SAFBIAN Ch 94

Chapter 94

“Are you scratched anywhere?”

“I’m fine. The fox was docile, too.”

Jipyeong quickly helped Bihyeong up.

Perhaps it was because he, who always kept a step’s distance even while guarding at close range, was standing closer than usual—Bihyeong’s face flushed red.

“His Majesty’s fox is rather clever, but just in case, please refrain from approaching it again.”

“It really was as white and beautiful as the rumors say.”

Bihyeong beamed.

It wasn’t the fact that she had seen the mysterious white fox that made her happy, but rather the fact that Jipyeong, who had barely responded with more than a few words no matter how often she spoke to him, had now shown concern for her so readily—it thrilled her.

Though she was sharper and more formidable than any man when sitting as the envoy representative, debating with the imperial ministers, her expression changed completely whenever she stood in front of Jipyeong. As strong-willed as she was, she never hid her feelings toward him.

‘I tried to avoid her because I didn’t want to see that look.’

Watching from one side, Geumhu felt complicated.

“It’s a white fox. Even in the Empire, no one has ever seen such a rare beast. That’s why His Majesty keeps and raises it within the palace.”

“He must treasure it a lot. Just earlier, he seemed displeased when I touched the fox.”

Bihyeong, quicker to pick up on such things than the dull Jipyeong, had noticed. The look on Haban’s face when he saw her hand on the fox’s head was so cold, it felt as if a black aura had emanated from his speeding back.

Geumhu sighed inwardly.

As soon as the eunuch reported that the fox had gone toward the garden, the Emperor had abruptly risen, forcing him to follow.

If he had known Haban would simply hold the fox and return without even listening to the messages passed along the way, he never would have followed.

The sight of the tall man standing opposite a woman who barely reached his chest looked harmonious. Still, seeing it with his own eyes left a painful ache in his chest and an undeniable discomfort in his heart.

Even if everything was by Haban’s will, Geumhu’s expression darkened. But surprisingly, it was the usually clueless and dull Jipyeong who immediately picked up on it.

“With that nasty temper of yours, I figured His Majesty would scold you eventually.”

“Who are you calling nasty-tempered?”

“That look on your face—wasn’t it because you were scolded by His Majesty?”

Who does he think he’s talking to?

Annoyed, Geumhu shook off the hand Jipyeong had placed on him.

‘That fool probably doesn’t even know there’s a marriage discussion going on between him and the princess.’

As Geumhu brushed off Jipyeong’s touch, the princess’s gaze grew slanted.

Jipyeong and Bihyeong had much in common. They loved books and were more accustomed to using their heads than their bodies. They were also alike in being drawn to those with personalities completely opposite to their own.

Geumhu, like Bihyeong, tilted his head with a crooked angle.

“Don’t worry about me—just do your job properly. Don’t upset His Majesty like you did today.”

“Minister, that’s a bit much.”

Eventually, the princess couldn’t hold back and stepped in. She defended Jipyeong, as if Geumhu had been tormenting him terribly.

“You’re exaggerating over a joke between friends.”

Geumhu, half-listening to what followed, deliberately gave Jipyeong’s arm a light nudge, then regretted it. Though he quickly masked his expression, for a fleeting moment his brow twisted. He must have touched an injured spot.

‘Haa… This is exactly why I opposed His Majesty’s plan. That foolish man insisted on stepping forward…’

Geumhu felt stifled.

Currently, there were two secret factions within the palace aiming to harm the princess.

One side disapproved of the Emperor getting close to any woman, thinking he was only obsessed with the fox and should not hand the empress’s position to a foreign princess. The other sought to create a scandal by having the princess of Jin die within the imperial palace, thereby putting the Empire in a difficult political position.

The former posed little threat, but the latter was dangerous—they would stop at nothing. Even in a heavily guarded palace, there were always holes. Jipyeong’s injury had been caused by the latter.

Geumhu sighed and grabbed Jipyeong’s wrist. The princess, completely unaware of Jipyeong’s injury, looked at him in shock.

“Why are you groping people? He clearly doesn’t like it.”

And to top it off, she was being blatantly suspicious.

Geumhu felt dizzy. Staying any longer would only churn his stomach.

“I have much work to do, so I’ll take my leave. Unless it’s at the time agreed with His Majesty, don’t visit the garden. And try to remain in areas where there are many palace attendants.”

Instead of arguing back, Geumhu left the two behind.

“Wa—wait…!”

Jipyeong tried to stop him but flinched and clenched his hand. The princess he was supposed to protect was right beside him.

But why had his hand moved first?

As the princess, now upset, said she would leave, Jipyeong stopped thinking and refocused on surveying his surroundings.

 

Dori carefully watched the mood.

Haban had seemed off ever since they met at the garden. His expression remained blank, and he seemed emotionally low.

‘Is it because of that?’

Dori, thinking that Geumhu had said something unnecessary, wagged his tail rapidly.

Haban had come to Dori’s room wearing a cold expression and had ordered the eunuchs to bring all the memorials from his desk in the office. Since then, he had sat at the desk reading scroll after scroll.

“Careful. You’ll slip like that.”

He only glanced briefly when Dori leapt onto the desk. Even when Dori laid down the cushion he had brought with his mouth and sat on it, Haban didn’t seem interested at all.

‘He hasn’t looked at me even once.’

Eventually, tired of waiting, Dori stood up and shook out his tail. He picked up the cushion again and placed it by Haban’s arm.

Then, he jabbed Haban’s arm lightly with his snout.

“Kaaang.”

“What is it?”

Only then did Haban look up.

Dori stepped on Haban’s arm with his front paw and locked eyes with him. As Haban’s eyes narrowed, his other hand reached out and stroked Dori’s head.

That affectionate touch made Dori stay still, but when the touch felt too kind, Haban’s expression hardened again as if annoyed.

“You…!”

With a face full of pent-up frustration, Haban firmly pushed Dori away.

“Haa… I’m busy, so behave yourself.”

His tone was icy.

‘Well, if he’s busy, I guess it can’t be helped.’

Looking dispirited, Dori collapsed back onto the cushion.

Meanwhile, Haban couldn’t stop thinking about the look in Dori’s eyes when they were in the garden.

In his past life, Dori had never met the princess of Jin. He had never imagined that Dori would show such interest in her.

Truthfully, he was jealous.

It hadn’t taken long for Dori to let his guard down with him—he had treated Dori’s wounds, fed him, and brought him into the palace. But Dori had bowed his head so readily to the princess. It felt like betrayal.

Yet the one responsible for that offense was now casually flicking his ear with a back leg in fox form.

Before long, Haban finished sorting the memorials. The fox, who had also been spending time at the desk, got up and opened his mouth wide in a yawn.

“Did you fall asleep just like that?”

“…Ka, Kaang.”

Dori, embarrassed, rubbed his eyes with a front paw. Haban wiped around his eyes with a finger and let out a brief sigh.

“Must be nice, not a care in the world.”

“Kang?”

“I’m not blaming you.”

Tilting his head in confusion, Dori fidgeted his paws and then suddenly jumped off the desk.

In doing so, the cushion hit the tray, sending the stack of memorials tumbling down, and even the tray fell to the floor.

“…!”

The fox froze on the spot. Haban, forgetting his anger, let out a chuckle.

But only for a moment—when Hong and Cheong came in after hearing the commotion, Dori scampered toward them. He circled their wide skirts, ears perked and tail wagging wildly, making it impossible for Haban to ignore.

Once again feeling bitter, Haban deliberately ignored the fox’s waving front paws when he tried to ask for food during dinner.

‘His mood still hasn’t improved.’

Even at dinner, seeing no sign of Haban cheering up, Dori—though sly—decided to stay in fox form.

While Haban washed up, Dori lay on the bed with just his eyes moving, letting out a sigh.

Soon, with a cold air clinging to him as if he’d bathed in icy water, Haban came out wearing a hastily thrown-on robe. Dori immediately closed his eyes between his front paws but peeked with a sideways glance.

“You’ll get hot sleeping like that.”

Having blown out all the candles, Haban lay down on the bed.

The fox curled up and quietly came closer. Haban stroked the fox’s fur gently, mumbling as he touched his back.

But when his hand went down to the tail, the fox gave a little thump as if to say, ‘don’t do that.’

“Dori.”

“…?”

The fox lifted his head and met his eyes.

When Haban didn’t say anything after calling him, Dori tilted his head in confusion, then nudged his shoulder with his black nose.

Finally, Haban couldn’t hold back and bit down on the fox’s ear beneath its chin, chewing it softly.

“Ka, Kaang!”

Startled, the fox quickly shook his head. But Haban didn’t let go—instead, he sucked gently, his lips moving as if munching.

“Keng! Ka, Kaang!”

Sniff! Keng! Kang! The fox made a huge fuss.

Flustered, Dori finally tried to escape by getting up—only for Haban to grab his front paw and open his mouth.

“Stop! Don’t do that!”

Poof! Dori, now pale, shouted as he transformed back into human form.

His front paws had become soft hands, and the ear that Haban had bitten was now round and damp. The tips of his white hair clung to the flushed edges of his ear.

Dori didn’t seem to realize he wasn’t wearing anything. Haban, whose insides had been boiling with jealousy all afternoon, was now at the very edge of his patience.

“Why do you keep putting me in your mouth!”

Dori, unaware of the cause, raised his eyes in protest, the corners sharply lifted.

Foxes were timid creatures. Even now, his heart was thudding in fright, sweat trickling down. He had bathed and gone to bed, ready to sleep!

…But Haban was acting strange.

He slowly rubbed Dori’s hand with his thumb, then kissed each fingertip one by one.

Dori’s heart dropped for an entirely different reason now. When Haban lifted his head again, his jet-black eyes looked as if they were ready to devour him.