A Queen Among Pups

A violent current of wind swept through the nursery, sending the curtains spiraling toward the ceiling. Verna stumbled backward, her fan slipping from her grasp.

"W-What is happening?" she stammered.

I smiled. "Something you should have thought about before opening your filthy mouths."

I spread my fingers.

“BY MY CROWN AND THE BLOOD OF THE FIRST STARS, LET THE HEAVENS BOW TO MY WILL! LIFT THESE WRETCHES FROM THE EARTH, STEAL THE BREATH FROM THEIR LUNGS, AND CAST THEIR WORTHLESS PRIDE INTO THE ABYSS!”

The floor erupted with golden light as an enormous magical sigil appeared beneath us. Ancient symbols rotated around its edges, and the air began to vibrate with a deep, unnatural hum.

Before either woman could scream, their feet left the ground. Nicole shot upward, her arms flailing as an invisible force wrapped around her throat, and Verna followed seconds later.

Both women clawed desperately at their necks, suspended several feet above the nursery floor. Their expensive clothes fluttered violently in the magical wind as they struggled to draw breath.

I slowly curled my fingers. The invisible pressure tightened just enough to make their faces turn red.

I stepped forward, looking up at them with absolute disdain. "What's wrong, little pups? You seemed awfully confident when you thought I was helpless."

I tilted my head, allowing another golden star to ignite above my palm. "Go on. Scream for your Head Maid. Oh, wait."

My smile widened. "She's right there with you."

Verna's eyes widened in terror. Her hands trembled as she desperately tried to pry the invisible force away from her throat.

I took another step closer. "Let me make something perfectly clear. I don't care about your family names, your money, or whatever pathetic authority you believe you possess."

I raised my hand higher, and both women were dragged toward the ceiling.

The magical sigil beneath my feet flared brighter. I looked at their terrified faces and smiled.

"You picked the wrong cunt of a maid, little pups."

Then the nursery doors flew open.

"WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE?"

The Fox Demon King's voice thundered through the room. At that exact moment, I snapped my fingers.

The magical sigil vanished, and both women dropped onto the carpet with a miserable thud. The curtains fell, the candles reignited, and the nursery returned to its usual silence.

I immediately stumbled backward, pressed a hand against my chest, and widened my eyes. By the time I turned toward the doorway, my expression had transformed into one of complete innocence.

"Your Majesty!"

The king stood at the entrance, his nine enormous tails moving slowly behind him. His golden eyes swept across the broken glass, the scattered bottles, and the two women struggling to catch their breath with their eyes filled with terror.

"Speak."

I swallowed and pointed toward the poison vial. "Your Majesty, something terrible has happened. Lady Nicole brought an unfamiliar medicine into the nursery, and when I refused to give it to His Highness, she accused me of attempting to poison him."

I lowered my head. "Head Maid Verna then ordered the guards to arrest me, even though I was only trying to protect the young master."

The king approached the crib and lifted his crying son. The little prince immediately reached toward me, making distressed sounds until I stepped closer.

His Majesty noticed the movement. "Why is my son crying, and why are there poison bottles on the floor?"

Verna immediately began explaining, but I politely interrupted. "Perhaps the royal physician should examine them first, Your Majesty. I wouldn't want anyone making accusations before knowing what they're holding."

The king looked at me for a moment before ordering the physician to be summoned. Within minutes, the physician examined the remaining liquid and bowed gravely.

"Your Majesty, this is a sleeping poison. Even a small amount could seriously harm His Highness."

The king's expression turned cold. "Who brought it here?"

Nicole immediately dropped to her knees. "Y - your Majesty, please! I only wanted to help! That maid is responsible for everything! She's a witch!"

I looked at her with wide eyes. "Lady Nicole, why would you say such a thing? Didn't your father teach you that lying is a terrible sin?”

Her mouth opened, but nothing came out. Oh, I was enjoying myself far too much.

One of the attendants finally stepped forward and confessed that she had seen Nicole place something beside the prince's pillow. She also revealed that Verna had ordered everyone to obey Nicole, despite knowing she had not passed the royal selection.

The king's gaze shifted toward Verna. "You accepted money from her family?"

Verna began trembling. "Your Majesty, please! I have served this palace for twenty years!"

"And you repaid that service by allowing poison into my son's nursery?"

Nicole fell forward, sobbing. "Please, Your Majesty! My family will compensate the crown! I beg you not to punish me!"

The king's voice turned icy. "Your family's wealth will not purchase forgiveness for endangering my child. Verna, you are stripped of your position as Head Maid, and both of you will serve as low-ranking laundry maids under the new Head Maid's supervision."

Verna stared at him in horror. "The new Head Maid?"

His golden eyes turned toward me.

"Number 404.” The Fox King swallowed. “Or what I heard, your name is Aira, from this moment onward, you will take Verna's position. My son trusts you, and I expect you to protect him.”

I lowered my head. "It would be my honor, Your Majesty."

Behind me, Nicole began crying even harder. Verna looked as though she might faint, and I could hardly blame her. Yesterday, she had struck me with a wooden fan, and today she would be washing my dirty laundry.

"Please, Aria!" Verna begged as the guards approached. "You must speak to His Majesty! Tell him I deserve another chance!"

I almost laughed. Desperation certainly improved one's manners.

With a sweet smile, I tilted my head. "Oh, ‘Head Maid’, I'd love to help, truly. But surely, at your age and with all your years of experience, you don't need a younger woman like me to teach you how to beg for mercy?”

Nicole glared at me through her tears. "You insolent witch! You planned this!"

I leaned closer and whispered with a cold, mocking smile, "Oh, Nicole. You're a stupid fool. Go cry to your daddy, you pathetic, brainless little doll."

Then I straightened and turned toward the king with an innocent expression. "Your Majesty, may I return to caring for the young master now? I'm afraid all this excitement has frightened him."

The king studied me for a moment before nodding. His golden eyes lingered on my face, and I could tell he wasn't entirely convinced by my explanation.

However, his son was safe, the poison had been discovered, and the guilty parties had been dealt with. Whatever suspicions he had about me, he seemed content to leave them unanswered.

Once the guards had escorted the two women away, I picked up the prince and gently brushed his fluffy ears. He immediately snuggled against my chest, his little hands gripping my uniform as though I were the only person in the world he trusted.

I smiled down at him. "Well, Your Highness, it seems we've had quite an eventful morning. Your new Head Maid has already made two very unpleasant acquaintances."

A tiny puff of smoke escaped his nose, and I noticed a faint red shimmer beneath his fur. My smile slowly widened.

"Oh, little dragon," I whispered, adjusting his blanket. "You and I are going to get along wonderfully."

The palace could keep its rules, titles, and pathetic little power games. I had no intention of proving myself to a collection of title-drunk nobles who mistook privilege for power.

I had been the greatest witch on the continent long before anyone in this p

alace knew my name. And if these fools were desperate to learn what that meant, who was I to deny them the lesson?