The Baby Bear of the Black Fox Mansion - Chapter 20

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 20
“Well, the child is doing fine. You know how it is—we don’t see each other much these days. I heard my daughter caught sight of him not long ago, though.”
Gareth Bernier smiled crookedly as he spoke.
“Besides, my older brothers look so frightening that the boy only takes a liking to me.”
…….
“In any case, he’s doing well.”
Gareth Bernier answered.
But in truth, he himself had heard nothing about the half-blood from his daughter recently.
Thinking that he ought to look in on things next time he returned home, he opened his mouth again.
“In the first place, since he was born with nothing but a stone instead of jewels, we can’t show him to the outside world anyway. It’s shameful.”
…….
“Because of Lien running away and bringing back bastards like that—”
Bang!
The table shook violently.
Gareth Bernier, who had been speaking carelessly, stiffened his shoulders and looked ahead.
“If you find prattling so amusing, perhaps I should send you on an assignment.”
“…Father.”
Ahem.
Gareth Bernier’s eyes darted about before he pressed his lips firmly shut.
“Honestly, you’re not wrong about it. Lien was born without jewels, so Father kept him hidden, and then he ran away and brought back another half-blood like himself—”
“Gareth.”
At the call from his eldest brother Griszel Bernier, Gareth fell silent.
Those cold black eyes looked as though they might devour whoever stood before them.
“It seems Father’s words amuse you.”
“…I understand. Why does everyone always come down on me? Really.”
“That’s because—”
Pola Bernier, who had dipped a cookie generously in honey, licked the honey from his finger with his tongue and laughed.
“You’re the most pathetic and foolish of us all. That’s why, youngest.”
“…Tch.”
“Tch?”
Pola Bernier curled the corners of his mouth upward.
The man with fluffy white hair and round blue eyes, whose face was rather endearing, tilted his head slightly and opened his mouth with an intimidating expression.
“Youngest, mind your tongue.”
“Both of you, be quiet.”
…….
…….
The two fell silent.
“Griszel, what is the situation beyond the territory these days?”
At Duke Bernier’s question, the atmosphere shifted.
“The barriers continue to weaken. Even the places we repaired last year have grown weak again.”
Griszel Bernier spoke, brushing back his deep auburn hair.
…….
Silence fell.
The weakening of House Bernier’s barriers, which specialized in Barrier Magic, was not something to brush off as a joke.
“Demon Beast invasions have increased, and something strange—not quite a Demon Beast—has appeared and is poisoning the land and water. Not only that, Barrier Stones have run wild in some areas, creating situations where people cannot leave their homes.”
The anomalies that had begun years ago were intensifying in recent times.
The barriers’ runaway reaction.
The barriers that House Bernier had built up over centuries were beginning to fracture.
They were rushing out on dispatches, making repairs and subjugating Demon Beasts, but they had not addressed the root cause.
“About that village that was attacked by Demon Beasts—what became of it?”
Recently, one of the villages in Bernier Territory had been attacked by Demon Beasts and left in ruins.
Pola Bernier, who had been listening quietly, raised his hand slightly.
This was because he was the one who had been dispatched there.
“It’s beyond repair until the Pure Ones arrive, Father.”
Squirm.
Duke Bernier’s face hardened at Pola’s words.
“The land, the crops—everything is rotted. The poison is severe, so it’s beyond recovery. I’ve only placed barriers around the entire village for now and returned.”
“I see.”
“I will send a letter to Nordic.”
“Do so.”
The Duke Bernier rose from his seat.
The elderly man, his hair streaked with silver, bore deep scars across his face and arms.
“And Gareth.”
“Yes, Father.”
“I should see the child soon.”
“The child?”
“Lien’s child.”
He replied curtly.
“There are things to verify. I’ll need to see them in person. Some Awaken late, after all.”
Gareth hesitated.
Gareth Bernier’s brow furrowed.
“I told you! That child doesn’t want to meet their father and older brothers—the ones who let their mother die. You can’t force them against their will.”
……
“And Awakening? What do you mean, ‘Awakening’? That’s just a lump of stone—how could it possibly Awaken?”
Despite his flood of words, the Duke Bernier regarded Gareth Bernier in silence.
“I have given my order. Do you require further explanation?”
“But——!”
……
The cold gaze fell upon him, and Gareth Bernier trembled visibly. He drew a deep breath and gave a small, reluctant nod.
“I-I’ll need time. I’ll need to explain and persuade them, and……”
“One month.”
Gareth Bernier nodded slightly.
With nothing more to say, the man turned at once and left the Garden, which hung thick with the scent of honey—so sweet it made his nose burn.
* * *
Miel, age five.
The child now stood at a crossroads of momentous proportion.
“……Hmmmm.”
Two Honey Sweets and one plate of honey.
The man with the Honey Sweets had decreed that only one could be chosen during snack time.
This was punishment because Miel had devoured the Honey Sweets received as a gift yesterday and then eaten nothing for dinner.
‘At least it doesn’t hurt.’
But then again, maybe getting scolded and eating both would be better after all.
“What about half of each?”
“Nope. Not allowed.”
Lisar sat across from Miel, who stood locked in this terrible dilemma with arms crossed, his chin resting on his palm as he watched her.
“Hmmmm……”
How impossibly adorable she looked, her round lips pursed even rounder in contemplation.
[Why don’t you just eat both?]
At the voice from above her head, Miel stuck out her lip.
“If I eat both, he said he won’t give me any more Honey Sweets.”
“Your father said that?”
“Yeah. He always keeps his promises. He says he’ll only give special treats to good children who follow the rules.”
So Miel had no choice but to pick one.
‘I’ve eaten plenty of Honey Sweets already.’
Miel screwed her eyes shut and reached out……
“Today is honey’s turn!”
And grabbed the small plate of honey!
[Hey, forget about the curse for a second and listen to me!]
The Draconian circled around Miel, shouting.
Of course, Miel pretended not to hear and plunged her small hand straight into the honey pot.
Because……
“If semi-transparent things try to speak to you or ask for favors, ignore them, miss. It only gets tiresome.”
“Mm-hmm.”
Her nursemaid had warned her of this before.
It was the moment Miel was about to bring her honey-soaked hand to her mouth.
“Oh, aren’t you going to use a spoon?”
Lisar held out a utensil, his face flustered with surprise.
……
Whoosh.
Miel’s face flushed scarlet.
Lisar let out a soft laugh as he watched Miel’s face turn crimson.
“Now, now, Miel… you mustn’t eat with your hands like that.”
Miel stammered out an excuse, her words tumbling over themselves.
Lisar swallowed his amusement and dampened a handkerchief, gently cleaning her sticky fingers.
“But you’re not a wild creature anymore—you’re part of our household now. So you must use a spoon, yes?”
“…Mm-hmm.”
Miel accepted the spoon from Lisar.
Then she plunged it straight into the honey jar and shoved another heaping spoonful into her mouth.
Poof!
Miel’s small, round tail and ears materialized in plain sight.
Her fur-covered ears trembled, standing fully upright.
“Mmm…!”
Miel’s eyes glistened with tears as she looked at Lisar.
“So good…!”
“You like it?”
“Yes! The Honey Sweets are wonderful. Thank you!”
Spoon still in hand, Miel threw her arms around Lisar without warning.
“…!”
Lisar’s face flushed deep crimson, steam visibly rising from the top of his head.
“Gasp!”
Oblivious to his state, Miel contentedly emptied the honey jar with her spoon.
It took quite some time before Lisar, now a melted puddle of red-faced embarrassment on the floor, could gather himself again.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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