Chapter 41: The Husband and Wife

[Luceille’s POV — Ashcroft Manor]

My babies were getting better. Slowly, very, very slowly, but they were getting better, and that was enough for me.

After Elyan began the treatment, there were no miraculous overnight changes. He had warned me that their mana had been suppressed for too long and that their bodies needed time to recover. So, day by day, little by little, their condition improved.

The first day, one of them was able to stand for a few minutes; the next day, another finally ate a proper meal; then one of them wagged its tail when I called its name, and that tiny movement nearly made me cry.

And before I knew it, several days had passed. The recovery chamber no longer felt like a place where I was waiting for bad news. It had become a place filled with fluffy tails, tiny paws, and far too many foxes trying to climb onto me at the same time, and today was no different.

I had barely sat down on the large couch when the first white fox immediately jumped onto my lap.

"Hey!"

Before I could even catch it properly, another climbed onto my side, and within seconds, I was completely surrounded. White fur covered my arms, my lap, my shoulders, and probably half of my clothes. One fox shoved its head beneath my arm as if demanding attention.

Another curled against my stomach, and the third placed its tiny paws on my shoulder and began licking my cheek.

"W-Wait!" I burst into laughter. "Stop! That tickles!"

The fox ignored me completely and continued licking my face. I tried to push it away gently, but another one immediately replaced it. I stared at the growing pile of white fur around me, and then I gave up.

There was no point fighting. I wrapped both arms around the nearest fox and buried my face into its soft fur.

"AWA..." My voice came out as a dramatic whine. "My babies..."

The foxes responded with a chorus of happy little sounds. One licked my chin, another rubbed its head against my chest as I laughed and hugged them tighter.

"You scared Mama so much, you know that?"

One of them looked up at me with those enormous eyes. I gently rubbed its ears. "I thought something terrible was going to happen to you."

The little fox made a soft whimper before licking my fingers, and my heart melted. "Don’t do that again."

I hugged it closer.

"I’m serious. You are absolutely forbidden from getting sick ever again, did you understand?"

It wagged its tail.

"Good. Excellent. We’re making a contract."

I nodded firmly, as though I had just completed an extremely important negotiation. The fox nestled against my chest seemed perfectly satisfied with our agreement, and I couldn’t help but smile as I stroked its soft fur. After days of watching them suffer, having them energetic enough to argue with me over cuddles felt like a miracle.

A faint chuckle came from behind me.

I didn’t even need to turn around to know who it was. Cassian had been standing near the doorway for several minutes, silently watching me get buried beneath a mountain of white fur. When I finally glanced over my shoulder, I found him leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed, a faint trace of amusement in his ocean-blue eyes.

"What?" I asked suspiciously.

"Nothing," he replied, though the slight curve of his lips betrayed him.

I narrowed my eyes. "You’re laughing at me."

"I wouldn’t dare."

"You absolutely would."

Cassian finally pushed himself away from the doorway and walked toward us. His gaze swept over the foxes surrounding me before settling on my face. Then, without any warning, he spoke in the same calm, authoritative voice that could probably make an entire army straighten their backs.

"Now, everyone. Leave your master."

I blinked.

For some reason, I expected the foxes to ignore him.

After all, ’I’ was their master.

I was the one who had fed them, cuddled them, worried over them, and spent days practically refusing to leave their side. Surely they would choose me.

Apparently, I had overestimated my position in this family. The foxes lifted their heads and looked toward Cassian, and then, one by one, they obediently climbed off me.

I stared in disbelief as the first fox trotted away. Another followed. Then another. Within moments, the entire group had abandoned my lap and gathered obediently near Cassian.

I sat frozen on the couch.

My mouth slowly fell open.

"...What?"

Cassian’s shoulders shook faintly with restrained laughter.

I pointed at the foxes in outrage. "I thought ’I’ was their master! Why are they listening to you?"

His expression remained infuriatingly calm. "If you’re their mother, then I’m their father."

I stared at him as he said it as though this was the most obvious fact in the world.

"And children," he continued, glancing toward the foxes, "tend to listen to their father."

For several seconds, I could do nothing except stare. Then I pointed accusingly at him. "Since when did you become their father?"

"Since you decided they were your babies."

"That is completely different!"

"How?"

"Because..." I faltered, searching desperately for an argument that wouldn’t make me sound ridiculous. "Because I said it affectionately!"

Cassian’s faint smile deepened.

"And I said it seriously."

I looked at the foxes again, and not a single one seemed interested in defending me.

"Traitors," I muttered.

One of them wagged its tail.

"Oh, don’t you wag your tail at me now. You abandoned your mother the moment your father spoke."

Cassian actually laughed this time.

I whipped my head toward him. "This isn’t funny!"

"It is a little."

"You’re enjoying this far too much."

"Perhaps."

I crossed my arms and turned my face away with as much dignity as I could gather. "Fine. Whatever. You can be their father."

"Good."

"But I’m still their favorite."

Cassian’s eyebrow lifted.

"Are you certain?"

I looked at the foxes; they were sitting beside him. I looked back at Cassian.

"...Don’t ruin this for me."

His smile returned and then, before I could enjoy my victory for even five seconds, he calmly said, "Now get up."

My entire body stiffened.

I slowly turned toward him.

"Why?"

"Your training resumes today."

. . .

. . .

The smile disappeared from my face as I stared at him and he stared back.

"No."

"Luceille."

"I said no."

"You did."

"And I’m maintaining my position."

"You’re training."

"I’ve just recovered emotionally from almost losing my babies. Surely the Grand Duke of the North has enough compassion to give his wife a few days of rest."

Cassian stepped closer, completely unfazed by my argument. "I do have compassion."

"Excellent."

"That is why I gave you several days."

My mouth fell open. "That was compassion?"

"Yes."

"Cassian!"

His lips curved into a small, terrifying smile. "Beloved, get up."

I immediately sank deeper into the couch.

"I cannot."

"You can."

"I’ve become physically attached to this sofa."

"Then I’ll separate you from it."

I stared at him as he took another step closer. Something about that smile told me I had made a terrible tactical error.

"Cassian..."

"Get up."

"I have decided that today is a holiday."

"There is no holiday."

"There is now."

"No."

I hugged the nearest cushion.

"I refuse."

Cassian sighed as though dealing with an especially stubborn child, then he leaned slightly toward me as his voice remained gentle.

"Beloved, get up before I drag you to the training grounds myself."

. . .

. . .

I clutched the cushion tighter.

"You wouldn’t."

His smile widened.

"Try me."

I stared at him in horror; this man had absolutely no respect for my peaceful lifestyle, and judging by the amusement in his eyes, he was enjoying every second of my suffering.

I looked toward my foxes for help as they stared back at me. Then one of them quietly walked behind Cassian.

I gasped.

"Even you?!"

The fox wagged its tail. I pressed a hand against my chest. "Betrayed by my own children... What kind of life is this?"

Cassian laughed softly, and before I could come up with another excuse, he reached for me. That was when I realized something very important.

I had just made a terrible mistake because Cassian Ashcroft had patience; he had authority, he had an entire territory at his command, and, unfortunately for me, he had absolutely no intention of allowing his wife to escape her training.

"Cassian, wait—"

He caught me around the waist.

"NO!"

My scream echoed through the recovery chamber as he effortlessly lifted me from the couch.

And somewhere behind us, my supposedly loyal foxes watched their mother being carried away without the slightest intention of helping.

Clearly, I was raising a family of traitors.