Just moments ago, impulsive anger had surged up, making him summon a lower-ranking priest and order him to bring a collar and whip. However, the moment the lower-ranking priest appeared carrying those items, Theodor immediately realized his own foolishness.
Fear could tame a beast’s body, but it could not win its heart.
What Theodor wanted from this peculiar fox was not simple obedience. His ultimate goal was to perfectly understand and possess the mysterious power this small beast held, its very source. To achieve that, gaining its trust was more important than anything.
‘Let’s be patient a little longer.’
Time was on his side. This small beast had nowhere to go. The Emperor had already abandoned it, and the outside world was filled with danger. This fox with nowhere to go would have no choice but to rely on him.
So Theodor ordered the lower-ranking priest to take the muzzle and whip back. Except for the collar. Because of its black fur, it could be mistaken for a stray dog at a glance. It would be better for the fox’s safety to mark it as a beast with an owner.
Now then, how should he put this on?
The creature startled at the slightest touch. The moment he put a collar on the fox that didn’t yet fully trust him, all his efforts thus far could turn to bubbles. Theodor didn’t want to extinguish the tiny spark of favor the fox held for him.
How on earth could he break down that small beast’s wariness?
Theodor bent his knees and met the fox’s eye level. The fox, having finished eating the chicken, raised its head. He gave the gentlest smile in the world.
“Did you enjoy it? I’ve brought a gift for you. Would you like to see it?”
A gift? Instead of answering, the fox tilted its head slightly. A faint curiosity appeared in its eyes as it looked at the empty bowl once, then at Theodor. Theodor didn’t miss that moment. He extended the collar in his hand very slowly toward the fox. So that this time the fox wouldn’t swing its paws in alarm.
“This is for you.”
The fox observed warily, then brought its nose toward the leather strap in Theodor’s hand. It explored by sniffing the leather smell from the unfamiliar object. It was neither fragrant nor delicious-smelling, but it didn’t run away, perhaps judging it wasn’t a dangerous item.
Theodor judged that the fox had completely let down its guard and quickly wrapped the collar around the fox’s neck.
Wh-what!
The fox seemed flustered by the foreign sensation at its neck and stepped backward. However, before the fox could flee, Theodor fastened the buckle. Not too tight, not too loose. Now this fox was clearly a beast with an owner.
Uncomfortable.
Once the heavy thing was fastened around its neck, the fox began scratching constantly with its hind legs as if uncomfortable. It tried scratching with its front paws too, and rubbed its body against the floor trying to remove it. But the collar wouldn’t come off easily.
Finally realizing it couldn’t remove it on its own, the fox stopped its paws and looked up at Theodor as if grumbling. Its eyes seemed to ask, ‘What kind of gift is this? It’s uncomfortable.’
“This isn’t meant to harm you. It’ll be uncomfortable at first, but it’s necessary for you. You’ll be safer with this.”
This makes me safe?
Even at Theodor’s words, the fox raised a front paw with a dissatisfied expression and poked at the collar. It looked like it wanted to throw off this suffocating thing right away.
This won’t do. Theodor clicked his tongue inwardly.
“Would you like to try eating this?”
He took something wrapped in paper from his pocket. The fox’s nose twitched. A familiar smell leaked through the paper. When Theodor unwrapped it, dark red jerky revealed itself.
“Do you like jerky?”
Jerky! The fox’s tail wagged slightly. It had tasted meat far more delicious than jerky, but it still couldn’t forget the flavor of the quality jerky it had first tried.
“Here. If you wear the collar well, I can give you more.”
The fox’s tail stopped. It wanted to eat the jerky, but the heavy sensation constricting its neck still didn’t please it.
Still… it doesn’t look particularly dangerous, so wouldn’t it be okay?
The fox looked at the jerky once, then poked the collar with its front paw again. The collar was uncomfortable but didn’t seem dangerous. Rather, didn’t he say this would protect its safety?
After hesitating briefly, the fox quickly snatched the jerky in its mouth and moved away again. Though signs of dissatisfaction remained, it obediently chewed the jerky.
Simple-minded indeed.
Theodor was about to stand up with an inward laugh. Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps approaching from outside could be heard, and the door opened to reveal a lower-ranking priest with an urgent expression.
“Priest Theodor! A messenger has arrived from the imperial palace.”
Two pairs of ears reacted simultaneously to the word ‘imperial palace.’ The fox looked at the lower-ranking priest with curious eyes, while Theodor narrowed his brows and stared at him.
A messenger from the imperial palace. What could it be? An ominous premonition ran down Theodor’s spine. Had they perhaps discovered that he was keeping the fox?
“Give it here.”
When Theodor gestured, the lower-ranking priest respectfully handed over a letter sealed with red wax. A seal was stamped in the center of the letter. Theodor broke the seal and unfolded the letter to read. The content was brief. It was Kael’s request for him to return to the imperial palace as quickly as possible because the Emperor’s insomnia had relapsed.
A faint smile crossed Theodor’s lips as he read the letter. It had been needless worry. It was the opposite of what he’d feared. Not about the fox, but a message seeking him. Nothing was more satisfying than the fact that the one standing at the pinnacle of power had chosen him as the subject of reliance.
Theodor folded the letter and put it in his breast pocket, then told the lower-ranking priest:
“I’ll leave for the imperial palace immediately, so hurry with the preparations.”
At the words about going to the imperial palace, the fox’s ears perked up. Its blue eyes sparkled. The imperial palace? He’s going to the imperial palace? Then couldn’t I go too? If I go there, couldn’t I meet Adrian?
Just that thought alone made the fox’s heart pound. I want to go. I want to see him. The fox even spat out the jerky it was chewing and followed after Theodor. The collar that had been as uncomfortable as something constricting its neck was no longer even in its thoughts. Right now, the fox’s head was filled only with anticipation of being able to return to the imperial palace.
It was absurd even to itself—running away because it didn’t want to see Adrian’s angry face, then trying to go back to him on its own feet. But even just once, if only it could see his face again.
Theodor stopped walking at the patter-patter sound coming from behind him. When he turned around, the fox that had been chewing jerky some distance away was following him. When he suddenly stopped, the fox stopped as well and circled around Theodor’s legs.
“What, is the jerky not tasty?”
The fox shook its head. Then what on earth was the problem? Theodor observed the fox’s behavior carefully. Soon he realized what the fox wanted.
He’d thought it wanted more jerky, but that wasn’t it. The fox kept looking alternately at him and the letter. It was a gesture asking to be taken to the imperial palace too.
Such useless thoughts for an abandoned creature.
“No.”
At Theodor’s words, the fox’s eyes wavered with disappointment. Its tail, which had been swishing with anticipation, also stopped.
“The imperial palace is too complicated and dangerous a place for you to go. You haven’t fully recovered yet. You need to rest quietly here.”
I’m all better! I’m not hurt! Look at this!
As if to show it wasn’t hurt, the fox raised both front paws and waved them in the air. However, Theodor pretended not to understand and stroked the fox’s head. It meant to stay still, but the fox avoided that touch and stepped back. Instead, it made small whimpering sounds and looked up at him pleadingly.
That sight tested Theodor’s patience. If it were up to him, he wanted to grab the collar right now and throw it into a corner of the room, but he forcibly pulled up the corners of his mouth and produced a conciliatory measure.
“If you wait obediently, I’ll bring you something more delicious than jerky when I return. I promise.”
Having said that, Theodor quickly turned around before the fox could follow. There was no more time to delay. Approaching the lower-ranking priest, he spoke in a voice low enough that the fox couldn’t hear.
“Until I return, absolutely do not let that creature step even one foot outside the room.”
Theodor left the room without looking back. The fox left alone stared blankly at the closed door for a long while. It waited in that spot for some time, hoping he might change his mind and return, but the footsteps receding down the corridor didn’t draw near again.
His last words echoed in its ears.
‘If you wait obediently, I’ll bring you something more delicious than jerky when I return.’
It didn’t need such things. What the fox wanted now wasn’t delicious meat or sweet honey. It was Adrian.
The fox belatedly ran forward and began scratching at the door with its front paws. Open it. Open it, take me too. It cried out inwardly, but only pitiful whimpering sounds leaked from its throat. No matter how much it scratched at the door and hung from the doorknob, the solid wooden door wouldn’t budge. It seemed to be firmly locked from outside.
By the time its front claws began to ache, the fox gave up and slumped down in front of the door. The fox was alone in the room. The space emptied of hope felt colder and more desolate than before.
