ITBFL | Chapter 10

Episode 10

The warmth of the rabbit’s paws didn’t feel as hot anymore. Did that mean my body was burning up?

“Golden Rabbit, how are you feeling? Is the pain better?”

“Beep.”

The rabbit looked at me with a serious expression, as if telling me to worry about myself first.

It kept speaking to me, though I couldn’t understand its words. Strangely, I felt like I could grasp its emotions.

I wanted to know what the rabbit was truly saying.

A part of me even wanted to share more of my thoughts with it.

How shaken I was when I lost consciousness that day of the carriage accident, and then woke up only to have my faint hope that my parents might still be alive crushed.

How much effort I had to put in to stop my uncle from sending Bryce to a foreign country where he would face immense trials.

How exhausting it was dealing with my illness.

‘I feel like the Golden Rabbit would just quietly comfort me.’

This cynical yet warm rabbit really seemed like it would do just that.

It was odd, feeling inclined to share such thoughts with a rabbit.

‘Of course, it’s actually a person…’

Even so, I had never shared these kinds of thoughts with a person before.

But that aside…

I smiled faintly as I looked at the rabbit.

“Golden Bunny, I’m sleepy.”

“Beep.”

The rabbit stretched out its paw to keep my head from drooping, but my eyes were already closed.

With my fever spiking and my exhaustion mounting, there was no way I could fight off the drowsiness.

“Beep, Beep.”

Lize, Lize.

I thought I heard the rabbit calling my name as I drifted off into sleep.

***

“Lize, Li…”

A low voice echoed through the cave.

The man calling out the woman who was holding him suddenly stopped speaking.

“…”

He inhaled sharply, slowly lifting his hand to inspect it before his eyes.

Golden irises trembled faintly.

The large, calloused hands accustomed to gripping swords, and the sun-baked, muscle-defined arms—all of it was undeniably human.

Cassium Ruden Balteire.

It was his own body, without a doubt.

‘So, I’ve returned.’

He was back after days.

Back to his human form from that of a rabbit.

‘Is it because my injuries are healing?’

Cassium rolled up his sleeve to inspect the wound on his waist. It was indeed in a much better state than before.

When he first realized he had been given a magical potion, he didn’t think much of it.

It seemed like someone had harbored ill intent toward Balteaire and slipped him the potion. But thanks to his training, he had developed resistance to most poisons and potions from a young age.

At first, nothing happened.

But on the day he retrieved the heart of the Lagon, he suffered severe injuries.

At that moment, the latent effects of the magical potion began to manifest.

‘Even with my injuries, this potion shouldn’t have worked.’

As the potion spread through his body, Cassium—familiar with numerous magical substances—realized it was no ordinary potion.

It was imbued with black magic.

Without fully understanding what had happened, he collapsed. When he finally managed to leave the forest and reach a civilian home…

— Bryce! Take that rabbit with you!

…he had the misfortune of running into Lize.

Not just anyone, but Lize Artiel, while in this tiny, insignificant form.

‘Of all people.’

At first, he thought of escaping immediately. But his injuries prevented him.

His initial plan was to regain some strength and then figure out how to return to his original form.

However, as the days passed, Cassium gradually grew accustomed to his new surroundings.

To the space where Lize resided, to her expressions, tone, and gestures she never showed at the knightly order.

But now that he was back to normal, there was no time to waste.

He had to return immediately, even a minute earlier, to the Balteire estate and the knightly order…

Cassium’s train of thought suddenly halted.

“Mm.”

Lize, who had been holding him while sleeping, tightened her arms around him.

Her slender but firm arms pressed against his shoulders and back.

Her curly red hair tickled his cheek.

They were that close now.

Frozen like ice, Cassium remained in her embrace, unable to move.

“…”

Lize Artiel.

From their academy days to their time as active knights, she had always been someone who didn’t align with him and always managed to get on his nerves.

From the start, she was someone who bothered him, no matter what she did.

And now…

“Cassium, that bastard…”

When Lize murmured his name, Cassium thought she was awake. He turned to check her face.

But her green eyes were hidden beneath her eyelids.

Her lips, slightly parted as she muttered discontentedly in her sleep, exhaled soft breaths.

Cassium’s gaze lingered on her sleeping face for a long time.

What kind of dream is she having?

It probably wasn’t a pleasant one.

During the few days they had spent together, he had learned that Lize disliked him more than he had initially thought.

Even though that sparring incident happened ages ago, she seemed to still hold a grudge.

Was she not sincere during the victory celebration after the knights’ last mission?

Lize curled up as if she was cold.

At first, she had been holding Cassium. But now, as she burrowed closer to him, the roles reversed—Cassium was the one holding her.

Listening to her faint breaths, Cassium remained stiff as a board.

Pulling his arm away wasn’t an option now; she had nestled deeply into his embrace.

The warm breath grazing his neck kept him from regaining his composure.

“…Lize.”

After some hesitation, he called her name again.

“Lize.”

He tried once more, but she remained sound asleep, oblivious to everything.

Cassium couldn’t predict how she would react if she found out he was the rabbit.

But instead of responding, Lize simply exhaled her warm breath.

Her forehead was still hot to the touch.

It seemed her fever wasn’t going down anytime soon.

“…”

At least he was still dressed in his original attire before he transformed into the rabbit. His clothes were intact.

Cassium carefully removed his jacket and draped it over Lize.

Then, he stepped out of the cave.

The sound of his footsteps on damp grass blended with the fading rain.

He unsheathed his dagger and harvested a few medicinal herbs near the cave. He also gathered some frost-coated plants before returning.

Lize was still asleep.

Sitting beside her, Cassium gently rested her on his lap.

Her breathing had grown rougher than before.

It seemed like she needed urgent care and to leave the forest quickly.

“This is nothing for you, Lize.”

Cassium muttered as he looked down at her.

If she had known he was here, she would have opened her eyes wide and pretended everything was fine.

She had only let her guard down because she thought he was just a small, insignificant rabbit.

That was the Lize Artiel Cassium knew.

A person too proud to show any weakness.

Someone who would grow vulnerable in front of weakness but display unwavering strength before those stronger than her.

Especially to him.

Cassium unwrapped the bandage on her arm and applied the medicinal herbs to her wounds.

“…Ah.”

Lize, who had been asleep, let out a faint groan.

Hearing the sound, Cassium’s hands momentarily paused.

However, he soon resumed his movements, neatly retying the bandages before carefully placing the cold herb on Lize’s forehead.

As he cautiously applied the herb to the feverish forehead, Lize’s eyelids fluttered.

And in the next moment.

“Haah.”

Lize exhaled a warm breath and opened her eyes.

In the flickering firelight that cast shadows across the cave.

Their gazes met.

“…….”

Her half-open green eyes stared directly at Cassium.

With weak breaths, Lize continued to gaze at him for a long moment.

Cassium, who had expected her to immediately yell upon seeing him, found her reaction surprising.

I’m right in front of you, Lize.

Not the small rabbit you cherished, but Cassium Balteire.

However, Lize, lying on his lap, simply blinked quietly.

And then.

“Cassium.”

She smiled.

“…….”

It was the smile she would only show when she triumphed over him in a duel or a bet.

Cassium was caught off guard by the fact that she was smiling like that while calling his name.

“Lize. If you’ve regained consciousness, then—”

“Where were you hiding that you didn’t even show your face? Still, you came in the end.”

Her feverish voice reached Cassium. Her eyes were once again half-closed.

“But I already caught Luxka. I won the bet.”

Lize said this before closing her eyes again.

She was clearly on the edge between sleep and wakefulness.

Perhaps that was fortunate.

It was only after Lize fell back asleep that Cassium let out the breath he had been holding.

Why was I even holding my breath?

Cassium wiped his dry face with his hand.

It was clear he couldn’t stay in this place any longer.

“Cassium?!”

When I woke up and opened my eyes, the familiar ceiling of my room filled my view.

‘What’s this?’

I thought I saw Cassium.

Was it a dream?

‘Come to think of it, I was chasing after Luxka.’

How did I get back here?

“Lady Lize, it’s Malon.”

“Malon! Come in!”

“Lady Lize…?! You’ve woken up!”

At my call, Malon came rushing in. I grabbed the tearful Malon and asked,

“How did I end up here?”

“You collapsed in front of the mansion.”

“Wasn’t there someone with me?”

“Someone with you? When I found you, you were alone, Lady.”

Malon shook his head.

“No? As long as no one was with me, then it’s fine.”

So, seeing Cassium must have been a dream after all.

In the chaos of my thoughts, I had smiled when I saw him.

Was I happy to see his face after so many days?

No. I must have been so close to dying that seeing a living person—any living person—felt relieving.

Anyway, did I somehow manage to return all by myself?

‘This instinct to return home is impressive, even to me.’

Well, it wouldn’t be the first time something like this happened.

Back when I was a cadet at the academy.

During training, I had once gotten lost in the magical forest—a labyrinth-like place filled with monsters.

A maze where the paths were twisted, and the way forward wasn’t visible.

I wandered for hours, fighting monsters, and my consciousness grew hazier and hazier.

I don’t remember much about what happened in the middle.

After somehow managing to return and collapsing, I found myself waking up in front of the camp tents.

At that time, I wondered for a long while how I had returned.

I guess it was all thanks to my homing instinct.

But now that I think about it…

Wait a moment.

“Golden Bunny!!”

“Oh, my lady! Please don’t get up. Your injuries are severe!”

“Didn’t you see the bunny, Malon?”

“The bunny? That bunny?”

“You saw it?”

“No. When I found you in front of the mansion, you were alone.”

My eyes grew wide as my lips trembled.

What do I do!

I left the bunny behind in the mountains!

Our house bunny is a house bunny!