“Haha…”, Astel laughed awkwardly and nodded.

“Yes, I have great respect for the knights who protect the empire.”

“I am also a knight.”

“…that’s why I respect the Duke the most.”

Perhaps the hastily wrapped flattery worked, the Duke’s lips loosened a little bit, at least slightly.

“…treating too many knights in a swordsmanship contest could be dangerous.”

“The Duke…”

Astel opened her lips carefully.

“Would it be dangerous even if the Duke was by my side?”

The Duke stared down at me and suddenly clenched his teeth.

I thought he was angry, but his twitching lips seemed unclear whether he was wondering, as if smiling or not.

After a few seconds that felt like eternity. The Duke opened his mouth gloomily, like struggling with his emotions.

“…I’ll think about it.”

You don’t want to expose me to a dangerous environment because of our imprint.

“Yes, I am very grateful to the Duke for treating me well.”

The atmosphere warmed up nicely.

I decided to focus on this warm atmosphere.

“I want to work hard for the Duke before I leave after the imprint is over!”

It was a good flattery with a moderate mix of sincerity.

At the end of those words, I continued to wriggle the Duke’s hand, feeling the pulse diligently, and checked his health.

But was it an illusion?

It seems that the Duke’s hand was still stiff…

Astel looked up carefully at the Duke with unfamiliar symptoms.

The Duke, who had been staring straight at me, stiffened, and softly opened his lips again.

“…After the imprint was done, are you going to leave?”

Without hesitation, I answered quickly and loudly, and with serious expression.

“Yes!”

A quick and sincere answer was essential to gain his trust.

At the same time as my answer, I could feel him clasping his hands.

But there was no time to pay much attention to it.

I tried to check his health by diligently stroking his hands and fingertips.

“Astel, where are you going? Are you going to the Knights?”

The questioning voice sounded tenacious.

Astel glanced up at him with a squirrel-like eye.

The Duke’s gaze fell into Astel’s round eyes.

“The Knights? I have no intention to become a knight.”

Does it look like I’m going to be a knight?

I replied neatly, thinking of my soft arms without a muscle.

“Maybe in the Capital? I didn’t really think about it!”

“Capital, you say.”

“Yes.”

“…by any chance, in this northern part, or this Duke’s castle?”

“No, but this castle wasn’t my home.”

“Home…”, the Duke repeated slowly.

It was a relaxed attitude as if contemplating something.

But now, I have to thoroughly examine him with all my heart, so I didn’t have time to worry about his words.

A few minutes later, I put down his hand and said cheerfully.

“As always, the Duke was very healthy!”

“No, it’s not.”

“…?”

Wait, why?

“My health just got worse.”

“Oh, it got worse? All of a sudden?”

Astel stared at the Duke’s face.

Come to think of it, you look a little pale…

“Yes. I need to call the doctor right away.”

At that moment, the sunlight pouring through the window shone on the Duke’s face.

He wasn’t smiling like before, but his expressionless face looked strange…

* * *

Fortunately, the doctor who visited immediately said that there was no problem with the Duke and me.

‘Instead, he thought the imprint was a little strange, so he just told us to meet each other often and check each other’s health.’

Apparently, the doctor said that the imprint was strangely a little more unstable, even though we had been in touch with each other for quite some time.

Feeling uneasy, I kept holding the Duke’s hand the whole time while listening to the test results.

‘Because I don’t want this to go any further…’

At the warmth left in my hand, I openly rubbed my palm a few times and smiled shyly at the Duke.

“The Duke needs to be away for a while, and he’s also wearing a teleportation bracelet.”

His face turned red as he remembered his hand, which Astel had been holding covering his wrist with the bracelet.

I mean, the Duke had no ulterior motive, it must have been just because of the imprint…

I was the only one who had no experience in dating, so it was very difficult.

I shook my head to shake off all the bad imaginations.

Still, except for the unstable imprint, it wasn’t a bad situation to go back to for sure.

“I wish I could see you one more time, but if you’re really busy as the Duke says, we won’t be able to meet…” Astel said while thinking of her brother.

So, I decided to take a walk.

“Doesn’t the sky seem too bright today?”

I walked happily, hopping around.

After passing the treatment center, I walked all the way to swordsmanship training grounds and returned after.

It was just when I came into the building after enjoying such leisurely time.

As I was walking down the hallway, in the corner a silver fur stood in front of me.

“Squeak…!”

Embarrassed, I carefully avoided the fox and moved to the left.

Tap-tap-tap…

Then the fox followed me to the left.

Confused, I took a step to the right.

Tap-tap-tap… 

The fox moved to the right.

“…Huh, what? Do you want to tell me about something?”

It was a silver fox with little fur.

‘Was that a baby fox?’

I felt a strange sense of deja vu when I saw the fox’s silver fur…

“Hello, fox?”

“Crr, creung...”

I’m sure I’ve never seen you before.

Taking a closer look at the little fox, I found an envelope inside the tightly closed snout.

The hopping fox opened its mouth when my gaze reached the envelope. Then the letter fell.

“Are you giving this to me?”

“Creung!”

The fox nodded its head.

I smiled and took the envelope the fox gave.

“Thanks, shall I read it right away?”

The fox rubbed its fluffy tail against my body and let out a soft sound. I opened the envelope, feeling the fox’s fluffy tail.

「Hello, I’m Bell, a member of the silver fox family who has just started learning how to write.

I’m a small fox, but I use black scabbard sword well.

Let’s continue.

I also met Lady Astel at the swordsmanship training earlier. But I couldn’t say hello.

I’m sorry.

I have a favor to ask of you.

The maids (as they say) said that Lady Astel has a wonderful medicine. So, the maids are also fond of Lady Astel, Lord Ricardo also likes you.

So, if there’s any medicine that could give someone courage? What medicine could overcome a timid personality? And… The medicine that my parents could take, and the medicine that could make my parents (and I get close…) No, I’ll take this back!

Anyway, (thanks) thank you.

If there’s any medicine that you could provide, it would come to the silver fox family. Please… 

I’ll give you money.

I (make) have money.」

Astel lowered her gaze while checking the letter.

What a new concept of appeal, it’s so cute…

“Cute baby fox!”

“Crr!”

The fox raised its long tail and blinked its black eyes with a smile.

I, who was almost seduced by the fox, smiled softly and stroked its silver fur.

Since I received the baby fox’s request, it’s normal to do it.

“Please wait a little bit. I’ll pick them up.”

I’ll try to make it better before the swordsmanship contest.

This little kid, ‘Bell‘, had a faint scent.

A familiar scent that was sweet yet erodes in the tip of the nose.

It’s not a unique scent.

‘Where does this fragrance come from?’

After tilting her head for a moment, Astel let go of the fox ‘Bell‘ and waved her hand.

‘Could this smell permeate on a normal baby fox’s body…?’

Thinking hard, I quickly came to my senses after feeling the tongue of a baby fox suffering from my hand.

“Creung!”

As I stared at the baby fox, I naturally remembered my lovely nephew with cute plump cheeks.