The Harvest Mouse Exits the Fairytale Together with Cinderella

The beastfolk were clearly disappointed, but it was only for a moment.

Like dogs ordered to wait with food in front of them, they wagged their tails from a distance.

“Indeed, they say Ratson’s true value isn’t in healing abilities. Is the secret to dominating the beastfolk world simply excessive cuteness?”

“Cuteness saves the world, huh?”

“I almost cried when I heard they were going to close the Great Temple for a while, but who would’ve thought I’d meet the little one. I’m glad I stayed at Valkyrisen.”

“Good thing you’re still alive….”

Then, glancing at Elodie, he let out a groan, slamming the wall or smacking the person standing next to him.

Just as Eagles had said.

“Hey, look at that hand. I just want to bite that cheek too…”

“Really just a bite’s worth…”

“Ugh, even Magic Cotton too. How much cuter do you plan to get next to someone so adorable...”

“Sniff sniff, even the tip of the nose is pink!”

Is that really what they call being cute?

Really?

Isn’t it more that they can’t control their destructive nature?

‘The more I’m seen as cute, the more aggressive I become?’

In truth, even after realizing they weren’t trying to eat Elodie but rather found her adorable, nothing changed.

Anyway, after being adored twice for her cuteness, she felt like her body wouldn’t survive.

‘Excuse me, but the wall’s cracked...’

Beastfolk and the strength of their bodies are said to far exceed human limits.

Elodie, trembling, had no choice but to burrow into Eisen’s arms.

“Really.”

The old man, watching her, seemed displeased yet also oddly satisfied.

“It seems you’re always relying on your old man. When are you going to adapt?”

“...”

He smirked as he chided her, a devilish grin on his face.

‘Is that something you say after pushing me off a cliff?’

Before falling to the ground, the only person she could rely on was the one who could catch her.

But since Elodie wanted to escape the situation, she quickly said:

“Then I can stay with Grandpa forever, right?”

“Always throwing tantrums.”

“I wanna go there with Grandpa!”

“Tch, it can’t be helped.”

He clicked his tongue, but his arm, which had tightly held her, didn’t loosen.

Having finally escaped from their violent attention, Elodie made a firm decision.

She could never appear cute in front of the beastfolk again.

‘From today, I’m starting pronunciation correction.’

But she knew it wouldn’t be easy to fix right away.

‘I’ll have to use a stern face and a cool tone until I can perfect it.’

***

Eisen, completely exhausted, placed the dazed child onto the sofa in his office.

Elodie lay there on the sofa and shot a resentful glance at the old man.

"Would you like some almond tarts before you leave?"

"…Yes."

However, she didn’t refuse the dessert.

While the tart was being prepared, Eagles briefly disappeared somewhere.

When he returned, he was wearing a pair of opaque glasses that appeared magically treated.

‘Can he even see through those?’

The lenses were just blurry...

Elodie, nibbling on her tart, stole a glance at the assistant, who stood in the corner, exuding an unusual presence.

Meanwhile, Eisen got to the point.

"The prince said he would come to apologize."

"Pffh—!"

Before she could brace herself, Elodie was confronted with the situation she feared the most.

"Cough, cough!"

Choking on an almond, Elodie coughed as Eisen grabbed her cheek and forced her to drink some cold tea.

"Such a handful."

He had apparently anticipated this, since the tea had already been cooled.

Was I that clumsy?

But in reality, she had no words to defend herself.

It was her first time living as a human; what was she supposed to do?

If she could live as a mouse, she'd be far more competent, no doubt.

Grandpa would be amazed at how well she could manage things...

‘No, that's not the issue here.’

The prince? Coming here? To Valkyrisen?

To their peaceful, safe, and happy home?

Elodie felt dizzy for a moment.

If he's coming under the pretense of an apology, doesn't that mean he'll inevitably meet Sera?

"No, no!"

She screamed with a pale face, like a protagonist from a horror novel.

“Holy Hammer!”

"Are you going to swing it at the prince this time?"

Ah.

Elodie, worried that Eisen might confiscate the hammer, clutched it tightly to her chest and gave a wary look.

"I’m not taking it."

"Really?"

"Now that I think about it, I should at least have some kind of self-defense weapon for you."

Her father certainly hadn't given it to her for that purpose...

It felt almost like she could hear the High Priest of Ratson wailing in the distance.

“Play nice.”

He always did that—touching Elodie’s ear for no reason and flattening it.

The child froze in surprise for a few seconds, and when she could move again, she furiously stomped her feet.

"Ugh!"

"If you're thinking of swinging it at the prince, you should say something. If I know in advance, I can try to help."

Eisen chuckled softly and ruffled Elodie’s hair roughly.

Does that mean if I tell him, I can use both physical and holy methods on the prince?

For a moment, the temptation was overwhelming...

‘No, I can’t.’

Elodie resolutely resisted the devil's temptation.

As much as she wanted to, she couldn’t lay a hand on the prince directly.

Unfortunately.

Elodie was a beastfolk and, worse yet, a descendant of the High Priest.

She couldn't just break the peace treaty by smashing the prince with a hammer and turn the world into chaos.

‘And I can’t make Valkyrisen take the blame for it.’

Their family was already on the verge of extinction; she couldn’t add another reason for their downfall.

She owed them too much already.

She had to handle this as peacefully as possible.

‘Then there’s only one way.’

She needed to make the prince want to leave Valkyrisen before meeting Sera, but without openly blaming him for it. It had to be subtle.

But this plan couldn't be carried out alone.

‘I need reinforcements.’

Eisen or Edmund wouldn't work.

They were too high-ranking. If they witnessed the prince acting inappropriately, they'd have no choice but to make a big deal out of it.

That level of controversy would be problematic.

If the proud prince felt insulted, who knew where he'd lash out?

‘Then I need someone who can exert subtle pressure, someone or a group that can intimidate him.’

Elodie took a deep breath and made her resolve, then exhaled slowly.

“Grandpa.”

“Hmm?”

“I need a uniform.”

That was why she was about to dress as stylishly as possible and head to the beastfolk and beastkin.

***

Elodie appeared in the training grounds.

In the arms of Sir Howlf, leader of the Silver Order.

The knights, both human and beastfolk, whispered in unison.

"Shouldn't she be staying away from the little one?"

"The Commander issued an access ban order, but now he's carrying her? What’s going on?"

"This is strange. No one has made the kid cry more than the Commander."

Then, Bearik, the bear beastfolk, muttered in an optimistic voice.

“If it’s okay with Commander Howlf, shouldn’t I try too?”

At those words, one of the knights turned around without thinking.

“Ugh… you startled me.”

I almost had a heart attack.

The knight, clutching his chest, shook his head helplessly at the bear beastfolk.

"You tear people apart."@@novelbin@@

“I don’t tear them apart!”

“Then you pull their heads off.”

“Don’t say such scary things!”

Every time Bearik yelled with his mouth wide open, the training grounds echoed.

Your face is scarier.

The knight swallowed his words and took a few steps back from him, looking pale.