SAFBIAN Ch 21

Chapter 21

 

‘Why am I so unlucky? Why is Dori so pitiful? Why is the world only like this to me?’

“Who said I was going to eat you?”

Hic. You said you were going to eat me.

“I can’t very well skin you alive, either.”

Waaah. Then just eat me instead. The idea of being skinned is even worse.

“You’re noisy. Stop crying.”

Haban slowly set the fox down.

Dori, who had only had a few sips of water all day, was getting exhausted and panting heavily.

Haban wrapped the staggering fox’s body with the cloth draped over a chair and lifted him up again. Dori, having used up all his strength, dropped his head and panted without even the will to resist.

“I really don’t know what’s going on in that tiny head of yours.”

Haban’s voice had softened considerably, and his hands, unexpectedly, were warm and comforting. Still seeming displeased, he absentmindedly patted the fox’s back.

Dori looked up at Haban with tear-filled eyes.

‘…You weren’t angry? But you were trying to kill me.’

Each time he blinked, clear tears streamed down continuously. So overwhelmed with sorrow, he sniffled and whimpered.

“I thought maybe I’d grow fond of you if you behaved.”

Haban rubbed the corners of the fox’s eyes with his fingers.

‘…When did you ever say that?’

“Huh, ngh, mmhh, uuh…”

Dori cried back in grievance.

All he’d ever heard from Haban were threats of starving and killing. He was given only blood-soaked raw meat and not even his fur was groomed. His drooping tail swayed weakly.

“You sure have a lot coming out of that tiny body.”

Once Haban wiped away even the tears dangling from Dori’s eyelashes, his vision brightened. Still, having cried his heart out, he felt a bit better.

As if to say “do whatever you want now,” Dori draped his whole body over Haban’s chest. Unlike in novels, the muscles were firm and didn’t feel soft at all.

Haban tapped the fox’s black nose and quietly called a name.

“Seohon.”

“Yes.”

A soundless shadow appeared behind Haban’s broad shoulders.

‘Aaaah! Sniff What the—!’

Startled, Dori clung tightly to Haban. Though he could feel the emperor’s cold gaze piercing through him, it wasn’t as frightening as a ghost suddenly appearing.

He struggled to press his paws down, and Haban reluctantly supported his bottom. Dori was too flustered to even notice the way the man’s hand was gripping his soft flesh.

That was the man who had supposedly had his head sliced off by Haban’s sword. And yet, his neck was perfectly intact.

Looking closely, the man was alive. Whew, Dori felt relief and finally tilted his head in confusion.

‘So he didn’t kill him. Then why the sword back then…?’

“What did you do with it?”

“If Your Majesty means the snake you caught, I removed the venom and dried it well.”

Now that he thought about it, he had said he was bitten on the leg by a snake. Then, did Haban only mean to kill the snake?

Again, Dori tilted his head the other way.

As his fluffy fur brushed Haban’s chest, the man adjusted his hold on the fox and slowly started walking. Dori, still hanging onto Haban’s clothes with his claws, continued to slightly tilt his head back and forth.

‘Maybe I misunderstood Haban from the very beginning.’

Right. Just like how Wonu’s personality changed, maybe Haban had changed too.

“I’ve instructed Physician Woo to bring it. I’ll boil it thoroughly and feed it to the fox. If he dares spit it out, make sure he licks every drop off the floor.”

Haban looked down at the fox.

Dori’s ears perked up instantly. He hadn’t even imagined this kind of torment. Just imagining a bowl with that slick, disgusting snake floating in it made his empty stomach churn.

His flailing paw poked out from under the cloth.

“Haewon will take care of the rest. Do not let anyone enter the room.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Just as silently as it had appeared, the shadow vanished.

Before he realized it, Haban was sitting on the bed and placed the fox in the center. A soft pillow supported his chin, and a fluffy blanket touched his lower belly. It was cozy enough to fall asleep in instantly.

Exhausted, Dori sniffled one last time. Lying down with his legs stretched toward the wall, he felt the bedding sink behind him.

Haban pushed the fox slightly toward the wall and lay down in the remaining space. The red cloth of his sleeve covered the fox’s body like a blanket.

Pat. A large hand brushed down the fox’s back and lightly tapped his belly.

“You’ve gotten so skinny.”

‘Are you mocking me? Who do you think is to blame for that?!’

Grrrgle. Grrooowl.

Now that the sorrow had passed, his stomach grumbled. Surprised by the sound coming from his own belly, Dori’s shoulders jerked.

The vibrations transmitted straight to Haban’s palm.

“You’re quite loud.”

‘…If Haban went a day without food, he’d be worse than me.’

Dori curled his tail over his stomach. His ears flapped slightly to express his dissatisfaction. Still, he hooked his claws onto Haban’s robe.

Haban chuckled through his nose and offered his arm.

“Before feeding you anything, rest a bit first.”

His eyes had been drooping for a while now anyway.

Spicy, sweet stir-fried pork, tender chicken stew falling off the bone, thick cuts of juicy beef…

Drowsy Dori chuckled in his dreams, buried in piles of food.

Haban withdrew the hand that had been patting him.

As the warmth of his palm faded, the scruffy fox curled his scrawny tail. His long slender legs twitched in his sleep, which looked rather amusing.

‘Is he cold?’

When Haban pulled a blanket over him, the fox kicked it off with a thwap.

‘This insolent thing dares to—’

…Hmph.

Haban irritably reached for the blanket again, then looked down at the fox.

Seeking warmth, the fox had slinked into his arms and buried its snout against his chest. It was docile in sleep, a stark contrast to its earlier defiance.

Haban pressed his fingers to his brow, pulled the blanket over the fox, and let out a low sigh.

“Truly, what a blessed life you lead.”

The sleeping fox smacked its lips in its sleep.

It looked exactly like “his.” That’s why. That was the only reason he hadn’t completely cast the fox aside.

“Consider yourself lucky.”

It was natural for members of the same species to look alike, but how likely was it for one to also share such rare fur color and eye hue?

Perhaps, he was still holding on to the faintest sliver of hope.

Haban lightly tapped the fox’s cheek. In response, a small breath puffed out of its nose, as if to say, “Don’t.” But when he gently scratched beneath its chin, it instinctively rubbed its head back and forth, smacking its lips.

Not even knowing what it meant to be in the Emperor’s arms, just a mere fox.

“If someone saw this, they’d think you were trying to be seductive.”

The fox rolled around in his embrace, unaware that this was the first time either woman or man had ever been held in these arms. His clothes were dampened by the fox’s warm breath and flicking tongue.

Every single thing this impudent creature did was vexing.

Haban took hold of one of the fox’s front paws and pressed its pad with his thumb. Sharp little claws popped out, then retracted when he released it.

After doing this a few more times, the fox pulled its paw back. With a pitiful whine, it flipped over to find a more comfortable spot.

“If you move any more, I’ll throw you off the bed.”

Twitch.

The fox’s ears visibly trembled, despite it clearly being asleep.

Its steady breathing suggested a deep sleep, but perhaps it still instinctively felt fear—letting out a soft, pained whimper.

After a few restless shifts, the fox curled back up peacefully in Haban’s arms.

He gently stroked the fox’s back.

He hadn’t realized before due to the fur, but now his hand could feel the bones clearly beneath the skin. Just as Jipyeong had said, the fox seemed to have lost quite a bit of weight in the time he hadn’t seen it.

“Your Majesty. Eunuch Kim is here.”

“I said no one was to enter.”

“It’s past time for Your Majesty’s evening meal. Shall I have the dishes brought in here?”

Was it already that late?

For once, Haban felt his body relax. He felt like he could fall asleep at any moment.

His nerves, usually so taut from chronic insomnia, had started to ease—perhaps it wouldn’t be so bad to just drift off like this. There was no need to eat and weigh himself down unnecessarily.

“That’s enough. Leave me.”

“But…”

“I plan to retire early tonight. I won’t be needing anything.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“…No, wait.”

Haban recalled the gurgling sound from the fox’s belly. And its light weight, easily lifted with one hand.

His dark pupils shifted again to the fox. Its once soft fur was now matted and patchy, its shabby appearance clearly visible.

A look of displeasure crossed Haban’s face.

“I’ll have breakfast here tomorrow. Keep the menu simple, but prepare something for the fox as well and bring it along.”

The message was delivered in secret.

‘…Ha, damn it.’

Geumhu picked up the slender tube tucked among memorials and debated for a moment whether to just toss it. The yellow thread, a signal of urgency, warned that opening it would only mean more trouble.

‘No wonder things felt too lucky this morning.’

The warm and pleasant weather, a stack of memorials half the usual height, and no sign of Jipyeong anywhere—it had been perfect, really.

Clicking his tongue, Geumhu cut open the tightly sealed end with something sharp. He pulled out the rolled-up paper inside and spread it open, revealing a string of unintelligible characters.

『 Imperial Palace, Spy, Tail 』

After deciphering the message, Geumhu furrowed his brow. A string of curses climbed up his throat.

It was only three words, but the weight of the issue was enormous.

‘What kind of lunatic would dare plant a tail in the Imperial Palace? If caught, it wouldn’t just be a matter of losing their head—their entire family line would be exterminated.’