The Arranged Suitor Was the Kidnapper

There were many things she had wanted to say when she returned to her original form.

However, the moment she faced Zenox, her mind went blank.

Laria unconsciously blurted out an apology.

“I’m sorry for lying…”

Even if Zenox didn’t blame her, she had to apologize.

She had still deceived him all this time.

Though it might have been trivial at first, one day she looked back and found the lie had grown like a snowball, about to engulf her.

Afraid of being swallowed by her own lies, she had remained silent, unable to reveal the truth.

All while avoiding it, saying she would reveal the truth when returning the fox orb.

She tried to explain her reasons, but somehow it felt like making excuses.

Laria spoke incoherently, not even knowing what she was saying.

“I thought you would be repulsed if it was revealed that Whitie was a beastman.”

She feared their precious shared memories would fade, and that Zenox would regret picking up Whitie.

Afraid she wouldn’t even be able to remain as his pet fox.

No, this too was all excuses.

She had simply hidden the truth because she didn’t want Zenox to hate her.

“I was scared you would dislike me, because I like you…”

Laria stopped speaking, startled.

Looking up, she saw Zenox, terrifyingly stiff.

He looked like someone who had just heard bad news.

Her aquamarine eyes reflecting him trembled finely.

“You like me?”

Laria’s cheeks turned pale.

Though she had intended to confess to him someday, she hadn’t meant to say it so suddenly like this.

Moreover, seeing Zenox’s expression, she had clearly made a huge mistake.

Unable to say anything, her lips just trembled, when Zenox, who had been standing at a distance, strode over.

He stopped close enough to touch if he reached out, casting a shadow over her.

“What did you just say?”

His voice was so hard it felt like being struck by stone.

His attitude, different from usual, even made her feel intimidated.

Laria’s lips slowly parted.

She was going to say she had misspoken, that it was a mistake and to forget it.

But betraying her will, different words came out.

“I like you…”

She had imagined confessing to Zenox countless times.

She should confess in a place with a nice view, setting the mood.

It would be nice to give him flowers.

After conveying her true feelings without trembling, she should smile and thank him even if he rejected her.

But reality didn’t match any of her imaginations.

The sincere feelings she had cherished were thrown out miserably in an unprepared situation. To the extent that she would have nothing to say if someone mocked whether this could even be called a confession.

Feeling despair that it was all over, Laria lowered her head.

She strained her eyes as tears welled up.

If she closed them, the tears would fall.

“I know I don’t have the right to like you. I accidentally swallowed the fox orb you were looking for…”

The more she spoke, the more her voice trembled severely.

To the point where she wondered if she was even speaking properly.

“I searched through documents to try to return it… but it didn’t work well…”

In the end, she had found a method, but since she couldn’t return it immediately, it would sound like an excuse.

Her voice gradually grew softer, then seemed to get stuck in her throat and wouldn’t come out.

She wasn’t sure if her last words had reached him.

“I’ll definitely, take responsibility, and return it.”

Laria, who had been staring at the ground, squeezed her eyes shut.

After saying everything, she realized how greedy her wish for Zenox to like Laria Rohan had been.

There were plenty of reasons for Zenox to dislike her, let alone like her.

Now it was Zenox’s turn to blame and get angry at Laria.

But even after waiting for a long time, no harsh response came.

Was he so angry that he was at a loss for words?

“Laria.”

At his voice finally heard, Laria opened her eyes.

Somehow, it didn’t sound like he was angry…

Though knowing she would get hurt, Laria slowly raised her head.

Contrary to her expectation that he would be furious, Zenox’s face was as if he were dreaming.

He just stared at Laria, unable to even blink.

As their eyes met, the corners of his mouth slowly turned up, and he smiled brightly like someone who had gained the world.

Seeing Zenox looking happier than anyone, this time it was Laria who became dazed.

Zenox abruptly embraced Laria.

Cradled in his arms, Laria heard his heartbeat through his chest.

It was beating so roughly and strongly that she wondered if it might burst.

“Before, you asked why I couldn’t end the engagement.”

Laria suddenly came to her senses.

It was the question that had been the cause of their relationship going awry, and that she had agonized over every time, not knowing Zenox’s feelings.

Zenox had never answered the question.

Loosening his arms, Zenox met Laria’s eyes.

Laria’s tense face was reflected in his clear golden eyes.

Zenox spoke the truth he had long swallowed.

“Because I wanted to be by your side…”

Ripples spread in her blue eyes.

Not missing even that small movement, Zenox whispered:

“Because I wanted to become your real fiance.”

At Zenox’s true feelings finally revealed, Laria’s lips trembled finely.

As if she couldn’t believe it at all, Laria asked back:

“Me, not Whitie?”

Not that he had mistaken it because he wanted to keep Whitie by his side?

As if reading Laria’s thoughts, Zenox smiled faintly.

“I’ve never mistaken it since I first realized.”

“…”

“Even if you weren’t Whitie, I would have ended up giving my heart to you anyway.”

Zenox was drawn to Laria Rohan herself.

Just as he had given his heart to Whitie, he naturally came to like Laria Rohan as well.

It was alright even if Laria could never transform into Whitie again.

This affection wouldn’t change no matter what form she took.

“Back then, I couldn’t speak for fear even my true feelings would be dismissed as lies.”

His large hand gently caressed Laria’s cheek.

It was a touch filled with extremely careful and tender emotions.

As if that wasn’t enough, Zenox finally spoke the words he had swallowed hundreds of times. Hoping these words would be accepted as sincere without a shred of doubt.

“Laria, I love you.”

Words that must have been on countless people’s lips over the long years.

Yet for the two of them, it was special as their first time.

The tears that had finally welled up in Laria’s eyes fell down her cheeks and dropped to the floor.

Unable to contain her overwhelming emotions, Laria immediately kissed him.

Their first kiss was soft and tasted of tears.

The lips that had alighted like a feather quickly parted.

Zenox, usually the most agile, realized what had happened half a beat late.

At the same time, wolf ears suddenly popped out from between his hair.

Large ears covered in jet-black fur like his hair stood up pointedly.

Laria could only open her eyes wide in surprise.

Though she had known Zenox for quite a long time, this was the first time she had seen partial beastman transformation of a part other than his nails.

Zenox himself had said his ears and tail rarely came out.

Partial beastman transformation only occurs when one can’t control their emotions.

Like how Laria’s ears or tail would pop out in front of Zenox because she liked him.

She had always felt disappointed that she was the only one experiencing partial transformation in front of Zenox, but now that feeling of unfairness was completely washed away.

His wolf ears twitched repeatedly, unable to contain their happiness.

As if he couldn’t control it himself, Zenox pressed his palm against them.

“I’ll put them away soon.”

The nape of his neck turned as red as a burning sunset.

It was the first time she learned that even Zenox could feel shy.

Seeing Zenox like this made her want to kiss him again.

“Can I kiss you?”

This time asking for permission, Zenox answered by lowering his head and gently pressing his lips against Laria’s instead of speaking.

Their first kiss was clumsy, but just sharing body heat was enough to feel fulfilled.

Laria gasped at the slightly more intense kiss.

Before she knew it, fox ears had popped out on Laria’s head as well.

Unable to resist, Zenox rubbed Laria’s ears with his fingers.

As Laria’s shoulders twitched briefly, he lightly bit her lip then released it.

Facing her flushed face, Zenox whispered:

“Shall we kiss one more time?”

Laria nodded as if entranced.

As their lips met again, her eyes closed involuntarily.

Until the sun began to set, the two kissed many times.