The Arranged Suitor Was the Kidnapper

For a moment, Laria blinked her eyes, not quite understanding what Zenox had just said.

Break off the engagement?

However, her thoughts went blank at his next words.

There were more than one or two questions she wanted to ask. Why being by his side would put her in danger. Why he couldn’t break off the engagement even though it was the right thing to do.

The reason they had started a contract relationship was solely due to the imperial family.

Zenox had sought to escape the imperial family’s constraints and pressures, and Laria had joined hands with him to avoid the imperial family’s retaliation.

In fact, from Zenox’s perspective, breaking the engagement at any time would have been fine. There were plenty of noble families eager to replace the Count of Rohan.

‘Since we’re bound by a contract anyway, why…?’

Uncertain about where to start, Laria took a step closer.

Zenox, who had been staring at the ground, slowly raised his head.

Laria reached out her arms and gently cupped Zenox’s cheek. 

“Why are you blaming yourself?” 

With their eyes locked, Laria continued speaking. 

“Ask the knights about how I handled the assassins.” 

“…” 

“I’m stronger than Your Excellency thinks.” 

The strength drained from his cheek that had been clenched tightly. Slightly bending at the waist to match her eye level, he let out a slow breath. 

“Today… It must be a warning.” 

Laria could sense the uneasiness in Zenox’s voice. 

“It might get even more dangerous from now on.” 

“I’m not fragile.” 

“I know. It’s just…” 

A rough, choked breath escaped his lips, as if he were trying to swallow his torment. 

“I’m afraid I might lose again.” 

What was he so afraid of losing?

His fear of loss seemed so profound that not even hasty comfort could suffice.

Zenox had lost his parents at a young age. During his time on the battlefield, his comrades, too, had scattered one by one.

Moreover, the fox he had raised had disappeared along with the fire, along with the fox orb he used to suppress his madness.

And now he was afraid of losing Laria.

Although their relationship had initially been based on a contract, had something changed to make Laria stand out from the rest, not just as a fox but as Laria Rohan?

It made her heart flutter. 

“You won’t lose anything anymore.”

Laria spoke with determination in her voice.

“Rather…you might even get back what you lost.”

The road ahead was still long, but Laria was determined to return the fox orb to Zenox.

She would also reveal her true identity as Whitie…

The rest was up to her. She just hoped Zenox wouldn’t get hurt. 

“…”

Zenox remained silent, his hand tightly gripping Laria’s sleeve. He clung to her like a child reuniting with a lost mother and refused to let go.

Eventually, his hand moved upward, and he touched Laria’s cheek that was wrapped in his palm.

With intertwined fingers, Zenox whispered, 

“Is it selfish of me to act this way?” 

“Even if you wanted to break the engagement, I would refuse. You promised to give me the diamond mine, after all.”

Laria joked, and Zenox chuckled. 

“I can give you ten.” 

“Your Excellency, it doesn’t sound like a joke when you say it.” 

“Well, that’s because I’m serious.” 

Laria’s eyes widened in surprise.

Zenox, who looked brighter than before, smiled slightly.

His face, seen from just a span away, was so stunning that Laria was mesmerized and then blushed. She couldn’t help but think back to the dance they had shared at the banquet.

‘With hands and hearts so hot, I wonder if your lips are hot too?’

In the end, the curiosity she couldn’t resolve returned to her mind.

Why was she thinking about it now…?

She unintentionally recalled it because there were lips in front of her.

Laria tried to lower the hand that was covering Zenox’s cheek.

Sensing her attempt to retreat, Zenox quickly noticed and applied more pressure to his hand, as if to prevent her from escaping.

“It’s a little hot.”

Only after she added an excuse, the large hand slowly retreated.

“The wolf clan tends to have a higher body temperature.”

“Indeed, they seem to be warmer compared to other races.”

Zenox’s gaze momentarily sharpened at her response, compared to earlier. Quickly averting his gaze, he murmured in a softened voice:

“…Other races?” 

“Yes, my mother is a snake beastwoman, so she tends to be cold, while my father and I have similar body temperatures.” 

“Ah.” 

Zenox’s tone softened as they discussed her family.

Confirming his more relaxed expression and tone, Laria hesitated for a moment.

‘Is it okay to ask now?’

Who on earth was threatening Zenox and her?

Since the moment they had met Rubenta at the banquet, Zenox had appeared uneasy, so maybe…

“Is the person targeting me Your Excellency’s uncle?”

Seeing Zenox’s mouth tense up again, Laria was convinced that it was the right answer.

Rubenta Krassium had once tried to kill Laria, who was Whitie back then. But how could they have sent an assassin without knowing that she was Whitie? 

“Uncle, he doesn’t want anyone left by my side.”

“…” 

“He sent assassins to you because I consider you important.” 

Her head was spinning.

She had thought he was strange when she had seen him before, but now she realized he was truly insane.

What did he hope to gain by isolating Zenox? She had heard he was a representative of the Grand Duke, but was there any ambition to take the Grand Duke’s place?

Speculations were running wild in her mind, but one stopped in its tracks. 

“You mentioned before that you know who might have brainwashed you. Can it be…” 

“It’s my uncle.”

The answer came immediately.

Laria didn’t know what to say.

Rubenta Krassium was, by blood, the closest relation to Zenox. But Zenox seemed indifferent to the fact.

As her lips tingled, Laria decided to start with what she had wanted to convey to Zenox.

“At the Sorcery Office I found out that Marquis Hashir was the one who used brainwashing on the Grand Duke’s residence.” 

“…Is that so?”

Zenox didn’t seem surprised, as if he had already suspected as much. 

“Then it means Marquis Hashir and your uncle are working together.” 

“Most likely.”

She had no idea what kind of deal had been made.

In any case, Marquis Hashir had practiced forbidden sorcery, and Rubenta had tried to brainwash Zenox using it.

If they had evidence, they could present it in court. 

When she thought of Marquis Hashir, her blue eyes sank like a lake on a rainy day.

“I want personal revenge on Marquis Hashir as well.”

She had never hated anyone as much as him, and she wanted to push him into the abyss.

Especially since her father had suffered so much. 

“I’ve already decided to deal with Marquis Hashir myself, so you don’t need to blame yourself for my safety.”

So, Zenox doesn’t have to blame himself for putting Laria in danger.

Even if it hadn’t been Zenox, Laria would have willingly taken on the task. 

“On the contrary, Your Excellency might be in more danger because of me.”

When Laria expressed her concern for Zenox, he chuckled. 

“Are you worried about me?”

His tone was relaxed, as if he had never worried about anyone in his life. 

“You’re strong, Your Excellency, but I’m worried.” 

“…Why?” 

Because…

Laria was about to answer, but she closed her mouth.

‘Because you’re really important to me.’

It sounded like a confession. 

‘Of course, you’re important.’

It didn’t have any special meaning, and she was thinking of him as a friend…

Laria, who was making excuses for herself, suddenly thought, ‘Are we friends?’.

Even now, Laria felt inner intimacy.

Laria stared blankly at Zenox.

He waited for her response, and when she saw the gaze in Zenox’s eyes, her heart began to race.

The warmth that spread from her ears to her neck was like spilled paint.

Was this… friendship? 

‘If it’s not friendship, what is it?’ 

She scolded herself not to think too deeply.

But once she became aware of it, she couldn’t stop. 

“So…” 

She barely opened her mouth when a drop of water fell on her forehead. Startled by the cold sensation, Laria forgot what she was going to say.

Zenox, too, seemed to have been hit by a drop of water and looked up at the sky.

The sky was still clear, but dark clouds were moving in from a distance. It didn’t seem like it would stop raining anytime soon. 

“Oh dear.” 

With the sound of his tongue clicking, raindrops began to fall in earnest.

Plip, plop.

The previously calm surface of the lake was disrupted by ripples.

The sound of leaves splashing water as they repelled raindrops sounded like light footsteps, Zenox took off his coat.

In an instant, a coat was lightly covered over Laria’s head.

“Shall we run?”

Zenox gently grabbed Laria’s wrist.

“Or should I carry you?”