SAFBIAN Ch 155

Chapter 155

The day was overcast. Was a heavy rain about to fall?

The frozen ground thawed, and buds sprouted on formerly barren branches. Time, impartial to all, quietly passed, and the season shifted from winter to spring.

Clack. Dori set down the teacup he had been drinking from.

Today, he felt he must move quicker than usual. The scent of wet earth and damp air was ominous. Taking his coat just in case, Dori stepped outside.

“Your Highness, where are you going?”

It was Geumhu’s voice.

Dori, walking hurriedly down the corridor, paused then gracefully turned on his heel. Predictably, Geumhu stepped closer.

He held a thin fan folded in his hand, and the young eunuchs trailing him also stopped walking.

The area quickly grew crowded.

When many pairs of eyes turned to him, Dori instinctively drew back his neck. Though the palace attendants treated him kindly, the memories of past wrongs against him flashed back, making him still uneasy.

“…Prime Minister.”

Dori forced a smile.

“Yes, Your Highness. I had told you not to run in the hallway.”

“…I know.”

“Knowing and doing are different things.”

“…”

Seeing Dori so meek and fidgeting with his sleeves, Geumhu clicked his tongue inwardly.

Better when he was recklessly wild before. What happened outside the palace that made the returned fox more timid than many young attendants?

‘Perhaps His Majesty took an arrow for you, Your Highness. He must feel uneasy, so be moderate.’

Jipyeong’s face was filled with regret at not protecting the emperor properly.

‘So incompetent.’

Geumhu clicked his tongue at himself. His judgment of his lover, after much mental struggle, was cold and harsh.

‘But I cannot leave Your Highness wandering the palace alone.’

The fox palace must already be in turmoil. The fox feared palace attendants and only allowed two close companions, but he repeatedly avoided them all.

Besides, wandering alone like this risked startling strangers into fleeing into fox form and hiding, which was a serious inconvenience for Geumhu.

Tapping his chin with the fan in thought, Geumhu decided promptly.

“Take those away first.”

“Yes.”

The eunuchs, carrying trays piled with scrolls, filed out orderly. Dori understood they were merely being sent off for his own sake. Geumhu’s natural courtesy pleased him.

“Let us go. I will see you off.”

“You’re not busy?”

Despite his gentle manner, the prime minister carried heavy responsibilities.

So Dori hesitated to follow. He knew all the scrolls he had just seen were Geumhu’s duties and didn’t want to trouble him.

“It’s fine.”

Dark circles under Geumhu’s eyes betrayed his composure as he took the lead.

He guessed well where the fox was headed. To a quiet, deserted place. At this hour, to pick flowers for the emperor, and once escorted to the rear garden, the palace attendants of the fox palace would soon arrive.

“Thank you.”

Dori followed closely like Riri had trailed him for some time.

They headed to the rear garden.

Tap.

The freshly picked stem smelled of fresh grass. Selecting the most beautiful flower, Dori carefully plucked it. Soon, he held a handful of flowers.

“…Your Highness!”

Yikes.

Dori quietly hid behind Geumhu as Cheongyi and Hongi came running, their skirts flying.

Pant, pant. Barely catching their breath, they scolded him.

“You said to wait a moment! Yet you couldn’t bear it!”

“You snuck out again while we weren’t watching.”

“Well, I thought rain might come…”

Dori mumbled vaguely, barely moving his lips. They certainly couldn’t hear him.

“Don’t you remember last time? You changed into a fox and there were only clothes left; Your Highness was nowhere to be found—you frightened us!”

While hiding behind a rock as arrows flew, Dori had no reply. Fortunately, the guards were practicing archery nearby. As the saying goes, a fox startled by a snake is also afraid of a worm.

“That’s not all. When you fell into the pond, really…”

Cheongyi sighed, and Dori scratched his nose awkwardly.

The palace garden had many sections with different blooming flowers. When Dori stumbled and nearly fell into the pond, a Shadow Assassin came to help.

Suddenly, a figure clad entirely in black appeared, startling a transformed fox Dori into running off. Shrinking his body, Dori flailed and accidentally fell into the pond.

Splash!

Amid the noisy splash, the attendants rushed to rescue him. Though saved, the soaked white fox sneezed stubbornly.

He had caught a cold, and it was dreadful news that he couldn’t stay near Haban until recovered. Yet, even afterward, Dori didn’t change.

Their worries were not limited to that.

“Have you had any trouble?”

Jealous palace attendants sometimes envied the favored white fox. Though not bold enough to meddle openly, they might still be plotting.

“Since I serve, don’t worry so much.”

Hongi sighed in relief. The fox had returned from kidnapping, but now easily startled even by small matters, worrying them greatly.

“Are you going to Your Highness now?”

“Yes. I’ll be scolded if I’m late.”

Dori’s heart beat faster, fearing the flowers might wilt soon. Moreover, dark clouds had grown overhead.

“Please understand Your Highness. He eagerly awaits Your Highness.”

“I know.”

Dori smiled sheepishly and asked Hongi to hold the flowers briefly.

Removing leaves and petals from the bouquet and tidying his clothes, he reached out and took the flowers back, preparing to meet Haban.

“Your Highness.”

Geumhu stepped back as Dori drew near, veins bulging on the hand holding the fan.

“If possible on the way, please convey a message to that one.”

“Uh, yes.”

There was only one person Geumhu referred to as ‘that one.’ Dori answered absentmindedly. Suddenly, the kind face escorting him shifted to a fierce expression.

“Thank you.”

Geumhu whispered into Dori’s ear. As the message continued, Dori’s face paled.

“…That is my request.”

“R-really?”

“Yes. Please deliver it exactly as is.”

Geumhu looked immensely relieved.

Dori walked holding the flowers between Hongi and Cheongyi. As they neared Haban’s palace, his heart pounded faster. Passing several gates, they finally arrived at his chambers, where Jipyeong waited with a stern face.

“Welcome.”

“Mm.”

The guards standing with Jipyeong had stayed with them in the remote house. They busily acknowledged Dori with subtle eye movements, then played indifferent when Jipyeong approached. Dori answered only with a glance.

Jipyeong deliberately ignored their greetings, pretending not to notice.

“I will open the door.”

“Thank you… oh, right!”

Thinking of Haban during the walk, Dori almost forgot to ask him to lend an ear.

As Jipyeong leaned his shoulder slightly, Dori recalled Geumhu’s words precisely and relayed them without missing a single word.

Jipyeong’s face flushed red.

“Ahem.”

It was a natural reaction. Dori kicked the floor beside him in embarrassment.

“…Sorry. I will separately inform Geumhu.”

Jipyeong apologized, quickly opening the door.

“Thank you.”

As Dori entered, the door closed silently behind. He wished to be alone with Haban without Hongi and Cheongyi today.

“Haban, I’m back.”

The room was silent. The quietness had become familiar.

Dori placed the picked flowers on the table and transformed into a fox, shaking off his fur. He then, holding his favorite bloom in his mouth, leapt onto Haban’s bed.

Placing the flower beside the pillow, Dori stared quietly at Haban.

‘…When will you wake?’

Since that day, two seasons had passed.

Though the novel’s ending had played out, Dori had not returned to reality. Naturally, for Dori, this place was truly reality.

In the meantime, Haban had not opened his eyes once. Most of the physician’s words about organs and conditions were beyond Dori’s understanding.

‘…He’s really just sleeping.’

Placing a paw beneath his nose, Dori felt faint breathing.

He curled beside Haban’s arm and tilted his head to press his ear to his chest, hearing the steady thump, thump of a heartbeat.

‘…Don’t be too late.’

Patter.

As Dori predicted, rain began to fall outside.

The sound of raindrops was refreshing.