While Herbert went to fetch the tea, Kervel headed to the drawing room with Eden.

Delighted to see his master after so long, Eden wouldn’t leave his side.

“Master, have you been well? You’ve been eating properly, right?”

“If someone heard you, they might think you were my parent.”

Kervel replied indifferently but didn’t push Eden away.

His scarlet gaze rested on Eden’s head.

“So you can control your ears and tail now?”

“Yes! I haven’t shown them in front of Yvette even once!”

Eden, who was excitedly boasting, suddenly hesitated and looked up at Kervel.

“…Master, you didn’t come to chase Yvette away, did you?”

As he asked cautiously, Kervel let out a small laugh.

“Why? Have you grown attached to that woman already?”

“Not ‘that woman’, it’s Yvette.”

Eden, who had now moved away from Kervel, frowned as he spoke.

Kervel chuckled at the unexpectedly strong reaction.

“I don’t plan to chase her away yet, so there’s no need to react like that already.”

“Then, will you chase her away later?”

“Well. That depends on what that woman does.”

At that moment, Herbert returned to the drawing room with the tea.

“I’ve added plenty of sugar, just as you always had it, Young Master.”

“It seems your memory hasn’t failed you despite your age.”

“All thanks to you, Young Master.”

Herbert placed the teacup in front of Kervel with a gentle smile.

Kervel took a sip immediately and continued speaking.

“Is Blanche’s child out?”

“…Didn’t you come knowing that already?”

“I did know. But I wanted to confirm it once more.”

Kervel set down his teacup and leaned back comfortably in his chair.

“That child came to see me recently.”

“To see you, Young Master?”

As Herbert asked in a surprised voice, Kervel nodded slightly.

“It seemed like she knew who I was. You didn’t tell her, did you?”

For a moment, Kervel’s gaze turned sharp.

Herbert, who calmly met his gaze, shook his head.

“I have never spoken about you, Young Master.”

“Of course. You wouldn’t do that.”

Kervel laughed as if deflating, then turned his gaze to Eden.

After a moment, he spoke.

“Surely, fox, you didn’t tell her, did you?”

“It wasn’t me! I didn’t say a word!”

Eden jumped up, protesting his innocence. At that moment, with a ‘poof’ sound, his tail popped out behind him.

“Ah.”

Flustered, Eden hurriedly hid his tail.

Seeing this, Kervel clicked his tongue briefly.

“It wouldn’t be surprising if that woman caught you anytime.”

“…It’s okay. Yvette likes me.”

Eden looked up at Kervel, pouting his lips.

Though he said it was okay, his eyes didn’t look okay at all.

“That’s because she thinks you’re a human child.”

Kervel replied cynically, pressing his index finger firmly on Eden’s forehead.

“She might change her mind when she finds out you’re a fox cub.”

“……”

At those words, Eden closed his mouth tightly with a hurt expression.

Watching this, Herbert spoke in a low voice.

“Did something unpleasant happen?”

“Why do you think that?”

“You’re being colder to Eden than usual.”

“Your perceptiveness is as sharp as ever.”

As Kervel grumbled discontentedly, Herbert flashed a smile.

“That too is thanks to you, Young Master.”

Kervel snorted softly at this and turned his head.

His downcast gaze turned towards the window.

“…She rejected me again today. Said she found someone she likes more than me.”

After a brief pause, Kervel continued.

Although he didn’t specify who exactly, Herbert seemed to already know.

“What did you say to that?”

“What could I say? I said I understood, and then I found out who that person was.”

“…Do you plan to kill them?”

As Herbert asked worriedly, Kervel shrugged slightly.

“I thought about it. But as it happens, that model is the owner of this house.”

“The owner of this house… you mean Count Blanche?”

“Yes.”

Kervel continued, tapping the sofa with his fingertips.

“It seems she met her too when she came to see me last time. What an amusing twist of fate.”

“So, did you come here to vent your anger?”

“Of course not. Do you think I’d do something so childish?”

Kervel raised the corner of his mouth crookedly.

“I just came to check because they’re meeting tomorrow. You never know what kind of flies might be buzzing around Yvette Blanche.”

“I see.”

Herbert nodded with a thoughtful expression.

If nothing else, the ‘she’ Kervel was referring to was someone Herbert couldn’t mention carelessly.

As silence fell between the two, at that moment.

Eden, who had been sitting glumly, suddenly stood up.

“Philia is coming.”

“…Philia?”

As Kervel tilted his head, Herbert quickly answered.

“She’s the new maid hired by Count Blanche.”

“Ah. Then, that woman will be returning soon too.”

Kervel, who had already risen from his seat, snapped his fingers.

In the blink of an eye, he vanished.

“Mr., Mr. Herbert!”

A few seconds later, Philia appeared in the drawing room.

Herbert, who had tidied up the surroundings in the meantime, calmly greeted her.

“What’s the matter?”

“The, the Count! The Count followed some strange man!”

“…A strange man?”

“Yes! I think his name was Viscount Magnus? He suddenly appeared and took the Count away!”

Philia, who had been rambling, suddenly clapped her hands as if she remembered something.

“That’s right! And the Count asked to contact Duke Averon. Right now, I need to write a letter to the Duke…!”

It was then.

Philia, who had been looking around for paper, suddenly closed her eyes and collapsed to the floor.

“Miss Philia!”

“Philia!”

Startled, Herbert rushed to her side.

Eden, who was a step away, also looked alarmed.

“No need to worry. I just made her faint for a moment.”

Kervel, who had reappeared, said.

Herbert, who was examining Philia, asked in a perplexed voice.

“Why did you make this child faint?”

“If she contacts Duke Averon, things will get troublesome.”

Kervel answered briefly, gesturing towards Philia with his eyes.

“I’ve tampered with her memory a bit, so she’ll be asleep for at least two or three hours. Take good care of her until then.”

“…What are you planning to do?”

“I’m going to pay that woman a visit. And see an unwelcome face while I’m at it.”

Kervel muttered meaningfully and snapped his fingers again.

Eventually, only Herbert, Eden, and the soundly sleeping Philia were left in the drawing room.