Chapter 08

There were two uninvited guests.

Ferdi and Louis stopped in front of the bed with bright smiles and spoke in unison.

“A present!”

Rustle—

Something bright yellow rained down onto the bed.

What the two boys had scattered were yellow dandelions. Fresh, tender dandelions with their stems still attached.

If you nibbled down the crisp stem little by little, the fragrance of the flower at the end would gradually rise.

And the moment the petals entered your mouth, a soft, fluffy texture and gentle sweetness would spread across your tongue.

Sniff.

Just as saliva began pooling in Nabom’s mouth again, something softly landed on top of her head.

Her head tickled, so she shook it.

“Careful, it’ll fall off.”

The voice came from above.

“…?”

When she cautiously looked up, she saw Ferdi’s gentle face and slender fingers.

Then something slipped down and partially blocked her vision.

A bright yellow dandelion flower.

“Ah, good. It caught on your ear.”

Ferdi smiled softly.

“This is my gift.”

“How is it? A dandelion crown for Snowflake. My brother is really good at making these.”

Beside him, Louis puffed out his chest proudly.

Ferdi watched Nabom’s reaction with a warm smile.

“……”

Nabom raised a paw and touched the dandelion hanging from her ear.

For some reason, she felt like crying.

Wearing the dandelion crown, she began eating the dandelions scattered across the bed.

What had her plan been after escaping the White Wolf?

Among the beastfolk living in the capital, she had heard that some kept herbivorous beastfolk as pets.

Somehow making her way to the capital and becoming the pet of a kind beastfolk family—that had been her plan.

If she still hadn’t transformed into a human by now, she probably never would. Nabom was content to remain a rabbit as long as she could live peacefully.

And if it’s you two, you’re more than qualified to be my owners!

“Eat all of these, Snowflake.”

“Right. It’s a little wasteful, but you can even eat the dandelion crown if you want.”

No, I’ll serve you for the rest of my life, my masters.

Just then, while watching her happily chew on the dandelions, Ferdi spoke gently.

“You still need to grow a bit more first.”

“……”

Nabom spat out the dandelion.

Then she shook her head violently, flinging off the dandelion crown.

“Huh? Snowflake, what’s wrong all of a sudden?”

“Didn’t you like the crown?”

I take it back.

I almost forgot whose sons you are, you little devils!

As Nabom turned her back on the boys and expressed her disappointment with her entire body—

The door suddenly burst open.

An elderly man with white hair appeared.

“So this is where you were.”

“Hines!”

“We’ve been caught.”

The moment the boys recognized the old man, Hines, they exchanged whispers and pouted in defeat.

“You’re not supposed to come in here, Sir Hines.”

“Hm?”

“Only two people at a time are allowed to visit Snowflake.”

“Snowflake, huh? Forget the snow and whatever else. It’s study time!”

Marching into the room, Hines stopped in front of the boys.

“You’ve played enough. Let’s go. Every time it’s lesson time, I have to go searching for you. How long do you intend to work this old man to the bone? I’m a tutor, not your babysitter!”

Before the boys could even retreat from the shower of spit accompanying his lecture, Hines had already grabbed them by the backs of their collars.

“Anyway, we need to get through hibernation today, so there’s no time to waste.”

At that moment, Nabom’s ears shot upright.

Hibernation?

Wasn’t this old man a tutor?

If they were covering hibernation today, did that mean they’d be learning about brown bear hibernation?

Nabom quickly placed a paw on Ferdi’s wrist just as he was being dragged away.

“…Snowflake?”

Holding his wrist firmly with both paws, Nabom shook her head repeatedly.

Then she looked up at him with the most desperate eyes she could manage.

Please. Take me with you!

“Ugh.”

Ferdi suddenly clutched his chest and collapsed dramatically.

“Young Master Ferdi?”

“Hines. I can’t go. I can’t leave Snowflake behind.”

“What nonsense are you suddenly talking about?”

Hines’s grumpy gaze shifted toward Nabom.

“The Duke’s emergency rations.”

“That phrase is forbidden too!”

Anna rushed over and folded Nabom’s ears down protectively.

Hines glanced at Anna and Nabom, clicked his tongue, and said bluntly,

“Snowflake? It looks more like some mangy puppy.”

“What did you just say?”

“Hm?”

“Hines insulted Snowflake!”

The atmosphere around him instantly turned icy.

Hines, however, didn’t care.

Neither did Nabom.

She picked up a dandelion from the bed and held it upright using all four paws.

Since everyone had already realized she was no ordinary rabbit, she no longer hesitated to express herself.

“Hm?”

Hines frowned.

The white rabbit was moving her paws frantically, trying to communicate something.

She used the dandelion like a pen, scribbling shapes on the bedsheet.

Then she repeatedly patted her own round little chest.

“You want to study too? Is that it?”

Nabom’s eyes widened.

She nodded furiously.

How did he understand that?

Ferdi stared at Hines in astonishment.

“You haven’t even transformed into a human yet. I don’t know how old you are, but can you really understand what I teach?”

“What are you talking about, Hines? Snowflake understands everything you’re saying right now.”

“Snowflake wants to study too? With us? That sounds nice, but studying isn’t very fun. Wouldn’t it be better to stay here and rest?”

“That’s right, Lady Snowflake. You’ve never been to the young masters’ study before. Unfamiliar places aren’t good for you.”

Despite Louis and Anna’s attempts to stop her, Nabom firmly shook her head.

Information about hibernation was essential.

And exploring places outside this room was important too.

I have to figure out the layout of this castle.

If I’m going to escape, I can’t miss this opportunity!

Leaning against the bed rail, Nabom stretched her head toward Hines.

After enduring her pleading gaze for several moments, Hines placed a hand on his chest and looked away.

“Stop looking at me like that. An old man’s heart is weak.”

“…?”

Muttering something incomprehensible, he abruptly turned around.

“What are you waiting for? Let’s go. Young Master Ferdi, Young Master Louis, and…”

He glanced back.

“Rabbit. You’re coming too.”

The faces of the two boys and one rabbit immediately brightened.

***

“Do you understand why animals hibernate?”

Nabom and Ferdi nodded.

Louis, who had been staring blankly at the two of them, hurriedly nodded as well.

“Next is the duration of hibernation. Bears can hibernate for up to six months. However, beastfolk do not sleep nearly that long. The brown bear beastfolk of the Grizzly family usually enter dormancy for one to two months.”

Nabom’s black eyes gleamed.

At least a month! That’s more than enough time to escape!

“Of course, they’re not deeply asleep the entire time.”

Nabom whipped around toward Hines at once.

“There’s a misconception that hibernation is simply sleeping. It’s actually closer to a prolonged resting state. Even while hibernating, a bear may wake up and move around if stimulated by external factors.”

He adjusted his glasses.

“That’s why it’s best not to disturb a hibernating bear. If you do…”

After a dramatic pause, Hines slammed both hands onto the desk.

“RAAAAH!”

He thrust his face toward Louis and Nabom.

Startled, Nabom jumped straight into the air.

Louis burst out laughing.

“Hines. Don’t scare Snowflake.”

“Ahem.”

Hines cleared his throat and resumed his usual stern expression.

Meanwhile, Nabom swallowed nervously.

I see.

I thought he’d be completely unconscious.

I’ll have to be careful not to wake him when I escape.

“We’ll discuss other hibernating animals next time.”

“Yes! Finally, class is over!”

Louis leaped to his feet the moment Hines finished speaking.

Nabom, meanwhile, quietly brought her front paws together and bowed deeply.

I got important information. I should thank him.

Hines cleared his throat and scratched the back of his head.

“There’s no need to thank me. This is my job.”

He glanced at Louis, who was bouncing around by the window.

“Your classroom manners are far better than the second young master’s.”

Clicking his tongue softly, he turned back to Nabom.

“Well then. Is there anything else you’re curious about?”

Ferdi’s eyes widened.

Hines always claimed that daytime made him tired because he was nocturnal, and the moment lessons ended he left immediately.

It was rare for him to invite questions.

After thinking carefully, Nabom stretched out a paw toward the window.

Then she made a triangle shape above her head with both paws and followed it with a large circle.

I have no idea what that means.

Ferdi frowned.

But Hines quietly nodded.

“You want to tour Grizzly Castle, is that it?”

“…!”

“I’ll go ask the Lord for permission.”

Having observed the exchange, Anna left the room.

Ferdi was completely stunned.

“As a tutor specializing in young beastfolk, I should at least be able to understand that much.”

“I… see.”

At that moment, Ferdi felt both admiration and an inexplicable sense of rivalry toward Hines.

I need to learn how to understand Snowflake too.

***

“Assign an escort and send Sir Hines Hegwig along as well.”

After receiving permission from the family head, Anna bowed and left Theodore’s office.

Theodore quietly turned his gaze toward the window.

Then, in the otherwise empty office, he spoke to someone.

“Thank you for coming.”

Slowly turning around, Theodore saw that a small animal had appeared in the corner of the room.

“Lord Pallas.”

As he stared into the creature’s black pupils surrounded by golden irises, he called its name.

The animal met his gaze.

The markings on its head made it resemble a tiger cub at first glance, though its body was much smaller.

For a moment it sat with its paws resting atop its thick tail.

Then it began to move.

Its cylindrical body waddled forward, its fluffy fur swaying with each step.

Suddenly, the small form distorted and transformed into that of a human.

The instant the transformation finished, the figure snapped his fingers.

Clothes whirled into place around his body.

“You summoned me so urgently, I wondered what had happened.”

As he tied back his loose gray hair, the man gazed out the window.

“I never expected you to find one.”

His eyes settled on a single figure in the garden.

More precisely—

A single rabbit.

A tiny white rabbit.

“You found a rabbit carrying the power of spring.”

The maned cat beastfolk and the North’s Grand Mage, Pallas Manul, slowly curled his lips into a smile.