Violet woke up with a jolt.
From the depths of her sleep, a sound had reached her.
An unusual one.
Mfmfmfmfmf pssssssss.
No, that wasn't it…
Looking around the room, she saw Nainai lying in his bed, peacefully sleeping under the blankets, snoring softly.
No—this sound was coming from somewhere else.
She heard it again, louder this time.
…Is that coming from outside?
Violet got out of bed, slipped on her robe, and walked to the window, staring at the empty, dark courtyard in front of the inn.
Silence… then again.
The sound reminded her of a hammer hitting wood.
"This time I heard it!"
Leaning out farther, she caught something at the edge of her vision.
A tall figure was standing on a stool just outside the inn, fiddling with something.
The sign!
"Hey you! Thief! Stop that right now!"
A startled shout, then a thud.
The man had fallen.
Violet turned around, rushed to the bed, shoved on her shoes, and grabbed her staff.
She dashed out of the room, ran down the stairs, crossed the common room, and threw herself outside.
The sign… was gone!
Then she heard it again: wood striking stone, followed by the sound of quick footsteps running away.
Violet sprinted after it, following the sound, trying to track its source in the darkness.
In the distance, a figure was moving fast; in his hands, a stool. Under his arm… the sign.
"Stop!"
Chasing after the figure, Violet dove into the dark alleys, following the noise ahead of her.
She stopped to listen—there was nothing.
Tak… tak… tak…
The man had started walking slowly again.
Violet turned. The sound echoing through the alley seemed to come from behind her.
No—from ahead.
Tak… tak… tak-tak-tak.
Violet spun several times, unable to pinpoint the direction.
Suddenly—a shadow.
A figure passed in front of a doorway lit by a small lamp.
Long red ears.
A long tail of the same color, tipped in white.
Violet immediately recognized the person who had snatched the mission notice from under her nose at the Guild.
"Stop! I saw you! You're a fox-man! You can't escape me now!"
The figure turned toward Violet, freezing for a brief instant.
Then, snapping out of his fright, he bolted down the alley at full speed.
"Stop, you sly fox! I recognized you!"
Oink oink oink.
…A grunt?
"It's useless trying to fool me! I've got you now!"
Violet chased the fox-man until the alley opened into a wider street. She had finally caught up to him.
The man turned for a moment to see who was on his heels.
That was his mistake.
The thief tripped over his own robe, flipped forward, and crashed violently onto the ground.
Violet, satisfied with the spectacle, caught up to the scoundrel.
He had fallen badly, and the stool had slipped from his hands, smacking him right on the head.
The sign, however, was still clutched tightly in his grip.
"Drop the sign, thief!"
"Aaaahhh! No! Don't kill me!"
Violet stared at him.
His clothes were embroidered and loose, with sashes tied around the waist.
Around his neck hung a necklace of large white pearls, as pure as his hair and his ruby-colored eyes.
He looked young and handsome, with an almost scholarly air about him.
Soft fabrics, silk belts, and on his feet a pair of painted wooden geta decorated with tiny blue flowers.
Who steals signs while wearing festival shoes?
"You're the one who keeps stealing the inn's signs!" Violet stepped toward him, threatening. "Tell me why, or I'll turn you into dust!"
Violet stretched out her arm, pointing her staff directly at his face.
"No! Please, don't hurt me… I can explain!"
Violet could tell he didn't seem dangerous. His clothes and demeanor suggested anything but a criminal.
But she had seen him dismantling the sign with her own eyes, and she wanted answers.
"I'm listening…"
Groaning from the fall, the man slowly got back to his feet, adjusting his clothes.
"If you don't mind… I live nearby. If you follow me, I promise I'll answer all of your questions."
Violet kept her glare fixed on him.
She didn't trust him—but she doubted this fox-man could suddenly turn into a fearsome opponent.
"Fine. Lead the way."
The therian collected the stool and the sign, then hobbled down the street with an obvious limp.
Violet followed at a distance, her staff clenched tightly in her hand, ready for anything.
Soon they reached an area she had never seen before.
The street was wide and well-maintained, and the houses—or rather, the mansions—were large, each surrounded by tall walls.
After a short walk, the thief stopped at a half-open gate and slipped inside, motioning for Violet to follow.
"Please, come in."
Violet stepped forward through the entrance—and stopped, mouth falling open.
She found herself in a stunning, meticulously maintained garden. A narrow stream ran through it, where large red and white fish swam peacefully. Every element, from the tallest plant to the tiniest flower, looked intentionally placed, arranged to paint a perfect picture.
"This way."
Still distracted by the scenery, Violet followed the fox-man along a narrow path covered in fine, pale gravel until they reached the residence.
…He's filthy rich!!!
Once inside, the fox-man led her to a room enclosed by a folding door made of wooden lattice, filled with small squares of thin paper.
The interior was elegantly furnished with dark, antique-looking furniture.
The floor was covered in rectangular mats of woven straw—soft, yet firm as wood.
On a low table, several small lanterns floated gently in a bowl of water, casting a warm glow across the room.
Violet took a seat at the low table, settling onto a cushion embroidered with golden patterns.
The man, who had stepped away for a moment, returned carrying a tray with a porcelain tea set.
Sitting down at the table, he arranged everything with slow, elegant movements, then filled Violet's cup and gestured for her to help herself.
"My name is Fuyoro. It is an honor to make your acquaintance."
The girl, still captivated by the beauty of the room, answered briefly.
"…Violet."
"Well then, Violet. I'm sorry for having forced you into a chase in the middle of the night."
The fox-man's face relaxed, and his tone grew more serious, almost friendly.
Violet looked at him, puzzled, unsure of what to expect.
Fuyoro lifted his cup with both hands and took a small sip.
Violet pressed him.
"I'm curious. Explain to me why a fox-man with such a noble look is sneaking around stealing signs from a little inn in the middle of the night."
Fuyoro flinched slightly and turned his gaze toward the garden.
Violet did the same, wondering what on earth he could be looking at.
"Well, Violet…" The fox sighed deeply.
"This is the only way I have to be noticed by her."
"Her who?" Violet sipped the exquisite infusion, half-distracted.
"Her… the sweet girl at the inn. I mean little Mela."
Violet, absorbed in the deep flavor of the tea, took a moment to process it.
"Mela… Mela…"
…What???
Violet jerked upright, choking on the tea and spitting it across the table.
"So you're—"
Fuyoro, still staring outside, mesmerized by the small white petals drifting in the wind, continued his explanation.
"You see… those signs… they carry her scent."
Violet was trying to wipe up the spilled tea, barely paying attention.
Then suddenly, she shot to her feet.
"You… PERVERT!"
Violet stood pointing a finger at the fox-man, her expression twisted in disgust.
Fuyoro didn't move. He didn't even change expression.
He kept staring into the void as if watching a sunset no one else could see.
"It's not what you think…" he murmured in a low voice, before adding:
"It is… pure."
Violet looked around, as if searching for a witness.
"You steal wooden signs just because they smell like her, and then you talk about purity?!"
Fuyoro nodded slowly.
"When I hold them… it feels as though she's right there. As if she were lovingly yelling at me."
A long silence.
Then Violet dragged a hand down her face.
Fuyoro turned toward her for the first time, his gaze sincere.
"Love takes mysterious forms, Violet."
Her reaction was immediate and loud.
"Yeah. And yours happens to be a crime!"
Violet was beside herself.
She genuinely wanted to report him to the guards—but the deeply sorrowful look on the therian's face made her hesitate.
She sat back down, composed, and continued sipping her tea.
"Have you ever actually tried talking to her?"
Fuyoro's ears drooped, his expression going blank.
"Many times…"
"And how did it go?"
The conversation was taking a very entertaining turn.
"Well… she doesn't want to talk to me.
She doesn't want to see me.
She won't even let me get close…"
"And why?"
Her curiosity had turned into shameless gossip.
"Because of my scent."
"Your… scent?" Violet didn't understand.
"Yes. She says I smell. That I smell like a fox…"
Pffff—
Violet forced herself to swallow the laugh exploding in her throat.
"Ahem…" She cleared her voice.
"Well, that is quite a problem… You are a fox!"
"Yes, I know…"
Fuyoro clutched his hands to his chest.
"I use herbal bath salts! Flower-petal essences! Once, I even scrubbed myself with a black-charcoal soap that burned all my fur!"
Violet stared at him with a blank expression, struggling not to crack.
"And yet every time I go near Mela, she makes… that face."
Violet listened, eyes wide, expression flat.
"I see. Well, you could always try something else. Something heartfelt… like a gesture."
Fuyoro brightened instantly.
"You mean… a gift?"
"Well, yes, maybe a piece of jewelry, or a nice dress, or maybe—"
"A poem!"
Those words echoed in Violet's head like the clang of a cracked bell.
Violet shot to her feet.
"Enough! I give up. Anyway—the signs!"
"Oh yes, of course!"
Fuyoro stood and led Violet to a side room, sliding open a small door that disappeared into the wall.
Inside, stacked in messy piles, were all the signs the scoundrel had stolen over the years.
What…? How many are there?! This guy is completely insane!
Violet nearly had another breakdown at the sight, but decided to let it slide.
After all, she was a guest.
Examining the plaques, she chose the one that had been preserved the best and tucked it under her arm.
"Well then, I'll be going… take care."
Fuyoro walked her to the entrance and, after bowing, rushed back inside, brandishing a sheet of paper and a brush, immediately beginning to write.
Violet crossed the garden and stepped out through the gate, finding herself back on the street.
Unbelievable. What a type… I really have ended up in a cage full of lunatics…
The sun was beginning to peek over the horizon, pushing back the darkness as Violet retraced her steps.
Around her, the city slowly started to wake up.
When she finally reached the inn, with the sun already high, she saw Mela outside, staring miserably at the spot where the sign had hung the night before.
The girl looked on the verge of tears.
Violet approached until Mela noticed her and burst into words.
"Violet!" Mela looked confused.
"You're just getting back? Where were you? Did you go out on some kind of night mission?"
Violet simply handed her the plaque.
"Here. Your sign…"
Mela's eyes lit up.
"Is that my sign? You brought it back? You found the thief??"
Violet nodded.
"Oh, thank youuuuu!!!"
Mela instinctively threw her arms around Violet's neck, squeezing hard enough to almost snap it.
"Thank you, Violet! I'm so happy… sniff sniff…"
Mela suddenly jumped back.
"What is that smell? Did you fall into a chicken coop??"
Violet sighed.
"It's too long a story… and I'm too tired. I'm going to bed. Wake me when lunch is ready."
"…O-okay…"
Mela watched her leave, then turned her attention to the plaque in her hands.
"Now I'll put you right back where you belong!"
As Violet climbed the stairs inside, she thought about poor Fuyoro.
It's true Mela can't stand his smell… Well, it's none of my business anyway…
Back in her room, Violet found Nainai waiting, his expression worried. She walked over to him.
"Sorry, Nainai. You have no idea what kind of night I've had. I'll explain everything when I wake up."
Violet gave the dwarf a quick stroke on the cheek, then, with heavy steps, dropped onto the bed without even bothering to get undressed.