The fox accepted an acorn cookie, wagging his tail as he gobbled it up.
Everyone’s giving me way too much credit because Dr. Guillotin, Dr. Trousseau, and Master Theo have been talking me up!
I held a heap of gifts in my hands, feeling a little flustered. But my tail gave away my joy, wagging like crazy.
“I’m grateful, but this is a lot...”
It’d be difficult to do anything with my hands full like this.
Liam took the deep-fried tofu from the pile and held it up to my face. I reflexively opened my mouth and took a bite. The corners of my lips got covered in oil.
“Sho taishty!” I said, satisfied with the crunchy texture.
Deep-fried tofu was Lady Kuzunoha’s favorite, and she had insisted we make it. We distributed part of it at the temple and sold the rest in the stalls.
Liam wiped the oil from my mouth with his fingers, then licked them. He shot me a meaningful look and smiled, but I didn’t understand and just tilted my head.
“Is it tasty, brother?”
“Yes, it’s delicious.”
Bal watched us from the side and muttered, “Bleh.”
Lord Reineke smacked Liam with his tail.
“Anyway, the servant can bring most of this back home,” Liam said.
“Of course!” The servant took most of the items from me.
“And for the rest...” I said, looking around. I spotted a group of children watching us wistfully. “Hey, guys! Come here!”
When I called out to them, they rushed over. I got off Lord Reineke and addressed the kids solemnly.
“This is shinsen for the Great Lord Reineke. He is graciously granting it to you.”
“‘Shinsen’?”
“Lady Lune, what does that mean?”
The children peppered me with questions as they took the food.
Shinsen was a concept Lady Kuzunoha had taught me.
“It means eating the food offered to the gods together with them,” I explained.
Many people have been leaving offerings at Lord Reineke’s temple lately, so he’d decided to have it distributed to those in need.
“The great spirits take in mana from offerings and prayers. They said that once they’ve taken the mana, we should give the food to those who need it.”
“Wow! Thank you, Lord Reineke! Thank you, great spirits!”
The children gladly ate the food. A golden light seeped from each of them, which Lord Reineke absorbed. The fox looked satisfied—indeed, their gratitude powered him.
“How sly you are! I was right to place my trust in you,” he said.
“This is so yummy!”
“Hey, I wanna try too! Let’s share it!”
“Okay! Here, let’s switch!”
The kids were making merry. The people who gave me the gifts watched with smiles on their faces.
“That looks good. Let me try it!”
“Me too!”
Seeing the children so excited made the adults go up to the stalls to buy the same food.
“That’s some good advertising for them,” Liam said as he patted my head.
“You’re amazing when it comes to this stuff,” Bal added with a grin.
“No, I’m not. It’s all the work of the spirits.”
“There you go again.” Liam shrugged his shoulders. “Yes, the wisdom may come from Lord Reineke, but knowing what to do with it is important too. You’re the one who comes up with these ideas. Have more confidence in yourself.”
After chiding me, he picked me up in his arms.
“But...”
“You’re precious to me, so don’t put yourself down like that,” Liam said, bumping his forehead against mine a little forcefully.
“Ow!” I rubbed my stinging forehead.
“Lune, did you get that?” he asked, gazing kindly at me. His eyes were a lovely shade of purple, the color of a hopeful sunrise.
I wrapped my tail tightly around him.
“I got it,” I replied.
Strangely enough, his words convinced me. If I was precious to someone, it made me want to treat myself a little more kindly.
I giggled happily, and Liam smiled as well.
“Ugh, how long are you two going to flirt?! The ceremony’s about to begin!” Bal said.
We quickly made our way to the statue of the Lord of Water, where the ceremony would be held. A stage had been erected in front of it, and off to the side was a tent where House Renard would sit. We entered it, joining up with mother and father.
Cherry petals fell from the trees, floating on the surface of the river. They seemed to form a line, as if they were sailing off into a new world. The spring sunlight shone upon the soft green of the freshly sprouting trees.
“Such gorgeous scenery! I never thought I’d get to see something so beautiful,” mother said with admiration.
“How are you feeling, mother?” I asked.
“Dr. Guillotin’s medicine is very effective. I feel great,” she replied warmly.
Mother had finished her constrictive roundworm disease treatment and was in good enough health to attend the ceremony.
“I can’t believe sentiment flowers are so useful. I thought they were merely weeds,” she said. “Even the professors at the academy were stunned when they analyzed the medicine.”
Father nodded. “It’s the only cure for the roundworm disease. Lune had the right idea to keep the sentiment flowers under our marquisate’s management. What was once seen as just a weed now creates jobs and wealth for us. Ever since Lune showed up, our people have led much better lives.”
The Renard domain had accumulated wealth thanks to the cure, and was gradually livening up.
“Lord Reineke is the one you should be thanking,” I said.
“You’re too humble, Lune,” Liam said, patting my head.
I closed my eyes, enjoying the sensation.
Have I managed to pay them back a little?
I gazed out of the tent at the crowd of people walking past and laughing.
“It was also a great idea to grant tax exemptions to those living on the embankment, as long as they monitor the flooding,” father said.
“Liam came up with that one,” I said.
Father’s eyes widened a little.
“I see...” he said quietly.
Liam deserves proper praise too!!!
But when I turned to look at my brother, he was smiling bashfully.
Oh, so that was enough for him? Thank goodness!
My heart filled with warmth at the sight of their familial bond.
“Liam is something else. He’s a good swordsman, and he’s even got a head for territory management,” Bal said, sounding impressed.
“I’m going to inherit the Renard domain someday. This much is to be expected,” Liam replied. He kept a blank look on his face, but he was secretly petting my tail. I was certain that he really felt happy.
“And it’s all because you believed in us, father. Thank you,” I said.
He cleared his throat and looked away from me. My ears and tail drooped down, dejected.
“Embarrassed, dear?” mother said with a giggle.
I had no idea what she meant.
“His ears are red,” mother pointed out, causing father to rub his ears.
“Father is...embarrassed?” I asked. I felt a surge of joy and my fox ears twitched back up.
Mother kept quiet but smiled.
“He’s glad that you thanked him,” Liam whispered to me.
My tail stood up happily. “Really?”
Liam nodded, rubbing my tail.
“Gratitude shouldn’t only be given to us spirits, but also to humans who give us energy,” Lord Reineke declared.
“In that case, I’d like to become someone who isn’t afraid to say thank you,” I replied.
My words caused father’s eyes to widen.
“Thank you...both of you,” he whispered. It was so quiet that a spring breeze could drown him out, but I understood his feelings.
Overcome with joy, I grinned and wagged my tail. My chest felt nice and warm. Mother smiled at the sight of me.
Father cleared his throat. “Anyway, things are only going to get busier from now on,” he said, turning his gaze to the Renard River.
“Now that the flood control is finished, it’s time for the canal,” mother said.
“Boats! Ships! We’re gonna build them too, aren’t we? I wanna sail in one!” Bal exclaimed.
“We’ll need to make a guild for shipbuilding and service management,” Liam mused, observing the people.
Children were running to and fro without a care in the world as their parents chased after them. A smiling woman walked past, carrying a sleeping baby on her back. Performers in eccentric outfits frolicked around singing. The sound of lively laughter resonated from crowds gathering in front of the stalls.
The happy sight made my eyes sting and my vision turn blurry.
“Looks like the Renard domain can still become a good place,” Liam said, smiling.
“Let’s make it even better!” I responded with renewed determination.
Lord Reineke climbed on top of me, his fluffy fur tickling me.
“As long as you’re here, I will be fine.”
“Of course!”
With everyone’s help, the Renard territory was becoming more abundant. I was sure there was more to come, and imagining the future was exciting.
I wish this joy could last forever! I can’t make the same mistakes as in my past life.
Lord Reineke hugged me from behind. His warm pelt reassured me, and his strong embrace gave me courage.
“You look happy, Lune.”
“Yes! I’m very happy!” I replied, then turned around and buried my face in his chest. I breathed in deeply, the scent of water and spring filling my nose.
It was Liam’s turn to hug me from behind.
“Let’s find even more happiness, Lune!”
“Yes!”
Lord Reineke released me and sat down properly with his front paws together in front of him. The pose gave him a sense of divine dignity. Suddenly, the air around us grew pure and intense. Liam, Bal, and I instinctively sat up straighter. Even the people walking outside stopped and turned to look at Lord Reineke curiously.
“Lune Renard will achieve happiness,” the fox proclaimed loftily, creating a halo around me.
“Lord Reineke?! This is too much!” I protested.
“Just a little performance,” he said in a voice only I could hear, and laughed heartily.
Mother, father, and the boys stared at the glow around me reverently.
“Lord Reineke just delivered a prophecy!” someone from the crowd cried out. “A prophecy of happiness!”
The people cheered in delight as the cherry petals whirled around them. Golden light spilled from them all, absorbed by Lord Reineke. He smiled in satisfaction and let out a fox call. His high-pitched bark spilled across the azure sky, announcing the dawning of a new era.