If You're Being Held Hostage, Wiggle the Carrot! - Chapter 36
“When you say…Weaver, do you mean Leslie?”
It wasn’t Ruby who responded to Ivan’s question but Liam. He lowered his head with a remorseful expression and replied, “Yes, that’s correct.”
“It seems I’ve been too lenient with our employees. There have been more than a couple of things bothering me since earlier.”
“I will firmly remind them of the rules.”
“Hmm.”
Ruby, looking puzzled at Ivan’s discomfort, asked, “You mentioned the rules. I was actually grateful that she told me?”
“…You didn’t find it offensive?”
“No. Why?”
“…”
He stared at Ruby, eyes widening slightly. Seeing her genuine expression, Ivan felt relieved. It had been a bizarre start, but now she was his guest and the only one who could help him.
They stopped eating and looked at each other for a long time.
As Ruby resumed eating without a word, Ivan picked up his fork and knife, which he had also put down, and said bluntly, “We’ll start right away tonight.”
“…Yes?” Ruby didn’t immediately understand his hesitant reply.
“We need to practice putting your ears in,” said Ivan, “and we need to start tonight.”
A meaningful smile appeared on his face, and Ruby realized she had made a mistake. With one hand fidgeting with her rabbit ears, she pondered.
Putting ears in, somehow she didn’t think that was going to be easy.
* * *
After lunch, Ruby wandered around alone. Liam asked multiple times if she’d be okay by herself, but she told him that she had a general idea of the way.
Unbeknownst to her, Liam, who had observed her closely, was truly a busy person. Perhaps a stroll alone would be better for her? …Or so he had thought just five minutes ago.
Ruby had felt perplexed several times since coming here, but it wasn’t as intense as it was now.
“A rabbit person.”
“Wow, I’ve never seen a rabbit person before.”
“Wait, were rabbit ears originally pink?”
“I’m seeing them for the first time today, how would I know?”
“Oh, right.”
With neither Ivan nor Liam around, the servants she encountered while walking around showed a distinct interest in her. Not only the servants but also the footmen, maids, stablehands, gardeners, and so on—every single one of them ogled at Ruby.
Showing interest wasn’t a bad thing. She understood the curiosity. She herself had been fascinated when she encountered a wolf person for the first time upon arriving here. But their collective attention was overwhelming and frightening. They were carnivores, different enough from the lions for now, but every instinct in her body screamed for her to flee.
Unknowingly, Ruby’s legs started trembling. She thought she had adapted quite a bit by becoming friendly with the aides, but it seemed she hadn’t adjusted entirely.
“Oh, she’s running away!”
“Did we stare too much?”
“I… want to chase after her.”
She could hear every word said about her. Ruby started sprinting back towards the garden she had visited with Liam earlier. She heard a voice behind her say, “You’re faster than I thought,” and she ran even faster.
“Haah, haah….”
She managed to catch her breath only after hiding in a corner.
“I’ve been too relaxed in a wolf’s den.”
Of course, she wasn’t going to be eaten, but…
“They won’t really eat me, will they?”
Despite Ivan’s assurance, fear crept in. Memories of her tribe being captured by the lions surfaced in her mind.
“They didn’t take us to eat us, did they?”
Worry surged like a flood. She felt impatient but could only clench her teeth. She remembered what her grandmother and mother always said.
“The sooner you turn around, the sooner you’ll find the carrot.”
In her heart, she wanted to confront the Golden Lion Tribe immediately. But if she did, they would surely capture her. She could never allow that. Not until she saved her tribe.
