Raising Beast Cubs to Find a Husband novel Chapter 3

Chapter 3: Hijacking the Normal Mode Heroine’s Rescue Scene.

Aunt Petunia shoved a small, insulting-ly light bag of coins into my hand, and I was on the next carriage to the capital before they could change their minds.

The journey was long, cold, and bumpy. I spent it cataloging every scrap of meta-knowledge I had from `Beastly B.A.D.s`. The Bad End was marriage to Marquis Grieve, and that ticking clock was my only motivation. My plan was to open a Daycare. But I had no shop, no reputation, and not nearly enough money.

About two hours from the capital, the carriage jolted to a halt.

"Thugs!" the driver yelled. "Everyone, stay put!"

I peeked out the window. You have got to be kidding me.

A smaller, much fancier carriage ahead of us was stopped. Two burly, boar-kin thugs were trying to wrench the door open, while a third was harassing the driver.

This isn’t my business, this isn’t my business, this isn’t my...

The carriage door flew open, and a girl tumbled out. She had a cascade of the palest lilac-colored hair and wide, terrified olive-green eyes.

I froze. I know her.

That was Luna. The Normal Mode heroine. A wealthy merchant’s daughter, known for being kind, timid, and... a Bunny-kin.

My brain, which was great at pattern recognition, immediately identified this scene. This was an Event Flag. This was the exact scene where the heroine was supposed to trapped by thugs, right before General Rajah Khanda made his grand, heroic entrance, saved Luna, and kicked off his romance route.

I looked around. No Tiger General. Just me, a failed Fox-kin, and a bunch of very real, very armed thugs.

Oh, for...

I wasn’t the Easy Mode heroine, and I definitely wasn’t a Capture Target, but I was a chef.

I rummaged in the small satchel I’d packed with my only worldly possessions: a change of clothes and three jars of high-grade spices I’d stolen from Aunt Petunia’s pantry.

"Hey!" one of the thugs shouted, finally noticing my carriage. "Looks like we’ve got two!"

I yanked the lid off the Dragon’s Breath chili-pepper blend. ’How do I know these ingredients? I have played this game multiple times.’

"You’re afraid of a fox?" I yelled at Luna, trying to get her attention. She was frozen in terror. "Get ready to run!"

The thug lunged for me. I wound up and threw the entire jar of spice-powder right in his face.

His scream was glorious.

"MY EYES! IT BURNS!"

"That’s high-grade capsaicin, you uncultured swine!" I shrieked, grabbing Luna’s hand. "RUN!"

We bolted into the woods as the other two thugs tried to help their screaming, blinded companion. We didn’t stop until we were safely back on the main road, miles ahead.

Luna’s grateful (and very wealthy) merchant-family carriage found us an hour later. Her father was so relieved he was practically weeping.

"You saved her! A... a Fox-kin, saving a... a Bunny?" he stammered. "My dear, how can we ever repay you?"

Well, since you asked...

"I’m actually looking to rent a small shop in the capital," I said, trying to sound professional. "To start a... a culinary business."

Luna’s father beamed. "It’s fate! We own a small property, a former bakery, in the common district! We’ve been looking for a tenant! It’s yours, rent-free for a year. It’s the least we can do!"

I could have kissed him.

"Oh, that’s wonderful!" Luna chimed in, finally over her fear of me. "It’s the little building right across the street from our family’s home!"

Of course it is. This was an Otome game, after all. The plot convenience was always dialed up to 11.

---

One Week Later

My business was a total, unmitigated disaster.

The Daycare was officially open. I’d scrubbed the former bakery until it shone. I’d made sample Calming Lavender & Honey Biscuits. I’d even hung up a terribly-drawn sign of a smiling wolf cub and a happy panther cub.

No one came.

Not a single customer. Not one problem cub.

It turns out daycare isn’t a concept here. Nobles have nannies. Commoners watch their own kids. My brilliant plan to capture the B.A.D.s was failing because I couldn’t even get them in the door.

I was sweeping the empty shop for the tenth time that day when a knock came.

It was Luna, a bright smile on her face. "Hi, Primrose! I just wanted to see how..."

A tiny hand grabbed her skirt, and a mini-Luna peeked out. Same lilac hair, same olive eyes.

"And who is this?" I asked, my heart suddenly beating faster.

"This is my little sister, Clover," Luna sighed, pulling her forward. "She’s a darling, but... she’s a terror. My parents are at the merchant guild, and she’s already driven off two nannies this week. She’s the pickiest eater in the entire capital."

I looked at Clover. Clover looked at me.

I looked at Luna.

A picky eater. A cub-aged child. A proof of concept.

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