The Harvest Mouse Exits the Fairytale Together with Cinderella-Chapter 127

I must not reveal my suspicions too hastily.

Because I still don’t have enough information.

If one of the harvest mouse beastfolk is involved, I have no idea where, when, or how they might appear.

For now, the priority was to remain silent and assess the situation.

If I keep insisting under these circumstances, I’ll only draw suspicion.

Karon seemed to understand that as well, following behind the nanny alongside Elodie.

Suppressing any sound of his presence, he fixed his characteristic impassive gaze on the nanny’s back.

Without blinking once, he pursued her in silence, like a predator that had locked onto its target.

It was slightly unnerving.

Reliable...

If anything were to happen to Elodie here, that relentless black mamba would chase them to the ends of hell.

That thought alone was reassuring.

"This way."

They were led wherever the nanny directed them, but they carefully observed the paths she deliberately avoided.

She’s not going west. The moment she encounters even a slightly dense forest, she turns away.

Perhaps the warning about wild animals living in these parts wasn’t just an empty statement.

Maybe they really were doubting an innocent person.

But Elodie soon abandoned that thought.

"What’s with this bouquet?"

"Danye, marry me."

"Little lady, marriage is a lifelong decision. Wouldn’t it be better to wait until you grow up before thinking about it? It’s a bit early to decide..."

"But I’ll be going home soon. If we get married, we can stay together forever, right?"

"You mustn’t propose just because you don’t want to return to your family..."

Following the nanny, all she could think about were her memories with Daniel.

"......."

This was a problem.

Her heart was asserting itself so strongly that it was becoming impossible to control her emotions.

She wanted to run to Daniel right now and tell him—she had grown up, so he should accept that childhood proposal.

You said back then that it didn’t trouble you that much.

You said you had feelings for me.

You said you’d keep the memories of that time, even if you were alone. But now, you don’t have to be alone. I remember.

So just let me cling to you...

"Elodie."

"......!"

At the low call of her name, she snapped back to reality.

A rough, calloused hand gripped hers tightly.

Karon whispered in a voice as cold as ice.

"Should I just kill him after all?"

Suddenly, she found herself staring into the boy’s eyes, closer than before.

His gaze had always been unwavering, so she hadn’t noticed before—but now, she realized that his eyes were like molten lava, simmering without a clear ignition point.

Right. He’s a black mamba.

Karon might exhibit remarkable patience around Elodie, but at his core, he was still a beastfolk who would attack the moment something displeased him. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

"Hold it in! This will turn into a disaster..."

Elodie pressed her hand against her burning cheeks and closed her eyes.

Even if Daniel offered her candy and told her to follow him, she felt like she would blindly obey like a fool.

She forced herself to think of Sera’s bright, blooming smile instead.

Hmm...

That helped.

The excitement she felt began to cool.

Come to think of it, Sera must be worried.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight

She had wandered off without much thought and hadn’t realized how much time had passed.

I should find a way to contact her. I can’t believe I didn’t even exchange a simple communication spell with her.

Even the Crown Prince had a contact code!

If carrying something was too much trouble, she could at least use a simple earring-shaped artifact.

A small laugh slipped from her lips.

It felt completely different from the unnatural thumping of her heart earlier, the involuntary afterimages flickering before her eyes.

This was a natural, effortless joy—one feeling leading to another.

She wanted to give Sera everything.

And even if Sera took everything from her, she wouldn’t mind one bit.

This is love. What else could it be?

With that realization, Elodie thought of Sera and spoke with calm certainty.

"I remember everything now. I want to see Daniel."

Then, she turned to observe the nanny’s reaction.

"Oh dear, I thought so. Just in case, I led you along the path you two used to walk together, and sure enough, your memories returned right away."

She must have adored him so much...

The nanny shook her head with a resigned sigh.

Outwardly, she seemed exasperated, as if she couldn’t believe Elodie—but a closer look revealed the relief she was struggling to hide.

Of course, it must have been an intense memory.

Whatever method had been used, it seemed emotions had been artificially stirred up.

"Shall I summon Lord Daniel for you?"

"Mm, no."

Elodie pointed at the sky.

"The sun is already setting, so I’ll see him tomorrow. Besides, I want to prepare a few things first."

Then, pretending to be a girl in love, she spoke shyly.

***

"You mustn’t wander around at night like before, young lady. Do you understand?"

"Nanny, do you still think I’m a little kid?"

"Oh, you’ve grown up so much, haven’t you?"

The nanny chuckled softly as she tidied Elodie’s messy bangs.

"I’m only saying this because I worry about you. Every time you regain a memory, you seem to fall terribly ill. What if you suddenly remember something distressing while you’re out wandering?"

"......."

"It would ease my mind to stay by your side, so if you really must go out, call for me. Alright?"

With that, the nanny pulled the blanket up to Elodie’s chin.

"Mm..."

Elodie thought of Squirrel, who had always taken such careful care of her.

It was hard to doubt someone like this.

When you desperately want to believe in someone, you can end up closing your eyes to even the most obvious of schemes.

That’s why... this is fortunate.

No memories of the nanny had resurfaced.

That was her mistake.

If she had recalled the times she spent with the nanny first, she would have been in considerable distress.

She might have hesitated and revealed an opening...

But for some reason, the nanny only brought back memories and emotions about Daniel.

Right now, Elodie simply held a natural fondness for her as a kind middle-aged woman.

I should be grateful to Nyx for erasing my memories.

Yawning, Elodie slowly blinked her eyes.

Then, as the nanny began singing a lullaby, she let her breathing fall into a slow, steady rhythm, pretending to sleep.

Feigning sleep was second nature to her.

She had mastered the skill back when she secretly practiced healing magic at night, hiding from Squirrel.

As soon as the nanny closed the door behind her and left, Elodie’s eyes snapped open.

A rustling sound made her instinctively turn her head—and she flinched.

Long-Long was there.

"You startled me. When did you come in?"

"Just now."

"You’re thinking the same thing as me, aren’t you?"

"That we should follow your nanny, gather evidence, and if she’s guilty, eliminate her immediately?"

"...No."

I wasn’t thinking anything that extreme...

"I was just planning to go to the place she told me not to."

"Get on my back."

"Okay!"

Elodie swiftly transformed into a harvest mouse and clung to Karon’s back.

If anyone ever questioned how fast a snake could be—

They only needed to see Karon. He was far faster than any grown man running at full speed.

As the scenery of the forest rushed past her, Elodie found herself suddenly wondering: Why Daniel?

What would she gain by making me so strongly drawn to him? Was she trying to arrange a political marriage?

From a long-term perspective, it wasn’t a bad strategy.

Marrying the High Priest would give her considerable influence in the beastfolk world.

But what possible benefit would that bring to the nanny?

And in the end, the Ratson family was doomed to fall anyway.

I’m only ten years old. Even if I were to marry, it wouldn’t be until I reached adulthood.

So the idea that she was being pushed into a political marriage made no sense.

If someone were thinking that far ahead, they wouldn’t be rushing things like this.

They would proceed slowly, subtly.

Then why was she being manipulated so aggressively?

To make me trust Daniel absolutely... and lure me somewhere?

Lost in thought, Elodie barely realized that they had arrived in the western forest.

Karon shifted back into his human form, effortlessly catching Elodie in his hands.

"...Chhrrk. (What?)"

"You’re going to struggle once your memories return anyway. Just lie down and take it easy instead of shifting back into human form."

He was convinced that if Elodie stepped into the place the nanny had forbidden, her memories would return.

Elodie agreed deep down, so she quietly settled into his palm and glanced around.

"......."

Her heart was racing.

But it wasn’t like when she thought of Daniel.

This feeling—

It was the same as when she recalled Nyx for the first time.

A shudder ran through her. Cold sweat dampened her fur until she was completely drenched.

And with every step Karon took deeper into the forest—

"You’ve arrived."

A child's voice—Daniel’s voice from the past—echoed in her ears.

Elodie was thrown into the grass.

Her small hands, delicate like fern fronds, reached down to touch the ground.

At the same time, someone scooped her up.

Nyx Basilisk.

Holding Elodie in his arms, he lifted a handkerchief to cover her nose.

As her consciousness began to fade, she heard an elated voice speaking beyond the haze.

"I have brought the heir of the Ratson family. Please, guide me to ____."