🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 9
On the way back to Timi Village after buying everything they needed, it was Ray who held the reins.
Contrary to his appearance, he drove the carriage with surprising smoothness—so much so that it made Pera drowsy, her eyelids threatening to droop.
Luckily, Theo was beside her, chattering away like a sparrow, keeping her from dozing off.
“Pera, Pera! Theo’s all better now!”
The boy held up his small, plump palm. The little scrape he’d gotten in yesterday’s accident had already healed, leaving his skin as flawless as before.
Pera knew beast healed faster than humans, but this speed was beyond her expectations. She rubbed the soft, pale skin of his palm with a nod.
“Yes, Lord Theo. Truly amazing. How could your wound heal so quickly?”
“Theo is amaaazing!”
He pressed his hands to his cheeks and swayed his head from side to side. Though Pera was fully aware that behind that cute exterior lay the nature of a tiger beast prince, she still couldn’t resist his adorable antics.
She laughed so wide her mouth nearly dropped open, cheering for him, clapping at every little movement, even singing along whenever he burst into song. By the time they reached the village, her palms were sore from applauding.
“Get down.”
Ray, who had parked with practiced ease, opened the baggage compartment with a curt command.
Pera moved quickly, but before Theo could climb out, Ray extended a strong arm toward him.
“Come here, Theo. I’ll carry you down.”
The faint lift at the corner of his lips made him look less like a snow leopard knight and more like a housecat loyal to its master.
Pera, who received no such treatment, swallowed back the complaint that rose to her throat. She jumped down from the carriage on her own, landing lightly.
As expected, Ray didn’t spare her a glance.
They had brought back not just food, but also daily necessities to last a while. The pile of luggage was enough to fill half the living room. Just sorting everything would take hours.
Dropping the bags, Pera quickly slipped on her doctor’s coat. She had skipped only the morning consultations, but already a small crowd of patients was waiting in her clinic.
“Sir Ray, you can take care of the unpacking, right? I’m off to see patients!”
“What…? Phew—!”
He wasn’t even the owner of the house! How was he supposed to know where anything went? But before he could protest, Pera had already vanished into the adjoining clinic.
Ray stood there, exasperated. Then Theo crouched beside him and patted his broad back.
“Don’t worry, Ray. Theo will help.”
Ray let out a quiet laugh, ruffling the boy’s golden hair with one large hand.
The soft, silky strands tickled against his fingers.
“Theo.”
“Mm?”
“Doing nothing is how you help.”
His tone was gentle, but the dismissal was absolute.
Theo puffed his cheeks, lips sticking out in a sulk. Still, he knew he wasn’t much help. Resigned, he clambered onto a chair and sat quietly, legs swinging as he watched Ray put things away.
After a while, his curiosity bubbled out.
“Ray, this bunny village… do you like it?”
“Hard to say. We haven’t even spent a full day here. What about you, Theo?”
Ray folded a pair of tiny socks as he returned the question. Theo frowned in thought, humming, then broke into a wide grin.
“I like it here!”
“You do?”
“Mm! Outside, it smells like carrots, and there are so many rabbits with long ears! And—no ugly big brothers!”
One by one, he bent his little fingers to count the reasons. His lips twisted sharply when he mentioned his brothers, making it very clear how much he disliked them.
Ray chuckled softly at the boy’s candor.
“More? Do you have another reason?”
“Of course!”
Theo hopped down from the chair and latched onto Ray’s broad back, rubbing his head against him like a kitten.
Ray’s expression softened further at the child’s warmth and sweet scent.
“Pera doesn’t have ears or a tail, but she smells really nice! Ray, do you know Pera’s smell?”
“…Hmm.”
“You do? You do, right?”
“…Mmm.”
Pressed again and again, Ray gave the faintest nod. He couldn’t deny it—there was something pleasant about her scent.
It didn’t stir hunger or the thrill of a hunt. Instead, it carried a calm sweetness, one that relaxed the body and eased the mind.
For beast, whose senses were sharp, such a scent was irresistible.
“See? Pera smells good!”
Pleased that Ray agreed, Theo tapped his forehead against Ray’s broad back, thumping right over his stitched shoulder.
Ray bore the sting silently. He was used to pain. And besides, he had to admit—Pera’s skill with healing was nothing to scoff at.
While her “guests” were secretly praising her, Pera herself was swamped with patients.
“Pera, guess what? Lani ate candy at dawn again! And this time Remi joined her!”
“Pera! I was pulling up carrots and got stung by a bee! Look how swollen it is—will I be okay?”
“Pera! I slept with the window open last night, and now I’ve caught a chill. Cough, sniffle—what should I do?”
The complaints poured in nonstop.
It was the kind of morning that would’ve overwhelmed any ordinary person—but Pera worked calmly, moving from one patient to the next, answering each need.
Villagers came in twos and threes, then left hand-in-hand with smiles.
Like waves, she thought. Crashing in together, rolling out together.
Normally, they would’ve left as soon as their treatments ended, but today they lingered, chatting. Their curiosity about the outsiders was too strong.
They twitched their long ears excitedly as they whispered and gossiped—until the door suddenly slammed open.
“Pera!”
Theo burst in, golden hair gleaming like honey, eyes like molten gold. Despite his small frame, his build already hinted at the power of the predator he would grow into.
And behind him—Ray. Silver hair like frost, eyes cold as glaciers, his sheer size enough to declare his nature even from a hundred meters away.
Theo’s gaze swept the crowded clinic, filled with snow-rabbit beast. His head tilted curiously.
“So many rabbits?”
Then—gulp. He swallowed audibly, like a child who’d spotted candy.
The innocent, instinctive motion made every rabbit beast in the room stiffen in terror.
They knew he wouldn’t actually devour them here. Still—the way those golden eyes lingered made their legs tremble, knees weak.
The men didn’t dare meet his gaze.
The cheerful chatter of moments ago evaporated. One by one, villagers rose awkwardly, murmuring excuses as they shuffled out.
“Thank you, Pera. I’ll go home and throw away all the candy this time.”
“The ointment really worked—no more itching! I think I can finish the harvest now.”
“I’ll try some hot ginger tea at home, see if it helps with the cough.”
Pera smiled warmly at each, seeing them off. Only when the last group left did she close the clinic door and let out a soft sigh.
The morning trip to the neighboring village, then the rush of patients—it was catching up to her. Her shoulders sagged with fatigue.
But before she could even rest, something warm and small clung to her thigh. Looking down, she met Theo’s golden eyes, shining brightly with anticipation.
“Then… will you play with me now?”
Pera’s long day was not over yet. In fact—it was only just beginning.
