SAFBIAN Ch 100

Chapter 100

Though he didn’t know the reason, Dori was glad that Haban wasn’t treating him harshly like in the original story. However, he hadn’t expected things to become difficult for an entirely different reason.

‘Is this really okay?’

He had only meant to sit down for a moment, but the instant his butt touched the hard floor, a sting so sharp it brought tears to his eyes surged through him.

With his ears drooping, Dori trudged toward the bed and leapt onto it. Even in that brief movement, his leg muscles pulled taut and the pain in unspeakable places throbbed. But since there was no one around to blame, he could only stew in his frustration.

‘Just wait till you show up.’

Snort!

Snorting fiercely as if vowing not to let it slide, Dori began pressing his paw into a small cushion, kneading it here and there.

‘If it’s this soft, it should be okay.’

Among the cushions he used in his fox form, this one was the fluffiest and made with the softest fabric. Dori curled his body on top of it.

Until Haban came, he planned to hold out like this in protest.

It had only been difficult the first time—after that, things ignited every night. Haban, as if he didn’t know how he had held himself back all this time, busied himself suckling and clinging to Dori the moment his strength returned.

No matter how often Hong and Cheong prepared healthful foods, or how many precious medicinal brews Haewon fed him, it was no use. Once, Dori had even transformed into a fox and tried to escape through the window, claiming he couldn’t do it anymore.

Thwack.

With his tail, Dori smacked Haban’s wrist away and growled, baring his teeth. It was annoying enough when he kept touching his belly and chest, but now that his hands were slowly creeping downward, he couldn’t bear it.

‘Stop it!’

Dori sprang up, fur bristling as he faced Haban.

“I understand, so come here and sit.”

“…Yip.”

His lovely golden eyes rolled skeptically.

Yet when Haban extended a hand, Dori hesitated only briefly before gently pressing his head into the palm. How could one help but grow greedy when, even with no intention at first, the sight was so endearing?

Rubbing his head into Haban’s palm, the fox slowly climbed onto his lap. As he tried to sit, he flinched and paused for a second, but soon pretended nothing was wrong and planted his butt onto Haban’s thigh.

Haban slowly stroked Dori’s back, now softer than silk.

“Is there anything you want?”

“…!”

The sparkle in the fox’s eyes when he turned to look wasn’t just his imagination. Truly, when it came to gluttony and material desire, Dori lacked for nothing. Add to that an insatiable curiosity.

Haban lightly tapped Dori’s twitching black nose.

“What would be good? Last time I gave you butterfly sleep powder*, so maybe this time, a boyo* would be nice.”

(*TN: 나비잠 (butterfly sleep) and 보요 (boyo) may refer to luxurious items or metaphorical gifts. Contextually ambiguous.)

At those words, Dori’s forepaw twitched and grabbed onto Haban’s collar. His muzzle parted as a red tongue slipped out. Even with a treasure box full of ornaments, the fox could never get enough of shiny accessories—just the sight of them made him lose all sense.

“You can’t even use them in this form. Isn’t it time to stop being so greedy?”

‘What nonsense! One can never have too much wealth! The more, the better!’

Mouthing silently, the fox slipped off Haban’s lap and quickly burrowed into the blankets.

Soon, Dori, having transformed into his human form, peeked his head out. Peeking along with him was a pale shoulder, marred by the bite marks and red bruises Haban had left the night before.

“Greed has no end. You’re the Emperor, Haban. Of course you can say things like that.”

“I can’t have everything either.”

Haban spoke firmly, gently brushing back Dori’s fallen bangs.

He had spent countless hours in regret after losing the one thing he wanted most. He would have given up everything to retrieve just that one thing. But the person those words were meant for was not the Dori in front of him.

“You’re greedy, Haban.”

“I suppose I am.”

Grasping the wrists hidden under the blanket, Haban leaned down. He kissed Dori’s pouting lips, then buried his tongue deep within.

“Hnngh, mmph!”

Dori had initially responded obediently, but when he began to gasp for breath and struggle, Haban finally released his lips and pressed his ear to Dori’s heaving chest. The blanket had slipped down to his navel during the scuffle, exposing soft skin to the touch.

“Haa, haa…”

His gasping breath sounded delightful.

“Besides the boyo, is there nothing else you want?”

“Huff, huff… haa…”

Dori was too busy catching his breath. With the pounding of his heart echoing in his ears, he didn’t even have the energy to hear Haban’s quiet murmurs spoken against his chest.

But Haban didn’t seem to mind the lack of a reply. He lowered his head to lick and suck the hardening tip of Dori’s chest.

“Hah, ngh! You said… you weren’t going to do anything!”

Dori’s waist trembled as his sensitive body quickly became aroused, stiffening beneath. Haban promptly threw the blanket aside.

“Uunngh!”

He loved seeing Dori’s snowy white body flushed red. He loved how every touch brought a response, each breathy moan sent tremors through him.

Everything about Dori—the fact that he existed and was alive—was something Haban cherished.

“I’ll give you everything else you want.”

‘But leaving me—that alone, I’ll never forgive.’

Haban thrust into Dori relentlessly, dark eyes glinting with dangerous obsession.

A few days later, a strange mood settled over the Imperial Palace.

Though the Emperor was said to be considering a political marriage with the Princess of Jin, the only time he spent with her was the occasional brief stroll. All his remaining hours were spent at the Fox’s Palace, prompting the ministers to resume close observation.

Court Lady Jang pleaded that it wasn’t proper, and Eunuch Kim even suggested bringing the fox to the Emperor’s own quarters. Memorials began piling up one after another.

“Useless,”

Haban muttered, setting down his brush in annoyance. At that moment, Dori, who had been batting a yarn ball with his paw while waiting for the work to end, came running over.

“I wasn’t talking about you.”

“Yip!”

“Right. Come to think of it, I can’t keep you like this forever.”

The white-furred fox tilted his head. No matter how often he saw him, Dori was always such a beautiful and clever white fox.

A few days earlier, Haban had asked if it might be time to reveal Dori’s identity to others as well. Dori had hesitated and asked for some time, so today had been chosen as the day.

Haban resumed clearing away the memorials he had been reading.

“Are you outside?”

Hong and Cheong, who had been waiting for this very moment, responded immediately even before the call finished.

“Go and get things ready.”

As the Emperor waved a hand, the fox was dragged out, legs trailing.

‘H-Haban! You traitor! Hey! You said I was pretty even without dressing up! You said I could do it my way!’

In the end, Dori sat wearily in a chair, all dressed up under Hong and Cheong’s attentive hands. But thanks to their efforts, his skin glowed, and the scent of flowers clung to his body.

“You used me as an excuse, but really, you just stayed in fox form to avoid them, didn’t you?”

“Doing this every day is just too much. Do you know how many layers I have to wear in this weather? You hardly wear anything yourself. And this hair—it’s too heavy.”

Dori complained as he tilted his head, weighed down by the many accessories adorning it. Still, each one had been carefully placed by the pair, and he was careful not to mess them up.

‘I’m nervous.’

His hands fidgeted constantly. Though he tried to act calm, he couldn’t fully hide the anxiety inside.

Hong, Cheong, and Haewon had come to know his secret in a roundabout way and had fortunately accepted it without much fuss, but the people around Haban might very well call for his immediate expulsion from the palace.

After watching Dori’s restlessness, Haban called for the eunuch.

“Summon Jipyeong and tell him to bring Geumhu here with him.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Receiving the Emperor’s order, the eunuch outside the door hurried off.

Meanwhile, inside the Imperial study, the only sounds were the rustling of paper and the occasional dipping of a brush in ink. The grand, ornate desk—fit for a ruler—remained immaculate, without a speck of dust.

It had been several days since the Emperor began passing off his duties. Sitting at the desk in his stead, Geumhu irritably tugged at his sweat-dampened collar.

The heat sapped his strength. More accurately, it was the unexpected workload dumped on him that had kept him up for days in the palace.

“What is it?”

He asked without even glancing at the person entering through the door.

“You’re as busy as ever.”

“If you’re going to spout nonsense, get out.”

“Isn’t that a little harsh to someone who’s worried about you?”

“I don’t need it. And shouldn’t you be elsewhere? His Majesty told you not to leave him alone, didn’t he?”

“Of course I’m here on His Majesty’s orders.”

“What the…”

Only then did Geumhu lift his head. With the sunlight growing stronger, his skin looked even more tanned than before as he scratched his head awkwardly.

“His Majesty is calling for you. Oh, and take that too.”

Jipyeong pointed to the scrolls stacked on the desk. These were the very ones Geumhu had been reading in Haban’s stead while he holed up in the Fox’s Palace.

“Did you really have to come deliver that yourself? You’re already busy watching over him.”

“He called for me too.”

Which meant Haban was about to assign him yet another task. This time, Geumhu was determined not to give in, no matter what orders were given.

“Fine. You go ahead. I’ll follow after.”

Frowning briefly as he thought up excuses, Geumhu stood from his seat.

In addition to the flood of wasteful memorials sent by greedy ministers squandering fine silk and paper, there were also sensitive reports and critical intelligence from the shadows—things too important to entrust to anyone else.

“I’ll carry them.”

“No need.”

Geumhu smacked away the outstretched hand. But Jipyeong, long accustomed to such cold treatment, snatched up the scrolls anyway.

“You’re so stubborn, even when someone’s trying to help.”

“Do you think I’m some princess who needs protecting? I’m not that weak.”

“Stubborn as ever. And you’re the one who’s sickly.”

“Sickly? Says the guy with nothing but bulky muscles.”

“If your mouth had just a bit more charm, women would be lining up for you.”

“…”

When Geumhu suddenly fell silent, Jipyeong, holding the heavy scrolls, turned his head.

Geumhu, standing tall and looking straight ahead, spoke unexpectedly.

“At the very least, I’ll get married before you do.”

“…What? When did you get… en-engaged?”

“Hmph. Like hell I’d be in the same boat as you.”

His parents had chosen her after much thought—someone far too good for him.

Brushing past the dumbstruck Jipyeong, who had halted in his tracks, Geumhu strode into the Fox’s Palace. Somehow, it felt quite satisfying.