Two carriages carrying Ahin, Everine, and a few employees departed from the Grace Estate. Of course, leaving me behind.
‘So they really left me behind after all.’
I wondered if I should have sneaked into the luggage. But I would have been discovered quickly. All that was left was deep regret, a battered heart, and a backpack.
As the soft sound of footsteps echoed, Meimi, who was carrying me, walked across the garden. It seemed she was heading to Madam Valence’s office, as instructed by Ahin during his absence.
‘Dear, let’s visit the tailor’s shop while we’re at it. It’s gotten chilly, so we should get you a cloak made.’
‘Attending the meeting with the Lion Territory leader might be a good idea too. I’ll make sure a seat is prepared for you.’
I could almost see Madam Valence subtly looking forward to spending time with me. If things continued this way, I might be stuck with her for a while.
Never underestimate a rabbit’s persistence.
I swallowed nervously and, pretending to survey the garden, climbed up onto Meimi’s shoulder. Her hand, supporting my bottom, was gentle.
As I perched on her shoulder, I could see Ash and Bara following behind.
‘Now’s my chance.’
This was my last chance to follow Ahin. Determined, I sent a subtle signal to Ash by twitching my front paw.
Ash’s ears perked up sharply at the secret signal. Although she might not understand the exact meaning, it was clear that she was focused on me.
Taking a deep breath to steady my nerves, I opened my eyes wide. It was now or never.
‘Ashiii-!’
With a powerful kick from my hind legs, I launched off Meimi’s shoulder, soaring through the air. Ash, alarmed, immediately leaped forward and caught my backpack in her mouth.
‘Ash, run!’
Ash, ever quick-witted, bolted toward the front gate without hesitation.
“Oh no, Lord Rabbit!”
Meimi, who had already drawn her dagger, was quick on our heels. Worse still, the guard knights, realizing what was happening, began to block our path one by one.
“Come now, Ash. Just put down Lord Rabbit nicely.”
It was a tense standoff. As one of the knights pointed a spear at Ash, Bara sprang into action, growling fiercely and joining the fray.
“Damn it, Bara!”
But the knights, as expected of the elite, left no openings in their defense.
Just as I was wishing they were a little less competent, something swooped down from the sky and grabbed me with lightning speed.
My hind legs were pulled off the ground at a frightening speed. I looked up to see Quinn clutching my backpack, and I couldn’t help but feel a bit disappointed.
Using the airborne sentry felt a bit unfair, didn’t it? Ahin’s sinister smile, having prepared Quinn for such a scenario, flashed through my mind like a shadow across the sky.
‘That meticulous predator.’
“Quinn, this way.”
Meimi sighed in relief and extended her arms toward Quinn. As I resigned myself to this fate and let my body go limp, there was a sudden scraping sound, and my vision spun.
‘Quinn?’
Quinn’s wingbeats became sluggish, as if he was weighed down by soaked cotton. A sense of dread washed over me. No sooner had I sensed it than Quinn began to plummet toward the ground.
‘Ahhh!’
I flailed my legs, but the ground only grew closer.
Thud. I was soon enveloped in a rather rough embrace. Shaking my head, I looked up at the person who had caught me, and I froze on the spot.
‘…Grandfather.’
It had been two weeks since our first meeting. I hiccuped, startled by the unexpected encounter.
“Still as extraordinary as ever, I see.”
Grandfather handed the limp Quinn to a knight. His imposing crimson eyes swept over me, Ash, Bara, and the backpack I had strapped to my back.
“Greetings, Lord Lilion.”
“Clear the way. I have no intention of causing harm.”
Meimi and the knights defied the order and formed a circular formation. A tense atmosphere lingered.
“How dare you! I clearly told you to stand down.”
“Apologies, Lord Lilion.”
“Was it Ahin’s orders?”
Sighing, the old man clicked his tongue and, lifting me with one hand, lightly loosened the other.
“I admire your loyalty to your master, so I’ll overlook this for now.”
It happened in an instant. With each snap of the old man’s thumb and forefinger, the knights began to fall one by one.
“Ugh!”
“Ah…”
Realizing that he had used pheromones, I hurriedly checked myself. His aim was so precise that I couldn’t even sense the pheromones. As proof, my body, which usually reacts sensitively to pheromones, was completely unaffected.
“Impressive.”
The old man’s eyes sparkled with a strange light as he noticed that Meimi was the only one still standing. She clutched her chest and gasped for breath.
“My grandson seems to have provided quite a capable escort.”
‘No way,’
Noticing his twitching fingers, my expression changed.
“You.”
‘No, please.’
I grabbed the old man’s thumb with my forepaw and shook my head. His red eyes, filled with a stern light, wavered slightly. Meimi, who had been struggling to hold on, finally collapsed onto the ground.
‘Meimi!’
Escaping the old man’s grip, I ran toward her. Clinging to her apron, I anxiously checked on Meimi.
“I’m fine, just a little drained.”
“It would have been better if you’d just fainted peacefully.”
I sensed the old man’s approach and quickly spread my forepaws to block his path. Ash and Bara, who were bristling with tension, took positions beside me, surrounding Meimi.
“Your courage is commendable. Are you planning to challenge this old man with pheromones again?”
That wasn’t my intention. I frantically shook my head.
“You understand words and use pheromones.”
The old man’s shoes, which had been approaching with measured steps, were now right in front of my nose. When I looked up, I first noticed the neatly braided white hair that reached down to his chest.
“The servants of the mansion say you even know a bit of etiquette.”
The old man grabbed me by the scruff and brought me up to his face. The wrinkled face that had been staring at me began to soften. It seemed difficult for him to accept the reality of having a serious conversation with a rabbit.
“…Are you of the rabbit tribe?”
Hesitating, I slowly nodded.
“Yes, only a beastfolk could possess such pheromones. Thanks to that, I had a long, deep sleep for the first time in a while.”
His sharp red eyes scrutinized me carefully.
“But it wasn’t just a simple deep sleep… You know better than anyone what I’m talking about. That one pheromone must have helped you survive here.”
Did he sense even a hint of the healing pheromone? His words carried a deeper meaning. After briefly pursing his lips, he personally placed me inside Ash’s backpack.
“Go.”
Before I could even comprehend the meaning, I felt a gentle breath above my head.
“With the speed of a black panther, you should be able to catch up to my grandson before you cross the border.”
Bang! Ash, startled by a slap on the rear, started to sprint. My vision blurred as it shook violently.
Resisting the strong wind, I looked back. The figure of grandfather standing still in place gradually faded into the distance.
‘My grandson will probably need you at every moment.’
A low whisper reached my ears just before Ash’s rear was struck. It was a statement difficult to understand.
‘Ahin will need me?’
The small question was drowned out by the wind blowing against my ears.
* * *
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