Chapter – 03
“First, I need to get some water. Zizia, hold it steady.”
“Ugh, Salli! I don’t want to touch it, it’s dirty!”
Just as a boy named Salli was handing Solitaire over, Zizia shuddered as if she didn’t even want to touch her, and ultimately dropped the rabbit.
The children began to argue about whose fault it was, and in the meantime, Solitaire, her body trembling, managed to flee outside.
Thanks to the children having left the door open, getting outside was easy. But her head was spinning, and the strength in her legs began to fade. She could feel her steps sinking, but Solitaire couldn’t stop running.
“Squeak.”
Even though she had only passed through one door, the hallway was filled with a warmth unlike the room. But Solitaire had no time to notice such a difference, busy calling for her mother.
“Squeak……! Squeak……!”
The small voice coming from Solitaire’s mouth was a cry for her mother.
She kept crying out so that her mother could find her no matter where she was.
And finally, she found her mother.
“You…… why?”
But what greeted her were eyes filled with contempt and a voice mixed with shock.
“You promised to never appear before my eyes!”
Fontana trembled as if horrified, and Securus, who was beside her, sighed and grabbed Solitaire by the scruff of her neck.
“Sigh, I’ll put her back. Once Una’s birthday party is over, the family will take care of her, so don’t worry……”
“You didn’t even keep your promise to kill her! What am I supposed to believe!”
“I did it for Una. After this festival is over, you won’t have to see her. So stop it.”
A mother who wished for her own daughter’s death. Before Solitaire could even feel hurt by that, another overwhelming situation befell her.
The children who had said they would wash her had appeared right behind them.
“Waaah……! Where did it go!”
“It’s like this because you dropped it saying it was dirty!”
“My, what’s going on?”
Securus was startled by the sudden situation but quickly collected himself and began to soothe the children.
Just then, someone else appeared, having heard the children’s cries.
“Salli? Zizia?”
“Dad!”
“Uncle!”
Securus, startled by the new voice, quickly hid Solitaire behind his back and feigned composure as he greeted them. The other person also nodded, accepting his greeting.
“It’s an honor to meet the Head of the Tigris family.”
“Head Lepus, it’s been a long time.”
“Ah, Fontana. This is Mers Tigris, the Head of the Tigris family.”
“Ha……ha. Nice to meet you.”
Mers, who had been looking at Securus and Fontana for a moment, tilted his head and shifted his gaze to Zizia and Salli. Seeing Zizia, drenched in tears, and Salli, fuming, he scolded them sternly.
“I told you not to wander around carelessly.”
“We found something amazing!” Zizia said.
Hearing Zizia’s words, Mers tilted his head to the side. Salli stepped forward and began to explain in her stead, as she was too tearful to speak properly. He explained everything, from finding the silver rabbit to it running away. By the time the explanation was finished, Salli’s eyes fell upon Solitaire.
“Ah! It’s here!”
Following Salli’s pointing, Mers turned his head to look. At the silver rabbit dangling from Securus’s hand.
Instantly, Mers’s eyes darkened, then the corners of his mouth twitched as if in delight. It was the expression of someone who had found something they never expected.
“Ah…… ha?”
Before Securus could even deny it, Mers muttered as if he had realized everything.
“The rabbit I only heard about in rumors twelve years ago.”
At those words, both Securus and Fontana froze solid. But the one who had uttered them didn’t seem to have much thought behind it, as he stroked his lips.
Feeling an urgent need to explain something, Securus opened his mouth, but Mers raised a hand to his own mouth, signaling for silence.
Finally, as if his pondering was over, he clapped his hands and beamed brightly.
“Salli, Zizia. Do you want that rabbit?”
At that, Zizia and Salli nodded their heads vigorously. Mers looked at Securus and shrugged his shoulders.
“How about giving that to my children? It seems like it would be quite a good gift between us.”
Mers clearly knew. That the rabbit in Securus’s hand was not a pet suitable for gifting.
Despite his statement being a clear insult, Securus welcomed it with a bright smile.
“Of course, I’ll have it prepared immediately.”
“I’m glad we understand each other. Since you’ve given me such a large gift, I’d like to do something for you in return.”
“That’s not necessary. It’s only natural……”
“No, there should be a give and take. Now, Lepus should also return to its original place, right?”
At his words, Securus looked at Mers.
Even though it was an unpleasant situation where the conversation was cut off, he seemed unaware, his mouth hanging open blankly.
What Mers meant by ‘original place’ was that he would restore Lepus to its most prosperous era. Securus’s lips curved upwards like a child who had received an unexpected gift.
Listening to their conversation, Solitaire instinctively knew. That she couldn’t just stay still. But there was nothing the small and weak her could do.
“Shall I prepare it and send it directly to your room?”
“No, who knows what harm that dirty rabbit might cause my children. Ideally, I’d like it delivered in a state where all its strength is gone. That way, it’ll be easier for the children to play with it.”
“We can’t touch it now?”
Zizia and Salli began to whine, tugging at Mers’s arms. To them, he promised that they could play with it as much as they wanted once they enjoyed the party and returned home. At his promise, the children beamed and disappeared.
“Then, I shall visit again later. Head Lepus.”
Mers smiled as if satisfied and stared intently at Fontana, who was next to Securus. Feeling uncomfortable under his gaze, Fontana hurriedly hid behind Securus.
Seeing this, Mers shrugged his shoulders and then vanished. As soon as he disappeared, Fontana pressed her husband, asking what he was thinking.
“Just what are you thinking!”
“I said I’d make sure you never see her again. If she goes to Tigris, she probably won’t last a week. It’s always been that way.”
Securus calmly explained Tigris’s notorious reputation. The fact that he wouldn’t have to get his own hands dirty, and the thrill of being able to restore Lepus to its former glory, made the corners of his mouth rise as if they would pierce the sky.
“I thought you were trying to save that filthy thing again……!”
“You should know better than anyone that I wouldn’t do that. I’ll give you everything you want.”
Their frantic conversation made Solitaire’s head ache.
“Squeak.”
“But wouldn’t it be troublesome if that child suddenly changes? The Tigris Head seems to know, but……”
“Fontana, we have that medicine. This child will live as a rabbit for a week. Then……”
Without hearing the words that followed, Solitaire looked at Securus’s cruel smile and lost consciousness.
* * *
Blink—
Blink—
Solitaire slowly opened and closed her eyes a few times. She saw the massive iron bars in front of her. Before she could even figure out where she was, a cold, low voice pierced her ears.
“You’re finally awake.”
Solitaire tried to sit up, following the voice.
But for some reason, she was still in the form of a silver-furred rabbit. Surely, by now, it should have been more than enough time for the rabbit form to wear off.
As Solitaire was confused, Securus’s shadow fell over her head. To the small rabbit that was her, he seemed like a gigantic monster.
“Your use has been decided.”
Although she didn’t understand the exact meaning, her instincts told her. That if he didn’t get her out of here now, she would die.
“As promised, I’ll have you leave Lepus.”
“Squeak?”
“Tigris has graciously offered to take you in. A good thing, isn’t it.”
Solitaire was startled by Securus’s bombshell announcement. It was only natural for her to be shocked.
Even Solitaire, who had lived only in the northern annex, had heard of that family’s notorious reputation. And now, he was sending her to them, not even as a beast-man, but as a rabbit.
Even the uneducated Solitaire could tell. That he was trying to get rid of her forever.
“Squeak—! Squeak—!”
‘No, no! Please, save me! I’ll live so quietly, as if I’m dead. I won’t let you see me anymore. I won’t even wish to be loved.’
Solitaire screamed, watching Securus turn his back on her. But sadly, the only sound that came out of her mouth was the pitiful cry of a rabbit.
“You’ll have to remain in that form for a while, so don’t force yourself to use your strength.”
The cruel gaze touched her once more and then fell away.
“Didn’t I provide you with a rather comfortable life? Struggle hard so you can please them.”
With those final words, Securus disappeared from Solitaire’s sight.
