The Arranged Suitor Was the Kidnapper

Sunlight pierced through the eyelids.

Waking up, Laria blinked a few times to clear her drowsy mind.

While staring blankly at the familiar bedroom ceiling, she felt something odd. There was a soft lump on her side…?

Laria, looking down, was so shocked she almost screamed.

A black furball occupied her side.

Laria, who had lost sleep, belatedly realized the identity of the fur ball.

‘Zenox.’

It was Zenox, transformed into a wolf cub.

‘Why is he sleeping here?’

She was sure she had placed him on the chair before going to bed, but somehow he had made his way to the bed.

Puzzled, Laria concluded that it must be sleepwalking. She remembered when they stayed in the Krassium mansion; Zenox would wander the hallways at night.

Quickly scanning the room, Laria sighed with relief.

Thankfully, the bedroom was intact.

‘How did he get up to the bed?’

It seemed impossible for him to jump with his small stature.

It was quite a remarkable case of sleepwalking.

Trying not to wake him, she was careful, but perhaps sensing her, the young wolf opened his eyes.

His face, heavy with sleep, caught her attention.

Zenox, blinking his large eyes, blankly faced Laria.

Soon, his pupils dilated.

Like he was burnt, Zenox jolted up and looked around, seemingly puzzled.

He realized he had just awoken from the bed, and his mouth fell open.

Watching him, Laria burst into laughter.

His fluffy fur was half pressed, making one side of his head seem sunken, but he looked incredibly cute. However, Zenox tilted his head, not understanding why Laria was laughing.

‘If it wasn’t Zenox, I might’ve really brought and raised it.’

Now she could understand how Zenox felt when he picked up and raised the little white fox.

After all, cuteness was unbeatable.

As Laria stroked and tidied up his pressed fur, she greeted him:

“Did you sleep well?”

Zenox nodded obediently.

“I had a good dream.”

His lips slightly curled, indicating he truly had a good dream.

“Do we need to buy a lottery ticket?”

Zenox looked at Laria as if to say, ‘Really?’

He was already richer than winning the lottery hundreds of times over.

After briefly looking around the bed, he asked:

“Did you happen to light a sleep incense in the room?”

“No?”

“Then why did I fall asleep…”

Zenox pondered, resting his chin on his foot.

He looked serious, but from an observer’s perspective, it was rather funny.

Knock, knock. Someone knocked on the bedroom door.

Laria hurriedly pushed Zenox under the covers.

“Come in.”

With permission, the servant who worked for Laria opened the door and entered.

“Miss, I brought the washing water.”

“Uh, just leave it there.”

“Aren’t you washing right away?”

“I’m too lazy to get up…”

Without further questions, the servant placed the water down.

“I’ll have breakfast in my room today.”

“Excuse me? Are you not feeling well?”

It was customary for the Rohan family to gather and eat together.

Starting the day by having breakfast in the dining room in line with Herdin’s work hours was routine.

Having breakfast in the bedroom was unusual, so the servant’s concern was natural.

“I’m not sick. Just… “

Laria couldn’t leave Zenox alone.

Unable to reveal the truth, her voice faded, and the servant’s face darkened.

“Get me the usual food, a warm glass of milk, and roast some meat.”

Meat for breakfast?

Knowing Laria’s eating habits, the servant tilted her head but soon agreed.

The servant quickly brought breakfast.

It was a more lavish meal than usual.

Once the door was locked, Laria portioned out some food for Zenox onto another plate.

“Eat slowly so you don’t choke.”

Zenox only stared at the plate in front of him.

Unable to use a spoon or fork, he had no choice but to eat with his face.

With a sigh, Zenox began his meal.

Laria felt a mix of guilt and satisfaction.

She had been the same when she lived as a little white fox. Once she returned to her human form, she had sworn to grasp a fork first.

Luckily, Zenox seemed to enjoy the food as he cleaned the plate. His figure was small, so even after just one plate, his belly was bulging.

‘I shouldn’t touch him.’

Since yesterday, Laria had been fighting this internal battle.

Wanting to touch him vs. holding back.

Having finished his meal, Zenox suddenly asked:

“Is there a potion to transform into a beast?”

“Well… there is, but we can’t make it right now.”

The potion to transform into a beast was notoriously complicated. The recipe had been lost for a very long time, and likely no one knew it anymore.

“There’s no recipe, and it’s also classified as a forbidden potion.”

The side effects were severe. Sometimes instead of turning into a regular beast, one might transform into another being.

“The effect lasts for a maximum of a day.”

“I see.”

Laria had been unable to speak when transformed into a fox, but now she was conversing with Zenox.

‘Is it because of the potion’s side effect that he can talk?’

Maybe when completely turned into a beast, the vocal cords change too.

She’d have to research that next time she got a chance.

Zenox stretched out, looking somewhat deflated. Laria, unable to resist any longer, decided to indulge herself.

“Should I brush your fur?”

She thought it was a plausible excuse, but Zenox seemed to see through it.

“Do you want to touch me?”

The tone was a bit strange…

“If you touch, Your Excellency might get addicted.”

Watching Zenox try to touch himself, she couldn’t hold back her laughter. He quickly gave up because his short legs couldn’t reach his back.

Suppressing her laughter, Laria stood up.

“I’ll get the brush.”

As Laria left the room, Zenox glanced at the door.

Should he leave for a bit?

Although it was daytime and risky, his small size made it easy to hide.

Checking for sounds outside, Zenox jumped to grab the doorknob and pulled.

The door opened with little effort.

He peeked out, checking the corridor, and once he confirmed no one was there, he stepped out. He planned to quickly look around nearby and return before Laria came back.

Zenox moved forward as nimbly as possible.

But his body didn’t move as his mind wished.

Damn this body.

Turning into a young wolf brought various inconveniences. Judging distances was difficult, and he was still not accustomed to his new body.

He had to finish his exploration before Laria returned.

He heard footsteps gradually getting closer.

Zenox hid behind a decorative object.

“Miss!”

The cheerful voice sounded oddly familiar.

Peeking out slightly, he saw Laria facing the knight he had seen before.

Was his name Rudat?

“Rodit?”

It was Rodit.

He hadn’t paid much attention and hadn’t remembered the name properly. He might forget again after today.

Unable to contain his emotions, a tail sprung out from beneath Rodit’s waist.

Zenox frowned upon seeing the wagging tail.

He seems to have no dignity, like a mutt.

“What’s with the brush? Oh, is it for beastman?”

“Huh? Um…”

Laria seemed taken aback.

After a brief pause, Laria responded:

“To comb your tail.”

“My tail?!”

Rodit’s voice raised an octave.

His tail was excitedly wagging so fast it was almost a blur.

…Wasn’t she supposed to comb my hair?

A strange sense of betrayal washed over Zenox. He assumed it was to avoid the awkward situation, but he felt deeply disappointed.

Zenox thought she didn’t want to use a brush someone else had used.

“I remember the old days. You used to comb me when I couldn’t control my transformation.”

Rodit rambled on, lost in his memories.

His constant chatter was almost deafening.

Laria patiently listened, which was frustrating.

“But, didn’t you say you had breakfast in your room? Are you unwell?”

After his trip down memory lane, Rodit looked at Laria with concern.

“I just ate in my room because I was tired.”

“Everyone was worried.”

“My parents?”

“And your brother.”

“There was crying in the dining room earlier,” Rodit added.

He hesitated for a moment, rolling his eyes, but then blurted out:

“Miss, I’ve seen how terrible Grand Duke Krassium is.”