My Pet Fox Is Actually A Demon Prince-Chapter 36: Court Her

Kyva exhaled a shaky breath as their words finally settled within her.

She had passed the trial.

With effort, she pushed herself upright, a faint dizziness clinging to her limbs. The memory of the blue orb surfaced at once, and she had held it before falling asleep... (passed out) she was certain of that.

But after that...

What happened after that?

A frown tugged at her lips as she forced her mind to recall.

But nothing.

Why did she feel like her brain was missing an important detail?

That, she decided, could wait for another day.

She was alive.

And so were her new companions!

Her gaze flicked about the chamber before settling on the two figures beside her.

"Rowan... and Liora?" She asked, noticing their absence. "Are they safe?"

Cassian inclined his head, his tone reassuring. "Yes. Their wounds were light, nothing to trouble the healers overlong. They asked after you when they heard that you were hurt, but... we prevailed upon them to take their rest as well."

Kyva’s shoulders eased at once, relief softening her expression after hearing that they weren’t in any critical state. Her eyes moved between them, bright with gratitude.

They barely knew her, yet they were so caring towards her.

"You have my thanks," she said, palming her hands together. "All of you."

Selene offered a small smile, though there was a spark of anticipation in her gaze. "Rest while you can."

Then, as if unable to stop herself, she added, "Today marks the convocation. The districts will be named by noon— we must not be absent when the call is made. But tell me, what attribute did the orb grant you? And how were you able to guess that we had to kill one of the monsters to gain an orb?"

Kyva blinked, taken aback by the question. The revelation caught her off guard, considering she did not slay any monster to get hers. It was simply offered to her by someone’s carcasses.

Now that she thought about it, would it be considered cheating if she ever stated such?

"Selene," Cassian stepped in, his calm voice snapping Kyva from her thoughts. "How about another time? She has scarcely risen from her trial."

Selene held his gaze for a moment, then relented with a quiet sigh, expecting herself to have known better. "You’re right. We can always talk about our experiences on the way to the convocation anyway. Till then, gather your strength. We will send word once the summon is given."

Squeezing Kyva’s shoulder lightly, she rose from the edge, and the two took their leave. The chamber fell into a gentle silence as Kyva was left alone with her thoughts. She released a sigh of relief and eased back against the bed, staring at the ceiling above her.

Was it truly... over?

Could she finally allow herself to rest?

Was it possible for her to just succumb to this moment?

Her brows drew together faintly. It made little sense as to how she survived. Had the senior adepts found her hiding in the tree? Had they brought down the monster?

That seemed about right.

But no matter how she turned the thought, it would not settle. There was something missing, some piece of memory that refused to return.

And then—

"Snowpuff."

She jolted upright, remembering her fox cub.

Was Snowpuff alright too?

Did the senior adepts treat him kindly?

Kyva swung her legs over to the side, intent on rising, when she heard the soft rhythm of approaching footsteps echoing faintly along the wooden corridor beyond.

She looked up just in time to see a young woman step inside.

Kyva’s worries eased at once, her expression softening as she beheld a familiar tuft of pale fur. Snowpuff padded into the chamber, led by a young woman clad in a simple white robe.

The woman halted a respectful distance away and inclined her head. "My lady," she greeted, her tone measured. "The newly received disciple, Lord Cassian, gave word that this creature belongs to you?"

"Yes–yes, he does," Kyva answered at once, rising from the bed. She reached for Snowpuff, holding him close as if to assure herself he was truly here.

"Thank you," she turned her attention to the attendant. "I was starting to get worried."

"We had little choice in the matter," the attendant replied, a hint of restrained exasperation beneath her composure. "He is a wild one. He set upon no fewer than seven candidates who attempted to touch him. But he was willing to accompany me here without further resistance."

Kyva blinked, not expecting to hear a complaint about her fox. Her gaze flicked briefly to Snowpuff, who remained content in her arms, as though he had done no wrong at all.

"Snowpuff, did you go around causing trouble?" She asked, narrowing her eyes ever so slightly. But the fox merely blinked up at her, wide golden eyes innocent beyond reproach.

She sighed softly and turned to the attendant.

"I apologize for his conduct."

"That is fine," the lady replied with a small, courteous smile. "Lord Cassian has also given orders that a warm bath be prepared for you."

She turned slightly, gesturing toward a sliding panel set discreetly along the inner walls.

"When it pleases you, pass through there. It will lead you to the bathing chamber. The water has been freshly drawn, and clean garments have been laid out for your use."

She paused, then added gently, "Should you require assistance, I’ll be available for that."

Kyva simply nodded, managing a small bow. The attendant finally stepped out,and Kyva felt nothing but gratitude.

"Lord Cassian is... remarkably kind," she murmured, almost to herself. "But he’s just a disciple too. It is shocking how greatly one’s standing shapes the manner in which they are treated."

She sank onto the edge of her bed, her thoughts briefly wandering to the talk she had once heard during the Trial of Calling. Someone mentioned how noble birth alone could lift one higher within the Order, even before merits were proven.

"Enough of that," she decided aloud, shaking the thought away.

Unbeknownst to her, the furry creature in her arms was far from pleased. He turned his head away with deliberate disdain, his tail giving a slow, irritated flick.

So... this was what occupied her thoughts?

Praising that human as though he were something extraordinary.

Snowpuff’s golden eyes narrowed faintly.

Kind? 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Hmph.

Anyone could prepare a bath. Anyone with rank could summon attendants to their whim. There was nothing remarkable in it that deserved such soft admiration.

And yet... she spoke of the earthling so warmly.

The fox’s ears twitched, his small frame stiffening in quiet offense.

If she truly understood, even the faintest notion of what had been done for her, then she would not spare another even a passing thought.

Calhoun huffed, his pride stung in a way he could neither name nor dismiss.

Foolish human.

And yet...

He did not so much as pull away from her touch.

After wrenching her from the terrifying jaws of death, he had slipped into this very chamber, night after night, pouring his own little strength into her fragile body while she lay insensible. She was heavily malnourished, and needed all the energy she could get.

He would have come sooner, had he not been compelled to attend to other matters, and he had been lucky to have found her hiding in the tree.

But now she was offering her gratitude to someone else.

When word reached him that she had awakened, he had come at once, abandoning all caution just to see her with his own eyes, drawn by a need he could not bring himself to delve deep into.

To be certain.

To confirm that the life he had so stubbornly preserved had not slipped away in his absence.

And what did he find?

Her speaking so softly of someone else.

The top of his tail flicked sharply.

A quiet displeasure coiled within him, slow and insidious.

Without a doubt, he had taken a peculiar interest in this human.

There was no denying it any longer.

She had, in some unfathomable way, bewitched him.

And whether he fully grasped it or not, he had already resolved upon it.

He would court her.