SAFBIAN Ch 53

Chapter 53

The orphanage where he grew up was far removed from the city center.

The land was cheap, and as such, a mountain stood right in front of it. Perhaps because of that, people would often come to observe the sky.

Those climbing the mountain with large equipment wore expressions filled with excitement and smiles. And the director’s son took advantage of the sympathy of such carefree people.

Just like the greedy director who embezzled government subsidies, his son was quick-witted and calculating.

“It’s all your fault our family is poor, you damn brats! So you better earn your keep!”

At the time, Dori was nearly old enough to leave the orphanage and was working night shifts at the director’s command, so he didn’t know. But it was mostly the weak or younger children who were pushed out.

The children were forced to stand at the entrance of the hiking trail, begging while selling gum and candy to visitors, and all the money they earned was snatched away by the director’s son.

Later, Dori found out and secretly reported it to the police.

“What? You reported someone? After everything we’ve done to feed and clothe you, you ungrateful little bastard!”

The director had close ties with the police. Dori was bombarded with all kinds of verbal abuse and was beaten with the director’s fists and kicks fueled by rage.

That night, he was chased out and aimlessly climbed the mountain.

It was an exceptionally clear summer night, with a Milky Way that looked like it was pouring down from the sky.

The sky he had seen while sitting on a rock in the wide open space that day was now unfolding before his eyes again.

‘I almost missed seeing something that beautiful.’

Had he missed it, he might have felt a bit regretful.

‘How did he know?’

That he always looked for stars when he was tired or feeling down.

Even in the imperial palace, at night, he would occasionally glance out the window and look up at the sky…

But, with assassins showing up every night, he was too busy hiding in tents to have had a chance to see anything.

Even just last night, hadn’t he been curled up inside a crate, trembling until Haban found him?

“…Were you scared?”

As he continued looking up at the sky, a gentle voice came from beside him.

“With how cowardly you are, why did you even follow me? You could’ve just waited quietly at the palace.”

It sounded like a reproach at first, but it wasn’t sharply critical. Rather, it felt like he was coaxing and comforting him, asking if he had been frightened.

‘He sounds like someone who was worried…’

Dori subtly buried his nose in the blanket.

Then Haban spoke again.

“Next time…”

He drew out the words slowly, as if debating something important. Dori kept his eyes fixed on the sky and waited for him to continue.

“Yes, it would be nice to go see the sea. You grew up in the mountains, so you wouldn’t know.”

‘The sea?’

His head turned reflexively. Haban, who seemed to have not taken his eyes off Dori, curved his lips in a slight smile.

“The sky you’re looking at now—imagine that spread across the ground. An endless expanse of water, with waves constantly rolling in and out. You’ll even see birds different from those in the mountains.”

‘Is he… describing the ocean to me?’

In such a soft voice?

“It’s better to see something once than to hear about it many times, so I’ll take you next time.”

…Why?

Right now, in his eyes, I should be nothing more than a fox.

The word “next time,” which Haban had spoken so casually, clattered inside Dori’s heart like a small stone. Dori, who had only been thinking about saving him and escaping, suddenly felt heavy-hearted.

If only he had remained cold and fearsome, like in the original novel. Then maybe I could have steeled my heart.

Since possessing this novel, the Haban that Dori encountered had been increasingly different from the one he knew. For some reason, Dori grew sullen, and the fox’s head drooped lower.

Haban slowly stroked Dori’s head. As his fingers slid through the soft fur, it felt even smoother than before.

Why was something this simple so hard to do for “his own”?

The regret lingered in his mouth like bitterness.

“Your Majesty, let us go in now. The wind is cold.”

Standing back, keeping watch nearby, Jipyeong quietly advised Haban, who stood in the night wind without even an outer cloak.

With dawn still far off, the wind blowing down the mountain crept through collars and lowered their body heat. The hand Haban used to stroke the fox was also growing cold.

Even before sunrise, the camp was already buzzing with noise.

‘Why is everyone getting ready so early today? Are we already departing?’

Still tired from walking through the night’s dew, Dori groaned as he woke up. The space beside him was cool—Haban must have left long ago. Or perhaps, he hadn’t even slept.

‘Ugh, whatever.’

The fox that stepped out of the tent looked even more disheveled and scruffy than the day before.

With eyes only half-open from drowsiness, he yawned widely, and everyone who saw his appearance struggled to hold back their laughter, their cheeks twitching. Dori deliberately ignored their stares.

While he sat quietly eating breakfast and watching the surroundings, the tents were swiftly packed away and fires extinguished. The efficiency in clearing the area had improved significantly in just one day.

The guards and soldiers, discarding most of their baggage and taking only essentials, were already mounted and ready to move.

Of course, it wasn’t just the people who needed to ride.

“Come here.”

Haban gestured with a flick of his hand.

Dori looked at the palm he extended, then slowly lowered his body and hesitantly stepped back. It wasn’t because of Haban—it was the fear of the unfamiliar situation ahead.

“It’s alright. Come on.”

Haban wasn’t alone now. Dori slowly looked up from the long legs of the beast standing beside him.

A massive, muscular body many times his size, with a glossy black mane. Snort—the black stallion under Haban’s reins blew out through its nose, as if wondering what Dori was staring at. Its arrogance was palpable.

‘They say prized horses have bad tempers. Looks like it’s true. Of course, not just anyone can ride a horse like that. If only the emperor can ride it, it must be proud as hell.’

The black horse rubbed its face against Haban’s stroking hand with pleasure but then lightly stamped the ground and snorted again, as if to say, “I really don’t want to carry someone like you.”

If Haban weren’t holding the reins, it seemed likely the horse would kick Dori away with its hind legs and feign innocence.

Dori took another step back.

‘We’re going to ride that together? No matter how I look at it, the moment I get on, it’s going to shake and toss me off. If I have to ride a horse, does it have to be that one? I’d rather take another…’

In truth, Dori liked the quiet, beautiful white horse Jipyeong was riding. Or even the brown horse a nearby soldier was on.

But every horse that made eye contact with the fox seemed uneasy, stamping their feet nervously. Even if they were smaller, a predator was still a predator. None of them wanted to carry a fox on their back.

Dori looked on wistfully and turned his head to the opposite direction—

—but before he could turn fully, the scruff of his neck was suddenly grabbed. Before he could even yelp, he was lifted into Haban’s arms and plopped onto the horse.

Snort. The black horse blew out its breath in protest, but that was all. Strangely enough, it obeyed quietly as Haban stroked its back.

‘Hoo. It really is a smart horse.’

Once confident he wouldn’t fall, Dori’s eyes sparkled. The unfamiliar feeling of sitting on a horse and the elevated view made him look around curiously.

Meanwhile, Haban wrapped a thin strap around Dori’s body, tugged to check its firmness, and then spoke.

“You don’t remember, but this is the same horse that carried you before.”

‘Me? When?’

“You passed out just from a snake bite, so I suppose it’s natural you wouldn’t know.”

Ah. That time.

Dori, embarrassed, rubbed his nose with his paw.

As Haban pulled the reins, the horse began to walk slowly. But as soon as it took a few steps, Dori wobbled on top, and Haban pulled the fox close to his chest and belly.

With his butt pressed firmly between Haban’s strong thighs, it was embarrassing. Dori awkwardly turned his head.

‘…Huh?’

For the third time now, a soldier met Dori’s eyes and scowled. At first, Dori thought it was a coincidence, but the soldier quickly averted his gaze. It wasn’t a mistake. He had definitely been looking this way.

‘It’s been a while since I felt this—someone clearly disliking me.’

Come to think of it, in the original novel, the soldiers and Haban’s guards viewed Dori with suspicion because of his unusual appearance. While the palace staff bullied him outright, the guards belittled him subtly with rough words and intimidating gestures.

But ever since I possessed this body, I’d remained in the palace as a fox.

And I was, no less, the emperor’s pet. Even if they didn’t show affection or kindness, I was never mistreated the way I was in the original story.

But that one soldier alone always looked at me with disdain. Whenever I was in Haban’s arms and felt a hostile gaze from somewhere, it was always that soldier.

‘Why are you glaring at me again! I don’t like you either!’

Dori, growing a little indignant, glared at the back of the soldier’s head. Since the man was riding ahead of Haban, it was the perfect angle for a stare-off.

Just then, still holding Dori close, Haban gradually increased the pace. The sound of hooves behind grew louder.

Riding a galloping horse was completely different from sitting in a carriage. With each gust of wind, the scenery flew past in a blur.

Though Haban held him firmly, the constant jostling on the horse made Dori uneasy.

‘Ugh. I feel like I’m going to die.’

Eventually, Dori couldn’t endure it any longer and slumped limply.

‘How many days are we going to keep going like this?’

Sagging like dough, Dori leaned into Haban, completely dependent on him.

Riding all day was no easy task. After just one day, his bones felt shaken and his whole body ached like he had the flu.

But more worrying than himself was Haban.