The Baby Bear of the Black Fox Mansion - Chapter 5

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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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Chapter 5
“Does Honey Pastry dislike fluffy things?”
“That’s what I’m trying to say—I’m not Honey Pastry, I’m Lisar….”
Lisar trailed off with a small sigh.
“I don’t like it. The Fox Territory is supposed to be incredibly warm, they say. The greenery there is so beautiful. Books describe it as a masterpiece—the bright blue sky harmonizing with all that lush growth…… I’ve seen pictures.”
Holding Miel’s hand tightly, Lisar walked toward the restaurant and spoke in a dejected tone.
“Now…… it snows every single day, piling up everywhere. No flowers bloom, no fruit grows. The sky is gray. They say black foxes are wicked foxes, cursed.”
“…….”
“It must have been because I was born. Mother fell ill because of me. The Curse came down because I was born. It’s my fault…….”
Miel’s eyes widened.
“We’ve lost so many trade partners. Father works incredibly hard to keep the territory running somehow, but…… now everyone blames the black fox, says it’s because of the black fox leading the clan.”
“Um, uh, I, I see….”
“I want to see that beautiful place just once. I want Mother to get better, and then all of us together….”
Honestly, Miel…… had barely understood any of Lisar’s long-winded explanation.
‘I have no idea what she’s saying.’
Still, Miel simply nodded with a serious expression.
“The, the people…… stopped coming, so Honey Pastry’s mom is sick……. A fox does, does swimming…….”
“…….”
Miel sweated nervously while maintaining what she hoped was a grave expression, nodding earnestly along.
Though her pupils trembled as if the ground beneath her were shaking, and her eyes darted about frantically.
The spark drained from Lisar’s gaze.
Lisar, who had been gazing at Miel with the sleepy eyes of a drowsy bear cub, shrugged and laughed.
‘What am I doing, lecturing someone so much younger than me.’
Lisar was seven years old.
The young one who was somehow an adult shook her head.
“Listen.”
“……?”
“Honey Pastry isn’t a wicked fox. She’s kind. She gave Miel a Honey Pastry.”
“What? Everyone does that…….”
“No one ever gave Miel a Honey Pastry, but Honey Pastry did. So Honey Pastry is a kind fox.”
Poke!
Miel pressed both of Lisar’s cheeks firmly with her small hands and broke into a wide grin.
“……!”
The young one’s eyes flew open.
Miel called out spiritedly to the flustered Lisar.
“So Miel will do her best too!”
“What? What do you…….”
“It’s okay. The fluffy thing will go away!”
Miel declared.
“What……?”
“First.”
“Mm.”
Growl.
“Miel is hungry…….”
* * *
Munch, munch.
Crackle, crackle.
Nom, nom.
Watching the food disappear rapidly before her eyes, Lisar blinked.
‘…A baby bear is still a bear. She really does eat well.’
With a beaming, flushed face, Miel held food in both hands and ate with tremendous enthusiasm.
“Is it good……?”
“Dewy……..”
Miel ate the sweet, thickly glazed barbecue and the potatoes slathered in sugar and butter with an expression that seemed on the verge of tears.
“Blow! Blow! Blow!”
Of course, she also remembered to let hot food cool properly.
“You understand, young lady. When something is steaming like that, it means it’s extremely hot, so you must blow on it ten times before you eat it.”
This was because there was a sad memory of once forgetting to blow even once and swallowing whole a sweet potato fresh from the fire, steam rising thickly from it, which had left her drinking only liquids for a week.
“Blow! Blow! Blow!”
Six blows!
Now…….
Miel spread all ten fingers wide, then folded down six of them.
Four remained.
‘Four more breaths!’
Miel squeezed her eyes shut and blew with all her might.
“Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!”
The force of her breath sent the napkin flying, and crumbs scattered across the table and floor.
Lisar, chin propped on her hand, felt a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth without quite meaning to.
“Whoosh!”
Ten breaths done!
Having kept her promise and completed all ten breaths, Miel opened her small mouth wide and bit down hard into the hot potato.
“Ow!”
Ooh-ooh-ooh!
Miel’s face melted like wax.
“It’s hot…….”
“I know—just chew it first before you talk.”
Lisar spoke with laughter threaded through her voice.
“Mm-hmm.”
Obstinate as ever, Miel dutifully chewed the food thoroughly before opening her mouth again.
“It’s really hot!”
Lisar finally let out a small laugh.
How could a child be so artlessly innocent?
After eating her fill, Miel patted her distended belly with her small hand once or twice, only then noticing the devastation she had wrought, and froze.
Lisar hadn’t eaten a single bite—Miel had consumed everything!
‘I… I didn’t leave anything…….’
What now?
Miel clutched at her clothes.
There had been a time, years ago, when Miel was invited to a family gathering. It had been her grandfather’s command that everyone attend.
“Who on earth invited that lowborn bear?”
“Shameless, truly. To eat so vulgarly, right here in front of everyone?”
“Look at the way she’s gorging herself. I’m sure all the insults we have for bears come from creatures like her.”
“Who invited such a creature to a banquet? It’s beneath us.”
“Now that I think of it, the Duke’s youngest daughter was the same way. What an appetite she had.”
“Good heavens, will she eat all the banquet food by herself? Her father must be from the pig tribe.”
Miel had been hungry, so she had simply eaten what was in front of her—but hearing those words, she realized it had been a terrible mistake.
That day, her uncle scolded her harshly and threw her out of the banquet hall.
After that, she never attended another gathering where food was plentiful.
‘……!’
Miel—will she never be able to come to a restaurant again?!
Miel’s eyes welled up with tears in an instant.
The child looked around frantically, found a dish she hadn’t touched, and quickly grabbed it, pushing it toward Lisar.
“Here, this one I didn’t even touch…….”
“……?”
“And this one too.”
It was a vegetable stew, generous with greens.
“Here, take this…….”
Eggplant and pepper stir-fry.
“Oh! And this too…….”
Vegetables wrapped in a tortilla…….
Lisar’s eye twitched as she grasped the pattern on the menu.
“Miel, don’t eat it all alone…….”
“It’s all vegetables…….”
Flinch!
Miel’s body jumped, then began to tremble.
“N-no, I mean… there’s meat here…….”
Miel pointed sheepishly at the chicken breast sitting on top of the salad.
“You can eat all of it.”
“B-bears like meat.”
“You’re a panda. Pandas eat vegetables.”
Flinch.
Lisar’s smile deepened.
The way Miel trembled and answered whenever she was teased left her unable to suppress her grin.
“Uhh… you said pandas eat bamboo…….”
“Ah, then I suppose I should ask for bamboo starting tomorrow.”
“……!”
Pop!
Miel’s ears sprang upright with a bounce, her eyes widened into perfect circles, and her mouth formed a tiny triangle.
Lisar laughed as she watched Miel’s lips quiver.
“I was joking.”
“Huh?”
“You can eat plenty for lunch and dinner too.”
“…Miel, can come back to restaurant?!”
“……? Of course.”
Lisar’s expression softened as she hopped down from her chair.
“Doesn’t Honey Pastry eat?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Just… didn’t really feel like eating.”
Miel tilted her head.
Why was that?
‘Honey Pastry always looks so sad.’
Of course, Miel couldn’t quite understand what was so sorrowful.
‘But there’s so much shine around her.’
Why would she be sad?
A person with abundant shine was deeply, profoundly loved.
Miel understood that a person’s heart shone like stars, radiant and bright.
And so that shine—those stars of love—transferred from the beloved to the lover, making them glow with the same radiance.
To Miel’s eyes, the space around Lisar blazed with brilliant light. That could only mean she was loved beyond measure.
‘Miel’s cousin had plenty of shine too, but nothing like Honey Pastry.’
She turned her head slightly and caught sight of the glass window.
Miel’s reflection stared back at her from the pane.
Unlike Lisar, Miel’s reflection held not a single spark of shine.

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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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