For a while after Joe disappeared from view, I just stood there on the balcony, fingers still wrapped around the cold stone railing.
A lion husband at the palace.
A horned, scale‑jawed assassin husband strolling under my balcony.
Three more unknown husbands somewhere out there.
Seventy‑two hours on the clock.
Body Stability: 33%
"One step at a time," I muttered. "Don't die. Don't get exposed. Don't fall off any balconies."
SYSTEM:
An excellent three-point plan.
I rolled my eyes and went back inside.
Nina was just coming in from the main door, balancing a silver tray with practiced grace.
"Lady Rose," she said, bowing her head. "Your breakfast is ready. The garden table has been prepared. Shall we go?"
"Yeah," I said, then corrected myself. "I mean… yes. Let's."
I still wasn't used to hearing such polite words in my own mouth.
Nina hid a tiny twitch at the corner of her lips. If I didn't know better, I'd say she was…almost amused.
…No, impossible. Original Rose was a walking nightmare. They were probably just relieved I wasn't throwing anything yet.
We walked out of the room together, her a step behind me like a proper attendant.
As soon as we entered the corridor, every servant within sight snapped to rigid attention.
Heads bowed.
Eyes down.
Hands clenched.
I could feel their fear, like static in the air.
A pair of beastman guards with wolf ears fell completely silent mid‑conversation. A maid dusting a painting nearly dropped her feather duster when she caught sight of my hair.
No one dared look me in the eye.
If this were a manhwa, the background behind me would be all dark shading and "VILLAINESS APPROACHING" sound effects.
I smiled anyway.
"Good morning," I said casually as we passed.
They jerked in surprise. One guard almost hit his forehead with his spear in his haste to bow.
"G‑good morning, Lady Rose!" he blurted.
"Mn." I nodded like this was totally normal.
As we turned a corner, I caught the whisper:
"Did she… just greet us?"
"Shh! Don't say anything! Maybe she's in a good mood!"
"Or maybe it's that thing she does right before she—"
Nina cleared her throat just loud enough, and the whispers died.
I pretended not to hear, but inside…
Yeah. Pink Fox, all right. More like Pink Landmine.
"System," I thought. "Show me husband list."
HUSBAND LIST (BONDED / CONTRACTED)
Karl Velenhart – Lion Tribe – "Pillar of the East"Joe Varyn – Drake Tribe – "Silent Killer of the Army"Riven Clawtail – Hound Tribe – "Captain of the Royal Guard"Seth Nivalis – Snow Leopard Tribe – "Shadow of the Crown Prince"Aleron Skyfall – Raptor Tribe – "Commander of the Sky Legion"
Current Visible Affection/Trust:
– Karl: ??? (Hidden)
– Joe: 1/100 (Curiosity / Minimal Concern)
– Riven: 0/100
– Seth: 0/100
– Aleron: 0/100
Display more details? [Locked – Affection too low]
"Of course it's locked," I muttered under my breath.
SYSTEM:
You want full stats for five high-ranking beast husbands on Day 1?
Be serious.
"Let me be delusional," I snapped mentally.
We exited through a pair of glass doors into the garden.
The air here was… nice. Not the stale dust of my old city life. Fresh earth. Flowers. A hint of something wild I couldn't name.
A white stone table sat under a blooming tree with pink flowers that almost matched my hair. There were two chairs: one slightly larger, one placed a respectful distance away.
On the table: a teapot, porcelain cups, sliced fruit, fresh bread, and something like eggs but with faint blue shells.
I stared.
In my past life, breakfast had been…
– Leftover rice.
– Burnt toast.
– Or nothing.
I pulled out my own chair before Nina could do it for me and sat down.
Nina's eyes widened for half a second before she smoothed her expression again and took the attendant's seat.
"I will pour, my lady," she said.
"No, it's fine. I can—"
She was already reaching for the teapot with both hands, careful and precise.
Right. Don't break their entire worldview in one day. Small changes.
"Thank you," I said instead.
She poured the pale golden tea, steam curling in the cool air.
I picked up a slice of fruit—something between a pear and a mango—and took a cautious bite.
Sweet. Juicy. Alcohol-free, poison-free, death‑flag‑free. Hopefully.
DING!
MINOR HEALTH RESTORATION
Nourishing food consumed.
Body Stability: 33% → 34%
I almost laughed.
"I get stability just for eating breakfast?"
SYSTEM:
You used to skip it regularly.
Your new body appreciates not being treated like a half-starved raccoon.
"Rude," I thought. "Accurate, but rude."
While we ate, the garden staff tried very hard to pretend they weren't looking at me every three seconds.
Two young gardeners with rabbit ears were trimming a hedge nearby, whispering behind their tools.
"I heard Lady Rose threw a vase at Lord Joe yesterday."
"No, my cousin said she threatened to elope with Lord Aleron if Lord Karl didn't stay the night."
"Is that why the general looked so tired this morning?"
"Shh! She'll have your ears if she hears—!"
I took a slow sip of tea, resisting the urge to bury my face in my hands.
Old Rose, you absolute chaos gremlin.
Nina followed my gaze to the gardeners and frowned faintly. "Shall I send them away, my lady?"
"…No," I said after a second. "Let them work. Just… tell everyone there's no need to be so terrified they forget to breathe. I don't plan on… throwing anything today."
"Today," the System echoed dryly in my head.
I ignored it.
"Understood, my lady," Nina said, rising gracefully. "I will inform them gently."
She left my side and went toward the staff, her back straight, steps quiet. Even from here, I could see the way their shoulders relaxed just a fraction when she spoke to them.
She really does buffer me from everything, I thought. No wonder the original abused that power.
My fork hovered over a piece of bread.
In the manhwa version of this scene, there'd be a panel from above: the "villainess" alone at a big table while staff orbit at a distance. The comment section would go:
"Why is she eating alone?"
"Where are the husbands?"
"Author, give her some happiness!"
I snorted.
"Well, commenters," I muttered to myself, "I'm working on it."
I took another bite of fruit.
As I chewed, a faint prickle ran along the back of my neck.
Someone was watching me.
From the side path, a blur of movement darted between the trees. Then again. And again.
Not hostile. Just… restless.
Nina returned to my side, bowing slightly. "My lady, shall I ask the guards to clear the training grounds today? If the noise is bothering you—"
"It's not the noise," I said slowly, squinting at the edge of the garden.
Leaves rustled.
Then, from behind a hedge, something exploded into view.
"ROSE!"
A tall figure launched himself into the clearing with the boundless enthusiasm of a golden retriever that just heard the word "walk."
He was broad‑shouldered and athletic, dressed in light armor and an open training jacket that showed far too many abs. Soft, sandy‑blond hair framed a tan face with bright amber eyes.
On top of his head: a pair of triangular dog ears, twitching like crazy.
Behind him: a bushy tail wagging so hard it was practically a blur.
He skidded to a stop right in front of my table, boots digging into the grass, sunlight catching on the metal badges pinned to his chest.
His eyes sparkled.
"You're up!" he grinned. "I heard you almost died last night!"
…What a way to say hello.
Nina stiffened so hard I thought she might snap in half.
"Captain Riven," she said quickly. "Please mind your—"
He waved a hand without looking at her, gaze glued to me.
"Riven Clawtail," I thought. "Royal Guard Captain. Dog husband number three."
Up close, he looked… younger than Karl and Joe. Maybe mid‑twenties, if I had to guess. But his aura was still sharp—a fighter's. Muscles honed by training, not just good genetics.
And right now, all that warrior energy was being channeled into one thing:
Me.
"Look at you," he said frankly, eyes running over my face, my hair, my dress. "Alive. Not yelling. This is so weird."
"…Hello to you too," I said dryly.
He blinked.
For a heartbeat, those amber eyes went wide. Then he grinned even wider, exposing sharp canines.
"Ohhh," he said, leaning in a little. "You're not throwing your cup at me."
"Should I?" I asked. "Is that our usual greeting?"
Nina made a tiny strangled sound.
Riven laughed. Loud, open, utterly unconcerned.
"Yesterday, you threw a pillow at my head," he said cheerfully. "Told me to 'take my flea‑ridden mutt body out of your room' unless I brought you gossip about Karl."
"…Did I?" I asked, pinching the bridge of my nose. "Sounds like me."
Original me, anyway.
Riven rocked back on his heels, tail swishing back and forth like a metronome set to "hyperactive."
"Lady Rose," Nina hissed under her breath, "Captain Riven is injured. The doctor said he shouldn't be disturbing you—"
"Injured?" I repeated, looking him up and down.
That's when I saw it. Under the open jacket, a bandage wrapped around his left side, peeking from under the straps of his armor. The faint metallic scent of blood clung to him.
Riven noticed my gaze and immediately straightened, flexing just enough to make his abs stand out.
"It's nothing," he declared proudly. "Just a scratch."
"Scratch." I raised an eyebrow. "From what? A dragon?"
"Almost," he said, clearly delighted at the idea. "A drake, actually. Your drake." He pointed a thumb over his shoulder in the direction Joe had gone. "We were training. I lost."
Of course he and Joe would be sparring like psychopaths for fun.
DING!
HUSBAND CANDIDATE DETECTED:
Riven Clawtail – Hound Tribe – Affection: 0/100
Current Status: Energetic idiot. Mildly concussed.
"Riven," I said, leaning back in my chair, "why are you here?"
He blinked again, then grinned like it should have been obvious.
"Checking on you, of course!" he said. "Karl stomped through the barracks like a thundercloud this morning, saying you nearly died and if anyone so much as breathed wrong near your room, he'd personally feed them to the lions."
He paused.
"Other lions," he clarified. "Not himself."
"…Comforting," I said flatly.
"So I came to see if you were still capable of insulting me," Riven finished brightly. "If you were too nice, I'd know you'd actually lost blood or something."
I stared at him.
If Joe's concern had been wrapped in cold steel and etiquette, Riven's was… so blunt it circled right back to being kind of pure.
"You are," I decided, "an idiot."
He beamed. "There she is."
DING—
Micro‑affection point gained.
Riven: 0 → 1
Body Stability: 34% → 35%
"…That counted?" I thought. "Me calling him an idiot?"
SYSTEM:
He likes being recognized by you.
Even as an idiot.
"I hate how that makes sense," I muttered.
Riven pulled out the chair opposite me without asking and sat down, slumping in a way that would have made any etiquette teacher faint.
Nina opened her mouth, closed it, then looked at me, clearly waiting for permission to scold him.
"It's fine," I said. "Let him."
Her eyes flicked between us, shocked, but she said nothing.
Riven leaned his elbows on the table, chin in his hand, tail still wagging.
"So," he said. "You remember who I am, right?"
I met his gaze and smiled slightly.
"Riven Clawtail," I said. "Captain of the Royal Guard. Hound Tribe. My third mistake."
His ears perked straight up, then flattened, then perked again in total confusion.
"…Third what?"
"Third husband," I corrected lightly. "Obviously."
Nina almost dropped the teapot.
Riven threw his head back and laughed again, loud and bright.
"That's better," he said. "For a second I thought your head really was damaged."
I picked up my cup and sipped my tea to hide my smile.
"So?" I tilted my head. "What's the gossip today? You know I live for your nonsense."
His grin turned sly.
"About Karl?" he asked. "Or Joe? Or Seth? Or maybe the bird is finally flying back this week—"
A sharp ping from the System cut him off in my head.
WARNING:
Information about future plot lines remains locked for 24 hours.
Attempting to recall details beyond this point may trigger feedback.
A faint ache pulsed at the base of my skull.
I winced.
"Not today," I muttered, massaging my temple. "My head already feels like it's full of spoilers with black tape over them."
Riven frowned. "Headache?"
"A little."
His expression shifted in an instant—from teasing to serious.
Without asking, he stood up and came around the table toward me.
I flinched back automatically, but he just knelt down slightly to peer at my face.
"You're pale," he said, worry plain now. "Paler than usual. Did you really almost die? Should we call the healer? Karl said you were just tired but Karl also thinks bleeding is 'just a flesh wound'."
He reached up, hand hovering near my forehead like he wanted to check my temperature but wasn't sure if he was allowed.
Old Rose would've slapped him by now for daring to touch her without invitation.
I leaned forward the tiniest bit, closing the distance.
His hand pressed gently against my forehead.
Warm.
"…No fever," he muttered. "But you look off. Different."
My heart thudded.
Does he notice? Does he know?
Riven's brows furrowed.
"You're…" he said slowly, "calmer."
He sniffed lightly, nose wrinkling. "You even smell different."
My brain: Excuse me—what—
"Less like anger and perfume," he went on bluntly. "More like… rain."
He blinked, ears flicking upright in surprise at his own words.
"Forget I said that," he added quickly, ears now pink at the tips. "That was weird. I'm blaming blood loss."
He dropped his hand and stepped back, clearing his throat.
"Anyway," he said louder, as if shouting over his own embarrassment, "if your head hurts, you shouldn't strain your eyes. Don't read. Don't deal with paperwork. Don't glare at people too hard. It'll make it worse."
…Was this dog husband giving me medical advice now?
"I'll… keep that in mind," I said.
DING—
Optional Objective Progress:
Gentle physical contact + Minor genuine concern.
Joe Affection: 1
Riven Affection: 2
Body Stability: 35% → 37%
Time remaining: 21 hours 02 minutes
I nearly choked on my tea.
"System," I hissed mentally. "Does this count toward the affection quest too?"
SYSTEM:
Yes.
You're surprisingly popular for someone everyone's terrified of.
"Don't jinx it."
"Rose?" Riven said suddenly, expression more serious than I'd seen so far.
I looked at him.
"Yes?"
He held my gaze for a long moment.
"If you feel worse," he said quietly. "If Karl isn't here. If Joe is busy killing things. If the others are being… themselves."
He scratched his cheek, ears flattening slightly.
"You can call me," he finished. "I'll come. Even if you just want someone to yell at."
Warmth pricked at the back of my eyes, sharp and unexpected.
"You're saying," I said slowly, "I can use you as a free emotional punching bag."
He bared his teeth in a grin. "Exactly."
I laughed. Really laughed.
It felt… good.
"I'll keep that in mind too," I said.
From the side, Nina watched with wide eyes, like she'd stepped into the wrong play.
In her script, Rose would be shrieking by now. Throwing knives. Threatening political ruin.
Instead, I was sharing tea and headache complaints with the royal guard captain.
The System chimed quietly.
HIDDEN SIDE QUEST PROGRESS:
"Change the Pink Fox's Image" – 2%
"'Change the Pink Fox's Image,'" I repeated in my head. "So that's on the menu too."
SYSTEM:
You can't survive in this world alone.
People's fear of Rose will kill you as surely as any enemy.
"Yeah," I thought, watching Riven flop back into his chair with zero dignity. "But maybe their affection can save me too."
I took another bite of fruit and reached for my tea.
Somewhere in the distance, horns sounded from the direction of the palace.
Riven's ears perked sharply. Nina stiffened.
I looked up.
"What was that?"
Nina's face tightened. "It's the signal for an approaching royal escort."
Riven's eyes met mine, all playfulness gone.
"That's the King's horn," he said. "Or… a Pillar returning with urgent news."
A cold weight settled in my stomach.
Karl.
War.
Plot.
…And me, right in the middle.
"Looks like breakfast is over," I murmured, setting my cup down.
I smoothed my skirt, straightened my back, and let the faintest hint of the Pink Fox's infamous smirk curve my lips.
"If the story wants to start for real," I thought, standing up, "then fine."
"I'll be ready this time."