ITMBWFL 5

But the rabbit didn’t respond at all.

Bryce, who had been forcing a smile, slowly had his lips turn into a sulky pout.

“I’m leaving, sis!”

With a huff, Bryce turned his head away and stormed out of the room.

…This isn’t how it was supposed to go.

I had wanted to help Bryce and the rabbit bond.

Still, it’s kind of admirable.

I watched the rabbit munching on grass for a long time with a satisfied smile. Only after finishing an entire bowl did it hop away to the other side.

Well, I’ll just have them get close starting tomorrow!

Three full days passed.

“Golden Rabbit.”

A few days ago, it had acted like it was close to me in front of Bryce.

But once he left, it went right back to this.

The rabbit had settled comfortably on my sofa.

And it wouldn’t let even me come near that area.

…Hey, that’s my sofa.

“Golden Rabbit.”

“……”

“Goooolden Rabbit.”

“Pii.”

Listening to the rabbit’s indifferent reply, I looked out the window.

‘It’s another full moon night today.’

Every time I was exposed to the full moonlight, I suffered pain as if my body were being cut by knives.

Only two people knew about my illness.

Prince Julius of the Empire, who was also a priest of the temple, and Dejes, the vice-captain of the knights.

Other than them, not even my younger brother Bryce knew.

Thanks to Priest Julius’s treatment, I had somehow endured it, but the pain was gradually getting worse.

That’s why I needed the healing ability of Liri, the original story’s heroine.

‘But for that to happen, the rabbit needs to get close to Bryce…’

But judging from how things were going, I’d be lucky if they didn’t become enemies.

It did seem to consider me a bit closer than Bryce, but even then, it always kept its distance.

And all it did was sit there, lost in its own thoughts.

‘If this keeps up, its healing ability won’t awaken.’

Then I might really die just like in the original story, before even turning twenty-three.

No way!

I quietly approached the Golden Rabbit.

Its ears twitched, and it turned its head to look at me.

“Golden Rabbit, how do you know me?”

Before it could turn away again, I quickly asked. Its round eyes blinked slowly once.

I asked just to keep the conversation going, but I was genuinely curious too.

I hadn’t even met Liri Selverdin yet. So how did it know my name?

“Option 1: I’m famous. Option 2: You heard about me. Option 3: You just guessed.”

The rabbit thought for a moment.

Then it answered.

“Pi, pi.”

That meant it had heard about me.

“Then what did you hear about me? Did I seem like a good person?”

“……”

“Hm?”

1 second, 2 seconds, 3 seconds…

The rabbit inhaled sharply.

Then it narrowed its eyes, made a soft sniffing sound, and tilted its head slightly.

“What does that mean?!”

“Pi.”

Its eyes looked like they were saying, You already know.

What does that mean? Just what has it heard about me?!

“I’m a good person, Golden Rabbit!”

“Pi?”

“Really!”

As I insisted, the rabbit nodded a couple of times, as if granting me a favor.

But the look in its eyes clearly said it was just agreeing because it couldn’t be bothered, which made me feel even more wronged and frustrated.

“Pi.”

The rabbit lay back down on the sofa.

But somehow, it looked weak.

“Golden Rabbit, what’s wrong?”

“Pii…”

“Are you okay? Are you sick?”

It shook its head. So it wasn’t sick.

Its wounds were slowly healing thanks to treatment too.

“Are you hungry?”

I quickly brought over some grass.

I picked only fresh, delicious-looking greens and placed a bowl full on the table.

“Let’s eat this.”

I carefully approached and held some grass near its mouth.

But the rabbit just shook its head.

“Don’t you have an appetite?”

Again, it weakly shook its head.

Still, it had to eat something… What was wrong?

“Maybe… if Bryce gives it to you, will you eat?”

“Pii?”

The rabbit made a confused sound, clearly not understanding.

Hmm… so it’s not that it won’t eat because I’m the one offering it.

I set the grass down on the table.

I gently stroked its front paw fur, trying to comfort it, but it still looked weak.

What’s going on? I’m worried.

Should I take it to a doctor?

“Pii…”

But then suddenly, the rabbit’s eyes widened.

“Pi!”

“Golden Rabbit?”

It sprang up, slipped out of my arms, and jumped onto the table. Then it slowly walked toward the grass I had placed down.

Is it finally going to eat?!

I stared at it with wide eyes.

I’d been so worried since it hadn’t been eating—finally!

The rabbit pulled some grass toward itself with its paw.

“Should I hold it for you, Golden Rabbit?”

It shook its other paw firmly.

Then suddenly, it picked up another strand of grass from the bowl.

And placed it next to the one it already had.

“…?!”

What is it doing?

I held my breath and watched quietly…

Then I realized what it was doing and jumped to my feet.

“Golden Rabbit! No way—are you writing letters?!”

“Pi.”

The rabbit nodded.

“Oh my gosh!!”

The rabbit! It’s trying to send a message!

“Oh my gosh! I’ve never seen such a smart rabbit!”

Wait—would it seem strange if I accepted this too naturally?

“Oh my goodness, how amazing! I’ve heard legends about rabbits that can understand human language and even express themselves. To think ours is one of them—this is astonishing beyond words!”

That should sound natural enough.

Anyway, my little one is amazing!

‘What is it writing?!’

The rabbit glanced at me as if asking what I was staring at, then focused again.

ㄱ…

I read the message carefully.

…meat.

“You want to eat meat?”

“Bbaeii!”

The rabbit cried out cheerfully, as if saying Exactly!

Its fluffy black facial fur stood up, looking excited.

“You should’ve said so earlier!”

“Bonk.”

“Ah, sorry. I didn’t know and kept feeding you vegetables.”

I knew it was a person, but since it looked like a rabbit…

I had just been giving it carrots and grass.

Right… people need meat to live.

“Marlon! Marlon!”

At my call, Marlon rushed in. I quickly pointed to the grass letters.

“What is this, my lady?”

“Read it.”

Marlon narrowed his eyes.

“Meat.”

“That’s right! Bring some meat!”

As I shouted excitedly, Marlon looked confused. The rabbit stared at him with sparkling eyes like it was looking at its feeder.

“There’s a bit of meat left from breakfast…”

“Perfect.”

Just then, the rabbit’s stomach growled loudly.

It pretended it wasn’t its stomach, but the source was obvious.

As soon as Marlon brought the meat, the rabbit happily started eating.

It was the first time I’d seen it look this joyful since bringing it here.

For a moment, I wondered if rabbits could eat meat, but then I remembered that beastfolk could.

“Is it good?”

“Pi.”

“You’re eating well, our Golden Rabbit.”

I was watching it fondly when there was a knock.

“Sis, it’s me.”

“Bryce?!”

I ran to the door at the unexpected visit.

Bryce hesitated before speaking.

“Sis, um… you’re raising that rabbit, right?”

“I’m not raising it—you are.”

He ignored me and continued.

“How do I get closer to the rabbit…?”

Come to think of it, he was asking about the rabbit.

“You’re interested in it? Bryce? Perfect timing—it’s eating right now. Come see—”

“W-what is that rabbit?!”

“It’s our rabbit.”

“That’s not what I mean—it’s eating meat!”

The rabbit, happily chewing meat, froze with wide eyes.

“Pii…”

Seeing Bryce glaring, it let out a timid sound.

Then it slowly pulled its food bowl closer, clearly on guard.

“Bryce, it finally started eating well. Why are you like this?”

“But rabbits eating meat is weird! And it’s even seasoned meat!”

Now that I thought about it, it might look strange to others.

When I glanced back, even Marlon looked confused.

Hmm…

“Well… after traveling the world with the knights, I’ve realized something…”

I quickly made up a folktale-like story.

“There are many things beyond common sense. I’ve seen flying calves and ponds that produce iron. A rabbit eating meat doesn’t surprise me at all.”

“Really?”

“Of course.”

It was a bit odd, but better than raising suspicion.

“That rabbit… isn’t it a monster, right?”

“What are you saying? Have you ever seen such a cute monster?”

Bryce still looked doubtful, but he seemed somewhat convinced.

“Anyway, what were you going to ask? About the rabbit?”

“It wasn’t about that rabbit, but… never mind.”

“Huh?”

“It’s nothing. Rest well, sis.”

“Stay a bit longer and watch the rabbit.”

“I think I’ve seen more than enough.”

Bryce and the rabbit made eye contact again.

It felt like sparks were flying.

Bryce shook his head, and the rabbit pulled its bowl even closer.

I had hoped for sparks of love, but it seemed only the wrong kind of sparks were flying.