The Symbiotic Relationship Between The Rabbit And The Black Panther [EN]: Chapter 57

Bibi, the ultimate playboy born from Evelyn’s sharp wit, was currently engrossed in gazing beyond the glass of the greenhouse.

Was it a mistake to think the lion’s eyes looked sad for a moment? I hadn’t considered it while running away, but perhaps Rune returned to his true form because he had a problem, like a fox [a sly or cunning issue].

Having thought that far, Bibi lowered her already drooping eyes and moved her lips.

‘Are you sick somewhere?’

Rune, facing Bibi’s worried question, quietly studied her expression.

*If he said he was sick, she might pay more attention than now.*

He wondered if he should be greedy, but he wasn’t the type to lie skillfully like the twisted Ahin Grace. Moreover….

“……?”

Bibi, noticing Rune’s slender gaze lingering behind her, quickly turned her head. At the same time, Ash and Bara, who were behind her, pretended to be doing something else while playfully sparring with each other.

When Bibi looked at Rune again, the two black panthers immediately opened their mouths wide and bared their fangs. They were ready to pounce on him if he did anything foolish. *Just mere black panthers*, he thought sarcastically.

Rune, unwilling to carelessly provoke her precious black panthers, sighed. Even he thought he was being too lenient.

*Now that the successor has been decided, you will never enjoy more favor than your sister in the future.*

*You can just live as usual, lazy and negligent, like water flowing by.*

If he had learned how to get what he wanted and how to be greedy, could he have acted a little differently each time he met Bibi?

‘I’m asking if you’re sick,’ Bibi repeated, already pressing her forehead close to the glass window.

Rune, who had been watching her serious face, felt Mayme’s presence approaching.

“…….”

Mayme, transformed into a black panther, silently handed him a bundle of clothes.

The heavy breathing showed her determination not to leave her spot even for a minute.

*Perhaps he was the biggest object of vigilance here*, Rune guessed, moving his front paw. Then Bibi and the three black panthers’ gazes naturally followed.

Rune, with an ambiguous expression, drew a star shape in the air with his front paw. Their heads moved quickly like meerkats, following his flamboyant gestures.

*Not bad…?*

Was it because he was in the black panther territory that even he had lost his mind?

Rune twitched his mustache, feeling like he was standing tall at the center of the world. Above all, he liked Bibi’s gaze, which was carefully observing him as if there was a hidden meaning.

His gaze, which had been staring at her, stopped at the bandage around her neck. It was the area where Ahin Grace had left his fang marks before.

*…Beastly bastard.*

As a beast-type beastman, he couldn’t not recognize those marks. The territory marking of only high-ranking beasts.

However, a beastman with reason, not a wild animal, wouldn’t leave such a trace, even if they had made a hundred years’ promise [a very long-term commitment].

Nevertheless, Ahin Grace, who had left such a mark, clearly had no reason.

Did the rabbit, a herbivore beastman, even know how much deep desire was buried in that act? The more he thought about it, the more anger rose, and Rune’s reason became blurred.

*You don’t even know the charm of a rabbit.*

*Don’t cry later after falling for the rabbit.*

Why did the troublemaker who waved a rabbit doll and made Rune cry every day come to mind at a time like this? He gnashed his teeth.

*If you’re desperate, do a courtship dance.*

For the first time in his life, his motivation surpassed laziness, and he raised his front paw.

Following that, a bizarre act of shaking his mane and buttocks began. The earth even stirred from the lion’s passionate footwork.

‘Ah, I don’t think he’s sick.’

*Does he have a headache?* Bibi, impressed by his rotational power, tried to understand what Rune was trying to convey. Because she knew better than anyone that there was nothing more frustrating than not understanding gestures.

“Hey, Felton.”

Milleon, the greenhouse guard knight who had been watching the scene from beginning to end, shook Felton’s shoulder.

“It seems they brought a theater lion [a trained lion for entertainment] for the banquet.”

“…….”

“Felton, answer me. Do they teach dancing to theater lions these days?”

“…It must be a beastman.”

“What kind of crazy beastman would do such an outrageous thing?”

Even after that, Rune showed off the traditional dance of the lion clan, and the situation where the rabbit beastman and three black panthers moved their heads in unison continued for a long time.

* * *

Rune, who had been showing strange gestures for quite a while, bit the clothes Mayme had given him and disappeared.

I, who had failed to interpret anything in the end, trudged deep into the indoor greenhouse. The fact that this was the main destination was a relief.

‘Time….’

A little impatient, I checked the pocket watch I had hung on my wrist like a bracelet. There were about two hours left until my birthday ended.

I reached a flower bed where various kinds of flowers were sparsely planted, and I shook off my hands and sat down to work.

Mayme, Ash, and Bara were waiting a little further away because they were worried about damaging the flower bed.

As I gathered flowers, I awkwardly glanced at Mayme. I had thought about what her true form would be like at least once.

*…I shouldn’t have looked.*

Even in the midst of all this, she hadn’t forgotten her professional spirit – extremely Mayme’s standards – and she was wearing a strap with a dagger on her torso.

“Mayme, aren’t you going back to human form?”

Mayme, who was usually taciturn, was taciturn even as a black panther. Ignoring her firmly seated stance, I turned my gaze to the flower bed.

It must be because of Rune, who might come back. She had no choice but to bring Rune’s clothes because of me, who couldn’t come to my senses because of the lion, but it seemed she wouldn’t leave her spot any longer.

*I can’t be like this either.*

Two hours wasn’t enough time. Soon, I focused on gathering flowers and occasionally thought of Ahin, who showed a detached air.

Perhaps it was anxiety about walking the same path as his father. Strangely, Ahin didn’t bring up the topic of the future in front of me.

That’s why I wanted to convey words that would ease his anxiety, at least on his birthday.

Wouldn’t it be better to say the words I couldn’t say when I was a rabbit? I frowned as I stared blankly at the air.

*Thank you for picking me up?*

No. I couldn’t say anything too blatant or strange.

Unlike the black panther full of predatory desires, rabbits are a race that values romance and proper procedures. When handing over a bouquet, praise for the other person came first.

I stroked my chin and faced a huge obstacle. It was because I realized that Ahin had nothing to praise, not even as much as a rabbit hair, in terms of personality.

*I guess a psycho can’t be praised.*

I had nothing else to say.

Turning the direction to appearance, I savored his features. Silver hair that goes well with the moon, languid yet clear eyes, and red lips. Compared to his beautiful face, his thick, muscular body like a beast was a bonus.

*…Should I just cover him with flowers?*

I swallowed hard and took a whiff of the flower scent to calm my mind and body. I couldn’t make Evelyn’s teasing, who said I was the most perverted rabbit, a reality.

In the first place, the most important part is separate. If I show him the heat rash and say that I might have gotten closer to humanization, would Ahin be happy? My heart pounded as I recalled the shallow curve behind his neck.

“Your sense of aesthetics is terrible. Did you choose different colors on purpose?”

My body stiffened at the ruthless evaluation from behind. It was Rune’s voice, who had returned to human form.

Mayme stretched out her front paw to stop Ash and Bara, who were growling.

“You’ve never made a bouquet before, have you?”

He, wearing a white tailcoat that Mayme had brought in a hurry, sat down opposite me.

Rune, who took a flower from the bouquet I was making, blinked his out-of-focus eyes. His face was dangerous in a different sense than when he was a lion.

“…Rune, why did you go back to your true form?”

“There are days when I just want to.”

Did he drink a lot of wine during the banquet?

*I don’t smell any alcohol.*

I nodded calmly and continued to gather flowers.

“I’m not drunk.”

Is his pheromone ability telepathy? When I glared at him with wary eyes, Rune smiled slightly and began to weave the stems of an unknown purple flower.

“You said it with your expression, are you a strange beast too.”

I thought I had managed it somehow, but my human rights were not guaranteed today either. Half giving up, I looked down at Rune’s hands, which were skillfully weaving the stems.

“But I think you’re right, I’m a strange beast. Seeing that I like rabbits even though I’m a lion.”

“What?”

It was too sudden. Momentarily losing my words, I blankly raised my gaze to Rune’s face.

The golden eyes that had been fixed on the flowers hesitated and moved to me. Rune, who had barely met my eyes, no longer hid his red face.

“I said this before Ahin Grace, right?”

“…….”

“I guess it’s true since you don’t answer. Well, he wouldn’t say anything sane with that personality.”

He chuckled and brought another white flower and weaved the stem. Every time he moved, the gold epaulettes on his clothes clattered and collided.

“I’m the first in everything. I can’t bear Bibi’s time being taken up because I can’t even pick one thing [referring to being unable to win her affection].”

What’s the reason, and since when? We haven’t even met each other much.

Unable to open my lips carelessly, I stared at the pile of flowers that was gradually taking shape in Rune’s hands.

If you think about it, there’s no way Rune could know either. I don’t even know when my feelings for Ahin, who marks my whole body, have grown this big.

After swallowing my words several times, I carefully moved my lips.

“I like Ahin,”

“I know. You don’t have to confirm it. So I tried to steal the rabbit into the lion territory in a fit of anger,” he admitted.

“Steal-…!”

“I changed my mind when I saw Bibi making a messy bouquet.”

You don’t have to emphasize that it’s messy. A little discouraged, I secretly hid the bouquet behind my back.

“I saw that lewd expression for the first time.”

I was so discouraged that I couldn’t help but hide my expression by bowing my head. Soon, a crown of purple and white flowers completed in Rune’s hands came into view.

“I can’t ruin Bibi’s life, who is barely settling in the black panther territory. Here, this is a gift.”

Rune lightly placed the flower crown he had made on my head.

Still bowing my head, I stared at the bouquet mixed with all kinds of flowers.

No matter what answer I gave now, it would be cruel to him. Just imagining hearing words of rejection from Ahin made my heart sting, wouldn’t Rune feel like he had been pricked by a needle several times?

Only Ash’s growling, rough breathing echoed in the silence.

“I’m going back to the lion territory as soon as the banquet is over.”

He opened his mouth after a long time.

“Tonight…?”

“My great-grandfather has started singing about rabbits, rabbits. He keeps questioning me about the gossip magazines. I have to leave before troublesome things happen.”

Only then did I slowly raise my head. Rune’s face, which had been tinged with red, had already returned to his usual lazy look.

“…I won’t be coming to the Grace family for a while.”

I rashly thought, “Could it be because of me…,” raising the bouquet to cover my mouth.

Maybe it’s just because the alliance issue is over. Aside from my emotions showing on my face, I didn’t want any more humiliation stemming from arrogance.

“That’s right, it’s because of Vivi.”

“…….”

“I’m just trying to stop at a feeling beyond simple liking—only to the point where I can bear to miss you.”

He bent his large frame to make the flower crown. His body must have been stiff, as he stretched his arm muscles as if doing a stretch.

“I’m not very immune to ups and downs in life. I have a boring personality, right?”

Rune’s golden eyes were clear even in the slightly dim indoor greenhouse at night. Facing him, who didn’t seem boring at all right now, I feigned ignorance and moved my lips.

“You have a very boring personality.”

“Even if it’s true, you should politely deny it. You really are a bad bunny. Oh, you’re frowning.”

It’s because you called me a bad bunny. I unconsciously tensed my brow, trying to make a soft expression.

Rune, who had been staring intently at my twitching lips trying to smile, smiled so that his pupils couldn’t be seen. It was a pure smile without any intention, compared to my messy smile.

“But the offer to come to the lion territory is still valid, so come over if you get tired of the black panther.”

“That’s…,”

“But once you come, you can’t leave. Got it?”

I couldn’t quite say that I would never go to the lion territory.

Perhaps Rune was anticipating that, filling the conversation with his own words.

I held out a yellow flower from the bouquet that resembled his golden eyes.

“…Thank you, Rune.”

There were definitely several moments that would have been difficult without Rune. Rune accepted it silently, dusting off his clothes and getting up.

“In the lion territory, giving a flower crown as a gift means wishing the other person happiness.”

“…….”

“You survived in the black panther territory even as a baby bunny. Vivi, you’ll definitely be able to achieve humanization.”

“I’ll be going,” Rune said briefly, moving towards the greenhouse entrance. He didn’t look back.

I stared at his unique, lazy gait, which lacked formality, and clenched the bouquet tightly.

‘That person, is he a beastman who has undone his humanization [returned to animal form]?’

‘So, he wasn’t just a rabbit, but a beastman.’

From beginning to end, he naturally treated me as a beastman.

‘Wait a minute, this is the opportunity I’ve been waiting for to screw him over.’

‘Are you very angry? Sorry for bringing you here without permission.’

Sometimes he was mischievous, as if to prove he was a beast.

‘I’ll help you.’

‘If you have nowhere to go, I can get you out.’

In the end, he was the one who offered a hand without any conditions.

A stinging feeling, different from when I was put in a basket and separated from my family, resonated in my chest.

If we were friends, we wouldn’t have to part without even saying goodbye. It was the first farewell I had ever experienced as a person.

* * *

The security knights guarding the indoor greenhouse, Felton and Milleon, were having a particularly difficult day today. Heehing, the ill-tempered Jane [horse’s name] snorted at them as if daring them to look at her.

They had just seen a dancing lion, and now the next head of the family was riding a black horse inside the mansion.

But that wasn’t the only problem. Ahin had drawn his sword as if he was about to slice someone up right away. It was a savagery that didn’t suit his black tailcoat at all.

‘Oh, Beast God.’

Felton and Milleon, suppressing the urge to hug each other, gave a salute.

“We, we greet the next head of the family!”

Facing the two knights who seemed to have something on their minds, Ahin gnashed his teeth.

Vivi was still a master of hide-and-seek.

Even Yuan, who had been assigned to watch her, couldn’t find Vivi and was wandering around, and she was like a phantom thief who appeared everywhere.

He had rushed over after getting a testimony from the chef that she had run towards the indoor greenhouse. The awkward reaction of the knights glancing at the greenhouse knocked Ahin’s last remaining reason to the ground.

“Vivi is…”

“She is inside the greenhouse.”

“-Alone?”

“No, with me.”

Rune, who had come out of the indoor greenhouse, answered instead of the two knights. Ahin frowned when he found the yellow flower stuck in his ear.

“Take it off, it looks like my eyes are going to rot.”

“That’s too much, Vivi gave it to me.”

At the blatant provocation, Ahin instead raised the corners of his mouth. The knights, realizing that he had quietly gone crazy, distanced themselves by one centimeter per second. In fact, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that he was blinded by jealousy.

“Think of it as a gift for the afterlife to a lion who will die soon.”

“Isn’t that what the one who’s late today should be saying?”

The tip of a well-honed sword was aimed at Rune’s neck.

“Then I’ll just get rid of the cub who comes first. That way, there will be no reason to be late.”

‘Wouldn’t it be better to not be late in the first place?’

Felton and Milleon’s heads throbbed because of Ahin, who had thoughts outside of common sense. It would be a big problem to stop someone who was much higher up, but if they left him alone, the territory alliance might collapse.

“If I can’t help his promiscuity, I just need to get rid of the targets of his promiscuity.”

Ahin, who didn’t care about the two knights’ troubles, said lowly.

“Being hit on the butt by me for the rest of my life is enough.”

‘Please, keep your dignity!’

Felton and Milleon let out silent screams.

On the other hand, Rune wasn’t particularly surprised by the otherworldly way of speaking.

“The inside seems more urgent than me.”

He pushed the back of the sword aimed at his neck with his finger.

“Does Lord Grace think that Vivi only met me?”

For a moment, Ahin’s calm red eyes trembled slightly. Looking back, he couldn’t find the fox while riding Jane around the mansion. He was strangely dull when it came to Vivi, and he pushed Rune away and approached the entrance.

“Ahin Grace.”

“I’m busy.”

“I asked you if anything special happened at the last ball. I said nothing happened.”

Ahin, who was about to open the glass door, tilted his gaze sideways.

“Why is that.”

“Actually, something special happened. That’s when Vivi first met a person…,”

“No, nothing special happened, that’s right.”

“What…,”

“Meeting me after coming out of the shack was the first time.”

“…….”

“I won’t give any firsts to a lion or anything.”

Ahin burst into the indoor greenhouse as if he didn’t need to hear anything more.

‘So, he already knew.’

Rune, leaving the shadow-like security knights behind, wiped the blood that had formed on his lips with his thumb.

It seemed that not discovering Vivi, who had transformed into a person for the first time, was his weak point. Judging from the fact that he had shot Rune with dominant pheromones right before opening the door.

If his pheromone ability hadn’t been defense-oriented, he might have fainted.

He thought that he might act a little more rationally when in love. Rather, it seemed like he had lost control, and Rune stretched.

“…Anyway, still a crazy bastard.”

Still, it was something to have twisted the guts of that self-centered black panther. He thought that he should leave the Grace mansion before he picked up a sword and ran wild again, and he moved his feet.

With every step, unfamiliar yet exciting emotions were shattered. It was a familiar swamp that he often felt when giving up something, but today his feet sank even deeper. It was a night that was refreshing yet heavy on his feet.

* * *

I, who had come to face Ahin while sitting in the flower bed, unconsciously knelt politely.

There wasn’t much of a time difference between when Rune left and when Ahin appeared, so did they happen to run into each other?

It was difficult to control my mind, which was restless in many ways. I couldn’t even feel the floral scent that filled the surroundings to the point where my nose was tingling.

‘He’s not going to bare his fangs again, saying I’m being unfaithful, is he…?’

However, I couldn’t tell Ahin about my conversation with Rune. I thought it was the least I could do for Rune’s feelings.

Meimi had already heard everything anyway, so it might be something that would be conveyed someday. Consumed by anxiety, I wiggled my toes.

I subtly gauged Ahin’s mood, but he only showed an unusually bright and relaxed smile.

‘It doesn’t look like he ran into Rune.’

More than that, do I even need to be so cautious? No one could stop me, who was excited with humanization right around the corner.

Just as I was widening my eyes, thumping footsteps echoed from the indoor greenhouse entrance. It was a rough gait that didn’t hide anger at all.

“I knew you’d be in the indoor greenhouse. Isn’t this place the mecca for playboys? I thought his eyes were unusual for a little rabbit, but it was all impure flirtatiousness!”

“Well, first of all, his dancing skills are extraordinary.”

“The world is coming to an end!”

Grandfather and Valence’s voices grew closer and closer.

“Still, seeing Ahin’s black horse at the entrance means he found him first, so it should be alright.”

“What good does it do to come first? From what I see, he probably can’t even give the rabbit a proper scolding! I’ll personally teach that playboy about the Grace family’s rules until he cries his eyes out-…,”

Grandfather’s angry voice diminished and then stopped completely. His pupils, upon discovering us sitting face to face in the flower bed, shook visibly.

“…Oh my.”

Valence, with wide eyes, covered her mouth with her fan.

Soon, with a subtle smile, she grabbed Grandfather’s shoulder and turned him around.

“Father, even though it’s late, how about going to see the woodworking artisan? Your beloved cane is unusable now.”

“Y-yes, let’s do that. No, just who broke my cane into two pieces…!”

“Father, you were the one who did that.”

Grandfather, rambling incoherently, was pushed away by Valence.

I stared blankly until the two people’s presence disappeared, then hurriedly turned to look at Ahin. Before I knew it, his face was devoid of a smile, replaced only by a cold, expressionless look.

“Bibi, you danced in front of Mother too?”

Unable to lie in the face of the revealed truth, I quickly averted my gaze.

“I didn’t know you were such an easy rabbit when it comes to dancing.”

Ahin, looking down with cold eyes, murmured coldly.

“That’s really bad.”

‘Seriously.’

Who did I shake my tail so passionately in front of Valence for? Thinking there was no need for such a fuss, I tried hard to suppress the urge to throw away the bouquet.

It’s his birthday, his once-a-year birthday. Repeating it like a mantra, I held out the bouquet I had worked so hard to make.

“Is this a birthday present?”

Ahin, receiving the abundant bouquet, spoke in a soft voice as if his anger had subsided a little.

“…You liked it when I gave you wildflowers last time.”

“Did you make it while thinking of me?”

How could he ask such a question so openly? As I hesitated and nodded, his red eyes curved brightly.

“Bibi must see my face as a jumbled mess.”

An ill-mannered beast.

“Give it back.”

“No, it’s mine now.”

Ahin lifted the bouquet high so that I couldn’t take it away.

As it swayed, petals fluttered onto his shoulders and clothes. It was a scene like a painting.

Lost in thought, I quickly stopped Ahin’s hand as he tried to grab the flower crown on my head.

“T-this wasn’t made as a gift.”

“The lion made it. You’re not thinking of wearing that and celebrating my birthday, are you?”

How could he be so perceptive? He must have run into Rune at the entrance.

‘Bibi will definitely be able to go through with humanization.’

Recalling that it was a wish for happiness, I stealthily sealed Ahin’s hands with both of mine. He stared at his hands trapped in mine, then slowly opened his lips.

“I won’t fall for this,”

I braced myself for him to shake me off and held his hands tightly. Ahin paused for a moment, then lowered his hands with a soft sigh.

“…Now I understand how those who fall for playboys feel.”

The label of ‘playboy’ was a bit unfair, but Ahin didn’t seem to have any intention of taking the flower crown away anymore.

I fiddled with the soft back of his hand compared to my palm, carefully mulling over the words I wanted to convey.

‘Hmm….’

As feared, nothing came to mind. Lately, whenever I was with Ahin, my mind went blank, so even if I made plans beforehand, they would always fall apart.

My gaze, moving cautiously, passed his lips and lingered on the red eyes fixed on me. I averted my eyes from the red color that felt somewhat dark because it was night and lowered my gaze to his chest.

As the silence grew longer, Ahin spoke first.

“Should I take it off?”

“Y-yes?”

“Because you’re lewdly puffing air while looking at my dress coat.”

“When did I ever!”

“You were humming.”

Ahin, amused, tilted his head slightly. His half-open eyes landed on the area around my neck.

“You put a bandage on your neck.”

“…I can’t go around showing it off.”

“Why?”

There’s no way this beast doesn’t know and is asking. Annoyed, I twitched my nose. It’s not like it’s a fang mark left as a scar, how could I go around showing off the red bruise where the skin is stained?

“Should I leave it on your cheek so you can’t hide it?”

‘Crazy.’

I imagined my cheek swollen and horrified, shaking off Ahin’s hand. Covering my cheeks with both hands, he pointed to his own neck with the bouquet.

“Then leave it on me.”

Ahin fanned the faint lewdness hidden inside me with a languid voice.

“It’s my birthday.”

He didn’t have the humility to say that his birthday was nothing special and wave it off. Reading my hesitation, Ahin put on a smile that seemed genuinely innocent.

“Huh?”

‘Oh my goodness….’

He was bewitching and so very bewitching.

Determined not to fall for such a typical trick, I tightly closed my eyes to avoid visual stimulation.

Then, the rustling sound of Ahin moving stimulated my ears. The problem was that my hearing became excessively sharp instead of my vision being darkened.

He must be trying to trick me by pretending to take off his clothes like before. I was no longer the me of the past who would fall for such a cliché.

Wishing to prove the lie by checking it myself, I opened my eyes in a flash. At the same time, my vision was filled with Ahin’s face. Ahin, whose eyes met mine right in front of me, smiled brightly.

“You make me want to bite your nose.”

‘Is this really…!’

All he can think about is biting people all day long. Annoyed, I pushed him away as if headbutting him.

Ahin, who had been off guard, fell backward and dropped the bouquet. The bouquet that had floated into the air spread out widely.

Fluttering.

By the time the floating flowers scattered on the flower bed, I had already pushed Ahin into the flower bed.

“The bouquet is ruined,”

“Shut up.”

I pressed down on his shoulders, which were resisting, and made a scary face.

“Because Ahin keeps teasing me, I couldn’t say anything I wanted to say.”

Ahin widened his eyes slightly and then quietly closed his mouth. It seemed he had succumbed to my force.

Having finally silenced the frivolous beast, I struggled to calm my heart, which was beating without a care.

How did I get the right to speak properly? Focusing my gaze on the silver hair scattered on the flower bed instead of his face, I bit my lower lip tightly. It was difficult to decide the order because there were so many things I wanted to say.

‘About the fever blister mark?’

No, more than that, I hadn’t said the most important thing yet, had I?

“…Happy birthday.”

I smiled shyly, having difficulty meeting his gaze. Ahin was silent as if he had been forcibly gagged.

Just as the silence began to feel awkward, his red lips slowly opened.

“Thank you. It would have been better if the bouquet hadn’t been ruined, though.”

“I’ll make you another one.”

My ears might be red enough to burst. Worried about that, I moved my lips several times for the second thing I wanted to say.

How should I express the uncontrollably large heart?

I had been losing sleep every night worrying, but I always fell into slumber without finding any answer.

Even though I thought he would naturally smile, one side of my heart wavered.

Wouldn’t it be burdensome? What if Ahin, like me, was considering the walls of the clan or status? Also, is it okay to convey these feelings while still going back and forth as a baby rabbit?

The anxiety stemming from uncertain probabilities kept blocking the words that had risen to my throat.

“Bibi?”

As my hesitation grew longer, Ahin called my name softly, perhaps wondering. The scene in front of me, which had been blurred by my thoughts, gradually became clear with him.

‘His real name must be something else anyway.’

Since when was it? Perhaps the boundaries had been helplessly crumbling since Ahin first called my name.

The fingertips holding his shoulders turned white. I was afraid of how much bigger the heart that had just grown again would grow in the future.

I lowered my body silently and carefully kissed Ahin’s lips.

My heart was pounding so hard that I was worried if the sound would be heard outside.

After a short time, I supported myself on his shoulders and raised my body, muttering softly.

“I won’t cheat from now on.”

It’s true that I was almost charmed by the fox’s pheromones. Swallowing the words, I blushed.

Several seconds passed. Nevertheless, no answer came from Ahin, who had a dazed face. He looked like someone who had fainted with his eyes open.

“Ahin?”

He’s not a beast who would lose his mind over a single kiss. Anxious, I tapped his cheeks. Thanks to that, Ahin, who had been startled, blinked his eyelids.

“Bibi,”

Soon, he let out a muffled groan and covered his face with both hands.

“-…Move, please.”

Facing a strange reaction, I carefully examined Ahin, who was hiding under his large hands. The tips of his ears buried in the flower bed were particularly reddish.

‘This is….’

Certain that I had him, I furrowed my brows. He must have completely fallen for Bibi’s provocation.

“Ah!”

Barely had I worn a slightly triumphant expression when my wrist was yanked.

In an instant, I was sprawled on top of Ahin, my eyes wide. Ahin’s face, flushed around the eyes, was right in front of me.

“That was too short.”

“Pardon?”

Understanding dawned, and his lips met mine again.

Ahin, supporting my waist and the back of my head, lightly rolled over, reversing our positions. Now in the position he had been in just moments ago, I reflexively grabbed his forearm.

“Wait, hngh,”

Ahin delved between my eyelids before I could even catch my breath. Easily settling between my legs, he briefly pulled away.

“If you faint again, I really will devour you.”

* * *

‘De-, devour….’

With pheromone training having strengthened Bibi, petty threats no longer worked.

As if scoffing, the corners of Bibi’s lips turned up. However, her eyes were sharp, ready to flee at any moment.

Meanwhile, Ahin quietly observed Bibi’s face, which displayed two conflicting emotions.

‘She fails at managing her expressions every day, and now she’s putting on a whole show with her face.’ Watching her, Ahin slightly raised himself, supporting himself on one arm next to her face.

Then, using his thumb, he lifted Bibi’s upper lip, revealing even teeth without a hint of fangs.

‘What is he doing?’

Suddenly exposing a private area like that. Flames ignited in Bibi’s eyes, who had been eagerly awaiting Ahin’s kiss.

Regardless, he was still lifting her upper lip, silently laughing.

“You really don’t have fangs.”

“…….”

“You’re also a scaredy-cat with fainting as a hobby.”

Who in the world has fainting as a hobby? Struck by his words, Bibi blankly opened and closed her eyelids.

“Your only brave actions are desperately disliking and threatening. Isn’t that right?”

Unable to refute the stark truth, she could only twitch her nose. Why is he being so harsh all of a sudden? Swallowing the loneliness and sorrow of not having fangs, Bibi gritted her teeth.

“And yet, you’re saying you’ll go to the bear territory.”

“You promised to take me.”

“It was definitely on hold.”

Giving a meaningful look, Ahin gently rubbed her upper lip.

“Bibi, have you actually ever seen a bear?”

“No….”

“The bear territory releases bears into the mountains. Weak beasts would rather commit suicide than make eye contact with a bear. And a rabbit’s playing dead won’t work either.”

Gulp, Bibi swallowed hard, imagining terrifying bear paws. Should I just stay at the mansion and pray for good fortune? Shaking her head to dispel her weak thoughts, she bravely bluffed.

“Bears are nothing but a snack. And I can cross the desert too.”

“Okay, let’s go together.”

“No.”

“No?”

“No, wait, what did you say?”

“Let’s go together, to the bear territory.”

“…Really?”

Ahin looked down at the dazed Bibi, raising one corner of his mouth.

“Who knows if you’ll pounce on a servant while I’m away. Ivelyn said cheating doesn’t end with just one time.”

“Good thinking. It’s right to take me since I might cheat.”

Bibi, who was going to the bear territory with him, didn’t care about his sarcasm. Already, grand plans were filling her mind.

‘The sun will be hot, won’t it?’

As a baby rabbit, she might have to cross the desert, and she was caught up in practical worries.

Ash can’t follow me to the desert, so should I carry a water bottle instead of a backpack? I should also tell Mayme to pack a cloth to wrap around my head.

“Bibi?”

Ahin, whose presence had faded, raised his eyebrows in displeasure. Bibi was excited, forgetting what situation she was in.

“Looks like you like bears more than black panthers.”

‘That can’t be true.’

Only then did Bibi’s attention, which had been focused on the bear, return to the one on top of her.

“…I like black panthers more.”

It was a voice barely audible if you strained your ears.

She gently grabbed Ahin’s cheeks and rubbed her forehead against his. It was a sign of affection and love.

Ahin, watching Bibi’s cheeks flush with just that, felt his heart tighten as if someone was squeezing it.

“…….”

Having never expressed his overflowing emotions, he didn’t know what to say.

Suppressing the violent urge to bite her all over, Ahin kissed her forehead. His lips, descending from her forehead, passed over her eyelids, nose, and cheeks.

Bibi, feeling that familiar, dull sensation, twitched her toes.

Soon, the red eyes, backlit, lingered on her fair neck.

Ahin removed the bandage that had been bothering him. With the obstruction gone, the skin, stained messily, was revealed.

Satisfied, he scanned the red welts before adding more marks on top of them.

Bibi slightly twisted her body at the ticklish sensation. Ahin’s large hand lightly stroked her struggling thigh.

“…You.”

Ahin, who had been burying his face in her neck for a while, suddenly raised himself and looked down at Bibi.

“Where did you learn to exude sexual pheromones?”

A low, suppressed voice burst out.

Belatedly realizing that she had inadvertently released pheromones, Bibi’s pupils trembled. Having smelled the fox’s sexual pheromones for quite some time, she seemed to have naturally picked up the knack.

“Maybe… from the fox…?”

“You learn everything from other bastards besides me.”

“I didn’t do it on pur-, hngh,”

The words were cut off as his lips blocked hers.

Still dissatisfied, Ahin pressed Bibi’s chin with his hand, opening her mouth wider. Dominant pheromones were transmitted with every breath, preventing her from turning back into a baby rabbit.

Bibi reflexively squirmed at the engulfing depth.

Ahin, delving in like a fierce beast, grabbed her wandering hand and brought it to his neck.

He began to untie his tie using her soft hand. Under Ahin’s guidance, Bibi’s hand slipped several times before finally completely removing the black tie.

The hand didn’t stop there, and with a flick, snap, it opened the shirt buttons covering his neck.

As Ahin slowly pulled away, his exposed neck came into Bibi’s view.

“Bite me too.”

Bibi, panting, stared at his smooth neck without a single scar.

‘I must be crazy.’ Even while struggling to keep up with the breathing of a flexible beast, she was being asked to bite his neck without any fangs.

As her face turned pale and she shuddered, Ahin slowly stroked his neck with Bibi’s hand. The area where her palm touched felt as if it would burst into flames.

“I need to leave a mark that you own me.”

“…….”

“I’m Bibi’s, after all.”

How could someone who was giving himself to me smile so beautifully? Even while thinking that, Bibi, captivated by his melting smile, stroked the protruding Adam’s apple with her thumb.

‘Beasts have a strong sense of ownership.’

‘Sometimes, if that desire goes too far, they break things.’

Bibi suddenly remembered Ahin, who had stroked her back and said fiercely.

‘I picked you up.’

‘So you’re my property. Right?’

Who would think that Ahin, who had recited such warnings in an emotionless voice, was the same person as the Ahin now?

Yet, the way he subtly maintained his dominance was beast-like and annoying. Bibi, who had been staring at his neck with glazed eyes, soon smiled slyly, following his lead.

“Next time.”

“……?”

For a moment, Ahin blinked, wondering if he had misheard. Judging from her sly eyes, she shouldn’t be refusing.

“What nonsense are you talking about?”

“I’ll bite you next time.”

“When is next time?”

“…If Ahin listens well.”

Hiding her flushed cheeks with both hands, she cleared her throat loudly.

Ahin blankly stared at Bibi, who was rolling around shyly beneath him. His dazed gaze lingered on the flower crown gifted by the lion that she was still wearing.

Annoyance was overlaid with affection.

He had asked to be tamed, but was she really planning to make him obedient? Realizing how he was wavering for a clumsy rabbit, he let out a hollow laugh.

“-Will you bite if I crawl at your feet?”

‘Look at the direction he’s thinking.’

“If not, then what? Tell me.”

Ahin, hiding his impatient heart, said leisurely.

Bibi, with her beady eyes, began to list them off as if she had been waiting for this.

“Never put me on a plate again.”

“Is that all?”

“It’s also forbidden to bite my paws and ears, and I get annoyed when you wave carrots from the window.”

Ultimately defeated by her modest requests, he grabbed Bibi’s white hair and buried his lips in it.

What am I really going to do with her? Even the expression ‘wanting to put her in my mouth and roll her around’ was not enough.

Ahin, who was thinking that he wished this moment would last forever, suddenly stopped and stiffened.

Dugun. Dugun [Sound of heartbeat].

A familiar sensation, like blood vessels expanding, washed over his entire body. It was a sign of the seizure that had recently begun to shorten in frequency.

* * *