I decided—with full confidence and zero dignity—that my best course of action was to run, leap dramatically toward the nearest window, and escape like a responsible adult avoiding responsibility.

Something large, warm, and aggressively fluffy slammed into me from behind and wrapped around me like I was a long-lost emotional support human.

"..."

I didn’t move, not because I didn’t want to, but because at this point in my life, I was starting to notice a pattern.

Why... why does this keep happening to me?

Why was I always being hugged by strangers?

Was this a curse? A personality trait? A lifestyle?

I turned my head to see a very large fox clinging to me. "...You’ve got to be kidding me."

I tried to pry myself out of its grip, but the moment I shifted, it let out a low, threatening growl.

I froze instantly. "...Did you just growl at me?"

Excuse me?

Excuse me?

I turned fully this time, ready to deliver a speech about boundaries and personal space, but the moment our eyes met, I paused.

"...Those eyes..."

I remember those weird, captivating, yet familiar eyes.

My brows instantly furrowed.

"You ...again?" I said, narrowing my eyes as I adjusted myself in his hold, trying to get a better look at him.

Because yes.

This was the same lunatic who had randomly hugged me at the boutique out of nowhere.

Clearly my life wasn’t chaotic enough, the universe decided to recycle problems.

I straightened slightly, trying to regain what little dignity I had left while being hugged by an oversized fox. "Can you mind explaining why you’re—"

He tilted his head then snuggled closer.

"...No. Don’t do that," I pushed against him, only for him to let out a growl again.

I stopped immediately.

"...So that’s how it’s going to be," I muttered. "You’re clingy and aggressive. Wonderful combination."

I stared at him.

"Can you even understand what I’m saying?"

There was a pause before he gave me a response by licking me right across my face.

I recoiled so fast I almost forgot I was still being held hostage by fur.

"Okay—no—bad cat—!"

I shoved his snout away with both hands, wiping my cheek aggressively using his fur.

"That’s disgusting!"

He didn’t look apologetic.

If anything, he looked... pleased.

I stared at him then sighed. "...Yeah, no. You’re clearly not in your right mind right now."

Whatever dignity, intelligence, and sanity this man once had, clearly logged out the moment he turned into a fox.

He licked me again as if confirming my thoughts.

"STOP—!"

Just when I thought I had already reached the peak of this humiliation, he somehow managed to tug my veil clean off my face.

"Hey! Give that back!" I snapped, lunging forward in a very ungraceful attempt to reclaim my dignity.

Too late.

He flicked his head and spat the veil across the room.

I froze mid-reach and slowly turned back to him. "...Did you just... throw my identity away?"

He stared at me then smiled, his tongue dangling.

"...Are you doing this on purpose?" I asked, deeply offended.

Instead of apologizing like a civilized creature, he leaned in and gently bit onto my collar.

"What are you doing—?!"

Before I could protest further, he dragged me towards the bed, placed me in the center, and curled around me before licking me again.

I physically gave up.

"...I see," I muttered flatly. "So this is my life now."

Refusing to accept defeat—but also very much accepting defeat—I buried my face into his fur, hiding, like that would somehow solve everything.

"There. You can’t lick me if you can’t see me," I mumbled triumphantly into his chest.

Wiiinnnn

Wiiinnnn

He was actually whining as he started nudging me insistently, like a child trying to uncover a hidden toy.

"Stop—no—this is my defense mechanism—respect it—!"

He kept nudging relentlessly, persistently, and emotionally manipulative.

I let out a long and deep sigh. "Okay. Fine. You win."

I lifted my head and looked at him again.

"You’re acting like a puppy," I said, squinting suspiciously. "Are you absolutely sure you’re a fox? Should I check your birth certificate?"

He leaned forward and nuzzled me softly, as if that alone was a perfectly valid response.

Without thinking, I lifted my hand and scratched his ear.

"...Huh."

My expression softened slightly. It felt soft, warm, and annoyingly comforting.

I found myself patting his head, fingers moving through his fur almost automatically as a small smile slipped out before I could stop it.

"...You remind me of my pet," I murmured. "Clingy, annoying, and has zero sense of personal space."

He leaned into my touch again, eyes half-lidded like he had just achieved his life’s greatest goal.

I clicked my tongue. "...Don’t get used to this."

And yet, my hand kept moving, gently patting the oversized fox like I hadn’t just been kidnapped, assaulted by affection, and robbed of my veil in the span of five minutes.

Bang!

Clang!

Bang!

My head snapped towards the door just as it was violently forced open.

"Duke! Are you okay? Did that woman hurt you—" Sykelion started, already halfway inside mid-panicking.

"Miss Crimson are you still alive? Please shout so I know which direction to grieve—" Finnian followed right behind him, equally dramatic and clearly expecting a crime scene.

But the moment they finally saw the "crime scene", we all froze.

Me—hand still mid-pat, sitting comfortably in what could only be described as a very illegal fox cuddle.

Finnian—staring at me like I had personally defied death out of spite.

Sykelion—looking like his soul had just left his body and filed for resignation.

"...How are you still alive...?" Finnian finally asked.

I slowly turned my head toward them.

"Oh, now you’re asking that?" I said, narrowing my eyes. "How thoughtful."

Sykelion snapped out of it first, his expression immediately hardening. "You’re Grace, please get away from that woman!"

My eye twitched.

They came back because they were worried about the Duke and not me, the innocent guest who was shoved into a locked room?

"Look who came back," I shot back, my irritation flaring instantly. "Not even one of you thought to ask if I was okay. I am a guest here. A guest! And what did you do? You pushed me into a room with a man who was literally redecorating with violence five minutes ago!"

I pointed at them accusingly, about to stand, and march over there to personally express my disappointment through physical means, when the fox growled dangerously at them.

I froze mid-movement as I looked back at him.

His body was slightly shielding me as his gaze locked onto the two intruders like they had just made the worst decision of their lives.

’...Wait. Was he shielding me?’

Sykelion and Finnian both took an unconscious step back.

Behind me, Finnian instinctively took half a step back. "I take it back," he muttered. "I don’t want to be here anymore."

For once, I agreed with him.

Sykelion, however, wasn’t looking at the fox, he was looking at me intensely. "...I didn’t know you had red eyes, Miss Crimson."

My entire body went still.

’Shit... That’s not good.’

I immediately looked away, brushing it off like it was the least important thing in the world.

"You must be hallucinating," I said casually. "It’s dark in here. How could you even see the color of my eyes?"

The fox’s growl deepened, pressing closer to me.

I closed my eyes for a second and rubbed my temple. "...Right. I’m not dealing with this right now."

I straightened slightly and turned back to the two men by the door, forcing my tone back to business. "You know what? Can you just lead me to the energy stones you prepared?"

Sykelion nodded immediately, recovering faster than Finnian. "Of course, Miss."

"Great," I muttered, already trying to stand, only to be dragged right back onto the bed.

I looked down to see the fox was biting my collar again.

"Come on," I said, exasperated, trying to pry his grip loose. "Can you just let me go with them?"

He stared at me before licking my face again.

All of us froze.

"...Don’t do that!" I snapped, shoving his snout away. "Do you want me to smell like a fox?!"

The fox looked entirely unbothered.

I inhaled slowly, choosing peace, survival, and trying not to commit violence inside a duke’s room.

"...On second thought," I muttered, waving a hand dismissively, "can you just bring the energy stones here? I also forgot my tools due to unfortunate events, so please prepare those too."

Sykelion nodded. "As you wish, Miss."

He didn’t move immediately as he studied me for a second longer, something shifting behind his eyes like a puzzle piece finally snapping into place.

"...I heard carving takes time," he added. "Will you be staying for the night?"

"No," I said immediately. "I’ll leave as soon as I finish."

"Understood," he turned and then—like it was the most natural thing in the world— "We’ll leave you here with the Duke for a while."

I blinked. "...Wait."

They kept moving.

"...Wait—WAIT."

I sat up, panic rising as I pointed at them. "Don’t leave me here! At least let Finnian stay!"

Finnian looked at the fox then back at me. "I’m sorry, Miss," he said without hesitation. "But I still value my life."

"JUST STAY NEAR THE DOOR!" I hissed.

He stared at me like I had just suggested he volunteer for execution before he took one foolish step inside.

The fox growled loudly at him.

Finnian froze before slowly stepping back out. "Not gonna happen," he said, already shutting the door with the speed of someone who had made a life decision.

"COWARD!" I shouted.

"I’M A SURVIVOR!" he shouted back as the door slammed shut.

The door slammed shut.

I’m stuck babysitting a possessive fox duke with boundary issues.

"...I should charge extra for emotional damage."