Little Rabbit Can’t Escape Her Enemy After Reincarnation! - Chapter 5

The next morning, when Ashley just woke up, the two maids from Wollett household knocked on the door. She felt reassured seeing their familiar faces. She had them tie the strings behind her corset and neatly style her fluffy hair back.

Just as they finished, there was another knock on the door. It was Fernan dressed in a tweed black suit. He calmly smiled at her, “Good morning, Miss Ashley. I am Fernan, the butler of this house. Did you have a good sleep last night?”

“Yes. I fell asleep right away. It was probably due to the lavender scent on my pillow.”

“I see. That’s good.” He gave her a gentle smile, then he glanced back, “This is Rosalie the head maid. She will be in charge of your care.”

“I look forward to working with you.” Rosalie bowed. She was wearing a black dress with white round collars, and a white cap with ruffles on its hem. Her tone was firm and clear, but her slightly drooping eyes give a sense of friendliness.

Ashley smiled, “Pleased to meet you.” 

“I will be guiding you to the dining room.” 

They went out of the bedroom as Ashley followed Rosalie down the central staircase just across the hall.

‘I’m getting nervous.’

That is, to see Clyde.

The bright dining room facing the garden is just below Ashley’s private room. The room is white with well-polished silverwares lined up on the shelves by the wall.

“Good morning—” Ashley said as she gingerly went inside. She looked around quickly with caution, but there was no sign of Clyde. She was relieved and her stiff shoulders relaxed. 

However, both Rosalie and the Sargent kitchen staff serving her mistook Ashley’s search for her fiancée and thought that she felt depressed for not being able to see him. Their faces clouded in unison.

“I apologize, Miss Ashley. There was an emergency last night and has been holed up in the stables since.” 

“He’s definitely not by means disregarding Miss Ashley. It’s just that the stable is terribly important to him.”

“No, it’s alright.” All of her tension was gone and she let out a heavy breath. If she’s a rabbit right now, she’d be merrily twisting her body and hopping around. She felt sorry but it’s much better that she doesn’t see Clyde.

“Then, thank you for the food.”

The dark long mahogany table was large enough to seat ten people. At the center of the table was a candlestick, a decanter used for wine, and a silver stand containing fresh fruits.

Then, her breakfast menu is grilled white fish with sweet and sour sauce, chicken that’s cut into large pieces, various vegetables stewed in a thick sauce, fresh fruits, and freshly baked bread. There’s also freshly squeezed orange juice and wine on the table.

As an apology for Clyde’s absence–he’s within the estate– Ashley grinned as she brought her breakfast into her mouth. The white fish is plump and its skin is crispy. It’s so delicious.

The maids pitifully stared at her as she ate happily with smiling yet squinted eyes, misunderstanding her as forcing herself to enjoy the food.

“It’s not only this morning, but the master’s been holed up in the stables recently…” One of the maids sighed as she poured another glass of orange juice.

It was the stables that Clyde adamantly told Ashley to never approach.

“It’s not horses that’s kept in the stables is it not? What is kept in there?”

“”

Rosalie and the other maids looked at each other and whispered.

“We don’t know anything. We were told to never approach it, even the other servants. Only Sir Fernan is allowed, however he can’t enter.”

“There was once a gardener who broke the rules and went near it, he was fired at once. Only the master and the magicians are permitted to enter.”

“Magicians?”

“Yes, magicians who come from the palace.” 

Magicians are rare in this world. It was not the case six hundred years ago, but as civilization develops, more people with magical powers are decreasing. Therefore, magicians are favored by the nation.

A precious magician in the stable? What for? Is there something inside that has a strong magical power?

‘Strong magic—’

Suddenly, a memory from the demon kingdom came to mind. But…

‘That can’t be right.’ She smiled bitterly, feeling lonely. The demon kingdom was destroyed six hundred years ago.

‘Huh?’ She suddenly remembered, ‘Speaking of miasma…’

Something caught her mind, it seems that something happened recently relating to miasma.

“Miss Ashley, here’s pudding for dessert.” 

She instantly forgot what she was thinking when the freshly made pudding was placed in front of her.

“It looks delicious.” She pierced it with a spoon and warm apple sauce flowed out from within. The apples were soft and sweet.

“It tastes so good!” 

“I’m glad you like it, Miss Ashley. We also have fresh rabbit meat on hand. Shall we serve it to you for lunch?”

‘Oh my god!–’ She felt goosebumps all over.

“No thanks. No rabbit meat. I hate it. Absolutely don’t serve it to me. Please!” 

“…Is that so? It’s possible to serve it in the form of minced meat without showing its original form–”

“No, it’s impossible! I’d probably faint once it’s placed in front of me.”

Even back home in the Wollett estate, Ashley has not eaten rabbit meat especially after she remembered her previous life. She remembers back then, when she was just over ten years old, her father caught a rabbit from his hunt. He thought that she’d be glad since she deliciously enjoyed it before. Holding it with both ears, her father proudly held out the dangling body of the bloody white rabbit in front of Ashley. 

The shock at that time sends chills down her spine as she recalls it now. As a result, Ashley turned pale and fainted, so they had to call a doctor.

“…alright. I understand.” The maids were slightly taken aback by the pale Ashley’s cries as if it’s coming out from her soul.

‘Rabbit, please rest in peace.’ Ashley clasped her palms together over her heart for the rabbit that was made into meat.

There was no Clyde during lunch nor was there a rabbit dish. Ashley felt more at ease eating her meal with a smile unaware of the maids’ glances at her.

After lunch, she took a stroll in the garden and read a book in the library. She laid down on the sofa in a dimly lit room with the curtains closed, still reading.

Rosalie and the maids frequently brought her tea and baked goods perhaps as an apology.

“You needn’t be so concerned about me.” 

On the contrary, she feels quite apologetic since she’s having so much fun now. However, they shook their heads stubbornly. For some reason, some of the young maids looked as if they were about to cry.

The outer layer of the baked sweets are crispy, but once you take a bite out of it, the sweet buttery flavor oozes out from the inside. It’s exquisite. It can be paired with any kind of tea.

‘It’s heaven.’

She wouldn’t mind living like this for ten days, let alone forever. Ashley smiled as she ate the baked goods.

* * *

‘I’m tired…’ 

Clyde exhaled loudly as he loosened the collar of his clothes. He had been in the stables ever since the magician called for him in the middle of the night on the day Ashley arrived.

Only a few royal members, the magicians from the royal palace, and Fernan who knows that there’s a surviving demonic beast in the stables.

The Tolfa royal family had been hands-off about it and left it under the care of the Sargent family. Clyde is probably the only one who wants to help. However, in the four years since he took over the Sargent title, no matter what he does, nothing can induce it.

‘What should I do?’

He tsked and with a heavy heart, he stepped out of the stables. Fernan was waiting for him in front.

The sky was about to transition from the sunset to the night sky. The thought of him being in the stables for almost the whole day made him even more tired.

“What’s the matter?”

“I think it’s time for you to take a break. You have not eaten anything since this morning. It’s already time for dinner.”

“I’m sorry but I don’t have time for this.”

“Besides, the maids have been fussing over poor Miss Ashley.”

Clyde’s eyebrows rose.

“She dines at that table twice alone. They said that whenever someone enters into the dining room, she anxiously looks for Master Clyde. But, she never whined or complained and eats by herself with a smile enduring the meal. At least have dinner together.”

“…I understand.”

It can’t be helped. Clyde took off his coat, which has the smell of miasma, and headed to the dining room.