However, the rabbit remained silent.
Bryce, who had been forcing a smile, slowly saw his lips turn into a frown.
“I’m leaving, Sister!”
With a huff, Bryce turned his head away and left the room.
This wasn’t how it was supposed to go.
I had originally meant to help Bryce and the rabbit bond.
Still, how admirable.
I watched the rabbit munch on grass for quite a while with a pleased expression, and only after it had finished an entire bowl did it hop away briskly.
Well, I’ll just have them get along starting tomorrow!
Three full days passed.
“Golden Rabbit.”
Just a few days ago, it had pretended to be close with me in front of Bryce.
But once he left, that wasn’t the case at all.
The rabbit had settled itself comfortably on my sofa.
And it refused to let even me enter its territory.
No, that’s my sofa.
“Golden Rabbit.”
“……”
“Goooolden Rabbit.”
“Pii.”
Hearing the rabbit’s indifferent response, I looked out the window.
‘It’s a full moon again today.’
Every time I was exposed to the light of the full moon, I suffered pain as if my body were being cut by knives.
Only two people knew about my illness.
Sir Julius, a prince of the empire and a priest of the temple, and Dejes, the vice-captain of the knights.
Aside from them, even my younger brother Bryce didn’t know about my condition.
Thanks to treatment from Sir Julius, I was barely enduring it somehow, but the pain was gradually worsening.
That’s why I needed the healing ability of the original story’s heroine, Lili.
‘But for that, the rabbit has to get close to Bryce….’
But judging by how things were going, it would be a relief if they didn’t become enemies, let alone grow close.
At least it seemed to feel a bit closer to me than to Bryce, but even then, it always kept its distance.
And like that, it kept brooding over something on its own.
‘At this rate, its healing ability won’t awaken.’
Then I might really die just like in the original story, before even reaching twenty-three.
No, I can’t let that happen!
I quietly approached the Golden Rabbit.
It perked up its ears and turned its head to look at me.
“Golden Rabbit, by the way, how do you know me?”
Before it could turn away again, I quickly asked. Its round eyes blinked slowly once.
I had asked just to keep the conversation going, but I was genuinely curious too.
I hadn’t even met Lili Selverdin yet. So how did it know my name?
“Option one: I’m famous. Option two: you’ve heard about me. Option three: you just guessed.”
The rabbit thought for a moment.
Then it answered.
“Pii, pii.”
It meant it had heard about me.
“Then what was I like, from what you heard? Did I seem like a good person?”
“……”
“Hm?”
One second, two seconds, three seconds…
The rabbit inhaled softly.
Then it narrowed its eyes, made another soft sound, and tilted its head.
“What does that mean?!”
“Pii.”
Its eyes seemed to say, you already know.
What do you mean—what have you heard about me?!
“I’m a good person, Golden Rabbit!”
“Pii?”
“Seriously!”
When I insisted repeatedly, the rabbit nodded a couple of times as if doing me a favor.
But the look in its eyes clearly said it was just agreeing out of annoyance, which only made me feel more wronged and frustrated.
“Pii.”
The rabbit, which had been sitting, lay back down on the sofa.
But somehow, it looked weak.
“Golden Rabbit, what’s wrong?”
“Pii…”
“Are you okay? Are you sick somewhere?”
The rabbit shook its head. So it wasn’t sick.
Its wounds were gradually healing thanks to treatment, too.
“Are you hungry?”
I quickly brought some grass.
I placed a bowl filled with fresh, tasty greens on the table.
“Let’s eat this.”
I carefully approached the sofa and held the grass toward its mouth. But the rabbit just shook its head.
“No appetite?”
It shook its head weakly again.
Still, it had to eat. What was wrong?
“Maybe… if Bryce gives it to you, will you eat it?”
“Pii?”
The rabbit made a confused sound, clearly not understanding what I meant.
Hmm, so it wasn’t refusing because I was the one offering it.
I set the grass back on the table.
I stroked the fur on its front paw to soothe it, but it remained listless.
What’s going on? I’m worried.
Should I take it to a doctor?
“Pii….”
But then, suddenly, the rabbit’s eyes widened.
“Pii!”
“Golden Rabbit?”
It sprang up, slipped out of my arms, and jumped onto the table, then approached the grass I had placed there step by step.
Did it finally feel like eating?!
I stared at it with wide eyes.
I had been worried since it hadn’t been eating, but finally!
The rabbit pulled at the grass with its front paws.
“Should I feed you, Golden Rabbit?”
It shook its other paw firmly in refusal, then suddenly picked up another blade of grass from the bowl.
Then it placed it next to the original one.
“…?!”
What is it doing?
I held my breath and watched, then suddenly realized its intention and shot to my feet.
“Golden Rabbit! Don’t tell me—you’re writing letters?!”
“Pii.”
The rabbit nodded.
“Oh my goodness!!”
The rabbit!! It’s trying to send a message!
“Wow! I’ve never seen such a smart rabbit!”
Wait, would it be strange from its perspective if I acted like writing letters was totally normal?
“Wow, that’s amazing! I’ve heard legends like that before—about rabbits that understand human speech and can express themselves too. To think ours is one of them—this is unbelievably astonishing!”
That should sound natural enough.
Anyway, my precious baby is incredible!
‘What is it writing?!’
The rabbit shot me a glance as if asking what I was doing, then focused on writing again.
G…
I read the message as it formed.
…me…at.
“You want to eat meat?”
“Bbaeii!”
The rabbit cried brightly as if that was exactly right.
The fur on its black face puffed up, looking delighted.
“You should’ve said so earlier!”
Smack.
“Oh, sorry. I kept feeding you vegetables without knowing.”
Even though I knew it was actually human, it still looked like a rabbit.
So I’d just been giving it carrots and grass.
Right… humans need meat to live….
“Marlon! Marlon!”
At my call, Marlon came running. I quickly pointed at the grass letters the rabbit had written.
“What is this, my lady?”
“Read it.”
Marlon narrowed his eyes.
“Meat.”
“Exactly. Please bring some meat!”
As I exclaimed excitedly, Marlon looked a bit confused. The rabbit stared at him with sparkling eyes, like it was looking at the person who feeds it.
“There is some leftover meat from breakfast.”
“Perfect.”
At that moment, the rabbit’s stomach growled.
It pretended it wasn’t from its belly, but it was obvious.
As soon as Marlon brought the meat, the rabbit happily began eating.
It was the first time I’d seen it look so cheerful since bringing it here.
I briefly wondered if it was okay for a rabbit to eat meat, but then remembered that beast-people were fine with it.
“Is it good?”
“Pii.”
“You’re eating well, our Golden Rabbit.”
I watched it fondly when suddenly there was a knock at the door.
“Sister, it’s me.”
“Bryce?!”
Surprised that Bryce had come to my room first for once, I quickly ran and opened the door.
He hesitated for a moment before speaking.
“Sister, um… you’re raising that rabbit, right?”
“I’m not raising it—you are.”
Bryce ignored my words as usual and continued.
“How do I get the rabbit to….”
Come to think of it, he was asking about the rabbit.
“Are you interested in the rabbit now, Bryce? It’s eating right now. Come take a look—”
“Ah! What is that rabbit?!”
“It’s our rabbit.”
“I’m not asking that—it’s eating meat right now!”
The rabbit, happily chewing, widened its eyes and moved its mouth.
“Pii.”
Seeing Bryce glaring, the rabbit let out a small, timid sound.
Then it slowly pulled its food bowl closer to itself.
It was clearly on guard.
“Bryce, it’s finally eating properly. Why are you like this?”
“But it’s strange for a rabbit to eat meat! And it’s even seasoned meat!”
Now that I thought about it, it might look strange to others.
When I turned back, even Marlon coughed awkwardly, looking confused.
Hmm…
“Well, while working with the knights and traveling the world, I’ve realized something….”
I quickly began making up a folktale-like story to persuade them.
“There are many things beyond common sense. I’ve seen flying calves and ponds that produce iron. So a rabbit that eats meat doesn’t surprise me at all.”
“Really?”
“Of course.”
It was a bit odd, but better than letting suspicion grow.
“That rabbit… it’s not a magical beast, right?”
“What are you talking about? Where would you find such a lovable magical beast?”
Bryce still looked doubtful, but he seemed somewhat convinced.
“Anyway, what were you going to ask? You said you had a question about the rabbit.”
“That wasn’t about that rabbit… never mind.”
“Hm?”
“It’s nothing. Please rest, Sister.”
“Stay and watch the rabbit a bit more.”
“I think I’ve seen quite enough.”
Bryce and the rabbit locked eyes again.
It felt like sparks flew between them.
Bryce shook his head, and the rabbit pulled its bowl even closer.
I had hoped sparks of love would fly, but it seemed only the wrong kind were flying.
