Chapter 46
“Truly remarkable.”
The daughter of a famous merchant family exclaimed in admiration. She was a striking woman, her black hair tied neatly into two braids.
“Even in our shops, we don’t distribute such clear and large glass panes. The craftsmanship is exceptional. This must be of the highest grade.”
Sharie couldn’t help but feel a little proud. It felt as if Kaisa’s keen judgment had just been objectively confirmed by someone else.
But this endless string of questions was beginning to trouble her.
“Which workshop did you commission for the glasswork? How much did it cost? And who was in charge of the landscaping—?”
Startled and stiff, Sharie faltered. The woman noticed and chuckled lightly.
“Oh dear, there I go again. I was interrogating you without realizing. Forgive me, it’s simply a habit from working in the family business.”
She quickly offered her name.
“I’m Yurie Densler. Should you ever wish to redecorate your mansion, please do contact me. I’ll offer you a very special discount.”
Her playful remark loosened the atmosphere, and soon laughter rippled around the table. Contrary to her worries, the gathering felt pleasant.
Relieved, Sharie looked around at the people seated at the table.
“I am Olivia Kuslier. It is a true delight to finally meet the lady I have only heard rumors about.”
The noblewoman spoke with her lips hidden behind a fan, her eyes glinting with amusement.
‘Olivia?’ Sharie tilted her head slightly.
The name tugged at her memory. A strange sense of déjà vu crept up on her, though the woman’s face was entirely unfamiliar.
“I had been eagerly awaiting an invitation. Though, I must admit, I did not expect it to arrive so suddenly.”
Was it her imagination? Beneath Olivia’s elegant voice, Sharie felt a thorn hidden among the silken words. Cold sweat trickled down her back.
Before she could answer, Yurie lifted her empty teacup and interjected.
“It mustn’t have been easy, living in a foreign land without any ties.”
“Yes, it certainly required some adjustment.” Sharie replied, pouring more tea into Yurie’s cup.
“I can imagine. You must have endured quite a bit.”
Olivia smiled smoothly and changed the topic.
“And how are things now? Are you comfortable here?”
“Of course.”
The guests exchanged quick, cautious glances before one of them dared to ask the question that lingered in everyone’s minds.
“And His Lordship? Does he treat you well?”
Everyone present already knew Sharie had come to Barhad through a political marriage. They might not know the details of their married life, but Kaisa’s grim reputation—as the man who slew his own kin to seize power—was well known.
“I’ve never even met His Lordship in person…” a young lady, hardly past adolescence, whispered timidly.
During the long war over the Sephiros Plains, grand banquets and noble gatherings had nearly vanished. Even after the war’s end, Kaisa seldom summoned the nobility, save for meetings with the elders. At best, most had glimpsed him only at the grand wedding ceremony.
To them, Kaisa was a distant, untouchable figure. And so, it seemed inconceivable that such a terrifying man would be tender toward a frail rabbit-tribe bride.
“That’s not true.”
Sharie realized at once what they were hinting at and, flustered, tried to clear the air.
“Kaisa is very kind.”
Her sudden defense startled the gathering. But their skeptical expressions did not soften.
“I believe it.”
Yurie came to her aid, nodding firmly.
“This glass garden alone reveals how much His Lordship cherishes you.”
“Ah…”
Those exchanging doubtful glances finally seemed to grasp the sentiment.
“Yes, that makes sense.”
“Indeed. I was amazed at first sight. Such a magnificent glass conservatory—I’ve never seen anything like it.”
The mood lifted further once they learned the garden was designed to resemble Rahol, the homeland of the rabbit-tribe.
“How thoughtful! He created a place to remind you of home?”
The conversation spiraled around this theme, endlessly praising Kaisa.
Born of the bloodline of the First Ancestor, a ruler destined to reign, Kaisa naturally drew everyone’s attention. And with each small revelation Sharie gave, the nobles leaned in eagerly, captivated.
Sharie, however, grew exhausted first.
Ever since she had adapted to rising at dawn alongside Kaisa, fatigue weighed more heavily than usual.
‘Perhaps I should excuse myself for a moment…’
The guests were engrossed in their own chatter, and Sharie seized the opportunity.
“Please excuse me. I have a matter to attend to.”
She slipped away discreetly.
Inside the palace were dozens of washrooms, each equipped with sinks and large mirrors for refreshing oneself.
‘It still feels awkward…’
Gazing into the mirror, Sharie touched her flushed cheeks. Thankfully, the gathering had gone far better than expected.
She had braced herself for cold stares and scorn over her rabbit heritage, but not once had it happened.
Still, keeping her nerves taut through endless conversation with strangers had drained her completely.
And the fact that she herself had become the central topic of discussion left her even more fatigued.
‘I don’t know what to do other than smile.’
Her whole body squirmed with awkwardness.
Yet, she reminded herself—this was the life ahead of her. She needed to grow accustomed to these social affairs.
‘I am the wife of the Serpent Lord.’
It was strange. At first, she had feared Kaisa terribly, her only hope being to repay her debt and one day divorce safely.
But now… she couldn’t even bear to imagine being separated from him.
More than anything, she wanted to grow into someone worthy of him.
‘I must try harder.’
Splashing her face with cold water, she steadied herself.
Sharie forced her introverted, weary soul into calm submission, breathing deeply until her heartbeat slowed. Just as she turned to leave—
“Ah!”
She collided with someone entering.
“I’m so sorry, I wasn’t looking—”
The two women spoke at once, then froze as they recognized one another.
It was Olivia.
Looking down at her, Olivia’s lips curled into a delicate smile.
“Hehe. Let’s say we were both careless.”
Sharie stepped aside politely to let her pass. As she did, a faint fragrance drifted past her nose.
Dried lavender.
It wasn’t perfume—it was Olivia’s natural scent. The sharpness of it awakened something buried in Sharie’s memory.
She suddenly understood the strange sense of familiarity.
‘I remember now.’
A chilling shiver raced down her spine.
> The woman always carried the scent of dried lavender.
It was the description that always accompanied Olivia in the book.
Olivia Kuslier.
Once a noble lady of a prestigious family, stripped of everything under false charges of treason… only to be entangled with Kaisa, the male lead.
She was the heroine of The Black Flower and the Golden Cage.
“My lady?”
Olivia frowned in confusion at Sharie’s vacant stare.
“Ah…”
Sharie’s chest heaved. Panic consumed her.
‘What do I do?’
She needed to calm herself—but icy sweat drenched her back, her breath growing ragged.
She had long expected this moment would come. But the reality of it was unbearable.
Though she was generally healthy—rarely even catching a cold despite being branded as the “frail one” of her tribe—her emotions often overwhelmed her body.
And now, it was happening again.
‘No… I can’t collapse here.’
Darkness swam before her eyes.
“My lady, are you all right?”
Olivia’s worried voice sounded distant, muffled.
Sharie clenched her trembling fists, forcing her eyes shut.
‘It’s not time yet. The story hasn’t even begun. I’ll be fine…’
She tried desperately to convince herself. Her heart, which had been pounding violently, slowly regained its rhythm.
“My… my lady…”
Olivia stared down at her, alarmed. It was no small matter—her host, the Serpent Lord’s consort, was suddenly acting strangely.
Sharie opened her mouth, intending to soothe her.
‘I’m sorry, Olivia. I didn’t mean to startle you—’
“Squeak.”
The sound escaped instead.
Eyes widening, Sharie clapped a hand over her mouth—only to freeze.
It wasn’t a hand. It was a blunt, furry paw.
Her vision seemed strangely low… She had to crane her neck back just to see Olivia’s face.
“What in the world—?”
Horrified, Sharie realized the truth.
She had transformed.
Overwhelmed by the shock, she had lost control of herself—and reverted into her rabbit form.
Burying her furry face into her paws, she trembled with despair.
Her round hindquarters twitched helplessly behind her, making her hardly look pitiful—yet Sharie’s shame was absolute.
‘What do I do…?’
At the most important tea gathering of her life… she had turned into a rabbit.
—
