Episode 24
“You’re picking out a gift for me?”
While Laria blinked in surprise, Zenox quickly stepped closer.
“I feel like I haven’t treated you well… So I want to do it properly from now on.”
A smile lifted the corners of Zenox’s mouth.
“Otherwise, why would I avoid contacting you for ten whole days?”
Even though he was smiling, Laria could still feel pressure from him.
But strangely, it didn’t feel scary—more like he was sulking.
‘Is he pouting?’
She remembered how Zenox, when he was a fox, used to get upset if she didn’t play with him when she was tired.
“It’s not like that. I was just busy.”
She made an excuse, too embarrassed to say she avoided him on purpose.
To be fair, she really was busy recently with Siena’s request.
Zenox stared at her as if to ask, “Really?”
Laria quickly added,
“But now I’m free.”
“If I can’t reach you again… can I do whatever I want?”
Would he come to her house?
Laria shivered at the thought of Zenox meeting Herdin.
“I’ll make sure to contact you even if I’m busy.”
Only after hearing her clear answer did Zenox’s expression soften.
Still standing very close, he lightly tapped her hood.
“Isn’t it time to take this off?”
“I’m working secretly, so I have to keep it on.”
Except for Soliche, Zenox was the only person who knew Laria was doing work as an informant.
Since he already found out, it didn’t really matter if she took it off…
But she added,
“I want to do my job properly since I got paid.”
She wanted to keep work and personal life separate.
Zenox didn’t push further.
“Alright. Then what should I call you?”
“Call me Riri.”
She gave him the same answer she gave to Siena.
“Riri…” Zenox repeated the name softly, almost like a whisper.
Somehow, when he said it, it sounded like a lover’s nickname.
It didn’t sound that way when Siena said it…
Maybe it was because Zenox had such a charming voice?
“Shall we go then, Riri?”
Zenox took the lead and stopped in front of a very fancy clothing store.
Even Laria, who didn’t care about clothes, knew this was a famous boutique.
As Zenox tried to enter, Laria stopped.
“I’ll wait outside.”
When she made it clear she wouldn’t follow, Zenox responded seriously,
“What if I get attacked inside the store?”
“…Inside the store?”
Who would dare attack him?
He’d probably just escape easily.
As Laria gave him a skeptical look, she suddenly felt someone watching her and looked around.
But no one was there.
While she looked around, confused, Zenox lowered his voice and said,
“Actually, someone’s been following me lately.”
He whispered in a quieter tone,
“I’m worried they might have bad intentions… It’s scary.”
Who would dare harm Zenox?
Last time he came back covered in blood, it turned out none of it was even his.
Even though she knew all this, Laria still felt weak seeing his sad expression.
Just like when he was a fox, she felt like she needed to protect him.
“Okay, let’s go in together.”
“I’m lucky to have such a strong bodyguard.”
If only he didn’t talk.
Laria gave Zenox a brief side-eye before looking ahead again.
As they entered the store, a staff member at the door opened it for them.
“Welcome!”
Well-dressed employees lined up and greeted them in unison.
Laria looked around the spacious interior.
Despite being such a famous boutique, there were no other customers.
‘Is business bad?’
She had heard there was a months-long waiting list.
While she was wondering, a woman wearing a gold name tag stepped forward.
“We’ve been expecting you, Duke.”
She gave a polite bow.
“We will do our best to meet your expectations.”
Though smiling, the woman couldn’t completely hide her nervousness.
The name “Duke of Crassium” clearly brought fear.
Still, it was admirable that she was trying to remain professional.
Then she noticed Laria and widened her eyes.
Laria was wearing a robe with her hood pulled down, looking quite suspicious,
But the woman didn’t lose her polite tone.
“Is she accompanying you?”
“She’s my bodyguard,” Laria answered instead.
The manager and staff behind her looked confused.
Their expressions seemed to ask: Why would Zenox need a bodyguard?
Thankfully, the manager didn’t ask further and got down to business.
“Are you looking for something specific today?”
“I’d like to see dresses to give my fiancée.”
“Oh, I heard the news! Congratulations on your engagement!”
Only then did Zenox relax and smile.
“Thank you.”
His smile left the manager dazed.
Zenox was undeniably handsome, but his usual intense aura made it hard to notice.
Now that he seemed more relaxed, his good looks stood out even more—
To the point where a fashion designer might get inspired for life just by seeing him.
“Um, our boutique’s ready-to-wear dresses are…”
The manager began to explain nervously, but Zenox waved his hand.
“I’ll look around by myself.”
With just Laria in tow, Zenox walked over to the dress section.
It was filled with dazzling dresses—much flashier than anything in Laria’s closet.
Zenox picked up a soft blue dress and held it up.
“Riri, do you think my fiancée would like this?”
He was clearly trying to respect Laria’s “keep business and personal life separate” rule.
Not that it really meant much.
“It’s pretty… but probably too heavy to wear often.”
It looked like something for a party.
Zenox sighed lightly, disappointed.
“Maybe it’s too plain for my fiancée.”
Plain?
There couldn’t be anything flashier unless it was a wedding gown.
While Laria was dumbfounded, the manager apologized sincerely.
“I’m terribly sorry. It seems we weren’t prepared enough. If you describe your fiancée’s appearance, I’ll try to make recommendations.”
Zenox replied immediately, as if he had been waiting.
“She has silver hair that glows in the sunlight, and eyes the color of a lake on a sunny day…”
Her skin is whiter than snow, and on and on…
The descriptions were practically love poems, and the manager looked shaken.
Even the employees in the back couldn’t stay composed and began whispering.
The Duke of Crassium is a romantic?
I didn’t know! Isn’t his fiancée the daughter of Count Rohan?
She must be incredibly beautiful.
Meanwhile, Laria’s face turned beet red.
‘Is he doing this to get back at me for ignoring his messages?’
She couldn’t think of any other reason for Zenox to act like this.
The manager, nodding along, eventually grabbed a pen and paper to take notes.
By the time she filled the entire page, her hand finally stopped.
“…I’ll give this to our head designer.”
Would the designer run away after seeing this?
This felt like dealing with a very demanding customer.
After finishing his “order,” Zenox led Laria to another display.
“But I can’t leave empty-handed.”
He pointed to a particularly expensive-looking dress.
“What do you think, Riri?”
“It’s… nice.”
Laria gave up and responded half-heartedly.
She didn’t know what Zenox might do if she rejected another one.
When he pointed to a dress, an employee quickly took it out.
“How about this one?”
“Looks okay.”
Each time Laria nodded, the dresses piled up in the employee’s arms.
Wasn’t this enough already?
‘He hasn’t changed at all.’
Back when he was a fox, Zenox was obsessed with shopping.
He had dozens of brushes and hundreds of toys—
And that was just during the half-year Laria had him.
Eventually, people joked that every new pet item should be delivered straight to House Crassium.
“At this rate, you’ll end up buying the whole store.”
Laria joked with some sarcasm, but Zenox paused.
“That might not be such a bad idea.”
His quiet muttering gave her chills.
Zenox might actually buy the shop.
If you’re going to waste money, just give it to me…
She’d make good use of it.
Just as Laria nervously watched Zenox, she suddenly felt a sharp stare from behind.
Outside the window, a man in a large hat was standing.
His gaze was fixed directly on Zenox.
Someone really was stalking him.
