My Pet Fox Is Actually A Demon Prince-Chapter 47: A Small Proposal

Back in the Sacred Order...

That was how Calhoun came to bear the mask, and a new name he had promised to raise with honor.

With this mask, no one would truly be able to suspect his identity.

But he had never expected his uncle to consent so readily. The matter had seemed far too grave and far too perilous to be cast aside so easily. Yet, whatever affairs awaited his uncle in the mortal realm had carried greater weight than this.

In the end, however, it had all unfolded in Calhoun’s favor.

He was brought to the Astral Quarter: the most secretive district within the Sacred Order, where those born with rare affinities are gathered and trained for special use. It stood apart from the other district like a hidden sect within the mountains, its black–tiled halls and pale stone courtyard perched upon towering cliffs wreathed in silver mist.

Narrow bridges arched between pavilions, and lanterns of blue flame burned beneath carved eaves. Ancient trees with white blossoms lined the winding paths, swaying softly in the evening wind.

Calhoun walked ahead along the stone path while Kyva followed several paces behind in uneasy silence.

Ever since their arrival, an awkward distance had settled between them. Neither had spoken much, and Calhoun could not decide how to close the space without indirectly pushing her away. The only reason he went through all this trouble in the first place was so he’d be able to get close to her.

He could not afford to waste his precious chances.

His fox ears twitched as an idea popped in his head.

Behind him, Kyva lingered near the edge, and her gaze wandered across the beauty of the Astral Quarter.

She still could not understand why he had brought her here.

Her affinity was water.

She should have been placed within the Aquiline Quarter, among the disciples who bent rivers and rain to their will. But instead, she was brought to this secluded place of rare and strange powers, where no one seemed quite like the others.

Was this his way of telling her there was something more within her? Could it be that, after everything, she was still destined for greatness?

The humiliation she had faced at the convocation hall made that impossible to believe.

"Are you still dwelling on what happened?" He asked, finally breaking the silence as he turned to face her.

The sound of his voice drew Kyva from her thoughts, and when she looked up, his fox ears and tail had vanished.

No longer did he resemble one of the feared fox clansmen of the upper realm. Clad in his white garment embroidered with gold, with his long pale hair falling over his shoulders, he looked instead like some celestial noble descended from the heavens themselves. Everything about him screamed absolute regality.

Kyva lowered her head at once.

"I am more concerned with why you chose me?" she admitted softly.

She straightened, though she kept her eyes lowered in respect.

"I do not believe that I am worthy to remain under you. And I do not wish to disappoint you. Perhaps, if you went through the record, you would have seen it for yourself. I’ve never had any proper training, so—"

"Then perhaps," Calhoun interrupted, his voice low and unhurried, "you ought to think of it differently."

Kyva looked up.

He had moved closer without her noticing.

"Instead of harboring such negative thoughts," he said, "how about you tell yourself something else, like you may not have had the experience every other privileged earthling had, but you have the intention of being the best. You are under my care now, do you truly believe you could become anything less than exceptional?"

Kyva’s breath caught.

"And besides," he continued, taking another step toward her, "are you really doubting both yourself and your master’s capabilities? Do you really believe that I do not have what it takes to make you better?"

The space between them grew smaller.

Kyva instinctively stepped back.

He stepped forward.

The blue lantern-light caught against his golden eyes, and there was something dangerous in the way he looked at her, like someone with a very strange intent.

"You wound me," he clicked his tongue.

Kyva’s back nearly met the trunk of one of the white-blossomed trees.

"I-I did not mean—"

"No?" Calhoun tilted his head, watching her far too closely. "Then why do you look as though you are preparing to flee? Surely, I am not that scary?"

Kyva pressed herself against the pale trunk behind her, her hands tightening around the sleeves of her robe.But she said nothing. She wanted to comment on the fact that he was standing very close, which bothered her, but she could not bring herself to speak against him.

For a moment, Calhoun simply stared at her, then he stepped back.

He had come to a conclusion that this would not do.

If she were to remain by his side, she would have to become stronger, for her own sake, and perhaps for his as well. She could not continue looking at herself as though she were something small, something unworthy.

And if Kyva lacked faith in herself, then he would simply force her to find it.

Calhoun was not a man known for offering comfort. Advice came no easier than humility did. Yet his uncle had always possessed the infuriating habit of driving long-winded speeches into him whenever he faltered.

But a few of those words had remained with him.

Even if he had never been skilled at speaking his feelings aloud, Calhoun had always been grateful to his uncle for them.

Suddenly, Kyva bowed once more.

"I had been meaning to thank you," she said earnestly. "You saved me in the jungle, and for that, I am truly grateful. I shall do my utmost to become an outstanding student."

Calhoun blinked.

Then, after a small pause, she added hesitantly,

"And... I apologize for calling you Snowpuff. I was not fully conscious then, so I did not know what I was saying." Her expression softened. "Snowpuff is actually the name of my pet fox, so when I saw the mask you were wearing when you came to save me, I thought about him."

Calhoun went still.

"That reminds me," Kyva continued innocently, "I should go and fetch him, and perhaps introduce you to—"

"No."

The word came far too quickly.

Kyva stared at him.

Calhoun immediately looked away.

For the first time since she had met him, there was the faintest trace of unease upon his face.

He cleared his throat lightly.

"I do not like foxes," he said stiffly.

There was a long silence.

Kyva blinked.

"You... do not like foxes?"

"Not particularly."

"...But you are—"

"I am aware of what I am."

Kyva pressed her lips together at once.

Calhoun folded his arms and fixed his gaze firmly upon the distant mountains, as though the matter were beneath further discussion. The tips of his ears, however, had turned the faintest shade of red.

Despite the sinister air that seemed to follow him wherever he went, Kyva found this new master of hers to be rather weird.

How could someone dislike what they were?

She supposed she would simply have to keep Snowpuff far away from him.

However, what exactly was he planning to teach her here?

She had only just begun to wonder when footsteps echoed along the stone path. The two of them turned just in time to see a woman approaching from beneath the archway ahead, accompanied by two attendants.

She was beautiful in the way moonlight was beautiful– distant, pale, and impossible to ignore. Her robes were layered in blue and white, embroidered with constellations that shimmered faintly beneath the blue lantern light. A delicate crown of small crystal branches rested in her dark hair, and every step she took was measured and graceful.

There were so many pretty people here, Kyva thought to herself.

The attendants behind her lowered their heads, but the woman herself kept her gaze fixed upon Calhoun. She came to a stop before them, and Kyva stood behind Calhoun, keeping her gaze low.

"Master Caelion," the woman greeted, inclining gracefully into a bow. "When I heard you had returned, I could not keep myself from coming to pay my respects."

Calhoun said nothing.

The silence stretched, but Lady Mia did not seem in the least unsettled by it.

Instead, she lifted her head and smiled—a soft, elegant smile, practiced enough to appear gentle.

"I am Lady Mia," she said, "and I have come with a small proposal."

Her eyes drifted briefly to Kyva before settling once more upon him.

"Your disciple is, at present, still a water disciple," she said smoothly. "By the laws of the Sacred Order, she belongs within the Aquiline Quarter if chosen by a master."

Kyva’s fingers tightened at her sleeves.

"Of course," Lady Mia continued, "if you truly believe she possesses some rare attribute yet to awaken, then no one would object to your personal guidance. However, until such a thing reveals itself, it would be best if she remained in the Aquiline Quarter."

She lowered her gaze with careful humility.

"The Masters and Elders are... not entirely pleased by this arrangement. They would much prefer matters to proceed one step at a time." Her smile softened. "We understand you are not accustomed to patience, Master Caelion. But the Sacred Order has always followed its rules."

Her attention shifted to Kyva once more.

"She may remain your disciple," Lady Mia said, her voice warm as spring rain, "while still residing amongst those of her own affinity. There, she may learn alongside her peers, make companions, and receive proper instruction."

Then she looked back at Calhoun.

"And naturally," she added, "the Masters of the Aquiline Quarter would be honored to aid her whenever necessary."

The smile she offered him then was almost unbearably lovely.

"What do you say?"