The Fox Mom's Wobbly Journey
The butlers had all gone off to work, leaving me completely free of their watchful eyes. Of course, it wasn't a true freedom—Kylian, Lina, and the rest would be back soon enough—but it felt like a rare treat all the same.
“Your Highness, the garden has too many fallen leaves!”
“Oh my! If you go that way, you'll trip!”
I wasn't supposed to cause any more accidents while they were gone, so the maids had been assigned to watch me closely. With every step I took, the frantic thud of their footsteps followed right behind me, like a whole clutch of ducklings racing after their mother.
“Hehe.”
This is really annoying. They're all just here to take care of me, so I can't even get mad at them.
I flicked my tail irritably and wandered through the wide garden of the princess's palace. The season hadn't turned fully spring yet, so the garden felt a little bare. Instead of lush blue grass, patches of dry earth showed through.
Yet the flowers I'd grown with my holy power were still thriving just fine.
Sniff.
Then a strange, unfamiliar scent brushed past my nose and made me stop dead in my tracks. It wasn't the neatly polished air of the imperial palace—something rougher, colder, carried on the breeze from outside. What was this?
Curiosity lifted my head.
I turned toward the direction the smell was coming from: the far corner of the garden, where tangled bare shrubs with only thorny stems remained, pressed against the wall.
It was a neglected spot the garden staff rarely bothered to clean.
Instinctively I lowered my body and crept forward. The maids behind me muttered in surprise.
“Heheong.”
This must be it.
“Oh! Why is the divine beast going to such a dirty place?”
“If she steps on a thorn...”
Quiet down, you nosy ones. You're spoiling my fun.
I ignored them and pushed through the thorny bushes. Dry twigs scraped my fur, but I didn't care. Behind the tangle I spotted a small gap—a hidden crevice.
A hole?
It was barely noticeable from the outside, the kind of entrance small animals might use. The scent was definitely coming from inside. Curious, I didn't hesitate. I launched my body straight toward it.
“Your Highness, no!”
“Kyaaah! If you go in there, Her Highness the princess will scold you!”
The maids realized too late and rushed over screaming, but I had already shoved my head through the opening.
“Hehe.”
Right then, the tiniest, softest whimper slipped out.
I tilted my head, still wedged in the hole.
What's that sound?
I pushed a little deeper. Beyond the wall lay a quiet hillside outside the palace, and on the cold earth lay something white and motionless.
“Hehe?”
What is this?
I crawled closer and got a better look. It was a fox. A fairly big one. Adult, maybe.
Its white fur was spotted with red patches, especially on the hind legs. The coppery scent of blood hung thick in the air. It had clearly been caught in a trap or attacked by another animal.
The fox trembled violently from cold and pain, its eyes barely open.
Is it dead?
Cautiously I reached out a paw and patted the fox's body.
Hey, wake up. You'll really freeze to death out here.
The fox managed to lift its heavy eyelids under my gentle pat. Its golden eyes, clouded with fever, looked at me.
“Hiiing...”
It was the last desperate cry of a creature trying to save every last scrap of strength.
Even without understanding animal speech, I could feel the plea in that sound.
The moment I heard it, something strange tugged at my heart.
If I left it now, the fox wouldn't survive the night.
You want to live, don't you?
I remembered the day I first met Kailian. I had been just as desperate then, with no second thoughts.
I let out a short sigh. Kailian would probably scold me, but I couldn't ignore it.
Gently, the way a mother tiger carries her cub, I took the fox's scruff in my mouth. I had to be careful with the grip—too hard and the poor thing might get hurt even more.
The fox dangled loosely in my mouth, surprisingly light.
I carried it back through the hole. It was a struggle, but I finally managed to pull my hips free with a loud huff.
“Your Highness! Where are you?”
“You have to come out! ”
Outside the bushes, the maids were standing there with worried faces, calling for me.
Sorry I didn't come out quietly...
I pushed through the thorns and walked out with my head held high.
“Hehe.”
Here I am. Sorry for worrying you, nosy ones.
The maids spotted me and let out relieved sighs, rushing over.
“Oh no, Your Highness! What in the world... heh?!”
The head maid who reached me first froze when she saw the fox still in my mouth.
“Divine... divine beast! What is that?!”
“Hehe.”
It's just a fox.
The other maids shrieked one after another.
“Oh! Blood! There's blood!”
“Oh my gosh, you picked up a dead animal and brought it back?”
“No! No! You have to drop it! Wild animals carry so many germs!”
The maids recoiled in horror. To them, the fox in my mouth looked like nothing but a dirty wild carcass.
One brave maid stepped forward, trying to snatch the fox from me.
“Your Highness, please give it here. I'll throw it away right now. It's ruined your beautiful fur with blood...”
Throw it away?
Heat rushed to my chest. The fox was still breathing, and those golden eyes had pleaded with me to save it, yet someone wanted to discard it?
I turned my head sharply away from the maid and let out a low growl toward her.
“Rrrrng!”
Hands off.
The maid jumped back in shock. The usually playful, affectionate divine beast had never shown its fangs at them before. Now it looked ready to bite, and fear showed in their eyes.
I carefully set the fox down on the ground and glared at the maids, slamming my tail hard against the earth three times.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Someone go get a vet right now! Treat this fox!
I stood guard right beside the fox, growling at anyone who dared approach. No one touched it.
The maids looked helpless, then ran off to call Kailian.
“Heheong.”
Of course you would.
A short while later, Kailian and Emperor Karsion arrived in a rush.
“Blanc! Are you okay? Did anything get hurt? Where did the blood come from?!”
Kailian checked my body the moment she arrived. Her eyes widened when she saw the fox's blood on my mouth and chest.
“Heheong.”
I'm fine. Save this one.
I gently patted the white fox lying on the ground with my paw.
Understanding my meaning, Kailian immediately called the palace veterinarian. He arrived sweating, examining the fox's injuries.
“Deep wounds on the hind legs. Heavy bleeding and some dehydration... but the vital points weren't hit. If treated quickly, it can survive.”
A sigh of relief spread through the air. Only then did I lie down on my belly.
“Hehe.”
Don't worry me like that, you idiots.
I placed my soft paw jelly gently on the fox's face.
“You... saved this fox?”
Kailian's expression was complicated. Should she scold me for collecting another strange creature, or praise me for not turning away from a dying life? She couldn't decide.
She didn't seem to like the fox much.
At that moment, Emperor Karsion burst out laughing heartily.
“Hahahaha! Just like I expected from a divine beast.”
He lifted me up with an admiring grin.
“Even though you can't speak, you understand the value of life and know how to show mercy! This is truly the virtue of a divine beast!”
He stroked my head once, then looked at the fox.
“Quickly, move this fox to the treatment room! Blanc has chosen this life himself! We must save it.”
That night.
The white fox, now treated and bandaged, slept peacefully in a soft basket placed in one corner of my room.
After being cleaned and wrapped, it looked almost pitifully cute. Its white fur was even similar to mine.
I quietly approached the basket.
Because of the medicine, it was sleeping deeply, but it still trembled slightly from the cold, curled up tightly.
I rested my paw on the basket's edge and looked at its face.
It's kind of adorable. Not as cute as me, though.
Unconsciously I stuck out my tongue and gave its forehead a quick lick.
Slurp.
My holy power flowed into the fox, and its tense face relaxed just a little.
But it was still cold and trembling.
It's cold, huh.
I hesitated for a moment, then squeezed into the narrow basket. It was tight, but two of us could curl up together.
Actually, it felt a little uncomfortable.
I wrapped the fox's small, cool body in my warm belly and legs, letting my body heat transfer to it.
“Blanc...?”
Just then the door opened and Kailian stepped in.
She froze when she saw me curled up in the basket with the fox.
Me, warmly holding the fox. And the fox, asleep peacefully in my arms.
Kailian's face twisted into something fierce.
“Hey...”
“Hehe... heheong?”
What kind of expression is that...? Did you catch a fire-breathing husband...? There's a murderous look in your eyes?
Her voice dropped low.
“You... you never let me cling to you like this lately...”
Jealousy and resentment poured from her eyes.
“What’s so great about that stray fox you’re hugging so tightly? I’m way warmer! Get away from it right now!”
Kailian marched over and squatted beside the basket, switching her angry gaze between me and the fox.
“Heheong...”
I don't know... I'm sleeping... of course I'm sleeping.
I squeezed my eyes shut and pretended to be asleep.
