Chapter 10…
Even when life was harsh, I never stopped trying to be human.
For a thousand years, I had endured all sorts of hardships just to become human.
At first, it was difficult just to avoid being discovered. Later, adapting to society was the challenge.
After failing several times, I got the hang of it and could find a suitable partner to spend a hundred nights with.
But if one was too poor, it was hard to make a living, and surviving a hundred nights became impossible.
Even when I ambitiously aimed for the queen’s position, it was the same. Who would have thought there would be so few opportunities to share a bed with the king?
“Fulfilling the hundred nights was harder than I imagined.”
Still, through repeated attempts, I was growing too.
But from then on, the fox demon who realized I was trying to become human began interfering in my surroundings.
They would incite rebellion, wipe out families, and have people poisoned.
They would lure husbands to their deaths.
Of course, knowing the demon’s strategies, I always had countermeasures.
Yet the curse seemed to relentlessly follow me.
Wars would break out.
Invaders would come, forcing all able men into conscription.
“That period was truly exhausting.”
When my country was taken, I even contributed all the money I had saved over centuries to independence funds.
What could I do? Once human, I had to live and die in that era.
Since I wanted a peaceful remaining life, I took part in independence movements and later briefly tasted the joy of liberation.
“My life has been truly tumultuous. Even I think so.”
And then, when the Korean War broke out, escaping to Seorak Mountain was another struggle.
Life was so hard that while recuperating in Seorak, returning to human society was shocking.
Though centuries had gradually passed, what had changed so much in just fifty years? Everything seemed so new.
I even got cursed at for walking in the middle of the street.
Finding a job without ID was almost impossible.
In the past, getting married was easier; the difficulties came afterward.
Now, even marriage was challenging.
-
“Uh… do you at least have the money you saved? You need a dowry if you’re getting married.”
So I had worked so hard, trying to save even a dowry for that idiot.
The last guy I met took all my money under the pretense of investing and blew it all. — Of course, I fell for the demon’s trap, but I think that was just the man’s limit. —
Thinking of Korean society again made my hands tremble.
I sat on the terrace, sipping tea and dessert I had brought after breakfast, trying to calm myself.
“Yes. Compared to a thousand years of hardship, this is nothing.”
At least now I didn’t have to worry about not having enough for meals or falling behind on bills.
Even though my home was a semi-basement with rent about a third of my salary, I didn’t have to fret over frozen pipes in winter or flooding in summer.
Although the fox orb had been taken, I had found a way to regain my powers.
“Yesterday, I definitely… felt my powers returning.”
When the Grand Duke placed his hand over mine, it felt like plugging in a charger—my energy slowly returned.
“I’ll make contact as much as possible to use temptation, then take back the fox orb afterward.”
In novels, characters often bump into each other and have skinship even without logical reasons.
This is a novel too—maybe it can work here.
I’d regain my powers, find the right moment to tempt him, and take back the fox orb.
“Well, if I could pretend it’s an accident and even steal a kiss, that’d be perfect.”
After reclaiming it, I would escape.
“Sorry, Roselia.”
How could I spend a hundred nights with someone who would immediately bring up divorce upon meeting?
Even if skinship was fine, the look in his eyes said it was “vulgar.”
A thousand years of experience tells me: this game can’t be won.
If I had more time, I might have waited for opportunities without running.
If it failed, I could find someone else after the divorce.
But what could I do?
-
“If you don’t become human within a year, you’ll remain a fox forever.”
To become human in a year, I had to spend a hundred nights and find the right man within six months.
After a thousand years of struggle, I couldn’t stay a fox forever now.
“Anyway, it’s going according to the original novel… Sorry, Roselia.”
It felt like someone was poking my conscience with a needle, but I ignored it and wrapped my hands around the warm teacup.
“Eeee!”
I heard the sound of a horse somewhere and looked up.
Before lunch, I saw the Grand Duke preparing to go outside.
“I need a chance to create an ‘accident’ and make contact.”
He’s always outside. How can I even get a word in?
“Where on earth is he going?”
I watched quietly as the Grand Duke mounted his horse with his guard, Fjor.
“Strange… the staff said he hardly ever went out before.”
“Maybe I should follow him?”
At times like this, following as a fox was the easiest.
After warning the staff never to enter my room, I made sure no one was around and slid down along the wall.
Of course, a fox can’t match a horse’s speed, but fortunately, he didn’t ride fast within the city, so I found him quickly.
The Grand Duke headed to a place somewhat familiar to me: Mount Tyres.
The mountain where I first arrived in this novel and where I met Roselia.
He dismounted and searched through bushes, looking for something.
“What is he doing?”
I climbed a nearby tree, curled up, and rested my tail as a pillow while observing him.
He seemed desperate, as if looking for a very important object.
Fjor was helping, but he looked irritated.
“Your Grace, isn’t this enough? Let’s stop.”
“…No.”
“You’ve been coming here for days. You might cause a misunderstanding with the Duchess. You should cooperate.”
I perked up at Fjor’s words.
“What misunderstanding?”
“You’ve been here for days. If I were the Duchess, I’d think Your Grace dislikes her.”
I had wanted to bite Fjor when he interfered before.
“But you don’t need to make your closest person your enemy.”
Fjor now represented my thoughts, and I reconsidered him.
“You might think I’m neglecting her, making things worse. You don’t even know the exact relationship yet.”
“….”
“…Let’s stop and go back, Your Grace?”
“Let’s look just today.”
Fjor sighed deeply.
“Last time, I saw Siena come here. There should be a clue nearby.”
Siena… That name sounded familiar.
“Siena? Who is that?”
As if he heard me, Fjor muttered:
“You’ve done well without Siena until now.”
Ephe heard Fjor’s small complaint, and he glared down at him.
“…Not anymore.”
“No, Your Grace.”
“I can’t imagine a world without her.”
“But the Duchess is here. You can’t act like this.”
“I’m going crazy without seeing Siena.”
Wait, what did I just hear?
“Your Grace, today only. If you can’t find her today, you won’t come again.”
Their conversation ended with sparks, and both returned to searching the bushes.
“Siena… Could she be the one the Grand Duke loves?”
Judging by how desperately he searched, probably.
“Is that why he refused to kiss me?”
Otherwise, he wouldn’t reject someone as attractive as me.
If he can’t imagine a world without Siena, he must really love her.
“Maybe Siena isn’t even a noble.”
That could explain why he arranged a match with a declining family. Siena likely had little political interest and wasn’t very noticed.
If given proper compensation, he probably expected marriage or divorce to be agreed upon.
“Roselia was gentle… maybe he thought he could manage me too.”
Once divorced, any surveillance or harassment would decrease for anyone after.
Though the circumstances are unclear, it’s certain the Grand Duke loves Siena passionately.
A good idea suddenly struck me.
“Wait.”
I jumped down under the tree, eyes sparkling.
“What if I find Siena first and transform into her?”
A kiss becomes completely possible, and I can immediately take the fox orb.
“Ha. This fox is too clever.”
I waddled toward him on all fours to help him find what he was searching for.
I don’t know what clue he’s after, but I’ll find it much better than any human.
I rubbed my face against his legs from behind.
The Grand Duke looked down at me with slightly surprised eyes.
“Now, tell me. What are you looking for?”
This fox will find it all.
And when I looked up at the Grand Duke from below, I was quite startled.
Tears shimmered like waves in his ocean-like eyes.
“Siena!”
He immediately bent down and hugged me.
“…You found me.”
What is happening?
I was so shocked my tail stiffened.
“Siena, where have you been? I’ve been searching for so long.”
Even trying to rationally understand the situation, I couldn’t.
Siena? Did he just call me Siena?
“The townspeople didn’t drive you out, right? You must be starving. Look how thin you’ve gotten.”
“…Your Grace, your fur looks fluffier now. You’ve been doing well?”
“What do you mean? Don’t you see our Siena is just skin and bones?”
Wait, excuse me?
You said you couldn’t live without Siena.
Since when am I Siena?
“I ordered lots of jerky for you, and you disappeared suddenly. I was worried.”
“I’m glad. I thought that attacker might have killed this fox…”
“Fjor, don’t even say such impious things.”
Choking on his words, he sighed and held me close, stroking my back.
“I was so worried something would happen to you.”
Is this man… crying?
Now, I began to understand why the Grand Duke, who rarely went out, had gone out every day.
I see.
The Grand Duke went out to look for me—the fox—and left Roselia behind.
