The meeting’s contents were to be kept strictly confidential, but rumors related to scandals travel faster than the legs of a horse.
As a result, Yuhan, Ahin’s personal attendant, had been suffering through a barrage of subtle questions from the rabbit territory’s employees since morning. And even he was flustered by the situation.
It was already surprising enough that the rabbit, who used to exchange daily greetings with him, was a beastfolk, but now, among the employees of this mansion, the rabbit had become a stunning dancer of extraordinary beauty.
Like a nymph dancing on a lake, her graceful movements stirred people’s hearts, and it was as if the future leader of the black panther territory and the heir of the lion territory were ready to give up their fangs and claws.
The rabbit Yuhan knew, however, was a formidable one, capable of subduing a black panther with her front paws. Far from graceful dance moves, she was someone whose specialty was a swift roundhouse kick.
While Yuhan was still struggling to accept several facts, he entered Ahin’s guest room, pushing a tray. His youthful face darkened as he sensed the tense atmosphere.
The first person to catch his eye was Vivi, lying motionless on the sofa in a prone position.
Ash, who often followed her lead, was also lying flat on the floor, her head pressed down.
Ahin, sprawled on the opposite sofa, was reading the continental newspaper. No matter how much Yuhan racked his brain, he couldn’t deduce what was going on.
But he wasn’t just anyone—he was the talented individual who had been assigned as the personal attendant to the future leader, ahead of veteran seniors. Yuhan pulled the tray with practiced composure.
“This is a tea brewed from the leaves of rooibos from the rabbit territory.”
Ahin, peeking over the newspaper, made a vague gesture with his chin.
“Leave it on the table.”
Despite Yuhan’s presence, Vivi did not move. As Yuhan poured the tea, Ahin, noticing the slight tremble in his hand, turned the page and spoke.
“They’re just having a spat, so you can leave them alone. Vivi, if you’re going to keep doing that, at least put on a cloak. Or do it in front of the fireplace.”
Vivi, who was staging a silent protest, stomped her foot in response instead of expressing her opinion. It was a clear sign to leave her alone. For a brief moment, Yuhan rubbed his eyes, experiencing the illusion of seeing a person as a rabbit.
“Yuhan, you might want to head back to the kitchen.”
“Do you need a snack?’
“No, just tell them there’s a rabbit in this room who’s lost the will to live.”
Yuhan, catching Ahin’s hint, awkwardly played along.
“A, a cooking ingredient, you mean…?’
Only then did Vivi spring up and move toward the fireplace. The certainty that Ahin wouldn’t eat her was one thing, but primal instincts were another. Ash, following suit, also curled up with her back arched like Vivi.
For a fleeting moment, Vivi’s sharp gaze caused Yuhan’s eyebrows to droop in gloom. It was as if he had been dragged into their fight for no reason….
“Yuhan.”
Yuhan’s cheeks reddened with distress, thinking that he, like Everine, would now be looked down upon by the rabbit. He feared he might not be able to exchange their usual morning greetings anymore.
“Yuhan, it’s overflowing.”
Lost in thought, Yuhan had absentmindedly poured the tea until it spilled over. He hurriedly cleaned up the mess.
“M-my apologies. I’ve made such a mistake…”
“It’s fine.”
Ahin, lazily crossing his legs, peered over the newspaper at Vivi. That cunning rabbit. Ever since she realized her back-facing tantrums affected him more than her tears, she had been pulling that trick every time she wanted her way.
“We already agreed yesterday that you’d return to the black panther territory. What’s the reason for your reluctance?’
Ahin’s voice softened slightly.
“Well…”
Still staring at the roaring fireplace, Vivi turned her head. The heat from the fire had flushed her sharp features a rosy pink.
“How could you just tell me now that we’re leaving this afternoon? And you’re staying behind, Ahin.”
“I have some matters to take care of. Besides, there’s no reason for you to stay here any longer.”
“…I didn’t even get to properly say goodbye to Professor Jisnana and Russell. Couldn’t you give me at least one more day?’
“There’s no point in lingering in another territory with your ambiguous status.”
Strictly speaking, Vivi’s home was the rabbit territory, but Ahin emphasized her outsider status as if to brand it into her mind.
Eventually, Vivi stood up from the fire and threw on a cloak with a hood.
No matter how much she complained, there was no way the departure would be delayed. Standing at the door, she announced calmly.
“I’ll be out for a bit, please look after Ash.”
“Where are you going?’
“I need to say a proper goodbye to Professor Jisnana. She helped me a lot.”
Ahin, feeling uneasy about Vivi’s every move, grabbed his frock coat.
“Why don’t I just call her here, or better yet, go with you—’
“Don’t come. I have things to discuss with the other herbivorous beastfolk.”
“Then at least let me escort you.”
“It’s just downstairs from the guest room, and you said yourself that no one would dare mess with me. There are guards stationed in every corridor, so I’ll be fine.”
The door slammed shut with a resounding bang, clearly signaling that she didn’t want him to follow.
Ahin stood there, caught in an awkward position, unable to either wear or remove his frock coat, feeling alienated. Vivi, possibly due to her years spent as a rabbit, had an uncanny ability to remember what she saw and heard.
“Yuhan.”
Just hearing his name, the competent Yuhan instantly understood Ahin’s intent.
“Even with their eyes closed, black panthers are formid—”
“…….”
“—idable predators… They won’t be allowed in a gathering of herbivorous beastfolk…”
Yuhan averted Ahin’s steady gaze as he firmly expressed his opinion. After all, he couldn’t deny their respective species.
“Maybe I should pull out all my fangs.”
“…Allow me to help you get dressed.”
Yuhan was diligently preparing to fulfill his role when, with a soft *click*, the door opened again. The edge of a cloak timidly slipped through the gap in the door.
“Vivi?”
“It’s me.”
Half of Vivi’s body peeked in as she muttered softly. She hesitated to speak, biting her lip as Ahin, exercising infinite patience, waited.
“I’m sorry for being so stubborn… The truth is, I wanted to go back with you. We came separately, after all.”
Before he could stop her, the sound of her footsteps faded away.
Ahin felt as if something inside him had snapped as the door closed with a quiet thud.
Yuhan glanced back and forth between the closed door and the stunned Ahin, unable to shake the feeling that Vivi might have made a mistake.
* * *
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