SAFBIAN Ch 86

Chapter 86

 

‘…A fox?’

 

Even without the fiery red hair, it was instinctively obvious. The court lady before him was a fox beastman. And not just any fox, but one from the red fox village Dori had fled from in panic.

 

‘I don’t remember the face… who is she?’

 

Dori hesitated and took a step back.

 

It had been winter when he possessed the body within the book. He hadn’t even spent a full season in the red fox village, and even during that short time, the male foxes had avoided him while the younger foxes often chased him around. Naturally, he hadn’t had a proper chance to face the other red foxes.

 

So, the only red foxes he should remember were Wonwoo, Hori, and the elder. Yet suspiciously, the court lady’s appearance felt oddly familiar.

 

He briefly tried recalling the novel’s plot, wondering if she had appeared in the original story, but there had been no mention of ‘Dori’ encountering a red fox in the imperial palace. It seemed more likely to be a residual childhood memory from the body he now inhabited.

 

In the meantime, the court lady’s eyes, which had been slit like a fox’s, quickly returned to those of a human. Lowering her gaze, she quietly gathered her basket and stood up, then gave Dori a fleeting glance.

 

What are you so surprised about? You’re a fox too.

 

Her eyes seemed to say that. And something more—a deep resentment.

 

‘Why… me?’

 

Dori suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. His fur bristled in response to the clear malice radiating from her.

 

‘That’s more than just simple dislike.’

 

While he stood frozen in shock, Hong-i, who had been waiting a few steps away for the fox, hurried over.

 

“What’s wrong? Are you hurt?”

 

Seeing her worried and anxious face finally put him at ease. Dori hid behind Hong-i’s skirt, whom he considered an ally. After living among kind people like Haewon, Hong-i, and Cheong-i, this sudden hostility made him feel unjustly mistreated.

 

During that time, the court lady, who had hidden her original fox form, melted into the crowd and walked away.

 

—

 

“Looks like you’re back.”

 

Hoyeon, who had quietly stepped through the door, flinched and then lowered his shoulders. Inside the room where all the other court ladies had been dismissed, Yungak was fiddling with a white Go stone at the table where a Go board was laid out.

 

Unable to speak due to his severed tongue, Hoyeon bowed his head in silent response.

 

“You’ve done well.”

 

Yungak didn’t lift his gaze from the board.

 

Black and white stones occupied the intersections across the grid. Until he had left, Yeok had been sitting across from him, so it looked like they had abandoned the match partway.

 

His steps toward the corner of the room were slow. The thought of being alone in the room with Yungak, without permission to leave, made his feet feel like they were sinking into mud.

 

Hoyeon quieted his footsteps as much as possible and retreated toward the wall.

 

“Hmm.”

 

Yungak stroked his chin once and placed a white stone on the board with a tak. At a glance, there were clearly more black stones. In Go, since players alternate turns, having fewer remaining stones means dominance. So at the moment, the black stones were overwhelming the white.

 

Hoyeon knew that Yungak always played Go with Yeok whenever he visited. And that those matches weren’t simply about the game.

 

Be cautious. You can live without a tongue, but not without your life.

 

It was advice given by Yeok, who had personally checked to ensure Hoyeon’s tongue was truly severed. Hoyeon clasped his trembling hands together.

 

The reason he couldn’t return to the red fox village wasn’t merely because of his now pitiful state. The true reason was the chilling warning from that time.

 

Leave the palace and you die.

 

Even the court lady who once shared a bed with him had vanished without a trace the next day, proving the threat wasn’t empty.

 

Hoyeon had no intention of dying here. He believed that if he just followed orders, the opportunity to escape would eventually come.

 

“I’m thirsty. Would you pour me some tea?”

 

Yungak pushed the Go board aside as if he’d grown tired of it and called Hoyeon over.

 

Though many court ladies served him—fitting for someone of his exalted status as the only remaining royal bloodline and younger brother to the emperor—very few were kept close. After all, he couldn’t cut out every tongue.

 

Hoyeon quickly carried over the tray he had prepared, poured the tea carefully, and stepped back. Yungak asked in a detached tone.

 

“So. How was the fox?”

 

Clenching tightly, Hoyeon hid the fist he’d formed inside his sleeve.

 

He had known even from a distance. But now that he had seen Dori up close, his rage boiled over.

 

The worthless white fox everyone had shunned in the village—skulking around to avoid the red foxes, wagging his tail joyfully even at leftover scraps—was no more.

 

A moist, glossy black nose. Sleek, shiny white fur. Clear golden eyes that seemed carefree. Now there was only a precious fox being served by court ladies.

 

‘That stupid white fox, of all things…’

 

It all felt like Dori’s fault.

 

On the night he returned to the palace after going out to see Wonwoo, Hoyeon burned with rage every time he remembered that day.

 

In the darkness, a hand had suddenly covered his eyes and ears. As he struggled in panic, a chilling threat whispered in his ear—make a sound, and you’ll die.

 

It wasn’t just fear of not knowing who was restraining him. It was the suffocating aura of intent to kill.

 

Frozen like ice at the cold voice, unable to resist, a sack was thrown over his head. He was dragged away as if kidnapped, and the moment he saw the sharp blade pointed at his throat, he fainted—waking only after being doused in cold water.

 

What is your connection to the Ho (狐) Trading Group?

 

The blade remained at his throat. A red line of blood trickled from where it grazed him.

 

But Hoyeon simply trembled. Not because of Yeok’s icy questioning, but because of the smile Yungak gave him when their eyes met—sitting with one leg crossed, hand on his chin.

 

His heart sank. It wasn’t that Yungak had been deceived into letting him out of the palace. He had already known the successor from the trading group had spoken privately with Hoyeon during their delivery to the palace—and had allowed it intentionally, then sent Yeok to follow him.

 

A thin crack spread beneath his throat. Hoyeon had begged for his life with his entire body. He smashed his head against the floor over and over, making beast-like cries from his tongueless mouth.

 

Soon after, when Yungak’s men dragged in even Wonwoo, Hoyeon had collapsed as if fainting.

 

That wretched fox. That cursed white fox—this is all because of him. Why did he have to steal the village’s sacred relic…!

 

If Dori had been before him, Hoyeon would’ve torn him apart.

 

At first, Wonwoo had been startled by the bloody scene and grim atmosphere, but then his face calmed. Perhaps he grasped the situation through context, as he didn’t speak hastily.

 

Yungak tapped Hoyeon’s chin a few times with his finger, then uncrossed his legs and leaned back leisurely, a casualness that didn’t suit the blood-soaked room.

 

I’ll give you one chance.

 

With a gesture indicating he should explain, Yungak watched.

 

That fox originally belonged to me. I lost him in the mountains, and while searching, I heard a similar beast had been seen in the palace. I inquired out of concern, but no further words were exchanged. Still, a white fox with golden eyes is definitely the one I lost. Others in our trading group can confirm this.

 

Wonwoo’s response came smoothly, as if rehearsed, even within such a short time. So much so that even Hoyeon, who knew the full truth, was startled. He had even mixed in some lies with the truth.

 

That one is a court lady of the palace. So how did you end up meeting her at that late hour?

 

To that follow-up, he responded,

 

A noble urgently required a gem befitting their status, so I had to meet at the earliest possible time. I’ve been busy studying to eventually lead our trading group, so I lacked time otherwise.

 

He acted wronged, as if dragged in unjustly by someone he didn’t even know.

 

Yungak’s face lit up with interest then. Hoyeon shuddered at the innocent-looking smile that bloomed.

 

But thanks to that, his restraints were removed and his life was spared.

 

Though he had been the first to be thrown out under Yeok’s strict watch, Hoyeon had no idea what further conversation had passed between Yungak and Wonwoo inside.

 

He simply wiped away his steadily flowing tears and continued cursing Dori, who had caused all this.

 

“Was that really the fox he was looking for?”

 

At that moment, a question snapped Hoyeon from his thoughts, and he nodded. Since they were supposed to be strangers, he had obediently followed Yungak’s order to investigate the fox.

 

“I see. Then if it belongs to someone, it should be returned. Seems my brother made a mistake.”

 

Yungak picked up the now-cooled teacup. As he drank, the fragrance spread softly. A bold sweetness at first, followed by a clean, slightly bitter finish.

 

“As expected of goods from the Ho (狐) Trading Group, famed across the empire.”

 

And offered personally by the successor.

 

Yungak recalled the anxious face that had claimed the fox raised by the emperor was originally his. His dark under-eyes and hollow cheeks were sharply contrasted by his piercing gaze. The detailed description of the fox, as if seen with his own eyes, didn’t seem like a lie.

 

Though it doesn’t matter whether it’s true or not.

 

Downing the rest of the tea in one gulp, Yungak set the cup down.

 

How amusing this would be—seeing his brother fume at losing the fox.

 

Thanks to that little one, I’ll get to enjoy quite the show.

 

As Hoyeon silently cleared the empty cup, Yungak suddenly spoke.

 

“What a shame. If I’d known this would happen, I wouldn’t have cut out your tongue.”

 

He had sliced out a healthy tongue without hesitation—and now, for such a reason, claimed to regret it. Hoyeon’s lips trembled uncontrollably.

 

—

 

Having finished airing out the room, Hong-i was about to close the window when she paused. From afar, an older court lady was running toward her with her skirt hitched up, looking flustered.

 

“Hey, did you hear? His Majesty might finally be getting married?”