SAFBIAN Ch 48

Chapter 48

She received the emperor’s favor through her graceful demeanor and even bore his son, yet she was content with just a modest pavilion.

She taught her child humility as well. That was the very reason she managed to survive amidst the power struggle between the empress and Consort Mun, and the bloody tides of the imperial court.

“You must learn how to hide. Keep your head low. Never reveal what you are better at than others. Especially not in front of the empress or the crown prince.”

She was a pitiable woman, one who had to be repeatedly reminded of these words until her dying breath.

“But even so, should the opportunity arise.”

That was why no one expected it—what kind of final words Consort Jeok left for Yungak right before her death.

“Do as you wish. I have made all the preparations. Your father and your uncle will help you along the path you choose.”

Those long days when poison was slipped into tea and meals if one let down their guard even slightly, when the emperor turned a blind eye despite knowing who the culprit was.

Consort Jeok, with her emaciated hands, gripped her son’s tightly and spoke in a faltering voice, into which she poured all her pent-up sorrow.

Though in the end she could not endure the cruel palace, she had been a strong mother for her child.

Hum, hum.

A light humming drifted through the air. Yungak picked a flower in passing and tucked it behind the ear of an unnamed court lady.

On the path back to his chambers, Yungak was in quite a good mood.

‘Impressive.’

The white beast he had once thought insignificant—a mere fox—had completely captivated him. So much so that he was determined to have it no matter what.

After teasing several court ladies along the winding paths, Yungak finally entered his chambers.

Creak.

The outer door closed, and he locked the inner door as well.

Yungak shrugged off his fluttering outer robe. He tied his long, flowing hair into a single bundle, making it easier to move. Pulling a chair to the table, he sat down, and a man who had been hiding revealed himself.

“You’ve taken quite a dangerous risk.”

“That much is fine.”

Though the spy he had painstakingly planted in Haban’s palace had nearly been discovered, the gain was worth it.

The man, seemingly giving up on further dissuasion, sat to Yungak’s right. A court attendant who had just checked the room silently began preparing tea.

The man’s gaze flicked toward the attendant.

“I don’t recognize this court lady.”

“Ah? I brought her in recently.”

“Don’t tell me…”

“No, not someone sent by my elder brother. She matched me well, so I cut her tongue and brought her under my command.”

Upon hearing Yungak’s words, the man reached out and grabbed the court attendant’s chin.

“Open up.”

The attendant flinched, her shoulders trembling.

When she raised her head, her features were strikingly beautiful. But without a shred of hesitation, the man forced her lips apart with his thumb.

Ah.

After verifying the inside of her mouth once more, he let go as if tossing her away. As he wiped his hand, no trace of regret crossed his face.

“If you need someone, I’ll prepare them for you. There’s no need for someone as noble as yourself to get involved in these matters.”

“I happened to enjoy the sound of screams for once. But next time, I’ll leave it to you.”

Yungak placed a white Go stone at the center of the table.

At first glance, the table seemed unmarked, but a closer look revealed a map faintly etched with tiny pinpricks.

The spot marked by the white stone represented the current location of the imperial palace.

Every room in Yungak’s quarters contained a different map. The one here detailed only the palace and the nearby terrain. It was precisely for that reason he had chosen this room.

The man shifted his seat and reached into the Go bowl, and the court lady who had served tea quietly disappeared.

Clatter.

After the clinking of Go stones, a black stone was soon placed near the white one. The sequence in which the stones were placed resembled a path, as if tracing a journey somewhere.

Several tense days passed.

The schedule for the departure to the altar had finally begun. When Haban stopped by to check on the fox, he was already fully prepared.

White robes befitting a sacred ceremony, blue embellishments, and a finely crafted golden crown. Dori was momentarily mesmerized by the dazzling sight, but snapped out of it when Haban gently tapped his nose.

“Kang! Kang!”

‘Wait a sec! Me too!’

Dori rushed to the desk, pulled open the drawer, and took out all the accessories inside. Then he bounded toward the bed.

The fox, who had carefully hidden a bracelet under a cushion, picked it up in his mouth and looked up at Haewon.

“Again?”

The fox was greedy. He was also so suspicious that he changed the hiding places of his jewelry multiple times a day. Eventually, Haewon had wrapped them in a handkerchief for him, and since then, the fox had begun to openly demand them.

Letting out a sigh, Haewon adorned the fox with necklaces and bracelets on his neck and paws and wrapped the rest in a handkerchief tied at his waist.

“…Kaang.”

Despite staggering under the weight, Dori wobbled his way over to Haban.

The bundle that had been perched like a mushroom on his back now hung around his belly. The bracelet fastened near his chest slipped down and dragged along the floor, but he couldn’t bear to leave even a single item behind.

‘There. Now take me with you too.’

Dori gently placed one paw on top of Haban’s shoe. It was the paw without the bracelet. The stark white fur stood out even more against the pitch-black leather.

As Dori rubbed his paw pleadingly, Haban’s eyes darkened.

At last, Haban spoke.

“Where could my fox be headed, all dressed up like this?”

“Kang!”

‘To follow you!’

Dori answered quickly. He felt a bit guilty because he was planning to run away midway, but it wasn’t a lie, so he figured it was fine.

He hadn’t made his decision yet—whether to flee the palace or help Haban. He was still debating.

So for now, he had decided to follow Haban. It seemed best to help him first, then escape afterward.

“When I go out for work, my white dog always does the same. It must know Your Majesty intends to leave the palace.”

From behind Haban, Jipyeong spoke while watching the fox.

“His behavior grows stranger by the day.”

Haban, who had been observing with a puzzled look, bent down. As he grabbed one of the fox’s long front legs, the fox tried to scurry backward on his hind legs.

“You need to be careful.”

Haban flicked off a bracelet that looked like it might trip the fox, then picked him up. The fox, with his paws off the ground, dug his claws into Haban’s robe out of unease.

Startled, the court attendants flinched reflexively, worried the emperor might be scratched. But no one dared approach out of fear of Haban.

The only one the emperor treated with leniency was the fox. To eunuch Kim, who was watching nearby, the emperor’s touch seemed exceptionally gentle.

“Kang…!”

Yet the fox squirmed desperately, as if trying to escape. On closer look, his desperate gaze was fixed on the bracelet left behind on the floor.

“Tsk.”

Clicking his tongue, Haban gestured with his chin, prompting eunuch Kim to pick up the bracelet and hand it to the fox. Hugging it to his chest, the fox hurriedly bundled it with the rest hanging from his belly.

Haewon tilted her head in confusion, and Geumhu frowned slightly, but Dori was too busy gazing up at Haban’s face. These were people he wouldn’t see again once he escaped anyway.

“We’re going on horseback. It would be better for you to stay in the palace.”

“…Kaang.”

You’ll regret it if you don’t take me.

Dori was frustrated he couldn’t say that aloud. As he buried his snout in Haban’s arms and let out muffled sounds, a firm hand stroked his back.

“I won’t be able to indulge your whims along the way. I hope you’re prepared.”

As Haban subtly reached to touch the fox’s tail, Dori flicked it away sharply. The tail was strictly off-limits.

Instead, he allowed Haban to crumple his ears. He was proud of how his ears always stood back up, no matter how much they were pressed down.

“Prepare a carriage.”

“Are you really taking him with you?”

“He must be feeling stifled after being cooped up in the palace. Perhaps he also misses the mountains.”

“It’s not a short journey. It might be too much for the fox. Wouldn’t it be better to take him next time after making proper preparations? Once it’s warmer, he might enjoy staying at a cooler summer palace.”

Taking the fox was not a simple matter. Since they had planned to ride horses, the schedule was loose. Switching to a carriage would make time tight.

Moreover, their luggage was already packed, and supplies had been sent ahead to various locations. They might run short on the way.

Most importantly—

“What if he gets lost?”

Even now, the emperor was taking such great care of him.

Seeing the fox’s tail puff up as if he’d been caught, Geumhu thought the emperor was making a rash decision.

“He may be timid, but he’s perceptive. And clever. He’ll understand after a few warnings, so there’s no need to worry.”

Worn out from the workload, Geumhu’s face darkened.

“…Yes, understood.”

In the end, the emperor’s early morning departure was delayed.

And the original plan to briefly look around after the Heavenly Ritual at the altar had to be scrapped, with the travel time being rearranged for a more relaxed pace.

The workload of the chancellor increased again, and he wore a deeply displeased expression.

“Keugh!”

As Geumhu reached out to support himself by gripping the arm of the captain of the guards, Jipyeong clenched his jaw. Meanwhile, eunuch Kim, tasked with preparing the carriage for both the emperor and the fox, hurried past them.