The Symbiotic Relationship Between The Rabbit And The Black Panther [EN]: Chapter 51

Rabbit and Black Leopard Symbiosis 10

Aheen gently moved Bibi onto the bed and immediately opened the bedroom door.

The guard knights stationed at the entrance snapped to attention, giving exaggerated salutes.

He frowned, noticing their unusually stiff posture. The sight of the hulking knights looking on the verge of tears was rather unsettling.

“What’s going on?”

At his question, the guard knights lowered their spears and prostrated themselves.

“We have committed a grave sin. We failed to stop To… no, Bibi, from going out on Bara. Please punish us.”

“I didn’t tell you to stop her.”

The knights, who had been pressing their foreheads to the floor, looked up in bewilderment.

“…Pardon?”

“Don’t stop Bibi from moving around unless it’s dangerous or close to dawn. She hates being confined.”

Just as the knights began to feel relieved, Aheen slammed the spear he’d taken from them into the wall next to their heads.

“But it’s true that you lost Bara with Bibi on it.”

“……!”

“From now on, even if she transforms into her true form, chase… no, wait a minute.”

If he said that, Bibi would run away even more desperately. It would be a disaster if she ran full tilt and fell down the stairs.

Aheen’s gaze, lost in thought, lingered on the helmet decoration placed near the entrance.

“When you inevitably have to chase her in her true form, wear a helmet. It’s better if you can’t see her head, at least.”

“H-Helmets, you say···?”

The knights, thinking that wearing helmets would only obstruct their vision, quickly prostrated themselves again. They seemed to interpret it as meaning they should roughly cover their faces.

“Understood.”

“And.”

Whack, the spear was slammed into the wall next to the knights’ faces once more.

“Don’t act familiar and mention Bibi’s name so casually.”

“Yes? Then…….”

“Just call her as usual.”

Ivelin, the self-proclaimed competent aide, had noticed this peculiar obsession and never carelessly used the rabbit’s name. Rill, who had taken Ivelin’s advice to heart, did the same.

“Yoo-ahn.”

Having finished his reprimand, Aheen turned to his personal attendant, Yoo-ahn, who was waiting in the hallway.

“Bring the chief physician and Mayme here immediately.”

“Understood.”

Yoo-ahn, who had witnessed the knights’ punishment, resolved to serve Rabbit-nim even more respectfully in the future.

* * *

Clack, Aheen, upon returning to the bedroom, carefully removed Bibi’s dress shoes.

Seeing that he felt an urge to devour even her rabbit-like feet, he knew he was losing his mind. He even let out a hollow laugh at the feeling that had gone beyond simple affection and turned into something bordering on madness.

After taking the dress shoes to the dressing room, he leaned against the doorframe.

Once day broke, it would be a good idea to call the exclusive dressmaker and convert the dressing room to Bibi’s personal space. And move the jewels that were accumulating under the sofa into the dressing room as well.

Just as she had said, Aheen’s restless excitement was spreading rapidly.

Approaching the bed again, he sat down next to Bibi. The nail marks on her hands weren’t very deep wounds.

However, thinking of it as an injury to Bibi’s body, his heart sank, and he felt extremely annoyed, even though he was the one who had left those teeth marks on her neck.

Reaching out, he brushed away the white hair covering Bibi’s face. Her soft face, as if sculpted from cotton, was revealed.

After learning that she was a Suin [a humanoid animal] of the same age, he had imagined her human form at least once.

Based on the detached expression she occasionally showed in the beginning, he had expected her to have a somewhat listless appearance.

Her delicate and refined features only heightened Aheen’s anxiety.

In the black leopard territory, where there were already many dangers, wasn’t she practically advertising that she was a herbivore Suin?

Twisting his lips, Aheen poked Bibi’s fluffy cheek with his index finger.

‘If you have a seizure, I will use healing pheromones at any time.’

For him, it was an irresistible, tempting offer.

Bibi’s healing pheromones could calm his pheromone surges, which occurred irregularly. In fact, they even brought a sense of stability during normal times.

However, there were many unsettling aspects.

When Bibi used pheromones when she returned to her true form, he had been skeptical.

But the second time, when he regained stability due to the healing pheromones in the rabbit territory, he knew it for sure.

Beyond his body being saved, there was a strange phenomenon where his dominant pheromones seemed to absorb the healing pheromones.

Each time, his consciousness blurred, and a feeling of ecstasy overwhelmed him. The sensation that was beyond his control only brought discomfort after he regained his senses.

Slowly shifting his gaze, Aheen stared at his hand.

Should he scare her so that she wouldn’t use healing pheromones next time? But if the situation arose, it didn’t seem like Bibi would back down.

As Ivelin claimed, Bibi was a brave coward. There were many instances where she bravely confronted situations that others would fear.

Considering these circumstances, it was safer to stay away from Bibi if a pheromone surge occurred in the future.

‘I have to worry about this kind of thing.’

He missed Idis, who had left this world too soon, yet he resented her, and missed her again.

Darkness gathered in layers over his red eyes.

Since losing Idis, Valence had been absent from Valens for about five days each month, using the excuse of going out to find a way to prevent the pheromone surge that might affect Aheen.

“Aheen-nim, did you call?”

Aheen, sensing the presence of Mayme and the physician who had arrived outside the entrance, took his hand off Bibi’s cheek. It was an uneasy night.

* * *

When I came to my senses, it was already noon.

Whether Mayme had been there after I fainted, the lilac dress had been replaced with a negligee. The wound on my hand was also completely healed.

‘What is this….’

Feeling half relieved and half frustrated by Aheen’s absence, I buried my face in the pillow. A groan escaped me.

‘Why am I really like this.’

A tear of repentance flowed down my cheek and soaked the pillowcase.

It was such a critical moment, but did I have to lose my mind then?

‘If I had pressed him a little more, I could have learned about the pheromone surge!’

Also, I could have stolen the beast’s lips… no, heart, one more time.

My face flushed red, and I writhed as if swimming. At the same time, a black object screamed and jumped onto the bed!

“Ah!”

My body bounced up and down from the impact, and I reflexively put my hands together.

“Please save me… What, Ash, you scared me.”

For a moment, I almost prostrated myself, but I breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed he had mistaken my groaning for pain.

Even after confirming that I was okay, Ash was restless and pinned me down with his body. It was a signal for me to soothe his shock.

Huh. It was hard to even breathe, but I couldn’t show it, so I stroked Ash’s fur.

“I’m not hurt, I’m okay.”

It’s just that the weight, which could easily crush me to death, is hard to bear. As I soothed Ash, I turned my gaze and saw Bara with his chin resting on the edge of the bed.

Huffing and puffing, I greeted him.

“…Hello, Bara.”

Bara snorted and turned his back. It seemed like he was checking if I was hurt, like Ash.

“Ash, get down.”

Ash’s body stiffened at Mayme’s cold voice from the bedside. It was because he had violated her policy of never getting on the bed.

With his tail down, Ash ran away, and Bara came up on the bed as if it was his doing and dirtied the bedding.

“Bara.”

Despite the stern tone, Bara didn’t budge.

Perhaps thinking that the sheets had to be changed anyway, Mayme sighed softly and brought the washing water.

“I will assist you.”

“…Where’s Aheen?”

“He has left due to a summons from the head of the family. And I have brought the daily newspaper from the rabbit territory that you mentioned.”

“Really?”

My sleep vanished in an instant, and I jumped up. What Mayme handed me was several days’ worth of daily newspapers from the rabbit territory.

‘…It’s not there?’

I frowned as I devoured the newspaper from my seat. Seeing that there wasn’t a single line written about the fire that occurred at Chief Amon’s residence, it seemed they were handling it secretly.

‘It’s all over anyway.’

Muttering the last remaining sticky attachment, I pushed the newspaper away.

“Mayme… you don’t have to bring it anymore.”

“Yes.”

“Are you going to report this to Aheen too?”

Mayme’s eyes flickered for a moment before returning to their original stiff gaze.

“I do not report trivial matters that occur only once.”

It meant she wouldn’t report it.

There are many more exceptions compared to the beginning when she reported how many times I waved my paws in a day. Feeling a sense of intimacy, I hummed and rolled around on the bed for no reason.

“Rabbit-nim, when you are in human form, you should not roll around like you do when you are a rabbit.”

Mayme’s sharp scolding immediately followed.

“But···.”

“No. And Ulfes-nim will be visiting shortly. After fitting your clothes, the head of the family wishes to meet you, so you should start preparing soon.”

After announcing the schedule, Mayme chased Bara off the bed and then lifted me onto her shoulder in a flash.

Her steps, heading towards the rabbit-only bathtub where I used to wash, stopped abruptly. It seemed she had belatedly recognized the heavier weight.

“Mayme, I can get off the bed myself now.”

“…I apologize.”

How, how could she mistake a rabbit for a human? It was a mistake that made my heart complicated.

* * *

Grace Family

The Grace family’s employees couldn’t hide their excitement after a long time. They continued to chat dozens of times, even while working, whenever their eyes met. Eventually, the chef with the ladle shouted.

“What nymph in the world? Stop talking nonsense and bake pies!”

“Please make an exception just for today. It’s because the chef didn’t see her yesterday. Her appearance is completely different from the black leopard clan.”

The sous chef and assistant cooks, who had been making a fuss, stood up.

“That’s right, I’ll bet my chef life that everything in the gossip magazines is true.”

“The chef secretly wanted the Rabbit-nim to revisit the kitchen, didn’t you? Don’t you want to see her Suin form?”

“W-When did I! Kicking violently in the sacred kitchen,”

“Hey, doesn’t that person look at you when you sharpen your knife after that? You’re worried about showing a fierce knife-sharpening look….”

“Work!”

Valence walked down the hallway, passing by the sounds of conversation leaking through the gaps in the door.

Clack, inside the office she entered, Aheen and Lillian were already seated on the reception sofa.

“Old man, you ended up saying useless things.”

“Is it your business if I say it with my own mouth?”

The two of them were also busy bickering with each other.

Valence walked straight to the head seat and sat down. Aheen and Lillian, who had been arguing, examined her, noticing her strangely low mood.

“I am Valence Grace, the head of the black leopard clan and the head of the Grace family.”

It was a fact that no one in the black leopard clan could be unaware of. Aheen and Lillian blinked blankly, unable to understand why she was bothering to remind them at a gathering of family members.

“That I, in my territory, even in my mansion, have to feel alienated.”

Valence, who spoke as if chewing on each word, touched her forehead. Lillian, flustered, turned her body completely towards her.

“What is all this nonsense? Which impious person is…!”

“Only I have not seen her.”

“What do you mean? This old man will make sure you can see her by any means.”

He urged in an angry voice. Aheen, who soon realized what Valence was trying to say, frowned.

“It’s because you haven’t seen the nymph [a beautiful woman]. You came back late yesterday after guarding the tombstone a little longer.”

“Yes. Father also met her in the indoor greenhouse yesterday. Why didn’t you leave a portrait of her riding Bara?”

The identity of the person who disturbed Valence’s mood was none other than the nymph rabbit.

Thud, the cane in Lillian’s hand fell to the floor. The mansion was going crazy because of one impious rabbit.

Regardless, Valence, who gracefully gathered her dress, raised her body halfway.

“Perhaps I should go and meet her before she turns back into a rabbit.”

“She’s not going back, so let’s have the meeting first. Why did you come, old man?”

“I came in because I saw you fluttering around.”

Lillian, who answered shamelessly, stuck her butt on the sofa as if she wouldn’t leave. Valence, suppressing a slight anxiety, sat back in her seat.

“You know that Aheen, it’s your birthday soon.”

“You called to ask how to explain Bibi then.”

“You know it well.”

Aheen’s birthday, which came every year, was always noisy because of his marriage problem.

Now that Bibi’s existence has surfaced due to the gossip magazines, there was a possibility that the family elders and those who had ties would subtly interfere.

Aheen, imagining the scene of them arguing about what her bloodline was like and what her abilities were, slowly rested his chin on his hand.

“One word from Mother to shut them up would be the end of it.”

“Why should I do that for you?”

“Then, is Mother okay with Bibi getting caught up in political fights?”

Valence, who did not answer, leaned back comfortably against the backrest.

From a certain moment, Aheen did not place any restrictions on Bibi meeting her.

Whether she enjoyed lunch boxes in the backyard, went on outings right in front of the mansion, or had a lot of rabbit costumes made in the dressing room.

It was to deliberately let Valence feel a little affection for the rabbit. And Valence, knowing him, had helplessly fallen for the lovely cotton ball.

“You’re passing the troublesome work on to me.”

“I’ll take it as a birthday present.”

Lillian subtly added, thinking that the sight of them waging a war of nerves with smiles was very similar.

“She’s surprisingly smart, so she’ll quickly learn the qualities of a noble. If her status is a problem, she can be adopted into another family. Her appearance is round and pretty, so the elders won’t hate her that much.”

“…….”

“Even if it’s the head family, there have been cases where they have married other clans… cough.”

Aheen and Valence’s gazes were fixed on Lillian, causing him to clear his throat awkwardly. Aheen’s eyes lingered on Lillian, who self-consciously stroked his beard.

“Grandpa, did you have a little day drink?”

“How dare you!”

“After teaching her for a few weeks, it seems Bibi has captured your heart quite a bit.”

Lillian, who had been clearing his throat incessantly, turned his head towards the empty space. The tips of his ears were slightly red.

“Her level of knowledge is quite high. She speaks as if she’s memorized books.”

“How can a rabbit speak?”

“Ah, with her paws… ahem, I mean.”

Lillian finally decided to accept the dreadful reality.

“I suppose so. She must have read one book many times over.”

“What was that?”

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

Bibi would repeatedly read the book Valence had first given her until the pages were worn. Aheen and Mayme thought she particularly liked that book.

However, as soon as she was freely allowed to visit the library, Bibi began searching for and reading new books like a fish in water.

Perhaps during her time in the Rabian family, she had to read the same book until someone changed it for her, so she never even thought to ask for a change.

Aheen, regretting that he should have torn them to pieces [referring to the books], changed the subject.

“More importantly, when did Mother teach Bibi the technique?”

“Technique, you say?”

“How to aim her pheromones.”

“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

*Do you need to learn how to aim your pheromones separately?* Valence wore an uncomprehending expression that conveyed just that.

“Then is it Grandpa? Before going to the rabbit territory.”

Lillian lightly shook his head.

“I didn’t even let you get close, so how could I teach her such a thing?”

“…Then who taught her?”

“How would this old man know?”

“……?”

Question marks bloomed within the office. Aheen, momentarily stunned, ran his tongue over his lips.

*Could she have learned it on her own?*

Like an achievement gained while doing somersaults in the training grounds. He pondered over the absurd thought.

Such a technique was only possible with high-level pheromones, so Mayme, a mere maid, couldn’t have taught her.

He, of course, and Evlin said they didn’t. Quinn didn’t have high-level pheromones, and in the first place, she wasn’t the type to patiently teach such a thing.

The only person with high-level pheromones who could teach Bibi the technique….

*Rune Maniontz.*

Aheen, having deduced the answer, smiled grimly.

* * *

It was a night filled with humidity, as if it were about to rain.

Having finished preparing for bed, I stared intently at the door.

It would have been better if I had met Aheen as soon as I woke up. The tension only grew stronger because I hadn’t seen him all day.

*The number of employees will increase soon because it’s Aheen’s birthday, so don’t be too surprised.*

Even Valence’s words from tea time floated around in my head.

What could I give him for his birthday?

*I need to have given a gift before to even get a sense of it.*

Moreover, Aheen would receive so many gifts that would leave people speechless.

*When was my birthday?*

I vaguely remembered wearing a pointed hat as a baby. The congratulations I received as a child were the last, so I didn’t particularly remember.

While I was worrying about what kind of gift to give, I heard a knock, knock, on the window.

*Wh-what is it?*

It was the sound of someone knocking on the glass door connected to the terrace. I glanced at the thick curtains and was seized with fear.

Was Aheen planning to pull off the stunt of coming in through the terrace today? If so, he would have opened the door long ago, not knocked.

Hesitantly, I approached and stood in front of the curtains.

“W-who is it?”

“It’s Evlin, favored by the Rabbit.”

“Evlin?”

When I pulled back the curtain, I saw Evlin sitting as low as possible. His handsome face looked haggard in just one day.

“…How did you get up here?”

“In my true form. I climbed the trees on the side.”

*What petty thing is he trying to do again?*

Cautiously, I slightly opened the glass door and sat down. At the same time, Evlin suddenly stuck his head through the opened doorway.

“What’s the matt- Ack!”

With a start, I slammed the door shut, and Evlin ended up getting his head stuck.

Without any concern, he quickly began to speak.

“It’s a rather serious matter.”

“Wh-why?”

“Did you perhaps argue with Aheen?”

“I did argue a bit last night….”

If the end of the argument ended with a kiss, wouldn’t that be considered resolved? Recalling the moment before fainting, my face flushed.

I was glad that my skin color wasn’t clear thanks to the lamp, and I nervously bit my nails.

“I think we made up-?”

“Rabbit, your expression doesn’t look like you made up. For your information, if you lie in the Black Panther territory, your tail will be cut off.”

Startled, I reflexively groped around my buttocks and widened my eyes.

“Don’t lie.”

“Yes. Anyway, did you make up properly?”

“So, why are you asking?”

Evlin’s expression suddenly turned gloomy. Seeing that face with his head stuck like that was quite eerie.

“Tell me comfortably, I’ll listen.”

Feeling uneasy for no reason, I coaxed and soothed him.

“Aheen is strange.”

“Isn’t that not a big deal…?”

“He was lost in thought looking out the window, and suddenly he’s diligently working on documents. It’s a mess.”

“That’s a bit serious.”

“He even encouraged me. Said he liked my gaping mouth. He’s not the type to do that, even if he’s giving me a big raise.”

“Good heavens…!”

Aheen usually didn’t praise Evlin, even as a joke. Seeing my disbelieving look, Quinn flew over and agreed with Evlin, making beeping noises.

Lowering his voice even more, he glanced at the bedroom entrance and said.

“When he’s feeling severely down, he actually acts like a normal person. He left the office unusually early today, so I came to check if the Rabbit had been taken to the kitchen.”

*Feeling severely down.* My face turned pale, and I reflexively touched my lips. Could our kiss have been that disgusting?

*No….*

…He seemed to like it a lot. Or did I push him too hard yesterday?

“You seem to have something in mind.”

I flinched and rolled my eyes.

“I… grabbed his collar. Very lightly.”

“Yesterday?”

Evlin’s eyes widened slightly.

“I also made him hit his head hard on the desk….”

As soon as I finished speaking, Quinn blocked my beak with her wings.

Confused by their excessive reactions, I fidgeted with my hands.

Come to think of it, yesterday was Edith’s memorial day, and I was so caught up in my own sorrow that I couldn’t even offer a word of comfort.

“Rabbit. Leave the terrace door slightly open.”

Evlin corrected me with a serious voice, seeing me trembling with anxiety.

“You might really get eaten. If Aheen acts too normal, turn into a rabbit and escape on Quinn. Even though Quinn’s personality is ruined, she won’t turn a blind eye.”

Enraged, Quinn pecked at Evlin’s shoes with the intent to destroy.

“Go to Lillian’s or the head of the family’s bedroom, not mine, because I’m afraid of the aftermath.”

“Ah, how does Aheen act normal towards me?”

“Well, probably not gentlemanly,” [implying Aheen’s ‘normal’ behavior towards Evlin would still be harsh].

Stopping their whispering, Evlin and I turned our gazes to the entrance. The voices of the knights taking a salute could be heard.

As I turned my head to tell him to leave quickly, Evlin was already gone. A black beast with clothes in its mouth jumped over the terrace railing and disappeared.

*Anyway, he’s the fastest in the world at escaping.* I left the glass door slightly open, just in case, and closed the curtains.

I sat down on the sofa as if diving into it and stared blankly at the door opening with a click.

*What is that….*

A black panther, guided by his exclusive attendant Yuan, entered the bedroom.
The black panther securely locked the doorknob and nonchalantly took a seat on the bed.

*Evlin, what should I do if he comes in a form that’s not even human, let alone normal?*

Sadly, no answer came to my inner cry.

“Pheromone outburst… is it not?”

The black panther snorted and stretched languidly. Certainly, it didn’t feel like his pheromones were scattered.

I moved along the wall and glared fiercely.

*Look at that prim expression.* It was obvious that he appeared in his true form, even though he wasn’t even sick.

“…You’re doing this to avoid answering the question I asked yesterday.”

How could he have such a bad idea?

“Are you upset with me about something?”

Aheen, who was leaning sideways, tapped the bed with his front paw.

*Is this how Aheen feels when I tell him to come with my front paws?* I carefully moved and finally reached the bed after a long journey.

I didn’t know when I first saw his true form because I was so flustered, but when I looked closely, he was bigger than I thought. His fur also seemed to have a glossy sheen.

Unconsciously, I sat politely and subtly moved my hand that was placed on the bed sheet.

The hand that was slowly approaching the black panther was blocked by a huge front paw. Swallowing the shock of being rejected, I spoke gently.

“Yesterday was your father’s memorial day. I’m sorry for only asking and not offering any comfort.”

Even so, Aheen only made a hissing sound. Realizing the frustration of communicating with an animal, I coaxed him again.

“Tell me why you’re doing this.”

The black panther glanced at me and flicked his tail. The letters drawn in the air were inaccurate, but I could quickly recognize them because they were familiar words.

“Who are you calling a cheating rabbit?”

I was dumbfounded. When I shouted angrily, Aheen subtly stuck out his butt.

*Is he expecting me to hit him?* I think he’s just going to live according to the flow of consciousness now.

After fanning myself for a while and suppressing my anger, I decided to use a method that could appease him.

“I’ll hit your butt if you tell me the reason properly.”

Aheen, who had become a little more motivated, slowly got up and sat down. The tail that vigorously roamed the air,

‘Rune?’

Was referring to the lion. I, who had many guilty consciences, flinched.

Aheen, narrowing his eyes, pointed alternately at me and himself with his front paw.

It meant that since I didn’t say anything about Rune, he would also remain silent.

“How is that the same as that? The importance is different!”

I swallowed hard and tried to speak calmly.

“Wh-what did I hide?”

Aheen tapped his temple as if he was dumbfounded.

He couldn’t possibly know the contents of the conversation I had with Rune.

“Meeting Rune, no, the lion, at the head’s mansion? We already finished talking about that.”

Whether it was the wrong answer, Aheen’s smooth face became even more ferocious. On the contrary, my eyes drooped, and I fiddled with the bed sheet for no reason.

Suddenly, I thought of one thing and asked quietly.

“…-Dance?”

Aheen, who had stopped moving in an instant, pointed at me with his front paw. His bright yellow eyes were filled with shock and astonishment.

I guess that’s the answer. It seemed he had found out why Rune called me a dancer.

*Rune Maniontz…!*

I didn’t see him that way, but he told everything sneakily. When did he tell him?

Aheen’s eyes contained blatant disappointment. Putting aside my shame, I grabbed his front paws with both hands.

“I had to tell him how to turn into a human, but I was flustered and unknowingly used the signal I had set with Aheen.”

Why am I explaining this? But the more I spoke, the more I felt like I was becoming a cheating rabbit.

“Aheen.”

Even though I kept trying to persuade him, Aheen coldly rejected my hand.

*This mean cat.* Eventually, I closed my eyes tightly and muttered as if chewing.