SAFBIAN Ch 44

Chapter 44

How long had it even been since he’d resolved to treat him well if he ever found him again? He missed the time when he used to bury his nose into that sweet scent. The urge to grip the soft flesh of what was “his,” so tightly it hurt, and to thrust into him—was overwhelming.

Haban rose from his seat and approached the window.

The plants bathed in sunlight each boasted their vibrant freshness. The spring breeze carried a scent that felt almost sweet.

Come to think of it, around this time… what had he been doing with “his”?

“Nothing.”

He hadn’t even liked the idea of letting him look outside, so he had boarded up the windows and nailed them shut.

In that dark room, where not even a ray of sunlight could enter, “his” had waited all day long in silence.

Haban’s fingertips resting on the windowsill trembled faintly.

Spring was in full bloom.

Flowers blossomed across the mountains and fields, and the wind was as warm as a breath. The empire was being dyed in spring’s colors day by day.

Spring, equally gracious to all, had come to the imperial palace too. For the first time since being confined to the palace, Dori was allowed outside.

The long wall was lined with blooming flowers, and the gentle breeze softly touched everything. The weather was unmistakably spring.

Yet, Dori’s steps, trailing close behind Haban, were sluggish. His thick tail, instead of fluffing up like usual, drooped heavily.

‘…I’ve been tricked again.’

After just a few steps, Dori planted his feet and refused to move.

When the taut leash tugged backward, Haban, who had been walking slowly ahead, turned to look. His blunt voice questioned the reason.

“Why?”

Dori opened his mouth slightly and panted, tongue lolling.

“Don’t tell me you’re already tired just from walking a little.”

His eyes, as he looked down at the fox, narrowed with disdain—as if he were watching a lazy animal.

‘That’s not it.’

“Huungh, huuuung…”

Dori grumbled through the muzzle.

He was protesting because, after spending the past few days hiding in corners to avoid Haban, the palace attendants had dragged him out, clamping a leash and muzzle on him.

It was his first time wearing a muzzle, and it was itchy and stifling. It was different from the gag he had worn before—another kind of discomfort.

And since he was already outside, he wanted to look for a possible escape route—but the leash made even that difficult.

‘Take this off…’

Dori whined and shook his head.

Jingle, jingle.

The red leash connected to his collar rippled like waves several times. The shaking extended all the way to Haban’s hand at the other end.

That should’ve been clear enough, right?

Dori looked up with dewy eyes.

“Seems you’ve gotten too fat to move easily these days.”

Haban smirked as he lifted one side of his mouth in a mocking sneer.

That’s not it!

‘This! This! Or at least this one!’

In frustration, Dori pretended to take off his muzzle. He waved his front paw at the red leash, then tugged on his collar and let out a loud yelp.

But what was meant to be a little act ended up actually hurting because he pulled too hard.

“Did I tighten it too much?”

Haban muttered as if to himself, his gaze on the fox noticeably softening. Sensing an opportunity, Dori hurried up to Haban, his expectations rising.

“We’re almost at the front. Stop fussing and follow.”

But the result was cold and dismissive.

Bad Haban! Mean Haban!

He’d gotten his hopes up thinking it would be a pleasant walk, and the disappointment hit even harder. Dori snorted in frustration and stomped ahead.

The garden path was empty, with only the fox and Haban walking through it. Though Jipyeong and Shadow followed from afar, they kept enough distance that even the fox’s sensitive ears couldn’t hear them.

His fluffy white backside wiggled with every step. It would’ve been faster to carry him, but Dori thrashed every time someone touched him, so there was no helping it.

‘So temperamental, honestly.’

Haban frowned deeply.

He had only brought the fox outside because old memories had come to mind.

When he’d still been “his,” always locked in the room, he would pace around the boarded windows, desperate to catch even a glimpse of the outside. When a breeze seeped in through the narrow cracks, his ears would twitch, and his tail would wag up and down.

And now, that same fox looked utterly disinterested.

He’d thought maybe if he treated him well, the wariness might ease—but it had been a pointless gesture.

Of course, he had let the fox roam freely inside for a while, but now had strapped a muzzle and leash on him again—so the complaints were understandable.

Still, Haban couldn’t allow the creature to run around freely in an open garden like this.

That long, snowy-white hair.

Haban’s gaze was filled with suspicion as he looked down at the fox. Dori kept stopping every few steps to paw at the muzzle.

“I’m sure the eunuchs prepared snacks too.”

At those words, Dori’s ears perked up. His previously sluggish steps became noticeably lighter.

As if to say, “What are you waiting for?” Dori turned back briefly. His fluffy tail swayed energetically over his plump backside.

‘Who did he take after to be such a glutton?’

He ate three full meals a day plus snacks, yet he still got distracted by food whenever he had the chance.

Haban almost wanted to take the snacks away just to spite him, but he didn’t want to see tears streaming from those disappointed eyes again.

Haban and the fox passed through the entrance.

The rear garden, where they had come for a walk, was filled with blooming flowers and a sweet fragrance in the air. The fox, quickly cheered up, lifted his tail high as he took in the view of flowers to his left and right.

“Kaeng!”

As he dashed forward without thinking, the leash pulled taut and yanked him back. His eyes, turned toward Haban, were filled with resentment.

“You act carelessly and then blame me?”

Really, he was becoming more insolent by the day.

Every time the fox glanced back at something, Haban gave a tug to the leash, forcing him to look forward. He didn’t like seeing anything reflected in those glossy golden eyes besides himself.

Dori continued walking, thudding his paws on the neatly paved path, constantly glancing around. Though he kept yelping every time his collar tugged at his neck, Haban would slightly loosen the leash each time.

‘If you’re going to do that, then stop pulling in the first place!’

Dori grumbled and finally hopped up into the pavilion. Only then did Haban remove the muzzle.

In the pavilion, a tray of refreshments and two cushions had been neatly prepared. A tall, narrow jar likely contained liquor, and a variety of small treats like rice cakes and yakgwa were arranged delicately.

But what caught Dori’s attention the most was a large, ripe persimmon, even bigger than a fist.

“Kaaang!”

Dori quickly climbed onto the cushion and urged Haban. If the snacks were this good, he should’ve said so earlier! So much time had been wasted.

With his heart pounding, Dori whimpered with excitement.

A cool, ripe persimmon—hard to come by this season. The very same kind he once snuck from the red fox village and got locked in a storage room for. And now, there it was, emitting a chill as it sat on the plate.

“You know what’s yours with uncanny precision.”

Haban sat beside him and picked up a small spoon. As he scooped along the peeled persimmon’s surface, the soft flesh came away in a large chunk.

Dori eagerly lapped up every piece Haban offered. The soft, juicy texture filled his mouth with cool sweetness.

‘Ahh! It’s so delicious!’

Dori stomped his feet in delight. With his mouth wide open, accepting spoonful after spoonful, the two large persimmons vanished in no time.

Satisfied, Dori licked around his mouth. His tail swayed gently, reflecting his mood. Haban let out a quiet laugh as he watched the fox.

Then, Dori stood up, grabbed his cushion with his teeth, and dragged it a little farther away before plopping back down on it. With a blank expression, he tilted his head. After accepting the persimmons so sweetly, he had immediately distanced himself again.

Whatever he was sulking about now, Haban couldn’t scold him without restraint—not after finding that long white hair on the bed.

“He said no one has been coming in or out.”

He had checked among the older palace attendants, suspecting one of them, but they all claimed ignorance and shook their heads.

There were only a set number of attendants assigned to clean the fox’s room, and they were all young. It wasn’t thread or fiber pulled from fabric either. It had a far smoother, stronger texture. It was definitely a hair.

Haban slowly tilted the small bottle of liquor. The scent reached Dori, and his nose twitched.

The sip Haban took released a strong chrysanthemum fragrance. It was last year’s brew, just opened and strained through a mesh. With each sip, the scent spread across the entire mouth.

“This isn’t for you, so stop drooling.”

Haban chided the fox as he picked up the bottle again.

Dori gulped and scratched his cheek, startled. He’d never tasted alcohol before and was only curious—he hadn’t expected to get caught so quickly.

He turned his head away, pretending to look elsewhere. But his eyes kept drifting back toward the large hand cradling the wine cup.

‘Hooo…!’

The curved rim touched the corner of his lips, then his lips formed a graceful arc, and his Adam’s apple moved slowly up and down. He looked so mature. Even the way he silently set the empty cup down was stylish.

As Haban poured himself a second cup and drank, Dori mimicked the motion with his snout.

‘I wonder what that tastes like…?’

People always said alcohol was bitter like life itself—was that true? But it smelled so good. And this was imperial liquor, no less. Something he’d never taste in the real world.

As Dori wrestled with his curiosity, Haban leaned against the pavilion railing and gazed out. His cup, newly filled, shimmered with liquor.

Dori licked his lips with a soft flick of his tongue.