AEIRSMLAG Chapter 026

Link in my bio for release schedules/status of my novels. I’ve tried a few different methods for keeping readers updated, and I’ve failed at them all. Hopefully this one sticks…

 

Silver and copper coins clinked and fell, followed by a handkerchief, a note, and a small wooden box.

“Hmm.”

I picked it up.

It was as small as a lipstick case, and when I opened the lid slightly, smoke quietly seeped out. The acrid smell was the same as the smoke from the night we were attacked.

‘This is it.’

I quickly closed the case, not wanting Ludwin to catch a whiff of it.

Even though it was infuriating that Loren had shown up again and lied, I was relieved to have gotten my hands on the troublesome drug.

“You kept this with you… huh?”

But I stopped mid-sentence.

“Loren?”

Squeak─!

On the blue velvet sofa, a white rabbit with a pink nose trembled as it glared at me and Ludwin.

“You really were a rabbit beastmen?”

When I asked, dumbfounded, the white rabbit stomped its back foot on the sofa as if to say I was too much.

He was huffing and throwing a tantrum, but the movements were so small and insignificant that I couldn’t help but laugh.

“This is real, huh. That’s a relief.”

I tucked the small wooden box into my bosom.

If I handed this over to the apothecary, they would make something useful out of it.

I should have Jeffrey take care of it later.

“Now, why don’t you tell me why you came here? Unlike Lu, rabbits can hold a pen with their front paws, right?”

I waved a pen in front of him with a devilish grin, and Loren’s red eyes shook like there was an earthquake.

I had just been testing him, but unlike Ludwin, he seemed to understand my words.

“Or should I make a brush right here? I’ve never seen a brush made of rabbit fur, but it might work well.”

The rabbit, shivering at the thought of me plucking its fur to make a brush, looked cute. But thinking it was Loren made me say more mischievous things.

“Choose.”

The moment I extended the pen, Loren jumped off the sofa with a determined look.

Squeak─!

But it was a futile effort.

As soon as he jumped down, Ludwin grabbed Loren by the scruff of his neck with a gentle bite.

“Ah!”

I was momentarily startled, but Ludwin was careful, only biting lightly on the neck’s skin.

Squeak squeak!

Loren struggled to run away, even though his neck could have been torn if he wasn’t careful.

Worried that he might bleed, I quickly bent down to meet Loren’s eyes.

“If you keep trying to run, I’ll feed you to Lu.”

Squeak─!

Loren immediately stopped struggling.

Grr!

Ludwin protested, saying he didn’t like it, but there was no mercy.

Tears began to fall from Loren’s big red eyes as he slumped, seemingly giving up.

He looked so pitiful, but I remained firm.

“Crying won’t make me let you go.”

I spoke coldly.

“You still refuse to talk, so there’s no other choice.”

I rested my chin on my hand and thought for a moment.

Since he was affected by the same drug as Ludwin, it seemed he wouldn’t return to normal immediately.

Since the family was mostly busy preparing for social gatherings and rarely home, it wouldn’t be a problem if there was one more suspicious rabbit.

I smiled at Loren.

“Let’s go to my house.”

When Loren heard those words, the tears stopped flowing from his eyes. His face looked a bit dismal, as if everything was over.

“Oh my, miss? What’s with the rabbit?”

“Ah. It’s Lu’s emergency food supply.”

“What?”

The maids seemed unsure how much of this was a joke and looked confused.

Squeak─!

Loren stomped his foot inside the box at my cruel joke. He seemed quite temperamental in his rabbit form.

‘Is it because his rationality is weakened?’

Anyway, as soon as I got home, I put Loren in a cage big enough for a person and placed it in the same room as Ludwin.

If he tried to escape, Ludwin would stop him.

Loren, who had been listening to Ludwin’s threatening growls for a long time, finally fainted a little while ago.

I told the maids to feed him some suitable weeds and then stepped out after a shower.

Thanks to Loren, I closed the shop early today, so it was still midday.

Sitting at my vanity, I dried my hair with a towel and thought.

‘I should have asked more about the drug when he was still human.’

I didn’t expect him to turn into a rabbit so easily from just a bit of the drug. It was definitely a dangerous substance.

‘Is Ludwin okay? He was there earlier.’

I glanced at the small wooden box on the table.

Remembering how much he suffered when he was affected by the drug, I couldn’t help but worry.

Huuu.

At that moment, I heard a whining sound. Looking back, I saw Ludwin entering through the door connecting to the next room.

“Lu?”

Seeing me, Ludwin suddenly stood up on his hind legs and waggled his front paws in front of him.

‘Oh no, oh no, hide?’

Was that what he meant?

Then he lay down on the floor and covered his eyes with his front paws.

‘Why? Do I look that bad?’

I looked down and saw the thick gown I was wearing.

I realized why. It might look like I was only wearing a bathrobe after a bath.

‘Could he be embarrassed?’

I chuckled, put down the towel, and approached Ludwin.

“Lu, I’m wearing clothes underneath. It’s okay to look.”

Even if I try to keep my distance from Ludwin in case he turns back into a human, it’s impossible when he’s this deadly cute.

Ludwin seemed to understand and uncovered his eyes. He looked me over and seemed relieved.

“Are you hurt anywhere? You inhaled the smoke earlier, right?”

I was worried, so I gently stroked his snout with my thumb.

Whimper?!

Ludwin suddenly stiffened as if he had broken down. Then, trembling, he suddenly stood up.

“Ah!”

Startled by his sudden movement, I fell back, and Ludwin, equally startled, fell towards me.

Unfortunately, his face ended up under my chin, and my lips briefly brushed against the bridge of his nose.

At that moment, a flash of light appeared.

“Ah!”

I had seen this familiar light several times before. As the faint golden light spread, his shape began to change.

‘Is he transforming into a human now?’

I was so embarrassed that I quickly pushed Ludwin away, took off the thick gown I was wearing, and threw it at him.

Whoosh!

The light faded, and Ludwin’s form gradually changed into his familiar human shape.

I quickly turned my back to him.

After the light completely disappeared, there was a moment of silence. Then I heard the rustling sound of him adjusting the gown.

But even after a long time, he said nothing.

“…My Lord?”

Worried he might have collapsed like before, I turned around and saw an unexpected sight.

Ludwin was sitting with his back to me, his face buried in his hands.

But in the dim room, his neck looked red as if he was blushing.

‘Why is he like that?’

Completely oblivious to what I had just done, I tilted my head in confusion.

“Lord Rivolte?”

When I called him again, Ludwin flinched and slowly turned his head.

The red neck I had seen seemed to be an illusion; his face was normal.

But something felt different from the last time he transformed. He didn’t seem feverish but calm.

“…It’s been a while, Lady Dilucia.”

Suddenly, I snapped back to reality.

This was not the cute and innocent dog Lu, but the composed Ludwin Rivolte, the supporting male lead I knew.

His emotionless amber eyes looked straight at me.

At that moment, my body moved on its own and stood up abruptly.

Tap tap tap.

“My Lady?”

Ludwin’s voice and the sensation of something catching my wrist made me stop.

“…Are you running away again?”

“Pardon?”

I looked around in confusion, realizing I was almost running down the hallway.

‘How did I get here?’

I had instinctively fled whenever I saw Ludwin for the past four years, so my body must have reacted on its own.

Last time, he seemed delirious, so it was fine, but this time, our eyes met directly without any mental preparation, and my body responded first.

“Well, I wasn’t running away…”

I averted my gaze.

Honestly, I was scared and ran away. After all, even a paper cutter would be a sufficient weapon for him.

Instinctively realizing that, I had fled.

Unable to even look at his face properly, I heard his voice turn somber.

“I know you dislike me, but… could you endure it for a moment? I have something important to say.”

Come to think of it, Ludwin was holding my wrist. But there was no strength in his grip, even though he was supposedly a sword master.

‘Even cotton candy would hold tighter than this.’

I thought for a moment and then realized what he had just said.

“What? I don’t dislike you, My Lord.”

Ludwin gave a bitter smile.

Why is he smiling like that? Does he think my reaction was just a formality?

‘But it’s true. I’m just scared you might kill me, not that I dislike you.’

Honestly, having seen his cute and pitiful side as a child, how could I dislike him?

It was more like he disliked me.

I considered saying that, but the thought that words become reality made me stay silent, fearing he might really kill me.

“Could you let go of my hand?”

Ludwin seemed momentarily puzzled, then looked at his hand and quickly released me, surprised.

As I rubbed the spot where he had held me with a strange feeling, I noticed his other hand holding the gown.

‘Oh, dear.’

It seemed the gown was too small. I thought it would be fine since it was a large robe meant to be worn over clothes, but it looked a bit tight on him.

I tore my eyes away from his muscular thighs.

“I’ll bring you some clothes.”