TBF 07

Chapter 7

Nabom’s face, covered in white fur, turned even paler.

She twisted her body and barely managed to back away. But a moment later, her back hit the mansion wall. There was nowhere left to run.

Just as she opened her mouth wide to scream with all her strength—

-Are you okay?

The unexpected voice made her freeze.

It was Theodore’s voice, echoing directly inside her mind.

It was so gentle and warm that it almost made her cry.

It was the first time in this life that someone had spoken to her with such sincere concern.

Perhaps because of that—

-Are you hurt anywhere?

Without thinking, Nabom shook her head.

She heard Theodore let out a quiet sigh in her mind.

-I see.

His short reply was filled with relief.

It was strange.

Why was this predator so relieved over something as simple as the fact that she wasn’t hurt?

Did the brown bear clan also worship Eostre like the White Wolves did?

Maybe they believed that if they fattened her up and ate her, they would gain the power of spring.

If it wasn’t for that reason, none of this made any sense.

-Let’s go.

Theodore held out his hand.

When Nabom looked up into his eyes, he spoke gently once more.

-Let’s go back now.

“…”

Quietly, Nabom climbed onto his palm.

She was prey. It wasn’t as if she had any choice.

Besides, she didn’t have the strength left to run anymore.

Carefully cradling her, Theodore stood up.

The sudden change in height made her dizzy.

She buried her face in his thick fur.

Theodore examined her injured hind leg before saying,

-I’ll change your bandage.

Nabom nodded.

Theodore slowly started walking.

-I’m sorry for frightening you.

It sounded like he said something else afterward, but the voices around them drowned it out.

“We found her!”

“The Lord found Emergency Rations!”

Seeing Theodore carrying the Arctic rabbit, the search party hurried over one after another.

“Snow Rabbit!”

“Snowflake! You’re safe!”

The retainers, Anna, Louis, and Ferdi all smiled with relief.

But Nabom couldn’t see their faces or hear their voices.

Because she had just realized something much more important.

Wait…

I answered Theodore twice just now.

I’m doomed.

He definitely knows I’m not an ordinary rabbit now.

*

Back in his human form, Theodore really did change Nabom’s bandage himself.

Fortunately, nothing like,

“So you understand what I’m saying. You really are the Arctic rabbit with the power of spring. Good thing I caught you.”

followed by him opening his mouth to eat her…

…actually happened.

Despite his terrifying reputation as the beast who tore apart beastmen, Theodore tied an unbelievably perfect bandage.

Afterward, he gave Anna a few instructions.

Anna then carried Nabom around while giving orders to the servants.

Soon, she brought Nabom into a room where servants had been busily working and gently placed her on a soft bed.

“Snowflake, you’ll be staying here from today onward.”

Nabom blinked blankly.

She couldn’t believe what she was seeing.

There was a desk.

A bed.

A wardrobe.

Even a bathroom.

Everything a bedroom needed.

More importantly…

Every single piece of furniture was tiny.

It wasn’t made for ordinary beastmen who could transform into humans.

It looked like furniture made especially for small animals.

…What is this?

There was no way they had built all of this in such a short time.

Slowly, Nabom placed her front paws on the bed’s wooden railing.

The furniture showed almost no signs of wear because it had been well maintained, but it was obvious it had existed for quite some time.

As Nabom tilted her head in confusion, Anna quietly spoke.

“It would have been too lonely to leave this room empty forever—for both the Lord and the Lady.”

A bitter expression briefly crossed Anna’s lips.

But she quickly smiled again.

“From now on, this is your room.”

Nabom only became more confused.

What kind of predator gave a room to the prey it planned to eat as emergency food?

Rather than a room…

Looking at the wooden rails surrounding the bed—

A prison, isn’t it?

Just then, Nabom suddenly shivered.

This feeling!

“Snowflake?”

Nabom patted her stomach with her front paws.

Anna didn’t understand.

“What is it?”

This time, Nabom pointed toward the bathroom.

“Ah! I understand. I’ll take you there right away.”

Smiling brightly, Anna picked her up.

Anna isn’t surprised at all that I can communicate.

Did she already know I wasn’t an ordinary rabbit?

“I’m so happy we can finally communicate, Snowflake.”

Anna smiled warmly.

“I was starting to feel embarrassed, wondering if I’d just been talking to an ordinary rabbit all this time.”

…Exactly when did they figure me out?

Nabom had only a moment to despair before Anna set her down inside the bathroom.

Her stomach immediately began to ache.

The small bathroom was clearly designed for animals.

Just as she was about to settle into position…

She felt someone staring at her from behind.

Turning around, she saw Anna watching her intently.

Startled, Nabom jumped into the air.

“Oh my, Snowflake! Your leg hasn’t fully healed yet. It’s dangerous to jump like that!”

Of course I’d be startled! You’re watching me!

She vigorously pointed toward the door with her front paws.

“Okay, okay. I’ll leave now.”

For some reason, Anna’s shoulders drooped as she turned around.

“I was sure even the way you curl into a little ball to use the bathroom would be adorable…”

Muttering strange things to herself, Anna left the room.

Once the door closed, Nabom finally relaxed and could focus.

*

After emptying out all the grass she’d stuffed into her stomach, her swollen body finally returned to normal.

Relieved, Nabom made a firm vow.

From now on, I’m eating less.

I’ll only eat enough to stay alive.

Sadly, temptation visited this room every single day.

“For a rabbit, nothing beats hay! Snowflake, here’s some hay!”

“What nonsense. Carrot leaves are obviously the best. Here, Snowflake, try these.”

Once again, two men stood outside the bed, offering her fresh greens.

Her tiny nose twitched as it drifted toward the leaves.

Unable to resist the delicious smell, Nabom snatched both the hay and the carrot leaves at once.

Crunch.

Crunch.

The two different textures danced pleasantly inside her mouth.

As her chubby cheeks puffed out adorably, the two men’s faces lit up with joy.

“Snowflake! There’s more!”

“Here! Have some more!”

The huge, muscular men spoke in ridiculously sweet baby voices as they held out more greens.

But Nabom no longer reacted.

Instead, her shoulders slumped.

I gave in again…

Just as expected of a count’s household.

Even their vegetables were premium quality.

Whether Theodore planned to fatten her up to eat himself or send her to the Imperial Palace, she didn’t know.

But one thing was certain.

Everything was going exactly according to Theodore’s plan.

“Hmm… She was eating so well. Why did she suddenly stop?”

“I think Snowflake hasn’t had much of an appetite lately.”

“Really? Is she healthy?”

“Yes. She still eats an appropriate amount every day, so there’s nothing to worry about.”

“And her hind leg? Is it healing?”

“It’s getting better day by day.”

Hearing Anna’s answer, the two men sighed in relief.

“Good. Snowflake is brave, after all. Did you see? She even scratched my arm with her little paw.”

One of them—the captain—proudly showed off his muscular forearm.

The scratch was so tiny that it was barely visible.

“You’re bragging about something that small? Once Snowflake fully recovers, she’ll leave a much bigger wound on me!”

“What?”

“Honestly, aren’t I the most likely candidate? After all, I’m Snowflake’s personal maid.”

“Anna! Stop saying such presumptuous things!”

“Anyway, what’s certain is that we can’t let what happened that day happen again.”

“The other day.”

The moment Anna spoke those words, all three of them became gloomy.

“The Grizzly household is full of huge beastmen like us.”

“That’s right. Snowflake is such a tiny herbivore. We were too ignorant and inconsiderate.”

After Snowflake fled in terror from the Great Hall, Lord Theodore issued strict orders throughout Grizzly Castle.

Whenever anyone visited the Arctic rabbit:

• No more than two people at a time.

• Never meet the rabbit in unfamiliar places. If they wished to see her, they had to visit her room instead.

• And under no circumstances were they to call her “Emergency Rations.”

That nickname had originally been an inside joke among those who admired their lord’s unusual hobby of rescuing injured animals, treating them, and releasing them afterward.

But if that nickname upset Snowflake…

Then they would stop using it.

“It was the first time she’d ever been invited to dinner. We all got too excited.”

“That just shows how special Snowflake is.”

“Yes. That’s why we have to take good care of her.”

Anna looked at Nabom with gentle eyes.

The two men quietly watched her as well.

After giving her a small wave, they left the room.

Nabom, however, didn’t even glance back.

She simply continued grooming herself.

Yeah. Of course I’m special.

If you’ve all mistaken me for the rabbit with the power of spring, then naturally I’d seem special.

“Snowflake.”

Hearing Anna’s gentle voice, Nabom slowly turned around.

“Everyone in Grizzly Castle wants to meet you.”

Nabom frowned and tilted her head at Anna, as if to ask,

“And exactly why do they want to meet me?”

“Because you’re just so ador—”

Anna’s face suddenly brightened with excitement.

She was clearly about to say something she thought would reassure Nabom.

But just then—

Knock. Knock.

A loud voice came from outside the door.

“Snowflake! We came to see you!”

Nabom slammed her front paw onto the bed.

Rabbits deserve the right to know the truth too!