Chapter 50 – Fox Hunt (3)
Mio was terrified that she might accidentally let out a scream.
“A trip? Don’t be ridiculous.”
She had been poisoned, stuffed into a sack, and abandoned—then hunted by a pack of wild dogs. The moment she spotted Geoffrey standing on that hilltop, while she was covered in blood, was still as vivid as if it were happening now.
She had spent several days recovering at the hunting lodge with Geoffrey. He had indeed been unusually kind compared to his usual self, but that still didn’t make it a trip.
“So what exactly are you trying to say?”
Only then did Geoffrey notice Mio’s uncomfortable expression. Sensing her chance, Mio quickly lifted her head and spoke.
“I think you should explain yourself properly. So many young ladies who secretly adore you must be heartbroken. Even earlier, I noticed so many of them quietly admiring the duke’s stunning looks.”
It wasn’t a lie.
Geoffrey dazzled even in casual wear—and when dressed up properly, it was blinding to the point she could hardly look at him.
Mio herself felt she might fall under his spell at any moment, so she had been talking while staring at the sky or the ground.
“That bothers you?”
“…What?”
“You don’t have to worry. I haven’t forgotten that I came here with you…”
Geoffrey—what a hopeless man!
That wasn’t what she meant at all.
Her expression hardened like she was wearing a plaster mask as she forced herself to smile. Mio spoke as gently as she could.
“I only thought that this kind of event is the perfect opportunity to meet new people.”
Many young ladies who were not participating in the hunt had come today, dressed in splendid gowns and glittering jewelry. They were clearly all daughters of high-ranking noble families.
They’re all of marriageable age, waiting for a fine gentleman to meet them…
She remembered Lauren’s constant complaints—that it was worrisome how the duke was already past the typical marriage age and still unmarried. Every time Mio heard it, she felt sorry for her maid.
Your master is planning to lose his mind and wipe out the entire Caspian Empire soon. He’ll probably never experience true love in his life.
But after spending time with Geoffrey, that first impression had softened just a little. He was still cold, indifferent, and carried a frightening aura, but…
He does seem to have a slightly gentle side.
While Mio was deep in thought, Geoffrey frowned. He always got irritated when she acted like this.
She says she loves me so fervently, so why is she talking about meeting other nobles?
He didn’t understand why Mio was talking about Geoffrey meeting Lavinia or other noble ladies.
She begged to come, and now this…
He had gone through considerable trouble to bring Mio here. This wasn’t a hunt just anyone could join, and a fallen Caspian noble like her had no right to participate. He’d only “reluctantly” given in to his butler’s suggestion, but in truth, he had chosen to bring her himself.
And now, after all that trouble, this is what she says?
Mio rode with her head so low she looked like she might fall off her horse at any moment.
“…Mio.”
“…Yes?”
She looked up weakly, and Geoffrey met her eyes with a serious expression. Their gazes briefly locked before he spoke slowly.
“There is no one else for me today.”
“…?”
“I have someone I must meet. Follow behind me at your own pace.”
With that, Geoffrey quickened his horse and pulled ahead.
“Your Grace! What does that mean—!”
As Geoffrey moved ahead, Samuel rode up beside her, pale blue hair fluttering. He asked with wide eyes:
“Why is His Grace suddenly riding so fast?”
She had no idea either.
“I’m not sure. He said he had someone to meet… Perhaps he’s going fox hunting?”
Samuel tilted his head.
“I doubt it. His Grace doesn’t enjoy hunting. I’ll follow him—please stay with the guards.”
Samuel left a few of the duke’s escorts with her and sped after Geoffrey.
“…Alone again.”
Far behind the leading group, the noble ladies were merrily chatting. Alexei, who had been riding beside the emperor, was so far ahead he was just a speck. Geoffrey was growing smaller and smaller in the distance.
Just what did Geoffrey mean by that?
She had wanted to come so badly, yet her mood was ruined. She couldn’t even remember the face of the angelic man she’d met earlier.
I want to be alone.
Her stomach churned and her eyes filled with tears. She needed a moment to calm this ridiculous emotional chaos.
I need to shake the guards.
She didn’t want anyone to see her crying. Mio made a show of riding toward a group of ladies. As she expected, the guards relaxed their vigilance. Then she slipped behind a tent and galloped away alone.
It wasn’t long before she entered a quiet forest path.
Her tangled emotions settled a little.
“Why am I feeling like this?”
Her fur stood on end and her whole body became overly sensitive.
No… No… It can’t be.
Her hands trembled on the reins as heat surged through her body. Even the horse sensed something was wrong, rearing anxiously.
“No—not now. Please, not now.”
She desperately tried to endure, but darkness suddenly swallowed her vision.
When she opened her eyes again, quite some time had passed. The sky visible through the treetops had deepened in color.
The worst-case scenario.
She didn’t need to confirm her condition. She weakly lifted her forelegs—and saw soft, furry paws. Her heightened senses could smell everything in the forest at once.
It was too absurd to even cry.
Of all places to transform into a fox—on a fox hunting ground…
The stupidest part was that she brought this on herself.
I was so focused on escaping Geoffrey that I didn’t pay attention to my condition.
But she didn’t have time to be upset.
If I’m not careful, I might die.
Mio, now a small silver fox, licked her paw and looked around.
Luckily, there were no hunters nearby. She burrowed behind a tree and into a pile of dead leaves. First, she needed a safe place to think. She ruffled dirt and leaves over her conspicuously silver fur and stared at the logs stacked around her.
Why did I transform?
That was the first question. She and Geoffrey had touched several times—he had caught her when she stumbled, and she had wiped his hair—and something… rather embarrassing… had happened inside the carriage earlier.
Is a kiss really the trigger?
There were too many unknowns. Nothing was certain.
No—first I have to figure out how to get out of here alive.
Ridiculous as it was, only one face came to mind.
I need to find Geoffrey first.
This forest was crawling with hunters. One wrong move could get her killed. She had no allies here.
I’d even settle for that annoying crow if it were here…
Mio slunk low, moving from shadow to shadow. She focused on every vibration in the ground, every scent in the wind. Wandering deeper into the woods, she paused.
Strange… It’s faint, but I smell him.
The signal horn marking the end of the hunt had sounded an hour ago. Why was he still in the forest?
Just as she concentrated, she sensed movement.
Not Geoffrey. This is…
Smoke. Burning wood. And blood. Thick and sharp.
Startled, Mio tried to hide—but suddenly the area lit up.
A pack of hounds surrounded her, drooling and snarling. They looked far more terrible than she had imagined. Several riders appeared behind them, and one man stepped forward.
“Well, well… what do we have here?”
A torch illuminated the leaves, making Mio’s silver fur gleam. The man calmed the salivating dogs, then turned and shouted. His voice set them off again, growling as if they would tear her apart on the spot.
“A silver fox—what incredible luck! Your Highness, we can have a bit of fun before the real hunt.”
Paralyzed by fear, Mio couldn’t run. Then a blond man with a crazed glint in his eye slowly approached. Even in fox form, she recognized him. Blutstained blond hair glimmered ominously in the torchlight, and his blue eyes—once like a calm lake—were bloodshot and twisted.
So that man called Ben earlier… was the Crown Prince.
If he was the Crown Prince, he was the Empress’s son—and Geoffrey’s enemy.
The prince stepped forward and licked the blood off his sword.
“A silver fox… I thought they were extinct. Excellent. I want that one raised for me. Catch it alive. It’ll be fun to tame a wild fox into a gentle lamb.”
—Krrr! (In your dreams!)
Caging a fox like livestock—she couldn’t believe how disgusting the idea was.
“It’s quite entertaining to break a rebellious beast.”
Despite his vile voice, Mio didn’t back down. As he came closer, she noticed something hanging from his horse—fresh kills. Pheasant, deer, rabbit, even foxes, their necks limp. Blood still dripped down the horse’s flank.
