Passed the Interview
"Kyau."
Nestled in Mama's arms, I waved a front paw in greeting toward my frozen butlers.
"......"
"Kyau."
Wow, this is awkward. Nobody's reacting.
Even after my greeting, the dining hall had gone so still you couldn't hear a single breath. Anyone watching would think Mama had done something unspeakable.
That heavy silence broke when Lumia beamed a bright smile in my direction.
"Big brother! Over here!"
She hopped down from Gumiho's arms and waved at me with both hands, delighted.
"Kyau."
That's my girl. You're the only one I can count on. Even a little kid can say hello, but my butlers are just a pack of cowards.
"Hoh... so that's the child."
Mama glanced sideways at Lumia as the two of us exchanged greetings, her sharp gaze sweeping the little fox from the top of her head to the tips of her toes.
"...... Uh."
Only then did Lumia register that the woman standing before her possessed an absurd well of power. She hurriedly bent at the waist.
"Uh... a-ah, hellooo..."
After a beat of stiffness, Lumia flashed her signature sunny smile — and at that pure little grin, Mama's cold eyes softened, just a fraction.
"Yes. What a cute child. See that you continue to get along well with my baby."
"Hehe, okay! I'll get along great with big brother!"
Praised, Lumia wagged her tail and looked up at her.
After watching Lumia a moment longer, she walked unhurriedly to the seat of honor, sat down, and settled me onto her lap as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
The instant Mama and I sat down, the Head Chef — who had been holding his breath in the shadows like a ghost — glided forward without a sound and laid out the dishes before us at lightning speed.
"Kyau?"
Whoa... when did he even prepare all this?
The moment the last plate was set, he bowed at a perfect ninety degrees and slipped silently out of the dining hall.
"Kyau..."
Wow. Not even a single clink of china...
I couldn't help but marvel at the Head Chef's supernatural sense of timing and social survival. So that's what they call being a functioning member of society.
"Now, my baby. Time to eat, yes?"
A mountain of steaming steaks sat before my eyes. The southern provinces had to be struggling, but they'd laid all this out just for me... I couldn't leave leftovers, right?
"Kyau!"
Let's eat!
I swallowed a mouthful of drool and slowly stretched a front paw toward the meat — and the instant I was about to grab the steak and cram it into my mouth, a firm hand stopped me.
"My baby, this mother will feed you. Wait just a moment."
Mama pressed down on my paw, her touch firm yet gentle.
"...Kyau."
But I wanna eat it now...
I looked up at her with the meat sitting right there in front of me. With practiced hands, she took up a knife and fork, carved the thick steak into bite-sized pieces, and brought one to my mouth.
"Here. Open wide."
"Kyaung."
Ah...
I snapped the meat off the fork. Juices burst across my tongue, carrying a hint of spice and the rich, savory bloom of fat.
"Chomp, chomp... kyaaung."
It's delicious! This Head Chef can cook, too.
"Heh. Eat slowly. You'll make yourself sick."
Mama gazed at me as if the sight of me eating were the most precious thing in the world, slicing the next piece and popping it neatly into my mouth.
"......"
"......"
Kailian and Lina clenched their teeth as they watched Blanc's tail swish back and forth, happily taking meat from his mother's hand. They wanted nothing more than to jump in and feed him themselves — but knowing she was Blanc's mother kept them rooted where they stood.
"Kyau."
So good!
Before I knew it, every last scrap of meat on the table had vanished.
"Kyaaau..."
I'm so full...
I stuck out my round little belly and let out a thoroughly satisfying burp.
"Our baby eats so well."
Mama picked up a napkin from the table and tenderly wiped my mouth, then patted my bottom to help me digest.
Once she'd finished wiping my mouth, Mama's gaze turned to Lina, who was standing ramrod-straight and reading the room for all she was worth.
"Hmm..."
"D-did you... have something you wished to say to me?"
Mama looked Lina up and down, slowly, then spoke in a voice like frost.
"You seem rather fond of my child."
"Yes... I consider it an honor beyond my station to be permitted to serve him."
All of Lina's usual composure had evaporated. She couldn't even meet Mama's eyes, staring at the floor instead.
"Very well. Your affection for my child, at least, I shall acknowledge."
Mama's voice dropped lower, heavier.
"However. When we return to the Imperial Palace... you will bring that thing you have been hiding in secret, and present it before my eyes."
"......?!"
Lina's body went stiff as a log. Her pupils began to shake as if an earthquake had struck behind them.
"Kyau?"
What's 'that thing'?
I tilted my head. I'd known for a while that Lina sometimes brushed my fur and collected the loose hairs... but had she been hiding something else?
"Y-yes...? Um, that, th-that thing is..."
Lina's face went deathly white. She couldn't even form a proper excuse, just stammering and flailing.
What's her problem. Did she draw fancomics of me or something?
Mama, as if Lina's answer wasn't even worth hearing, withdrew her gaze without mercy and turned her head toward Rosalia, standing beside her.
"......"
Rosalia swallowed hard and pushed up her monocle.
Mama studied her for a moment, then said something unexpected.
"Mage. You gifted my child that plush bed, did you not."
"Ah...... yes, that is correct."
"Quite fine craftsmanship. Watching my baby sleep so peacefully upon it, I found myself quite pleased."
Mama gave a light nod, offering praise no one had seen coming.
"......!"
Color flooded back into Rosalia's face in an instant. The knowledge that a Divine Beast had personally endorsed her creation sent a peculiar thrill of satisfaction through her.
"You honor me far too much... Going forward, I shall mobilize every technique the Magic Tower possesses in service of Lord Blanc."
Rosalia bowed with utmost dignity and grace. The atmosphere around her was almost warm — in stark contrast to Lina, whose very soul had been wrung out and hung up to dry.
...Well. Lina had it coming.
Mama's gaze locked, at last, onto Gumiho — who had her tails tucked in as tightly as they would go.
"......"
In an instant, the temperature in the dining hall seemed to plunge below freezing.
"Kyau."
...Sorry, Gumiho.
"How dare you......"
Mama's face twisted into something terrifying. Killing intent poured from her clear eyes, swirling through the hall as if it would tear the place apart.
"Did you dare try to seduce my child with those sly tails of yours, vixen?"
"I-it isn't so... you misunderstand."
Gumiho startled, beginning to tremble like an aspen in the wind.
"I would like nothing more than to rip every last one of those tails out... "
"Kyau!"
Mama, hold on!
As the atmosphere grew steadily more vicious, I sprang up in Mama's arms, stretched out both front paws, and covered her killing-intent-spewing eyes with the squishy jelly of my paw pads.
Nothing beats this for cooling someone down.
"Kyaung! Kyaang!"
Mama, don't be mad. I was just curious about those tails and played with them for a bit.
With her eyes still covered, I stood on tiptoe and nuzzled my face all over her cheek, laying on every ounce of charm I had.
"Kyaung! Kyau."
We should all get along. Grown-ups shouldn't fight in front of the kids.
"...... Hnnh."
As I nuzzled her cheek and fawned over her, the killing intent pouring from Mama's body simply... stopped. The icy bloodlust that had filled the room melted away as if it had never been there at all.
"Haa......"
Mama let out a light sigh, gently peeled my paws away, and pulled me tightly into her arms again. Then she buried her face in my belly and drew a deep breath.
"This mother is letting it go this once — for the sake of our good little Blanc."
She held me close, pressing kiss after kiss into my fur. And with her face still buried in my belly, she whispered — the words laced with Divine Power, so that only Gumiho could hear.
"There will not be a next time. Should you go wagging those tails at my child again without cause... I cannot say what I might do."
"I shall take it to heart..."
Gumiho carefully bowed her head toward Blanc's mother.
After that suffocating stretch of time, Kailian steadied her trembling body and approached.
"Um... Blanc's mother?"
She clenched her teeth and posed the question with utmost care.
"Have you... perhaps come to take Blanc away?"
Kailian's voice was shaking terribly. The fear that Blanc might leave had her eyes welling, on the verge of spilling over.
At that desperate question, the hand stroking my back went still. Holding me in her arms, Mama slowly lifted her head and looked at Kailian.
At those words, Kailian's heart seemed to drop straight through the floor.
"However... that would be an act contrary to the natural order of this world."
She gently patted my back as she continued.
"My child still has time he needs — time to see the world, and to learn how to collide with it. A mother cannot forcibly cut short that path of growth."
Mama pressed her nose to my forehead and whispered with the utmost tenderness.
"And above all... my child so thoroughly hates the thought of being parted from all of you."
"......!"
At those words, a deep sigh of relief burst from Kailian, who had been holding her breath for the answer.
"Haaaah......"
She swayed as if she might collapse on the spot. Mama quietly regarded her, then spoke with a faint smile at the corners of her mouth.
"That you have cared for my child so well... I am truly grateful."
A thank-you, spoken from the heart. Kailian's eyes went wide, as if she couldn't believe what she was hearing.
Mama hugged me tight once more, then gently nudged me toward Kailian.
"Ah...!"
The confirmation that I didn't have to leave — that she wouldn't have to be parted from me. The moment those words landed, the strength left Kailian's legs, and she crumpled to the floor.
"Hic... hhngh......"
"Kyaung."
Don't cry. Why are you crying.
I carefully slipped out of Mama's arms, padded over to Kailian sitting on the floor in tears, and licked the tears running down her cheek. Then I nuzzled my head against her face for all I was worth.
"Blanc...... Blanc......!"
Kailian threw both arms around me and hugged me as if she might break. My white fur grew damp with her tears, but I didn't pull away. I licked her forehead, comforting her.
"Hmph... leaving this mother behind to dive so eagerly into another woman's arms... how hurtful..."
