SAFBIAN Ch 91

Chapter 91

The Ho Trading Group crossed the gates of the imperial palace, pulling their carts as usual, having been summoned by an esteemed figure.

As expected, the one in charge of the group was Wonwoo.

“There’s an unusual number of onlookers out today.”

“The atmosphere feels more chaotic than usual, too. I hope we don’t end up getting caught in the crossfire.”

While the soldiers inspected the cargo, the red foxes gathered on one side. Wonwoo glanced briefly at one of the men among them, then turned his head away.

Among the palace attendants sent by Yungak, Hoyeon was hidden, her face veiled. She watched her family with a wistful gaze, but quickly averted her eyes for fear of arousing suspicion from the other attendants.

However, such circumstances were none of Wonwoo’s concern.

‘Is it that way?’

The direction where he could sense Dori’s presence.

Wonwoo turned halfway. The half-engraving on his body automatically responded, seeking out its bonded mate. For the first time in a long while, he could breathe easily and felt the blood circulate through his whole body.

Just then, Bisol approached and asked,

“Are you really sure about this?”

“About what.”

“This is the imperial palace, of all places. If you get caught, it won’t end with just you.”

“Stop talking nonsense and focus on your job.”

Wonwoo shot a sharp glare at Bisol, his eyes even more piercing now that he’d lost weight.

There was a reason Bisol, an informant for the trading group, had been mixed in with those transporting the cargo. Upon confirming the awaited signal, Wonwoo pulled out a large wooden box from among the goods that had already been inspected.

“…I really don’t know.”

Bisol, too, gathered the rest of the items and followed closely behind.

When they arrived at Yungak’s palace, Wonwoo exchanged clothes with an attendant who had been waiting for him.

Later, when they returned to the area where the carts were, the plan was for Bisol and the attendant wearing Wonwoo’s clothes to leave the palace first, using the excuse that the latter was unwell.

After watching Bisol and the attendant dressed in his clothes disappear into the distance, Wonwoo opened the door. Following the waiting eunuch through several more doors, Yungak finally came into view.

As soon as he sat across from Yungak, Hoyeon placed the tea down.

The Fox Trading Group’s main business was luxury goods.

Silks from various regions, unique accessories, rare spices—items not easily found elsewhere filled their inventory. Among them, the most popular were the premium-grade at-leaves, which were selected with care and sent exclusively to the royal court.

The tea Yungak was enjoying now was precisely one of those.

“Being here with you like this feels rather refreshing.”

‘…Damn it.’

Wonwoo forced a smile, clenching his jaw.

“That outfit suits you surprisingly well, too.”

“…”

With Yungak’s help, Wonwoo had disguised himself as a palace attendant to infiltrate the imperial palace.

The fact that he had to pose as a eunuch was unpleasant, but he didn’t have the build to convincingly dress as a woman, and the palace guards moved in pairs and knew each other’s faces—there was no other way.

“How about working in the palace for real while you’re at it?”

Fanning himself playfully, Yungak made the remark as though teasing.

Having learned the family business as the heir to the trading group, Wonwoo immediately recognized that the fan, which appeared ordinary at first glance, was actually crafted from layers of paper applied to the bone of a white beast and then covered in stiff silk—an exquisite item.

‘This was the craft of the Yan Kingdom.’

Craftsmen valued the roots of their techniques, even if those roots came from a fallen nation.

Tak.

Just then, Yungak slammed the fan onto the table. Only then did Wonwoo realize he’d missed a question while scrutinizing the fan.

“Thank you for your kind words.”

“I’m not just being polite.”

Propping his elbow on the tea table and resting his chin in his hand, Yungak smiled softly.

A beautiful face and smiling eyes—but Wonwoo knew well the cruelty hidden behind that lighthearted tone and manner.

On the night they first met, Wonwoo had seen it with his own eyes—Yungak killing three of the group’s workers right in front of him. They had stepped forward to protect Wonwoo from someone trying to seize him.

Dragged away afterward, the others fell without even time to scream. Yungak, unfazed, had even claimed it was a mercy to kill them quickly.

It was a warning—if Wonwoo ever lied or tried to deceive him, the entire trading group would suffer the same fate.

“However, I…”

“What a pity. Most eunuchs in the palace are castrated as children, so there aren’t many with a solid build like yours.”

A leering gaze swept over Wonwoo’s broad shoulders, chest, and taut, muscular abdomen, then continued downward. Beneath the table, Wonwoo clenched his fist silently.

‘I said I’d help steal Dori away—so I have to endure it for now.’

No matter how hard he had tried, he had failed to find a way into the palace.

Watching Dori ride away in a carriage had seemed like the first and last chance. The thought of it made him want to leap over the palace walls at once.

He was plagued by constant anxiety, trembling hands and feet, waves of anguish crashing down on him. He felt as though he were slowly going mad. In such a state, Yungak’s proposal had tasted sweet as honey.

‘Even if it’s a rotten rope, I don’t care.’

As long as he could fall together with Dori.

Wonwoo’s eyes gleamed intensely. Yungak was pleased to see the growing obsession in his expression.

‘Such a rare white fox—it’s a shame, but one that’s worth the price.’

The Emperor, Haban, cherished foxes deeply. The palace the foxes resided in was the third largest, after the emperor and empress’s own quarters. Many attendants even claimed to have seen the emperor cradling the foxes in his arms.

Despite being a mere beast, this fierce creature dared to nuzzle against the emperor’s chest, and yet he allowed it. It showed just how much Haban favored the foxes.

‘A fox consort… that wouldn’t be too bad either.’

A mere beast—what would it know of its position? Laughing at Haban’s foolishness, Yungak nonetheless imagined the fox in his mind.

“Alright. Why don’t we go see my brother’s fox now?”

“…Pardon?”

Wonwoo’s head snapped up. Though he tried to hide it, a flicker of anticipation showed.

“If it really is your fox, wouldn’t you be curious how it’s been all this time?”

Of course, I’m curious, too.

The more you try to hide something, the more people want to see it.

Yungak rose from his seat, fan in hand.

Dori kept fiddling with the clothes he was wearing. The fabric was so soft that even the lightest touch made it flutter—it was fascinating.

‘Wow…’

There had been many outfits Haban had given him before. But this was the first one so extravagant. The norigae and sachet peeking out from the hem were so delightful that he rubbed them repeatedly with his fingers.

“Hold still, will you?”

Eventually, he was scolded.

Dori pouted but obediently lowered his hands.

‘Tsk.’

Haban rubbed slowly beneath his brow, displeased.

His skin, already pale, now glistened. His red lips glowed with moisture, and his hair was sleeker than ever.

How much had they prodded and pressed Dori like dough to make him look like this?

He wanted to scold the two responsible, but Dori seemed to love it so much that he couldn’t bring himself to get angry. Haban’s frown refused to ease.

“Who did your hair?”

His eyes, scanning Dori’s clothes, shifted upward. Faintly furrowing his brow, he asked in a disapproving tone.

Dori flinched.

‘Does it look weird? I actually like it…’

He instinctively reached to touch his hair but quickly lowered his hand when Haban’s gaze darkened.

“…I don’t remember.”

Would Haban scold Hong?

Dori glanced about nervously. Fortunately, Haban didn’t say anything more. He only looked at the overly adorned hair accessories with disdain.

Relieved, Dori began to pick at the snacks on the table.

The fruit had been simmered until tender, glazed with honey, and then cooled. The result was a sweet and tart flavor that whetted the appetite of a weary summer fox.

“…So, what do you think about learning?”

“Huh?”

He had been so focused on eating that he hadn’t noticed. Dori fumbled for the bowl and asked again.

“…Looks like I’ll have to ask the royal physician to prepare medicine in advance.”

Startled by the word “medicine,” Dori’s hand jerked away from the bowl.

“W-Wait, medicine? Why?”

He was already dreading it. Ever since Haewon had discovered that he’d faked ignorance and run around to avoid taking medicine when he was a fox, the medicine had seemed even more bitter.

Dori paused, then shook his head firmly.

“I’m not even sick.”

“If you eat that many cold things, you’ll end up with stomach trouble.”

“Still, I’m not sick right now. Taking medicine for no reason is worse for you.”

He’d drunk entire bottles of cold water under the blazing sun at the construction site and never had any problems.

“You impudent brat. Even if it’s all tonic for your energy.”

“I’m not sick yet, so it’s fine.”

Dori grimaced like he’d already tasted the bitter medicine. In response, Haban pushed the half-eaten snack bowl aside.

Clicking his tongue in disappointment, he said dinner was coming soon and they could eat again afterward, then rose from his seat. Dori followed behind him with quick little steps.

“Are you heading out?”

As he moved quickly, the ornaments in his hair clinked together.

Lifting his long robe, Dori blinked when he saw Haban standing at the door, not leaving. But Haban only stared quietly at his face and said nothing.

“You’re really so dense… You need to grow up quickly.”

With a sigh, Haban suddenly ruffled his hair roughly.

‘Ugh, what was that for!’

Dori puffed up in protest but, once the door closed behind Haban, he blushed and quietly placed a hand on top of his head. The warmth from Haban’s palm seemed to still linger there.

After Haban left, Dori enjoyed a moment of peace, then suddenly remembered something—Poof!—and transformed into a fox.

‘Nothing better to do, might as well check on the dog hole for the first time in a while.’

In case he ever got forced out of the palace, he needed to find a way back in. With Hong and Cheong both gone, now was the perfect time. If he went quietly, no one would notice.

Dori silently opened the window.

Creeeak—he leapt out as the opening widened, and as soon as his paws touched the ground, he took off running. His tail swayed furiously, and the breeze tossed his fur around.

He reached his destination in no time but didn’t approach directly. Instead, he craned his neck from a distance.

Someone might see him checking the place, so he tried to confirm from afar—but the tree had grown thick with leaves, and the view was blocked.

…Nnngh.

Dori pawed at the ground in indecision.

‘Should’ve come at night instead.’

Reluctantly deciding to return and come back later, he turned around—just in time to spot Yungak walking in the distance.

‘What’s he doing? Just leaving?’

In the past, Yungak would always speak to him when they crossed paths. Lately, he’d stopped appearing altogether, and now, even here, he seemed uninterested and simply walked away.

Dori tilted his head.

‘…Huh?’

At that moment, a familiar scent drifted in on the wind.