“C-compensate?” Lily asked dumbly.
Of course, she knew what the Fox Lord meant, but her mind quickly recalled what had happened a while ago.
When he had stolen her first kiss so domineeringly, Lily had not even had the chance to resist before she was drowning in a sensation she had never felt before.
She hated that she had actually liked the kiss, and had even gone as far as using her tongue in response.
The more she recalled what had happened, the redder her face became.
Ren chuckled when he saw her reaction, his fox ears twitching restlessly as he leaned forward to reach for her lips.
Lily quickly covered her mouth with her hand once she realized their lips were dangerously close.
Ren paused for a moment before grinning.
“What?
Do you think I’d kiss you again?
You greedy little woman.” “T-then, you can back away!
You stole my first kiss, surely you won’t steal my second, right?” Lily said warily.
“Hmph, you think too highly of yourself.
I just want you to know that I have yet to get proper sleep, and now the entire camp is gone in flames.
It’s time to find a retreat while my kin rebuilds it,” Ren said before flying up, carrying Lily with one of his tails like a fox carrying around a new toy.
“W-why don’t we help your soldiers?
Whaaaaa…!” This time, the Fox Lord was not nearly as gentle as he had been when he first brought her to the camp.
Lily was flung around as she followed the natural movement of Ren’s tails, and the constant swinging made her feel increasingly nauseous.
At this point, she might actually vomit her guts out, especially since she had not eaten anything since yesterday.
Fortunately, Ren soon found a perfect spot to rest with his new toy.
He entered a cave located on a cliff.
It was probably once the nest of some prehistoric bird, but it had now become a secluded hole that was inaccessible to most other animals.
Ren conjured a single blue flame that floated near the entrance of the cave, acting as a torch.
He then found a comfortable spot deeper inside before dragging Lily along with him.
He finally let her go and used his nine tails as a makeshift bed.
Once he was settled comfortably, he patted the spot right next to him.
“Come, rest with me.” Lily stared at the ethereal-looking Fox Lord, who was resting comfortably on his own nine fluffy tails while saving a space for her beside him.
She should feel honored.
In fact, she also felt that the Fox Lord probably expected her to show some reverence, respect, or at least gratitude for such grace.
Yet, the only thing Lily felt right now was the rising acid in her stomach.
“Urp…” Lily immediately covered her mouth before rushing toward the edge of the cave entrance.
“Blergh…
urgh…” Lily vomited her guts out.
The nausea from being swung around like a ragdoll on an empty stomach had finally taken its toll.
“Little woman, must you irritate me again and again?” Lily turned her head and stared at Ren.
He was still grinning, but his gaze had darkened with fury.
“I know you love Gareth so much, but must you disrespect me by vomiting after I show you a little grace?” Ren pointed out.
“You are truly audacious.” “I was just hungry!” Lily raised her voice.
People always said that hunger made a woman ferocious, and now she could no longer hold back her hunger or her frustration.
“I haven’t eaten anything since yesterday, and you flung me around like whoosh and whoosh!
Do you think I won’t get dizzy because of that?
So don’t blame me for vomiting when you’re the one who caused it!” The corner of the Fox Lord’s lips twitched, and the fury behind those ruby-like eyes practically burst into flames.
Had he not promised that filthy mutt to protect her, he would have tossed this foolish woman off the cliff just to teach her a lesson in propriety when facing a monarch.
Then again, she did not show an ounce of respect toward Gareth either, so she probably did not fully understand her situation, nor the vast difference in status between herself and the monarchs.
“Then, what do you want?
I am at my drowsiest right now, little woman,” Ren asked.
“I want to eat!
Bring me back up and let me forage for some food.
Ugh, I’m practically dying right now,” Lily complained while clutching her stomach, which growled right on cue.
“Tsk.
Waiting for you to forage for food would take forever.
I have no time for that.” Ren walked toward the cave entrance and floated into the air.
“You’re such a bother, you know that?” “W-wait, take me with—” Lily could not even finish her sentence before that devious fox had already flown into the sky, leaving her alone inside the cave.
She gritted her teeth.
The fear she had felt when she first faced him was practically gone by this point.
In its place was a growing wave of anger and irritation, making her wish she could strangle that fox for all the trouble he had brought into her life.
Lily leaned against the cave wall, waiting for the Fox Lord to return.
Before she realized it, exhaustion overcame her, and she fell asleep with an empty stomach.
Lily’s eyelids twitched as her nose caught a fragrant aroma drifting through the cave.
Her stomach growled again, and she slowly opened her eyes.
The sky outside had already darkened.
The harsh afternoon sun had been replaced by the moon and countless stars, their pale light spilling into the cave.
She was so weak from hunger that she could barely move, but the delicious smell gave her just enough strength to turn her head toward its source.
There she saw the Fox Lord sitting cross-legged with an entire spread of food before him: fruits, seeds, mushrooms, and freshly hunted game.
He was casually eating an apple while roasting a rabbit over a floating blue flame.
Once the meat was cooked to a golden brown, he held the skewer out toward Lily and said in the same unkind tone as always: “Eat, or I’ll shove it into your mouth myself.” CREATORS’ THOUGHTS Apup Thank you for reading!
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