What a Terminally Ill Villain Needs Is an Arctic Fox Ch 07

Chapter 07

He lowered the hand that had been caressing Kyle’s cheek and pressed his lips against his. The man’s eyes darkened as he saw the tongue slightly peeking out between his red lips.

“Just wait a moment.”

The man slowly took off Kyle’s clothes and kissed every part of his body. There was no place that his lips did not touch, softly, affectionately, and carefully, like a petal falling down.

The curse engraved on Kyle started from his heart and flowed through the blood vessels of his entire body, so the man’s hand had to touch his entire body. In a situation where a companion contract could not be made immediately, this was the only way to keep him from getting hurt.

Finally, the man hugged Kyle’s bare body, kissed his pounding chest, and whispered.

“Good night, Kyle.”

The next morning.

Kyle, who woke up naturally to the morning sunlight, slowly opened his eyes while stroking the fur ball in his arms.

It was a morning that came in an instant, as if someone had knocked me out and then woke me up.

‘I… am not dead yet.’

Contrary to my worries last night, my body felt much lighter and more refreshed.

“Kkiung.”

Kyle turned his head to the sound. There was a fox that had gotten up before him and was looking at him with bright eyes. Kyle stroked the fox’s head and put into practice the promise he had made last night.

“Thank you, fox.”

His voice cracked from his throat, which was tightly shut from how deeply he had slept. However, only the fox could see how pretty his smile was when he woke up with his eyes half-open.

The fox, who had been waiting for Kyle to wake up since morning, got excited when she saw Kyle’s smile and climbed onto his chest and licked his face.

“Ugh, stop.”

Kyle pushed away the fox that was covering his face with spit, and got up to moisten his parched mouth. He picked up the water bottle on the nightstand next to the bed and tried to pour water, but something felt strange. The air felt particularly cold, so he lowered his head, and the blanket covering him fell to the floor, revealing his naked body.

For a moment, my thoughts stopped and I looked under the bed. Just like last time, I saw my underwear and pajamas scattered around in a haphazard manner.

Kyle’s eyes shook as he held the water bottle.

“Are you really sleepwalking?”

One time could be dismissed as a coincidence, but when it happened twice in a row, all the luck went out the window.

“Of course, ask Gray for advice.”

When he said that, the fox jumped down from the bed and clung to Kyle.

“Uh, why?”

As I bent down in embarrassment, the fox pointed to the water with the tip of its nose.

“Oh, you want some water? Just a sec.”

Kyle, who was distracted by the fox, put on the clothes that had fallen on the floor and looked for a bowl of water to feed the fox. In the end, since there was no suitable bowl, he poured water into his palm and gave the fox some water, and then drank some himself.

As soon as he got some water, his mind became clearer and he felt more energetic. Eventually, Kyle completely forgot about his sleepwalking and went out with the fox to eat the breakfast that Gray had prepared.

“Can you please show me to my office?”

After finishing his meal and drinking the tea that Gray had prepared, Kyle thought about his duties. He had been cursed and had come to the North to recuperate, but he couldn’t just sit around and do nothing while his limbs were intact.

“I will guide you.”

At Gray’s words, Kyle got up from his chair. With a friction sound of the floor being dragged, the fox that had been lying on the floor also jumped up from its seat. It seemed that Kyle had quite some free time drinking tea, as he perked up both ears and showed great interest in the two’s movements.

“This way.”

The fox followed closely behind Gray as if he were the Duke of the North. The way he walked lightly, his plump tail wagging, was so cute in the eyes of Kyle, the true Duke.

“Here it is.”

Kyle entered the office that Gray had guided him to and approached the desk by the window. The window, which contained a white snow-covered landscape, was located right behind the desk. Unlike the day before, the sky was a little cloudy, so even though he looked at the desk, which was spotlessly clean, he felt a sense of loneliness.

“Are there any documents to be paid?”

Kyle, who had been lost in thought for a moment, turned around to look at Gray.

“As of now, there is nothing of such great importance that His Majesty the Grand Duke should be concerned.”

Kyle’s eyebrows rose slightly. Gray looked down as if he was embarrassed at Kyle’s suspicious gaze. A short but heavy silence fell, and Kyle crossed his arms and wiped his chin. He turned around the desk and slowly sat down in a chair with a soft back.

“When you say that, do you really think I won’t do anything?”

Even though he claimed to be the Emperor’s footstool, it wasn’t just because of that that he was able to survive for three years. It was because Kyle had abilities.

The ability to see through the cunning minds of the central nobles, fast and accurate work, and the power to protect oneself. It was the result of the best synergy between the memories before the possession and Kyle’s own power. That’s why Kyle could sense something intentionally hidden in Gray’s words.

Although it is a title in name only, it is a well-known fact to all who have received the title of nobility that the Grand Duke is the second highest rank after the Emperor. It makes no sense to say that there are no responsibilities that come with it.

Of course, this story only applies if Kyle is not under the curse.

“I don’t know what you’re hiding, but I know it has nothing to do with who I am now.”

Although he had been granted the title of Duke of the North, he had little time left to maintain it, let alone a year, so asking Gray about the situation in the North was just a bit much. However, it was hard to suppress his curiosity.

Kyle deliberately chose words that would provoke Gray, but when there was no response, he sighed and got up from his seat.

“I don’t think I’ll be coming here again.”

Unlike Kyle, who left without a second thought, Gray remained motionless in his spot. Before Kyle could leave the door, Gray’s voice caught Kyle’s attention.

“Your Highness.”

Kyle turned around and looked at Gray with a calm expression, seemingly unhurt. He smiled weakly, a little tiredly.

“Would you like to have a cup of tea with me?”

Kyle answered, glancing around the office.

“Are you talking about here?”

“If it’s okay with you, I’ll prepare it.”

Kyle nodded. He walked slowly and sat down on the sofa in the office. Gray bowed to Kyle and left, and the fox jumped up on the sofa as if it had been waiting and snuggled into Kyle’s arms. Its tail was curled up like a blanket and its snout was stuck in it, making it look like it was covered in a white blanket.

“Should I have just pretended not to know?”

Kyle muttered, stroking the large ball of cotton resting on his lap.

“Even if I play every day, I don’t know when I’ll die. Right, fox?”

Kyle said with a grin, his ears hanging over his mouth, contrary to what he was saying, about how thick and shiny the Arctic fox’s fur was, and the fox raised its head as if in response to Kyle’s words.

“Kkiung!”

“You think so too?”

The fox shook its head. Kyle stopped stroking the fox for a moment at its sway.

“Would you like me to work?”

This time the fox shook his head. Kyle’s brow furrowed.

“Then what?”

This time the fox got up. It lifted its front paw and pressed against Kyle’s chest, rubbing its short, Arctic fox-like snout against Kyle’s neck. Then it whined, making an animalistic noise as if it wanted to say something.

“Why are you crying, fox?”

Kyle, who was buried deep in the sofa due to the weight of the fox, hugged the fox tightly. The feel of the fox’s fur against his cheek was so soft that he closed his eyes and stroked the fox’s fur.

‘Ah, it’s healing.’

The fox gave up and left himself in Kyle’s hands, his body relaxed. His whimpering stopped, but he could hear the sound of air escaping, either a snort or a sigh.

Just as I was thinking about rolling around on the sofa with the fox in my arms, there was a knock on the door. I straightened up from where I had half collapsed on the sofa and cleared my throat.

“Come in.”

With Kyle’s permission, Gray set up the tea set with just the right angles and a sharp look.

“Can I sit down for a moment?”

Kyle, who had been watching the scene while caressing the fox fur, nodded to Gray’s words. However, he soon remembered his position as he saw Gray standing up straight with his back straight.