HPIM 07

Esteban might be a rude-mouthed brat whose behavior wasn’t exactly cute, but there was one thing worth praising about him.

He always kept his word.

“Hurry up. There’s only one place left.”

“Pya-pya!”

‘Fine, you don’t have to explain what every place is, but at least tell me where you usually go!’

True to his claim that he wouldn’t kindly explain anything, Esteban stuck to it perfectly.

Like a bus racing toward its final stop at the end of the day, he seemed focused only on one goal—making a full round of the estate before his lesson.

As a result, I was just skimming through the place without really seeing anything.

At this rate, I’d rather just explore on my own!

“Pya—kyaa!”

While chasing after him and deciding I’d come back later with Rani, I failed to notice him suddenly stopping and ran straight into his leg.

Clutching my snout, I glared at him, but Esteban simply curled his lips into a grin.

…You’re laughing? This is funny to you?

“You’ve only had it in processed form, so I guess this is your first time seeing it in person.”

Processed form? What is he talking about?

Tilting my head in confusion, I suddenly caught a familiar scent.

It was something between a floral fragrance and sweet chocolate. As I sniffed curiously, Esteban spoke.

“That bell-shaped blue flower over there is Bluebell.”

Bluebell?

At his words, my head snapped toward it.

Before me stretched a field full of blooming bluebell flowers.

Bluebell.

Just as its name suggested, it was a blue, bell-shaped flower that activated the flow of basic mana.

Which meant that for the Fenec family—beastfolk born with only a tiny amount of mana—it was an extremely important herb tied to the very survival of their lineage.

Of course, it wasn’t just useful for them. It also greatly helped elderly people whose mana flow had weakened, or those born with low mana.

The problem was that Bluebell only grew in limited locations, making its supply extremely scarce.

‘High demand, low supply—that means sky-high prices.’

For a family that wasn’t particularly wealthy, like the Fenec, it was practically impossible to obtain unless they risked their lives like this.

“I’ve never heard of a fox having such greedy eyes.”

‘Wouldn’t it be weirder not to be greedy here? Do you know how much money I’d make if I dug up just a few of those?’

I shot him an annoyed look and smacked my lips.

Honestly, if I could just get a few roots and cultivate them, I wouldn’t mind becoming Winchester’s pet fox like Ariel said…

‘The problem is, they can’t be grown anywhere except the Winchester territory.’

Even within the Winchester estate, it didn’t seem like they could grow just anywhere.

From what I’d seen while touring the estate earlier, Bluebells only bloomed here—in the garden.

‘Most of the Bluebells in circulation are said to be cultivated in the Winchester territory, a little outside the capital.’

Sure, some grew elsewhere, but the quantity was so small that Winchester essentially held a monopoly.

In any case, Bluebells were so profitable that even the imperial family was desperate to cultivate them.

They had gathered the Empire’s top botanists to try growing them elsewhere—but every Bluebell planted outside Winchester withered and died within days.

‘In other words, no matter how much I want them right now, there’s no point.’

I decided to think about cultivation methods later.

After all, I’d be staying in Winchester for five years. Maybe I’d figure out why they only grew there.

At that moment, I saw Rani running toward us.

Out of breath, she spoke to Esteban.

“Y-Young Master! Sir Ellen has arrived!”

“Perfect timing.”

‘Ellen—that’s the teacher who helps him control mana, right? Maybe he could help me too?’

Recalling what Rendel had said earlier, I looked at Esteban.

With an annoyed expression, he pointed at me.

“The tour’s over. Take her back to her room.”

“Yes, Young Master. Shall I escort Sir Ellen to your room as usual?”

After a brief pause, Esteban shook his head.

“No. Let’s do it in the garden today.”

“Ah, yes! I’ll bring Sir Ellen here, then. Miss, please follow me—”

Pretending not to hear, I plopped myself down right beside Esteban.

His face instantly twisted in irritation.

“What are you doing?”

“Pya!”

‘What do you mean? You said you’re having your lesson here—so I’m staying too!’

I hadn’t exactly said I wanted to join the lesson before, so from his perspective, I must’ve seemed random.

But I had just decided, so it couldn’t be helped.

‘And honestly, the sooner I can transform into a human, the better for him too, right?’

“The tour’s over. Go back to your room.”

“Pya-pya.”

‘I know. I’m staying for the lesson.’

“Hey.”

“Pya-pyat!”

‘Wouldn’t it help you too if I learned mana control and could transform? I’ll be quiet! I won’t get in the way!’

“I said go.”

“Pya-pya-pyat!”

‘No! I’m staying!’

I shouted back—but when I saw his hardened expression, I immediately lowered my tail.

Only then did it occur to me that I might be pushing it, trying to sit in on a lesson I wasn’t even paying for.

I looked at him with pleading eyes, silently asking for permission to stay quiet and not interfere.

Watching my sparkling gaze, Esteban grimaced and turned to Rani.

“Isn’t she just hungry?”

“Pya-pyat!”

‘No, I’m not!’

“Ah! Yes, then I’ll prepare a meal in the young lady’s room!”

“Pya-pya-pyat!”

‘That’s not it!’

“Miss, please come this way—”

Avoiding Rani as she bent down to lead me, I darted behind Esteban.

Her eyes trembled in shock.

“M-Miss? Did I… do something wrong?”

“Pya-pya… pya?”

‘No! Not at all! I’m sorry, Rani—but I really want to attend this lesson…!’

At that moment, Esteban grabbed the back of my neck and lifted me up.

Without even looking at my shocked face, he handed me off to Rani.

“Don’t let anyone near the garden until the lesson’s over.”

“Yes, Young Master!”

‘W-what is this…?!’

I blinked in disbelief as he passed me off like I didn’t exist.

If I stayed like this, I’d be carried off and end up eating apples in my room.

‘As a rational adult, I really didn’t want to resort to this, but…!’

“Pya-pya-pya-pyaaa!”

I thrashed and shrieked loudly, and Rani’s eyes widened in panic.

“M-Miss?!”

Taking advantage of her confusion—like an air raid siren blaring—I leapt out of her arms.

Then I quickly wedged myself between Esteban’s legs again, making it clear I was staying.

Both Rani and Esteban looked utterly dumbfounded.

‘Sorry, Rani! It’s not that I dislike you—I just really need this lesson!’

“Miss, what on earth are you—”

“Hey, fox.”

For once, Esteban’s voice turned cold.

His red eyes carried a sharp killing intent.

“I don’t know what you’re thinking, but if you don’t want to get caught in a mana rampage and die, stop this.”

Only then did I understand why he was reacting so strongly.

‘He’s scared. He thinks I might die if I get caught in his rampage.’

Realizing the vulnerability behind his composed exterior made my heart feel heavy.

Seeing my stiff expression, Esteban seemed to think I understood.

With a small sigh, he spoke.

“Then follow your maid and—”

“Pya-pyat!”

‘No! I’m not going! Now that I know that’s what you’re worried about, how could I leave?!’

I shoved myself between his legs again and clung tightly to him.

“I said—”

“I heard from the head butler you were here. My apologies for being late, Young Master Esteban.”

A man with wavy brown hair came running into the garden.

Wiping the sweat from his forehead, he froze upon seeing me clinging to Esteban’s leg—and Esteban trying to pry me off.

“F-fox…?”

‘No. Starting today, I’m your desert fox student.’