SAFBIAN Ch 165

Chapter 165 (Extra 1.9)

Before long, Haban brushed himself off and stood. It was thanks to his naturally strong constitution and the consistent care he took of his health.

On a bright sunny day, Dori went for a walk with Haban.

How could the sky be so vividly blue? The drifting clouds were fluffy and soft. Dori’s heart brimmed with excitement.

“Even if I tell you to look ahead while you walk, you almost trip again.”

Haban held one of Dori’s hands and matched his strides, speaking gently as if coaxing a toddler just learning to walk.

“That’s not it. It was just a mistake last time.”

Embarrassed, Dori scratched his cheek.

Back then, it really couldn’t be helped — Riri, whom they thought was happily wandering somewhere in the palace, suddenly appeared and dashed through the flower bed toward them, trampling all the healthy flowers.

Of course, Dori had spun around quickly to stop her, but in doing so had failed to watch his footing, falling and scraping his palms thoroughly. Haban’s worry was natural. Because of that mishap, Riri was punished by being confined in the chicken coop for three days.

Still, Dori enjoyed the rare moment of walking alongside Haban. They rested in a cool, shaded pavilion drinking iced tea, and then arrived at the island in the middle of the pond after crossing a wooden bridge.

‘Time really flies.’

Lotus leaves floated abundantly on the pond’s surface.

They hadn’t properly spent spring together before summer suddenly approached. Though the garden’s abundant flowers had sadly withered, the young leaves shimmered like jewels under the sunlight.

“Hmm.”

Dori kept humming softly.

“You must really like it.”

“Yes!”

The three-room building facing them lacked the high surrounding walls, and opening the windows made the pond appear close enough to touch.

Most satisfying to Dori was that only Hongi and Cheongi had come along while other palace attendants waited across the bridge.

Since regaining his memories, Dori had shrunk away from palace attendants, but with Haban and others still treating him with great care, he gradually regained his former liveliness. Moreover, he had the strongest backing in the empire—his emperor.

So, the reason Dori found palace attendants difficult and awkward now was different. He had to tighten himself and sit upright whenever others watched.

“Maybe I should have brought Riri along too.”

Dori showed a disappointed expression. Haban ignored it and turned the page of a book. Hongi, fanning himself, clenched his toes to suppress laughter.

Riri, the rooster who followed Dori like a mother’s shadow, had lately been busy boasting surrounded by hens.

Whenever he encountered Haban while with Dori, he still fluttered his eyes and clicked his beak, but no longer charged forward as before, since the hens were watching.

Unlike when at his own quarters, Dori lay sprawled by the square window adorned with lotus patterns, fidgeting his toes. Time had passed since lunch, and his hunger was growing.

Just then, Cheongi approached carrying a small tea tray. She placed it between them and winked one eye.

‘Today is the day, Mama!’

‘Hmm?’

‘You know, don’t worry. We’ll guard outside.’

I read her quietly mouthing the words but didn’t understand. When Hongi and Cheongi quietly left after putting down their fans, Dori quickly bit into the fruit piece Haban had cut for him.

‘Indeed, the palace fruits are the best.’

Gifted to the emperor himself, they were large and substantial. The crunch and their sweet finish were superb.

Seeing Dori finish a whole plate, Haban inwardly breathed easy. It was good that his appetite had returned.

“Mhm.”

Dori let out a small yawn, his blinking eyes heavy with sleepiness.

Lately, nightmares no longer plagued him at night. After dinner, he would fall asleep so deep there was no time to talk, so he probably didn’t lack sleep.

‘Perhaps the heat has made his body weary.’

Haban nodded off, his head falling forward but caught by his hand. He looked like he might hit his head.

“You must be tired.”

“I’m still okay.”

Though he said that, Dori gradually slid closer with his cushion and sat neatly beside him.

‘Maybe I should put him to sleep a little earlier.’

Though long naps can spoil night’s rest.

Haban, judging roughly the length of shadows beyond the window, pushed away the tea tray. Then he pulled Dori’s cushion closer to sit beside him.

“…Oh, uh?”

On the smoothly oiled floor, the cushion slid like a sled. Dori wobbled, losing balance.

Haban wrapped his arm around Dori’s waist and pulled him close, hugging him from behind.

“You startled me. You should say something before you pull.”

Though Haban’s strength seemed restored, did he really have to use such force?

Dori felt along the arms crossed in front of his chest, relieved to find no strained muscles.

Haban lowered his head to rest his cheek gently against Dori’s.

“You still have time, you can sleep a bit more.”

“I’d like to, but if I sleep now, I’m afraid I won’t wake up. I’ll get scolded by Lady Jang if I’m late for class again.”

“Why worry about that? I can wake you up.”

“You whisper so softly that you say you woke me, yet I insist I woke on my own.”

I had been fooled many times already. Thanks to that, Lady Jang had scolded me multiple times. Remembering this, I puffed my cheeks in frustration.

Haban replied slyly,

“Maybe you didn’t hear because you were sound asleep.”

“You keep forgetting, foxes have good hearing, remember?”

Dori boasted, “And good eyesight and scent too.” Praised continuously as the most precious white fox in the world, he was brimming with pride these days.

Haban smiled gently and comforted him,

“So just take a short rest and get up again.”

“…Maybe, then?”

Tempted, Dori nodded. He already felt sleepy resting against Haban.

Soon, leaning sideways, Dori closed his eyes.

Haban took a robe he had removed and draped it over Dori’s body, spreading the fabric wide like a blanket. Dori’s even breathing sounded peaceful.

Some time passed.

A gentle breeze blew softly, a cool shade. The warm body nestled close.

Haban cautiously slipped his hand between the cloths to feel Dori’s ankle. His hand cupped a curved ankle bone and soft skin, gripping more firmly.

Haban deeply regretted injuring Dori’s body and felt worried. If Dori tried to run away again, could he refrain from shooting?

He was not sure.

“…You still can’t sleep, can you?”

Long eyelashes trembled as golden eyes slowly opened. Of course, he knew. Haban sighed and released Dori’s ankle. Then he held Dori again.

“…Sometimes I’m afraid. That you’ll suddenly leave me because you’re scared of me.”

Haban muttered unconsciously. Speaking it revealed the reason for his anxiety. No matter how hard he tried, his nature would not change.

“No, that’s not true.”

But Dori replied firmly, not guessing but with certainty.

“You do, don’t you? Can you read all my thoughts? Know everything I’m thinking?”

“How could that be? I wish it were so. Every moment, I want to know what’s in your mind.”

“If you’re anxious, just ask.”

Gently moving back, Dori removed the robe covering Haban and pulled up his trouser leg to his knee. The ankle Haban had just held was fully exposed.

“See? This is where I shot you once.”

He poked at a spot with a finger.

“And when you were angry, I twisted this ankle. …Although not recently, it sometimes hurts strangely. Waking me from sleep.”

When did it start?

That night I woke in the middle of the night to an unseen pain. Someone was carefully tending my ankle.

They must have applied smooth ointment, gently pressing and rubbing up from calf to ankle. The sharp pain gradually faded.

At that time, I thought it was Hongi or Cheongi. I quickly went back to sleep.

The next morning, upon waking, only Haban and I were in the chamber. Hongi and Cheongi were not allowed in until morning permission.

Could it have been Haban? Still, he was the emperor; would he really touch me himself? But no one else could have done it.

Curious, I pretended to sleep and waited. After a long time passed with the candles out, as expected, Haban rose and rustled beside me.

I opened my eyes slightly.

‘…It really was Haban.’

Soft fabric was spread beneath my legs, seemingly to keep the blankets clean.

Haban poured a generous amount of fragrant oil onto his hands, then carefully rubbed it from my knee to my foot, so the skin wouldn’t hurt from friction.

‘So he did this every day.’

Haban gently massaged my ankle with the bony ridge on the back of his hand repeatedly. Perhaps because of that, the unexplained pain in my leg disappeared the next day.

“I believe someone who regrets and works this hard wouldn’t do the same thing again.”

Wounds do not heal immediately.

The past cannot be changed.

But I don’t want to remain stuck in regret forever.