Episode 28
“Did you just call me… darling?”
The Count muttered in shock.
His eyes were brimming with tears.
“….”
Zenox quietly looked down at Laria,
as if searching for someone’s face in hers.
Then, he gently tucked her silver hair behind her ear and whispered,
“I chose it imagining the smile you’d make.”
A loose smile played on Zenox’s lips.
“No matter what flower I pick, you’re the most beautiful, Laria.”
Laria was impressed inside.
Wow… how can someone say something so cheesy so naturally?
‘Well, he was even worse back when he was White Fang.’
Maybe because his looks made it believable,
his acting was perfect—he really looked like a man in love.
Ahem!
At the sound of a fake cough, Laria turned her head.
Herdin was glaring and motioning for her to come inside.
Seeing his “get away from him” eyes, Laria slowly stepped out of Zenox’s arms.
Then Zenox leaned close and whispered so only she could hear,
“We need to look as close as possible. Should we hold hands?”
She didn’t think it was necessary,
but after catching her family’s sharp stares, she nodded.
When she held out her hand,
his large palm completely covered the back of hers.
Her hand had never seemed small before,
but now it fit perfectly in his.
When she lightly curled her fingers to match his,
their hands locked together like perfectly fitting gears.
‘Oh, he’s not wearing his armor today.’
Zenox often partially transformed into his beast form,
so he usually wore armor.
Today, he must have left it off so he wouldn’t seem threatening.
When she looked up,
she saw her family’s displeased faces.
Still, they didn’t say anything and walked inside first.
‘Weird…’
It was clear her family didn’t like Zenox.
But they had never told her to break up with him.
It wasn’t because they were scared of him.
Maybe they respected that she loved him.
‘I thought they’d overprotect me forever.’
Though she understood their overprotectiveness,
sometimes it felt suffocating—so this change was welcome.
Still holding Zenox’s hand,
Laria entered the house.
The Rohan mansion was beautiful,
but compared to the Craseum mansion, it was small and modest.
Even though it was his second visit,
Zenox looked around as if it was his first,
his eyes scanning the place like a hunter looking for prey.
Then, putting away that searching gaze, he said slowly,
“I thought this last time too—what a beautiful home.”
“It can’t compare to the Craseum mansion.”
Laria looked around the hallway with affection.
“But I like it. I was born and raised here.”
Zenox lowered his eyes, thinking for a moment,
then gave a small smile.
“I see.”
When they reached the parlor,
there was a long table in the center with two benches.
“Please, sit.”
Laria and Zenox sat side by side.
Her family sat opposite them.
The fact that they were still holding hands made the stares sharper.
“I didn’t get to introduce myself earlier… I’m Theodore Rohan.”
Despite being big and rough-looking for a white fox,
the Count was timid and easily frightened.
The only resemblance to Laria was his hair color.
“We’ve met before. I’m Semela Rohan.”
The Countess had eyes that tilted upward and a cool, elegant look—
she resembled Laria but seemed colder.
Her upright posture and steady gaze contrasted with her husband’s nervousness.
“I’m Herdin Rohan. I work as the imperial palace’s physician.”
Herdin had inherited more of his mother’s traits
and was born a snake beastman.
He looked so much like Laria that strangers could tell they were siblings.
After observing each family member, Zenox spoke.
“Zenox Craseum.”
Even though they already knew,
hearing it from his mouth carried weight—
he was the empire’s only duke,
and the subject of countless rumors.
The Countess, Semela, broke the silence.
“Last time, you said you were seeing Laria.”
“Yes.”
Zenox nodded calmly.
“We haven’t been together long… but I’m thinking we’ll be engaged soon.”
Semela and Herdin’s faces turned instantly dark.
Theodore gasped for breath and reached out his hand.
Herdin quietly gave him a calming medicine
while glaring at Zenox.
“Don’t you think that’s too soon?”
“I’m already of marriage age.”
Seeing Zenox under attack, Laria joined in.
“As if you’re old enough to rush into marriage.”
In noble families, most people got engaged before adulthood.
Laria hadn’t even started looking for a fiancé after her coming-of-age—
by their standards, she was already late.
“Fifty years too early.”
“So you want me to never marry?”
Herdin almost nodded instantly
but shut his mouth when Semela pinched his thigh.
With a frosty face, Semela looked between Zenox and Laria.
“Honestly, I think this engagement would be very unbalanced…”
She didn’t say in whose favor.
“But if you two really want it… fine.”
Laria’s eyes widened at the unexpected approval.
What was going on?
Last time, her mother had interrogated her,
asking if Zenox was threatening her.
Laria had been prepared to be told to break up—
but now things were going way too smoothly.
She turned to her father, who had regained color after his medicine.
“Do you agree too, Father?”
Theodore blinked, startled,
then slowly nodded—
though his shaking leg betrayed his unease.
When Laria narrowed her eyes,
Theodore slapped his own thigh.
“I’m just nervous…”
Just then, the butler brought tea and snacks.
The sound of tea being poured filled the room.
Laria glanced at the snacks—
they were cookies she didn’t like.
Normally, the treats were always ones she preferred.
Maybe they’d changed them because of the guest.
With elegant manners, Semela offered the plate.
“These are our chef’s special cookies. Please try one.”
Special cookies? Since when?
Before Laria could figure it out,
Zenox obediently took one.
Everyone watched as he bit into it and swallowed.
After giving a safe compliment,
Zenox naturally looked at Laria.
“Laria, you should have one too.”
The moment Zenox said her name, all conditions were set.
For the first time today, Semela smiled.
“Your Grace, I have something to ask.”
“Go ahead.”
“As a parent, I want my child to marry someone who loves her.”
She looked him straight in the eyes.
“Do you love Laria?”
“We haven’t known each other long… but I thought it was fate from the first time I saw her.”
His quick answer made the three family members exchange shocked glances.
That can’t be right.
He had eaten the cookie with the special potion—
it should have erased any love, even turning it to dislike.
But Zenox was still smiling at Laria.
Something was definitely wrong.
To test it, Semela picked up one of the cookies and ate it.
“Dear?” Theodore called in alarm,
but she had already swallowed it.
“Theodore.”
Semela turned to look at him.
Normally, even with her cool demeanor,
her eyes always held affection for her husband.
But now, her gaze was icy cold—
as if she were looking at a stranger.
After staring for a while, she spoke.
“Let’s get a divorce.”
