If You're Being Held Hostage, Wiggle the Carrot! - Chapter 57
“But carrots aren’t the only thing you have something to say about, right?” Ivan asked with a teasing expression.
In response to his question, Ruby closed her mouth quietly, as if she had just eaten honey.
She remembered most of it accurately—the indiscretions she committed during her heat cycle. The more she recalled, the more embarrassed and ashamed she felt. She wanted to avoid Ivan’s gaze immediately, but her hunger was too strong.
She didn’t sleep and only engaged in such activities during that time…
No, if she consumed that much s***n, why was she still hungry? It might not have been a type of food, but she undoubtedly overindulged. In that case, her stomach should be full.
“I didn’t expect a thank you, but I’m a little disappointed,” Ivan said bluntly to Ruby, who feigned ignorance. In truth, he expected her to be grateful.
Think about it. Who would take care of someone else’s heat cycle to that extent? Whether she suffered alone or not, he was well within his rights to let her handle it herself. Of course, the sudden onset of the heat cycle was due to Ivan, but as part of their contractual relationship, Ruby was only doing what she was obligated to do.
As the smile that had lingered on his lips vanished, his expression turned very cold. Ruby glanced at him for a moment before putting down her fork.
She covered her reddened face with both hands and mumbled, “Th-thank you.”
“I can’t hear you.”
For an animal folk with excellent hearing to say that he couldn’t hear—it was quite ironic. Ruby pouted through the gap in her hands.
It was irritating that he insisted on hearing everything when she was already so embarrassed, but as he said, she had to be grateful for what he did for her.
“Thank you very much, Duke.”
Ivan cleared his throat and showed a gentle smile as he watched Ruby properly express her gratitude.
“You are welcome.”
After a brief response, he pointed at her twitching rabbit ears.
“You said you wanted to practice tucking your ears, didn’t you?”
“Oh… I forgot?”
Ruby, playing with her salad, touched her ears, and then bounced in place as she remembered she’d forgotten again.
“…What’s wrong?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
Ruby glanced at Ivan, thinking of his great-grandfather Louis. Come to think of it, she had come back late that day because of Louis. If she had returned early, there would have been no need to set up the barrier, and then the heat cycle wouldn’t have occurred.
Feeling a little guilty, Ruby nibbled at her salad as she thought about Louis. Nevertheless, the discussion about the black flames was crucial. She thought she needed to hear more about what had happened.
She hurriedly shoveled her salad into her mouth, determined to get a clearer picture of what had happened.
Ivan finished his meal and wiped the corner of his mouth with his napkin. Ruby had not only set up the barrier but also protected him, so he felt it was time for him to help her find her tribe.
To do that, there was something he needed to address first. Ivan, lost in thought, tapped the table with his fingertips before calling for Liam.
“You called, my Lord.”
“I must send letters to the vassals for a meeting.”
“Yes, understood.”
After finishing his contemplation, Ivan called Ruby, who was still eating her salad.
“Ruby.”
“…Yes?”
He had been calling her by name since the onset of her heat cycle, and it felt rather unfamiliar to her. However, considering their respective ranks, it wasn’t strange for him to call her by her name, so she thought nothing more of it.
Recalling the incident that led her to set up the barrier, Ivan asked, “What exactly do you mean by the spirits being strange?”
