Episode 27
“Lady Lize.”
Julius tapped the back of my hand lightly.
It was then that I realized he had been calling me several times.
His eyes, gazing at me, showed slight concern. He reached out and pressed the back of his hand to my forehead.
“You have a slight fever. It seems your strength hasn’t fully recovered since you fell into the water.”
“I should have rested properly, but I didn’t really have the time. Still, I’m not seriously ill or anything.”
As I glanced at Julius’s hand touching my forehead, it suddenly jerked away.
The golden bunny had swatted his hand away with its fluffy paw.
Then it plopped itself right between Julius and me, as if staking its claim.
Its seemingly jealous behavior brought an unintentional smile to my face.
Taking advantage of the situation, Julius stretched widely and asked,
“Lady Lize.”
“Yes?”
“Is there anything else troubling you?”
“Do I seem like I have a lot on my mind?”
“I just have a feeling you might.”
“Is this one of those priestly instincts?”
“Partly that, and partly because it feels like your thoughts have been elsewhere all day.”
Was I really that obvious?
“Then, Lady Lize, why don’t you go for a dark magic measurement? I’ll wait here for you.”
“Alright, I’ll go.”
Julius initially believed that the abnormalities in my body weren’t related to dark magic. However, with recent incidents involving dark magic and my worsening symptoms, he decided to explore other possibilities.
“Golden Bunny, I’ll be back soon. Stay still for a bit, alright?”
“Beep.”
Golden Bunny folded one of its ears slightly in acknowledgment.
Honestly, I expected it to insist on following me, so this reaction was a bit surprising.
‘Well, Golden Bunny is a person. And probably over ten years old at least. It’s not like it has to follow me everywhere.’
That’s right. When you think about it, Golden Bunny is a person.
Which means that one day, someone could suddenly turn into a bunny.
I wondered if its family was searching for it somewhere.
When I first brought it in, I debated whether I should return it home once its wounds healed.
But I didn’t, mainly because, in the original story, Lily’s relationship with Baron Selberdine—her father—was incredibly strained.
Baron Selberdine had a habit of taking out his frustrations on Lily whenever things didn’t go his way.
Not just verbal abuse, but there were even days when he resorted to physical violence.
Because of that, Lily had always longed for independence and craved a warm, affectionate environment.
So, I decided to care for Golden Bunny myself rather than sending it back home.
‘But what if Golden Bunny isn’t Lily?’
Why was I having such thoughts again?
“Golden Bunny!”
I called out to it from the door.
“I’m leaving now, alright?”
“Beep.”
The bunny folded its ears twice, as if to nod.
It didn’t look like it was sending me off with any particular cheer or affection.
I lingered for a moment like someone hesitant to leave, only closing the door after Julius called, “Lady Lize?”
As I walked toward the measurement room, I sank deeper into thought.
‘Why do I keep…’
“Beep.”
Why is it that when I see that indifferent gaze, Cassium occasionally comes to mind?
‘No way. That’s ridiculous. But still, no way…’
Strange suspicions began to creep back in.
Of course, those suspicions were based on the premise that Cassium had gone missing.
‘But officially, he’s supposed to be on a mission.’
Is that really true?
Even when I asked Captain Denver again, he never said Cassium had disappeared.
But his reaction wasn’t exactly convincing either.
Could something really have happened?
If, by any chance, something did happen—though it seems unlikely—Cassium would probably manage to survive somehow, no matter where he was.
‘That guy has ridiculous luck. But still…’
If something did happen, wouldn’t it be my responsibility to look into it?
‘Not because I’m particularly worried about him, but since we’re in the same knight order, and as a sub-captain of the Golden Lion Knights, which ranks above the Black Leopard division, I should at least check on the neighboring sub-captain.’
Right?
Even I had to admit it made sense.
So, my concern for Cassium was somewhat justifiable.
‘I’ll start by looking into his whereabouts.’
While thoughts of Cassium swirled in my mind, images of Golden Bunny kept appearing here and there. I did my best to ignore them and quickened my pace.
***
“Which ribbon do you think looks better, this one or that one?”
“Beep.”
Cassium snatched both ribbons out of Julius’s hands.
Julius, who had just lost all the ribbons in an instant, burst out laughing, “Ahaha.”
“Now I understand why Lady Lize is so fond of you.”
“Beep.”
Julius, who had been observing Cassium with curiosity, paused, hummed in thought, and then asked,
“You know that I’m aware you’re no ordinary rabbit, don’t you?”
Cassium showed no particular reaction to Julius’s question.
He had already expected that this man might notice.
Despite his outward appearance, Julius was one of the most powerful wielders of holy energy in the empire.
The moment Julius patted him, he must have realized it: that he wasn’t a normal rabbit, and that traces of dark magic coursed through him.
‘And yet, he still tried to tie a ribbon on me, knowing all that.’
Cassium glared coldly at Julius.
But Julius, undeterred by the sharp look, sat even closer.
Cassium thought, This guy is unbelievably shameless.
“Who turned you into this? And more importantly, who are you?”
Julius stared at the rabbit’s firm muscles and its golden eyes.
“I’m not particularly interested in the knights, but I do take occasional interest in Erne.”
“Beep.”
“Because that’s where Lady Lize is.”
“Beep? Bee-bee-bee—”
Cassium, scowling, snapped at Julius, who laughed again, “Ahaha.”
“I’m very interested in Lady Lize, you see.”
“Beep…”
“Well, who wouldn’t be? Lady Lize is someone anyone would be enchanted by.”
“…”
Cassium almost retorted, Of course she is, but stopped himself.
For some reason, he didn’t want to admit it in front of this man.
“But you see, Lady Lize often talks about someone. A certain Sir Cassium of the Duke of Balteire’s household, if I’m not mistaken.”
“Beep.”
Julius hesitated as if he were about to reveal more.
Cassium smacked Julius’s arm lightly with his paw, urging him to continue.
“Beep.”
“Are you curious about what she said about him?”
“Beep.”
“She said he was annoying.”
“…”
“Whenever she came to the temple, at least 80% of the stories she shared were about how that man irritated her.”
It wasn’t clear if this was a good or bad thing.
“Anyway, she always seemed agitated, as though he occupied all her thoughts about the knights.”
Cassium eyed Julius warily.
But why was this guy talking about Lize?
“Lately, though, I heard that man hasn’t been seen around.”
“…”
“So, perhaps if you admire Lady Lize, now might be your chance. The person who constantly occupied her attention is absent, after all.”
“Beep.”
“This could be your moment to win Lady Lize’s heart.”
Cassium stood abruptly, his face stern.
Julius laughed heartily again, for some reason finding all this amusing.
So this guy is planning to sway Lize, is he?
‘No. I don’t want to marry you like that.’
Cassium knew well that Lize’s heart wasn’t his.
Her feelings were beyond his control, wherever they might lead.
But that didn’t mean he couldn’t stop someone else from making advances on her.
“Beep…”
Cassium looked down at his round, fluffy paw.
A few days ago, when he briefly returned to his human form, he had been sure of one thing.
He didn’t have much time left before he would return to his true self completely.
‘Once I’m back, there’s no way this guy will…’
At that moment, Julius laughed again, “Ahaha.”
Cassium frowned deeply, irritated. What could possibly be so amusing?
“Anyway, Sir Balteire,” Julius suddenly said.
Cassium flinched.
What did he just call me?
Julius looked straight at Cassium and asked,
“How about making a deal with me?”
His voice was light as before, but his gaze was ice-cold.
• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •By Esraa• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •
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