The Harvest Mouse Exits the Fairytale Together with Cinderella-Chapter 134

It was about a month ago.

At the time when Elodie and Karon had fallen for the wet nurse’s scheme and headed toward the lake, Seraphina had been waiting for Elodie while researching the curse. Then, she suddenly recalled a request the child had made.

"Sera, do you have any way to contact the Crown Prince?"

"I’d like to subtly find out what kind of relationship the Emperor and the Empress have. Since he’s the Emperor’s son, we can’t trust him completely—be careful."

That was what she had said.

But at the time, Seraphina had no communication orb on hand.

The Young Lord must have one.

With that in mind, she decided to borrow one and went to find Edmund’s whereabouts.

She never expected to run into him the very moment he was about to leave through the door.

Truly.

"...."

"...."

"I respect your preferences," Seraphina said, making an effort to remain composed.

Edmund froze as if he had been hit with a petrification curse, then hastily tore off the cat ears attached to his head and threw them onto the floor.

But it was already too late.

The pair of cat ears, lying abandoned on the ground, stood out even more.

"L-Lady Bluewood..."

He was flustered—severely so. His face, ears, and even the back of his neck had turned bright red.

She had never seen him this shaken before.

"They're... incredibly well-crafted," she noted.

"I didn’t make them."

"Of course not."

"I didn’t commission them, either."

"There’s no need to deny it so desperately. Everyone ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) has the right to enjoy the hobbies they like, as long as they don’t harm others."

"You keep misunderstanding. These were just for—"

"Frankly, I don’t care what the Young Lord wears on his head, so you can stop explaining now."

"...."

"I also have no intention of telling anyone else, so you can relax."

"...."

"Could you lend me a communication orb?"

"Is that how you ask someone for a favor?"

"Why not? I think I asked quite politely."

Despite his exasperation, Edmund sighed deeply and, without further protest, pulled out a spare orb from his pocket and handed it to her.

Seraphina quickly entered the Crown Prince’s contact code, which she had memorized in advance.

"Your Highness."

At her voice, Edmund briefly glanced at the orb.

— "Seraphina? I never expected you to contact me..."

Julian, momentarily taken aback, quickly grew urgent.

— "Actually, this is perfect timing. I’ve been trying to find a way to reach you."

Ah, here we go again.

She had expected him to start recruiting talent again under the guise of waiting for her contact.

But that didn’t seem to be the case this time.

— "If you were anywhere on the continent of Terranolia, I would have used any means necessary to find you. But then I heard you crossed the border..."

"Is something wrong?"

— "I need to get in touch with Lady Ratson. Can you make that happen?"

"I’m her guardian, so you can speak to me."

— "...."

Julian stared at her in disbelief for a moment, then, as if realizing there was no point in arguing, continued.

— "You’re deeply involved in this matter anyway, so you need to hear this."

"Me?"

— "It’s only speculation based on the circumstances, but it looks like His Majesty is planning to act against the Ratson family directly."

The Emperor of Terranolia?

— "It seems he’s plotting to kidnap Lady Ratson and frame the Emperor of Animallia for it."

Frame the Emperor of Animallia?

By kidnapping Elodie again and using her?

— "His aim is clearly to drive a wedge between the Emperor and the High Priest. You must have noticed it too—he’s trying to stir up internal conflict..."

"Wait, hold on."

Seraphina had only intended to subtly probe him since Elodie had warned that he couldn’t be trusted.

But now, he was spilling everything before she had even asked.

This wasn’t part of the plan.

How was she supposed to believe all of this?

Although she was inwardly stunned, she maintained an outwardly calm demeanor as she replied.

"I can’t believe something like that just because you say so. You need to prove your credibility first. We’re not lifelong friends or anything, are we?"

— "...Aren’t we?"

"We are not. Don’t act familiar."

— "Tsk."

"Don’t make old-man noises at me."

— "Hing..."

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

Like a stubborn child, he pretended to be cute.

Of course, Seraphina found nothing about it cute and simply ignored him with a straight face.

"Honestly, every time we meet, you practically beg me to defect to the Terranolia Empire. And now you’re suddenly telling me all this? It’s suspicious."

— "You think I knew His Majesty was cooking up something this ridiculous while I was stuck in the Academy?"

Julian sighed deeply, then his expression hardened.

— "He’s after your life too, so you’d better keep that in mind. As long as there’s hope that Lady Ratson is still alive, you’ll keep searching for her, won’t you?"

His last warning carried weight.

— "He’s determined that if he can’t have your abilities, it’s better to eliminate you. Believe me or don’t—it’s your choice. But at least take this seriously."

— "Also, I suspect there’s a spy among you, so be careful and stay alert."

Then, the connection abruptly cut off.

"...?"

That was unusual.

For all his annoying habits, Julian was always mindful of etiquette.

It was unlike him to hang up so abruptly, as if he were being chased.

Judging by his reaction, something really must have happened.

Or it’s about to.

Lost in serious thought, Seraphina suddenly went pale and bolted from her seat.

Edmund, who had unintentionally overheard the entire conversation, quickly grabbed her arm.

"Let go. I need to check if Elodie is safe."

"If it’s Elodie, she’s fine. Karon is with her. If anything happened, she would have contacted me immediately."

"..."

Would she, though?

Seraphina was doubtful.

But when she saw the sincerity in Edmund’s eyes, she chose to trust him for now.

And besides—

That snake may be insufferable, but he’s undeniably skilled.

He clearly treasured Elodie like his own life.

That was why she had left it alone.

The threats against the Ratson family could come from anywhere, and Elodie needed a strong bodyguard.

Seraphina could dispel magical or cursed energies, but she couldn’t defend against physical attacks.

"If what the Crown Prince says is true, we can’t let them know we’ve figured it out."

She understood that much.

If they caught on, they’d immediately alter their plans and investigate where the leak had come from.

Julian would naturally be suspected.

And if that happened, they’d lose access to crucial information.

"Regardless of his motives, there’s no harm in preparing ahead of time."

"You surprise me. Last time, you seemed suspicious of him when you asked why I had accepted his contact information."

Edmund hesitated for a moment, as if something weighed on his mind, then changed the subject.

"If there’s a spy among us, I’ll discreetly contact Grandfather while I’m out shopping. I’ll make sure to avoid the other harvest mice’s eyes."

That was exactly why Eagles, the aide to Duke Valkyrisen, was here.

***

‘An eagle beastfolk.’

But how on earth could a non-harvest mouse beastfolk set foot in the Holy Nation?

It wasn’t just forbidden in words—there was an actual barrier preventing entry.

‘...How else? Obviously, they were granted permission!’

The High Priest of Ratson had given them clearance.

That meant the High Priest was fully aware of the situation and had already seen through their plans.

"Retreat!"

The knight captain tried to transform into a mouse and escape.

He never even got the chance.

The moment he turned his back, the eagle’s talons had already seized him, binding him tightly.

“Squeak!”

There was never a chance of outrunning the sight and speed of a golden eagle.

"Just what exactly did you take my warning for?"

Eagles sighed.

"If you attempt to flee, I’ll have no choice but to subdue you without harming you—by knocking you unconscious."

"..."

"If you don’t want to lose consciousness and find yourself unable to explain anything before your sentencing, I’d suggest staying put."

Who would even think of resisting after hearing that?

The knight captain slumped in defeat. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

The other harvest mice followed suit.

‘That’s what it must look like.’

But the knight captain had not transformed into a harvest mouse just to escape.

What kind of idiot would think they could outrun a golden eagle—the ruler of the sky?

Beastfolk, when transforming between human and animal forms, had their belongings transform with them.

That was why clothes disappeared when they shifted into their beast form and reappeared when they changed back.

The knight captain had prepared something for this exact kind of emergency.

And the others in the operation were well aware of it.

Hidden within the thick fur of his mouse form was a tightly secured smoke bomb.

Not just any smoke bomb.

The moment someone came into contact with the emitted smoke, their vision, sense of smell, and hearing would be temporarily paralyzed.

They were all standing still, pretending to be frozen in fear, waiting for the knight captain to detonate it.

‘No matter how strong a golden eagle is, there’s no way it won’t be affected at this range.’

Even the one triggering the smoke bomb would be affected to some degree—but that was a sacrifice worth making.

They just had to escape in the meantime.

The knight captain reached for the earplugs he had prepared, plugging his ears and covering his nose before shutting his eyes tightly.

As they finished their preparations...

"Oh, you’re here," Eagles remarked, sensing the new presence and turning his head.

"Ugh, hey. I told you not to do that,"

Geno groaned as he looked at the eagle, who had twisted its head almost completely around to stare at them.

In his hand, he casually dangled the lone scout harvest mouse he had captured.

With his other hand, he tossed and caught the artifact he had used to lure the scout out.

‘Why is the second son of House Valkyrisen here?!’

As the knight captain reeled in shock, his gaze met the scout’s.

The scout flailed his limbs in desperation, trying to communicate something.

‘...Run?’

That was clearly the message.

The knight captain understood perfectly—but stubbornly refused to accept it.

No, there was still a chance.

Only one more person had shown up.

They could still escape and report back.

Holding his breath, he waited for Geno to step into the smoke bomb’s range.

And then—

"Geno."

A voice called from behind the second son of Valkyrisen, following at a leisurely pace.

It was Edmund.

"Don’t rush. There’s no escaping anyway."

"What are you talking about? If we chase them, they’ll panic and run—that’s what makes it fun."

"Hmm, before I put a leash on you, you should probably stop that nonsense."

One more person?

‘And it just had to be the young lord of Valkyrisen?’

Three enemies.

Fine. That was still manageable.

And the more physically capable they were, the more panicked they’d become when their senses were stripped away.

But...

It didn’t end there.

Behind Edmund, a whole host of figures approached as if an army had been summoned.

By their colors and build, it was clear—none of them were harvest mouse beastfolk.

Gray wolves?

Was that... a lion?

And over there... a bear?

‘What the hell, where did all these beastfolk come from...?’

At that moment, Eagles, who had been holding the knight captain in check, spoke as if he had just realized something.

"Hm. It seems you weren’t taking my warning very seriously."

The knight captain flinched.

"It seems I failed to introduce myself properly, leading to some foolish thoughts on your part."

Eagles smiled faintly before continuing.

"I am Eagles, aide to His Grace, the Duke of Valkyrisen."

The Duke’s aide?

If the aide was here, then...

The knight captain frantically turned to scan the approaching beastfolk.

And then he saw him.

Even among the predators, there was a human who didn’t fall short in presence or stature.

Duke Valkyrisen.

Eisen.

"If you’re eager to experience the interrogation chambers of Valkyrisen, then by all means, resist."

The knight captain clenched the smoke bomb in his paw.

He just had to wait for Eisen to step into range.

Once he did, he’d set it off—

"Squeak... (Here, take it...)"

He offered it up, completely defeated.

He didn’t even dare to try resisting.