The Arranged Suitor Was the Kidnapper

Driven by a foreboding feeling, Laria hurried even more.

“Young lady?!”

Ishel called out from behind, but Laria heard nothing.

The only thought was to hide immediately.

The exit was crowded with people.

With all her might, she made her way through the crowd. A knight who recognized Laria’s robe cleared a path.

Fortunately, the corridor was empty.

However, she couldn’t relax as the knights would soon come out.

She had to get out of here as quickly as possible.

‘Why all of a sudden…’

She thought she’d never transform into a fox again.

After leaving the Krassium mansion, she tried several times but couldn’t transform.

Maybe she should have left immediately when the Crown Prince mentioned having a prophetic dream.

-The future doesn’t change.

She recalled what Ishel had said.

But maybe she could twist it in a different direction.

No sooner had she held onto hope and puff! Laria suddenly transformed into a fox.

‘Ah!’

She had transformed into a fox before even leaving the building.

Buried under a pile of clothes, Laria wriggled out. There was no time to take a breath. Carrying the oversized and heavy robe in her mouth, she started moving.

Then, someone called.

“…Laria?”

The voice made her fur stand on end.

Swiftly turning her head, there stood a person wearing a golden mask.

When Laria grew wary, he removed his mask.

Solike…?

‘Why are you here?’

Laria’s eyes widened.

“Did you turn into a fox? How…”

Bending down, Solike examined Laria from all angles.

“No matter how I look at it, it’s a perfect fox. Even with potions, no one can transform like this.”

From the way he was certain it was Laria, he must have seen everything.

Laria, whose secret no one knew, felt like screaming.

Seeing her distressed, Solike’s expression grew serious.

“Can’t you speak?”

Unlike Zenox who could speak when transformed into a young wolf, Laria, unable to speak, nodded.

“Wow, but you look just like the fox from the wanted poster. If I take you to the Duke, could I get a reward?”

He probably said it as a joke, but it sent shivers down her spine.

He really might do it.

“Zenox!!”

Upon hearing Ishel’s voice nearby, Laria jumped.

Solike, startled, hid Laria behind a pillar.

After stuffing Laria’s robe into a bag, Solike whispered in a hushed tone.

“You know the Grand Duke is crazy about the white fox, right? If we’re caught, you’ll be captured too.”

Laria couldn’t even cry.

It was indeed possible that they’d be caught.

Solike put his mask back on and peeked out.

Not far away, Ishel and Zenox were facing each other.

“Calm down. We haven’t searched everywhere yet.”

At Ishel’s words, Zenox looked down at him with cold eyes.

Sometimes, silence was more terrifying.

The tense knights held their swords, making the atmosphere even more intense.

Watching the standoff, Zenox suddenly turned his head towards them. Laria, startled, quickly pulled back, nearly choking from fear.

“Why did you react like that all of a sudden?”

“…White.”

“What?”

While still confronting Ishel, Zenox started walking towards them.

Laria panicked.

‘What do I do?’

Deciding to run away, Laria bit Solike’s hem.

‘Hey! Let’s run.’

Solike understood her and began to move when…

Bomm!!

A loud noise made Laria scream uncontrollably.

“Kyu!”

The pillar that hid Laria was now split in half.

Zenox, with his sword drawn, stood there.

‘Is he, is he crazy?’

Frozen in fear, Laria stared at Zenox without even blinking.

As the dust settled, Zenox’s gaze fixed on Laria.

The moment their eyes met, his face went blank.

It was the first time Laria had seen Zenox with such an expression, and she was taken aback as well.

“…Whitie?”

Upon being called by that name after such a long time, her breath caught.

‘It’s only been 3 years, how did he recognize me right away?’

White foxes are rare, but not non-existent. He must have seen numerous white foxes by now, how could he have recognized her?

‘Oh…!’

Her body trembled greatly.

Solike, who was holding Laria, stepped back.

Zenox, who noticed Solike late, had an expression of pure anger.

“Let go of her now.”

“You seem to be misunderstanding something. I’ve raised this child since she was an infant. She’s my fox.”

“Your fox?”

Zenox’s voice dropped menacingly.

The hostile aura sent shivers down her spine.

It was surprising how he could hide such an intense aura usually.

Seizing the moment, Solike made exaggerated movements.

“Oh dear, it’s so cold it’s making me shiver.”

Seeing Laria shiver, Zenox’s anger dissipated instantly.

Her breathing became a little easier.

“I brought the fox I’ve raised since she was an infant here because I wanted to find her a friend. But I thought it’d be best if she chose her own friend.”

Whether it was to save his own skin, Solike was rambling nonsense.

“I know you’re looking for a white fox, but this child is as precious as my life.”

Solike hugged Laria tightly.

When Laria coughed due to the tight embrace, Zenox’s eyes shot daggers.

“Sorry, are you okay?”

Laria nodded in confirmation.

She was desperately pretending not to be Whitie, but she wasn’t sure if Zenox would be fooled.

Laria, who had been avoiding his gaze, sneaked a peek at Zenox. Perhaps he hadn’t taken his eyes off her, for their gazes met again.

Zenox silently observed Laria.

His brilliant golden eyes were filled with certainty.

‘What do I do?’

It seemed inevitable that she would be captured by Zenox.

She hadn’t even returned the fox orb…

Zenox, sensing the anxiety in Laria’s eyes, murmured to himself.

“Are you scared of me?”

“Well… she’s still very young, so she’s scared of everyone except me.”

“Enough of that. Such tricks won’t work.”

Zenox warned, still not taking his eyes off Laria.

“What do you mean by tricks? This fox is like my child…”

Solike was silenced.

The sword in Zenox’s hand dragged on the ground.

It looked like he was contemplating how to kill.

Sensing his life in danger, Solike reached into his bosom for a bottle. Zenox immediately drew his sword.

However, seeing Laria in Solike’s arms, he hesitated.

Taking advantage of this split-second, Solike spilled the mysterious potion from the bottle.

As the potion spread like mist, a white light enveloped Solike and Laria.

“Whitie!”

Simultaneously, Zenox reached out towards Solike.

But his hand only grasped at thin air.

No one was there anymore.

“…”

An oppressive silence filled the surroundings.

Ishel, who had been watching from behind, held his breath, tensed.

Having finally found Whitie only to have her kidnapped by some stranger…

It was unimaginable how angry Zenox must be.

Ishel pondered how he could discreetly leave the scene.

If only he had brought the palace sorcerer with him!

Just then, Zenox, who had stood still for a while, looked down at the empty bottle on the ground.

It seemed oddly familiar.

He slowly bent down to pick it up.

After examining the bottle for a while, Zenox turned around.

All the knights, including Ishel, swallowed their screams.

“Where is Lady Rohan?”