The Arranged Suitor Was the Kidnapper

From morning, Laria was holed up in her workshop, refining herbs.

North Sea grass, gentle weed, and moonrise flowers… they were all ingredients for elixirs.

Today, she planned to make an elixir for hobby purposes, not for sale. Having neatly arranged the herbs, Laria recalled an event from a few days ago.

‘He must’ve made it home safely?’

She visualized Zenox, who had walked on a rainy day without an umbrella.

Though she had no real reason to worry, it still weighed on her mind.

Laria stopped her work and became deeply engrossed in her thoughts.

-Please help me find Whitie.

She remembered her surprise when he suddenly asked for her help.

Why ask her, when he could’ve sought help from another white fox clan? Was it because they had met face-to-face, even if it was just a formal meeting?

She assumed the relationship between the fox clan and the wolf clan wasn’t good, so he wouldn’t have any reason to ask.

Reflecting on that time, Laria hung her head.

In the future, she just had to avoid getting involved with Zenox. Having refused him once, he wouldn’t ask again.

Laria shook off her thoughts and returned to refining her ingredients.

While she was researching a new formula, a servant visited her workshop.

“Miss, a representative from the imperial palace is here.”

A representative?

She had a feeling something wasn’t right.

Hadn’t she been summoned by imperial decree to meet Zenox not long ago?

And her intuition was spot on.

“You want me to enter the palace with Grand Duke Krassium?” Laria asked, dumbfounded.

The prince’s representative from the imperial castle handed over a golden, shimmering letter with a smile.

“Yes, His Highness the Crown Prince very much wishes to see you.”

Suddenly, why?

A silent scream threatened to escape her throat.

‘Does he want to arrange another meeting…?’

Hadn’t the arranged meeting ended?

Though Laria didn’t convey her feelings to the Crown Prince directly, she thought either Herdin or Zenox would have spoken first.

She didn’t know why, but it seemed they had misunderstood things were going well.

Though the invitation was sudden, she couldn’t decline.

The other party was the Crown Prince, and Laria was merely a noble lady from a County.

From a Count’s family that didn’t wield much power.

To make matters worse, her parents were away on business.

She felt like tearing her hair out.

‘I tried so hard to avoid any entanglements…’

Laria hurriedly began preparing to go out.

Her servants were busy, more than usual, hearing that she had to enter the imperial palace.

After Laria had quickly bathed, a servant seated her in front of a vanity. Her silver hair, flowing like waves, was gently brushed.

Laria gazed at her reflection in the mirror.

To anyone looking, her face looked utterly drained.

“Miss, why are you going to the imperial palace?”

When asked by the brushing servant, Laria licked her lips.

Both the servant choosing jewelry and the one picking out makeup had faces full of anticipation.

“…I had a formal meeting recently, and His Highness the Crown Prince asked me to visit with that man.”

“Oh my!”

The servants were abuzz.

Few knew Laria had had an arranged meeting.

Considering she might’ve sold the information to Solike and the visit to the imperial palace would spread rumors, so Laria spoke honestly.

“He must’ve taken a liking to you!”

“If His Highness the Crown Prince personally calls for you, he must be quite remarkable!”

“…It’s Grand Duke Krassium.”

At Laria’s words, the room instantly fell silent.

The servants’ faces turned pale.

“Gra-Grand Duke Krassium?”

“Did I hear that wrong?”

“You heard right.”

The room, lively just moments ago, felt as somber as a wake.

“Miss… what should we do…”

The servant brushing her hair trembled, voice on the verge of tears.

Seeing the servants’ reactions, a surprised Laria turned around.

“It’s not like I’m going to die. Why are you acting like this?”

“But… the Grand Duke is said to devour his own kind.”

“I’ve heard he’s incredibly aggressive.”

Laria had heard these rumors before.

“Lately, they say he’s gone mad!”

She felt he had changed quite a bit, but he didn’t seem insane. It’s possible everyone held a bias because the wolf clan’s genetic disease was rabies.

‘It’s frustrating every time.’

Since the person himself doesn’t actively respond to those rumors, they grew like wild mushrooms. At least it would be nice to catch at least the ringleader who spread the strange rumor.

Seeing Laria lost in thought and silent, the servants started crying.

At this point, she felt like a bride sold to a monster.

“Don’t worry. I’ll refuse and come back.”

She planned to clear up the misunderstanding and completely set the relationship straight.

Once ready, Laria went downstairs.

There was an unfamiliar carriage waiting outside the entrance. A man stood in front of it, dressed casually as if it was the day to enter the palace. Even so, the armor on one arm was conspicuously visible.

“Young ladyRohan.”

At Zenox’s call, Laria briefly greeted.

“Hello, Your Excellency the Grand Duke.”

At the word ‘Grand Duke’, the servants standing behind shivered with fear. Some beastmen’s tails swelled up and burst out with a ‘pop’.

“I have come to fetch you on the Crown Prince’s orders.”

She had expected him to come to fetch her since she was told to enter the palace with him.

Laria stared intently at the carriage Zenox brought.

Perhaps wanting to show off his wealth, the carriage was gilded with platinum and adorned with a variety of jewels. Moreover, they were top-quality gemstones, so pure that they would be flawless if made into jewelry.

‘I want to take them all…’

With those jewels, she could conduct various magical experiments.

Laria drooled over the jewels.

Unaware that Zenox was watching her intently.

Finally breaking her gaze, Laria climbed into the carriage. The inside was so spacious; it felt like an entire room had been moved inside.

Laria sat next to the window, looking out at the servants.

Seeing their crying faces made her feel awkward.

‘It’s not that bad.’

The prejudice against Zenox by others was so deep.

The two sat facing each other, and the carriage started. Laria looked at Zenox sitting opposite her. His face was inscrutable.

“I didn’t know the Crown Prince was going to call.”

Laria murmured first.

“I thought you would have told him, that it didn’t work out…”

“I’ve been busy lately and haven’t been to the imperial palace, so he must have thought we were still meeting.”

When Zenox replied with an awkward expression, and Laria nodded.

After all, it wasn’t Zenox’s fault. He had no obligation to report the results of his arranged meeting with the Crown Prince on her behalf.

“I’ll tell him this time.”

She would prove to the Crown Prince that she and Zenox had no relationship and then return home.

Their conversation ceased, and a natural silence ensued. Having met twice recently, the silence wasn’t too awkward.

It was surprisingly Zenox who broke the silence.

“I didn’t bring your handkerchief because I ran out. I’ll bring one next time.”

“That’s okay. I have plenty at home,” Laria immediately declined.

She planned never to get involved with Zenox after today.

She thought the conversation would end there, but Zenox spoke again.

“Do you keep any pets?”

When they last met, there was a cold atmosphere. Why this sudden interest now?

Laria replied, trying to hide her nervousness:

“I have a guard dog in my garden.”

“What about a fox?”

She didn’t immediately reply to the unexpected question.

It was hard to determine the intention behind such a question.

“Not many people keep foxes as pets. Even if I’m a fox beast.”

Before he could ask further, Laria swiftly redirected the question.

“It seems like the Grand Duke really likes foxes.”

Zenox then looked at Laria intently.

His sharp eyes relaxed into a gentle curve. He softly smiled and said:

“I do.”

For a moment, her heart jolted as if the carriage had hit a rock.

Laria avoided his gaze for a brief moment.

“Then, in place of the lost fox, a new fox…”

“No.”

Zenox firmly interrupted Laria.

His unwavering eyes were filled with Laria.

“I have only one fox.”

A deep obsession, which he couldn’t hide, seeped through his voice.

He seemed like a hunter who had been tracking his prey for a long time, sending shivers down her spine.

Was he talking about her?

She really shouldn’t get caught…

Struggling to compose herself, Laria responded with a casual tone.

“I hope you find it soon.”

“Yes, I think I’ll find it soon.”

Saying so, Zenox gave a meaningful smile.

Then, as if whispering a secret, he murmured softly,

“Because I’ve caught its tail.”