Even now, the mark where I had bitten Hadel’s hand was still clearly visible on the back of his hand, covered by gloves. Feeling sorry for Hadel, I pressed my forehead against the back of his hand and apologized.

“Kyu kyu.”

At my apology, Hadel’s eyebrows raised slightly. After looking down at me for a moment, he let out a small sigh and took off the glove on one hand.

As he removed the glove, I could feel the entire group of vassals tensing up at once. But of course, what they were worried about didn’t happen, and Hadel’s palm covered my head completely.

“Kyu.”

As the familiar warmth enveloped my head, I let out a contented cry. This eased the tension in the conference room once again. One of the vassals looked at me curiously and said:

“…The ferret seems to be very well-trained? I’ve never seen a ferret act so affectionately before.”

Once one person spoke up, others chimed in with light-hearted comments.

“Now that you mention it, its fur color is unique. White ferrets are usually white, but this one seems exceptionally clean.”

“It would truly be impossible to spot in a snowy field.”

I puffed up with pride at their compliments.

‘Hehe, I am quite a unique ferret.’

Having recharged my flames, I returned to the cushion and sat down comfortably.

As I settled down, the vassals resumed their discussion on various agenda items. Things like the harvest of relief crops, bartering with neighboring territories, how merchant groups were making profits and how we should respond, and so on.

I yawned widely and thought to myself:

‘All the subordinates look equally burly. Seems like there are more military officials than civil officials.’

This region doesn’t seem to be very easygoing, does it?

As if reading my thoughts, the topic naturally shifted.

“The magical beasts have been quiet this year.”

“Thankfully.”

“There have been no reports of damage to civilian homes. It would be great if they’ve quietly moved their habitats to other regions.”

“Last year was really tough. With even the rare ice snails appearing…”

‘Ice snails?’

Seeing how naturally the talk of magical beasts came up, it seemed this was no ordinary harsh region. As I had expected, the magical beasts in this area all seemed to be of the ice attribute.

‘Then, even though they’re cautious of Hadel now, his role must be important when magical beasts actually appear.’

After all, only the flame attribute can counter the ice attribute.

‘Still, I didn’t encounter any magical beasts in the forest. I was lucky.’

If I had met a magical beast in this body, I would have died without even making a sound.

‘If my heart could be fixed, I could be of help to Hadel.’

I closed my eyes and tried to sense the mana in my heart. Maybe because I had been sticking close to Hadel, my heart wasn’t pounding like before. I furrowed my brow.

‘No, it actually feels like the mana has increased a bit. Is my heart slowly producing mana, or…’

Could it be that I’m absorbing Hadel’s mana?

‘That shouldn’t be possible.’

Mana is produced by the heart. And since hearts can’t be the same, even if the attributes are the same, it’s impossible to absorb someone else’s mana and make it your own.

‘But a normal ferret wouldn’t have an attribute in the first place.’

The reason magical beasts are called magical beasts is because creatures that shouldn’t have attributes possess them, wield mana, and cause calamities.

‘Then am I not a ferret, but a magical beast?’

Just as I was feeling uneasy about my own condition, which I had never properly considered before, one of the vassals cautiously asked Hadel:

“Your Highness, are you feeling alright?”

Why would they ask such a question?

‘Does Hadel have a chronic illness?’

Is that why the prince received the title of Grand Duke and is staying here in the north instead of at the royal palace?

‘What kind of illness? Or did they just send him here because they’re wary of his flames?’

Maybe it’s both. Constantly harboring sizzling flames 365 days a year would make even the healthiest person ill.

‘But he didn’t look sick.’

I listened closely to Hadel’s voice. As if confirming my observation, Hadel answered in a gentle voice:

“I’ve been feeling comfortable lately. Thank you for your concern. But there’s no need to worry.”

“That’s a relief.”

The vassals and I all let out a collective sigh of relief.

With Hadel’s health status as the final agenda item, the meeting adjourned. Hadel formally announced the end of the meeting.

“Thank you all for your hard work.”

It made me oddly proud to see Hadel, the youngest person here, looking the most dignified. It was like the feeling of a parent seeing their child loved outside the home.

‘Whew, sitting still was tiring, but it was an informative time.’

As I nodded with a pleased smile, Hadel slightly furrowed his brow.

“Do you find it entertaining to watch other people?”

“Kyu.”

Well, to be precise, it’s not so much that watching other people is fun, but rather that seeing Hadel’s different side is enjoyable.

‘It’s all the same, really.’

When I readily nodded and affirmed, for some reason Hadel’s furrowed brow deepened even more. After seeming to ponder for a moment, Hadel muttered in a heavy voice:

“…I suppose I’ll have to keep you confined to the room.”

“Kyu?!”

No, why!

I couldn’t figure out at which point Hadel’s mood had soured.

‘Don’t lock me up, you fool.’

I scratched at Hadel’s arm insistently. Even though it must have stung, Hadel showed no sign of pain and just pressed down on my head. I immediately went limp and flopped onto the floor.

‘This guy, he seems to know too well how to handle me now.’

At first, he seemed puzzled about why I wasn’t reacting to the heat, and awkward. Now he just took advantage of my weakness to flames. Especially when silencing my protests.

‘Ah, but I’m getting sleepy again.’

Even though I felt like I’d slept enough, as the flames wrapped around my heart again, I started feeling drowsy.

‘Even I think this is strange. Are ferrets usually this sleepy?’

I had no way of knowing if I was this drowsy because my heart was broken, or if ferrets were just like this naturally.

Hadel, who had been staring blankly at my white fur-covered belly rising and falling with even breaths, suddenly removed the hand that had been pressing on my head.

‘Huh?’

I was just about to fall asleep!

I looked up at Hadel with eyes protesting why he was being so spiteful, but Hadel just shrugged.

“We need to eat. I’ve prepared a special meal for you today.”

“Kyu?”

A special meal?

What kind of special meal could there be for a ferret? As I tilted my head in confusion, a certain food suddenly came to mind and my eyes sparkled.

‘Could it be ch-chocolate chip cookies or something?’

Wow, I can’t even remember the last time I had chocolate.

‘I really hope it’s chocolate. I might even swear my loyalty if it is.’

You might wonder what use the loyalty of a ferret would be, but still.

After waiting a bit, someone knocked from outside. It was the butler.

The butler took out a plate covered with a silver lid from the cart and politely placed it on the desk.

“Here it is, Your Highness.”

When Hadel nodded, the butler quietly left through the door he had come in. Of course, he didn’t forget to give me a long look before leaving.

As I was shrinking my shoulders for no reason, a warm hand wrapped around my back. Then it pushed me towards the plate.

“Here.”

I wondered what could be in there that it was brought so formally. It clearly wasn’t chocolate cookies.

‘It seems like a cold dish.’

As I approached the plate, I felt an inexplicable chill coming from it. I bristled my fur and sniffed with my nose. But my sense of smell wasn’t very good, so I couldn’t pick up much scent.

Hadel spoke in a serious tone:

“I think you’re not gaining weight because all the food you eat is snacks.”

There it was again, his obsession with my weight!

‘So what’s inside this plate is food to fatten me up!’

Isn’t chocolate or marshmallows the best for gaining weight?

‘But he clearly said earlier that it’s not a snack.’

Then it probably wasn’t chocolate. I looked at the plate with a mix of anticipation and wariness.

Finally, Hadel lifted the lid and revealed the food that had been on the plate!

“I heard that ferrets like raw fish.”

“Kyu?!”

It was a live fish!

Its tail twitched intermittently, and the small fins attached to its gills flapped. I turned pale.

‘I’m scared!’

I froze stiff, staring at the fish in front of me. Its yellow eyes gazed back at me, and it felt like I was facing a giant monster.

‘Wow, now that my body has shrunk, the intimidation from the fish is no joke.’

That’s right. As much as I had shrunk, the fish had grown larger.

Seemingly oblivious to my trembling, Hadel pushed my back with his palm again.

“Go on, eat.”

“Kyu, kyuu?!”

Eat this? Raw?

To make matters worse, there was no fork or knife. He clearly expected me to firmly grasp the fish with both hands and bite into it.

‘But I can’t do that!’

To grab that fish with both hands? Honestly, back when I was running around on battlefields, I was good at catching fish. But now I’m about the same size as the fish.

“Kyu kyu.”

I can’t do it, Hadel.

I looked back at Hadel with such eyes, but he just pushed my back.

“Don’t be shy.”

“Kyuu.”

This isn’t about being shy.

As I hesitated in front of the fish, Hadel rested his chin on his hand and furrowed his brow deeply.

“…Perhaps you’re not a ferret but a magical beast after all.”

Gasp, at this rate he might start doubting my identity.

I stood in front of the fish again with a resolute expression.

‘I can’t let myself be mistaken for a magical beast like this. Since it’s come to this, I’ll take care of this fish spectacularly!’

That resolve didn’t even last a few minutes.

“Kyu kyu, kyuu kyuu…”

After having a staring contest with the fish, I admitted my defeat with pitiful cries.