The Arranged Suitor Was the Kidnapper

Laria briefly looked up from the magic book she was reading. 

Although her room felt confined and isolated, she felt someone’s gaze upon her.  She was certain that if she opened the door, a family member would be standing there.

“Whew.”

With a light sigh, Laria set down the magic book.

It had already been two days since she returned from the palace.  Which also meant it had been two days since she informed her family that she was dating Zenox.

As expected, her family didn’t welcome Laria’s romance. In fact, they deeply disapproved of it. 

ust the mere mention of the word ‘him’, and they would flash their eyes and exclaim, ‘Zenox?!’

Yet, they didn’t ask her to break up.

It was odd, as they seemed very against it but were suppressing their feelings. Especially Herdin, who even when they first met, had reacted violently against the prince.

Because of the entire family’s heightened sensitivities, Laria had been unable to leave the mansion for three days.

Every time she attempted to go out, everyone would rush up to her, asking where she was going. 

Even Herdin had taken a long leave to stay at home. 

She considered sneaking out using spatial transfer magic, but she held back, fearing the repercussions. She knew better than anyone the tenacity of her family’s displeasure.

‘I should see Zenox soon.‘

They needed to discuss how the Emperor felt about their relationship, when they would get engaged, and how long they would wait.

If she said she was going to meet Zenox, someone would surely accompany her… 

Was there some excuse she could use?

Laria glanced at a pile of boxes in the corner. They were stacked with letters. They were letters that had come after the Emperor had sent congratulations on Laria and Zenox’s marriage to each family. 

Most of them were inquiries about the truth of the matter, and occasionally there were greetings and invitations.

Not a single letter purely congratulating their marriage.

‘Unexpected, indeed.‘

The famous Grand Duke of Krassium and a girl from the lesser-known Rohan family.

To anyone, it seemed like an unlikely pairing.

Laria began to look through the unread letters, hoping to find an invitation that could serve as an excuse for going out.

Suddenly, she paused.

“A gathering of the Fox Clan?”

She carefully inspected the invitation.

It was an event for young foxes who had debuted in society.

The host was Sienna Hashir, the only daughter of the Marquis Hashir. The gathering was in a few days. 

There was still a little time left, so it wouldn’t have been too late to contact him saying he would be attending now.

Laria contemplated the invitation.

Up until now, she hadn’t participated much in events related to the Fox Clan, because she couldn’t use magic despite being a fox beastman. 

Even though these days, those who are not foxes occasionally manifest as magic users, originally, magic began with the Fox Clan.

It was natural for every fox to be born with the ability to use magic. However, rarely, a fox was born unable to wield it. 

Laria was one such rare case.

She couldn’t even partially transform into her beast form, leading to rumors that she was a mutant.

While it was a lie to say she wasn’t bothered, she wasn’t deeply hurt either. Her family, fearing she’d hear bad things, had kept her away from Fox Clan-related events.

But things had changed…

‘Now, I can use magic.‘

Thanks to the Krassium family’s heirloom, she had gained the ability.

Without actively hiding it, the fact that Laria had become a sorcerer was softly spread among acquaintances. The host probably invited her after hearing the rumors.

‘It would be good to have friends who are also sorcerers.‘

After some thought, Laria decided to attend the gathering.

She had been self-studying up until now and wanted to meet peers and share information.  They could share where to buy cheap potion ingredients or experiment together.

With newfound determination, Laria quickly opened her bedroom door.

As expected, her father and Herdin stood in the hallway, clearly caught off guard.

“Why are you looking at me like that? We were just passing by!” Herdin immediately protested.

Ignoring them, Laria finally spoke:

“I’m going to a gathering.”

“What? Where are you going?”

Before a barrage of questions could flood in, Laria showed them the invitation.

Both her father and Herdin’s eyes quickly focused on it. Upon reading the header, Herdin’s eyes narrowed.

“…You’re not using this gathering as an excuse to meet Grand Duke Krassium, are you?”

“No,” Laria replied firmly, looking straight at Herdin. “But, there’s nothing wrong with seeing one’s lover, right?”

“That’s… true…”

Herdin nodded, his face deeply furrowed.

She was curious why he didn’t suggest breaking up with Zenox, even though he hated him so much.

Laria, who had received the invitation, lightly shrugged her shoulders.

“I’m trying to make friends with a fox.”

“Laria…”

The previously silent Count took a step closer.

Like Laria, the Count, a fox beastman, was huge in size, unlike ordinary foxes.

His face was fierce, and he was often mistaken for a bear when he went outside.

“My father is also a fox…”

Without needing to befriend another fox beastman, he grumbled that he would be her friend.

Herdin looked at the Count with an angry expression.

He, who inherited the Countess’s blood deeply, was born as a snake beastman.

Herdin grumbled with a displeased face.

“Why go to something like a fox gathering. It’s a waste of time.”

“Maybe so? Maybe I should just meet the Grand Duke.”

Then the two’s attitudes changed dramatically.

“No! A fox gathering! Good, great!”

“Yes! Let’s definitely go!”

They seemed to dislike meeting Zenox that much.

As Laria prepared to go out and head back to her room, Herdin added one more thing.

“Take a guard with you.”

She couldn’t refuse even that, so Laria replied that she understood.

* * *

On the day of the gathering, Laria, ready to go out, descended the stairs slowly.

As she stepped outside the mansion’s entrance, she saw someone running from a distance.

“Miss!”

The man who ran breathlessly reminded her of a large dog.

Seeing his fluffy, wheat-colored hair fluttering like a dandelion seed, Laria smiled.

“Why are you coming so urgently?”

“You called after such a long time!”

After being missing for half a year and then returning home, the family immediately assigned Laria a dedicated guard.

It was Rodit, a plains hound beast.

He was the most skilled knight in the Rohan mansion. Although a commoner and two years younger than Laria, anyone would acknowledge his skill.

Laria looked up at Rodit, who was a bit taller than her.

Seeing the scrawny kid from the back alley grown up like this, she was amazed.

“I will ensure your safety today!” Rodit pounded his chest with his fist.

He seemed more like an eager puppy than a sturdy guard. In his excitement, his puppy ears stuck out.

“My fur became incredibly soft after taking the medicine you gave. Try touching it!”

Rodit bowed his head, offering Laria to touch his ears.

Laria, caught off guard, exclaimed as she felt them.

“It’s really soft, isn’t it?”

“Right?”

It was as soft as silk and fluffy, quite addictive.

The hair-softening elixir seemed to have a definite effect.

Unnoticed, Rodit’s tail wagged gently.

Although catching her attention, Laria resisted touching it, as tails are sensitive areas.

She thought of making an elixir to double the fur growth next time and finally let go of his ear.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes!”

Rodit, tucking his ears and tail, led the way.

The carriage carrying the two headed to the Hashir mansion.

Though it was a long ride, chatting with Rodit left no room for boredom.

After a long ride, the carriage passed through a gate adorned with a rose emblem.

The Hashir family’s emblem was a red rose.

Due to that, the garden was full of roses.

The carriage stopped in front of the Hashir mansion’s entrance. A butler waiting to greet the guests approached.

“Welcome. May I ask your name?”

“I’m Laria Rohan.”

The butler flipped through the paper he was holding.

Reading through the guest list, he looked up.

“I’m sorry…”

He responded with a doubtful look.

“That name is not on the list.”