TSROTRATBP Chapter 4

I sat on the cushion, and across from me, Iverin knelt on one knee, forming a strange sort of standoff. Whatever the content of his speech, his manner alone was, at the very least, quite courteous.

Not that manners meant a damn thing. Coming from a guy who'd rattled on about 'emergency rations,' I couldn't drop my guard for a second. Ears up, I readied myself to deliver a hind-leg kick the moment it became necessary.

Sensing my wariness, Iverin placed a hand over his chest and spoke first.

"My apologies for the belated introduction. I'm Rudd Iverin, the right hand of Lord Ahin, who brought Miss Rabbit to this estate."

Faced with such a proper greeting, a fresh wave of worry washed over me.

Should I let him know I could communicate, or not. But given the way he'd introduced himself like this, it seemed Iverin had already assumed as a matter of course that I understood speech.

"Lord Ahin's noble reasons for taking Miss Rabbit in must run deep. I merely follow those reasons. A wondrous creature that understands the continental tongue—at first I wondered if you might be some manner of divine beast. Your outward appearance is quite ordinary, but."

"…….."

"Quite ordinary."

He didn't need to say it twice, that I looked like some ordinary baby rabbit. But with that dead-serious face of his for every little thing, even a throwaway remark like that got under my skin.

One small relief, at least—he didn't seem to be planning to eat me or do me harm on the spot. That said…

Why did that black panther, Ahin, bring me here in the first place?

Speak of the predator, and there he was. No sooner had the question surfaced than a sound of formal salute rang out beyond the bedchamber. The clatter of the guard knights' armor sent an unwelcome chill down my spine.

Before long the door opened, revealing the silver-haired man I'd encountered earlier that day. His entire bearing was loose, unhurried—like some arrogant predator that had already cornered its prey.

Iverin, catching me mid-daydream, carefully gathered me up and rose, bowing his head in greeting.

"You've returned."

"Iverin. Why're you here?"

"You sent me ahead to attend to Miss Rabbit, did you not?"

The unhurried red gaze drifted, landing squarely on me in Iverin's arms.

"Ah. Right."

'Ah. Right.'—even the faint pause before he answered made it plain to anyone listening that he'd simply forgotten.

Curious as to the reason, Iverin held me out slightly and asked.

"Lord Ahin, where in the world did she come from—?"

"Found her in the border woods, where it runs up against rabbit territory. Some trespassers had crossed the line. Has it been confirmed whether she's a beastman?"

"By the physician's assessment, it's ruled out as impossible."

"Is that so."

Untying his cravat as he listened to the explanation, Ahin's gaze settled on me once more. Unlike Iverin's steadiness, it was a look I couldn't even begin to put into words—utterly devoid of feeling. What he might be thinking was beyond guessing entirely.

"Well, beastman or not, it doesn't matter."

"May I ask the reason?"

"Eating her tomorrow."

Struck dumb by the bolt from the blue, I whipped my head up at Iverin. Didn't you say Lord Ahin's taking me in had some noooble, deep reason behind it? This isn't what you told me!

Looking down at me in turn, Iverin nodded with grave solemnity.

"If she's to be served for breakfast, a roast would suit best. I'll inform the kitchen ahead of time."

Oi! Oi, you!

So, in the space of a few seconds, I'd been betrayed. All those hours he'd spent playing at 'let's build some rapport'—and here he was, the biggest traitor under heaven.

"My, it's grown late already."

Setting my pale-faced self down on the bed, Iverin strolled over to the terrace, unbothered, and drew the curtains. With a soft swish, the crimson drapes shut out the black night sky completely.

"I'll take my leave now. Rest well."

Don't you dare just leave. Stay put, Iverin! I growled with everything I had from atop the bed, but the traitor's retreating back only grew more distant.

Still fuming even after he'd fully left the bedchamber, I felt a chill of dread prickle across my back.

The sensation of a stare fixed on the back of my head had triggered some instinctive alarm.

Slowly turning my head, I found myself meeting Ahin's gaze—and the smile had drained entirely from his face. In that instant, the dreadful scene from earlier that day flashed through my mind.

"AAAAAAH!"

"Gk—!"

The reek of blood thick in the forest air. The two beastmen's heads, rolling in the dirt. Just recalling the sight was enough to turn my stomach.

…And I'm supposed to be alone with a black panther like that?

Absolutely not. Everything before me went as dark as the night pressing against the window.