Even though it was waking him like this, he showed no reaction at all. Just as it was about to turn its back on Adrian, puffing out angry breaths—poof—from its nostrils with hurt feelings welling up, that moment occurred.
The fox’s gaze fixed on the golden hair scattered over the pillow.
The hair sparkling in the morning sunlight looked just like the strange bugs it had seen in the forest, and also like swaying wild grass. Its tiny front paw like a cotton ball lifted cautiously. Then it flicked its front paw—tap—toward Adrian’s hair. The disheveled hair swayed.
Its blue eyes sparkled with mischief.
This is fun!
The fox settled into a comfortable position and began playing with Adrian’s soft golden hair as a new toy. It tried pressing the hair down with its front paws, and attempted to snatch it with quick movements.
The Emperor’s hair, normally neatly arranged, instantly became the small hunter’s playground and began getting mussed up here and there.
Adrian’s brow furrowed slightly in his sleep, but he still showed no sign of emerging from deep sleep. Growing bolder, the fox moved even closer to his bedside. The fox’s tail swished and brushed past the tip of Adrian’s nose.
“…Mm.”
Faint sleep talk leaked between Adrian’s lips. As if something tickled, he turned his head slightly to the side.
Is he finally waking up?
The fox, thinking Adrian would soon wake, stopped its mischief and swished its tail with anticipation. But Adrian returned to sleep while breathing regularly again. The fox’s tail stopped in midair. Though its tail drooped in disappointment, it didn’t give up.
It seemed the time had come to really bring out the ultimate weapon.
The fox brought its face close to Adrian’s cheek and stuck out its pinkish tongue slightly to lick his cheek. A warm, moist sensation was transmitted to his skin.
At that gentle stimulus, Adrian’s consciousness, which had been floating in the deep sea of sleep, slowly began rising to the surface. It was a strangely refreshing morning where he felt neither the nightmares that had long tormented him nor the fatigue pressing down on body and mind.
Before he had time to think about the reason for that refreshment, at something brushing his cheek once more, Adrian’s eyelids lifted completely.
What is this now…?
The moment he turned his head to confirm what was waking him, the fox’s soft tongue, about to lick again, touched not his cheek but his lips.
At that unfamiliar sensation, Adrian’s thoughts stopped for a moment.
His hazy golden eyes found focus. What filled his vision was a small fox with an innocent expression knowing nothing. Brilliant sapphire-like blue eyes blinked while looking at him.
What just happened?
Adrian’s brain needed a few seconds to fully wake from sleep and grasp the situation.
Moist, soft, and warm sensation.
What had touched his lips was the tongue of this ball of fur right before his eyes.
Living his entire life as Emperor, it was a type of surprise attack he had never once experienced. He might know dangers like an assassin’s blade or a poisoned wine cup, but he had never received a morning greeting in this way.
“Kyak!”
The fox had no idea what it had just done and just wagged its tail with an innocent expression, excited that Adrian had woken up.
Now that you’re up, you’ll give me delicious meat, right? What meat will you give today? Chicken? Beef?
The fox just waited for him to get out of bed and give it food. But far from getting out of bed, he just stared at it blankly. The fox stopped wagging its tail and tilted its head.
Why is he like that? Looking at the frozen Adrian with puzzlement, it suddenly recalled a game humans used to play.
Freeze tag.
Though it didn’t know well, it was a strange game where when one human froze, someone else would come tap them and run away.
Does he want to play that game now? Okay, playing before eating isn’t bad either!
The fox, interpreting Adrian’s frozen state that way, this time briefly flicked its tongue against his cheek and dashed away like an arrow.
“……?”
What absurd situation is this now?
Adrian, sitting on the edge of the bed, quietly watched to see what trick the ball of fur before his eyes was pulling this time.
When he didn’t move and only stared at it, the fox began provoking him once again. Even with its injured paw, it hopped lightly around, tearing through the room with quick movements.
Ah… it wants to play?
Only then realizing the meaning of the fox’s behavior, Adrian leisurely rose from the bed.
As his body forged with heavy muscles moved, the bed creaked softly. The fox, sensing a presence, peeked out only its blue eyes from behind a table leg to steal glances at him. It was a provocative gaze saying catch me if you can.
At that boldness, a faint smile hung on Adrian’s lips.
“I won’t go easy on you.”
Just as he uttered a playful warning and bent down to catch the fox, the ball of fur escaped to the opposite side like an arrow. Adrian changed direction and chased the fox again, but the fox used its small build to escape nimbly.
The massive Emperor’s bedroom instantly transformed into a tag playground. The fox was quite fast. How could it run so fast with one leg injured? The energy coming from that small body was simply amazing.
After a lengthy chase, Adrian finally cornered the fox. The only way out was between his legs. The fox glanced sideways at the space between Adrian’s legs while watching for an opportunity, then lowered its body to escape quickly as if it had found a chance.
But Adrian’s hand was faster.
“This little thing.”
The tiny fox came into Adrian’s hands. He aimed at its soft side and playfully wiggled his fingers to tickle it.
“You dare make the Emperor’s face covered in drool and then run away? You’d better be prepared.”
Adrian gently tickled without discrimination from the fox’s belly to its side to its scruff with his fingers. The fox flailed unable to endure the ticklishness, but whined as if it didn’t dislike it while receiving his touch.
That’s when it happened. Adrian’s hand carelessly brushed the fox’s injured paw.
“Kyaeng!”
A scream that could tear eardrums burst out. His hand froze in place. The smile that had lingered on his lips also disappeared in the blink of an eye. The air that had been full of joy until just moments before froze instantly.
“Are you okay?”
He carefully reached out to the fox to check if the wound had worsened. But the fox firmly rejected that touch. As if afraid he would hurt it again, it desperately hid its injured paw in its embrace.
“Whine, whiiine….”
The fox’s pitiful crying dug into Adrian’s chest. The fact that he had hurt this small fox through his mistake tormented him. He lowered his body further and made his voice gentle so the fox wouldn’t be frightened.
“I’m sorry. I… wasn’t careful enough.”
Though awkward and clumsy, it was a more sincere apology than any other words.
Right at that moment.
“Heh.”
A mischievous light flashed through the fox’s blue eyes.
As if shouting ‘Plan successful!’, it suddenly stood up the body that had been lying down pretending to be hurt until just now. Then before Adrian could even react, it lightly licked the tip of his nose and escaped far away like the wind.
Adrian, completely frozen in place, looked at the fox vigorously wagging its tail as if declaring victory from far away. A human-like smile spread across that face. The sparkling blue eyes were clearly saying ‘How’s that? Fooled you, didn’t I?’
“Ha…”
Adrian let out a hollow laugh. To think that he, who had survived among all kinds of palace intrigues since childhood, had been completely fooled by this ball of fur smaller than his palm’s acting.
The fox seemed satisfied with the success of its perfect acting and wagged its tail even more excitedly. That brazen yet playful appearance was both annoying and lovable.
A subtle smile spread across Adrian’s lips. It seemed like it had been a long time since he’d been so perfectly had. And by such an adorable opponent at that.
“Come here.”
The low, gentle voice held affection like a command. Nevertheless, the fox didn’t budge this time. Rather, as if saying ‘why should I?’, it tilted its head to tease him.
Right. You want to keep playing, is that it?
Adrian’s eyes changed in an instant. They sparkled dangerously like a predator spotting prey. The fox’s tail stood straight with wariness as it instinctively sensed that change, and only then realizing it was in crisis, it hastily turned its body.
I need to hide!
The black ball of fur flew like an arrow and burrowed behind the large curtain. Only its uniquely white tail tip was barely sticking out.
