Episode 11
“Clyde! How dare you speak so rudely to the young lady!”
Sir Elliot immediately subdued Clyde. As Mr. Jackal, who had been standing still, took half a step forward, the knights’ faces stiffened.
“Clyde.”
Mr. Jackal uttered just three words in a flat tone. At his heavy voice, Clyde stopped growling.
I didn’t know how impressive the Fox family heir was supposed to be, but right now, he seemed to flinch under Mr. Jackal and Sir Elliot’s reprimands.
“I apologize, young lady. I spoke out of turn.”
When Clyde bowed politely, Mr. Jackal glanced at me. It felt like he was asking whether I would accept the apology.
Good. He still doesn’t realize I’m a cat.
Looking around, everyone treated my protruding ears as utterly normal.
Maybe foxes’ ears also pop out when they’re startled, just like mine.
I’d scolded Clyde, and he’d apologized. There was no reason to stay angry.
“J-just… don’t do it again.”
I forced a casual tone, and Mr. Jackal retreated half a step. Behind me, Theo and Deon were fuming even more than I was.
“Hey, Clyde! Think you can strut around like that?”
“Kitty, were you scared?”
“A little, but it’s fine. Why is the Fox family heir staying at the Wolf mansion, though?”
Theo summarized it in terms I could grasp.
“The leopards have the foxes in a bind, so they’re temporarily stationed here as a squad. Fox squad members are more attuned to magic than us—it’s helpful.”
Sir Elliot apologized repeatedly, vowing to discipline Clyde properly. The knights following him were all fox squad members.
I knew wolves and foxes got along about as well as bears and wolves. If the foxes were seeking the wolves’ help, things must be dire.
I’ll ask the tutor about this later.
At the tail end of the arriving servant procession was a familiar face—Mrs. Gray, who’d bathed me before.
“Lena. This is our youngest daughter, Kittya Gridwolf. I entrust her to your care.”
Lady Caris announced this much louder than necessary. Mrs. Gray smiled warmly.
“It’s a pleasure to serve such a lovely young lady. Let me reintroduce myself—I’m Lena Gray. By Her Ladyship’s order, I’ll attend to you most closely.”
Most closely? I barely stopped my tail from bursting out in excitement.
“So you’ll be with me every day, Mrs. Gray?”
“If you wish, young lady. Please call me Lena from now on.”
“Yay! I’m so happy, Lena!”
Lady Caris patted my head, relieved I approved.
After bidding farewell to the family and urging Lady Caris to return safely from the council, Lena and I retreated to my room.
The wooden wolf fangs on my door had all been blunted. With teeth this rounded, even a sudden bite wouldn’t hurt.
“Goodnight, Lena!”
I tried to flop onto the bed immediately, but Lena blocked me.
“No, young lady.”
She swept me up and carried me to the bathroom. Last time, we’d used a servant-brought tub, but my new room—adorned with wolf-shaped handles—had its own spacious bathroom.
Wait, a bathroom?
“Um, Lena… Are we bathing?”
“Naturally. One must always bathe before bed.”
I hate baths! Hot water makes my fur all stiff!
Though if Lena slathers me in oil like last time, it’ll stay soft…
I clung to her arm as she began undressing me from afar, putting on my cutest act.
“Lena, Lena! Let’s sleep first and bathe tomorrow!”
“Absolutely not. Little wolf pups turn into sooty lumps if they skip even one bath!”
“Hmph…”
If I turned black, I’d just look like a proper wolf.
I pouted, but Lena ruthlessly stripped off every stitch.
“Tomorrow, tailors will come for your fittings. Cleanliness is the foundation of receiving guests.”
“My clothes?”
“Yes. We’ll also trim your hair for accessories. No time now—we’ll do that tomorrow.”
Lena hoisted me up with one hand and drew back the curtain to the tub. Something magical awaited inside.
“Lena! There’s glittery bubbles floating everywhere!”
“Bubble baths from today, young lady. The young masters procured bath salts for you.”
She lowered me gently into the water. The iridescent bubbles distracted me from the dreaded immersion.
I love bubble baths!
“There’s even a squeaky duck toy. Though why does it smell like pastries in here…”
“L-Lena! Hurry and wash me!”
While I marveled at the toys, Lena scrubbed me efficiently.
Between admonishments about eating more to grow, she finished washing and oiled me until I gleamed. As she dressed me in a nightgown, she chuckled.
“Young lady, tap your face like this to help the oil absorb.”
“Like this?”
Tap tap tap—
I patted my cheeks thrice with pillowy hands. Lena kissed my cheek, satisfied.
“Sleep well to grow big and strong.”
She tucked me in, clearly convinced I was a bean sprout.
Wiggling my sore claw-broken toes, I suddenly remembered Clyde.
But why is there a fox squad here?
Too busy greeting servants earlier, I hadn’t asked. But Lena, being older, must know the wolves’ affairs.
“Lena, I have a question—”
“Not tonight. It’s bedtime.”
Mimicking my tone, she stroked my hair feather-soft. This’ll make me drowsy…
“Yawn— Lena, why’re the fox beastmen at Gridwolf? I can’t sleep without knowing!”
My yawn-contradiction made her chuckle.
“It’s complex for now. Once your tutor arrives, ask them.”
“Just a tiny hint?”
“I’m not authorized, young lady.”
Her kind firmness said no amount of cute would loosen her lips.
Tight-lipped, huh.
Strangely, this made me like her more. Perhaps sensing my disappointment, she offered:
“Shall I sing a lullaby?”
“Oh!”
I love lullabies!
I perked my ears and shut my eyes tight.
Twitch.
“My, what delightfully perky ears you have.”
“Hehe, thanks! I love them too.”
Without these, I’d never have been adopted. Maybe these ears were the “special power” Mom mentioned.
Lena stroked my ears and head, melting my tension.
“Now, the lullaby.”
Mom said every beastman knew this one—a song about the vanished goddess.
[The goddess sways her silken hair,
Bow in left hand, mirror right.
A cat pulls her carriage with care,
Under skies blue as necklace light.]
Pride swelled—a cat starred in their most famous lullaby!
Lena kissed my forehead where I smiled and smoothed my hair.
“Ring the bell anytime you need me, day or night.”
“Mmhmm…”
I mumbled, already half-asleep.
Drowsiness deepened, wrapping me in the warmth I’d once felt from Mother.
Late that night, in the fox squad’s quarters:
“Young Master, why aren’t you asleep?”
“Hm?”
Clyde belatedly registered the question.
“You must grow stronger swiftly for our independence. You know this.”
“I know. Nagging won’t make me mature faster.”
“Apologies.”
The fox retainer bowed. Clyde stared at the ceiling, consciously dissecting his thoughts.
Rebuilding the fox forces scattered after that day hinged on him. As heir, he could only lead their exodus from the Wolf mansion after coming into his full magic at adulthood.
But comrades suffer daily. And living under wolves grates.
The wolves’ aid wasn’t charity. By rescuing leopards-beleaguered foxes, they’d indebt a race uniquely sensitive to the Blue Moon’s magic—a card too vital to discard.
Jackal and Caris bet that stabilizing the Blue Moon crisis will let foxes rebound. Even retrieving those kidnapped by moon-mad leopards would help.
Harboring homeless foxes cost little versus their future value.
Yet I thought wolves never acted unprofitably…
Clyde studied the faint toothmark on his finger. When the Gridwolfs presented their adopted daughter—a scrawny girl reeking of cat—he’d found it absurd.
Every servant must’ve noticed her true nature.
But the true shock came when she bit him during greetings. Weak, missing teeth—it didn’t hurt, but her emerald eyes’ fleeting defiance haunted him.
A cat unafraid of foxes. They all pretend she’s a wolf, so she believes it.
Amusement tugged his lips.
“Young Master Clyde? Is something amusing?”
His loyal fox Ben pressed. Clyde voiced his musing:
“That cat.”
“The Gridwolfs’ adopted daughter?”
“Why take her in? They don’t need burdens.”
“Perhaps her cuteness? They’ve only sons.”
Clyde recalled her twin pigtails and snorted.
“True.”
“They say she begged adoption. Pity, perhaps.”
“Her palms were soft… But Jackal Gridwolf doesn’t act on pity.”
A memory surfaced—lessons from the Foxstain butler. The legend of the goddess gifting power to her carriage-pulling cat, sole animal in the sacred lullaby.
What if she’s no ordinary cat, but tied to the Blue Moon…?
His eyes sharpened to slits.
