Became the Step-Mother of the Rabbit Female Lead (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 14
“Madam, I have a question for you.”
Grayan casually asked during dinner. I, who had been slicing my steak as elegantly as possible, paused slightly and looked at him. His silvery-gray eyes sparkled with curiosity.
“Um… what would you like to know?”
I subtly averted my gaze from his and kept cutting my steak. It was a very tender filet mignon, slicing effortlessly without resistance.
I wanted to quickly bring a bite-sized piece to my mouth, but I held back for a moment, waiting for Grayan’s question.
“About those butterflies you summoned.”
“Oh… yes.”
“I did a bit of investigation, and they seem remarkably similar to the legendary butterflies said to guard the World Tree.”
“Is… is that so?”
“Yes. Those butterflies have traditionally formed pacts generation after generation with those who carry the bloodline of the Einstein royal family, but apparently, no one has made such a pact with them for nearly a century.”
What? That was news to me—I hadn’t been told by the butterflies themselves.
So, did the butterflies form a pact with me because I carry the Einstein royal bloodline?
But why me? Why not another royal?
‘If they were going to make a pact anyway, wouldn’t it have been better to choose someone higher in the line of succession—a prince or princess, perhaps?’
“So, about that, Madam.”
“Ah, yes.”
“Did you already know that those butterflies are guardians of the World Tree?”
“…Well…”
Denying it would be pointless—he seemed to have already figured everything out.
‘Sigh… This is my luck. Now I’ll probably be summoned here and there like some errand girl.’
If word got out about this power I possess, people surely wouldn’t leave me alone…
And this man, Grayan Salisbury, was clearly not on my side.
After all, he’d witnessed firsthand the atrocities committed by ‘Gloria,’ and I’d responded with nothing but a flimsy “I don’t remember”!
There was simply no saving this. Hahaha… By now, my image in his mind must be utterly ruined.
‘Even if the butterflies’ power lands me in trouble, I shouldn’t expect Grayan to help me. I must resolve everything using only my own abilities.’
Right! It’s fine. I’m an adult…! I must take responsibility for myself…! Sob sob.
“Madam?”
Seeing I hadn’t replied, Grayan prompted me again.
I swallowed a sigh worth a thousand gold pieces and slowly opened my mouth, feeling oddly lonely all of a sudden.
“Yes, that’s right. I’ve formed a pact with the butterflies who guard the World Tree.”
“So it was as I thought.”
Grayan smiled brightly, as if delighted his suspicion had been confirmed.
Heh… Why’s he so happy? He doesn’t even know what’s going on inside me…
‘Still, he’s so handsome it’s pleasant to look at.’
I admired his smile as one would a fine piece of art and finally popped the steak into my mouth.
…Delicious. The meat melted tenderly on my tongue.
Come to think of it, I wonder how April is doing—eating well and staying out of trouble? Thinking of April while eating steak, huh.
‘I should finish this quickly and go see her.’
I abandoned all pretense of refinement and began shoveling food into my mouth. Grayan watched me with wide eyes.
“You must be quite hungry.”
“Well, not exactly hungry—just eager to see April soon.”
“Ah…”
Something strange flickered in Grayan’s eyes. I kept eating, stealing sideways glances at him. At this rate, I felt less like a person and more like a vacuum cleaner.
“April was very worried about you.”
“Was she?”
“Yes—after you collapsed, she threw quite a scene, crying and carrying on.”
Seriously? Did my little crybaby rabbit act up again? My chest tightened unexpectedly. I really needed to see April right away—I had to give that tearful bunny a good, tight hug!
“The more I see it, the more astonishing it is. I never imagined April would cling so devotedly to anyone.”
Grayan stared intently at me as he spoke. His gaze made me uneasy, so I avoided his eyes and popped an asparagus spear into my mouth. Hmm, perfectly cooked.
“But after this incident… I now understand why she would.”
“…?”
What was that supposed to mean? Surprised by his unexpected words, I widened my eyes. Grayan continued with a faint smile.
“Because you’re the one chosen by the World Tree’s butterflies. I’m certain you must be a good person. As for past events… there must have been extenuating circumstances.”
I nearly spat out the food in my mouth.
Did he just… call me a ‘good person’? Grayan Salisbury?
‘I… I can’t believe it.’
Is this some kind of hidden camera prank? No, cameras don’t even exist in this world! Wait—Grayan Salisbury! The heroine’s father! Calling me a ‘good person’?
‘I never thought I’d see the day.’
I gulped down my food and quickly took a sip of water. Grayan kept watching me intently, and I had no idea how to respond to his words.
So…
I just quietly kept eating.
D-don’t go around saying nice things about people all of a sudden! It’s kind of scary!
Fortunately, Grayan didn’t say anything else. Still, I felt like I might choke throughout the rest of the meal.
Being called ‘good’ or ‘kind’… was honestly a little frightening. And burdensome.
It made me feel obligated to live up to those expectations.
★ ★ ★
“Where did April go?”
“To the glass conservatory in the back garden, my lady.”
Since April wasn’t in her room, I stopped a passing servant to ask—and received that reply.
What would April be doing in the conservatory? My little bunny sure is busy.
‘Hmm, a glass conservatory… Maybe I should go take a look too, just for sightseeing.’
Now that I thought about it, I’d seen a glass building while searching for April before—so that must’ve been the conservatory.
What do they grow in there? Fruit trees, maybe? Hope my foodie bunny hasn’t eaten it all!
Imagining a tiny rabbit sneaking strawberries made me smile involuntarily. Such an adorably greedy bunny. Chuckling quietly, I headed toward the glass conservatory.
I arrived in less than ten minutes, having hurried so much. Carefully opening the conservatory door and stepping inside, I was greeted by a sight more beautiful than I’d imagined.
‘Goodness…’
It was like another world.
Or perhaps a scene straight out of a fairy tale?
Exotic-looking flowers and countless varieties of blossoms, a clear stream trickling along stone walls, and strange glowing gems hanging from the ceiling, radiating warm light.
Though I didn’t know for sure, those gems seemed to keep the conservatory cozy and warm.
‘If my old world had science and technology, this world has magic…’
Actually, creating objects like those gems—that’s ‘magitek,’ right? That’s what it was called, I think. I don’t know the exact principles behind it, but it’s fascinating!
‘I should find April quickly. Where could she be?’
Smiling broadly, I tiptoed forward. Had April not noticed my arrival?
Rabbit shifters should have keen hearing and be sensitive to presence… Hmm.
Truthfully, I’d expected April to come bounding out the moment I stepped inside, so her complete silence felt odd.
Just as I tilted my head in confusion, I spotted April over at one corner of the conservatory.
‘Ah, found you!’
But…
‘Is that… a strawberry vine…?’
The tiny rabbit leaped up, grabbed a strawberry with her front paws, and plucked it clean off.
She tossed the harvested (?) strawberry into a basket, then immediately jumped again to snatch another.
I stood frozen, mouth agape, unable to utter a word at the sight.
‘No way…’
She was actually stealing strawberries!
And the basket was already overflowing! You greedy bunny! How do you plan to eat all that?!
So flabbergasted, I burst out laughing without realizing it. She really was pilfering strawberries after all. Goodness, it was too funny—and she was stubbornly staying in rabbit form! She could pick them more easily if she shifted back to human form!
‘Ah, I can’t take it—April is way too hilarious… The funniest, cutest creature in the world. I should give her an award at year’s end for “Most Adorably Hilarious Being.”’
I imagined placing a medal around the bunny’s neck—and ended up laughing out loud.
Startled by my loud laughter, April whirled around instantly.
Her round rabbit eyes wobbled, and her whiskers trembled.
She’d only just realized I was there.
‘How focused were you…? April, you were actually serious!’
Still chuckling, I shook my head side to side.
April stared at me intently, then—seemingly realizing something—narrowed her eyes into crumpled triangles.
Her front paws and tiny body quivered with rage. Ha! She’d caught on that I’d just laughed at her.
“Kkyeong!”
“S-sorry!”
At her furious shriek, I threw my hands up in surrender. The rabbit, who’d been stomping her hind feet in irritation, abruptly turned her back on me.
Oh dear, she’s sulking again. In this case, I had no choice but to grovel before Her Rabbit Highness.
“April? You were just so cute I couldn’t help laughing. Honestly…”
I gently coaxed her as I slowly approached. The rabbit, ears perked but still turned away, glanced back at me cautiously.
Then she made a sound like “Kihung.” …What was that? A snort?
‘She’s snorting while in rabbit form… What an impressive bunny!’
“You can express so many emotions even as a rabbit, April. Amazing. You’re truly an extraordinary rabbit.”
I clapped my hands together in genuine admiration. April’s stare, however, now seemed utterly bewildered.
“But why were you picking strawberries? Were you hungry? And this basket…”
As I peeked curiously at the large basket beside the rabbit, I quickly realized it wasn’t just filled with strawberries.
‘Goodness, what is all this?’
The basket overflowed with medicinal herbs, edible flowers, tree fruits, and more. Even my gluttonous bunny couldn’t possibly eat all this alone.
Why had April gathered so many herbs and fruits?
Still puzzled, I looked at April—only for the rabbit to timidly nudge the basket toward me with her front paws, looking slightly embarrassed.
‘…Ah, could it be…?’
Blinking in confusion, I suddenly remembered something and looked back and forth between the rabbit and the basket.
She looked just like a tsundere saying, “I just happened to find this. You can have it all!”
Every herb, flower, and fruit in the basket seemed wholesome and nourishing.
‘Did she gather all this… for me?’
Worried about me after I collapsed, she’d personally foraged these to help me recover?
‘…Good heavens.’
This was… really, truly… too much…!
Overwhelmingly adorable!
“Aaaaah! Angel bunny!!”
“—?!”
I couldn’t hold back anymore and swept April into a tight hug. Smothering her with cuddles and planting a kiss on her whiskered cheek, I turned the rabbit into a frozen ice statue. Oops—ice bunny.
“I’m sorry! Did I scare you? I just got so happy… Thank you so much, April. You really are the best bunny ever.”
April flapped her front paws indignantly toward my cheek, clearly displeased—but since she wasn’t trying to wriggle out of my arms, her grievance must’ve been something else.
What could it be? Ah, now that I thought about it…
‘She never did like being called “bunny”!’
I quickly corrected myself.
“Sorry! April is absolutely the best. Um… o-our daughter… Our daughter is truly the best.”
It wasn’t as if calling her “daughter” was hard, yet for some reason, I suddenly felt shy.
April perked up her ears and stared at me with big, dark eyes. Then, she shyly looked away and fidgeted with her front paws.
This time, she was clearly embarrassed.
Smiling fondly, I hugged April tightly again and stroked her soft, warm fur. It felt as if fluffy down feathers were sprouting in my own heart.
Thinking back… when I first opened my eyes in this world, April had been right beside me—I’d never felt alone.
And now, I could say it with certainty: I truly, honestly wanted to become a good mother to April.
“Our daughter.”
“Kkyang.”
April leaped up and bumped her snout against my cheek. Surprised, I asked with wide eyes,
“Was that a kiss?”
“Kkyuhng.”
She was just too cute and funny—I burst out laughing again.
Male lead is a Love-Obsessed Merman
When he discovers she has gone, he risks everything to pursue her on land, enduring agonizing pain to transform his tail into human legs…
One-line summary: Male lead chases female lead. The male lead’s love is a bit sick, an invincible love brain.
Synopsis
During a voyage at sea, Jiang Yang accidentally captures a merman.
Servant: I heard that mermen are fierce and brutal.
Jiang Yang looks at the merman obediently rubbing her palm like a puppy: “You call this fierce and brutal?”
Servant: I heard that mermen have no human nature.
Jiang Yang looks at the merman with wet puppy eyes, obsessively calling her ‘A Yang’ like a childish infant: “You call this having no human nature?”
With great difficulty, she releases the merman back into the sea and returns to shore.
Who would have thought that in less than half a month, the merman, who should have been freely wandering in the South China Sea, would shed his scales, endure the pain of losing his tail, transform into human legs, and come ashore to find her?
He kneels at her feet, rubbing her palm, with merman tears rolling down: “A Yang, don’t abandon me.”
_____
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It kills me that she is using important spirits to grow strawberrys 🤣🤣🤣