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Alain Amon, the grandson of the Rabbit Territory’s leader, was a rigid and practical person.
To him, the meeting scheduled for the morning was nonsensical from the start.
Alain Amon rubbed his temples as he lifted his gaze from the report.
There weren’t many attendees at the meeting. The two people possibly related to the fire from the previous night, Ahin Grace and Rune Manionts, along with a few nobles from the Rabbit Territory.
Alain Amon’s wavering purple eyes landed on Ahin. There was a scratch on his cheek, as if he had been swiped by a stray cat.
He ignored it as best he could and announced the start of the meeting, but from the beginning, he couldn’t hide his confusion.
The proper procedure was to introduce each family and rank to open the meeting, but Ahin and Rune skipped that process on their own.
If that was all, it would have been a relief. He could have considered it arrogance from the noble beasts or could have made a scornful comment about formalities.
‘But this…’
“Sir Manionts, thanks to you, my nose is rotting.”
“That’s exactly why people say you’re rash in front of the Hero.”
“Better than being called lazy and messy.”
“I don’t recall anyone saying you were messy.”
He had no idea where to even begin with his criticisms. Unlike the nobles from the black panther and lion territories, who had their own methods of running meetings, the Rabbit Territory’s nobles, who weren’t used to this, were busy trying to absorb every word and gesture with wide eyes and ears.
“Sir Amon, if I may…”
One of the Rabbit Territory nobles, who had been shifting his gaze around, cautiously asked Alain Amon.
“Does the Beast Realm still have the rank of Hero these days?”
“Of course not. That title disappeared long before the continental war broke out.”
“Then what exactly do these two mean by ‘Hero’?”
How would I know? Alain Amon’s ponytail trembled slightly as he cleared his throat, trying to redirect the focus.
“First of all.”
He rationalized that this was more of a conversation than an actual meeting. After all, the two people with the highest status were present, and though they might gossip behind their backs, no one could rebuke them outright.
“…I would like to inquire about the ownership of the black panther that rampaged through the mansion. According to the gatekeeper’s records, the black panther belongs to the Manionts family, but the person currently caring for the panther is Lord Ahin Grace, correct?”
“That panther is the leader of the watchdogs that guard the Forest of the Boundary. I only received the panther after Sir Manionts brought it without permission. If blame is to be assigned, it should be placed on me.”
Ahin’s calm response drew a faint curve to his lips. There was not even a speck of falsehood in his statement.
Rune, who had been glaring at the document now recorded as evidence, rubbed his temples. His sister’s anger-filled fist seemed to hover before his eyes.
“The mansion was in disarray, and since there was no direct damage, we’ll let this matter pass quietly. However, please be mindful of controlling the black panther during your stay.”
“Understood.”
“The second item on the agenda concerns a rabbit beastfolk of unknown identity.”
As soon as those words were spoken, both Ahin and Rune turned their gazes towards Alain Amon. Alain Amon wasn’t sure whether to be pleased that the two were finally serious for the first time since the meeting began, or if he should be wary of their gaze.
“According to testimony…”
Ahin, resting his chin on his hand, did not take his eyes off Alain Amon as he flipped through the report.
“The identity of the witness?”
“I’m sorry, but I can’t disclose that in order to protect their anonymity.”
Alain Amon replied firmly.
“Not only did you summon guests from other territories to this meeting, but now you’re presenting unreliable opinions as well.”
“Indeed. Isn’t it standard procedure in a meeting to disclose the identity of the witness first?”
Rune chimed in with a long yawn. Seeing the two, who had been expressing dissent up until now, suddenly align, the Rabbit Territory nobles were visibly flustered.
“I can’t reveal the witness’s identity, but the testimony comes from the leader of the Amon family, so please understand.”
Alain Amon, who barely managed to maintain his composure, calmed the murmuring in the room.
“Last night, the fire that broke out in the garden occurred near the rarely-used side gate. We’re still investigating the cause, but there was someone who acted suspiciously in the garden. That individual is the unknown rabbit beastfolk I mentioned earlier.”
Ahin, thinking the witness was undoubtedly Aven, nodded lightly.
“This rabbit beastfolk has connections with both Lord Ahin Grace and Sir Rune Manionts. First, there is no record of the rabbit beastfolk passing through the main gate. However, when she entered the banquet hall, it was as Sir Rune Manionts’s companion.”
Rune, who had refrained from speaking, shrugged his shoulders.
“There is also testimony from an employee that the rabbit beastfolk was with Lord Ahin, along with the black panther, in the garden. Furthermore, I understand she is currently staying at Lord Ahin Grace’s residence.”
Recalling Vivi’s comment about sensing faint pheromones in the garden, Ahin wore a peculiar smile.
Alain Amon felt uncomfortable with Ahin’s overly harmless expression. Carefully, but firmly, he made his demand.
“I would like to know the rabbit beastfolk’s detailed identity. If you know anything about her entrance record, please inform us.”
Ahin, now slightly troubled, rubbed his lower lip. He had planned to make up a story, but an unexpected complication had arisen.
That complication was Rune, who he thought would skip the meeting due to his lazy nature but was now sitting there firmly. The issue was that because they were tangled together, their answers might be mixed.
Ahin couldn’t read anything from Rune’s lifeless eyes. As his hatred for those eyes grew stronger today, just as he was about to open his mouth, Rune’s voice came out first.
“She’s a dancer.”
It was an unexpected bombshell, and for the first time in a while, Ahin’s pupils dilated in shock.
Meanwhile, Alain Amon’s face showed a hint of awkwardness upon hearing Rune’s unhesitating statement. Dancers were often wanderers, and their identities were frequently unclear.
“Anyway, the alliance between the lion and black panther territories is an open secret. She’s a dancer we were planning to invite to the upcoming celebratory banquet.”
Everyone in the room, including Ahin, focused on what Rune would say next.
“And that dancer has me and him totally enthralled.”
Following his chin gesture, the Rabbit Territory nobles turned their gazes toward Ahin. Ahin’s mouth slightly opened at this news, having never heard before that he was supposedly enamored with a dancer.
While still sitting side by side at the main table, Rune tapped Ahin’s leg under the table.
‘Play along.’
‘Don’t touch me, disgusting.’
Ahin cringed internally and stomped down hard on Rune’s boot with his heel.
Rune, stifling a curse at the pain of what felt like his foot splitting, muttered under his breath, while the nobles nervously swallowed dryly, wondering what else might be said.
‘Could it be that they’re involved with just a mere dancer…?’
The two people, both of whom had never been involved in any scandal despite their prominence, were delivering shocking news. Some of the nobles, who had been pondering possible rebellion, breathed a sigh of relief. With two powerful figures—especially ones known for physically clashing—being involved, it was a matter where no one would dare mention the word “rebellion.”
“Sir Manionts, such an impulsive statement is a bit troubling.”
Ahin tapped the table, trying to remind everyone that they were in a formal meeting. He wanted to ask where this dancer idea had come from, but instead, mindful of the watching eyes, he licked his lower lip.
“Considering the nature of this place, choose your words carefully.”
“Then are we just going to let the rabbits keep pressing us?”
“You’re still as impulsive as ever.”
Ahin responded with a languid smile, unable to entirely disagree with Rune’s approach.
“If you hadn’t hidden the rabbit and taken her around, none of this would have happened.”
“Don’t get it twisted; she asked for my help first.”
“…No way.”
Even though the conversation was twisted, it remained somewhat close to the truth. Ahin’s eyes, still cold, reflected his irritation despite the necessity of playing along.
“You dragged her away without permission in Endelus, making my life difficult. Now you’re pulling the same nonsense.”
“It’s none of your business. Besides, shouldn’t you be grateful that I let that dirty plot slide when you nearly ended up dead on a backstreet?”
Rune, still bitter about Ahin’s attempt to send an assassin after him, snapped back.
The Rabbit Territory nobles, watching the two predators exchange snarls, were already spinning rumors in their minds.
The gossip about Ahin Grace supposedly being involved with a rabbit. If the rumor about the dancer rabbit beastfolk being confused with an actual rabbit spread, it made sense.
“What was she thinking bringing a black panther here?”
“The panther followed her to the Rabbit Territory of its own accord. It’s unnecessary to have such a beast lingering around.”
The Rabbit Territory nobles, who had been passively watching the spectacle from the sidelines, recalled the hostility Ahin and Rune had displayed toward each other since the beginning of the meeting.
Even if they disliked each other, typically such figures would hide their enmity in public settings, but here they had openly clashed, which seemed odd.
Rumors of Ahin Grace being utterly smitten with the dancer, and Rune Manionts occasionally trying to flee with the dancer, conjured a dramatic love triangle in the nobles’ imaginations. The unfolding scandal was endlessly fascinating to them.
Meanwhile, Alain Amon, who was unaccustomed to such matters, was in turmoil. He couldn’t believe that two powerful figures were engaging in a tug-of-war over a mere dancer, making mediation nearly impossible.
“Ahem-.”
Alain Amon tapped the table with difficulty, clearing his throat. However, Rune, ignoring the tentative tap, curtly spoke.
“If Grace had been trustworthy from the start, the rabbit wouldn’t have had to ask for my help.”
Ahin, pausing for a moment, clenched and unclenched his fist under the table. Rune’s words, loaded with meaning, stabbed at him, reinforcing Vivi’s suspicions.
“…There’s no longer any need to ask for Sir Manionts’s help.”
After a long pause, Ahin finally spoke.
“Hmm.”
Tap, tap. Alain Amon’s more determined tapping on the table was drowned out by Ahin’s voice.
“No, the rabbit won’t be looking in your direction ever again.”
“What—”
“So just continue to live your lazy, careless life, like water flowing downstream. Isn’t that what you were taught? So that you could never take your sister’s throne.”
“…Watch your mouth.”
“When did the one who always let things slide start defending others like this?”
Rune’s mouth opened and closed, unable to immediately counter the remark.
As the tension between the two deepened, the Rabbit Territory nobles began to feel uneasy.
Alain Amon, catching the nobles’ glances urging him to mediate, slammed the table with a loud *bang*, drawing everyone’s attention.
“First of all… determining the cause of the fire is our top priority. It shouldn’t take long to find the cause, and until then, we’ll treat that person as an esteemed guest of Lord Grace and Sir Manionts.”
The implication was clear: until the cause of the fire was revealed, Vivi would not be allowed to leave the mansion.
“Let’s ensure that they can enjoy a comfortable stay within the Amon estate.”
Ahin, who had only half-listened to the rest of the discussion, turned his gaze to the window.
He had originally intended to pass Vivi off as someone recovering from an injury, but Rune’s claim of her being a dancer wasn’t a bad alternative either.
With both Ahin and Rune entangled in the situation, none of the Rabbit Territory nobles would dare to voice opposition about Vivi. Any rumors that might arise were inevitable, considering Ahin was sharing his residence with Vivi.
A cool yet fresh breeze rustled Ahin’s silver hair.
From his vantage point, he could see the distant streets of the capital. It was a peaceful territory, with rabbits frolicking on the wide plains—a scene that suited Vivi quite well.
It was the opposite of the Black Panther Territory. As he pondered the stark contrast, Ahin suddenly recalled the prisoner he had killed in the underground prison. The prisoner’s head had been twisted, with their gaze fixed toward the ceiling.
‘The idea that I might possess pheromones due to the drug…’
‘…It must have been then.’
The only creature that could freely move along the ceiling of the underground prison was Quinn. So, the subtle presence he had sensed at the time must have been both Vivi and Quinn.
Who could have imagined that a beastfolk could ride on a crow? In the end, it was as if he had attached wings to a rabbit with his own hands.
Having finally realized why Vivi had cried and hid under the bed, Ahin let out a bitter chuckle.
That’s why he didn’t want to tell Vivi anything.
Despite acting tough and swinging her paws, Vivi was still plagued by nightmares, so there was no need to create unnecessary anxiety by revealing things she didn’t need to know.
And that decision still held. There was nothing welcoming in the Black Panther Territory for Vivi to discover.
Tap, tap. Ahin drummed his fingers on the table, exchanging a glance with Alain Amon. With the final words that today’s matters were to remain confidential, Alain Amon announced the end of the meeting.
* * *
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