Chapter 56

Why did the invitation to me come jointly from Lady Kate of the Lynx Clan and Lady Yi Liena of the Snow Fox Clan?

Most of the reason must lie with Lady Kate of the Lynx Clan.

Originally, among the four candidates for the next consort, the two most favored were Lady Natalie and Lady Kate. With Lady Natalie's influence diminished due to the plagiarism incident, Lady Kate is now the leading candidate.

Lady Kate must surely want to invite me to demonstrate her superiority and bring me into her circle. However, there are circumstances that prevent her from easily deepening her relationship with me. There must be those within her own clan who oppose her.

Lady Kate's birthplace, the eastern region, is predominantly inhabited by beastmen like the lynx clan. Unfortunately, many beastmen do not look favorably upon humans. Just as humans mock beastmen as "half-breeds," beastmen sometimes deride humans as "hairless apes."

"Hairless... For some humans, it's an unbearable insult..."

In the carriage on the way to the palace, I couldn't help but chuckle. Fortunately, my brother and father still have full heads of hair.

However, many middle-aged and older men and women suffer from hair loss, and mentioning it can lead to heated arguments. In fact, it often does. Fights between humans and beastmen, sparked by the insult "hairless ape," are not uncommon in this country.

"It's not funny... It really isn't."

Beastmen, with their fluffy tails and ears, are wonderful, but not all of them are good people. In other countries, where there are fewer beastmen, they are often persecuted. But in this country, nearly half the population is beastmen.

Especially in regions like Lady Kate's birthplace, where beastmen make up the majority, many look down on humans. There are many beastmen around Lady Kate who harbor resentment towards humans. To them, even as a consort, I am merely a decoration and an unwelcome human.

Lady Kate must have been in a difficult position. She wants to invite me and make me an ally, but it's hard to fully convince her subordinates.

To break this deadlock, Lady Kate decided to invite me jointly with Lady Yi Liena.

The banquet I am invited to today is at Lady Kate's palace. Lady Yi Liena, who is also invited, expressed a desire for Lady Letitia to attend the banquet as well. This seems to be the plan.

In reality, Lady Kate must have discussed with Lady Yi Liena beforehand and decided to invite me. While Lady Kate is the host of the banquet, it was Lady Yi Liena who insisted on inviting me. Therefore, the invitation to me is not just from Lady Kate but also from Lady Yi Liena. This arrangement seems to have convinced Lady Kate's subordinates, who are wary of humans.

"Complicated... It's very complicated..."

I already wanted to return to the forest palace. The beastmen I interact with daily, like Edgar and Bogan, are kind people. But the relationship between beastmen and humans is complex. Even if personal interactions are good, there are many walls and entanglements when acting in an official capacity.

◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇

While I was mentally groaning, I put on a facade when I got out of the carriage. I smiled to hide my inner turmoil, but my mood quickly lifted.

"Welcome, Lady Letitia. I am delighted to have you here."

The one who greeted me was a beautiful woman with silver hair and fox ears and a tail. Her elegant appearance was captivating, but I was drawn to the fluffy tails swaying beside her.

Five lush, fluffy tails. A fox with such luxurious fluff stood there gracefully.

"Oh, Lady Letitia, you like foxes, don't you?"

A seductive smile was directed at me. ...I was indeed drawn to the fluff, but I didn't show it on my face. She was sharp.

"I am Lady Yi Liena. I would be delighted to be friends with you."

"I am Letitia. Thank you for inviting me today."

I gathered my resolve and exchanged greetings.

Lady Yi Liena, a consort candidate from the Snow Fox Clan and the mistress of the northern palace.

I had known her name before, and this was our second meeting. However, at the king's birthday celebration, I was focused on the movements of the Dears. This is the first time we are having a proper one-on-one conversation.

Lady Yi Liena is a 24-year-old beauty, the same age as the king. The Snow Fox Clan, from which she hails, has a unique culture, and her attire is distinctive. She wears multiple layers of brightly colored clothing, with a geometric-patterned jacket over it, reminiscent of kimonos from my previous life or Ainu traditional clothing.

"I had heard you have a beautiful companion. It is indeed beautiful."

Beside the beautiful Lady Yi Liena stands another beautiful fox. A two-tailed fox, a beast with two tails. While it looks like a fox with a long tail, the number of tails is its distinctive feature. Generally, the more tails a two-tailed fox has, the rarer and more valuable it is. Lady Yi Liena, who has a five-tailed fox, must hold a high position.

The five-tailed fox, as expected, boasts an overwhelming amount of fluff. The five long tails sway gracefully, a luxurious and elegant creature.

"Thank you. This one is very happy to be praised."

"It is beautiful and intelligent."

"You are very skilled. Would you like to pet it as a thank you?"

I was invited. Allowing a companion to be petted by someone you are meeting for the first time is a sign of wanting to be friendly. Refusing would be rude, and I had no reason to refuse.

Lady Yi Liena must have her own intentions, but I decided to respond sincerely. It was a rare opportunity to pet a fluffy creature.

"Then, I will do so."

I bent down and stroked the fox's head. The smoothness was different from the wolves, my fellow canines. Enjoying the silky sensation, a soft breeze brushed against my cheek.

Fluffy, fluffy. Fluffy, fluffy.

The long tails swayed gently, touching my cheek. The five tails, whimsically, grazed and caressed my body. The supreme sensation made me forget my earlier grumbling in the carriage, and I truly felt the privilege of the moment.