SAFBIAN Ch 83

Chapter 83

 

Haewon spoke with a sigh and pushed the concave bowl forward. Though he followed the Emperor’s command, he still didn’t like giving human food to a fox.

 

Gulp. Dori hurriedly swallowed what was in his mouth and jumped off the table.

 

“What is it now?”

 

Clatter. A startled Haewon stood up almost simultaneously.

 

But the fox moved much faster. Dori had already dashed to the door and was twitching his ears attentively.

 

‘Did Haban really leave?’

 

He pressed his golden eyes to the narrow crack in the door and glanced around. All he saw were palace attendants passing by. If the Emperor were nearby, they wouldn’t be chattering so carelessly.

 

Leaping back onto the table, Dori kept glancing at the door while devouring his food, worried that Haban might change his mind and return.

 

“Is someone there?”

 

After watching him repeat this behavior a few times, Haewon asked, seemingly bothered. He seemed to think the sensitive ears of the beast had picked up on a presence.

 

“That’s strange. There’s no one.”

 

In the end, Haewon set down his chopsticks, stepped outside to check the corridor, and returned after confirming it was empty. In the meantime, Dori had eaten his fill and took a few steps back.

 

It was a very satisfying meal. The cold soup, in particular, with its generous chunks of precious ice, was perfect for the hot weather—so refreshing and delightful.

 

Chomp, chomp.

 

Dori licked off every bit of meat grease around his mouth and exhaled deeply, his belly full.

 

“…Pig.”

 

Haewon muttered under his breath. He had stood up to call for Hong and Cheong to clear the dishes, but then he saw the fox plop down heavily onto the table, unable to bear the weight of his own body.

 

It was fortunate he was no longer skin and bones, but Haewon, being a physician, still found it concerning.

 

Foxes shed their fur. In the summer, they lose their coat and grow new fur as winter approaches, since they do not hibernate and must prepare for the bitter cold.

 

But the fox in front of him had a puffy coat in the middle of summer. In other words, it wasn’t fur—it was all fat.

 

Dori, enjoying his post-meal drowsiness with his long ears laid flat, caught Haewon’s muttered words with his sharp hearing and immediately bristled.

 

“Kyank!”

 

How much could a tiny fox stomach, anyway?

 

Besides, there were so many dishes that he could only take a bite of most.

 

“Kaaang!”

 

Filled with frustration, Dori barked loudly.

 

“Even if it’s true. You look twice the size you were when you first came to the palace.”

 

‘What are you saying! It’s the fur that got thicker!’

 

“…Hmm, well. Back then, I could feel your bones. You’re still light for a fox, but if you gain weight too suddenly, it’ll strain your bones, so I should make sure you eat in moderation.”

 

Muttering to himself, Haewon lightly stroked the fox’s back and gave his black nose a playful tap before walking off.

 

Dori, who had been fiercely protesting, paused when Haewon moved away and glanced down. His previously flat belly was now rounded. Sheepishly, he curled his tail to cover his stomach.

 

After asking a court lady in the corridor to summon Hong and Cheong, Haewon returned and poked the fox’s side with his finger.

 

His finger sank deeply into the fur, surprising both Dori and Haewon.

 

“See? Your belly fat’s spilling over to the sides.”

 

Dori’s eyes widened. His ears perked up. Licking his black nose with his tongue, he let out a delayed ka, kaang… whimper.

 

“See? You’re not a fox but a pig.”

 

“Kaang! Kyang, kyang!”

 

‘This is defamation! I may look like a fox, but I’m human inside!’

 

Though Dori strongly objected, once Haewon said he would go report to the Emperor and left, Dori quickly grew sullen and his tail drooped.

 

‘…Have I really gained that much weight?’

 

Flap. His tail feathers swayed limply.

 

It must be a lack of exercise. Ever since he was caught trying to escape from the palace, he’d been too wary of Haban’s watchful eyes to leave the room.

 

‘I can’t go on like this. I have to go out today.’

 

Just walking one lap around the inner palace would be a decent workout. The palace was so large that it was inevitable. He might as well check whether the doghole was still usable.

 

For now, he aimlessly paced the room as light exercise. At that moment, Hong and Cheong came in, each carrying a large tray. Dori climbed onto the window ledge so as not to get in their way and began licking his forepaws.

 

Then, a conversation between Hong and Cheong reached his ears.

 

“Huh? Look at this. Aren’t the utensils exactly the way we left them earlier?”

 

What Hong pointed at were the clean utensils and dishes left untouched. Haban had left without taking even a single bite, so everything remained neatly arranged.

 

Cheong opened her mouth slightly in surprise.

 

“His Majesty didn’t eat at all, did he?”

 

Dori scratched his neck with a hind paw, feeling a prick of guilt. Technically, he was the one who’d driven the Emperor away. Then, with a sharp flick of his head, he turned away.

 

‘He’s the Emperor. I’m sure he ate something. Not my problem.’

 

With so many attendants flocking around him, surely someone would’ve made sure he got his meal.

 

Dori scoffed at the thought but still pricked his ears to their conversation. His tail even perked up when he heard Haban had headed straight to the office afterward.

 

…What? He only barely made time for breakfast because he was busy? Then why skip the meal! That just made Dori feel guilty.

 

“Still, when I first had to handle these dishes, I was so scared I trembled.”

 

Cheong and Hong’s hands moved faster as they cleaned up the table.

 

The dish Dori had just been licking, among others, were all porcelain with intricate patterns painted in vivid cobalt-blue pigment. The edges had been dyed richly with gold dust mixed into the paint to add elegance.

 

“Just the dishes? I find this whole room scary. I’m so careful when cleaning, afraid I’ll accidentally break something.”

 

“Doesn’t it just show how much His Majesty cherishes our little fox?”

 

“Can’t you tell just by looking? He serves him food in these precious dishes.”

 

“Well, yeah.”

 

Cheong smiled proudly.

 

When a master received the Emperor’s favor, even their attendants walked with more pride. The senior court ladies who used to sneer at them for serving only a fox were surely jealous deep down.

 

‘So that’s how others see it too.’

 

Though he pretended not to care, even Dori’s lips began to curl into a satisfied smile.

 

Afternoon passed, then evening, and still Haban didn’t return. As night fell and Dori was left alone in the bedchamber, he spent a long time contemplating. Then, as if making a decision, he stood up.

 

No one was around, so he could’ve just transformed outright, but out of habit, he picked up his clothes and quietly slipped behind the folding screen. After transforming into human form and putting on clothes, Dori climbed onto the bed.

 

It seemed Haban wasn’t coming tonight. In that case, there was no need to remain in fox form.

 

The soft pillow and warm blankets. As soon as he lay down, he felt his body melt. Turning once to the left, then again to the right, Dori rolled around and let out a relaxed breath.

 

‘Haa… How long has it been?’

 

Since he had last rolled around in bed in human form like this.

 

Though he’d slept in human form after Haban discovered his secret, he hadn’t truly relaxed—curling up tightly in fear their skin might touch in sleep.

 

And last night, because of that, he had ended up sleeping in his fox form again.

 

‘Agh…’

 

Dori shut his eyes tight and groaned. The memory of the previous night caused his ears to burn red.

 

Last night had been truly impulsive.

 

The atmosphere had been too perfect, and under the moonlight, Haban’s face looked too handsome. The palm pressed against his back had been warm, and the gaze looking down on him was even hotter. Though he had snapped at Haban in the morning, it was more out of embarrassment than anger.

 

‘…But I didn’t expect Haban to be so forward.’

 

In response to Dori’s clumsy kiss, Haban had returned it with a rich, intense one. It hadn’t been rough and wild like in the original story, yet it felt dangerous in its softness. His whole body flushed, and he felt a prickling awareness in every nerve.

 

Feeling shy for no reason, Dori pulled the blanket up to his neck—then over his entire face. He worried that, from now on, he’d see nothing but Haban’s lips every time they met.

 

‘…It smells nice.’

 

The blanket had a sweet fragrance. Come to think of it, Hong had been especially fussy while preparing the bedding. She must’ve placed a scented sachet inside and removed it before leaving.

 

Dori buried his nose in the blanket like he did in fox form. As he slowly inhaled and exhaled, sleep crept over him.

 

At any rate, he would have to see Haban again tomorrow.

 

Dori drifted off, lost in such thoughts.

 

When he briefly woke again, the surroundings were pitch dark.

 

Realizing it was still night, Dori turned over to fall back asleep. But the blanket that had been pulled up to his head was now down to his chest. And—there was a presence.

 

‘…Who?’

 

Dori’s heart almost burst on the spot. Was it because he was in human form? He had fallen into such a deep sleep that he hadn’t noticed someone sneaking into his room.

 

‘What if it’s an assassin?’

 

His first thought was of an intruder in a black mask.

 

He thought he had forgotten all that, having eaten and rested well since returning to the palace—but once engraved, fear never truly goes away. The terror he had just begun to move past surged back in an instant.

 

He had to confirm who it was. Only then could he run. But his eyes felt glued shut, refusing to open.

 

Haa, haa.

 

His breathing quickened. His toes curled and his hands gripped the blanket tightly.

 

‘…I-I’m scared.’

 

Unconsciously, Dori reached for someone. The warmth that had embraced him in the tent. The hand that gently soothed him, whispering it was all right.

 

‘H-Haban…!’

 

The one who came to mind without a second thought was Haban.

 

At that moment, the heart that had been pounding wildly slowly found its rhythm again. The tension melted away. The scent lingering right beside him was all too familiar.