“Why can’t I?”

Karl writhed, struggling to break free, only prompting Lena to tighten her grip. Despite her promise to do anything for him upon marriage, Lena had been refusing his requests since yesterday.

“Even in human form, one should avoid drinking and smoking.”

“Well then, I’ll just go back to the forest.”

Karl blurted out. Though living in luxury, Lena, seemingly offering wise advice, was too restrictive for his liking. Even unreliable rabbits occasionally brought something worthwhile. He would rather stay in the forest.

“Karl…”

Lena’s bubbly voice abruptly fell silent. As Karl looked up, a vague sense of guilt pricked him at her sorrowful round face. While he contemplated taking back his recent words, Lena spoke again.

“I… I’m sorry. Still, it’s not good for your health, and I won’t eat meat either. So it will be a little more bearable for you.”

How foolish a lioness she was. She could have let him do as he pleased for just this week, regardless of its impact on his health. Karl couldn’t understand why Lena, who must have more knowledge than him, acted like this. No, he knew—this wasn’t foolishness but kindness.

“Never mind. Eat up. You’re a lion, after all. I’ll eat meat later.”

Lena smiled, gently patting Karl’s head. Anyone could tell her gesture conveyed, ‘Good boy,’ but Karl failed to notice once again.

Leaving food untouched was a grave sin. After finishing the prepared meal, including the vegetables Karl had left, Lena asked for a smaller meat portion in their next meal. If Karl opened his heart a bit more, they could share a meal then.

Those in the hallway watched with intrigue as Lena walked with the black rabbit cradled in her arms. Whenever someone attempted small talk, Lena hugged the black rabbit tighter as if afraid someone might steal him away.

This situation was unfamiliar to Karl, yet not unpleasant. Upon returning to the bedroom, the rabbit arrogantly hopped around, but such insolence didn’t last long.

“My lady!”

It was that girl from earlier. Spotting Emily, Karl burrowed into Lena’s arms. Smiling, Emily extended a hand.

“Karl, could you hand him… to me?”

“What?”

Taken aback by the unexpected request, Lena leaped backward. Karl, ears perked up, clung tightly to Lena’s bosom with his cotton paws. Emily pointed disapprovingly at the bed.

“The bedspread is a mess. We should wash the rabbit fur before the bedspread.”

If snatched by Emily, Karl feared he would be wrung out like a dishcloth. Frantically, he shook his head in refusal.

Lena, torn between Emily’s anger and Karl’s resistance, glanced at the bedspread where Karl had lain. It was badly stained.

“Karl, I’m fine with this bedspread. But I think it’ll be hard for the laundry workers…”

Not only was it unnecessary to burden them, but it also felt a bit embarrassing. Lena gingerly soothed Karl while gauging Emily’s reaction. The brave lion somehow feared the black rabbit and white mouse.

“Let me wash you. Will that be okay? I’ll be gentle.”

Karl pressed his chubby face against Lena’s arm. To him, Emily’s intense gaze wasn’t scary, but that made Lena uncomfortable. Karl couldn’t help but nod his head slightly.

Emily found Karl’s behavior greatly displeasing, but for now, she had to prepare bathwater. She couldn’t risk Lena catching fleas from that rabbit. Emily readied a large pot of boiling water, thinking of making a rabbit stew. To her disappointment, Lena quickly noticed and mixed in cold water.

“I’ll do it.”

Lena dismissed Emily, rolled up her sleeves, and gently placed Karl into the tub after checking the water temperature. Karl’s initially disgruntled expression softened under the warm water.

Lena lathered up with fur-softening soap and massaged his back. Fluffy gray bubbles… Gray? Lena doubted her eyes and rinsed off the foam.

Another soap washing. Denying reality was no longer possible. Endlessly murky water flowed from Karl’s body as if it had been an eternity since his last bath. Ringing out the rabbit fur, Lena began to suspect that Karl was a white rabbit.

After changing the water three times, a clear rabbit stew was finally made. Exhausted, Lena leaned against the tub. Thankfully, Karl didn’t transform into a white rabbit. His fur merely glistened shiny black.

“Lena.”

“Yes. I’m done now…”

Normally, it would have been time for morning studies, but Lena was utterly drained. She needed to quickly retrieve the rabbit and take a nap.

Lena straightened up and leaned over to retrieve Karl. The relaxed rabbit sitting inside looked up at Lena with slender eyes.

“Your clothes got wet.”

“I see.”

The rabbit’s front paws pressed against Lena’s damp chest. He wasn’t a nursing infant,  but why did he keep touching her chest?

Lena thought she should ask the nanny for an explanation.

She lifted the soaking wet rabbit out and wrapped him in a thick towel. Though small, he was quite heavy with all the water.

Lena cleared away the bathwater and sat on the bed, drying his fur with the towel. Was taking care of babies like this? The weather was pleasant, and if Karl could be her companion, life would be pretty peaceful.

“Lena. Lena?”

“Sorry. I must have dozed off for a moment.”

Before she realized it, her hands had stopped. Lena shook her head to ward off sleep and retrieved Karl, who was buried in the towel.

She placed the fluffy rabbit on the bed and removed the wet towel. It would be nice if he could wash himself like a human. As Lena sighed inwardly, Karl patted the bed with his hind legs. When Lena sat back on the bed, Karl swiftly took her lap and snuggled into it.

“Is it uncomfortable?”

“Not really…it’s not that uncomfortable.”

Karl’s tone had turned sassy after hearing Lena’s story yesterday. After all, they were of similar age, and the once formidable lion had become a more approachable one. However, whenever Lena used kind words, he felt like a pathetic rabbit. Of course, that was true to some extent.

Lena gently scratched behind Karl’s ear and spoke softly.

“Respect is important, no matter how close you are to someone…”

From what Karl observed, Lena had a somewhat lofty demeanor. As the daughter of a clan leader, Lena believed in treating elders and her companion with respect.

“So, should I do the same?”

“Pardon?”

“If I become your companion, do I have to speak like that too?”

Did living in this mansion require using such polite speech? For some reason, his throat felt ticklish. As Karl’s face twisted as if he swallowed a bug, Lena quickly shook her head.

“No, Karl can speak however he’s comfortable.”

Though they had known each other barely a day, Lena felt she understood Karl a little. His sharp tone seemed more like a child’s tantrum than anything unpleasant. As for how he spoke to others, that could gradually be improved. Lena continued cautiously.

“Honestly…any way would be fine, as long as you become my companion…If you feel uncomfortable, I’ll adjust my way of speaking.”

Karl grew concerned when Lena’s expression darkened at the mention of becoming companions. Still, it had only been a day. If he changed his mind and readily agreed, he would end up looking like a clown.

“Alright, I’ll think about it.”

Even he could tell his tone lacked finesse, but Lena smiled as if truly happy. Somehow, Karl found that smile uncomfortable. He turned his body and hopped down from Lena’s lap.

“And, you too, just do what makes you comfortable. Don’t worry about such things.”

Lena nodded and leaned back against the headboard of the bed. She slowly combed through Karl’s fur until it dried thoroughly inside and out.

As Karl grew drowsy under Lena’s touch, her hand dropped onto the bed. A steady breathing sound could be heard. Karl glanced up.

Lena had fallen asleep in an awkward half-lying position. Her delicate eyelashes cast a shadow over her closed eyes, and her slightly flushed round face looked more peaceful than anything else in the world.

“Hey, change clothes before sleeping.”

Sleeping in wet clothes could cause a cold.

With just a light tap, Lena’s body slumped to the side. Karl nudged her cheek with his front paw, but she remained deeply asleep.

When Karl touched her clothes with his dry paws, it was still slightly damp. As meticulous as her sincerity, Lena had washed and rinsed him with clean water until her clothes became completely soaked. Karl didn’t particularly enjoy baths, but honestly, the touch from earlier felt pleasant.

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