Chapter 7
Nabom’s face, already covered in white fur, turned even paler.
Twisting her body, she backed away little by little.
But before long, her back hit the wall of the mansion.
There was nowhere left to run.
Just as she opened her mouth wide to let out one final scream—
-Are you okay?
The unexpected voice made her freeze.
It was Theodore’s voice, echoing directly inside her mind.
So gentle and kind that it almost made her want to cry.
A voice filled with pure concern for her—something she had never experienced in this life.
Perhaps because of that—
-Are you hurt anywhere?
At Theodore’s question, Nabom found herself shaking her head without thinking.
A soft sigh echoed through her mind.
-I see.
The brief reply carried unmistakable relief.
It was strange.
Why was this predator so reassured by something as trivial as the fact that she was unharmed?
Did the Brown Bear clan, like the White Wolves, believe in the faith of Eostre?
Maybe they believed that eating a well-fattened rabbit blessed with the power of spring would grant them spring’s power.
If that wasn’t the reason, then this situation made no sense at all.
-Come on.
Theodore extended a hand.
When Nabom looked up at him, he spoke again in the same gentle tone.
-Let’s go back now.
“…”
Quietly, Nabom climbed onto his palm.
After all, prey like her had no choices.
She no longer had the strength to run away anyway.
Carefully lifting her up, Theodore stood.
The sudden movement of her surroundings made her dizzy, and Nabom buried her face in his thick fur.
Theodore examined her injured hind foot and said,
-I’ll change your bandage.
When Nabom nodded, Theodore began walking slowly.
-I’m sorry for frightening you.
It sounded as though he said something else afterward, but the voices around them drowned it out.
“We found her!”
“His Grace found Ration-nim!”
As soon as everyone saw Theodore carrying the Arctic rabbit, people began gathering one after another.
“Snow Rabbit?”
“Snowflake! You’re safe!”
The retainers, Anna, Louis, and Ferdi all smiled with relief.
But Nabom neither saw their faces nor heard their voices.
Because she had just realized something far more important.
Wait.
I answered Theodore twice just now, didn’t I?
I’m doomed.
He completely figured out that I’m not a normal rabbit.
***
After returning to human form, Theodore truly did change Nabom’s bandage himself.
Personally.
Thankfully, he didn’t suddenly open his mouth and say:
“As expected, you’re an Arctic rabbit blessed with the power of spring since you can understand me. Good thing I brought you back.”
Nor did he immediately eat her.
Despite being known as the predator that tore apart beastkin, Theodore tied the bandage with astonishing precision.
Afterward, he gave Anna some instructions.
Carrying Nabom in her arms, Anna proceeded to walk around the castle issuing orders to various servants.
Before long, Anna placed Nabom onto a soft bed in a room where the servants had been busily working.
“Snowflake-nim, you’ll be staying here from now on.”
Nabom blinked blankly.
She could hardly believe what she was seeing.
A desk.
A bed.
A wardrobe.
Even a bathroom.
The room had everything.
More importantly—
Everything was small.
Not furniture for ordinary beastkin who could transform into humans.
It looked like furniture specifically designed for small animals.
…What is this?
There was no way all of this had been built in such a short time.
Slowly, Nabom placed her front paws on the bed’s railing.
Although it showed little sign of use thanks to careful maintenance, the bed clearly appeared quite old.
As she tilted her head in confusion, Anna began speaking softly.
“It would be lonely for both His Grace and Milady to leave it empty forever.”
For a brief moment, bitterness crossed Anna’s face.
Then she smiled again.
“From now on, this is your room, Snowflake-nim.”
But Nabom only grew more confused.
What predator in the world gave a bedroom to prey they intended to use as emergency rations?
Rather than a room…
Looking at the wooden bars surrounding the bed—
Or rather, the guard rails—
Nabom narrowed her eyes.
Isn’t this a prison?
At that moment, her body suddenly shuddered.
She frowned.
This feeling!
“Snowflake-nim?”
Nabom smacked her stomach with her front paws.
Anna only looked puzzled.
Nabom then pointed toward the bathroom.
“Ah! I understand. I’ll take you there right away.”
Beaming, Anna picked her up.
Anna never seemed surprised by the fact that Nabom could communicate.
Had she known from the beginning that Nabom wasn’t an ordinary rabbit?
“I’m so happy we can finally communicate, Snowflake-nim. I was starting to feel embarrassed, wondering if I’d been talking to a normal rabbit all this time.”
Exactly when did you figure it out?!
Nabom’s despair lasted only briefly.
The moment Anna set her down inside the bathroom, her stomach began to cramp.
As she tried to settle into position inside the small animal-sized toilet, she felt a gaze fixed on her from behind.
Turning around, she found Anna staring intently at her.
Startled, Nabom jumped straight into the air.
“Oh my, Snowflake-nim! Your injury hasn’t fully healed yet. It’s dangerous to jump around like that.”
Of course I’d be startled! You’re watching me!
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Frowning fiercely, Nabom pointed toward the door.
“Okay, okay. I’ll leave now.”
For some reason, Anna’s shoulders drooped as she turned away.
“I’m sure the way Snowflake-nim curls up into a little ball while using the bathroom would be adorable too…”
Muttering incomprehensible nonsense, Anna left the room.
Once the door closed, Nabom was finally able to focus.
***
After emptying all the grass she’d stuffed into her stomach, her bloated body finally returned to normal.
Breathing a sigh of relief, Nabom made a firm resolution.
From now on, I’m dieting.
I’ll only eat enough to stay alive.
Unfortunately, this room was a place where temptation arrived every single day.
“For a rabbit, nothing beats hay! Snowflake-nim, I brought hay!”
“What are you talking about? Carrot leaves are obviously superior. Here, Snowflake-nim, give them a try.”
Today as well, two men appeared beside her bed, holding out various plants.
Nabom’s tiny nose twitched as she leaned closer to the leaves.
Unable to resist the fragrant smell, she snatched both the hay and carrot leaves at once.
The crispy and crunchy textures danced inside her mouth.
As Nabom’s cheeks puffed up adorably, the faces of the two men brightened as well.
“Snowflake-niiim, there’s more!”
“Here, have another!”
The burly men spoke in strangely cutesy voices while offering her more greens.
But this time Nabom didn’t react.
Her shoulders slumped.
I’ve fallen into temptation again.
As expected of a count’s household.
Even the grass was ridiculously high quality.
Whether Theodore planned to fatten her up for himself or send her to the Imperial Family, she couldn’t tell.
But either way, things were definitely going according to his plan.
“Hmm. She was eating so happily. Why did she suddenly stop?”
“I think Snowflake-nim hasn’t had much appetite lately.”
“Really? Is her health okay?”
“Yes. She’s still eating a proper amount every day, so there’s no problem.”
“And her hind leg? Is it healing?”
“She’s getting better little by little, so don’t worry.”
The two men visibly relaxed at Anna’s answer.
“Good. Snowflake-nim is a brave one, after all. Did you see it? She even left a wound on my arm.”
One of the men—the Commander—proudly displayed his muscular forearm.
There was a tiny scratch so small it was barely visible.
“You’re bragging about that? Once Snowflake-nim fully recovers, she’ll leave a much bigger wound on me!”
“What did you say?”
“Honestly, aren’t I the most likely next target? As you know, I’m Snowflake-nim’s personal maid.”
“Anna, stop saying such presumptuous things!”
“Regardless, one thing is certain. We can’t let another incident like that happen.”
At Anna’s words, all three expressions darkened.
“Grizzly Castle is filled with rough-looking beastkin like us.”
“Exactly. Snowflake-nim is a herbivore and so tiny. We were too ignorant and inconsiderate.”
After Nabom’s panicked escape from the Great Hall, a strict order had come down from Theodore himself.
When visiting the Arctic rabbit:
- No more than two people at a time.
- Never meet her in an unfamiliar environment.
- Anyone wishing to see her must visit her room instead.
- And under no circumstances should anyone call her “Emergency Rations.”
The nickname had originally been an inside joke among those who admired their lord’s hobby of rescuing injured animals, treating them, and releasing them back into the wild.
But if that title upset Snowflake-nim, then it had to go.
“Since it was the first time she’d ever been invited to dinner, I suppose we got overly excited.”
“That just shows how special Snowflake-nim is.”
“Exactly. That’s why we need to take good care of her.”
Anna gazed at Nabom with warm eyes.
The two men quietly watched her as well.
After giving her a small wave, they left the room.
Nabom didn’t even look back.
She continued grooming herself.
Yeah. Special.
Of course I’d seem special if you’ve all convinced yourselves I possess the power of spring.
“Snowflake-nim.”
At Anna’s gentle voice, Nabom slowly turned around.
“Everyone in Grizzly Castle wants to meet you.”
Nabom tilted her head and glared at her.
And why exactly do they want to meet me?
The question was obvious.
“Because Snowflake-nim is so incredi—”
Anna’s face lit up with astonishing brightness.
She was clearly about to say something that might finally answer Nabom’s question.
But at that exact moment—
Knock, knock.
A loud voice came from outside the door.
“Snowflake! I came to visit you!”
Nabom slammed a front paw onto the bed.
Respect a rabbit’s right to know the truth!
