Chapter 28
When the amber-like, brilliant golden eyes stared at him intently, Calix unconsciously let out a chuckle.
“So… you do want to stay here, huh?”
Calix, who had asked and answered his own question, rested his chin on his hand with a smile so wide it puffed out his cheeks.
“I must be losing it. Talking to a fox, of all things.”
And yet, he couldn’t help but talk. The imperial palace made him that way. It was a place where there was no one he could truly open up to and speak comfortably with.
Well, by now, he was used to it—used to hiding his true thoughts from others. But that didn’t mean he wasn’t lonely.
In times like this, when even his father offered him no support, he figured anyone would feel the same. His crimson eyes sank with a heaviness as he thought of the past.
Lea knew very well what kind of expression that was.
He was likely remembering the former empress, who had passed away when he was young. He used to look at the sky with that somber face and say such things.
Of course, Lea hadn’t heard them firsthand—she’d learned them through Lucy.
So she made a sound.
“Kyang, kyaang!”
With her pointed ears perked, she spun in a circle and tapped the table with her forepaws.
It was her way of saying, ‘Stop thinking such sad thoughts. Look at me instead.’
“Are you saying you want to stay here, or are you asking for more carrots?”
At the mention of carrots, the fox’s face subtly twisted, but Calix didn’t notice. After all, who would think a fox could make expressions?
He lightly picked her up with one hand and placed her on his lap.
“Either way, don’t go wandering around for a while. The hunting tournament is coming up. Small animals like you could disappear without a sound. Got it?”
Lea shuddered at his words.
“Ng…” she whimpered softly.
His kind voice and warm touch made her think that she could live forever like this—as a fox by his side.
Yes. If she stayed a fox, she wouldn’t be a burden to Calix.
She didn’t need to become human again. She just wanted to stay with him, always.
“I wonder what kind of trick that woman will pull this time…”
Calix muttered to himself as he absently fondled the fox’s ears with his large hand.
His gaze once again drifted to the red-roofed palace building.
Because of that, he missed the look in the fox’s eyes as she stared up at him.
* * *
As time passed, Lea could no longer deny the unbelievable truth. She had truly returned to the past.
Every time she had that thought, she instinctively checked the burn on her shoulder.
Whenever she felt lucky to have been given another chance, her mind would fill with all kinds of hopes.
Thoughts of getting along well with Calix this time, or running away and living freely by herself, would flood in and leave her dizzy.
But in the end, all her thoughts came back to one conclusion.
Atonement for Calix.
That alone was the reason she remained in this wretched palace.
“Cal… Even if you don’t remember, I will pay for my past sins.”
Even as she vowed this, Lea couldn’t fully feel at ease. After all, the present situation wouldn’t change easily. She decided she would start small.
She stepped out of her palace for the first time in a while and headed somewhere.
The royal hunting grounds, where the upcoming hunting tournament would be held. She wanted to help Calix show off his abilities at this event.
Despite having endured long years of war, the Cantabrian Empire never neglected its ceremonial traditions. One of the biggest of these was the annual hunting tournament, and the winner would receive a personal gift from the Emperor.
Since it was one of the imperial treasures that would be awarded, the hunting tournament held great significance among the nobility.
As the Crown Prince was allowed to participate, Calix visiting the site in advance was technically against the rules.
But Lea didn’t care. She had no intention of winning anyway.
Of course, that didn’t mean what she was doing was right.
There were people who could live without rules, and others for whom following them earned no praise at all.
And besides, she wasn’t breaking the rules for personal gain. She was doing it for the Crown Prince of this country. So what did it matter?
Lea wanted, just this once, to truly be of help to Calix.
So halfway there, she transformed into a fox and slipped into the hunting grounds undetected.
In the tournament, not only the number of game caught mattered, so did their size and rarity.
“If he catches that prey, Cal is sure to win first place.”
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