The palace garden shone dazzlingly, filled with the sunlight of early autumn. Paths wound between well-manicured shrubs, and clear streams of water spouted from the central fountain.
Adrian walked slowly while holding the fox. The fox’s nose moved busily at the smell of grass it was encountering after a long time. Sniff sniff. The smell of earth, flowers, and wind. It felt like its stuffed insides were completely cleared out.
“I’ll put you down.”
Adrian set the fox down on the lawn. The soft texture touching its paw pads felt good. The fox raised its tail and tried walking a few steps. Its body was still heavy, but not to the point where it couldn’t walk.
Waddle waddle.
Its gait was a bit ridiculous because its belly was full, but the fox didn’t care and strolled across the grass. Just then, a butterfly came fluttering by. The fox instinctively reached out its front paw to catch it and ended up falling over.
Roll roll roll.
The black ball of fur rolled round and round across the green grass. The fox tried to land on all fours, but its puffed-up belly disrupted its center of gravity. In the end, with a dull sound, it flopped over on its side. The sky spun round and round.
How humiliating. And Adrian was watching.
The fox hurriedly struggled to get up, but its short legs only flailed in the air while its body just swayed left and right like a roly-poly toy. That sight must have been quite comical. From above its head came the sound of stifled laughter—kuk.
“I thought you were a turtle.”
Adrian’s shadow covered the fox. He crouched down and poked the struggling fox’s belly with his index finger.
“Can you even get up? It seems like rolling around would be faster than walking.”
He was clearly teasing. The fox snorted indignantly, its pride wounded.
I got this fat because of you! It’s all because I ate a bunch of bad stuff to save you!
Aggrieved, the fox bit Adrian’s finger—ang. Of course, it didn’t use its teeth and only pretended to gnaw very gently. Rather than pulling his hand away, Adrian stuck his finger deeper into the fox’s mouth and playfully pressed down on its tongue.
“So you’re a fierce beast? I’m so scared I might not survive.”
Contrary to his words, his eyes curved pleasantly.
When Adrian withdrew his finger, the fox seized the opportunity and flipped its body over with a whoosh. Using the momentum, it barely managed to stand on all fours.
‘I’ll show you.’
The fox put all its strength into its short legs. Its form kicking off from the soft grass was quite resolute.
I’ll show you. That I’m not simply fat. I’ll prove that this bloated belly isn’t the product of laziness, but a glorious medal for saving you.
Patter, patter.
The black ball of fur crossed the lawn. It had imagined a nimble sprint cutting through the wind, but reality was a bit different. Each time its hind legs pushed off the ground, its heavy belly fat jiggled left and right. The speed was closer to rolling than running.
Its breath rose to the tip of its chin. Its heart pounded as if it would burst, and the black energy filling its stomach churned uncontrollably.
‘Just a little more.’
Just to that fountain over there. If it just ran stylishly to there and looked back, Adrian would see it differently too.
But its enthusiasm and body were acting separately.
Its front paws got tangled. The legs that twisted on their own gave out weakly. The fox couldn’t even scream and tumbled forward as is. Its chin planted into the grass, and its plump body rolled round and round from inertia.
Thud. Only after its head bonked against the marble edge of the fountain did its body stop. Rather than pain, embarrassment rushed in first. The sky spun round and round. The smell of earth and the fishy scent of grass vibrated at the tip of its nose.
‘I’m done for.’
The fox squeezed its eyes shut. It wondered if it should just play dead like this.
Just then, a shadow fell over its head.
“That was an impressive sprint.”
It was a voice mixed with laughter. Adrian approached and patted the fox’s belly clean.
“To roll all the way to the fountain. Is this a new method of transportation?”
It was teased. The fox tried to jump up, but Adrian’s hand was faster. He put his hands under the fox’s armpits and lifted it up with a whoosh.
“Urk.”
A groan leaked from Adrian’s mouth.
“You’re definitely heavy. It’s like lifting a rock.”
A rock.
At those words, the fox’s ears drooped. It was right about being a rock. The curse condensed inside its body was heavy like a lump of lead. But to Adrian, it just looked like a fat, chubby fox.
The fox avoided Adrian’s gaze out of sadness and embarrassment. It turned its head and pretended to look at distant mountains, but its tail honestly curled between its legs.
Seeing the fox looking noticeably sullen, only then did Adrian realize his mistake. He had unknowingly teased it because the visibly plump body was cute. He quickly readjusted the fox in his arms. With one hand he supported the heavy bottom, and with the other hand he wiped the dirt-covered nose bridge.
“Still, you look better than when you were skin and bones.”
He fiddled with the fox’s drooping ears.
He meant it. In Adrian’s eyes, the fox’s plump belly appeared not as greed but as proof of life. Rather than the beginning when it was so emaciated that its ribs showed, this appearance of being heavy enough to have gained so much weight was much more comforting to him.
Adrian sat on the fountain while holding the fox. The afternoon sunlight was warm. He placed the fox on his lap and stroked its back. At the regular touch, the fox’s tension eased.
‘Right. It’s okay even if you tease me for being fat.’
The fox rested its chin on Adrian’s palm.
As long as you’re not in pain, that’s enough. Because your body has become lighter by the amount I’ve gotten heavier.
That fact gave it a strange sense of pride. The fox narrowed its eyes and enjoyed the drowsiness. Gurgling sounds still came from inside its belly, but Adrian just thought it meant digestion was going well and simply patted its belly without saying anything.
Once the fox quieted down, Adrian looked at the garden again.
“It’s peaceful.”
He muttered as if talking to himself.
“Before you came, I didn’t know this garden was this quiet. I always thought it was noisy. The bird sounds, the wind sounds—they all sounded like noise.”
When suffering from insomnia, every sound in the world was like sawing that grated on his nerves. But now it was different. The sound of leaves rustling, the footsteps of maids heard from afar—they all felt like just part of the scenery.
“Now… it’s okay.”
Adrian’s gaze settled on the fox on his lap.
“Is it thanks to you?”
The fox’s heart dropped—thump.
Did he find out? Did he realize I ate the curse?
The fox looked up in alarm. Its blue eyes wavered. Seeing such a reaction from the fox, Adrian chuckled.
“I’m joking. What could you have done? It’s just that my mind has become comfortable because you’re by my side. When I look at a stupid and simple creature, complicated thoughts disappear.”
It was unclear whether it was praise or insult. The fox snorted as relief and indignation rushed in simultaneously. Stupid? When I’m so cleverly treating you.
But it couldn’t refute. Because if it spoke, it would be kicked out.
The fox bit Adrian’s finger again—ang—filled with sadness and indignation. This time it put in a little strength. Adrian’s eyebrows twitched as if it stung.
“To dare bite the Emperor twice. What an impudent creature.”
He lightly grabbed the fox’s snout and shook it. However, affection dripped from his tone. The fox stuck out its tongue between its caught snout and licked his finger. The strength left Adrian’s hand.
The two enjoyed the peace in the garden like that for a while.
***
Before long, the sun set slowly and deep navy darkness began to settle outside the window.
After the eventful garden walk, the fox lay down occupying one corner of the sofa again. The orb that had been whirring inside its belly finally quieted down. Like a millstone that had finished grinding all the beans and stopped, the heavy foreign feeling that had been filling its stomach completely went down.
‘It must have all dissolved.’
The fox pressed down on its belly with its front paw. The taut hide went in softly. Its bloated insides also became comfortable. It was thanks to the orb diligently breaking down and crushing all that black energy to eliminate it.
As soon as digestion finished, a new signal came as if it had been waiting.
Growl.
This time it wasn’t the sound from gas buildup. It was the sound of the stomach being completely empty and shriveling—a very primal and desperate sound of hunger.
Having burned energy, it needed to replenish fuel. The fox flared its nose. Just then the door opened and a savory smell rushed in. Dinner had arrived.
“I’ll prepare your meal.”
The head maid came in pushing a cart. When the silver tray lid opened, the aroma of steaming steak, soft bread, and thick soup filled the room.
The fox’s eyes lit up.
‘Food!’
It shot out from the sofa like a bullet. It was nimble movement unbelievable for the creature that had been waddling and rolling on the lawn earlier.
“You seemed to have indigestion earlier, but you got better quickly?”
Adrian sat down with a laugh as if absurd. Outwardly he had joked about it being fat, but inwardly he had been worried. Although he had generously provided meat and honey all this time, it wasn’t enough for it to noticeably gain weight in such a short time.
He had been concerned whether there might be another problem and had considered calling Theodor. But seeing it now, it seemed his worry had been needless.
The fox made a “waang” sound and opened its mouth wide to bite into the meat. This wasn’t a simple meal. It was combat ration resupply. Chomp chomp chomp. The fox swallowed without even breathing. It barely chewed before sending it down its throat. The meat disappeared in an instant.
“No one’s going to steal it, so eat slowly.”
Adrian clicked his tongue but pushed the unseasoned meat from his own plate to the fox. The fox ate whatever Adrian gave it. It wasn’t just meat. It licked clean the bowl containing pet soup and didn’t leave behind even the strawberries that came out as dessert. It was easily more than twice its usual meal amount.
