Chapter 3
“You said you’d make sure it never crossed my path again!”
Fontana shuddered as if horrified, and Secrus, standing beside her, sighed deeply before grabbing Solitaria by the scruff of her neck.
“Sigh… I’ll take her back. Once Una’s birthday party is over, the family will take care of it, so don’t worry.”
“You didn’t even keep your promise to kill it! On what basis should I trust you?”
“I did it for Una. After this festival, you won’t have to see her ever again. So calm down.”
Still, to wish for the death of one’s own child… she thought to herself. Yet, without time to process that wound, Solitaria found herself in another overwhelming situation.
The children who had promised to wash her appeared one after another.
“Wahhh! Where did she go?!”
“You lost her because you said she was dirty!”
“What’s going on here?”
Secrus, startled by the sudden commotion, quickly regained his composure and began soothing the children.
Then, someone appeared, having heard the children’s cries.
“Salli? Jizia?”
“Daddy!”
“Uncle!”
Secrus flinched at the new voice, instinctively hiding Solitaria behind his back, then feigned calm as he greeted the newcomer. The other man nodded in acknowledgment of the greeting.
“Greetings to the head of the Tigris family.”
“It’s been a while, Lord Repus.”
“Ah, Fontana. This is Lord Mers Tigris, head of the Tiger family.”
“H-h… How do you do?”
After briefly observing Secrus and Fontana, Mers nodded slightly before turning his gaze to Jizia and Salli. He frowned at the sight of Jizia, her face streaked with tears, and Salli, huffing angrily, and scolded them sternly.
“I told you not to wander around.”
“We found something amazing!”
At Jizia’s words, Mers tilted his head. Unable to explain further through her sniffles, Salli stepped forward to fill in the details. She described how they had found a silver rabbit and how it had escaped. As the explanation neared its end, Salli’s eyes caught sight of Solitaria.
“Oh! There she is!”
At Salli’s pointing, Mers turned his head. His gaze landed on the silver rabbit dangling from Secrus’s hand.
For a brief moment, Mers’s eyes darkened, but then his lips twitched as if suppressing excitement. It was the expression of someone who had found something they hadn’t expected.
“Ah… Huh?”
Before Secrus could deny it, Mers muttered as if he had already figured everything out.
“The rabbit that was only rumored about twelve years ago.”
At those words, both Secrus and Fontana froze completely. However, the one who had spoken seemed indifferent, idly stroking his lips.
Secrus, overtaken by a desperate need to explain, opened his mouth, but Mers raised a hand to silence him.
After what seemed like a moment of thought, Mers clapped his hands and smiled brightly.
“Salli, Jizia. Do you want that rabbit?”
Jizia and Salli nodded vigorously at his question. Mers shrugged at Secrus as if it were no big deal.
“How about giving it to the children as a gift? It feels like it would make a great token of goodwill between our families.”
Mers clearly knew. He was fully aware that the rabbit in Secrus’s hand was no mere pet to be gifted.
His words were an undeniable insult, yet Secrus greeted them with a broad smile.
“Of course. I’ll prepare it right away.”
“I’m glad we understand each other. Since you’re offering such a significant gift, I’d like to do something for you in return.”
“No, no, it’s only natural… ”
“No, there should be give and take. It’s time for Repus to return to its rightful place, isn’t it?”
Hearing this, Secrus stared at Mers.
Although the abruptness of his statement was unpleasant, his words were unmistakable. By “rightful place,” Mers was referring to the era when Repus was at the peak of its prosperity. Secrus smiled like a child receiving an unexpected gift.
Listening to their conversation, Solitaria instinctively knew. She couldn’t let this happen. But as small and fragile as she was, there was absolutely nothing she could do.
“Shall I send it to your room immediately?”
“No, who knows what harm that filthy rabbit might bring to my children? I’d prefer it delivered completely drained of strength. That way, the kids can play with it more easily.”
“Can’t we hold it now?”
Jizia and Salli began clinging to Mers’s arm, whining. To pacify them, Mers promised that they could play with the rabbit all they wanted after enjoying the party. At his words, the children beamed and ran off.
“Well then, I’ll visit again later, Lord Repus.”
Mers smiled in satisfaction as he left. Before departing, he cast a lingering gaze at Fontana, who was standing beside Secrus. Feeling the weight of his stare, Fontana quickly hid behind her husband.
Seeing this, Mers shrugged and disappeared. Once he was gone, Fontana immediately turned on Secrus, her tone accusatory.
“What are you thinking?!”
“I told you, I’d make sure it never crossed your path again. If it goes to the Tigris family, it won’t last a week. It never does.”
Secrus calmly explained the infamous reputation of the Tigris family. His lips curved into a delighted smile at the thought of not dirtying his own hands while simultaneously reviving Repus.
“I thought you were trying to save that filthy thing!”
“You know better than anyone that I wouldn’t do that. I’ll grant you everything you want.”
Their chaotic conversation made Solitaria’s head throb.
“Squeak.”
“But what if that thing suddenly changes? The head of Tigris seems to know something…”
“Fontana, we have that drug. She’ll stay a rabbit for a week. After that…”
Before she could hear the rest, Solitaria fainted, watching Secrus’s cruel smile.
—
Blink…
Blink…
Solitaria blinked slowly, opening and closing her eyes. A massive iron cage loomed in front of her. Before she could process where she was, a cold, low voice pierced her ears.
“You’re finally awake.”
Solitaria tried to follow the voice and get up.
However, for some reason, she was still in the form of a silver-furred rabbit. By now, she should have returned to her original form.
Confused, she looked up, and Secrus’s shadow loomed over her. To the small rabbit, he looked like a monstrous giant.
“Your purpose has been decided.”
Though she didn’t fully understand his words, her instincts screamed that if she wasn’t taken out of here, she would die.
“As promised, I’ll make sure you’re out of Repus.”
“Squeak?”
“Tigris has kindly decided to take you in. Isn’t that great?”
Solitaria’s eyes widened in shock at Secrus’s devastating words. Her reaction was natural.
Even someone like Solitaria, confined to the northern annex, had heard of the Tigris family’s horrifying reputation. And now, as a mere rabbit, she was being sent to them.
Even without much knowledge, she could tell that this was his way of abandoning her forever.
“Squeak! Squeak!”
‘No! No! Please, save me! I’ll live quietly like I don’t even exist. I’ll never ask to be loved again. Please, I’m begging you.’
Solitaria cried out as she watched Secrus turn his back on her. But sadly, all that came out of her mouth was the pitiful cry of a rabbit.
“You’ll have to stay in that form for a while, so don’t bother wasting your strength.”
His cold gaze landed on her one last time before vanishing.
“I’ve provided you with a peaceful life so far. Do your best to please them.”
With that, Secrus disappeared from her sight.
A wave of dizziness and burning heat washed over her. Yet, despite her weakened body, she struggled to get up and chase after him. But the tightly packed iron bars cruelly trapped her.
“Squeak! Squeak!”
Her mournful cries echoed.
“Squeak… !”
‘Why are you doing this to me? I’ve lived quietly. Why?! I’ll never make a wish again, I promise.’
“Squeak, squeak.”
‘I’ll live quietly in the annex like I’m already dead. Food, clothes… they don’t matter. Just let me live without being noticed.’
Her sorrow spilled out, and her cries grew louder.
But, unfortunately, no one was left to hear her. No matter how desperately she pleaded for her life, Secrus didn’t return. Fontana didn’t even show her face.
Finally, the last thread holding her heart together snapped.
“Squeak.”
‘Please… save me. I was wrong… If you really abandon me, I’ll spend my whole life…’
Hating you.
“Will hating them solve anything?”
A strange voice startled Solitaria. Her eyes widened in surprise.
“Squeak…?”
“What’s with that dumb look?”
The figure hidden in the shadows clicked their tongue and casually lifted Solitaria out of the cage.
“Tsk, are rabbits always this hot?”
“Squeak, squeak.”
Even as the stranger held her, she could do nothing but take shallow breaths. Staring at her intently with dark eyes, the stranger asked:
