“…!”
Adrian’s breathing stopped. The fox cradled in Theodor’s arms raised its head. Familiar blue eyes turned toward him.
“Yip!”
The fox cried briefly and twisted its body. Adrian approached Theodor as if enchanted by that cry. His steps were heavy. Suspicion that the scene before his eyes might be a hallucination created by harsh insomnia held his ankles.
But the closer he got, the more clearly he could see the black fur, perked ears, and the clear blue eyes he’d missed so much. It wasn’t a phantom.
Theodor gave a deliberately troubled smile and slightly lifted the fox in his arms.
“It was limping around near my temporary residence with an injured leg. Since I heard Your Majesty had lost a cherished black fox, I brought it on the off chance.”
Adrian didn’t seem to hear Theodor’s explanation. He extended a trembling hand. His rough fingertips touched the fox’s nose bridge.
It was warm. And moist.
It was alive.
Adrian’s hand burrowed between the fox’s armpits. Theodor obediently handed over the fox. Adrian’s empty arms filled with substantial warmth.
“…Little fox.”
Adrian muttered in a hoarse voice. The fox rested its front paws on Adrian’s chest. A familiar smell rushed in. The smell of ink, the smell of black tea, and even his body scent. It had missed all of it achingly.
‘Adrian.’
It wanted to speak. That it was sorry, that it had done wrong, that the honey jar was an accident. But it swallowed the human words that rose to its throat.
Can’t speak. If I speak, I’ll be kicked out.
Instead, the fox licked Adrian’s chin. The roughly grown beard pricked the tip of its tongue, but it didn’t stop. It rubbed its cheeks, buried its nose in his neck, conveying with its whole body that it was here.
Adrian hugged the fox as if to crush it. The strength was so great it was suffocating, but the fox didn’t struggle. Because Adrian’s body was trembling slightly.
“Where have you been all this time?”
Adrian fiddled with the fox’s ears.
“Do you know how much I searched? You little rascal.”
It was a reproachful tone, but moisture clung to his voice. The fox tucked its tail between its legs and made a whimpering sound, feeling sorry.
Adrian chuckled.
“It’s enough that you came back. You can break a hundred honey jars, just never disappear again.”
He lifted the fox to meet its eyes.
“Promise.”
The fox poked its wet nose into Adrian’s palm. Then it stuck out its moist tongue and devotedly licked his fingers. It was both a vow and a pledge never to disappear again.
As the warm, wet sensation burrowed between his fingers, Adrian finally relaxed his stiff expression at that ticklish feeling. It was a comfortable smile he hadn’t made in a very long time.
“Alright, I’ll take that as yes.”
Adrian laughed lowly and raised his head. His bloodshot eyes were still red, but clear vitality had returned to his pupils. It looked as if the dying Emperor had regained his breath.
“Thank you.”
Adrian said to Theodor. It was sincere gratitude rarely coming from the Emperor’s mouth.
“You’re too kind. I merely took in a lost life following God’s will.”
Theodor bowed his head humbly. Adrian continuously stroked the fox’s back. Every time rough fingers burrowed between the fur, the fox wagged its tail as if pleased.
Not wanting to break that atmosphere, Theodor carefully broached the subject.
“However, Your Majesty. There’s one point of concern.”
“Speak.”
“When I found the creature, it had been exposed to murky energy for quite some time. It may look fine on the outside, but its internal energy is very unstable. It might fall ill if we’re not careful.”
Adrian’s hand paused. It might get sick. At his words, the relief he’d felt just moments ago evaporated instantly.
“Then what should we do?”
“Regular purification is necessary. Its energy must be boosted with divine power.”
Theodor lowered his gaze slightly and met the fox’s eyes. His expression was gentle, but his eyes weren’t smiling. As if saying, ‘You haven’t forgotten the promise, have you?’
“I’ll visit frequently for the time being to monitor the creature’s condition. And…”
Theodor paused as if choosing his words.
“Your Majesty’s complexion is also concerning. While treating the creature, it would be good to treat Your Majesty’s insomnia concurrently. Beasts are sensitive to their master’s condition, so the creature will regain stability faster if Your Majesty is healthy.”
There was no reason to refuse. Rather, it was something Adrian should have requested first.
“Yes. Do that. I grant you entry anytime.”
It was what Theodor had wanted. The authority to freely enter and exit the Emperor’s bedchamber, and justification to regularly check on the fox. Everything was going according to plan.
“Then may I start the first treatment right now? I don’t want to interrupt your time together, but the sooner treatment begins, the better.”
“Do so.”
“To increase treatment efficiency, relaxation comes first. A bed would be better than a hard chair.”
Theodor pointed to the bed. Adrian moved obediently. He carried the fox and leaned back deep into the bed. As tension released, the fatigue he’d been suppressing crashed over him like a massive wave. It felt like his bones were melting. But he didn’t let go of the fox. Rather, he locked it more firmly in his arms. Like a child who had regained a lost treasure, afraid it might disappear like smoke if he took his hands away even for a moment.
The fox rubbed its head against Adrian’s chest. It rubbed hard enough to flatten its fur, conveying its body heat. Since it couldn’t speak, it had no choice but to convey its heart this way. The regularly beating heart was transmitted through their touching bodies.
Like lovers meeting after a long time, clinging to each other tenderly—Theodor watched this scene with an expressionless face. Then he turned to look at Kael standing behind and said:
“Since it will interfere with treatment, Sir Kael, please wait outside.”
“Pardon? Ah, yes. Understood.”
As Kael left the room, Theodor pulled over a chair and sat down. He raised one hand and placed it near Adrian’s forehead, while carefully placing his other hand on the fox’s back.
“Close your eyes.”
Adrian slowly closed his eyelids. As his vision was blocked, his hearing and touch became sensitive.
“Breathe comfortably. I’ll adjust your energy.”
Theodor raised his hand in the air. White light rose like a heat haze beneath his palm. It was divine power. Warm and gentle light enveloped both Adrian and the fox simultaneously.
But it was merely an illusion. Theodor sent out only the minimum divine power. Just enough to look spectacular and provide psychological stability. Just enough to make Adrian’s consciousness hazy.
He sent a signal to the fox.
‘Now.’
Understanding that look, the fox raised its head and gazed at Adrian’s face. The dark shadows under his eyes extended down to his cheeks. His cheeks were rough, and his lips were parched and peeling white.
‘It hurts.’
Theodor’s words echoed in its ears. He’d said there was rotten meat in his stomach. He’d said there was a thorn stuck in.
I have to pull it out. The fox sniffed Adrian’s chest, smelling it. There was only the usual ink smell and body scent. There was no rotten smell.
Where is it?
The fox examined under Adrian’s chin. It buried its nose where the pulse beat at his neck and sniffed. As expected, there was no rotten smell or fishy blood scent.
Strange. Where exactly is the bad thing?
There was no rotten meat or thorn anywhere. Just as the fox was bewildered:
Something rippled near Adrian’s solar plexus. At first it seemed like dust in its eyes. The fox rubbed its eyes with a front paw and looked again. It wasn’t an illusion. Like a heat haze, faint and blackish smoke rose from Adrian’s body.
‘What is this?’
The fox tilted its head. The smoke squirmed as if alive.
It reminded it of the magical beasts it had seen in the forest.
Could it be a magical beast? Had that magical beast followed here?
The fox was startled and tried to wake Theodor. It would be dangerous to keep sleeping like this. But this black smoke didn’t form a shape like magical beasts. It just started near Adrian’s heart, crawled up his neck to his chin, then repeated dispersing again.
The fox drew closer. An unpleasant chill rushed in. The tip of its nose stung. Adrian’s body was warm, but only the smoke was cold as ice. Instinctively the fox’s fur stood on end. A signal that it was dangerous struck its mind. As if telling it to avoid, to flee, its tail curled inward.
But the fox didn’t flee.
‘Bad meat.’
The poison thorn Theodor had mentioned. This must be it.
The fox swallowed dry saliva. It was scared. It seemed like it would hurt if touched. But Adrian couldn’t sleep because of this. If it avoided it, Adrian would have to keep hurting.
‘I have to eat it.’
