Chapter 9
On the way back to Timi Village, it was Ray who took the driver’s seat this time.
Despite his cold appearance, he handled the carriage with surprising gentleness — the ride was so smooth and quiet that Perea almost felt sleepy.
Luckily, little Theo sat beside her, chattering endlessly in his cute voice, keeping her from dozing off.
“Perea! Perea! Look! Theo’s hand is all healed now!”
The boy proudly held up his plump little palm. The small scrape he’d gotten during the accident was already completely gone.
Perea knew beastmen healed faster than normal humans, but this speed was beyond her expectations. She gently rubbed the boy’s now soft, uninjured hand and smiled.
“Yes, Prince Theo. You really are amazing. How did your wound disappear so fast?”
“Because Theo is great!”
He pressed both hands to his cheeks and shook his head from side to side like a happy cat.
Even knowing that this adorable child was actually a tiger beastman prince, Perea couldn’t help but melt at his cuteness.
With her mouth open in a wide smile, she clapped and sang little songs to match his playful mood.
And before they knew it, the carriage rolled into the familiar village roads.
“Get down,” Ray said curtly as he parked the cart perfectly.
He opened the back and extended his strong arm toward the boy.
“Theo, come here. I’ll help you down.”
His tone was softer than usual, and the faint upward curve of his lips almost made him look like a loyal cat rather than a cold snow leopard.
Though he was supposed to be the prince’s bodyguard, Ray treated Theo and Perea completely differently.
Swallowing her irritation, Perea jumped down from the cart herself — and of course, Ray didn’t even glance her way.
Figures.
They had bought not only food but also many household supplies, so the luggage was piled high.
Just sorting through everything would take a long time.
Perea spread the goods across the living room floor, then hurried to put on her doctor’s coat.
She had only skipped the morning shift, and already half the village seemed to be waiting for her in the clinic.
“Sir Ray, could you please handle the unpacking? I need to see my patients!”
“Wait— Perea—!”
What am I supposed to do with all this stuff? Ray turned, but she was already gone.
Left behind, he stood in the middle of the room, baffled.
Theo crouched beside him and patted his back gently.
“It’s okay, Ray. Theo will help!”
Ray couldn’t help but smile faintly. He reached out and ruffled the boy’s golden hair.
The soft, silky strands brushed his fingers like fine threads.
“Theo.”
“Mm?”
“You can help best by staying still.”
His voice was calm, but his tone was absolute.
Theo puffed out his cheeks but obediently sat on a chair, swinging his short legs as he watched Ray move around.
After a while, he asked curiously, “Ray, do you like the bunny village?”
“Hmm… I’ve only been here one day, so I’m not sure. What about you?”
Ray asked as he neatly folded Theo’s socks.
Theo pressed his lips together, thinking seriously for a long time before smiling brightly.
“I like it here!”
“You do?”
“Yeah! It smells like carrots outside, and there are so many long-eared bunnies! And— there are no ugly big brothers!”
He held up his fingers, counting off each reason.
Apparently, he really disliked his royal brothers — his lips twisted dramatically every time he said the word brother.
Ray chuckled quietly.
“There’s more!” Theo added eagerly.
“Oh? More reasons?”
“Yup!”
Theo suddenly jumped off the chair and hugged Ray’s broad back, rubbing his cheek against him like a kitten.
His warmth and innocent scent softened Ray’s expression even more.
“Perea smells nice too!” Theo said suddenly. “She doesn’t have ears or a tail, but she smells good! Ray, do you know Perea’s smell?”
“…Hmm.”
“You do? You know it?”
“…Yeah.”
Ray nodded slightly.
He had, in fact, already noticed that she had a warm, comforting scent — not the kind that stirred hunger or instinct, but one that made his whole body relax.
For beastmen with sensitive noses, her scent was simply… pleasant.
“Right? Perea smells good!” Theo said happily, tapping his forehead against Ray’s back.
The movement made Ray’s stitched shoulder ache, but he endured it without complaint, thinking once again that Perea’s medical skills weren’t bad at all.
While the two “guests” quietly praised her behind her back, Perea herself was busy with a crowd of patients.
“Perea! Lanny ate candy again at dawn — and this time Remy joined him!”
“Perea! I got stung by a bee while pulling up carrots! Look, my arm’s swelling — is this okay?”
“Perea! I left the window open all night and now I think I caught a cold! Cough! My nose won’t stop running, what should I do?”
The stream of patients never stopped.
Perea felt like she needed two bodies to handle them all, but she didn’t panic.
With practiced hands and a calm smile, she treated everyone one by one.
The villagers came in groups of twos and threes and left the same way — chatting and laughing as they went.
Perea thought it looked just like waves coming and going at the sea — though she’d never actually seen the ocean.
Normally, everyone would have gone home right after treatment, but today, they lingered.
They were full of curiosity about the new “guests” at Perea’s house.
And since that curiosity was harmless, Perea answered their questions kindly.
After a lifetime of seeing only rabbit beastmen, the sight of a snow leopard beastman was beyond fascinating for them.
The clinic was buzzing with chatter — until the door suddenly slammed open.
“Perea!”
Theo burst in, his honey-blond hair gleaming in the light and his golden eyes sparkling with excitement.
Even as a child, his small yet sturdy frame clearly marked him as a predator.
And behind him—
Stepped Ray, tall as a door frame, with silver hair and icy blue eyes.
The moment he entered, the room seemed to shrink. His presence alone screamed danger.
“There are lots of bunnies here,” Theo said, tilting his head.
Then his throat moved as he swallowed — gulp.
It was such an innocent, instinctive gesture, but all the rabbit beastmen froze.
No one actually thought the child would attack them, but still, their knees felt weak.
Some couldn’t even meet the boy’s eyes — let alone Ray’s.
The clinic, once lively with chatter, went silent.
Even the boldest villagers started standing up hesitantly.
They smiled awkwardly at Perea and began making excuses to leave.
“Thank you, Perea. I’ll throw out all the candy when I get home.”
“The ointment worked great! The itching’s gone, so I can finish harvesting carrots.”
“I’ll make some warm ginger tea tonight. Thanks, Perea.”
Perea smiled gently and saw them off, one by one.
When the last patient left, she closed the clinic door and exhaled a deep sigh.
Between the morning trip to the neighboring town and the afternoon rush of patients, she was completely exhausted.
But just as she was about to sit down—
Something warm and soft clung to her thigh.
Startled, she looked down — Theo’s bright golden eyes stared up at her, full of hope.
“Then… will you play with me now?” he asked sweetly.
Perea’s long, tiring day… wasn’t over yet.
It was only just beginning.