The meat. I wonder if he ate the meat I left behind?
That cry close to a wail—’Kyaaaaaong—!’—echoed in his ears. He hadn’t expected him to get that angry. That face distorted with grief kept hovering before his eyes.
‘It’ll take some time to soothe his sulking.’
He must be thoroughly upset. Still, should he be grateful it wasn’t angry enough to run away like before? When he returned, how should he placate him? Should he offer some fresh tender chicken?
Though matters of great Imperial importance were being decided before his eyes, Adrian’s mind was filled only with worry about the fur ball. He pictured the pitiful sight of him curled up alone in the cold, dark space under the bed.
Those tear-filled blue eyes that had looked at him with resentment.
“…Your Majesty.”
Finally, Kael, who’d been watching the nobles who’d forgotten dignity and started fighting and the silent Emperor, carefully called his name. Only then did Adrian’s focus return. His eyes slowly swept over the conference room filled with all manner of shouting.
What a mess, truly.
He looked at them as if pathetic.
“Everyone shut your mouths.”
It wasn’t an ice-cold voice. Nor was it a shout filled with anger. Just a languid, indifferent remark.
But at that single statement, all the noise shaking the conference hall stopped as if by magic. Heavy, overwhelming silence strangled the nobles’ throats. Those who’d been growling as if ready to grab each other’s collars just moments ago all kept their mouths firmly shut, only watching the Emperor’s mood.
Adrian, resting his chin on his hand, opened his mouth without hiding his bored expression.
“Duke Eisen.”
“…Yes, Your Majesty.”
“I will immediately dispatch a subjugation force to the eastern region.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty!”
Color returned to the duke’s face. But Adrian’s words weren’t finished.
“However, all supplies while the subjugation force remains shall be the duke’s family’s responsibility.”
“…Pardon?”
“Why. I’m even lending you my army—can’t you do that much?”
When cold golden eyes pierced through him, Duke Eisen hurriedly bowed his head.
“N-no! Your Majesty! I will follow your command!”
Adrian’s gaze turned to the next target.
“Kael. You will report in detail on the grain reserves of each region including the eastern region. Countermeasures for poor harvests including the eastern region will be discussed after receiving that report.”
Kael’s face turned pale. At the fact that he’d have to run until his feet blistered investigating grain reserves across the entire Empire, he swallowed tears and answered.
“Yes. I accept your command.”
Finally, his gaze reached Count Lucadel.
“Count Lucadel.”
“You called, Your Majesty.”
“Draft a tax reform proposal and report directly to me within a month. With the most efficient plan to fill the treasury while minimizing tax resistance from the nobility.”
“Surely you’re not going to listen to that man’s words? Your Majesty! There’s no precedent for that…!”
Marquis Valerius cried out urgently, but Adrian mercilessly cut off his words.
“I’ll make the final decision after reviewing the report. That’s all. The meeting is over, so everyone withdraw.”
Adrian rose from his seat. As if he wouldn’t listen to anyone else’s opinions, he left the conference room without regret. Behind his dignified stride, the complex gazes of the dumbfounded nobles followed.
Upon exiting the conference room, Adrian’s footsteps walking down the corridor grew increasingly faster. The Emperor’s face filled with authority was nowhere to be found, only a man’s face mixed with anxiety and worry remained. In his mind was only the thought that he must return to the bedroom immediately and check under the bed.
The bedroom he entered after opening the door was eerily quiet. The servants had already cleaned the office that had been messy since lunch, but the fur ball was nowhere to be seen. Just in case, he looked under the bed, but that place too was coldly empty. Only the steak plate he’d left sat there forlornly, emptied clean as if thoroughly licked.
He ate the meat. Seeing the empty bowl brought relief. Because it didn’t seem like he was very angry. However, the relief was only momentary. Cold anxiety soon assailed him again. Then where on earth had the fox gone?
“Fox.”
No answer came. He frantically began searching every corner of the room. Inside the wardrobe, behind thick curtains, between sofa cushions. But nowhere was that small ball of fur visible. His heart sank coldly.
‘Surely he didn’t leave because he was angry?’
The wound hadn’t healed yet. If he wandered far with those fragile legs, the wound would surely worsen.
No, perhaps something more terrible had happened. Everyone inside the Imperial Palace knew. That the black fox was a presence at the Emperor’s side. A being that must not be dared touched. But outside the palace was different. People coming and going in the marketplace wouldn’t know who cherished that small black fox.
What if someone discovered the fox? What if they harmed him? All sorts of terrible scenes swept through his mind like a storm.
With a serious expression, he swept the room once more as if groping. Then his gaze stopped on the pile of blankets messily stacked on the bed.
‘Could it be…?’
A slender hope trembled in his chest. Carefully, he lifted the edge of the blanket.
In the very center of the blanket’s fluffiest part, the fox with a face knowing nothing of worldly worries was sound asleep with his pink belly hidden in black fur exposed to the sky. With each quiet breath flowing through his small body, his belly rose and fell plumply, and at his slightly parted mouth, a satisfied smile faintly spread.
The storm raging in his chest stopped. His shoulders stiff with tension slumped. The strength left his legs and he nearly collapsed on the spot.
Relief—no, an even more complex emotion than that—washed over him. He couldn’t even laugh emptily. To make him worry like this, yet sleep peacefully as if nothing had happened.
“What a comfortable life you have.”
Adrian murmured and sat very carefully on the edge of the bed. Each of his movements was cautious lest he wake the sleeping fox. Watching the chest rising and falling regularly, he found himself unconsciously holding his breath.
The fox’s belly, swollen plump from eating his fill, moved with even breathing. Perhaps because the surrounding fur was black, the pink color stood out more. His fingertips tingled. He wanted to touch right now, wanted to hold him in his arms. Only now did he truly understand why people who kept companion animals wanted so much to pet them, to keep them close.
After deep contemplation, he carefully extended his hand and lightly touched the belly. Beyond the soft, squishy texture, warm heat was definitely felt. The fact that this small life was alive, and that he was sleeping comfortably right here, by his side—this fact strangely filled his heart warmly.
It was at that moment.
Whether awakened by Adrian’s touch, the fox squirmed and rolled over. He hurriedly withdrew his hand, but it was already too late. The fox emerged from the blankets staggering, unable to even properly open his eyes.
“Kking…”
The fox’s nose moved minutely. Then following the source of that scent, he carefully climbed onto Adrian’s lap and settled himself. Wriggling a few times as if searching for the most comfortable position, he soon curled his body into a ball and fell into deep sleep.
When the small, warm life form settled onto his lap, Adrian stiffened his entire body while holding his breath.
The fox’s gentle breathing was vividly felt through the fabric of his pants. As if he’d never been angry and growling, he now entrusted his entire weight as if he’d found the safest and most reliable refuge in the world. Even in his anger, the sight of him unconsciously seeking him out was utterly endearing.
Adrian carefully stroked the head of the fox who’d begun enjoying a nap on his lap. On this afternoon when not-too-hot sunlight poured down, there was no moment as peaceful as stroking this adorable fur ball.
However, this peace couldn’t last long. In the office, documents awaiting the Emperor’s approval were piled like a mountain. The Empire was operating so busily it wouldn’t allow the Emperor even the briefest respite.
He looked down at the fur ball on his lap. He had to get up. However, seeing the gentle breathing, the black ear tips trembling minutely, he couldn’t move.
‘…Just 5 minutes.’
Rationalizing to himself that just a brief moment would be fine, he settled into a more comfortable position.
Five minutes passed in the blink of an eye.
Then 10 minutes, and 20 minutes flowed by helplessly.
Each time the small body wriggled and burrowed as if searching for a more comfortable spot, Adrian unconsciously held his breath. The Emperor didn’t move even slightly, like a lifeless statue. No, he couldn’t bear to. The peaceful breathing coming from his lap was stealing away all his resolve and will.
This isn’t the time for this.
Get a grip, Adrian Albrecht. A mountain of documents is waiting for you. You need to finalize the personnel selection for the subjugation force to send Duke Eisen, and review the foundational materials for the tax reform proposal Count Lucadel will submit. There’s a mountain of work to do, yet you’re tied down because of a beast barely the size of a fist.
He urged himself. But perhaps it was because of the warm heat. Gradually the heavy burden called the Empire that had been weighing on his shoulders was momentarily forgotten, and its place was filled instead with soft warmth. It was unfamiliar, but not at all an unpleasant sensation.
It was the very moment Adrian’s eyelids were lowering.
