Valence, sitting at the tea table in the indoor greenhouse, was caught off guard for the first time in a while.
It wasn’t just because the rabbit she had been waiting for didn’t show up, but also because of the birdcage in Meimi’s arms as she followed Lilion inside.
“Father, why is Ahin’s messenger bird…?”
“If left alone, it might have caught the rabbit, so I locked it up for a while.”
Clang, clang. Quinn, trapped in the sparse cage, squawked and flapped wildly as if in a frenzy.
“Tsk, it’s just as noisy as its master. Hang the cage as far away as possible.”
“…Father, surely not…”
Noticing the absence of Vivi, Ash, and Bara, Valence’s expression hardened.
“Don’t worry, I didn’t touch a single hair on the rabbit as you wished.”
Lilion, who glanced irritably at the crying Quinn, sat down across from Valence. Valence’s personal maid, who had poured matcha into an empty teacup, withdrew.
After moistening his throat with matcha, Lilion asserted confidently.
“You asked me to respect the rabbit. It seemed to want to follow my grandson, so I simply let it have its way.”
“…I suppose you must have felt some guilt for treating the rabbit harshly. After all, no matter how stern you are, Father, its adorable appearance would make anyone feel a pang of guilt.”
“I just wanted to shake up Ahin’s composure!”
Lilion, whose neck had turned bright red, vehemently denied any such reason. Ignoring this with a gentle smile, Valence signaled Meimi, who stood at a distance, to approach.
“But what should we do? There must be a reason Ahin left the rabbit behind. Even if they catch up safely, I’m worried about how Ahin will react.”
“Hmph. It’s a punishment for constantly spouting nonsense in front of his grandfather, who is like the heavens.”
“You’re so harsh. Just in case, I should send a letter with a bit of a time delay. Meimi, do you have anything suitable for writing a letter?”
Meimi pulled out a small bundle of paper from her apron, the kind Vivi used when she needed to jot down notes while reading books.
“This is all I have for now. I can fetch some proper parchment from the inner chambers.”
“No, this will do just fine.”
Valence, flipping through the palm-sized bundle of paper, covered her mouth slightly as she noticed a phrase Vivi had angrily scribbled while copying down a book. With a meaningful smile, she folded the paper neatly.
“If I send this letter along with it, my son will be quite pleased.”
Lilion, growing curious, cast a sidelong glance.
“…What is that?”
“Oh, you said you didn’t care about the rabbit.”
Valence, not intending to show the letter, hid it away and began writing a short message on a blank sheet of paper. The note asked whether Vivi had safely reunited with them.
“Hilla.”
With a snap of her thumb and forefinger above her head, a massive owl cast a shadow over the greenhouse. The eagle-owl, which swooped in with fierce speed, settled on the tea table and immediately closed its eyes. It soon began purring softly as it dozed off.
“Oh dear. Still sensitive to sunlight, I see.”
“I’ve always wondered, do you really have to use this quack as your messenger bird?”
A hawk or pigeon would be better, Lilion added, somewhat grudgingly.
“Despite appearances, it’s never made a mistake.”
Valence placed both letters into the pouch tied to the eagle-owl’s leg.
“Hilla, take your time with the delivery.”
She commanded and released the eagle-owl.
The owl flew over the cedar saplings and past the shrubs, only to encounter trouble. Quinn, having burst out with his cage, tore into the letter pouch with his beak.
Flap, flap, with a few flutters of its wings, Quinn, confined by the cage, quickly fell back.
One of the letters dropped into a flower bed as the eagle-owl soared higher into the sky.
* * *
They say a panther’s speed is second to none. As the saying goes, Ash dashed forward with such speed that it left no trace. Even Bara, following close behind, didn’t lag even an inch.
Tension and anxiety gripped me like a vice around my feet. We had to catch up to Ahin before crossing the territorial border, as we couldn’t cross it on our own.
In a way, this was the first time I sought him out on my own. I wondered if Ahin felt this restless when he was chasing after me.
‘…What nonsense.’
Snorting indifferently, I shook my head.
A predator who always moved so leisurely could never feel that way. As I vaguely denied it,
‘Vivi, is running away your hobby?’
The image of Ahin’s silver hair standing on end and his labored breathing whenever he found me flashed through my mind. And that restrained, simmering smile.
Chewing on my lips for no reason, I frowned. The South Gate of the Boundary Forest, Pentrioll. I could see the stone slab in the distance.
Realizing that we had reached the boundary between the rabbit territory and the black panther territory, the Boundary Forest, I tensed up.
Luckily, the guards at the entrance let Ash and Bara pass through easily.
As we ventured deeper into the forest, Ash suddenly slowed down and sniffed the air. It was only then that I could properly look around the forest, and I stretched my neck out from the backpack.
‘This place…’
The second time I’d been here since Ahin had taken me in. The thick fog only intensified the forest’s eerie atmosphere.
Ash circled the area repeatedly, likely tracking a carriage. While he did so, I hopped onto the ground and pointed to the wheel tracks embedded in the dirt.
We exchanged glances and were about to set off again when, abruptly, Bara blocked the path.
Blinking his one good eye, Bara let out a low growl and scratched the ground.
‘Bara, what’s wrong with you?’
I don’t have time for this stubbornness, so move. I waved my paws irritably, but suddenly, a chilling sensation ran through me.
Flap! The birds that had been chirping in the trees flew up into the sky. Behind me, Ash’s growl changed in tone.
Then, the sparse bushes parted, revealing several black panthers. These were the guard hounds of the Boundary Forest.
They prowled around and took positions behind Bara as if protecting him.
‘They’re…’
…targeting me. Feeling the threat, I quickly rolled under Ash’s belly.
With Ahin, Meimi, Valence, and the other servants all absent, it seemed they thought this was the perfect opportunity to deal with me, their rival.
‘Bara, you traitor!’
I raised my paw to scold him, but with a single breath from Bara, I found myself flat on my back.
If this keeps up, I won’t just lose my chance at love—I might earn Ash’s eternal disdain… My scolding thoughts scattered into the air before they could be expressed.
‘They’re coming!’
With a single leap as a signal, several black panthers pounced simultaneously. Ash, using her body as a shield, quickly retaliated by sinking her teeth into the neck of one of them.
Crrrk!
The black panthers, groaning, hastily retreated into their group.
They were suddenly cowed and kept their distance from Bara. It seemed they were belatedly declaring neutrality.
‘Black panthers are solitary creatures, but Ash is practically the leader of this forest.’
Everine had explained it before, but seeing it firsthand, there truly was an unspoken hierarchy.
Proud of her display of strength, Ash rubbed against me, seeking praise.
‘Uh, yeah, good job.’
Awkwardly, I patted her cheek, then turned my gaze forward again.
Bara still blocked our path, and the standoff continued. His gaze, intent on not missing even a moment of opportunity, remained fixed on me.
The sounds of insects and the heavy breathing of beasts filled the air.
Grrrr—
Finally, Bara moved, leaping high into the air.
‘Ah!’
Ash pushed me beneath her, fully focused on defense. Caught in the midst of the fierce battle, I rolled endlessly on the ground.
‘I have to stop this.’
If this goes on, they could both end up seriously injured. The memory of Ash from the time at the shack made me fidget nervously.
‘What should I do, how can I—’
The beast repellent is in Ash’s backpack. My eyes darted, following the two beasts as they tumbled over and over.
Just as I was about to use the pheromone hidden in my core, I sensed someone beside me.
“Focus on the one who will release the pheromone. Think of it as aiming a bow at the target.”
Rune, who I hadn’t seen in a while, crouched down beside me. His curly hair stuck out as if he’d just woken up.
‘Why is he here…?’
Startled, I stared at Rune’s face. His left cheek was unusually swollen, as if he had a toothache. Noticing my alarm, he casually touched his cheek.
“Oh, this. I was supposed to go to the rabbit territory as the deputy leader, but I was slacking off and my sister hit me. But more importantly—”
‘Ash!’
Before I could think, Ash was suddenly pushed back by Bara’s powerful grip.
“Watch closely, it’s easier if you add a gesture. Like this.”
Rune lightly clenched his open hand. At the same moment, one of the black panthers in the distance collapsed to the ground.
‘Did it just faint?’
My trembling gaze flicked between the fallen panther and Rune’s sleepy face.
“There’s no need to use your pheromone broadly. Show me what you can do.”
He doesn’t seem to realize I have no real skill. I shook my head, refusing his suggestion.
“Your black panther may have the upper hand, but it won’t end without injuries.”
At his words, I immediately focused ahead. The two black furred figures were still rolling across the dirt.
There was no time to waste. I had to carefully use the pheromone and—
‘And after…’
Sneaking a glance, I saw Rune mouthing the words, “Like drawing a bow.”
I steadied myself on my hind legs, extending my forepaw as if pulling back a bowstring. Squinting with one eye to focus, I brought the wildly thrashing Bara into my sights.
A cough, barely disguising a laugh, came from beside me.
“I meant to make a convincing gesture, not actually pull an imaginary bowstring.”
It would have been nice if he’d explained that earlier. I shot a glare at Rune, feeling deflated. Sensing my icy stare, Rune awkwardly shook his fists in the air.
“Now that I look closely, it’s pretty cool. You got this.”
“……”
“Go for it!”
His attempts at encouragement were more demoralizing than motivating. I closed my mouth in a straight line and stared at him silently, making him sheepishly scratch the back of his neck. His embarrassed expression was oddly delicate for a beast.
Crash! This time, Bara was sent flying into the bushes by Ash.
This wasn’t the time to get distracted. As I hurriedly gathered the pheromone into my forepaw, the image of grandfather snapping his thumb and forefinger together suddenly came to mind.
‘So that was how he released the pheromone…’
Perhaps sensing my concentration, Rune’s golden eyes settled into a calm gaze.
“Now.”
At his brief command, I focused all my attention on Bara and clapped my forepaws together with determination.
And nothing happened. Clap, I tried again, but the result was the same.
“Oh dear.”
Rune pouted, visibly disappointed.
“…That wasn’t as dramatic as I expected. Why are you clapping your paws anyway? You’re just attracting the beast instead.”
‘You said to use a gesture! That was the best I could do with these paws!’
“Look out, it’s coming.”
My retort died in my throat as I turned pale. Bara had swiftly overtaken Ash and was charging straight toward us.
His jaws were so wide open that I could see his throat. Terrified, I stumbled backward, clapping my paws together.
‘D-Don’t come any closer—!’
The more I clapped, the closer Bara got.
At this rate, I really was just luring him in. Before I knew it, Bara’s vicious fangs were right in front of me.
Panicked, I instinctively thrust out my forepaw in a defensive stance. I felt a sudden, fleeting sensation as if the pheromone had concentrated at my paw tips.
“Oh.”
It was at that moment that Bara’s body suddenly veered off to the side. Thud! His massive form crashed to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust. A low, rumbling snore soon followed.
‘Did… did he fall asleep?’
I looked back and forth between my forepaws in disbelief, and a faint laugh escaped from Rune.
“You managed to do it on your second try.”
There was no time to savor the success. Was it like this? Or like that? I kept repeating the motion with my forepaws, trying to memorize the sensation.
“Well done.”
As Rune ruffled my head with his finger, Ash darted in like a bolt of lightning and knocked his hand away. Rune tried to reach out again, but Ash’s impenetrable defense blocked him once more.
‘Ash, that’s enough.’
Even if he looks harmless, he’s still a dangerous predator. I moved my trembling legs and gently nudged Ash to stop.
Worry about running into Rune in this situation finally started to creep in.
Although I hadn’t used my healing ability this time, he might have already noticed that I had healed the wound on his face last time.
The biggest problem was that I couldn’t read anything from his lazy expression.
“So, where were you headed? And what’s with that one-eyed black panther you took down?”
His golden eyes, full of curiosity, settled on the backpack perched on Ash’s back. His pupils wavered for a moment before Rune scratched his head in a troubled manner, smoothing out his previously tousled curls.
“Don’t tell me you’re chasing after Ahin Grace?”
‘…And if I am?’
I took a step back, bracing myself. I had a hunch as to why this lion was here.
The Ammon leader’s birthday banquet. The Manionts family likely received an invitation as well, so Rune was probably passing through the Boundary Forest, a shortcut to the rabbit territory.
“…Well, this is awkward. That guy took a detour through the north gate, Linderol. He really hates running into us.”
I must have misheard something.
“Oh, and by the way, this is the south gate.”
“……”
“Pentrioll.”
I scratched my ear, not wanting to believe it.
“We’re heading to the same place. Want a ride?”
* * *
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