There was a plausible causal relationship leading to the physician’s suspicion about my humanization.
The first was that I possessed a high-grade pheromone, strong enough to cause a pheromone frenzy among herbivorous beastfolk, and the second was my awkward behavior.
Once she started suspecting, she realized that my movements felt as if I were imitating someone else’s.
She thought it might be a similar case to Russell’s delayed humanization, which she was investigating. Although delayed humanization is rare, it is not unheard of.
However, records are almost nonexistent, often considered legendary, because such cases mainly occur in noble families, especially those at the head of clans, and are kept secret. Russell, who inherited the blood of a lower noble, was reported to be a very special case even among the special cases.
“Later, when I heard a rumor that Madam Grace was raising a baby rabbit, I wondered if it might be Lady Vivi…”
The physician, who had set down her teacup, focused her gaze on my hair.
“Especially hair of that length—it’s not so much that you grew it out deliberately, but rather that you haven’t been able to cut it for a long time, is it?”
She was sharp. How should I respond to this? Fidgeting with my hands on the table, I glanced at the terrace.
Ash and Russell, who had gone out—or more accurately, had been driven out—were spending a somewhat harmonious time together.
When a butterfly landed on Ash’s nose, Russell, who was crouching, smiled brightly. Ash, seemingly unbothered by the usually reserved Russell, readily allowed the touch.
“I thought as much in Endellus, but he’s a well-tamed beast. However, one must always be cautious, for a beast can turn at any moment.”
“…I agree.”
One might lose their life the moment they are bitten by a beast. Especially herbivorous beastfolk.
‘Bara.’
And who would know this better than I, who had lived as a baby rabbit?
Perhaps the day would never come when I completely understood the beast. But if there ever came a day when Ash bit me, I would willingly,
‘Let, let her bite…’
Ah, I buried my face in my hands. I was still not ready to be prey. At the same time, the pocket watch wrapped around my wrist hit my cheek.
Only then did I realize that a considerable amount of time had passed and opened the pocket watch. Until the ball…
‘Only about four hours left.’
Looking outside at the sun that had moved across the sky, I bit my lip.
The nobles of the other territories must have already arrived, and soon the nobles of the rabbit territory who were attending the ball would be coming to the mansion.
Today might be the first and last chance I would have to face my parents on my own terms.
Looking back and forth between the pocket watch and Ash, I narrowed my eyes.
If I were just a rabbit, it might be different, but it was impossible to leave like this. With my long, untamed hair and roaming the mansion with a beast, I would likely be met with immediate hostility.
‘But I can’t return to Rune either.’
He wasn’t untrustworthy, but given his status and his relationship with Ahin, it was hard to trust him completely.
As I fiddled with my knees, I glanced sideways at the physician. She smiled softly as our eyes met.
‘At least my status is secure…’
She was the one who had shown concern for my well-being in Endellus, giving me advice while I was with the black panther clan.
My hand, which had subtly passed over the table, covered the back of the physician’s hand. Sensing my intention to ask for something, she quickly withdrew her hand with uncanny speed.
That was the fastest she’d moved so far. Surprised, I met her still-smiling face with trembling pupils.
“Miss Jisanna,”
“Please don’t say anything, Lady Vivi. Don’t even lower your eyes. I feel like my heart might weaken.”
“…My eyes naturally droop.”
“They just drooped a bit more a moment ago.”
In a brief moment of silence, I, with eyes gleaming like a black panther eyeing its prey, reached out.
‘Hmph.’
Whisk, thud, whisk, thud. The sound of a playful struggle echoed as one tried to grab and the other tried to dodge.
* * *
Passing through the garden connected to the banquet hall, I looked up at the massive domed building.
‘Goodness.’
It was no exaggeration to say that they had prepared a separate mansion just for the ball. It was a moment that proved the Rabbit Territory leader’s nickname, “the Banquet King.” No wonder they had even invited the predator-noble families, who were not known for frequent interactions.
‘At this rate, there’s really no need to avoid Ahin.’
Even if there was a high chance that someone from the Rabian family was attending, I wasn’t even sure if I could discreetly find my parents.
As I stared at the building with my mouth slightly open, I looked down at the dress that covered my feet. It was made of an expensive fabric that shimmered with a silver light with every step.
The dress and hair ornaments were for entering the ball. I had obtained them by bribing the physician after giving her a rough explanation of my situation.
‘A beast repellent? This is the patented research product from the Nelson family of the Raccoon Territory! It’s harder to get than most jewels!’
I felt a bit guilty toward Everine, but this was the first time he had ever been truly helpful in my life.
Brushing off my dress, I fiddled with my hair. I had wanted something that wouldn’t draw attention,
‘But being too plain makes you stand out even more.’
This was the result of the physician and her maids firmly rejecting any overly simple appearance.
‘This feels so awkward…’
Especially with my hair cut to waist length. I recalled the maid, who had shown off her skill with the scissors, proudly calling it a masterpiece.
Moving carefully, I peered into a small pond on my right. The moon and my reflection wavered on the surface of the water.
The grotesque figure, with hair so long it nearly touched the ground and dressed in rags, was no longer there.
‘I suppose I look somewhat human now.’
With my hair half-up and adorned with decorations, I appeared quite dressed up. Even my pale skin looked more lively now that it was covered by the clothing.
Satisfied, I headed toward the more secluded part of the garden.
One fortunate thing was that, unlike in the predator territories, pheromones did not dominate the atmosphere at balls in the herbivore territories. Also, I had heard there was a side door in the rear garden, opened to allow nobles to discreetly leave if they found themselves in an uncomfortable situation.
…From Rune.
“How long are you going to keep following me?”
The sound of footsteps trailing behind me came to a halt. Rune, pretending to be uninterested, was gazing off into the distance. Despite being someone who usually dressed impeccably, unlike Ahin, he was wearing a tailcoat with the buttons haphazardly undone.
“I’m worried you might disappear again like you did at dawn.”
“There’s no chance of that happening, so you don’t need to follow me… Actually, don’t follow me.”
“What’s this? You told me not to follow you in Endellus too. Can’t I come with you?”
Of course not. I stomped the ground firmly with my heel, then quickly waved my hands. Old habits die hard, especially those formed when I was still a rabbit.
“Ah, now I understand why they say it’s useless to try and live a good life.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You disappeared without a word and made me worry. Ash the black panther is being taken care of by Restin, and I even vouched for your identity to get you in here, only for you to say I’m not needed anymore.”
Are the lion clans all experts at nitpicking? However, Rune’s argument was entirely accurate. I placed my hands on my hips, trying not to lose my composure, and retorted.
“I-I didn’t say you weren’t needed…”
“That’s basically what you meant.”
There’s no way I could meet my parents with you by my side. Not to mention, being with Rune in a place full of herbivorous beastfolk drew too much attention. Indeed, passing servants and guards were subtly glancing our way.
“Anyway, don’t follow me.”
“Wow. So now that you’ve achieved your goal, you’re just discarding me?”
“……”
“You’re a really heartless rabbit, you know that?”
As I glared at him, Rune, with a sulky expression, snapped his bowtie.
‘Ugh.’
I grabbed my dress, which was clinging to my legs, and walked toward Rune. He, who had been sulking, suddenly stepped back with a serious expression.
‘……?’
It wasn’t the usual absent-minded look; it was a new expression that made me instinctively take a step back as well. A reasonable distance of about three steps formed between us.
Facing Rune’s delicate features, I dropped my gaze. Why were all these beasts so impossibly beautiful, making it hard to even look at them?
“…But I did heal the wound on your cheek.”
Finally, I lifted my head and pointed to my own cheek.
The swelling on Rune’s left cheek, which had been puffy, was completely gone in just one day. It was probably because my pheromones had interacted with his, naturally reducing the swelling.
Touching my lips, I continued speaking.
“And the wound Ahin made at that time, it’s all healed now, isn’t it?”
It was impossible that he wouldn’t notice after his wounds had healed twice. I wondered if this beast was coveting my healing pheromones. Ready to flee if necessary, I clutched the hem of my dress tightly.
“Also, you overheard everything I talked about with Professor Jisanna, so let’s call it even.”
Rune casually brushed his hair off his forehead, causing his neatly combed curls to frizz again.
“How can you be so sure I overheard?”
It was when we were discussing Russell’s situation, and just as I was about to confess to the physician that I hadn’t fully undergone humanization. I turned around, feeling a strange commotion on the terrace, only to catch Rune in the midst of wrestling with Ash, trying to stop him from tearing his clothes.
“Russell tipped me off. He said you spent ten minutes wrestling with Ash on the terrace, trying to keep her mouth shut.”
“Ah, great. The kid was a spy, huh? He didn’t even let out a single scream at that time.”
“…And since you heard everything, you didn’t ask me any questions on the way here, did you?”
Now you know, at least, that I’m not fully human. The realization that the only person who treated me as a complete beastfolk had found out left a bitter taste in my mouth.
Dang—
At that moment, a knight on the clock tower rang the bell, signaling the start of the banquet.
As I bowed slightly and started to move forward, I suddenly turned around. Rune’s eyes, usually unfocused, were unusually bright today.
“What is it, Miss Rabbit?”
“I appreciate that you didn’t retaliate against Ash.”
I was referring to the fact that, despite being capable of knocking Ash out or silencing her on the terrace, Rune didn’t act, even as his clothes were being torn to shreds.
“Oh, now that I think about it, I might have gotten hurt back then.”
Feigning pain, Rune awkwardly grabbed his arm and wobbled. It was obviously a blatant lie.
“Your head, you mean?”
“You sure know how to say everything you want, even while trembling in fear.”
He had no idea how terrifying those fangs of his looked at night. I subtly hid my trembling fingertips and parted my lips.
“Um,”
“Rune.”
“…Thank you. For treating me like a person.”
Whether it was out of curiosity about me or just to rile up Ahin, I didn’t know, but either way, he had helped me here and there. I swallowed the rest of my words and quickly turned away.
“Wait a minute.”
Rune, who had somehow moved closer, grabbed my wrist. His pale pink hair fluttered right in front of my nose.
“…Never mind, go ahead. You said it was something important that even Grace couldn’t know about.”
Rune quickly let go of my wrist and gave me a gentle push forward. That’s when the real trouble began. Already nervous and unfamiliar with my attire, I stumbled, my legs tangling, and fell onto the grassy lawn.
“Miss Rabbit, are you doing this on purpose to make me laugh?”
Rune, crouching beside me, asked in his innocent voice.
“Don’t laugh.”
“Hahaha.”
“…You rude beast.”
“I can still hear you, you know. Are you making these slips on purpose?”
He plucked a blade of grass and teasingly tickled my ear with it. His slow, carefree movements made me even more irritated.
“At this rate, when will we ever reach the banquet hall? Tomorrow, perhaps?”
“And stop tickling my ear.”
It was the beginning of a lonely struggle, with not even Ash by my side.
* * *
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