The Arranged Suitor Was the Kidnapper

Upon hearing that Zenox would personally guide her, a smile bloomed on Verdo’s face. He grinned broadly and said:

“Then I will prepare tea in the reception room! Enjoy your private time.”

Emphasizing the word ‘private,’ Verdo led the employees and disappeared like the wind. Everything happened in a flash, and Laria blinked her eyes.

‘Mr. Butler is as prompt as ever…’

Perhaps it was because he was a squirrel beastman, he was always quick.

Zenox leaned towards Laria and whispered:

“I thought we might need some time to talk, just the two of us.”

His quietly whispered words tingled. They were so close that even an ordinary conversation felt somehow intimate.

Laria’s gaze landed on his shoulder.

Only then did Zenox’s hand slowly withdraw.

“Shouldn’t there be this level of contact to believe?”

Since they had publicly announced they were lovers, it would look strange if they remained awkwardly apart.

“That’s true.”

Laria and Zenox began walking side by side through the empty corridor.

As Laria surveyed the surroundings, she felt puzzled.

‘Nothing has changed…?’

The interior of the mansion seemed frozen in time, with nothing changed.

During the six months she had lived here, including the furniture and decor, everything often changed.

It was because the butler was sensitive to trends.

But now, even the position of the furniture and every single painting was the same as it was three years ago. Even the carpet Laria used to roll around on was still there.

‘Did I leave the mansion just yesterday, not three years ago?’

Lost in thought, she was looking around when Zenox asked:

“What kind of spell was it earlier?”

Laria stopped her inspection and looked at Zenox. It was a spell he had seen for the first time, but one thing was certain.

“It was one of the forbidden spells. The target was exonerated.”

“…I did feel some artificial discomfort at times.”

Clearly, the spell wasn’t cast in a day or two. It was layered so intricately that even fellow sorcerers couldn’t easily detect it.

Yet she felt discomfort. How keen must her senses be?

“I indeed felt lighter after the lady destroyed the spell.”

Zenox moved his armored hand. A metallic sound resonated from the joints and seams.

Unlike three years ago, the current Zenox always wore armor, but only on one hand.

When Laria’s gaze turned to the armor, Zenox opened his mouth.

“I often partially transform these days, so I wear this. It’d be startling if my nails suddenly sprung out.”

Partial transformation was mostly controllable.

However, sudden emotional changes or mental issues could make it difficult to control.

That’s why beastmen who couldn’t handle their transformations well were often treated as outcasts, just like how Laria had been finger-pointed in the past for not being able to transform at all.

‘If he’s suddenly having trouble controlling his transformation, maybe it’s related to the forbidden spell…’

Laria stared at the armor as if she was about to peck at it.

Like a curious fox, once she became curious, she unknowingly pursued it.

Zenox hid his armored hand behind his back. When she looked up at him, he showed his distinctive picturesque smile.

“You might get hurt.”

Wasn’t he wearing armor to avoid getting hurt?

Rather than looking threatening, the armor suited Zenox and looked like an accessory.

“What is it made of? It seems like a metal I’ve never seen before.”

Judging by the sheen, it wasn’t steel. Gold or silver would be too soft… could it be a mineral harder than a diamond to withstand a wolf tribe’s claws?

When Laria gleamed her eyes like a crow with a jewel in front, the corners of Zenox’s lips slowly descended.

With a slender gaze, he looked down at Laria, then extended the hand he had hidden behind his back.

“Would you like to touch it?”

“Excuse me.”

Forgetting to politely decline, Laria immediately reached out. The metal covering his always warm skin was as hard and cold as ice.

His palm was so large it enveloped Laria’s hand with ease.

She had thought Zenox’s palm felt like a warm blanket when she was a fox…

‘So this is how it felt.’

Depending on the angle she moved, the sheen on the armor flickered dazzlingly.

But what captivated Laria’s attention was not the armor, but Zenox’s hand encased within.

Laria swept her fingertips across the armor.

Holding Zenox’s hand now as a human felt entirely different.

Of course, it felt different with the armor on, but the fact that their hands could meet made it feel real.

‘When I was a fox, I was as small as Zenox’s palm.’

Meanwhile, Zenox was carefully examining Laria’s head.

He remembered the white ears that popped out of Laria’s head on a rainy day.

Despite the gloomy weather, the vivid white fur was reminiscent of a white fox. Even the inside of the ears had a tender pink hue like cherry blossom petals.

He wanted to check once more, but asking for a partial transformation was only permissible among close acquaintances.

Having finally averted his gaze from the head, Zenox was leisurely examining Laria, who was preoccupied with fumbling with his armor.

Her hair, close to white in its silvery hue, and skin as white as the first snow. Her cheeks were tinted like a ripe peach, contrasting with her deep water-colored eyes. Her face bore only curiosity, with not a trace of the fear visible in others.

She was like a white cat. 

“…!” 

Zenox jerked at the thought.

It was because Laria’s fingers, fumbling with the armor, had dug into his fingers. 

Unconsciously, Zenox had clenched his now stiff hand.

Laria’s hand came right into his palm.

It was a small, delicate hand, seemingly fragile enough to shatter with a grip.

Surprised, Laria looked up at Zenox. Their eyes met.

Unlike usual, Zenox found it hard to hide his intense gaze. His golden eyes shining keenly as if to dissect every thought, mirrored Laria’s face.

If he could just open up that small head to see what’s going on inside.

The impulse to act upon the thought surged just then.

The Laria’s fingers, trapped in his palm, twitched. The warmth beyond the metal made Zenox’s gaze falter. The strength ebbed away from his iron-like fingers.

Laria, unaware of Zenox’s thoughts, apologized with an awkward face after letting go. 

“I’m sorry. I think I touched too much.” 

What was supposed to be a light inspection ended up being explorative.

Laria coughed awkwardly. Somehow feeling awkward alone, Laria changed the subject. 

“You said earlier that no sorcerer had visited the mansion, right?” 

“Yes, as far as I know.” 

“They might have enchanted an item and brought it in over a long period.” 

Zenox appeared indifferent as if hearing about someone else’s issue.

Laria’s heart felt a little heavy seeing Zenox, who didn’t seem surprised or scared.

Had such incidents been frequent over the past few years? At least it seemed fine during his stay… 

‘I can’t come every time.’ 

It’s okay to visit occasionally now, but it’d be difficult after parting ways. She can’t frequent her ex’s place. 

“Wouldn’t it be good to have a skilled sorcerer in the mansion?” 

Like a lightning strike, Zenox’s eyes sparkled for a moment. But before Laria noticed, the glimmer faded away, clouding like dark clouds on a rainy day. 

“But… who would come to the Krassium mansion.” 

Zenox’s voice sounded pitiful, as if he well knew the rumors. 

“Most skilled sorcerers are foxes, they don’t accept a request from a wolf like me.” 

Especially after experiencing firsthand how deep the resentment was towards wolves at the fox gathering today. 

“If the lady hadn’t visited today, I would have been harmed without knowing.” 

He couldn’t deny it.

Most prohibition spells were meant to harm.

As Laria fell silent, Zenox’s eyelids fluttered. He muttered with a voice that seemed about to extinguish:

“…I apologize. I think I’ve made a difficult request.” 

Zenox was a beastman trying to pretend everything was fine. Even though his insides were rotting to the point of decay.

She identified the prohibition spell but couldn’t figure out the details.

It was the first time for Laria too, as it was a rare spell. 

‘First dissect the spell… find the sorcerer and put them in jail.’ 

Anyway, she had to visit the mansion a few more times to find clues about the intruders.

The concern didn’t last long. 

“I’ll visit often to check for you.” 

“Really?” 

Zenox slightly lifted his eyelids. In his golden eyes nestled below the ash-colored eyelashes, relief and regret mingled. 

“It’s not a difficult task.” 

Only that it requires a tremendous amount of gems.

Although she wanted to do it for free, having even eaten the fox orb… Laria had nothing.

She even had to go to the mine herself to collect gem fragments.

Laria, who coughed awkwardly, laid the groundwork:

“Unlike others, I use gems every time I use magic.” 

“Ah.” 

Zenox, who understood immediately, nodded as if it was obvious.

He moved aside and opened the window. A seemingly endless garden spread out beyond the window. Laria was momentarily captivated by the garden filled with colorful flowers like a paint palette. 

“If you solve the prohibition spell in the mansion.” 

Laria turned her gaze and looked at him. Zenox, with a soft smile, whispered sweetly. 

“I’ll give you as many gems as the number of those flowers.”

It was the most romantic statement he had ever heard in his life.