TSROTRATBP Chapter 20

...What kind of. As expected, this predator exceeded comprehensible bounds. Though I exhaled emptily, he held out his pinky finger as if truly making a promise.

"Promise."

Especially infuriatingly, Ahin even mouthed "Meimi." Not in a position to rebel, I matched my front paw to his pinky with an uncomfortable feeling.

"Oh, and."

'What now?'

"From now on, we should establish signals. So I can understand Vivi's intentions."

I felt simultaneously unfamiliar and bitter. It was a matter I'd never once thought about or wished for myself. No one had wanted my intentions anyway.

"Let's start with this."

Unlike my stiffness, Ahin casually reached out and placed my left front paw atop his index finger.

"Left front paw for emergencies. Right paw is,"

Extending his opposite hand, he again placed my right front paw atop his index finger. Both front paws were forced into the air. "Mm." A brief moment of contemplation passed.

"'Ahin' would be good—raise your right front paw when you need me. Express the rest however you want."

The mischievous voice rang out consecutively. Soon Ahin lowered my paws with his characteristic smile.

"Now, practice. When in danger."

'...You want me to do it now?'

When I looked up reluctantly, he gestured with his chin. Since he coaxed with half-lowered eyes, I reluctantly raised my left front paw.

"When calling me."

Playing along, when I casually swoosh raised my right front paw, Ahin nodded satisfactorily. Are you that happy? Glaring with narrowed eyes, he tickled under my chin as if praising.

"Yeah, that's good."

An answer flowed out as if he'd understood my inner thoughts. Though I couldn't find even pet-level affection in those red eyes. Feeling strange, I looked up at Ahin with a slightly dazed gaze.

They say beastmen who've weathered all storms grow strong. It was Lady Vivi's turn to prove that maxim.

Having waited with open eyes until deep into the night, I carefully crawled out from the blankets.

A dark shadow fell over Ahin's beautiful sleeping face. I waved my paws here and there before his eyes, lightly touched his nose, but there was no particular movement.

'Is he asleep?'

Steady breathing sounded. If he'd been awake, he would've immediately risen spouting about roasted rabbit or whatnot. Just in case, even staring intently at his eyelashes revealed no awkward twitching.

'...Good, he's asleep.'

Settling before his face, I recalled the terrible situation from hours ago.

A chase with a drooling wolf. The wolf's appearance became an opportunity to reflect on my life-threatening situation.

I'd almost forgotten amid the relatively comfortable life. That surviving as a baby rabbit in a place crawling with predators was nearly impossible. Bottom of the food chain yet miraculously alive until now.

Moreover, this estate was the chief's household of black panthers. In other words, no different from a predator gathering place.

Shouldn't I achieve humanization as quickly as possible, or go to herbivore beastman territory, to raise my survival probability even slightly?

'Today for certain.'

Silver hair scattered across the white pillow entered my vision. I'd already postponed for days the plan executable only while Ahin slept.

Looking down at my front paw, I smacked my lips. Ever since Ahin bit my neck recently, the fingers I'd seen that dawn wouldn't leave my mind.

If those fingers were truly mine, the clue was definitely his fangs or pheromones. Since I'd seen that vision after strange pain.

Swallowing hard, I hop jumped closer to Ahin's face. As his beautiful face approached, fresh tension surged again.

Huff, huff. Breathing intermittently, I extended my front paw. The movement was extremely cautious.

'...Black panther, please don't move.'

My trembling paw tip touched Ahin's lips then withdrew. Wanting to flee after merely touching his lips, I shook my head and steeled my resolve.

I'd already been bitten on the neck—if I chickened out and ran now, Lady Vivi's reputation would weep.

Catching my escaping consciousness, I extended my front paw again.

I can do this, I can. Finally, slip—I succeeded in inserting my front paw between Ahin's lips.

'Got it!'

Now I just needed to let him bite lightly like that time. Controlling my fear, when I carefully wiggled, my slowly penetrating front paw touched even teeth.

'...Huh?'

My expression, which had brightened with rising hope, hardened at terrifying speed. Why did I feel slight pressure on his lips? Tremble, tremble. When I turned my head, I met half-opened red eyes.

'Mommy!'

With a soundless scream, I tried to pull out my front paw, but the clamped lips showed no sign of releasing.

'I'm sorry for waking you, please....'

When I begged with desperate eyes, Ahin seemed to want to protest something, mumbling with his lips. His beautiful brow furrowed slightly as if frustrated at being unable to speak.

'Just let go and talk, talk!'

Finally kicking his cheek hard with my hind paw, Ahin refused to release, keeping his lips firmly shut. So stubborn. Not only that, my front paw was gradually being pulled in between his moving lips.

Cold sweat flowed as instinctive fear surged. My increasingly swallowed front paw touched tongue and fangs.

'No—!'

Horrified by the soft texture I didn't want to know, I finally fainted. My third blackout since arriving in black panther territory.

The sunset sky grew dusky. Today was the day the Grace family hosted their ball, as I'd inferred from Rune and Meimi's conversation. Being an important schedule, it seemed to proceed separately from the wolf infiltration commotion.

'Wow.'

Gripping the terrace railing, I gasped.

Since Ahin's bedroom had a clear view of the main gate from the terrace, as glamorous carriages passed through the iron gates one after another, the reality that this was the chief's family struck home.

Moreover, the beastmen alighting from carriages were all dressed in resplendent tailcoats.

Watching that spectacle, I suddenly turned toward the glass window. White fur with black eyes—unmistakably a baby rabbit the size of a fist.

'...How strange.'

Though I didn't prefer looking in mirrors, I didn't particularly feel down either. Comparing myself to humanized beastmen while feeling self-loathing was already ancient history.

Until a few years ago, I'd imagined my humanized appearance, but I'd stopped long ago. Too afraid it might truly remain only imagination. I'd purposely think other thoughts and aimlessly pass time.

Could I never escape this shackle? Indescribable emotional dregs rose from my paws upward.

"Miss Rabbit."

Two sets of footsteps approached as I stared blankly at my reflection in the glass. Not only Meimi but an unfamiliar beastman appeared behind me.

At the stranger's appearance, I slid behind Meimi. Not a servant who occasionally came and went from the bedroom. Meimi, who gently picked me up, added explanation.

"This is Ulpes, the Grace family's exclusive wardrobe specialist."

"I'm finally greeting you, Miss Rabbit. I've wanted to meet you."

With his greeting, Ulpes politely extended his index finger. My trembling gaze moved from the offered finger to Ulpes's face.

Red eyes and auburn hair half tightly bound—a rather likable impression. The only problem was an extraordinarily peculiar pink uniform found nowhere else.

'That's excessive lace.'

This estate's black panthers are uniformly eccentric, I thought, gingerly extending my front paw to reciprocate the handshake. Ulpes, eyes quite moved, covered his mouth.

"Ohhh—! Goodness! I'd heard rumors of an intelligent Miss Rabbit, but seeing it in person is truly astonishing. I truly cannot help but be amazed!"

Even after that, shouts disguised as meaningless compliments continued for nearly five minutes. Meimi, who'd listened motionlessly, whispered quietly.

"Ulpes enjoys conversation."

More than chatter, that volume is the problem—my ears sting. Contrary to my wish for him to disappear, he completely settled into Ahin's bedroom.

'But why a wardrobe specialist?'

Ahin had left the bedroom early in black tailcoat attire. Looking questioningly, Ulpes opened the suspicious box he was holding.

"Today, Miss Rabbit is Master Ahin's ball partner. Though the instruction came with little time and I couldn't prepare much, I've brought accessories that won't burden your neck."

My jaw literally dropped at such absurd words. What kind of noble takes a rabbit as their partner?

'Does that make sense?'

Thinking it a joke, when I turned around, Meimi nodded slightly in affirmation. As if uncomfortable saying it herself, she opened and closed her mouth several times.

"I received the instruction this morning. ...He conveyed it would be amusing."

Let's be honest. You also think that black panther isn't in his right mind, don't you? When I shot them a look seeking agreement, both beastmen obviously averted their gazes.

"We merely follow our master's instructions."

"Master Ahin surely... arranged this so Miss Rabbit could see the ball spectacle directly. Th-the Grace family ballroom is quite magnificent and splendid!"

Meimi and Ulpes answered in turn as if making excuses. Subordinates who chose the wrong master suffer even this type of hardship. They somehow evoked pitiful sympathy.

"Alas, Miss Rabbit's radiant fur prevents the ribbon from shining."

The situation of trying various accessories atop my head as I sat on the bed had continued for nearly an hour. Tsk. Ulpes, seeming dissatisfied, put the ribbon back in the box.

"Hmm...."

Since this was my first experience having accessories tried on me, it wasn't bad. If only that booming voice nearby weren't so loud, it would be quite nice.

"This crown ornament is perfect. The finest accessory highlighting Miss Rabbit's dignity. Isn't that so, Miss Meimi?"

Meimi, waiting nearby, sent clap clap applause without particular comment. For taciturn her, perhaps the highest praise. Feeling inexplicably shy, I scratched my temple with my front paw.

"The Grace family hosts balls twice yearly. I always prepare Master Ahin's tailcoat, but since he shows no particular interest, I'm truly saddened."

Moreover, unlike Meimi, talkative Ulpes was forcibly exposing me to vast information. He continued explaining while wiping my body with faintly flower-scented cloth.

"Mainly lion and bear clans with whom we're friendly attend."

Therefore, this evening's ball was quite large-scale, with nobles from various territories occasionally attending, not just black panther beastmen.

'Come to think of it, that lion said he was staying at the estate for the ball.'