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chapter 41
It was a red castle—smaller than the Iffin family’s estate, but still tall enough to be called a castle.
The reason it was painted red was obvious: it was clearly meant to symbolize the image of the red fox.
“Wow… that’s amazing.”
I pressed my hands together and reacted in awe. Rudels glanced at me and muttered.
“Our villa’s nice too…”
“Hm? What was that?”
He instantly changed his expression, smiling brightly as he answered.
“Nothing, Teacher. By the way, do you like this kind of architecture?”
“Not so much a preference… I just think it’s beautiful.”
“Beautiful, huh…”
Crossing his arms, he looked up at the castle. His face was smiling, but oddly, a chill seemed to radiate from him.
Eh. Must just be my imagination.
Thinking that, I sprayed the perfume Merina had gifted me.
“Uh… Irriel?”
“Yes?”
“Why the perfume…?”
“What do you mean, why perfume?”
I blinked wide like a rabbit and explained,
“Lady Merina specifically told me to use it. If people find out I’m a witch, I might… get shunned.”
I smiled awkwardly as I spoke. It was common knowledge across the continent that beastkin had far sharper senses than others. That much was obvious—completely obvious!
But why does Rudels look like someone just stole his favorite food?
He stared at me with trembling eyes, then forced a smile.
“R-right. Of course. Beastkin do have good noses…”
He sighed with a regretful expression, then looked back at me.
“Shall we go in, then?”
I nodded vigorously and followed after him.
“Haha! Rudels, my boy, long time no see!”
As we approached the castle, Marquis Vollepino greeted him warmly.
“It’s been a while, Marquis.”
“Hoho! And the Duke? Is he well?”
“He’s currently leading the fight against monster swarms.”
“Tch, tch. Of all things, monsters…”
At the mention of monsters, the marquis frowned. Rudels, however, replied with the polite smile he always showed in public.
“Well, it’s only exterminating low-rank monsters, so it’s not too dire.”
At that, the marquis laughed heartily and turned his gaze on me.
“And the lady beside you is…?”
Stepping slightly ahead, Rudels answered for me.
“My personal physician. I’ve grown a bit frail lately, having to act as proxy for the family head.”
The marquis clicked his tongue and scolded him lightly.
“A young man like you… No matter. Come, come! Everyone’s gathered but your family!”
“Yes, Marquis. By the way, what of Kels?”
“Bah! Don’t even ask! That slippery brat ditched us and disappeared on his own!”
The marquis huffed, turning sharply away.
The Red Fox family, the Vollepinos, were one of the four great meritorious families of the Beastkin Kingdom.
Before coming here, Rudels had given me a brief rundown of them. If they turned out to be behind the recent terror attacks, I needed to act with extra caution.
To summarize: the Red Foxes held the rank of marquis, below the dukes. But their honor and influence were in no way inferior to the two ducal houses. In fact, one could almost call them equals.
The only reason they were “merely” marquises was because the Iffin and Radiance families were stronger.
After all, in the Beastkin Kingdom, a house’s position was decided by how much and how long their racial abilities could amplify.
It was the same logic as in the Witch Kingdom, where one’s place was decided by what kind of magic they wielded and how strong it was.
Wanting to flaunt their equality with the dukes, the Vollepinos became the trendsetters of high society, leading fashions and gatherings. Perhaps that was why—even though this was only their villa—it was extravagantly lavish.
Inside, the floor was laid with reddish-orange marble, like the color of bricks.
Until then, I’d thought marble only came in white, but here I learned it could glow red as well.
It’s pretty… but kind of hurts the eyes.
I rubbed them lightly and trailed after Rudels.
He kept politely replying to the marquis’s endless chatter, smiling all the while. Brief, but impeccably courteous.
If it had been me, I’d have gone pale from such constant prattle. Yet Rudels never changed his expression, smiling gracefully as he answered.
The marquis chuckled and glanced at me.
“By the way, young lady, what is your name?”
“Ah… it’s a pleasure to meet you, Marquis Vollepino. My name is Irriel Rotis, recently appointed healer of the Iffin family.”
Following Beastkin etiquette, I placed one hand over my chest and bowed slightly.
He stroked his mustache, peering at me with curiosity.
“How odd. I can hardly detect your scent at all…”
My heart sank with a thud.
Oh no, no, no—what do I do?!
I lowered my head even further to hide my trembling eyes.
The marquis tilted his head, puzzled. Just then, Rudels stepped in.
“Most likely because of perfume.”
“Perfume? Ah… the kind that masks even strong scents?”
Rudels smiled brightly.
“Yes. My teacher here once deployed alongside my younger sister as a field medic. The stench of monsters lingers, so she must have sprayed some to hide it for this important gathering. Isn’t that right?”
He had just made that up on the spot, but it was a flawless answer. I quickly nodded.
Thank you, thank you, my employer!
The marquis roared with laughter and clapped my shoulder heartily.
“To think you rendered such service to our Beastkin Kingdom! Truly worthy of an Iffin healer!”
“Haha… thank you.”
He must have been in his fifties, yet the strength of that pat nearly knocked me over.
Seeing me shrinking away, Rudels spoke up.
“Marquis, shouldn’t we head to the council chamber?”
“Ah, yes, yes. I got carried away.”
Calling over an attendant, the marquis instructed,
“Show the healer to her room. Rudels and I must attend the meeting.”
“As you wish, Marquis.”
A red-haired man bowed, then smiled at me.
“Allow me to show you to your quarters, Healer.”
I glanced at Rudels. He gave me a small nod, and only then did I relax enough to follow the attendant.
Thus we went our separate ways.
I looked back once at Rudels. He strode on, every inch the noble heir of a ducal house.
Watching his back, I recalled what had happened in the carriage.
[In my eyes, that’s how you look, Irriel.]
Remembering the way Rudels had looked up at me with that smile, my face flushed hot.
It had sounded so much like a lover’s words—telling someone they were beautiful.
The thought made my chest feel ticklish.
My heart itched so badly I wanted to scratch it, but since I couldn’t, I just fidgeted. Yet the sensation wasn’t unpleasant.
It’s so embarrassing… but it doesn’t feel bad at all.
Thanks to his words, I no longer panicked whenever people glanced at my hair. Surely Rudels had said it deliberately for my sake. Otherwise, he’d never have voiced something so mortifying so boldly.
Even if he said it on purpose, it… still feels nice.
Smiling faintly, I followed the attendant.
Once I reached my room, I’d have to get to work quickly—so my nerves grew tighter.
Meanwhile, Rudels and Marquis Vollepino stood before a certain door, guarded by beastkin with slim swords.
Catching the scent within, Rudels’s eyes widened.
Of all people, the one he least wished to meet was already inside.
Damn it.
The guards bowed lightly and announced,
“Marquis Vollepino, Lord Rudels Iffin—please enter.”
Rudels glanced at the marquis. Vollepino’s brows furrowed faintly, his eyes full of pity as he looked at him.
Realizing exactly what that meant, Rudels cursed inwardly.
Shit.
The last person he wanted to see was here.
The doors opened, and inside, a man greeted them with a radiant smile.
“Ah, it’s been a while, Lord Iffin. Marquis Vollepino. Have you both been well?”
Seated there was Arkin Radiance, heir of the Radiance Duchy.
His light blond hair shimmered as his brown eyes curved with a sly smile at Rudels.
“I’ve been well, Lord Radiance. And your father?”
Rudels smiled back politely. Arkin twitched his lips and set down his teacup.
“Yes, he’s recovered much. At this rate, his health should return swiftly.”
Suppressing the urge to scoff, Rudels forced a faint smile.
At that moment, the marquis interjected smoothly, easing the strange tension between them.
“Hohoho! All of you, working hard as proxies for your family heads—it’s no small task.”
Arkin turned his grin on the marquis.
“And you, Marquis, seem to shine more brightly with each passing day.”
At that, the marquis laughed heartily, his face glowing with delight.
