It was a night thick with humidity, as if it might rain.
I had finished getting ready for bed and was quietly staring at the door.
If only I had seen Ahin as soon as I woke up—it would’ve been easier. But after not seeing him all day, my nerves had only intensified.
*‘More workers will be present soon for Ahin’s birthday, so try not to be too surprised.’*
Even Valence’s words from teatime floated through my head.
What could I possibly give him for his birthday?
*‘I’ve never given a gift before, so I don’t even know where to start.’*
And this was Ahin—he probably already had more jaw-dropping gifts than anyone could imagine.
*‘When was my own birthday again?’*
I had a vague memory of wearing a party hat as a baby. That might’ve been the last time I’d received any birthday wishes, so I couldn’t recall anything clearly.
As I pondered over what kind of gift to prepare—*knock knock*—a sound tapped at the glass.
*‘W-what is that?’*
Someone was knocking on the glass door that led to the terrace. I glanced nervously at the heavy curtains, dread creeping in.
Was Ahin planning one of his eccentric terrace entrances tonight? If that were the case, he wouldn’t knock—he’d just open the door.
Nervously inching forward, I stood in front of the curtain.
“W-who’s there?”
“It is I, Everine, favored by Miss Bunny.”
“Everine?”
I parted the curtain and saw Everine crouched down as low as possible. His handsome face looked noticeably haggard for just a day.
“…How did you get up here?”
“In my true form. I climbed the side trees.”
What shady business is he up to now?
Still suspicious, I cracked the glass door open and crouched. At the same time, Everine thrust his head through the gap.
“What’s going on—ACK!”
*Thud!* Startled, I slammed the door shut, trapping Everine’s head.
Completely unfazed, he began speaking quickly.
“This is quite a serious matter.”
“Wh-why?”
“Did you have a fight with Lord Ahin, by any chance?”
“We kind of did last night, but…”
Did it still count as a fight if it ended with a kiss? Recalling the moment I nearly fainted, my face flared red.
Thank goodness the lamp lighting didn’t make my skin tone obvious—I bit down on my nails.
“I think we made up?”
“Miss Bunny, that doesn’t look like a ‘made-up’ expression. For your reference, in black panther territory, if you lie, your tail gets cut off.”
Flinch. Instinctively, I reached behind me and widened my eyes.
“Don’t lie like that.”
“Yes. Anyway, did you really make up with him?”
“Why are you asking?”
Everine’s expression suddenly turned gloomy. It was eerie, especially with his head still stuck in the doorframe.
“Just tell me what’s going on. I’ll listen.”
Growing more anxious myself, I coaxed him gently.
“Lord Ahin is acting strange.”
“Is that… really such a big deal?”
“He was staring out the window deep in thought, then suddenly started tackling paperwork like a madman.”
“Okay, yeah… that is kind of serious.”
“He even praised me. Said he liked how much I talked. He’s the kind of person who might pay well, but he never says things like that.”
“Oh no…!”
Ahin never complimented Everine, not even as a joke. As I stared in disbelief, Quinn flew in, squeaking in agreement with Everine.
Lowering his voice further, Everine glanced sideways toward the bedroom entrance.
“Whenever his mood is really low, he tends to act more like a normal person. Today, he left the office unusually early, so I dropped by just to make sure you hadn’t been dragged off to the kitchen.”
*His mood is really low?* I turned pale and reflexively touched my lips. Could our kiss really have been that awful for him?
*‘No way…’*
…He looked like he enjoyed it a lot. Or maybe I pushed him too hard yesterday?
“You look like you feel guilty about something.”
Shrinking slightly, I averted my gaze.
“I kind of… grabbed his collar. Really gently.”
“Yesterday?”
Everine’s eyes widened slightly.
“I also slammed his head into the desk a bit…”
No sooner had I said it than Quinn covered his beak with his wing.
Embarrassed by their exaggerated reactions, I nervously fidgeted with my hands.
Now that I think about it, yesterday was Edith’s memorial day, and I was too absorbed in my own feelings to even offer him comfort.
“Miss Bunny. Please leave the terrace door open just a crack.”
Everine straightened his tone, his voice serious.
“He might actually eat you. If Lord Ahin starts acting too normal, turn into a rabbit and escape with Quinn. Even if Quinn’s personality is a bit ruined, he wouldn’t pretend not to notice.”
Enraged, Quinn began pecking Everine’s shoes like he meant to destroy them.
“To avoid consequences, don’t go to my room—head to Lilion’s or the family head’s quarters.”
“B-but Ahin’s acting normal with me…”
“Well, I doubt it’s in a gentlemanly—”
Both Everine and I abruptly stopped whispering and turned toward the door. The voices of saluting guards could be heard.
Just as I looked up to tell him to leave, Everine was already gone. A black beast carrying a bundle of clothes had leapt over the terrace railing and vanished.
Fastest escape in the world, as always. Just in case, I left the glass door slightly ajar and drew the curtain.
I plopped onto the sofa and blinked dumbly as the door clicked open.
*‘What is that…’*
“I’ll take my leave now.”
Guided by Yuan, the personal attendant, a black panther stepped into the bedroom. Calmly locking the door behind him, the panther climbed onto the bed as if it were nothing.
Everine, what am I supposed to do if he shows up not just “not normal,” but not even in human form?
Sadly, there was no answer to my inner scream.
“This isn’t… a pheromone seizure, right?”
The black panther snorted and stretched lazily. It didn’t *feel* like his pheromones were out of balance.
Sliding along the wall, I glared at him sharply.
Look at that sulky expression. Showing up in his true form without even being sick—what a giveaway.
“…You’re doing this just to avoid answering the question I asked yesterday, aren’t you.”
How could he be this spiteful?
“Do you have some kind of grudge against me?”
Ahin, stretched out sideways, patted the bed with his front paw.
Is this what Ahin felt like when I gestured at him with a paw? Carefully making my way over, I finally reached the bed after what felt like a long journey.
The first time I saw his true form, I hadn’t noticed in the chaos, but now that I looked closely, he was even bigger than Bara. His fur had a strangely glossy sheen, too.
Unconsciously, I sat politely and slowly moved the hand I had placed on the sheets.
As I tried to reach out, his massive paw blocked my hand. Swallowing the sting of rejection, I spoke softly.
“Yesterday was your father’s memorial day. I’m sorry I didn’t offer any comfort and just kept questioning you.”
Still, Ahin only let out a faint sigh. Once again, I was reminded how frustrating it could be trying to talk to an animal.
“At least tell me why you’re acting like this.”
The black panther shot me a sidelong glance and flicked his tail. The letters traced in the air were shaky, but the word was familiar enough that I understood it instantly.
“Who are you calling a cheating rabbit?”
I was speechless. When I finally shouted, Ahin slyly stuck out his rear.
Was he expecting me to hit it? Was he just living life by whatever impulse now?
After fanning myself for a while to calm down, I decided to try a tactic to coax him.
“If you tell me the real reason, I’ll spank you.”
Ahin, now slightly more motivated, slowly sat up. His tail flicked powerfully through the air—
*‘Rune?’*
He was referring to the lion. I flinched instinctively, guilty.
With narrowed eyes, Ahin pointed alternately at me and himself with his paw.
He meant that since I hadn’t talked about Rune, he wouldn’t either.
“How is that the same? They’re totally different in seriousness!”
Swallowing dryly, I forced myself to speak calmly.
“A-and what do you mean I was hiding something?”
Ahin touched his temple as if he were completely fed up.
There’s no way he could know exactly what Rune and I talked about… right?
“You mean when I met Rune—the lion—at the clan head’s mansion? I already explained that.”
Judging by the way his smooth face twisted into something more feral, that wasn’t the right answer. I looked down, fiddling with the bed sheets awkwardly.
Then I remembered something and asked quietly:
“…-The dance?”
Ahin froze in place, and pointed at me with his paw. His bright yellow eyes were filled with shock and dismay.
That must’ve been it. He must’ve found out why Rune called me a dancer.
*‘Rune Manionts…!’*
I didn’t expect that shameless guy to spill everything. When did he even say it?
Ahin’s gaze was filled with blatant disappointment. Flushed with shame, I grabbed his paw with both hands.
“I needed to signal that I was about to transform, and I panicked, so I used the sign you and I had agreed on. That’s all.”
Why was I even justifying this? The more I explained, the more I sounded like a cheating rabbit.
“Ahin.”
Despite my constant persuasion, Ahin coldly pulled his paw away from my hands.
You rotten cat. Finally, I closed my eyes tight and muttered like it hurt to say it:
“Fine. Next time I turn into a rabbit, I’ll show you a short dance.”
Sometimes, you had to sacrifice the small for the greater good.
Sure enough, Ahin instantly changed his tune, nodding brightly. That elegant charm of his didn’t disappear even in panther form.
Ugh. I’d barely calmed down the cranky black panther when I hesitantly opened my mouth again.
“Then come back in human form and answer my—”
He’d only taken the deal and then turned his back on me like it meant nothing.
*‘You petty little…!’*
Unable to contain the rage boiling inside me, I smacked his butt hard. And he—gleefully stuck it out even more.
I seriously don’t know how to deal with this guy.
* * *
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