The Baby Fairy is A Villain Chapter 32

Hata was a puppy shapeshifter, an incomplete one.

He couldn’t fully conceal his ears or tail, nor could he completely transform into his beast form.

Apparently, while concocting a potion, he made some kind of mistake that turned him into a dog.

 

“Hata wants to stay next to Richesia-nim. I won’t even go to the store anymore!”

 

She had thought it was just something said in passing, but it turned out to be serious.

‘That troublemaker puppy, really…!’

He knew where this was, and yet he still came.

The dog had walked straight into the snake’s mouth, and the thought made her head throb.

Richesia calmly set down the teacup in her hand.

Meanwhile, Karha rose from his seat and picked Hata up.

“Hmm…”

As Karha examined the dog closely, he sniffed the air.

“It smells familiar… but maybe not. It’s a little confusing.”

There had been a moment in the garden when Hata and Karha briefly faced each other.

Fortunately, Hata had barely managed to escape, thanks to Count Rudin’s shout that drew Karha’s attention.

‘He sensed the dog’s scent back then, too.’

He hadn’t forgotten the brief scent he had picked up.

‘Could Karha be a dog shapeshifter as well?’

Richesia briefly entertained a suspicious thought.

At that moment, Karha turned to Hata and leaned in, only to receive a slap in return.

“Ack!”

Seeing Karha get hit, Ishuel burst into laughter, unable to hold it back.

With a paw print now stamped on his cheek, Karha wore a thoroughly annoyed expression.

“I’m going to throw this thing out and come back.”

“Why? Just play with him for a bit.”

“Wait until you get smacked by the dog too.”

The twins were playing tug-of-war with the puppy.

Hata refused to let go and wriggled free from Karha’s grasp.

With a sudden leap, he bolted straight toward Richesia.

“Arf!”

With a small head bump, he leapt into Richesia’s arms.

His tiny tail wagged furiously, flapping with excitement.

He was so overjoyed to see her, he could hardly contain himself.

Before she could even think to react, her hands moved on their own, gently stroking the puppy’s head.

She softly untangled his fur, plucking away a leaf that clung to his face.

Then, sensing something strange, she slowly turned her gaze.

“……”

The twins were quietly staring at Richesia.

Both blinked in surprise, flinching slightly as their eyes met hers.

Ishuel grinned, his tone teasing.

“Do you like the puppy?”

Karha, meanwhile, had gently placed Hata on top of Richesia’s head.

The puppy’s soft belly settled into her hair.

“Do you want to raise a dog?”

“…What?”

It was merely a remark blurted out, as all she was thinking about was how to send Hata away.

But the twins had already completely misunderstood.

“Don’t babies usually like things like that? Like little dogs.”

“Right. He’s a bit wriggly, but if you wash him, he seems fine.”

Wearing a teasing older-brother smile, Ishuel added,

“If the younger sister says she wants to raise a puppy, then as the older brother, you could at least agree to that much.”

He was still young himself, yet his actions showed a gentle care for the youngest.

Momentarily flustered, but smiling inwardly, Richesia suddenly realized just how far things had gone.

‘Wait a second… is this turning into a situation where I’m going to raise Hata?’

As a noble, she had assumed they would immediately drive out anything of unclear origin.

What she thought would be just a mildly amusing turn caused by Hata’s appearance had turned into something entirely unexpected.

“Da puppy’s okay.”

“Don’t need to take a hint.”

“As wong as I habe my big brothers, I’m fine!”

The puppy on her head made a shocked squeaking sound, but she pretended not to hear it.

The twins both opened their mouths in shock.

Ishuel, stunned, echoed in a trembling voice,

“To think she’d take a hint of us…”

That’s not what I mean!

But the twins’ misunderstanding only deepened.

Karha, with a serious expression, declared.

“Let’s raise the dog.”

 

***

 

Despite everything, Kiern returned home early that day.

Upon hearing the news, the twins and Richesia, who had been waiting in the lounge, rushed to the entrance.

After handing his hat, coat, and bag to the butler, Kiern offered a faint smile at the children running toward him.

But the moment he noticed the puppy, his smile faltered and his gaze froze.

“You aw back.”

Richesia greeted him more politely than ever.

Kiern asked with a faint smile,

“Chesha, what is that?”

His red eyes turned to her.

Without a word, Richesia extended the small puppy in her arms.

The puppy remained still, and Richesia said nothing, he was small enough to hold with one arm, after all.

She cradled him with care.

Though he was rather large for a baby, Richesia held him firmly and steadily.

The puppy, though might have been uncomfortable, didn’t move a muscle.

Richesia’s voice, when she finally spoke, was flat and devoid of emotion.

“A puppy …”

He lowered his gaze slightly.

The twins beside her squirmed nervously.

“Father, our little sister wants to raise the puppy. We found it while playing in the garden,” Ishuel explained calmly.

Karha, meanwhile, stood stiffly, like someone who had just received shocking news.

Still cradling the puppy, Richesia lifted it slightly toward Kiern.

Even the puppy looked up at him with soft, innocent eyes.

“Arf, arf!”

Kiern silently looked between the puppy and Richesia.

‘Tell them to take it back outside!’

Richesia screamed in her heart.

But upon seeing the puppy, Kiern gave her a faint, smiling gaze.

Why, though?

In that moment, Richesia felt as if he had seen straight through her.

‘I’m doomed.’

Not so different from the twins, Kiern—whose favorite pastime was tormenting Chesha, wore that same faint smile.

“If Richesia wants to raise the puppy, she should.”

“Whoa!”

“Great, right?”

Karha and Ishuel congratulated her from the side.

Kiern smiled gently and sat cross-legged in front of Richesia.

With a light tug on her cheek, he said in a half-joking tone,

“Still, you have to love your father more than the puppy.”

“Yes…”

And just like that, without any further resistance, Richesia began raising the puppy.

 

***

 

In Richesia’s room, Hata was energetically flapping his arms.

With the ribbon Ishuel had tied around his neck bouncing around, he scurried around the room, and rolled on the floor in front of Richesia, whining for attention.

“Richesia-nim!”

“The puppy talks…”

“Ah, I’m sorry! I will bark again.”

Seeing him acting as if nothing had happened, Richesia let out a deep sigh.

After a brief exhale, Richesia asked Hata.

“Did you drink a potion?”

“Yes!”

Because the potion was made with a shapeshifter’s power, Hata could detoxify it at will.

If he wished, he could easily return to his human form.

“If I’m by Richesia’s-nim side, I will be useful in some way!”

With a face full of confidence, Hata insisted he could be helpful, even in his dog form.

Richesia couldn’t argue. She simply sighed again.

Since things had come to this, she figured it might not be a bad idea to investigate the Count of Basilian together.

There were parts that were impossible to investigate alone.

Crossing her arms, she began mentally revising her future plans.

Just then, Hata, now fully ready, padded over and gently tapped her with his paw.

“By the way, Richesia-nim.”

“Huuh?”

“Have you prepared for the banquet?”

“…Ah.”

“What dress are you wearing? Please wear the hat I made!”

Now that she thought about it, there wasn’t much time left until the banquet hosted by Duke Yveroil.

It was about time to try on the dress…

Normally, every detail, from head to toe, would already be arranged well in advance, so it did feel like they were running behind.

‘That’s a little odd.’

No, more than odd. Something was clearly wrong.

That evening, Richesia had dinner with the twins.

Hata, bouncing over with energy, picked out the tastiest bits and ate beneath the dining table.

Usually, the twins would be bickering noisily through the meal, but tonight felt different.

“This sucks…”

Ishuel slammed his utensils down with a loud clatter, fists hitting the table.

“It really sucks!”

Karha, calmly slicing his meat and chewing, gave him a blank look.

“Why?”

“You saw the outfit that arrived today!”

“I saw it.”

“And you expect me to wear that rag? That shabby thing on this precious body?”

Apparently, the clothes ordered for today had arrived at the dressing room, but they clearly didn’t meet Ishuel’s standards.

Naturally meticulous, Ishuel always took great interest in his appearance.

That’s why, this time, he had personally selected and ordered the outfits for everyone from Basilian attending the banquet.

Rather than using boutiques in the eastern territory, he had placed a special order from a boutique in the capital…

But the result was utterly disappointing.

As Ishuel furrowed his brow in frustration, Karha, chewing a piece of grilled meat, spoke up.

“I’m fine with it. Let’s just wear them and go.”

“Just die!”

Ishuel waved his fork dramatically.

Karha, still calmly cutting his meat, skillfully fended off his brother’s verbal jabs.

After taking several hits in quick succession, Ishuel burst out again,

“How could I wear that?! And our little sister has to wear a dress too! Do you really want her to be ignored at the banquet with that thing?”

“…Aah. I’m not okay with baby being ignored.”

Karha suddenly turned serious.

He set down his knife, paused in thought for a moment, then spoke hesitantly.

“I know one decent hat shop.”

Ishuel gave him a look that clearly said she didn’t believe him.

“Where?”

“Hata’s hat shop.”

Karha grinned and suggested.

“It’s in the Backworld. Want to go?”