Chapter 35
At Ilion’s words, Calix raised the corners of his mouth in satisfaction and called the fox again.
“Luna.”
Luna meant ‘moon’ in the ancient language. The moment he first saw the fox’s luminous eyes, he’d thought she looked like a lone full moon hanging in the black night sky.
She looked lonely, yet noble.
Radiant, yet fleeting.
Perhaps, unconsciously, he had projected his own situation—trapped in the imperial palace and neither this nor that—onto the fox’s eyes.
“But Luna? So it’s female?”
“…Isn’t that kind of question a little rude?”
“What? Your Highness! I only asked the animal’s gender, and you’re looking at me like I’m a pervert!”
“You’re the one being weird for asking if Luna’s a female just because of her name.”
“Well… it’s just that ‘Lune’ is the word for Empress, and you named her Luna. That’s why I asked. Honestly, I think Your Highness gave too grand a name for a mere fox.”
“Ahem.”
“My apologies.”
Lea, unaware of their conversation, rolled her golden eyes this way and that like a child lost in a crowd.
She wanted to ask if that name she’d heard was really meant for her, and so she gently poked the back of Calix’s hand with her paw.
Their eyes met. His crimson gaze, which had been indifferent, softened, and the tight line of his lips parted gently.
“Luna. Your name from now on is Luna. When I call you, you must come right away. Understand?”
She knew showing signs of understanding human speech could be dangerous. So she should have pretended not to understand…
“Kyuung!”
…but Lea had no idea how to refuse anything he asked of her.
If he wanted it, she was ready to give her life. All she could do was let out another cry.
Just then, Derek, who had been standing blankly nearby, abruptly turned his head. His wide blue eyes locked directly on the fox.
“What… is that?”
“Lord Felitier! How dare you speak such nonsense in His Highness’s presence!”
Ilion drew his sword, furious. Derek quickly sheathed his own and raised his hands slightly.
“Ah… I didn’t realize His Highness was here.”
His slow speech and unfocused expression made him seem like someone under the influence of d***s or alcohol.
Suppressing his irritation, Calix replied,
“Enough.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Ilion lowered the sword he had been holding high, but did not drop his guard.
And no wonder. Derek was staring intently at the fox with a suspicious gaze and expression, as if no one else existed.
Even in this tense standoff, Lea couldn’t pull herself together. It was still hard to believe Calix had given her a name.
She was so overwhelmed that she couldn’t think straight.
Cal gave me a name.
Even though she wasn’t an animal, but a werebeast with her own name—at that moment, none of that mattered. She was simply happy.
It felt like he’d granted her a new life. Just as she was getting swept up in the dreamlike feeling, a curious voice entered her ears.
“But, Your Highness…”
Derek slowly pointed a finger at the fox and tilted his head to speak.
Yes, he was definitely about to say something… but then, a desperate voice pierced into his mind, stopping him in his tracks.
{ Don’t say anything. Please! }
It was an action that revealed an exact understanding of a power he had never told anyone about.
Derek’s blue eyes seemed to swirl. A strange light shimmered in his once-dull gaze.
“What is this, really…”
Calix frowned, annoyed, as Derek stared silently and intensely at the fox without saying a word.
{ Please, please don’t say anything! }
Derek winced and rubbed his temple as the voice echoed through his head. It had been a long time since someone so brazenly invaded his mind.
The chilling pain that followed made his skin crawl. It only deepened his suspicion about why this strange fox was by the Crown Prince’s side.
Just as he was about to open his mouth again, the fox pleaded with desperate clarity.
{ I can help you! }
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