The Arranged Suitor Was the Kidnapper

“Whitie?”

Laria lifted her head abruptly.

Her gaze met Zenox’s as he looked directly at her, so close that she flinched in surprise before tilting her head quizzically.

‘…Huh?’

Zenox appeared so youthful, he seemed to have only recently reached adulthood.

His face evoked memories from her days as Whitie.

Transfixed by the sight of him, Laria belatedly recalled her current circumstances.

‘Wasn’t I in the midst of a duel with Marquis Hashir?’

Glancing around in a panic, instead of the dueling arena surrounded by spectators, she found herself in a familiar bedchamber.

Bewildered, Laria hastily retraced her final memories.

She had been dueling Marquis Hashir, who collapsed first, and then she had attempted to extinguish the flames when…

What had happened after that?

In her confusion, Laria inadvertently brushed her cheek, recoiling in shock.

Some kind of fur…?

“Kkyang!”

A short animal-like cry escaped her lips.

Observing her reaction, Zenox’s expression grew solemn.

“If you are in pain, nod your head.”

After a momentary stillness, Laria hurriedly shook her head.

Even a brief delay, and the capital’s veterinarians would surely converge en masse.

“Hm. It’s a relief you’re not in pain, but…”

Zenox still couldn’t dispel his doubts, scrutinizing Laria intently.

Laria too was preoccupied examining herself.

Pink jelly-like pads on her paws, snow-white fur, pointed erect ears, a lush tail!

Laria had transformed into Whitie.

‘Why did I become a fox again?’

She had calculated precisely how much magic power expenditure would revert her fox form.

No, if she had truly transformed in front of Zenox, his reaction would surely be different. He was behaving as if nothing were amiss…

In an instant, realization struck.

‘This is a dream.’

It seemed she was dreaming of her past life at the Krassium Mansion as Whitie.

Reliving that long-gone era left Laria momentarily dazed.

‘Can dreams truly be this vivid?’

When Laria remained frozen without any response, Zenox eventually summoned Verdo.

“Whitie’s condition seems abnormal.”

“I shall call the veterinarians immediately.”

Before long, all the renowned veterinarians in the capital had congregated at the Krassium Mansion.

The white fox’s anguished cries persisted as she was forcibly examined.

Only after receiving the verdict of no abnormalities was she finally released.

“Kkyung! Kyuu!”

Her indignation evident, Laria slapped the floor repeatedly with her tail.

Apologizing for her distress, Zenox said:

“I thought you might be concealing an ailment…”

“Kyu!”

“I had prepared apple pies for a treat, but I suppose you’re not in the mood.”

Having apologized to this extent, she supposed she could forgive him.

Yes, he had not intended any harm, merely concern.

Her bristled tail rapidly smoothed back to its original lush state.

When Zenox extended his arm, Laria nimbly hopped onto his palm. Rather than nestling in his embrace, she climbed up his clothing, grasping the fabric, and perched on his shoulder.

Though initially apprehensive about her potentially falling, Zenox now seemed accustomed to her antics.

Laria tapped Zenox with her forepaw.

‘Let’s go!’

Receiving her command, Zenox set off.

Descending to the dining area, they found the head chef and servants busily at work.

Laria presented her paw pads to them in greeting.

“Kyu.”

‘Hello.’

The servants’ expressions melted at Laria’s greeting.

“Uwuk, so adorable…”

“How can you be this cute every single day?”

Initially restraining their reactions due to Zenox’s presence, the servants now openly gushed.

Zenox too seemed to relish their responses as if it were only natural.

Rather, he would cast questioning glances at those who didn’t fawn over Whitie.

Seated at the table with Laria placed beside him, Zenox had even arranged a customized seat to accommodate her joining them.

While other nobles might be aghast, at the Krassium Mansion, this was perfectly normal.

Once settled, Laria began eagerly devouring the apple pie prepared.

A special chef’s creation that even a fox could consume.

Her pointed ears twitched incessantly like fluttering butterfly wings. The onlookers struggled to stifle their laughter.

Zenox too set down his teacup, entranced by Laria’s antics.

As Laria licked her plate clean without leaving a crumb, he chuckled softly.

“No need for washing up, it seems.”

After personally wiping her face, Zenox scooped Laria into his arms once more.

‘I have legs, you know.’

At this rate, she might forget how to walk.

Yet the comfort outweighed any objection.

After her treat, they proceeded to the playroom, where Laria would amuse herself with toys.

New playthings arrived in veritable mountains daily, leaving her no choice but to indulge them.

‘Sheesh. Doesn’t he realize how wasteful this is?’

Even a Grand Duke would end up penniless at this rate.

Laria pawed at a ball of yarn, rolling it experimentally. Feeling its plush softness, she hugged and rolled around with it gleefully.

Accidentally releasing the yarn, she scampered after the bouncing ball in pursuit.

“She seems to favor the yarn balls.”

“I shall place orders for them in various colors.”

Verdo readily responded to Zenox’s offhand remark.

Only Laria remained oblivious to how the toys steadily accumulated in this manner.

After thoroughly playing, Laria climbed back onto Zenox’s shoulder.

Her busy schedule awaited.

“Kkyauu!”

Responding naturally to Laria’s command, Zenox guided her to the gardens.

Beyond the sunflower field, a small garden filled with all manner of blooms appeared.

Spotting the straw-hatted gardener, Laria greeted him by lifting her paw as before. Unable to contain his intense emotions, the gardener clutched the watering can to his chest.

“I have prepared the fox den for your arrival, Whitie.”

“Kkwung, kyu kyu!”

Oh, well done.

Interpreting her sounds as praise, the gardener’s cheeks flushed shyly.

Zenox set Laria down on the soft grass.

The pleasant sensation underfoot sent her tail swishing with delight.

Laria immediately bounded toward a large tree.

Beneath it stood an earthen den, decorated with flower petals and fruits, its interior lined with soft fabric. The mere sight was immensely satisfying.

Nimbly entering the den, Laria let out a contented sigh.

‘This is paradise.’

After residing as a fox for so long, it seemed her habits had grown rather vulpine.

Evidently, she now preferred a fox den to a bed.

Caressing Laria’s tail protruding from the den entrance, Zenox murmured wistfully:

“I wish I could join you inside.”

“Kyuuuu!”

‘With that bulky frame, you’d collapse it!’

Wiggling her body, Laria poked her head out, meeting Zenox’s gaze as he sat beside the den.

His eyes crinkled in a warm smile, a far cry from his initial cold demeanor.

At some point, Zenox had begun accompanying Laria everywhere. They were together so constantly that Laria occasionally craved solitude.

Once, exasperated, she had deliberately hidden from him.

Zenox had then spent the entire day neither eating nor drinking, solely focused on searching for her.

After that, he had endured her whims without complaint.

‘Come to think of it, how long have I been at the Krassium Mansion?’

Wiggling her toes, Laria attempted to count the days.

Time had slipped away in the blink of an eye.

‘I can’t stay like this forever.’

Undoubtedly, her family must be searching for her.

If only she could at least send them word…

As Laria’s mood grew somber, Zenox’s golden eyes flickered with unease.

Whenever she fell silent, he would grow anxious, seemingly unable to shake the fear that she might leave him at any moment, just as she had once attempted to escape.

“Whitie.”

“Kyuuu.”

Laria responded with a soft whine to Zenox’s call.

Only then did he seem reassured, gently stroking between her ears.

“It would be wonderful to live like this forever.”

The words he added quietly made Laria start.

“Just the two of us.”

Although he had everything from birth, Zenox’s world was small.

For him, only Whitie and himself existed.

After becoming a fox, Laria had lost everything, yet her world remained vast. She couldn’t simply abandon her family and the life she had left behind as a prisoner.

With their core desires fundamentally incompatible, their wishes could never align.

When Laria remained silent, contrary to her usual prompt responses, Zenox smiled bitterly.

Seeing his dejected expression, Laria lifted her paw, resting it on the back of his hand.

If not forever, she would remain by his side for the time being.

After all, there was no indication of her regaining human form, nor any prospect of escape.

Yet Laria could not have foreseen that she would abruptly depart the Krassium Mansion without any warning.

The memory of that fateful day when the Grand Duchy was engulfed in flames unfolded.