The bird beastfolk, who could travel long distances in a short time without needing to cross territorial boundaries, was the only tribe free from restrictions of identity and territory.
Additionally, the bird beastfolk had the exception that, regardless of species, they all possessed aquamarine eyes.
Another unique characteristic was that they weren’t bound by the restriction that prevented beastfolk from staying in their true form for more than half a day. However, despite being part of the predator class, they were not a tribe known for having strong pheromones.
Because of these traits, bird beastfolk had long been the object of greed. They were highly useful when employed as messenger birds or for surveillance purposes.
Perhaps because of this, bird beastfolk were said to be more rebellious, resisting settlement and pursuing freedom. Hence, they were believed to live without becoming anyone’s vassal.
‘…That’s how it was supposed to be.’
That’s what the author of the beastfolk encyclopedia had written. So the fact that Ahin’s messenger bird, Quinn, was a beastfolk was something I had never dared to imagine.
I, who had been resting my forehead in thought, glanced at the fierce aquamarine eyes fixed on me. We had been locked in a staring contest for nearly thirty minutes, sitting across from each other in the carriage.
Quinn had said nothing after calling me a ‘damned rabbit,’ but the fury in his eyes carried numerous meanings.
Damned rabbit, daring to make me search the entire estate, and as if that wasn’t enough, you have a secret tryst with a lion? And so on. Since I had exchanged body language in several physical altercations with Quinn before, I could easily read his expression.
‘Use him well? …That Quinn?’
I ground my teeth, recalling Ahin’s sly comment from behind the pillow.
This felt like an animal suddenly transforming into a person overnight, releasing all the pent-up frustrations it had accumulated. It was like Ash becoming human and complaining about inadequate meals.
Meanwhile, Russell, who had come to see us off, watched us with wide eyes.
“Bad bird.”
Unable to bear Quinn’s menacing gaze any longer, the usually quiet Russell tapped Quinn’s leg. Quinn’s already sharp, slanted eyes glared even more fiercely. I silently cheered for Russell and pulled the brave boy into a hug.
“Russell, he’s not just a sparrow… he’s a bird of prey.”
Even though he looked calm now, that beak could easily pierce skin. Just imagining his hooked beak sent a shiver down my spine.
“Hero.”
Russell tugged my ear lightly, as if he had something to whisper. He must have sensed Quinn’s energy.
‘Birds are mean.’
How could he be so accurate? Ahin’s prediction that he would grow into a great man didn’t seem like such nonsense after all.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a bird beastfolk declaring themselves a vassal. It’s something to see when you’ve lived as long as I have.”
“Indeed, especially since hawks are known to have particularly difficult personalities among bird beastfolk.”
This was another problem. Professor Jisnana and an old woman of unknown identity, both with their heads poking into the carriage window, had been murmuring about Quinn since earlier.
To make matters worse, the old woman’s cup of cocoa filled the carriage with a sweet scent. Fortunately, Quinn only twitched his eyebrows in disgust but kept silent.
Professor Jisnana, noticing my gaze, pointed to the old woman.
“Ah, Miss Vivi. This is-,”
“Someone who’s worked in this mansion for decades. If this is improper, I’ll introduce myself properly.”
The burly old woman offered a handshake through the window. Decades of service likely made her the head servant of the household, at the very least.
“No, it’s fine. Granny… Madam.” (T/N: I’m sorry, I didn’t realize she was a woman until this term came out. I’ll change the following chapters to reflect that. I should have realized it sooner after reading the manhwa but I can’t really remember details like this while translating.)
“It’s been a long time since I’ve heard that term, it’s quite pleasant.”
After sipping her cocoa, the old woman’s attention shifted from Quinn to me. Her thin eyes scanned me with interest.
“Your skin is so pale, it’s as if you’ve barely been exposed to the sun.”
“…I just don’t like it much.”
Not liking it, my foot—I sunbathed with Ash, belly exposed, during every stroll. But it was true that I’d never properly been in the sun in my human form. Even considering that I took after my mother, my skin was excessively pale.
“On behalf of the staff here, there’s something I’m dying to ask.”
“……?”
“How did you tame both the black panther and the lion?”
“Oh dear, how could you ask something like that?”
Even Professor Jisnana seemed subtly curious, half-heartedly trying to dissuade the old woman.
They must have been referring to the rumors about the dancer who had supposedly captivated both Ahin and Rune. Frankly, it seemed more plausible that the two had fallen in love with their own reflections in a mirror.
Feeling suddenly embarrassed, I grabbed a water bottle stocked in the carriage and gulped it down. My throat was parched.
“It’s a relief, really. I always found it strange that two healthy young men had no scandal between them. One of the rumors even claimed they were impotent.”
‘Im-, what?’
The water I had been drinking spilled down my chin in a cascade as I was unable to process my shock. Russell pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket and dabbed at my lips, wiping away the water.
“So, is it the black panther or the lion?”
It seemed like a question I’d heard before. As I brushed the remaining water from my chin with the back of my hand, I felt a gaze on the side of my face.
Quinn’s aquamarine eyes clearly conveyed that if it wasn’t the black panther, I’d be turned into roasted rabbit. At this point, it was hard to tell if he was my bodyguard or an assassin.
“N-, neither really.”
“Judging by the fact you’re in the carriage of House Grace, I suppose it’s the black panther.”
The old woman, having reached her own conclusion, began chatting noisily with Professor Jisnana.
Well, as long as they were happy, I supposed it didn’t matter. Half resigned, I gently stroked Russell’s hair, who was sitting on my lap. Once we parted this time, I might never see him again.
“Oh dear, we’ve lingered too long. The ill-tempered black panther will arrive soon.”
“Russell, come here now. You’ve said your goodbyes long enough since yesterday.”
Russell pulled a stiff piece of paper from his pocket with a somber expression, handing it to me. The letter was written in messy, crooked handwriting.
[Neutral Zone of Belhelm, Trin Road B-613, Russell Jisnana]
So he wanted me to send a letter. Afraid I might lose the note if I returned to my rabbit form, I memorized the address carefully before placing a kiss of affection on Russell’s forehead.
“Let’s meet again, Russell.”
As Russell finally burst into tears, Professor Jisnana scooped him up, patting his back to console him.
“Goodness, why is he acting like this all of a sudden? Could it be that he feels some unique kinship with Lady Vivi?”
Speaking in a teasing tone, she leaned in to whisper while keeping an eye on Quinn.
‘The reason Lady Vivi is still in her juvenile rabbit form is because she hasn’t undergone a proper humanization ritual yet. You noticed there were no heat marks, didn’t you? Don’t worry too much about it. Russell naturally matured into an adult capybara after his beastfolk fever passed, so it should be the same for her.’
I hoped that by the next time we met, I’d be in my adult beast form, just as Professor Jisnana hinted. Waving at their receding figures, I abruptly stood and stepped down from the carriage.
Summoning my courage, I nudged Quinn aside and followed the old woman who was walking in the opposite direction from Professor Jisnana. Closing the distance so that my voice could reach her, I quickly called out.
“–Chief.”
“Ho. Did Professor Jisnana tell you?”
Rather than give a direct answer, I left it ambiguous. Clearly, she hadn’t intended to keep her identity a secret.
“…No, but a head maid wouldn’t speak so casually to a noblewoman from another territory. Besides, Professor Jisnana mentioned being well-acquainted with the chief.”
I’d heard before that the chief of the Rabbit Territory, Amon, was an old woman of substantial build. I also remembered Ahin mentioning in passing that if you ever met the Rabbit Territory chief, you’d be forced to drink cocoa by the barrel instead of alcohol, making a click of disapproval with his tongue.
“A sharp young lady, just like you look. If you’re not interested in the black panther or the lion, how about one of my grandsons? He’s rather dashing, though a bit of an old soul.”
One more attractive person to deal with? I already had my hands full with Ahin, Rune, and Everine. Should I pay my respects? Just as I awkwardly began to straighten my posture, she waved her hand dismissively.
“No need. The fact that you followed me means there’s something you want to ask this old woman.”
Chief Amon, noticing my hesitation, spoke before I could ask.
“If it’s about the fire, there’s no problem. I was the one who granted permission for you to return to the Black Panther Territory in the first place.”
As expected, it seemed Ahin’s influence had played a role.
“Is there something else?”
Pheromones from high-ranking families were a well-known but unspoken secret. But asking about dominant pheromones felt too bold, especially since I wasn’t sure if I could trust her. In the end, I shook my head, and she chuckled softly as if she had been waiting for my response.
“If you have any unanswered questions, go ask that old fox Lilion. He’s the headmaster of Belhelm Academy, after all. He knows a lot more little details than this old woman. He’ll probably give you a better answer.”
The chief turned and began walking away again. But after a few steps, she stopped abruptly and glanced back at me, her body half-turned.
“Do you know what it means when a predator leaves bite marks on your neck?”
“…Pardon?”
I instinctively touched my neck, shaking my head in confusion.
“You’d best not let that old codger Lilion see it. He’s such a stiff, he’d flail around like a fish out of water.”
Chuckling derisively, she was soon led away by her assistant. Led away was a polite term—it was more of a chase than anything else.
How could she just leave after saying something like that? I couldn’t even lower my hand from my neck, left standing in the breeze, looking utterly pitiful. I had come seeking answers and instead walked away with even more questions.
* * *
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