Episode 6
Laria stayed in her workshop from early morning, trimming herbs.
Northern Sea Grass, Whisperweed, Evening Primrose… all ingredients for a potion.
Today, she wasn’t making anything to sell—just brewing for fun.
As she neatly laid the herbs aside, a memory came back to her.
“I wonder if he got home okay.”
The image of Zennox walking in the rain without an umbrella flashed in her mind.
He wasn’t someone she needed to worry about, but still, she found herself thinking of him.
Laria paused her work and fell deep into thought.
“Please help me find Hayang.”
She was still surprised by how suddenly he asked for help.
He could’ve asked another fox-person—why her?
Maybe because they had met once through the arranged meeting?
Then again, foxes and wolves didn’t exactly get along. Maybe he had no one else to turn to.
Shaking off the memory, Laria told herself she wouldn’t get involved with Zennox again.
She’d already said no once. Surely, he wouldn’t ask again.
Pushing those thoughts aside, she resumed working on the potion ingredients.
But just as she was experimenting with a new recipe, one of the servants knocked and entered.
“Young Lady, an envoy from the palace is here.”
The palace?
That never meant anything good.
After all, she had just been forced to attend an arranged meeting with Zennox, by imperial order.
Her gut feeling turned out to be right.
“…They want me to enter the palace with the Duke of Crasseum?”
Laria asked in disbelief.
The crown prince’s envoy handed her a gold-embossed letter with a polite smile.
“Yes. His Highness the Crown Prince wishes to see you.”
Why all of a sudden?!
She almost let out a silent scream.
“He wants to arrange another meeting…?”
Hadn’t that matter already ended?
She assumed Zennox or Herdein had already told the Crown Prince she wasn’t interested.
Apparently not.
It seemed like the Crown Prince had misunderstood the situation completely.
Even though it was a sudden request, she couldn’t refuse.
This was the Crown Prince. Laria was just a count’s daughter—with no real power behind her.
And of all times, her parents were away on a trip.
She felt like ripping her hair out.
“I’ve been trying so hard to stay out of this mess…”
With no choice, Laria rushed to get ready.
Even the servants were in a frenzy after learning they were going to the palace too.
After a quick bath, a servant sat her in front of the vanity.
Her long, silver hair shimmered as it was brushed.
Laria stared into the mirror.
Her face looked completely out of it.
“Young Lady, why are you going to the palace?” one servant asked while brushing her hair.
The others—picking jewelry and makeup—looked excited.
“…The Crown Prince asked me to come with the Duke I had a meeting with recently.”
“Oh my!” the servants gasped.
Only a few people even knew she had attended the meeting.
But now, since she had sold that info to Solike, and was going to the palace again, the gossip would spread quickly. So she decided to be honest.
“He must really like you!”
“His Highness is a big deal! If he’s calling you directly—wow!”
“…It’s the Duke of Crasseum.”
With those words, the room went silent.
The maids’ flushed faces turned pale in an instant.
“Th-the Duke of Crasseum?!”
“Did I hear that right?”
“You heard right.”
A moment ago, the room had been festive—now it felt like a funeral.
“Young Lady… what will we do…”
The hand brushing her hair trembled.
Her voice sounded like she might burst into tears.
Startled by their reaction, Laria turned around.
“I’m not going to die or anything. What’s with you all?”
“But… the Duke eats beast-people, doesn’t he?”
“They say he’s vicious and cruel.”
Rumors Laria had heard before came pouring out.
“Some say he’s completely lost his mind!”
She had to admit—he seemed different recently, but he didn’t seem crazy.
Maybe people assumed things because of the wolf clan’s genetic condition—madness.
“It’s frustrating every time…”
Since he didn’t defend himself, ridiculous rumors spread like wild mushrooms.
Laria wished someone would just catch the person spreading them.
As she stayed quiet, thinking, the maids began to cry.
She felt like a bride being sent off to a monster.
“Don’t worry. I’m going to reject him.”
She planned to clear up the misunderstanding and end things once and for all.
Once dressed, she went down to the front door.
A carriage she didn’t recognize was waiting outside.
A man stood in front of it, as out of place as a drop of ink on white paper.
He wore a formal uniform—lighter than full armor—but still had armor on one arm.
“Lady Rohan,” Zennox called out.
Laria gave a polite nod.
“Hello, Your Grace.”
At the word “Duke,” the servants behind her trembled.
Some of their tails puffed out from fear.
“By order of His Highness, I’ve come to escort you,” Zennox said.
She’d guessed he would come himself.
Laria eyed the carriage he brought.
It was over-the-top—coated in platinum and covered in precious gems.
They were so pure, they could’ve easily been turned into luxury accessories.
“I want to take them all…”
With that many gems, she could run all sorts of magical experiments.
She drooled over the carriage, unaware that Zennox was quietly watching her with amusement.
Snapping out of it, she got in.
The inside of the carriage was so large, it felt like a room.
She sat by the window and glanced at her crying servants.
It was a bit embarrassing.
“It’s not that bad…”
People really had deep-rooted fear and prejudice against Zennox.
As they sat across from each other, the carriage began to move.
Laria looked at Zennox.
His expression gave away nothing.
“I didn’t think His Highness would call me,” she said, breaking the silence.
“I thought Your Grace would’ve told him things didn’t work out.”
“I’ve been busy and haven’t visited the palace. I think he assumed we were still seeing each other,” Zennox replied with a troubled look.
Laria nodded.
Strictly speaking, it wasn’t his fault.
He didn’t have any duty to report the outcome of their meeting to the Crown Prince.
“I guess we can clear things up now.”
They would explain that there was nothing between them, and she’d return home.
Silence returned—but it wasn’t uncomfortable.
Since they’d met a couple of times now, the quiet felt natural.
Surprisingly, it was Zennox who spoke again.
“I was in a rush that day and forgot to bring a handkerchief. I’ll make sure to bring one next time.”
“It’s fine. I have plenty at home,” Laria replied quickly.
She had no intention of getting involved with him after today.
She expected the conversation to end there—but he spoke again.
“Do you have any pets?”
That caught her off guard.
During their arranged meeting, he’d been cold. Why the sudden interest?
Hiding her discomfort, she replied, “We have a guard dog in the garden.”
“What about a fox?”
She hesitated. The question was so unexpected, she didn’t know how to respond.
What was he trying to say?
“Foxes aren’t common pets, even for fox-beastfolk like me.”
Before he could ask more, Laria turned the question on him.
“You must really like foxes, Your Grace.”
Zennox looked at her for a moment.
His usually sharp eyes softened into a gentle arch.
He smiled and said, “I do.”
Her heart skipped a beat—like a carriage hitting a stone.
Laria looked away, flustered.
“Then… maybe you could adopt a new fox instead of the one you lost…”
“No.”
Zennox cut her off firmly.
His steady gaze locked onto hers.
“I only have one fox.”
There was a strange intensity in his voice—a hint of obsession.
He looked like a hunter who had been chasing his prey for a long time.
“Is he talking about me?”
“If he finds out, I’m doomed…”
Trying to stay calm, Laria kept her voice steady.
“I hope you find her soon.”
“I think I will,” he replied.
Then, with a mysterious smile, he leaned in and whispered:
“Because I’ve caught the tail.”
