SAFBIAN Ch 36

Chapter 36

 

Dori hesitated, then licked his front paw. The spot where Haban’s hand had touched was still warm.

The fox curled up cautiously beside him.

“Haaaahm……”

One of the guards on watch let out a wide yawn, and as if it were contagious, others around them began yawning and flaring their nostrils.

The palace maids, who used to dart around with pale faces, not knowing when they might be beheaded, were now relaxed. There were no more people being dragged off for offending Haban’s mood.

‘Something’s definitely suspicious.’

The atmosphere in the imperial palace was unusually gentle.

‘Feels strangely ticklish.’

Since the palace changed hands, this was the first time things had felt so peaceful—it felt awkward.

Jipyeong, who had gone from the emperor’s chief guard to guarding the white fox, scratched under his chin. Just then, a subordinate who had been yawning next to him struck up a conversation.

“Captain, the palace is so quiet it’s scary.”

“Exactly.”

Could it really be because they let a fox into the palace?

Of course, their ease probably meant the Grand Chancellor was suffering all the more. As the Emperor had grown tired of dealing with state affairs, he dumped everything on the chancellor. Maybe that was why his ears kept itching.

“Still, I’ve never seen a fox that white before. Its eyes shine yellow like amber—it’s dazzling and mysterious, don’t you think?”

There were occasional records of white snakes or white deer. Stories of someone spotting a white snake in the mountains or a white deer drinking from a stream. But never had a white fox been found.

Jipyeong furrowed his brows uneasily.

‘White animals are often called spiritual creatures, but of all things—a fox……’

Cluelessly, his subordinate leaned in and whispered.

“The fox must really be a spirit. Even His Majesty seems to like it. Ever since that creature arrived, the palace’s icy atmosphere has……”

“Why don’t you try saying that in front of His Majesty?”

“Are you crazy?”

“You bastard, to your great captain!”

The subordinate who had answered reflexively got smacked on the back of the head and stood watch with a sulky expression, lips sealed.

Jipyeong fell into uneasy thought. He had shut the subordinate up to prevent more nonsense, but he couldn’t deny he felt the same unease.

Emperor Haban was acting strange.

He hadn’t hesitated to behead a half-brother with whom he shared blood, yet now he suddenly decided to raise a fox. It would make more sense if he skinned it alive instead.

‘Maybe he plans to play with it for a while and then kill it?’

Judging from the whimpering cries, that seemed likely.

‘Poor little fox.’

What bad luck to catch the emperor’s eye.

‘Still, the weather really is nice today.’

The sky was particularly clear.

Jipyeong looked up at the sky slowly beginning to darken with the setting sun, enjoying this rare moment of peace that might never come again.

Haban kept touching Dori’s nose bridge.

“Hmph!”

Dori shook his head and avoided it. So Haban rubbed his forehead instead and pulled back one of his ears.

Perhaps out of boredom from being alone, Haban had been poking and prodding Dori all over under the pretense of playing with him.

“I thought you’d gotten fatter, but it’s just more fur.”

His thick fingers dug through the fluffy fur, feeling for the bones underneath. His hand ran along Dori’s back and suddenly grabbed the tip of his tail.

“Kyaeng!”

‘I told you not to touch there! It’s sensitive!’

Dori quickly pulled his tail close and hugged it. Then, glaring up in a wary way, he saw Haban let out a low chuckle.

“Kyeong!”

‘Was that a smirk?’

Dori, who had been curled up next to Haban’s thigh, stretched out his legs. As Haban’s hand tried to sneak under his belly again, he pushed it away with his front paw.

That was the third time already.

“That spot is especially sensitive, huh.”

‘What do you expect? It’s you!’

He was still harboring resentment for being underestimated because of his small size. He wouldn’t have been so indignant if he hadn’t realized the difference in size when he sat on Haban’s lap…

Realizing he had to get away, Dori stepped a few paces away, hopping across the soft bed.

Shuffle.

But it was a meaningless act of rebellion.

Feeling a blow to his pride, Dori began looking around for his blanket.

Ordinary blankets were too heavy and warm for a fox, so one had been custom-made to fit his size. However, it was now crumpled behind Haban’s back.

‘Hmph!’

Dori dove headfirst into the blanket. The golden, shiny fabric completely hid the fox’s body. Amused, Haban lightly tapped the bump under the blanket.

“I have to go soon anyway, so let me see your face before I leave.”

‘Already? You just got here.’

It was scary being near him, but the thought of him leaving made Dori feel disappointed. He didn’t know why it didn’t bother him when Haewon left, but felt such a pang when Haban did.

Caught between pride and longing, Dori poked his head out. As if waiting, Haban gently stroked the fox’s head and stared into his vertically slit pupils.

Why was it?

Sometimes, when Haban’s gaze deepened in silence, Dori felt like he was recalling something else.

As they silently stared at each other, Dori tilted his head to one side. Then, as if waking from a trance, Haban blinked slowly and spoke again.

“They say the Jin (眞) Kingdom raised an issue about how the eastern border was drawn unilaterally and needs to be redetermined.”

Dori’s ears perked up at the mention of the Jin Kingdom.

‘Isn’t that the place where the king ran away at the start of the war, abandoning his people? Then they surrendered immediately when it looked like they’d be caught.’

The current imperial territory had been established through conquest by Haban’s grandfather, the former emperor.

Unlike the north, blocked by high, rugged mountains, the west by sea, and the south by a large river, the east had only a small mountain separating it, leading to frequent conflicts with the Jin Kingdom, which bordered the empire’s east.

Especially after the incompetent king died and was succeeded by his son, things got fortunate for the Jin Kingdom but quite troublesome for the empire.

“They say the envoy leading the negotiations is a princess of the Jin Kingdom. We should prepare accordingly.”

The original work had detailed this part for a reason.

In the Jin Kingdom, women could participate in politics, and although rare, even ascend to the throne. Still, the real goal was to secure a spot in Haban’s yet unfilled harem. The border issue was just a convenient excuse.

‘In the original, I think that princess ended up with someone else… Who was it again?’

Anyway, it wasn’t Haban. Dori scratched his nose with his claw.

“If I had my way, I’d just wipe them out because it’s annoying. What do you think?”

‘No, don’t!’

Even if he wasn’t actually seeking the fox’s opinion, Dori leaped from the blanket and scratched at Haban’s clothes.

Haban grabbed both his front legs like he’d caught prey in a trap and placed him back on his lap. White fur clung to his black clothing, creating instant blotches.

“When things settle down, shall we go for a walk? The rear garden is in full bloom.”

“Kyahng?”

The fox’s eyes sparkled reflexively. His clear pupils gleamed brightly like glass.

Haban rubbed Dori’s cheeks with the back of his hand. The white fur had become so soft it now felt like cotton.

‘I’ll have to fatten him up more before summer.’

The palace, located at the empire’s center, had a milder climate compared to the hot southern and cold northern regions. Still, “his” small body seemed to suffer more in summer.

‘I need to feed him well so he won’t get lethargic from the heat.’

A lazy smile spread across Haban’s lips.

‘A walk!’

Finally, the opportunity had come. Dori shook Haban’s arm, needing to be sure.

“Kyahng?”

“Yes.”

“Kyahng! Kyahng!”

“I said yes. Now sit still.”

What joy!

Dori’s heart swelled. Just as he was about to ask again when they’d go, Geumhu came in a rush to the door, as if confirming Haban’s earlier mention of being busy.

“Your Majesty.”

‘Oh?’

Dori looked toward the door, pleased. But Haban turned his head back and grumbled irritably.

“Do you not even realize you’re a fox? You’re not a dog, yet you wag your tail for just anyone.”

‘Wagging? Who did?’

This was slander.

Though deeply wronged, Dori curled his tail quietly, trusting the promise of a walk next time.

In any case, Dori had grown accustomed to Haban.

‘Is he coming?’

Seeing him more than three times a day certainly helped.

‘Is he not coming?’

Dawn was when the window outside dimmed. Midday came when the round sun rose high, bathing the room in light. And nightfall—when lanterns were lit—was when Haban would come have dinner with Dori.

Though he never stayed long, not once had he missed a scheduled time.

Except for today.

‘Why isn’t he coming?’

Before long, dawn passed and the day brightened.

Dori’s head, fixated on the door, tilted left and right in confusion. Eventually, he drooped, his ears, once perked to catch footsteps, now falling flat.

‘I’m hungry.’

His once-expectant golden eyes now held a trace of irritation.

It was a lonely morning without the gentle hand that always sat by his bedside and softly stroked him awake. In reality, he had started waking in the dark hours of dawn, but ever since being possessed, he had been sleeping deeply.

When his eyes were puffy from sleep, Haban would press his lips together and hide them. That had been a little embarrassing. Dori idly ran a front paw over his head. It didn’t feel the same.