SAFBIAN Ch 66

Chapter 66

His expression was colder than the midwinter wind. With his ornate robes fluttering, he approached with a straight, purposeful stride.

It was Haban, his face stiff and devoid of even a hint of a smile.

Trailing behind him were Geumhu, who looked as if he would collapse any moment from exhaustion, and Jipyeong, whose shoulders drooped just as much.

‘…Why is he angry?’

Had they wandered around too long?

Dori, who had once been scolded for watching Haban at the training grounds, instinctively sat on his haunches and tilted his head.

“Oh dear.”

At that, Yungak scratched beneath his eye awkwardly. Haban, now close, gently nudged the white fox’s rump with his toe and stepped in front of him.

“…Brother.”

“What are you doing here?”

“I felt stiff from sitting at my desk for days on end, so I came out for a short walk. I was about to return soon anyway.”

“I instructed you to stay confined to your quarters and reflect on having been carried in drunk from outside the palace.”

“I truly intended to stroll just briefly before heading back…”

“The lesson is about to begin. Your master has already been seated there for over an hour, and here you are, leisurely taking a walk.”

“…”

Yungak, who had been replying nonchalantly, finally lowered his gaze. Then, seeing the fox’s tail weakly swaying beneath Haban’s robes, he clicked his tongue in regret.

Haban watched Yungak’s gaze directed at the fox, narrowing his brows as if assessing something.

Just earlier, the shadow assassin he had left on the fox had sent word in haste. Among those stationed at each palace and residence as mere decoys were individuals who relayed messages to Haban upon receiving notes or signals.

As soon as he heard someone had approached the fox, Haban immediately left his office. When he was told it was Yungak, his steps quickened rather than slowed.

He had abandoned his petitions mid-review, so it was only natural that Geumhu and Jipyeong had followed. The palace attendants trailing behind had stepped back upon spotting the fox ahead.

The fox had the bad habit of turning his head and fixing his gaze on just anyone.

In any case, thanks to that, Haban’s mood was quite foul.

Afterward, the fox returned to the residence cradled in Haban’s arms, and Haewon came running as if rolling on the ground. The fox had gone out without eating lunch and hadn’t returned, so he’d been pacing around anxiously.

Instead of setting the fox down, Haban sat in a chair and placed the fox on his lap.

Whether the fox noticed that his soiled paws were leaving dirty prints all over the emperor’s precious robes or not, he busied himself scanning the room.

‘…W-what is this?’

Dori’s eyes went wide.

All the fox’s personal blankets and cushions, usually stored in the paulownia cabinet, had been taken out, and the drawers had been completely emptied, as if their contents had been packed away.

‘Am I… being kicked out?’

It looked exactly like moving day.

Geuman, who had been scurrying around busily, suddenly came to a halt. Dori, startled, sprang up and leapt from Haban’s lap.

‘My bundle!’

His precious bundle, a literal trove of gold, jade, and other treasures tied together, lay spread out in the corner.

Dori flung himself over it, curling up tightly and even wrapping his tail around himself—but it wasn’t enough.

“…Oh my!”

A court attendant, who had approached to pack the items, stopped abruptly and stepped back.

“Kang!”

‘No!’

Dori flattened his ears against his head, signaling a warning to stay away.

“Leave it. That can be done later.”

Haban dismissed the attendant, but his words—later—stuck with Dori.

That meant they would take it all.

“…Hwoong, hwoong.”

Dori, his eyes glistening with sorrow, looked back at Haban. …No, that’s not what you meant, right?

But what came was even more heartless.

“Are you not getting in their way? They can’t work while you’re like this, so come over here now.”

Flick. Dori flicked his ears once.

“You’re being stubborn again. They’ll pack it all properly for you anyway.”

Still glaring at Haban with fiery eyes, Dori lay on top of the gold and jade and buried his snout into his curled-up tail.

‘…I don’t believe you.’

Back in the Red Fox Village, Wonwoo had taken his belongings once. Even the few things he’d managed to keep had been lost tumbling down the mountain. Not long ago, Jipyeong had taken something from his waistband and hadn’t returned it either.

Dori kept his ears upright, relying only on sound to stay alert, determined to protect the precious treasures under his belly.

“Kaaang! Kaaang!”

In the end, Haban picked the fox up.

He flailed all four legs in protest, but since the court attendants couldn’t approach him while he was guarding the bundle, and the move had to proceed, there was no helping it.

“Kk-kuu…”

Tears began to well in the fox’s golden eyes, and with each blink, they trickled down. Soon, the fox started sobbing.

‘He says it all belongs to him, but why is he being so greedy?’

Haban held the fox snugly to ensure he wouldn’t fall. Yet the timid creature dared to paw at the emperor’s chest, as if knocking with tiny fists.

“…Kaang.”

That small gesture felt like resentment.

To avoid anyone witnessing the fox’s actions and misunderstanding, Haban carried him to the bed and drew the curtains closed.

Once seated on the soft surface, the sulking fox immediately got up and moved to a corner where he lay down with his back turned in protest.

“Do you not trust my words?”

“…Sniff.”

Haban pulled the stubborn fox toward him. When the fox’s back touched his thigh, he opened his mouth wide to stop Haban from touching his tail.

Such a small body yet so full of energy.

‘The new palace even has a small backyard perfect for him to frolic in. I’m glad. For now, I’ll leave the garden as is, and later I’ll decorate it however he wants—of course, he’ll need to be in human form for that.’

He was sensitive to heat, so it would be good to build a shaded area with a small table beneath it.

Haban imagined drinking tea there with his own.

‘Will he stick out his tongue again, saying it tastes bad like he does now?’

Somehow, he doubted that would change.

Haban looked down at the fox curled up like a coiled spring and pulled a blanket over him.

He deliberately covered even the fox’s head, prompting the fox to shake it off. It was getting warmer now, so the blanket was too thick to use.

‘Stop that!’

Dori grew irritable.

Eventually, unable to contain his anger, he sprang up and lunged at Haban. He bit his sleeve and thumped his thighs with both forepaws.

When Haban tried to pat the back of his head, Dori backed away, then pounced again like a predator hunting prey hidden in the snow.

‘…?’

After venting for some time, the residence grew quiet.

Dori cautiously released the sleeve he’d been biting hard. Just as he peeked out from beneath the curtain, Haban lifted it and said,

“Looks like they’re finished preparing.”

‘Preparing?’

No way…!

Geuman hurriedly scanned the room.

All the drawers had been returned to their places, and the open cabinets and wardrobes were securely shut.

But Dori checked something far more important—the spot where his bundle of precious treasures had been.

…Gone!

Thud.

The fox plopped down on his rump in despair.

Haban’s fleeting smile vanished, and he stroked the fox’s back.

“Did you know?”

The fox, eyes downcast like he was being summoned, turned to look.

“The imperial palace, including the empress’s palace and the concubines’ quarters, has long been empty.”

“…”

“But now, for the first time, its gates open to welcome a new owner.”

The emperor’s palace and the empress’s stood side by side, like husband and wife. Beside them, the concubines’ residences lined up according to rank.

Haban had chosen the closest of these. A grand and splendid palace with not just annexes, but a garden and a rear courtyard.

“I’ll wait, so it’s time we head out.”

“Kaaanng!”

‘Fine, but give me my bundle first!’

Dori grew desperate, worried Haban would leave without him. Thankfully, Haban did not go alone—he took Dori along.

Even nestled in his arms, Dori whimpered anxiously. When Haban adjusted his hold, Dori pressed his belly to the emperor’s chest and tensed his hind legs.

Haban chuckled in disbelief and gently smoothed the fur of the fox clinging desperately from shoulder to belly.

Before long, Dori arrived at an unfamiliar place. Haban set him down, and he blinked wide-eyed in bewilderment.

‘…Wh-what is all this?’

Numerous court attendants lay prostrate on the floor, and only Haewon stood upright with squared shoulders.

Though Haewon too should have bowed, Haban had instructed him not to, fearing what unpredictable act the startled fox might perform.

‘Why is the atmosphere… like this?’

Dori soon shook himself off and stood.

As Haban remained at his post, Haewon eagerly approached and whispered, unprompted.

“What do you think? Isn’t it amazing? I was surprised too. I heard His Majesty was going to grant you a palace, but I didn’t think it would be this one. Isn’t it incredible?”

Just as he said, a single glance revealed how large it was.

Dori now remembered Haban’s promise to gift him a palace. He had been so focused on finding escape routes that he had completely forgotten.

“…Kaang.”

Dori sidled up to Haban as if he’d never been angry. Then, with his forepaws, he tapped and rubbed against Haban’s leather shoes. …He had enough tact for that much.

Afterward, Dori grew so excited that he eagerly explored the building. Unlike before, it wasn’t just a room—an entire building divided into sections was now his residence.

Amazingly, not just the building, but even the surrounding annexes were included.

As the fox walked, wagging his tail and twitching his ears in delight, Haewon chased after him in a rush. When they entered what appeared to be the bedchamber, a gift-like object sat atop the central table.

“Want to see? His Majesty gave it to you.”

‘…!’

And the moment Haewon unfolded the neatly folded cloth, Dori froze, unable to move a muscle.