ITMBWFL 11

Chapter 11

“Where on earth have you been all this time?”

At the Baltaire Duke’s residence on the outskirts of the capital,

the duke’s calm yet sharp voice filled the study.

In front of him stood a man with a perfectly straight posture, his expression completely unmoving.

It was Casium, the duke’s second son.

“I told you several times that you needed to show your face at that event.”

“I’m sorry.”

He spoke words of apology, but his voice was firm—without hesitation, without submission, without fear.

His dry gaze matched his tone as he looked straight at his father.

The Duke of Baltaire clenched his fist and stepped closer to Casium.

“Don’t tell me you were off fooling around with some woman?”

A faint, bitter smile appeared on Casium’s face.

He hadn’t expected much to begin with.

Still, he had been gone for days and had only just returned.

Yet his father showed not even the slightest hint of concern.

A truly “perfect” father.

Casium felt like an actor in a perfectly scripted play.

“And if I was?”

“What?”

The duke’s face flushed slightly.

“So you really intend to disgrace this family. Then I’ll have no choice but—”

“Please calm down. Nothing like that happened.”

The Baltaire ducal family—admired by all.

A perfect family with two perfect sons.

The eldest, a priest loved by God.

The second, a knight loved by the sword.

And parents who cherished both sons equally.

How perfect it all looked.

But Casium had never once felt loved by his parents.

He had always protected himself on his own.

He had never wished for warmth from anyone.

That had always been normal to him.

So he simply lived that way, believing that was what life was.

But then—

“Where exactly have you been for days?”

“I took a short rest.”

The duke’s eyes wavered at that answer.

It was the first time his son had said anything other than a flat apology.

Casium met his father’s gaze.

He was someone who had always observed the world without expectation or desire.

But during the few days he had lived as a rabbit, something inside him had begun to change.

“What did you say?”

“I was tired. Even when you spoke to me like that, I didn’t have the energy to argue. So I went to rest.”

His voice was still dry, but his words were not empty.

After finishing, Casium turned away without changing his expression.

The duke spoke again.

“I’ve chosen your marriage partner.”

Casium stopped and looked back.

“I’ll send a proposal. She will suit you perfectly.”

“Not me—the Baltaire family, you mean?”

“The proposal is already decided. In three days, a branch of Veranium flowers will be sent to that house as planned.”

“Do as you wish. I’ll leave this family—not just for a few days, but for good.”

The duke’s face twisted in anger.

“Where did you learn to speak like that?”

“Well… I grew up watching the people of this Baltaire family.”

“How strange.”

With that, Casium gave a brief bow.

Then he turned and left the study without looking back.

The door closed behind him.

In his room, Casium let out a deep sigh and ran a hand through his hair.

“A marriage partner…?”

His mind was complicated.

Whether he left the house or not, his father would never change his decision.

A proposal would already be on its way to some unknown family.

From the moment he was born, his own will had never mattered.

Until now, he hadn’t cared.

Whoever he married—it didn’t matter.

Emotions between people, love… all meaningless.

Anyone would do.

Casium recalled something his mother once said.

“Casium, you must never love anyone.”

“Why?”

“No matter who you love, you will never be loved in return. You will only hurt them. So don’t love anyone. Don’t cherish anyone. Only love yourself.”

He had been too young at the time.

His mother probably thought he wouldn’t remember.

But those words had stayed with him clearly until now.

However…

“Casium?”

At that moment, the image of Lize flashed through his mind—

her emerald eyes, her red hair, the way she had looked at him in the cave.

“You’re going to forget anyway.”

And her figure standing just one step away from him that night after the knights’ victory celebration.

“Thank you, golden rabbit… for staying by my side.”

The warmth of her embrace.

Why am I thinking of Lize right now?

“……”

At that moment—

Poof!

His vision shook.

“Young master.”

His attendant Ronan knocked on the door.

There was no answer.

After knocking for a while, Ronan opened the door—

but the room was empty.

“Rabbit! Golden rabbit!”

“Miss, you’re injured. Please get some rest.”

“Bryce, if I rest, can you promise you’ll find the rabbit for me?”

“……”

“Bryce?”

Bryce looked away and whistled.

“Wah… Rabbit! Golden rabbit!”

They searched the forest again and again, but the golden rabbit was nowhere to be found.

Not where Luxka had been.

Not even in the cave where they had taken shelter from the rain.

Where could it have gone?

Had it returned to its instincts and hidden deep in the forest?

The thought made her sad.

She hadn’t even said goodbye.

Golden rabbit… where are you?

At first, she had brought the injured rabbit because it might become important to Bryce—and perhaps cure her illness someday.

But now… it’s not just for that reason.

The rabbit—the golden rabbit—had become important to her too.

The few days she spent with it had given her comfort and meaning.

As if they had known each other for a long time,

the rabbit had naturally, warmly settled into her heart.

She didn’t want to lose something so precious like this.

I have to find it.

The search continued.

“Miss! Miss Lize!”

At that moment, Diane, one of the count’s maids, came running toward her.

Her skirt was stained with mud from the wet ground.

“The count is calling for you. Please return to the mansion.”

“My uncle? Sorry, not now.”

She felt bad for making Diane run, but finding the golden rabbit was more important.

No matter what her uncle said, she had no time to listen.

Right after fighting Luxka, she hadn’t noticed clearly—

but the rabbit might have been injured too.

If its old wounds hadn’t healed yet and it got hurt again…

that would be dangerous.

“But…”

“I have to find something right now. Tell him I’ll see him tomorrow.”

“Ah, then… um…”

Lize gestured impatiently for Diane to go.

Diane looked nervous and nodded quickly.

“Then… what should I say about the rabbit?”

“…?”

“The count said there’s a rabbit in the annex and asked what it is…”

“What?!”

The rabbit?

Did it come back home?

Ignoring the pain from her wounds reopening, Lize ran toward the mansion.

“Miss?! Where are you going?!”

“Bryce! Be careful not to slip!”

As expected, a rabbit like me—it has a strong homing instinct!

Just wait—I’m coming!

The closer she got to the mansion, the faster she ran.

Thinking the golden rabbit had been caught by her uncle made her anxious.

What if he’s already done something to it?

She wanted to think positively, but her uncle wasn’t someone who fit the word “what if.”

What if he already cooked it…?

It felt like all the blood drained from her body.

No—don’t think like that.

“Miss Lize, you’re here. The count is inside—”

“I know.”

She rushed past the servant and entered the annex.

Thud, thud.

Her loud footsteps echoed through the hallway as she searched for the rabbit.

“Smack!”

Then—

a familiar voice.

From the reception room.

“You worthless little creature!”

“Father, wait. I’ll get my sword. A wild rabbit like this should be stabbed to death—”

Startled, she ran straight into the room.

Her hand instinctively reached for the sword at her waist.

She had to save the rabbit.

Gripping the hilt tightly, she slipped into the room—

“Lize!”

Her uncle called out in a booming voice.

Surprisingly… with a tone of welcome.

“Do something about this rabbit!”