SAFBIAN Ch 89

Chapter 89

It hadn’t been long since his bath, and the fragrant oil rubbed into Haban’s body and hair still lingered richly. The more Dori rubbed his nose against Haban’s nape, the deeper the scent seemed to rise.

Dori took a deep breath. Despite the strong fragrance, he could quickly discern Haban’s natural scent intermingled within it.

‘The choice is mine.’

Not the original’s.

Dori rubbed his cheek against the broad shoulder a few more times, mustering a bit more courage.

But the moment he stretched out his foot, he felt something firm and protruding beneath the thin fabric. Like a startled turtle retracting its head, his toes curled up in an instant.

Why is it already…?

‘Isn’t it supposed to gradually heat up with kissing and stuff?’

Dori swallowed dryly. A vague image of the enormous member from before flickered before his eyes.

Still, it was part of a human body, yet how could it be as thick as the container that held brushes on the desk? And it even twitched like a carp leaping in a pond…

“…Ah.”

His boldness from just moments ago vanished, and darkness suddenly closed in on his vision.

At that moment, Haban raised his hand to cover Dori’s eyes.

‘Don’t get swept away.’

Haban exhaled deeply to himself. Truthfully, he wanted to indulge his desires all night long. Dori wanted it too, so was there even a need to hold back?

But as he felt the trembling eyelashes beneath his palm, Haban’s blood cooled.

As far as he remembered, Dori hadn’t even been a Seongho for a full year. Still at the age where he would follow wherever he was led, learn whatever he was taught, without even knowing if it was right or wrong. Just like in the past, when he believed that the one he shared his body with would be his life partner.

“This is a problem.”

“Huh?”

“We haven’t made any preparations today.”

“I-I’m okay! I-I really am right now!”

When Haban removed his hand, he was met with Dori’s golden eyes blinking rapidly. A hot breath blew onto his neck, tickling it, and as the heaviness below grew, so did his arousal.

“You’re just too young to understand anything.”

“…I’m not that young.”

He may lack experience, but unlike the ‘Dori’ in the original work, he at least had basic knowledge. Things like the unmistakable desire gleaming in Haban’s dark eyes or the intense emotions radiating from his entire body.

Then, Haban kissed him soothingly.

“Then, let’s say I need more time.”

A large palm cupped the back of his head, pulling him in. With his other hand, Haban gently patted Dori’s back, then slowly stroked it in repetition.

The scent and warmth that had become so familiar.

The dangerously rising anxiety began to gradually settle.

‘Even though he knows nothing…’

Yet somehow, he always became a source of comfort when needed.

Only then did Dori slowly close his eyes.

‘Looks like I’ve taught him the wrong habit.’

As the sound of steady breathing reached him, Haban gently laid down the fox-like Dori, who had curled up in sleep.

Unable to fall asleep again, Haban lay sideways, resting his head on one arm.

When he had first captured the fox from the mountain, its fur was damaged, and bones jutted out beneath its skin. But now, well-fed, it had plumped up nicely. Even in human form, his cheeks and lips were rosier, and his hair softer than before.

Haban carefully stroked the ends of Dori’s hair so as not to wake him.

“Even when he behaves, it’s hard to resist.”

So cheeky.

Despite his words, a smile played on Haban’s lips.

It was amusing how Dori, who had crept in slowly, had startled himself and pretended to shrink back. And yet, he had insisted on burrowing into the crook of his neck.

Though he barely managed to hold back this time, he couldn’t always restrain himself like this. After planting a brief kiss on Dori’s lips, which moved slightly even in sleep, Haban finally lay down beside him.

The fox Dori, who hadn’t been a Seongho(sacred being) for even a year, breathed evenly through his smooth chest.

In the pale blue light of dawn, a single figure stirred from the bed where the two had slept.

Naturally, it was Haban who emerged after drawing back the curtains.

The emperor’s day began at the crack of dawn. For a lazy, sleep-loving fox, it was a time far too early to wake.

As usual, instead of rousing Dori and transforming him into his fox form, Haban pulled open all the curtains. Even after removing the partitions, the dreaming Dori remained unaware.

“This is hardly a prank compared to how you kept me from falling asleep.”

Haban gazed at the sleeping figure for a moment, then tugged the blanket over him. In response to the warmth, Dori twitched his cheek and kicked off the covers.

“A naughty child deserves a little punishment.”

Haban chuckled softly and untied the silk sash loosely cinched at his waist.

Swish, his nightwear parted. Beneath the firm pectorals, his lower abdomen was tightly built, and what protruded most was thickest of all.

Haban swiftly wrapped Dori in the blanket. Leaving his arms free for comfort, he bound him snugly from just below the chest to the tips of his toes using the waist sash. Dori now looked like he was wearing a skirt made of the thin blanket.

‘Once he wakes, all he’ll have to do is undo the sash to get out.’

With that, Haban left the bedchamber.

His top still undone due to the missing sash, he strode briskly through the palace corridors while half-asleep court ladies quickly averted their eyes. Among them, the diligent Hong was already bustling about, earlier than anyone else.

“No one is to enter until after sunrise. If anything happens afterward, report only to me and no one else.”

This could be the perfect chance to reveal the truth, just as Dori wished. It was a pity he couldn’t witness the surprised look on his face upon waking.

Per the emperor’s command, the fox’s chamber remained tightly shut for quite some time.

Eventually, the sun rose. Only then did Hong, accompanied by Cheong, gather a basket. The space was large enough to require two people to clean, so they hurried their steps.

“Where is His Majesty?”

“He’s already left.”

At that moment, Haewon stood at the door. Perhaps he had refrained from entering, wondering if the emperor was still inside.

Suppressing a laugh, Hong opened the door.

“…!”

But what was this? Instead of the fox, a strange man was wrapped in a blanket, fast asleep on the bed.

“Ugh…”

‘…So hot.’

Unable to endure it any longer, Dori rolled over onto his side. As he buried his face in the soft pillow, muffled chatter reached his ears.

‘Ah, what now…’

He just wanted to sleep a bit more.

But the noise persisted.

Finally, Dori gave up trying to fidget and rubbed his cheek against the pillow before opening his eyes. Startled by his awakening, the nearby presence quickly retreated.

“W-Who are you?”

“Where is, um, the fox who was here?”

What are they even saying? I am that fox.

Dori yawned widely and rubbed his eyes. But as he tried to sit up, everyone recoiled even farther. Only Haewon, clutching long medicinal roots like weapons in both hands, stood trembling in front of Hong and Cheong to shield them.

They all looked like they might burst into tears at any moment.

“I-If you just return the fox to us, w-we’ll…”

What are they rambling about?

Dori scratched his neck and then suddenly noticed something.

‘…My hands… huh?’

Startled, Dori touched his face. Instead of a snout, he felt soft cheeks. When he lowered his hands, he saw pale palms instead of fluffy front paws.

“…!”

What was going on? He wasn’t in his fox form!

‘Then why are they all in the room?’

The emperor’s day began at dawn. Usually, Haban woke first and roused Dori to turn into his fox form again before the court ladies arrived.

‘Where’s Haban?’

The space beside him was empty. Feeling around, he realized the bed no longer held any warmth—it had been a while since Haban left.

“If y-you keep resisting like that, we’ll call the g-guards from outside!”

“You mustn’t!”

Haban had only allowed Hong, Cheong, and Haewon to enter this place. It would be a disaster if others discovered his identity. But explaining that he was the fox would only make him sound insane.

Still, maybe it was worth trying? For now, it was the only explanation he could give.

“Um, the fox…”

“Don’t tell me… did you harm him?”

Cheong, who had been hiding behind Haewon, suddenly poked her head out and asked urgently. The fear from earlier had vanished, replaced by a fierce glare.

“N-No?”

“Then where did you hide our fox!”

This time it was Hong shouting. He had seemed quiet before, but now he looked even more terrifying than Cheong.

Dori’s eyes darted around, and then—pop!—he transformed into a fox.

“Kya—Kyaaaah!”

The moment he disappeared before their eyes, all three screamed.

“Kyang! Kyang!”

‘Wait! Someone will come if you keep that up!’

Dori panicked. Of all things, his nightwear had long sleeves and a hem that dragged on the floor, making it hard to move.

He quickly wriggled and pawed through the clothes, struggling to escape from them.