If You're Being Held Hostage, Wiggle the Carrot! - Chapter 58
“It’s just like I said back then.”
“Are you saying you’re obsessed with me?”
“I can’t say it precisely, but I’ve never seen numerous spirits desiring only one being. It’s disharmonious.”
“Hmm, disharmonious, you say…”
“Yes, our tribe pursues harmony in various ways, mostly those found in nature. So, in my eyes, their behavior cannot help but seem strange.”
Ruby, recalling the spirits of that day, chewed on her lower lip thoughtfully. After organizing her thoughts for a moment, she continued.
“It’s undoubtedly not just strange to my eyes. If my aunt or mother had seen them, they would have said the same. So, it’s better for you to investigate, Duke.”
“…Who could be targeting me?”
“Yes, someone is undoubtedly targeting you and intentionally sending the spirits here.” Ruby, speaking with conviction, suddenly wore a melancholic expression.
Observing her closely, Liam, who had been paying attention, asked in a puzzled tone, “Why the long face, Ruby?”
She stared at him calling her name. People from the Pink Rabbit Tribe always addressed her by name. There was always someone by her side calling her name.
However, now she couldn’t ask anyone for opinions, and she couldn’t lean on her grandmother or mother anymore. The fact that she truly became alone hit her skin, making her feel melancholic. She paused for a moment, biting her lower lip, then weakly lowered her head.
“…Liam.”
Ivan didn’t realize that just seeing the sad expression of the woman he had spent the heat cycle with would make his heart ache like this.
“Yes, my Lord.”
“Since it seems like we’ve finished our meal, clear the table and bring some desserts. Make sure to have a variety.”
“Yes, understood.”
“And on your way down, stop by the office and inform the aides that I’m on break until the end of today.”
“…Yes?”
Liam’s eyes widened in surprise at Ivan’s words. He had come today precisely for that reason, but to take a break until the end of the day was unexpected. What surprised him even more was that Ivan himself declared taking a break. Of course, Liam agreed with Ivan’s opinion, and even if he didn’t, he wouldn’t dare object.
“Yes, understood. I’ll prepare it right away.”
After Liam left, Ivan still looking spirited, addressed Ruby.
“Come here, take a seat on the sofa.”
“…Yes.”
As Ruby approached and sat on the opposite side, Ivan gestured.
“Come over here.”
“…Why?”
Despite pretending to be indifferent, she had indeed eaten her meal, and she remembered everything that had transpired between them. Even if she didn’t have any memory of it, the strong pheromones emanating from his body were enough for her to guess what happened. How much of his seed had she consumed that his pheromones were still tingling in her throat?
On the other hand, fully aware that her own pheromones were radiating from him, Ruby couldn’t easily resist his call. Ivan, looking at her with narrowed eyes, uttered in a perplexed tone.
“You were just begging for my seed. No need to be so shy now that we’ve done these things as a couple.”
“…Duke, your words seem inappropriate. ‘Couple’ is a term used between married people.”
“Considering our occasional marital relations, it’s not entirely incorrect for us.”
“!”
Usually, when thinking of Ivan, or rather, during the heat cycle, he appeared as an upright male. That innocent side, unseen in rabbit males, was somewhat charming, but it wasn’t entirely comprehensible. Ruby, finding it awkward for him to label them as couple, turned her head away.
She didn’t want to recall the memories of the heat cycle, and every time she saw Ivan, everything from that day rushed back, making her wish she could dig a rabbit hole and disappear.
“Ruby, come over here.”
He insisted once again. Ruby, biting her lower lip, reluctantly moved to his side. However, she made sure to sit at a considerable distance.
Ivan found her behavior so cute that he secretly bit the inside of her cheek. Though he found it somewhat annoying that she kept sitting far away, he enjoyed the fact that she continued to glance at him. It was a different side of a person who had always seemed so fierce.
“Shouldn’t you come closer so I can show you how to put your ears in?”
In response to his words, Ruby reluctantly moved her hips closer, inching her way towards him. Ivan struggled to contain his laughter.
