T/N: I am so sorry for the confusion. I just realized that some parts are missing. This is the confrontation between Vivi and her mother. If you notice any parts missing, just leave a comment. I promise, I always read it but it might make time to edit some chapters. I’ll also upload the missing part on chapter 32 as part 2. Thanks again for reminding me.
Vivi, who had not even glanced inside the banquet hall, stomped across the garden. It was because a certain young man, whom she encountered while trying to enter through the side door, kept flirting with her.
He looked ready to use his pheromones if necessary, so Vivi, who was utterly disgusted, had fled in haste about thirty minutes ago.
‘It’s just absurd.’
Vivi, whose emotions were a mixture of irritation, surprise, and fear, pressed down near her chest to calm her startled heart.
When she reached the area below the terrace connected to the banquet hall, she tilted her head.
‘At this point, I might be able to climb this tree.’
There were no security guards or hired hands passing by at the moment. Loosening her muscles by rotating her shoulders, Vivi quickly jumped and grabbed onto a branch.
“Ah!”
Snap, the branch broke just like that, causing Vivi to fall helplessly along with it.
“Who’s there? Oh no!”
That wasn’t all. Something was falling toward Vivi, who had landed hard on her backside. She rolled away just in time, and the object that plummeted next to her turned out to be a fan.
‘What is this?’
Still lying on the grass, Vivi picked up the fan and froze in place. The pattern was a triangle cutting across a semicircle. The symbol engraved on the handle was…
‘The symbol of the House of Rabian.’
“My hand slipped. Are you all right, young lady?”
Simultaneously, a noble voice rang out from above, causing Vivi’s thoughts to momentarily go blank. She was too scared to remove the fan that covered her face. She knew the owner of this voice.
The cold night breeze grazed Vivi’s entire body. When she finally lowered the fan that was blocking her view, her eyes met those of a noblewoman leaning against the railing.
‘…Mother.’
As always, Aven’s cold purple eyes were looking down at Vivi.
She was the same as ever. Her silver hair, styled tightly back, and her noble gaze, deeply rooted in her aristocratic pride.
For a fleeting moment, Vivi’s own hair, which she had thought might resemble hers somewhat, felt utterly shabby.
What was puzzling, though, was that Aven appeared noticeably more gaunt than the last time Vivi had seen her. Her bones protruded prominently from beneath her velvet dress.
The rowdy noise from the banquet hall, spilling out onto the terrace, brought Vivi back to her senses. Though she had come all this way for this very moment, her lips wouldn’t budge at all.
Several suffocating seconds, perhaps minutes, passed. Aven’s lips, after staring down at her for quite a while, slowly parted.
“…It’s you.”
“……”
“Vivi.”
It was the tender voice that Vivi hadn’t heard since childhood. A lump formed in her throat, and she couldn’t respond at all. She suppressed the question of how her mother had recognized her so quickly, overwhelmed by nostalgia.
“Wait there. I’ll come right to you.”
Vivi unknowingly shook her head.
Aven, growing anxious at her response, turned hurriedly. Unfortunately, the elaborate dress she wore hindered her movements.
“Please, wait.”
Forgetting all formality, Aven lifted her dress and ran across the garden.
Reaching the area just below the terrace, where she had stood only moments ago, was quick. Out of breath from running, Aven’s breathing became erratic.
“Vivi.”
As Vivi stood up and dusted off her dress, she turned her head toward the direction where she sensed movement. The bright lamp cast shadows across her face.
Aven couldn’t take her eyes off the familiar features she saw before her.
The white hair, the slightly upturned corners of her lips, the remarkably translucent skin. Even the delicate neck that resembled the head of the House of Rabian. There was no doubt this was her child.
“Ahh…”
Staggering toward her, Aven embraced Vivi tightly.
“My baby.”
Through their contact, they could feel each other’s heartbeats. The arms that wrapped around Vivi felt desperate, as if Aven were reclaiming something she had lost.
Aven gently stroked Vivi’s cheek with her trembling hand, while the other arm remained firmly around her waist.
“Of course I recognized you. How could I not? You look so much like me.”
While Aven was overwhelmed with emotion from the dramatic reunion, Vivi’s emotions remained surprisingly calm. Perhaps it was because of Aven’s sudden change in attitude, confirming what Vivi had already suspected: she had been abandoned only because she hadn’t undergone the humanization process.
“When did it happen? How in the world did you… I can’t believe it. Vivi, please, say something.”
Vivi, who thought it might have been better if Aven had coldly dismissed her as usual, took a step back.
“…I wanted to see you.”
At the sound of Vivi’s soft voice, tears welled up in Aven’s eyes.
She had always been a child who tilted her head in response to things. For a moment, Aven feared that Vivi might vanish like a mirage.
After wiping her tears, Aven closed the distance again.
“So did I, my baby. Let me see your face up close.”
Vivi stretched out her arm, blocking Aven’s approach. Unnecessary physical contact might stir up emotions she had just barely managed to calm.
“I’m glad I saw you instead of Father. There was something I wanted to ask you.”
“Of course, if there’s something you want to know, you should come to me, not your father.”
The truth was, Vivi couldn’t even remember her father’s face.
The head of the House of Rabian had turned his back on her when she failed to undergo humanization by the time she turned five. The last memory she had of him was of him clicking his tongue and walking away. To a man with many children, a defective one was nothing more than a nuisance.
If Vivi had tried to find him at the banquet, it would have been quite a challenge.
“What are you curious about? Ask anything, and I’ll answer. I also have many things I want to share with you.”
Afraid she might disappear like a bubble, Aven couldn’t take her eyes off her as she spoke softly, trying to coax her.
“First, about being abandoned in the Forest of the Boundary.”
“Abandoned…?”
Aven knew well how contradictory her current demeanor was. Straightening her posture deliberately, she answered calmly.
“I’ll explain everything.”
“No, I already know. It was because of the curse, wasn’t it? The Rabian household servants were not very careful with their words around me.”
Vivi bit her lip, relieved that her voice didn’t tremble. A conversation with her mother, something she had longed for as naturally as breathing, had come to fruition so easily, all because she had become human.
“…But it’s strange, isn’t it? The priest said that I couldn’t undergo the humanization process because of a curse. So how is it that I’m standing here like this, in front of you now?”
“Listen to me first.”
“My question comes first.”
Vivi clasped her hands behind her back, hiding her pale, trembling fingers. Aven’s eyes, filled with what seemed like genuine affection, struck Vivi as both absurd and painful.
“I’ve always wondered. How is it that, despite supposedly being cursed by the Beast God, I can so easily turn into a human? I don’t recall ever breaking the curse.”
“Vivi….”
Aven couldn’t bear to dwell on the curse. The voice of the priest had become a nightmare that haunted Vivi, even in her dreams.
Whenever the dream reached its climax, Ahin would press firmly on her cheek to wake her, but once awake, Vivi remembered nothing.
“In two years, the ceremony to appoint the heir of the House of Rabian will take place. I know that my existence is an obstacle to supporting Kyrie. Even though I’m of noble Rabian blood, I failed to undergo the humanization process, even after my coming-of-age ceremony.”
Catching her breath, she quickly continued before Aven could interject.
“All of my other siblings underwent the humanization process faster than average. Because of that, rumors followed you, Mother, that I was an illegitimate child.”
“Don’t entertain such wicked thoughts. You are undoubtedly of Rabian blood.”
“Of course, it was nonsense. No one is more proud than you, Mother.”
And just as ambitious. Vivi didn’t bother adding that last part.
“At any rate, it would’ve been difficult to dismiss me outright since I carry the Rabian bloodline. You needed a pretext. One that would silence the rumors about you and make Father turn a blind eye.”
Vivi’s reasoning was inching closer to the truth. Aven’s hands were growing clammy with anxiety.
“And what could be more fitting than a curse?”
A curse was something unknown, impossible to prove, and yet something everyone instinctively feared. If a priest supported the claim, it carried even more credibility.
“On my way here, I remembered the temple where you last took me, Mother. And I recalled the surname of the priest who claimed I was cursed—Eugenia.”
Vivi pressed her full lips together for a moment before speaking again.
“…That’s your family, isn’t it?”
Aven Eugenia. That had been her name before marrying the head of the House of Rabian.
“Tell me. Was I truly cursed?”
Her question was less about the curse itself and more about whether this had been a scheme of Aven’s all along.
“That…”
Aven found herself at a loss for words.
The Vivi she knew had always been a timid child, like a small rabbit huddled in a corner, never one with such resolve.
She had planned to rely on Vivi’s gentle nature and lie her way out of this, but to her surprise, Vivi wasn’t someone who would be easily swayed by her pleas anymore.
As Aven parted her lips, she felt both discomfort and a peculiar thrill.
Her younger son, Kyrie, who was supposed to have completed his first coming-of-age ceremony, had shown more interest in revelry than anything else. Yet here was Vivi, standing out far more than he ever had.
She must bring Vivi back to the family. Aven couldn’t help but feel satisfied with the sharpness her daughter was displaying.
“Yes, it’s true that I secured the priest in advance.”
Vivi’s carefully maintained composure cracked ever so slightly. She wasn’t sure if she should feel relieved that the curse had been a lie, or if she should be filled with resentment.
“As you know, even among nobles, it’s a world of survival of the fittest. Just as the weak are discarded to ensure the survival of the rest.”
“We are not beasts. We are beastfolk.”
“Don’t bore me with old-fashioned ideals. We are far more ruthless and cunning than beasts. Sending you away was a choice made for the survival of the family. And I’ve regretted that choice ever since.”
“…Even though you sent people to confirm my death.”
“Oh, absolutely not. I only hoped that we could bring you back.”
Aven’s voice took on the sweet tone she knew Vivi used to love.
“Please, be generous and forgive me. Everyone makes misguided choices sometimes.”
Words of apology that Vivi never thought would come out of Aven’s mouth flowed freely. With an unreadable expression, Vivi only lowered her head slightly. In that moment, Aven stepped closer, carefully examining Vivi’s face.
“I was the one who most eagerly awaited your transformation into a human, wasn’t I? To think you’ve become such a beautiful and strong person.”
Aven took the violet hair ornament she had been wearing and fixed it into Vivi’s hair. It was a violet, the symbol of the House of Rabian.
“…You don’t need to make excuses for abandoning me.”
Vivi finally spoke after a long pause.
“In fact, I’m actually grateful for it.”
“Vivi?”
Aven furrowed her brow, surprised by the unexpected expression of gratitude.
“Because I learned something when I was in the Black Panther’s territory. If I had stayed confined to a bedroom in the Rabian mansion, I would have lived my whole life never knowing.”
“What on earth are you trying to say?”
“…Mother, the reason I became human was because I was exposed to pheromones.”
“What?”
Vivi gave a simple explanation as she recalled her days in the Rabbit territory. Though she had been exposed to sexual pheromones from the servants, among other things, she hadn’t reacted at all at the time.
However, the fact that she transformed after being exposed to pheromones from predator beastfolk suggested something more…
“My pheromones are strong, but they only react to even stronger pheromones.”
“…Your pheromones?”
Vivi nodded and gently closed and opened her eyes.
“Moreover, they say that my level of pheromones is beyond anything that could ever come from Rabian blood.”
“That’s nonsense. Such a thing is impossible.”
“I think so too. That’s why I wanted to confirm it myself. …Mother,”
She met Aven’s eyes directly and, after a slight pause, continued.
“Have you ever given me any drugs related to pheromone awakening?”
Aven hadn’t anticipated a question about drugs, and she swallowed her surprise. Yet, she couldn’t fully hide the faint tremor in her eyes.
That subtle reaction was as good as confirmation to Vivi, who had been watching her closely.
‘What would happen if you gave this kind of drug to a young beastfolk before they undergo humanization?’
Ahin’s hypothesis had torn through her, turning into a harsh reality.
Vivi felt as though the ground beneath her had given way. She groped with her foot, trying to steady herself. Thankfully, she didn’t collapse.
She had already sensed the truth in the back of her mind.
But she hadn’t wanted to acknowledge it. She couldn’t bear the idea that her entire life as a rabbit had been built on a lie.
Perhaps, deep down, she had wanted to hear her mother deny it.
‘In the end, I…’
It was because of the drugs, because of her mother’s ambition, that she had lived her entire life as a small rabbit.
She clenched her teeth, holding back the tears that welled up in her eyes. She didn’t want to cry here.
As Vivi struggled to steady her breath, she felt an unknown force begin to wrap around her body. It was an eerie sensation, like someone nearby was manipulating pheromones.
‘Where is it coming from?’
It wasn’t Aven standing in front of her. Cold sweat ran down Vivi’s back as her heightened senses kicked into overdrive. Instinctively, she tackled Aven to the ground.
“Get down!”
“What are you—ugh!”
At the exact moment they hit the ground, an explosion engulfed a section of the garden. Debris from the blast scattered in all directions.
“Kyaaa!”
“What is this commotion!”
The chaos from the banquet spilled out into the night, echoing far and wide. Vivi, who had been holding her breath in anticipation of a second explosion, slowly raised her head.
Though the flames weren’t close, they weren’t far either. The fact that there wasn’t a second explosion didn’t change the need to escape the area.
Her blurry violet eyes gradually focused. Her scattered thoughts returned, and Vivi pushed herself off the ground.
“No, this can’t be happening….”
She thought only of disaster. She had come here secretly, already fearful of Ahin discovering her presence. Now, she was caught in the middle of an explosion.
‘…If Ahin finds out!’
Vivi’s cheeks were squished as she pressed her hands to her face, imagining his terrifying fangs. The thought sent a chill down her spine, forcing her to regain clarity.
She needed to leave. It was one thing to be caught at the banquet, but encountering Ahin here in this situation would be a shortcut to hell.
“What in the world is going on? How could something so disgraceful happen at the leader’s estate…?”
Aven, still lying beneath Vivi, muttered in a daze.
Vivi, not wanting to look at her mother right now, averted her gaze and stood up.
“…It seems like someone used pheromones to cause this. We need to move to a safe place.”
“Aven, ma’am!”
A man in armor came running toward them. Recognizing him as Aven’s bodyguard, Vivi quickly made a decision.
“Please, go with your bodyguard to safety.”
“And you?”
With a sudden grip, Aven seized Vivi’s wrist, her eyes glinting coldly.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
Aven hadn’t even realized someone had used pheromones, yet Vivi had not only sensed it but acted to prevent it. It was impressive for a herbivore-type beastfolk to be this perceptive.
“It’s dangerous to wander alone in a place like this.”
Aven couldn’t let her go. Vivi was her last card, her only remaining option as everything spiraled out of control.
Feeling the forceful grip on her wrist, Vivi turned to face Aven.
“…Let go of me.”
“After all this, you think I’ll let you go? I can’t let us part ways like this, not after finally finding you. Come with me, your mother.”
The bodyguard looked at Vivi, now noticing the resemblance between her and Aven. His face betrayed his surprise.
“Let’s go together and discuss everything—about the curse, about your pheromones. We couldn’t have this conversation before because you were still a small rabbit.”
“…It wasn’t because I was a rabbit that we couldn’t talk. It’s just that you never cared to know what I wanted to say, Mother.”
Vivi shook off Aven’s grip, biting her lip. It had been difficult, but if anyone had tried just a little, they would have understood her intentions.
Like Ahin, who worked out a system of signals to communicate with her, or Meimi, who anticipated her needs by observing her behavior patterns.
Even a simple nod or a gesture with her front paw could convey minimal intent. If anyone had ever shown interest, she would have responded with her utmost effort.
“I’m not going with you, Mother.”
Vivi stepped back. The flames burning in the garden beyond cast her eyes in a deep red hue. Her gaze was resolute, unwavering, impervious to persuasion.
“Verdric,” Aven commanded, her brows furrowing as she gave the order to her bodyguard.
“Seize her.”
“The young lady… you mean?”
“Now, while no one is around. Knock her out if you must.”
The chaos from the explosion was a stroke of luck for Aven. She couldn’t risk losing Vivi now, not when Ahin Grace was undoubtedly lurking in the background.
“Move quickly.”
“Understood.”
The bodyguard turned his back to Aven and stood between her and Vivi.
“I don’t want to hurt you. Please, comply with Madam Aven’s wishes.”
Vivi, now with the pherenium wrapped around her wrist instead of her ankle, swallowed dryly.
‘…Why?’
She couldn’t understand why Aven was so desperate to take her, even now, after having already pushed Kyrie forward as the next heir.
Even though Vivi’s pheromones might be strong, they couldn’t compare to Kyrie, who had been groomed for years to take over the family.
Bringing back a discarded child would only fuel gossip among the aristocracy, and that was something Aven despised above all.
The bodyguard unsheathed his sword with a metallic scrape, and Vivi’s mouth went dry.
‘This can’t be happening.’
She wasn’t prepared for a direct confrontation with such a skilled knight. She had no chance of using her pheromones before he overwhelmed her.
Despite her composed expression, Vivi’s legs, hidden beneath her dress, trembled uncontrollably.
Her mind raced with ridiculous strategies—surrender, slip away into the crowd, maybe headbutt him and make a run for it. These absurd thoughts were all she had.
“Fire!”
An elderly man’s shout broke the silence, and in that instant, the bodyguard lunged at her.
Just as Vivi was about to surrender, a dark figure collided with the knight.
“Ugh!”
“Ash?”
The impact was so forceful that the bodyguard stumbled back, thrown off balance. Ash snorted, standing protectively in front of Vivi.
‘Wasn’t Restin supposed to have her? Did she escape?’
Vivi tried to assess the situation, her eyes darting upward.
‘…Even Quinn?’
A hawk circled above, then landed on her arm. Its gaze was sharp, and Vivi knew Quinn was still angry at her for escaping Grace’s estate without warning.
Vivi’s face paled as the color drained from it repeatedly. Quinn’s presence meant Ahin was already aware of the situation, and likely nearby.
‘He’s probably at the banquet hall… but still.’
“What in the world are those beasts?”
Aven asked, her face pale as she spoke. Meanwhile, the bodyguard had regained his stance, once again ready to engage.
“Madam, the animals…”
He hesitated, taken aback. A rabbit beastfolk controlling a panther and a hawk? Vivi, standing tall among the beasts with her dress fluttering in the wind, didn’t seem real.
“Are you saying you can’t handle a few animals?”
“I could use pheromones, but it might harm the young lady.”
“I already told you, it’s fine if she’s knocked out.”
Vivi’s eyes darted around, assessing the situation. The garden was mostly deserted, and the remaining staff and guards were focused on putting out the fire.
‘Escaping on Ash’s back would be impossible.’
She didn’t have the upper body strength to keep up with Ash’s speed.
Clutching her pocket watch tightly, Vivi kept her gaze locked on the bodyguard. He had judged her to be a non-threat and was focusing more on Ash.
‘If I use both the pherenium and my pheromones at the same time…’
Maybe she could avoid reverting back into a rabbit. If she relied on her pheromones rather than physical strength, she might stand a chance.
Taking a deep breath, Vivi began to summon the pheromones from deep within her. It was a gamble.
***
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