The morning sunlight seeped through the wide-open terrace.
When I woke up, Ahin had not only returned to his human form but was also fully dressed in neat attire.
On the other hand, after using my pheromones on Ahin, I had reverted to a rabbit.
Seeing Ahin’s black uniform embroidered with gold threads made the encounter with the black panther feel like a dream. Moreover, he didn’t say a word about transforming into a black panther.
Unable to question him, I curled up on the cushion, chewing hay roughly. Everine had upset me from the morning with his greeting, so I was already in a low mood.
“The basement… No. Are you heading straight to the office?”
“For now.”
I glanced sideways at Everine, who was conversing with Ahin, and the hawk sitting next to me let out a small cry. In an instant, it pecked at the haystack fiercely as if it was destroying it.
‘What are you doing!’
It had pecked me with that beak even at dawn. Angry, I kicked off the cushion and flew at it, headbutting its body.
The hawk, seemingly shocked, staggered and fell to the ground. Even then, as I huffed and puffed, I felt intense gazes fixed on me.
When I turned my head, three pairs of red eyes were staring at me. Ahin, Everine, and Ahin’s personal attendant. It was an overwhelmingly burdensome gaze.
“Lord Ahin.”
Everine, who had been watching with a calm expression, spoke up.
“I’ve repeatedly told you, haven’t I? Lord Rabbit has the spirit of a ruler of the battlefield.”
“I don’t think you’re wrong. Quinn is not easy to handle.”
‘Quinn?’
I turned my gaze sideways as I was organizing the scattered hay. So the hawk’s name was Quinn.
“Look at the spirit that brought Quinn to his knees. The headbutt of a rabbit has long symbolized the subjugation of beasts.”
The attendant looked at Everine with admiration, as if he had just realized something he didn’t know. Ahin, who was tucking a pocket watch into his chest, asked indifferently.
“Is that true?”
“Of course, I just made it up.”
If you’re going to make things up, you should start by submitting to me. I ground my teeth, shaking with irritation.
According to Ahin, Everine already knew I was a beastfolk. And yet, he’s been teasing me all this time with talk of rabbit roasts.
I put off my plan for revenge and subtly gestured with my paw to the attendant. Despite looking like he was of a similar age, he had sharp instincts, befitting someone who had secured the position of personal attendant to the next head of the family, and approached me immediately.
“Is there something you need?”
This attendant was the one who sent incomprehensible encouragements to me every morning. Not only that, he was the one I bit yesterday, stole his jacket and belt, and left to sleep on the cold study floor.
‘I’m sorry.’
How flustered he must have been when he woke up to find his clothes gone. Although it was an urgent situation, I felt incredibly sorry as I looked at his innocent face.
Having no other way to convey my feelings, I tapped the tip of his shoe with my paw. A silent understanding passed between us as our eyes met.
Whether he understood my intentions or not, he knelt down and helped me tidy up the hay that Quinn had scattered.
“I’ll take care of it. Please, don’t trouble yourself.”
‘No, let’s do it together.’
As we were tidying up the hay together, suddenly, my feet lifted off the ground.
“Vivi.”
Ahin, who had lifted me up to his face, raised an eyebrow in displeasure.
“Flirting seems to be a habit of yours.”
“Considering the last time with Lord Rune as well, it appears Lord Rabbit has a tendency to flirt more than one might expect.”
To top it off, Everine accused me of being flirtatious.
“Especially when it comes to beautiful people.”
He pointed at his own face and then at the attendant standing on the other side. Naturally, Ahin and my eyes followed his gesture toward the attendant standing with the hay.
With his green hair resembling fresh foliage and his innocent appearance for his age, the attendant’s face blushed shyly under the weight of our gazes.
Wait, why is he blushing now? As expected, a dangerous smile appeared on Ahin’s lips.
“Despite promising to give me your liver…”
Words that were too spiteful for his flower-like lips spilled out.
“How could you abandon me?”
His mouth, spewing reproachful words like a jilted lover, moved closer. I caught a glimpse of his sharp fangs gleaming between his slightly parted lips.
He’s going to bite!
Judging by the familiar pattern, I instinctively knew he was about to bite either my paw or the nape of my neck, so I flailed my limbs.
Despite trying to push his jaw away, his approach only accelerated.
‘No!’
Soon, Ahin’s lips brushed against the top of my head and then withdrew.
…What just happened?
With my ears perked up, I couldn’t close my half-opened mouth.
Before I could process what had just occurred, his lips lightly touched my cheek. As his lips withdrew, my tilted head straightened.
“Shall we go to work together for a while?”
Having changed his method of torment, Ahin slipped my now-stiffened form into his pocket.
What just happened? I held my cheeks as I struggled to face reality.
When I peeked out to look up at Ahin, his red eyes curved beautifully as he mouthed something to me.
‘Instead of your liver.’
He must be out of his mind.
* * *
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