Recently, Ahin’s mood soared to the sky, only to crash to the floor.
The reason was solely because of that lump-like nymph.
Until now, Vivi acted as if ready to leave Grace Manor at any time.
For one, despite not being shy, she did not form any attachment to the employees. Perhaps it was because they were beastfolk of the predator type, which made her fearful.
Sometimes, she even took the time to read books about the stability of herbivore territories.
Also, since she knew that the ornaments given by Ahin, Everine, and Valence were worth money, she would steadily hide them in her personal treasure trove.
That treasure trove was a gap under the sofa, accessible only to a rabbit.
When Ahin tested her by secretly hiding a single jewel, Vivi suspiciously paid attention to the sofa. She was meticulous enough to ascertain the number of hidden jewels.
He vaguely knew that all these preparations stemmed from insecurity.
The insecurities that the Grace House did not match her circumstances, that she might be abandoned one day, and the primal fear of a herbivore beastfolk.
It was an insecurity born from nearly twenty years of accumulated experiences.
Therefore, Vivi had always clung solely to humanization, as if walking a tightrope, showing a precariousness.
That Vivi.
Recently, she showed a change, as if she had found a bit of relaxation.
The biggest reason was that she had cast off the shackle around her ankle entwined with the Rabian House, and her choice to come into the black panther territory of her own volition played its part.
Thanks to that, Vivi was now spending time developing a sense of belonging to the Grace House.
The change began with small things.
She sought out newspapers published in the black panther territory and developed relationships where she exchanged greetings with the knights.
Most gratifying of all was the fact that she expressed her feelings toward Ahin a bit more frequently.
Yesterday, when she held out a single flower as big as her own body, Ahin felt an impulse to stuff it into his mouth and roll it around. The rabbit was not only careful and cunning but also a romanticist.
Up to this point, it was just right.
The problem was that Vivi started drawing a line. She no longer tried to enter his pocket or slept on the bed, drawing a boundary first.
Of course, this was also a punishment for Ahin’s unilateral actions in the Rabbit Territory.
However, the greatest reason for the estrangement was that Vivi had overheard a comment made during a conversation between Ahin and Aven.
‘When talking to the parents of the woman I care for, I thought I would hesitate, but it seems I can kill them without guilt.’
No matter how much Ahin pretended, he could not remain calm in front of Vivi’s parent, Aven. That she happened to hear something said offhandedly in such a situation.
‘Why, of all times.’
Had she been human, he would have quickly noticed her presence.
It was hard to read a rabbit’s presence, and on top of that, the seven rabbits that resembled Vivi had scattered Ahin’s vigilance.
Seated at his desk, he buried his forehead in his clasped hands. He could not just pick up the baby rabbit and pour out his emotions.
“It’s hard because of the nymph.”
At this sudden mutter, Everine, who was processing documents, stiffened his brow.
“I am absolutely on the nymph lady’s side. If you wish to speak ill of her, please look for Sir Quinn.”
“Whose servant are you, anyway?”
“Power shifts. Recently, signs of that have appeared.”
Ignoring that nonsense, Ahin asked a beat later.
“Perennium?”
It was the third time today he had asked. Everine, looking fed up, stood before the desk.
According to the explanation, if there was perennium, then Vivi could become human without pain.
Pouring a dominant pheromone deeply into her was possible, but how to implant it into a baby rabbit’s body or through its respiratory system was questionable.
“Do you think it’s a cheap gem? We have to go to auction houses, and for the next two weeks, I’ll give you the same answer: it hasn’t even been cut yet.”
He could have snapped at him to shut up and get it right now, but Ahin remained still, his forehead buried in his hands. Sensing he could add one more word, Everine spoke up.
“So please do not ask for these two weeks.”
“Come to think of it, I forgot to punish you for losing Vivi in the Rabbit Territory.”
One word carried tremendous weight. Not wanting to die alone, Everine pointed to the hawk perched on the bookshelf.
“It couldn’t be helped. Sir Quinn pointed a dagger at the lady rabbit, so I was distracted trying to stop it.”
“Quinn did?”
“Yes. Even though the lady rabbit begged for her life, he mercilessly swung the sword.”
For a moment, Ahin’s eyes blazed fiercely.
“…he made Vivi beg desperately?”
It had only drawn its sword yet slandered; the hawk stiffened immediately. Cawing, as it tried to escape, it was struck by Ahin’s pheromone and fell onto the carpet.
Sensing his turn coming, Everine calmly added.
“It seems the lady rabbit learned how to aim her healing-type pheromone. How could we withstand that?”
“Did her mother teach her?”
“I don’t know that much. It might have been a fluke in an urgent situation, but she clearly grasped the principle.”
Ahin, postponing Everine’s severe punishment, rubbed his lips.
Recently, Vivi had noticeably reduced the number of times she unintentionally released pheromones. It also seemed that when using her abilities, she had begun distinguishing between sleep, anesthesia, and healing.
Compared to normal beastfolk, who only slowly grasped their pheromones after humanization, she learned quickly.
“…Why haven’t I considered assigning a tutor until now?”
“It’s all right. I just realized it, too. Normally, you wouldn’t think about something like that when looking at a baby rabbit.”
Ahin thought of the tutors affiliated with the Grace House.
“What about Lady Winslet?”
“She’s a good person, but would the lady rabbit be able to handle face-to-face lessons with an unfamiliar black panther beastfolk?”
Wouldn’t half the lesson be wasted as she struggled between her fear of fangs and the lessons themselves? Ahin and Everine, having the same thought, shook their heads simultaneously.
“We should look into a herbivore-type tutor.”
“Since you have great connections in that area, why not ask for help?”
“That would be better. Ah, what happened with the Rabian House?”
“They were under strict investigation by their leader. Even a fallen noble will have a hard time.”
Ahin regretted that he had to keep them alive and well before his very eyes.
However, since Vivi seemed satisfied with this level of outcome, he could not extend his hand any further.
Moreover, under the rabbit’s watchful eye, he had even pressed his fingerprint on an agreement stating that he would stop taking an interest in the Rabian House and no longer act unilaterally regarding Vivi.
Otherwise, it seemed Vivi might run away to Valence’s or Meimi’s room for a while. Ahin now could not sleep without Vivi in his bed.
Recalling the agreement with the footprint he had carefully stored in a drawer, Ahin sighed deeply.
“Keep tracking Rabian House’s movements. …Later, if they show the slightest sign of approaching Vivi, deal with them.”
“Yes. And about Bara’s disposal,”
“It can’t be helped. This time, he went too far.”
“No, actually, it seems we need your help, Lord Ahin.”
“……?”
Ahin, unable to grasp the meaning of “help,” blinked his eyes.
“You must see it for yourself.”
Saving his words, Everine guided him to the window overlooking the training field.
From the window to which Ahin approached, the training field came into full view.
At the flat center of the training field, Bara and Vivi stood facing each other in confrontation. Just then, a sharp wind swept through, instilling tension in both animals.
Behind them, Meimi stood ready to fling a dagger at any time. Ash prowled around in worry, and several guard knights were hiding here and there, watching closely.
“What are they doing?”
Ahin, looking down calmly, asked.
“It’s a spar between the lady rabbit and Bara.”
“So, who ordered such nonsense?”
“The lady rabbit requested it.”
“That’s impossible.”
Unless there was a conspiracy, there was no way that Vivi, a world-class coward, would take on a black panther.
“It seems she has learned that Bara submits to the strong. She appears to be planning on using her pheromone. Are you fine with the many eyes watching?”
“…She’s probably only planning on using sleep-related pheromones.”
How on earth should he handle Vivi, who could not be predicted? Running his hand through his hair, Ahin suddenly noticed the hawk, Quinn, soaring in the sky. Under his command, snatching Vivi away would be a moment’s work.
“…….”
Ahin, unusually hesitant, looked down at the rabbit standing firmly on two feet. Vivi, who would have fled at just the mention of a ‘predator,’ had come here on her own.
“If I intervene, will Vivi be angry?”
“She wouldn’t like it.”
With a small sigh, Ahin leaned his arm against the window frame. In truth, if she had the skill to knock down Quinn and Everine, dealing with one black panther would be nothing.
“You said you needed my help, which means I should use pheromones on Bara if it comes to that.”
“Yes. However, it doesn’t seem like the lady rabbit will lose. Already, the employees seem to think the lady rabbit is a beastfolk like Quinn, so maybe it’s fine to reveal it this way.”
“Sounds like you’re telling me to solidify her standing.”
“That’s correct. As I’ve said repeatedly, the lady rabbit is,”
“-General material?”
“Yes.”
While they conversed, the curtain on the spar lifted.
It began as a probing match.
Keeping their distance, Bara and Vivi circled the training field, glaring at each other. At Bara’s menacing growl, ‘Grrrng—,’ Vivi wrinkled her nose without backing down.
As an unexpectedly intense psychological battle unfolded, the knights, who were hiding and observing, swallowed dryly.
‘I must be crazy….’
Meanwhile, Vivi swam in a sea of regret.
Bara was stoutly built with bulging muscles and smooth claws, a prime predator among predators.
Moreover, he was a macho black panther who followed only the one who bested him.
In reality, Vivi had already taken Bara down once in the Border Forest, but Bara firmly believed the attack had been Rune’s doing.
To think she had set this up just to spare that beast. But it was too late to regret now.
If only Ash had not followed the dragged-away Bara, drenching her fur in tears. If only Bara had not gently licked away Ash’s tears…!
Vivi clenched her teeth. If she defeated that macho and made him submit, Ahin might also step back a little.
She had thought about just asking, but she also found Bara, who secretly burned with fighting spirit toward her, distasteful.
At this opportunity, she would show Lady Vivi’s spicy taste and make him her subordinate···,
“Keng!”
‘Aack!’
Bara, who had opened his mouth wide, charged straight forward. Vivi rolled over, dodged his bite, and immediately slipped behind Bara’s back to take cover.
Ahin, who had grown tense, concentrated his pheromones at his fingertips as he watched their movements. If a situation arose where Vivi could be hurt, he intended to kill Bara instantly.
Right, left. As he shifted his gaze, he frowned at the sound of a pen nib scratching beside him.
“Everine, what are you writing?”
Simple agility to dodge the preemptive attack. In addition, the strategy of circling behind disrupts the opponent’s field of vision. Everine recorded everything quickly without missing a single scene.
“It was the report you requested, my lord. You said it was a pity you couldn’t watch because you were out.”
“…….”
“Do not worry too much. As someone who experienced the lady rabbit’s pheromone…, she is currently attempting a technique!”
While Bara searched for his prey, which had suddenly vanished, Vivi slipped around to the wounded side of Bara’s face.
It’s the only blind spot. Vivi kicked off Bara’s body and jumped up, strongly kicking near the wounded area. Kaeng- Startled by the unexpected destructive power, Bara retreated backward.
“While the black panther possessed advantageous grip strength and physical conditions, the rabbit approached the spar with cool-headed reason and intellect.”
“Everine, your mouth.”
Plop, Vivi landed on the ground and stood on two feet. The pheromones she had gathered rose to her front paws during the two exchanged attacks.
Now, Bara’s carelessness also ended. There was no opening to be found in Bara, who lowered his body.
Tap!
Bara leaped high, intending to pounce from above.
Unable to endure any longer, Ahin reached out his hand to blast pheromones.
Simultaneously, Vivi clapped! striking her front paws together spectacularly.
Bara’s airborne body stopped dead in midair as a momentary silence passed. Before long, the black panther, drained of energy, fell to the ground with a thump, headfirst.
Still standing on two feet, Vivi panted heavily. It was a stance taken in case Bara stood up.
Even after about a minute, Bara showed no sign of moving. Instead, a snoring sound echoed through the training field.
‘Bara?’
Vivi cautiously approached and tapped Bara’s body with her front paw. He had fallen into such a deep sleep that a water droplet popped from his nose.
‘I won…!’
Vivi nearly burst into tears and covered her mouth.
She had knocked down a black panther without anyone’s help. Drunk on the joy of victory, she crawled up Bara’s body.
‘Meimi!’
Atop the black beast she had successfully hunted, Vivi raised her front paw toward Meimi and Ash.
“…lady rabbit.”
Meimi, who had watched the spar without even breathing, saw the past days flash by like a panorama.
When she first saw Ash, she was such a fragile baby rabbit tugging at her hem, asking to be held. Over the course of a few months, that growth was remarkable and proud, so Meimi applauded as a form of praise.
Moved by her passionate reaction, the knights hiding and watching also applauded reflexively.
“At this point, it would be fine to show mercy to Bara… Lord Ahin?”
Everine, who had recorded even the moving spectacle unfolding below, turned around suspiciously. By now, Ahin would usually crack a joke, but he was too quiet.
“What is the matter?”
Ahin, who had not even withdrawn the hand he extended to use pheromones, blinked blankly.
“Nothing.”
He slowly covered his mouth, which was about to open. Seeing that he wanted to watch that kind of scene a bit more, it seemed that, as Vivi said, he was no ordinary lunatic.
* * *
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