Chapter 01
“Explain what exactly is going on here, Rendel.”
“……”
“Why is the contractor who was sent here a fox beast who can’t even speak?”
The man’s cold, frozen voice echoed through the empty space.
Facing his sharp, cutting gaze, I couldn’t help but think that there was a reason he was the only Grand Duke of the Idelio Empire.
“M-My apologies, Your Highness. It seems the contract only specified that ‘the contractor must be of the Fenec family’s direct bloodline,’ so this situation may have occurred.”
At the old butler’s words, the corner of the Grand Duke of Winchester’s lips twisted.
“So that means this fox is of direct lineage.”
“Yes. She is the second daughter of the Fenec family. Her name is Poblyan Fenec.”
It seemed he realized the Fenec family hadn’t completely ignored the contract, because his expression eased slightly.
‘Honestly, I came here prepared to be thrown out the window. This is already better than expected.’
As I sat below the platform, gently swishing my tail, the Grand Duke frowned and asked,
“Her age?”
“She is thirteen this year.”
Hardiun’s face crumpled in anger again.
“Thirteen? The same age as Esteban?”
“Y-Yes, that is—”
“So Fenec sent a half-baked one. Thirteen, and a fox that can’t even properly transform into a human.”
‘Half-baked? Excuse me? Even a fox that can’t transform can still hear, you know!’
I had so much I wanted to say, but in this animal form, all that would come out was useless squeaking.
So instead, I perked up my large ears, trying to show that I understood everything he was saying.
But all I got in return was a scoff.
“Hmph. Seems like it understands when it’s being insulted.”
I was angry at his rude attitude, but I couldn’t say I didn’t understand his distrust.
If I were him, and the contractor responsible for stopping his heir’s rampage turned out to be a tiny desert fox that looked completely useless, I’d probably be just as frustrated.
‘But if Ariel had come like in the original story, his son would go berserk—and our entire family would be wiped out because of it!’
That’s right.
Until recently, I had been living a fairly normal and peaceful life—aside from the fatal flaw of being slow to transform into a human compared to other beastkin.
Then, just a few weeks ago, I finally succeeded in transforming for the first time.
And with that, memories of my past life returned.
This world… was the setting of a novel I had read in my previous life:
<Be Careful of That Rampage!> — a beastkin romance fantasy.
‘Of all things… I had to reincarnate into this kind of novel…’
The memory of throwing up the insects I had eaten the day before my memories returned suddenly came back, making my stomach churn again.
“Ugh…”
Anyway, even after calming down, I didn’t have time to deny what had happened.
Because if this world really was <Be Careful of That Rampage!>—also known as
Then there wasn’t much time left before the male lead’s descent into darkness would lead to the destruction of the Fenec family… and my death along with it.
Thinking of the original story, I shook my head hard.
‘Forget it. Don’t think about it. The important thing is I realized what world this is before Ariel went to Winchester. That’s why I’m here now.’
What a ridiculous story.
I get that it was meant to highlight the male lead’s character, but wiping out an entire family?
So extras are just meant to die easily?
Just watch. I’ll survive no matter what!
Determined, I looked back at the Grand Duke.
Since I couldn’t communicate with him in this form, I had no choice.
‘If words don’t work, I’ll just have to earn his trust with my eyes!’
With all my sincerity, I stared at him, trying to convey that he should trust me.
“…Now it’s glaring at me.”
“……”
“How bold.”
It was a complete failure.
‘…Should I have practiced transforming into a human first?’
Regret came too late, but even thinking back, there wasn’t another option.
My parents had opposed sending me to Winchester while I still couldn’t properly transform—
‘But if Ariel goes, both I and the Fenec family are doomed! Who cares about transformation at that point?!’
Of course, I couldn’t say that out loud.
So I had spent three whole weeks persuading my parents.
‘I want to go, Father. If my sister spends five years in Winchester, she’ll miss her marriageable age. You don’t want that either, do you?’
‘But Poblyan, you’re still too young. And your transformation is unstable.’
‘You suddenly want to go just because of my marriage? You’re not hiding something?’
‘No. And besides, my sister didn’t even want to go.’
‘That’s true, but isn’t this strange? A half-baked one who couldn’t even transform suddenly going to the Grand Duke’s house? … Wait, don’t tell me you want to become a pet fox for humans?’
Remembering Ariel’s mocking words made my anger rise again, but I forced myself to endure it.
‘No, forget it. I’m not doing this for Ariel. I’m doing it for my kind parents… and the innocent servants of the Fenec family.’
Even though I had regained my past-life memories, my current life’s memories hadn’t disappeared.
Whenever others whispered about my slow transformation, my parents and the servants had always supported me.
‘Popo, everyone has their own starting line in life. Starting late or early doesn’t mean you’ll always be behind or ahead.’
“It’s okay, miss! Even if your transformation is late, you’re still adorable as a desert fox!’
Thinking of home made my nose sting, and I almost teared up.
Then I felt a sharp gaze from above and looked up.
The Grand Duke, resting his chin on his hand, was watching me.
With a faint chuckle, he said,
“Well, at least it’ll be entertaining to watch.”
…Entertaining?
“If that boy focuses his attention elsewhere, there’s a slightly lower chance he’ll be consumed by his emotions.”
“……”
“And that means a slightly lower chance of him going berserk.”
Hearing that, it really felt like he saw me as nothing more than a pet fox.
Ignoring my expression, he lowered his hand and spoke again.
“Since you came representing the Fenec family, I’ll observe for now. But no matter what, you must learn to transform into a human.”
“……”
“Winchester isn’t generous enough to send Bluebell just to honor a promise with an incompetent beast who can’t even transform.”
‘I refuse to be treated like a useless half-baked creature!’
Even so, I nodded firmly.
Threat or not, the fact that he accepted me instead of sending me back meant I had passed the biggest hurdle.
“At Winchester, anything Miss Poblyan wishes for will be fully supported. So please, make sure to help prevent Young Master Esteban from going berserk.”
Walking behind Rendel, the head butler, I nodded diligently.
Seeing that, he smiled slightly, reassured.
“As you may know, a quick response is crucial in cases of rampage. So your room has been assigned right next to Young Master Esteban’s. It may be inconvenient, but we ask for your understanding.”
I nodded even more enthusiastically.
According to the original story, Esteban’s first rampage happened not long after Ariel arrived at the estate.
The exact timing wasn’t specified, but—
‘What’s certain is that it happened during a meal when the Grand Duke was absent.’
That’s why, despite the tight schedule, I came here on the exact same date Ariel was originally supposed to arrive.
I couldn’t risk the rampage happening before I even got here.
‘So now, I just need to stay close to Esteban and watch for anything similar to the original story!’
As I organized my plans, Rendel stopped in front of a door.
Looking slightly troubled, he spoke carefully.
“There is something else. We were not informed that someone unfamiliar with human transformation would be arriving. So… unfortunately, we haven’t prepared a secondary entrance that you can use yet.”
I looked up at the doorknob far above my height.
In this form, there was no way I could reach it.
Rendel quickly added,
“A maid has been assigned to assist you fully. And we will have a secondary entrance prepared by tomorrow so you won’t be inconvenienced. We ask for your understanding in the meantime.”
‘That’s completely fine.’
When I nodded, he thanked me and opened the door.
Just as I was about to follow him inside—
I stopped.
Footsteps echoed from the distance.
“Miss Poblyan?”
Rendel called out, but my attention was fixed elsewhere.
The sound of approaching footsteps grew louder.
And then—
A scent reached me.
A citrus fragrance with hints of mandarin, mixed with a faint earthy smell.
As the figure turned the corner and came into view, I instinctively recognized him.
“Welcome, Young Master Esteban.”
Esteban Hadel Winchester.
That boy with the still youthful face—
was the male lead of <Be Careful of That Rampage!>…
and the one who held both my life and my family’s fate in his hands.
My contractor.
