn’t hear today’s conversation. And I have one last question.”
I took another breath before continuing.
“Do you know what my real power is? Perhaps… did my mother have the same power?”
I wondered if Ruel’s power was selected as a mutation or inherited from her parents.
Just as the Helleide family inherited magical power through their bloodline, perhaps Ruel of the Ulpes tribe also inherited her power genetically.
Uncle James’s complexion paled slightly. But soon he pushed up his glasses and shook his head.
“I’m sorry. I don’t know about your power either. I’ve only heard that only the Ulpes elders know about it. That’s why I’m also making inquiries to find them.”
I had expected that answers wouldn’t come easily, but I couldn’t hide my disappointment.
“I see. Anyway, I’m glad to have met you like this, Uncle James. I should go now.”
I bowed to my uncle and turned around. As I headed toward the exit, my uncle said.
“Ruel, come back here anytime. I’ll always be waiting for you with the door open.”
I left without looking back.
I took the carriage waiting in front of the clinic and headed to Grand Duke Helleide’s villa.
Leaning against the carriage seat, I cried endlessly.
I didn’t know if the tears were mine or Ruel’s, who had found her blood relative.
***
Three days had passed since my meeting with Uncle James.
I hadn’t told anyone that Doctor James was my uncle.
If they knew that my uncle planned to take me to seek asylum in another country, there would certainly be tremendous conflict between Karden and my uncle.
In other words, it would only create more headaches, so I planned to observe the situation quietly for a while before talking about it.
More important was the issue of the shapeshifter shelter.
Distributing stimulants that made shapeshifters forget their pain—I needed to know Duke Berdin’s true intentions.
The idea that his benevolent image of fighting for shapeshifters’ rights was fake and hypocritical was something I couldn’t believe without seeing it with my own eyes.
“Shuvelia, you don’t look well. Are you alright?”
Karden asked with a voice full of concern.
I was having breakfast together with Karden and Yudis after a long time.
I had lost my appetite after worrying about various things for three days.
I shook my head as I nibbled on bread.
“I just don’t have an appetite in the morning. I’m fine.”
At that, Karden and Yudis looked genuinely surprised and exchanged glances.
“You don’t have an appetite? This is the first time this has happened. Are you really feeling well? I should call the physician right away.”
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