The Symbiotic Relationship Between The Rabbit And The Black Panther [EN]: Chapter 43

The Symbiotic Relationship Between a Rabbit and a Black Panther (2) (43/75)

Alain Amon, grandson of the Rabbit Territory’s leader, was a rigid and conventional man.

To him, the agenda for the morning’s meeting seemed illogical from the start.

Alain Amon, constantly rubbing his temples, looked up from the report.

The number of attendees was small: Ahin Grace and Rune Manyonz, both possibly involved in the previous night’s fire, and some nobles from the Rabbit Territory.

Alain Amon’s wavering purple eyes met Ahin’s. She had scratch marks on her cheek, as if she’d been scratched by a stray cat.

He tried to ignore it and announce the meeting’s opening, but he couldn’t hide his embarrassment from the outset.

It was customary to begin by announcing each family and their status, but Ahin and Rune skipped this formality on their own.

It would have been fortunate if that was all. He might have attributed it to the arrogance of beast-kin nobles, or even offered some harsh words about protocol.

‘But this is…’

“Sir Manyonz, you’re making my nose rot.”

“That kind of behavior is why you’re considered frivolous by the Hero.”

“Better than being considered lazy and messy.”

“I don’t remember anyone saying you were messy.”

He didn’t even know where to begin correcting them. Unlike the nobles from the Black Panther and Lion Territories, who seemed to have their own secret methods for conducting meetings, the Rabbit Territory nobles, lacking such immunity, were busy listening to every word.

“Sir Amon, may I ask…”

A Rabbit Territory noble, alternating his gaze between the two, cautiously addressed Alain Amon.

“Do beast-kin territories still have the position of ‘Hero’ these days?”

“Of course not. That position disappeared long before the continental war broke out.”

“Then what exactly is the ‘Hero’ that you two are talking about?”

‘How would I know?’ Alain Amon, his pigtail trembling, cleared his throat and called for attention.

“First of all.”

He rationalized that it was more of a conversation than a meeting. Since the two people with the highest status were present, it was impossible to criticize them, even if they gossiped behind their backs.

“…I would like to inquire about the ownership of the black panther that roamed the mansion. According to the gatekeeper’s records, the black panther belongs to the Manyonz family. However, the person currently harboring the black panther is Ahin Grace.”

“I’m the leader of the guard dogs [a term for border patrol] that protect the border forest. I was merely taking in Sir Manyonz’s black panther, which he brought without permission. I’m the one you should hold responsible.”

Ahin answered immediately, a smooth arc forming on her lips. It was the truth, without even a hint of falsehood.

Rune, glaring at the document recorded as evidence, rubbed his temples. His sister’s angry fist seemed to flicker before his eyes.

“The mansion was in disarray, but there was no direct damage, so I will quietly bury the matter. However, please be careful to control the black panther while you are staying here.”

“I will be careful.”

“The second agenda item is an unidentified rabbit beast-kin.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Ahin and Rune’s gazes locked onto Alain Amon. Alain Amon was unsure whether to be pleased that the two were finally serious, or to be wary of their attention.

“According to the testimony…”

Ahin, never taking her eyes off Alain Amon as he flipped through the report, rested her chin on her hand.

“What is the identity of the witness?”

“I am sorry, but I cannot reveal it to ensure anonymity.”

Alain Amon retorted with a serious face.

“You have not only called a guest from another territory to this meeting, but you are also presenting unreliable opinions.”

“I agree. Isn’t it a principle of meetings to announce the identity of the witness first?”

Rune added, then yawned widely. The Rabbit Territory nobles were inwardly embarrassed when the two, who had been constantly voicing their opposition, suddenly joined forces.

“I cannot reveal the identity of the witness, but I would appreciate your understanding, as the testimony comes from Chief Amon.”

Alain Amon, barely managing to control his expression, calmed the commotion in the meeting room.

“Last night, the fire that broke out in the backyard was near a secluded side gate. The cause of the fire is being investigated, but there is only one person who showed suspicious behavior in the backyard: the unidentified rabbit beast-kin mentioned earlier.”

Ahin, certain that the witness was Aven, nodded lightly.

“This rabbit beast-kin has contact with both Ahin Grace and Rune Manyonz. First of all, there is no record of the rabbit beast-kin passing through the main gate of the mansion. However, when going through the procedure to enter the banquet hall, they entered as an escort of Rune Manyonz,”

Rune, sparing with his words, shrugged his shoulders.

“In the backyard, there is testimony from an employee that they were with Ahin, including the black panther. Also, I understand that they are currently staying at Ahin Grace’s residence.”

Ahin, recalling Bibi’s words about vaguely sensing pheromones in the backyard, wore a strange smile.

Alain Amon felt an uncomfortable feeling from Ahin’s overly harmless face. Soon, he demanded cautiously yet firmly.

“First of all, I request detailed information about the rabbit beast-kin’s identity. Please also tell me if you know anything about the entry record.”

Ahin, a little embarrassed, stroked her lower lip. She had been about to make up an excuse, but a variable had arisen.

Rune, who she thought would be absent due to his lazy nature, was sitting there firmly. The problem was that their answers might differ because they were involved together.

She couldn’t read anything from Rune’s listless eyes. Ahin, whose hatred for those eyes grew even stronger today, was about to open her mouth when Rune’s voice came out first.

“A dancer.”

It was such an unexpected bombshell that Ahin’s pupils dilated for the first time in a while.

On the other hand, Alain Amon’s face took on a troubled expression upon hearing the unhindered statement. Dancers were mostly wanderers, so their identities were often unclear.

“After all, it’s an open secret that the alliance between the Lion and Black Panther Territories is ongoing. She was a dancer who was going to be invited to the upcoming celebratory banquet.”

The attention of everyone in the meeting room, including Ahin, focused on Rune’s next words.

“I and this idiot are head over heels for that dancer.”

At his gesture, the Rabbit Territory nobles’ gazes fixed on Ahin. Ahin’s mouth was slightly open as she heard the news that she was head over heels for a dancer for the first time.

Rune, sitting side by side in the upper seat, nudged Ahin’s leg under the table.

‘Just play along appropriately.’

‘Don’t touch me, you’re disgusting.’

Ahin shuddered inwardly and stomped on Rune’s boots with her heel.

A low curse escaped Rune’s mouth at the pain of his foot splitting.

The nobles who heard him swallowed hard, wondering what kind of remarks would come out next.

‘To think that an ordinary dancer…’

Since the two of them had never had any rumors of romance despite their decent appearances, it was shocking news.

Some nobles who had been trying to discuss possible treason closed their mouths and stroked their chests. Since two big shots, even beast-kins who fought with force, were involved, they shouldn’t even mention the ‘m’ [for mutiny] of rebellion carelessly.

“…Sir Manyonz, such unilateral remarks are a little troublesome.”

Ahin tapped the table to remind him that it was a meeting room. She wanted to ask where the idea of a dancer came from, but she licked her lower lip, reminding herself that many eyes were watching.

“Since this is a formal occasion, watch your words.”

“Then, are you going to let the rabbit be questioned like this?”

“You’re as impulsive as ever.”

Ahin, unable to resist matching his rhythm, smiled languidly.

“If Sir Manyonz hadn’t been hiding and taking the rabbit around, this kind of thing wouldn’t have happened.”

“Don’t get me wrong, she asked me to take care of her first.”

“…That can’t be.”

It was a conversation close to the truth, even though subtly twisted. Ahin’s eyes cooled as she was in a very unpleasant state, even though it was a process of matching words.

“You took her away from Endelus without permission and made me suffer. You’re giving me the same crap again.”

Rune, resentful of Ahin for sending the assassin, retorted.

The Rabbit Territory nobles, alternately looking at the growling beasts, had gossip swirling in their heads.

The rumor that Ahin Grace lived with a rabbit. If the rumor was twisted, and the rabbit beast-kin called a dancer was mistaken for a rabbit, then it made sense.

“What is she thinking, bringing her black panther?”

“It followed me to the Rabbit Territory on its own. It’s useless to have such a beast attached to me.”

The Rabbit Territory nobles, watching the fire from across the river [observing from a safe distance], recalled the animosity that Ahin and Rune had shown each other from the beginning of the meeting.

It was strange that they were openly showing hostility, even though they usually hid their bad relationship in public….

Ahin Grace was desperately in love with a dancer, and Rune Manyonz, who was also in love with her, was trying to escape. They imagined a scene of a love triangle. It was extremely exciting.

On the other hand, a storm arose in the pupils of Alain Amon, who was immune to that kind of thing. He couldn’t believe that big shots, even beast-kins who fought with force, were playing tug-of-war with one dancer.

“Ahem-.”

Alain Amon, tapping the table with difficulty, cleared his throat. Rune, ignoring his timid tapping, said bluntly.

“In the first place, if Sir Grace had given her trust, the rabbit wouldn’t have had to borrow my hand.”

Ahin paused, clenching and unclenching her fist under the table. Rune’s words, filled with barbs, became sharp arrows and reaffirmed Bibi’s feelings.

“…There will be no more borrowing Sir Manyonz’s hand.”

He parted his lips after a long time.

“Ahem.”

Alain Amon’s tapping, a little more elaborate, was buried in Ahin’s voice.

“No, I won’t even let the rabbit look at you.”

“What,”

“So you can just live as usual, lazy and negligent, like water flowing. Isn’t that how you were raised, so that you couldn’t aim for your sister’s throne?”

“…Watch your mouth.”

“Since when has someone who always glossed over things started defending others like this?”

Rune, unable to refute it for a moment, moved his lips.

The Rabbit Territory nobles were starting to feel uneasy about the deepening confrontation between the two.

Alain Amon, glaring at the nobles who were now sending him glances to mediate, slammed the table and focused their attention.

“First of all… it is important to find out the cause of the fire first. It won’t take long to find out the cause, so I will treat her as a guest of Sir Grace and Sir Manyonz.”

It meant that Bibi could not leave the mansion until the cause of the fire was revealed, as long as she was a suspicious existence.

“I will instruct you to have a comfortable time at the Amon family.”

Ahin, listening to the remaining issues with one ear and letting them flow out, looked out the window.

She was going to cover it up as Bibi’s injury, but the dancer that Rune claimed was not bad either.

Since Ahin and Rune were involved at the same time, the Rabbit Territory nobles would not be able to easily raise objections to Bibi. The rumors of romance that would arise were the kind that could not be stopped anyway, as long as Ahin used the residence with Bibi.

Silver hair fluttered in the cold yet refreshing breeze.

In Ahin’s view, the city of the capital, located far away, could be seen. It was a peaceful territory where rabbits ran around on the wide fields, which suited Bibi very well.

Ahin, thinking that it was a scene opposite to the Black Panther Territory, suddenly recalled the prisoner he had killed in the underground prison. The prisoner’s gaze, craning his head, was directed towards the ceiling.

‘Even the fact that I may have come to have such pheromones due to drugs.’

‘…It was then.’

Since Queen was the only creature that freely moved along the ceiling in the underground prison. It seemed that Bibi and Queen were the owners of the subtle presence he had felt at the time.

Who would have imagined that a beast-kin would travel by hawk? In this way, he had given wings to the rabbit with his own hands.

Ahin, having finally found the reason why Bibi had been crying and holding out under the bed, let out a hollow laugh.

That’s why I didn’t want to tell her anything.

Because Bibi, who waved her paws as if she was strong but was always suffering from nightmares, didn’t need to create unnecessary anxiety by telling her unnecessary things.

And that thought was still valid. Because the more she knew, the more facts that Bibi would welcome did not exist in the Black Panther Territory.

Tap, tap, Ahin, tapping the table, exchanged glances with Alain Amon. Alain Amon announced the adjournment of the meeting, ending with the words that today’s issue would be kept top secret.

* * *

Aven, sitting in the carriage returning to the Rabian family, closed his eyes tightly.

‘The wind has become quite cold.’

The day I abandoned Bibi was also a cold day like this.

Even though the delight of reunion had not faded, he felt as if his toes were entangled in something sticky [a metaphor for unease].

‘I will make sure to convey this fact to my grandson.’

Above all, Chief Amon’s nonchalant reaction bothered him.

He had testified on the condition that he would not be questioned, but he should have raised a question at least once. It was embarrassing that he had prepared an answer to the question, but Chief Amon did not add any other words.

Tap, tap, Aven, tapping the window frame, shook his head. Minor problems could be considered later.

There was no worst-case scenario as bad as Bibi crossing over to the Black Panther Territory. If that happened, everything would be over.

Most beast-kins complete their birth registration around the time they reach humanization.

Therefore, since Bibi had not been registered in the family register, there was no excuse to bring her back now if she crossed the territory border. It meant that he might never see her again.

‘I must…’

He had to bring her back, even if he had to use reckless means. Aven’s purple eyes, looking out the window, gleamed.

* * *

As the situation was, I couldn’t leave the guest room carelessly.

I looked out the window, standing on tiptoe, where I could see the main gate. Another carriage with the crest of another family left the main gate again.

‘That’s strange.’

The fact that a fire broke out in the chief’s mansion, even during a banquet that required another entry procedure, was not something to be taken lightly. It was a small fire, but in a big picture, it could even be a rebellion.

Moreover, I told Ahin that I felt pheromone energy there, so it was not a natural fire.

Nevertheless, they were easily sending the nobles who stayed at the mansion back without investigation. No matter how much there was a limit to tying the nobles’ feet, it felt too fast.

I sat on the soft sofa and buried my forehead in my clasped hands.

‘Something’s… up. Definitely.’

The herbivore’s intuition raised its head [a metaphor for heightened senses].

‘But what?’

No matter how much I racked my brain in this guest room, the answer would not come out. I tossed and turned, and soon I slumped down helplessly.

‘Bibi, my baby.’

The image of my mother turning her back in the smoke haunted my mind.

I was resentful. I wanted to grab my mother and shake her, asking her why she did that, why she had to do that.

But maybe I wouldn’t be able to hate my mother completely. What was that little love she whispered to me when I was young, that even though I knew it in my head, my heart couldn’t easily follow it, and I was frustrated with myself.

But I didn’t want to see my mother again. I guess I’ll just have to live with the lump in my heart like this.

‘Know that you are the only thing left for this mother.’

However, I was just bothered by the fact that there were many points that were subtly bothering me.

What my mother said, and above all, the fact that I, despite being an untrained herbivore beast-kin, sensed pheromones. Clearly, my mother seemed surprised at the time, as if she hadn’t felt anything.

As strong pheromones began to manifest, my five senses must have become relatively sensitive. But my sense of smell, which couldn’t smell anything, and my poor stamina were still the same.

“…It’s no different from an empty husk.”

What is this? I, talking to myself, tossed and turned nervously.

“Who dares to call the Rabbit-nim [a respectful title] an empty husk? The Rabbit-nim I know is a fruitful rabbit.”

Then, Evelin’s frustrating answer came back from the opposite sofa.

“But when are you going to release me?”

He protested, with his hands and feet tied to his cravat and handkerchief. Nevertheless, his neat, expressionless face remained the same.

He was about to try to pretend to be pitiful for a moment, but he straightened his posture again due to Ash, who was watching him.

“…If you want to be released, why did you tie yourself up so willingly?”

“Because Rabbit-nim tied me up so passionately. Anyway, I can’t run away because I’m in charge of Rabbit-nim’s assistant now.”

“I’ve been wanting to say this all along, but can’t you do something about the title, even when you’re human?”

“Are you telling me to throw away all the memories we’ve had together so far? I’m really upset if you do this.”

“Who’s telling you to throw away your memories? I’m just saying to use the correct title.”

“I don’t want to.”

I didn’t expect him to correct his title in the first place, so I glared sharply. From now on, it was time for questioning.

I was curious about several things, but in the end, all the questions came down to Ahin’s pheromones.

It was possible to reduce the pain of transforming into a human, and it was easy to control if I used it together when I used pheromones. Even what led Ahin to pheromone seizures last night.

‘How should I coax Evelin….’

Could I get the information I was aiming for? Even though I knew Evelin’s light mouth well, his serious impression gave me the illusion that he was like an impregnable castle.

While I was worrying, a small child jumped into my arms. It was Russell, who was still staying at the mansion with Professor Jinan.

“You’ve gained a new aide in the meantime.”

Ignoring Evelin, who was chattering, I sat Russell on my lap.

Two hours ago, Ahin, bothered by the bruise on the back of my hand, called Professor Jinan before leaving the meeting. Russell, who followed her in, grabbed Ash’s tail and held on to stay with me.

‘Oh my, why is he like this?’

Professor Jinan, who had thesis work left, had no choice but to ask Russell for a few hours and left the room. She didn’t forget to joke that he seemed to have a handful of sociability.

‘Brave Warrior-nim.’

Russell, snuggled in my arms, glanced at Evelin and whispered.

‘That black panther is strange.’

“He is an extremely ordinary black panther.”

Before I could even interpret the mumbled pronunciation, Evelin’s rebuttal came back. His ears were bright. I put my hands together in a circle and whispered to Russell.

‘He’s a strange black panther. He has bad energy, right?’

‘No.’

‘Then?’

‘I can’t feel the energy. It’s the first time.’

I can’t feel the energy, but Professor Jinan clearly said that Russell reads the energy of the beast-kin.

Then, could it be that he’s not human…? When I think about it, Evelin was only fast at running away when he was at a disadvantage, like he had no feet.

“…I’ve been found out after all.”

“……!”

A low, eerie voice flowed from the opposite side.

Chilled, I slowly turned to Evelin. His expressionless face, unreadable, added to the suspicion.

Russell, a little scared, snuggled into my arms. As soon as I hugged him, I heard Russell’s whisper again.

‘Is he a ghost?’

Don’t confirm the kill…. Unable to show my fear in front of the child, I whispered.

‘There’s no such thing as a gh… ghost in the world? I’ll defeat him if anything happens.’

The air became heavy. Time had passed when I could have joked, but Evelin was still staring at the air with unfocused eyes.

“Rabbit, behind you.”

“What?”

“Look behind you.”

“…Okay. It’s time to stop with the jokes.”

I tried to act nonchalant, but my voice cracked.

Russell, who had curiously checked behind me, was trembling, and it was completely transmitted to me. It was clear fear.

‘Really bad.’

Russell hurriedly pulled my ear and whispered.

‘Pitch black.’

It was an urgent explanation that didn’t seem to contain even a hint of falsehood.

‘What is that? This is so boring.’ My breathing became increasingly rapid, and I stared only at Evelin as if someone had forcibly fixed my head. Even Evelin seemed frightened, his red pupils dilated.

At that moment, an excessively low bass voice penetrated the ear opposite the one Russell was holding.

“It must be because of the neutralizing pheromones that you couldn’t feel the energy. The pheromones of a beast-kin weaker than Evelin don’t work on Evelin.”

A faint breath was felt near my ear.

“Because they are neutralized.”

So that’s what it was, a pheromone that seemed like a match made in heaven with Evelin, whose mind was neutralized. It was an unexpected gain.

* * *

Ahin leaned against the back of the sofa, looking down at Bibi. Bibi, who had fainted heroically after nodding, had an already pale face turned completely white.

How she came to follow Grace Manor all the way to the rabbit territory with such courage was the biggest question of the year.

“Evelin, stop teasing her so much.”

“I apologize. I was just so amazed to be talking to Rabbit that I lost control. I didn’t know she would faint.”

Evelin, who was being scolded by an angry Ash, spat out an apology.

“I’ll say it again, you’re too twisted.”

“I’m not even half as twisted as you, Ahin.”

“Have you forgotten that you’re tied up?”

“I will restrain myself.”

His reaction as a rabbit was also interesting, but Bibi’s ever-changing complexion as a human was amazing.

‘It must be because she’s still not good at managing her expressions, having lived as a rabbit for so long,’ Ahin inwardly hoped that Bibi would not be able to manage her expressions for a long time.

At this point, he wondered what she wasn’t afraid of. He pinched Bibi’s nose and then scanned Evelin, who was tied up, with a disapproving look.

“But why are you in that state?”

“It’s the trace of Rabbit threatening the weak me, attempting to dig into Ahin’s past.”

“My past? That’s a little exciting.”

“She might try again next time, so how much should I reveal?”

“You can say everything except that I carried a rabbit doll when I was young.”

Ahin was a child who couldn’t let go of his favorite doll until he was seven years old. After briefly looking back at the past, he picked up the leech [a blood-sucking worm, used metaphorically here] attached to Bibi’s body.

“Don’t cling so much.”

Hanging in the air, Russell tried to kick vigorously, but his short legs couldn’t reach Ahin.

“If you don’t behave, I might eat the Hero.”

At that one word, Russell drooped. He was personally experiencing Ahin’s chilling energy, so his change of attitude was quick for a child.

“Evelin, prepare so that Bibi can return to Grace Manor tomorrow.”

“Is it already okay to leave the mansion? This is not a light matter.”

“I’ll take care of it, so do that. I’ll stay for a few more days.”

“Then I’ll have the carriage ready. I’m sorry, but could you untie my hands and feet?”

Russell’s face turned pale as he listened to the two’s conversation. He didn’t know the details, but he could infer that he would have to part with Bibi.

“Hero go-…?”

Russell, who immediately grabbed Ahin’s sleeve, showed tearful eyes.

“The Hero has to go protect the Black Panther territory.”

“Ahin, I can’t move because of my hands and feet.”

Evelin’s request was buried by Russell’s sobbing.

“No….”

“Instead, I’ll let you spend today together.”

“Um, me too.”

It seemed that Ahin and Russell’s attention would not return to Evelin. Evelin, who struggled to deal with it alone, got up. He staggered, but fortunately, he quickly regained his balance and hopped like a kangaroo.

“Ugh!”

Bang, Ash, who had been waiting to punish Evelin for teasing Bibi, pushed Evelin away violently. He was thrown to the floor and muttered helplessly.

“Ash, that’s too much.”

Meanwhile, Bibi, who had come to her senses, saw the scenery of the unfolded guest room and chose to close her eyes again. The black panthers never had a quiet day.

* * *

It was already sunset.

The head of the rabbit territory’s mansion had a greenhouse with a dome-shaped roof.

Usually, a tea table is installed in the empty space of the greenhouse, but this place uniquely had a wide marble where people could lie down.

It seemed to be installed so that the rabbits raised freely could move around freely. Sitting awkwardly, I looked around at the rabbits scurrying around.

‘They’re so tiny.’

I must be this small when I’m a rabbit too. Perhaps because I’m always with Ash, the rabbits felt even more delicate.

Of course, Ash was handed over to Evelin without being able to come to the greenhouse.

Basically, it’s impossible for herbivores and carnivores to coexist in a narrow space. I grunted and stuck my butt on the floor and endured, but I couldn’t bring him.

‘Coexistence… would be impossible.’

I fiddled with the white cloak I had around my body and shifted my gaze to Ahin. Sitting with his body supported by his arm stretched back, he was suffering from the rabbits that had gathered.

“Don’t grope, it tickles.”

The rabbits, who couldn’t understand the words, crossed his legs, sniffed his clothes, and rubbed their bodies against him.

Feeling an ambiguous sense of alienation, I smacked my lips. I’m definitely a rabbit beast-kin [a person with rabbit-like animal features], but I didn’t know why everyone was flocking to Ahin.

Feeling inwardly envious, I asked with narrowed eyes.

“Is it okay to roam around like this?”

The masquerade was stopped due to the fire, so the mansion was still in a mess.

Thanks to that, even my existence as a baby rabbit that sneaked in was exposed. I was prepared for a rather stern interrogation, but rather, Ahin was calmly out for a greenhouse tour.

“It’s okay. They can’t treat someone with ambiguous status and related to the lion carelessly.”

“You don’t have to see the leader… ?”

“You don’t have to.”

Ahin rolled the rabbits that were sticking to him with his fingers.

“The lion disguised your identity as a dancer, so it’s strange for a mere dancer to look for the leader of Amon.”

At that, I frowned and muttered.

“Why a dancer….”

“I want to ask that.”

Isn’t she in a state where even her gait is precarious, let alone dancing? After thinking carefully, I soon dyed my face black.

‘Ah, her main job was a ballerina.’

It seemed that he disguised her as a dancer because she danced when she was a baby rabbit. When I recalled the scene of shaking my hips, an untimely sense of shame washed over me.

“Bibi, your cheeks and forehead are red.”

Ahin, who lowered his head, looked up at me from below.

“It’s because it’s hot.”

“In weather with a cloak?”

The persistent gaze gradually became suspicious.

“Sometimes, it seems that Bibi has a lot of things to hide from me too.”

“Fangs.”

In the midst of embarrassment, Russell, who was playing with the rabbits, suddenly popped out next to Ahin.

“Show me.”

Russell lifted his lips with his tiny hand. I covered my mouth after witnessing the fangs that were exposed to the roots. With a body only as tall as Ahin’s sitting height, he was more valiant than any beast.

“Ouch,”

“Pointy pointy.”

“You’ll get hurt.”

Perhaps he found Ahin’s broken pronunciation funny, Russell laughed softly. It was the first smile I had seen since we met.

“Pretty.”

“Me?”

“Yeah.”

“Ara.”

Ahin, who lowered his eyes halfway, tilted his head. It was a languid yet arrogant movement.

“You have a good eye. You’ll be a great person in the future.”

“Uh-huh.”

It was a strange conversation, but unlike my worries, Ahin was getting along well with Russell. By coming to the greenhouse with the rabbits, he quickly broke down Russell’s guard. Feeling a strange feeling, I glanced at the two.

As the next leader, Ahin would eventually marry and have children. It had been a long time since he had his coming-of-age ceremony, so it wouldn’t be strange if he had a fiancé tomorrow.

I picked up the rabbit that had climbed onto my lap and looked at it. It was quite heavy because it was a plump child.

‘Who will it be?’

Maybe it’s a noble with good blood from the Black Panther territory. Or, to be friendly with other territories, they may be connected to other beast-kin clans.

It wasn’t very rare for people from different clans to marry. However, like the wolf beast-kin who invaded Grace Manor, they don’t prefer it because there are cases where the eye color and true form do not match.

‘First of all, it’s not us.’

Right?

I had hardly heard of a case where an ordinary herbivore and a beast-kin were connected, let alone the children of the leader.

The rabbit, who didn’t understand my anguish, just chewed on my sleeve.

“Bibi.”

From the start, the picture of a rabbit and a black panther was a bit like that. Imagining a beast-kin with purple eyes and fangs was quite ironic.

“Bibi?”

I belatedly heard Ahin’s call and quickly turned my head. Russell was handing out hay to the rabbits, and Ahin, who was left alone, was looking back and forth between me and the chubby rabbit.

“Com-”

“She’s not communicating with the rabbit. Because she’s a beast-kin, communication is impossible even when she’s a baby rabbit.”

‘Where are you trying to tease me?’ Let’s cut off the bud altogether. Ahin blinked in a dazed state. It seemed that he had lost his words for a moment because he had been deprived of his turn.

Soon, his lips twitched subtly as if he was about to burst into laughter.

“Ah,”

Ahin, who was covering his mouth, frowned slightly as his fingertips brushed his cheek. It was the area that I accidentally scratched when we had a fight in the morning.

I should have asked Professor Jinan to look at it when she stopped by earlier. With lowered eyes, I stopped my hand that was reaching out to my cheek without realizing it. The lost hand hovered awkwardly in the air.

“…Does it sting a lot?”

He didn’t answer and just stared at my stopped hand.

Because of the twilight, his jewel-like red eyes were stained with a dull color. It seemed that a different emotion than the longing shown last night was reflected.

Flap, the chubby rabbit that was sitting on my lap suddenly ran away. At the same time as I was surprised and looked back at the rabbit, Ahin, who bent down, brought his cheek to my hand.

“It stings.”

A soft yet slightly cold sensation touched my palm. Ahin, who rubbed his cheek like a cat begging for a touch, folded his eyes into crescents.

At this point, I wondered if his ascetic appearance was a weapon to package his personality. My mouth was dry, and I gave strength to the back of my hand to the point where the blood vessels stood out, fearing that my hand would tremble.

“Bibi, your eyebrows are furrowed. Are you picking a fight?”

The hand that went against my intention only trembled. Hiding my hand as if to hide it, I managed to continue speaking.

“…I’ll heal you. Instead,”

Instead. He didn’t know that if I used pheromones now, I would turn back into a rabbit.

‘I like Bibi because she’s a rabbit.’

For me, who had only been scolded for not being able to become human, how heavy was the weight of the words that even a baby rabbit was okay?

However, after starting to go back and forth between the bodies of humans and rabbits, those words became poison and grabbed my ankle.

Because I cherish the time with Ahin, who matches his fingers when I reach out my forefoot, I even thought that it wouldn’t be bad to live as a rabbit sometimes.

‘I think I want you to be human.’

But why are you saying that now? I hated Ahin, who kept making futile hopes bloom.

“Instead, after healing you, I’m going to turn back into a rabbit. Is that okay?”

“It’s not okay.”

Even though I knew it was a probing question, an answer came back without even a hint of hesitation. Before I could calm my pounding heart, a baby rabbit appeared in front of me. The gray rabbit, caught by Ahin’s nape, blinked with a dumbfounded face.

“Do you know what this is thinking?”

I, who suddenly faced a baby rabbit, blinked deeply along with it.

“What are you thinking….”

Is it hungry? When I reached out my index finger to soothe it, the baby rabbit turned its head away.

“Does it hate me?”

“Well. Don’t you know that better?”

Soon, the growling baby rabbit kicked off the ground and ran away.

I, who was rejected by the ferocious cotton ball, felt complicated. Maybe Mayme is a rabbit expert. It seemed that putting cushions so that I could take a nap just by rubbing my eyes was not a fluke.

I’m a rabbit, but I don’t know the rabbit’s feelings. Feeling somewhat dejected, I drooped my shoulders.

“It’s difficult….”

“Me too. It was driving me crazy that I couldn’t read the baby rabbit’s expression.”

The gaze that I often stared at was to understand my feelings. I always kicked the ground and threatened, thinking that you were trying to bite me again. I sent a moist gaze with a sorry heart.

“Ahin….”

Whether he noticed that heart, Ahin, who had a kind smile, said a beat late.

“So I like that I can see your crumpled face when you’re human.”

“Hey.”

“It’s thrilling to see you glare like that.”

He always has to say something. The twisted me turned away from Ahin. It was a kind of protest that it wasn’t worth responding to. The chubby rabbit that came back stuck its butt on my lap.

‘I know what this one is thinking.’

Judging from the fact that he was nodding off with his mouth full of hay, it meant that he was full and sleepy, so stroke his back. I carefully stroked it, and Ahin’s voice continued from behind.

“But I don’t think it matters. Whether it’s a rabbit or a human.”

“…….”

“Do whatever you want.”

What, that fickleness. The strength drained from my body due to the words that came out without warning.

When I leaned back slightly, an unknown wall touched my back. The smell of the fragrance that Ahin often used was too close.

The chubby rabbit, whose sleep had run away, showed blatant hostility. As soon as I raised my head, Ahin’s face was right in front of me. I don’t think I was sitting this close.

“Instead, don’t disappear without permission anymore.”

I swallowed dry saliva in a state of leaning on his chest and looking up. Unlike the heart of a bean-sized rabbit, the sound of my heart, which had grown so large, was too much to bear.

“My patience is running out.”

He smiled innocently and dropped the chubby rabbit from my arms.

“That’s because I’m scared, so my feet move without me knowing it,”

“…….”

“…I’ll try hard not to disappear.”

My bent head was tingling, so when I tried to straighten it, a large hand that appeared from behind pressed down as if to cover my entire neck and fixed my head. I, who couldn’t avoid it, made an effort to face the red eyes in front of me.

“You have to say you understand, not try.”

Ahin, who spoke as if coaxing me, began to release pheromones even if weakly. It was clear that it was an act to erase the scent of Rune’s pheromones that he mentioned in the morning.

I, who was wrapped in dominant pheromones, carefully released healing pheromones. It was a light wound, so not many pheromones were needed. The scratch on Ahin’s cheek faded and soon disappeared.

“…I understand.”

I didn’t care much about the identity of this persistent possessiveness that he occasionally revealed. From the beginning, the speculation about the person who would stand next to Ahin was a futile act. While harboring the selfish desire that no one would stand there.

“No flying either.”

I, who was closing my eyes to escape from the reality in front of me, opened my eyelids at Ahin’s words that followed.

“I don’t know how you coaxed Quinn to come to the underground prison.”

‘He noticed.’

Like a scary beast. I looked up with shaking eyes and reluctantly opened my lips.

“I said I understand….”

It seemed that he didn’t know that Quinn was weaker than he thought when it came to strawberries. Ahin, who heard the ant-crawling voice, removed the hand that had fixed his head.

“Now the dirty lion smell is gone.”

He buried his nose in a handful of hair and muttered with satisfaction.

“It smells like roasted sweet potatoes.”

‘Rune said it was butter.’

I was tired of fainting one by one. I became empty-minded and just looked at Russell playing with the rabbits. Whether it’s butter or roasted sweet potatoes, it’s all the same when it goes into your mouth.

* * *