Linda climbed down from the bed.
Thankfully, she had saved a few chunks of carrots in her ears. It was weird as no normal rabbit would do such a thing, but Linda was human at heart.
She had hidden them there deliberately, knowing that carrots fueled her strength and helped her transform, and unsure when she would find more.
She pulled them out and began to chew.
Then she hopped across what looked like a bedroom, climbed down from the bedframe, and made her way toward the vanity mirror. As she ate, she watched herself in the glass.
She remembered now. The last time, she had been too tired and too drained, and had fallen unconscious halfway through the transformation.
But this time was different.
She had slept well. She was eating now. She had energy. The transformation should come through now.
Then another thought struck her.
When Daku and Bemu had transformed into their human forms, they had been completely naked.
If that happened to her…
She glanced around.
'At least I should be clean,' she decided. 'And smell good.'
She hopped over to the sink and turned on the tap by pressing her paw on the turn on button.
Compared to her size, the sink was enormous like a bathtub meant just for her. Linda climbed in, letting the water cascade over her small, white body as she soaked beneath the gentle stream.
Naturally, after washing herself with the liquid soap left by the sink and rinsing under the running water, Linda felt refreshed.
Just as she was about to hop out, she felt her rabbit tail twitch.
That was the sign that the tail would soon disappear for a round human butt to sprout.
She immediately jumped out of the sink before the change could finish. When she landed on the floor, she landed on human feet.
Compared to the last time, this transformation was completely different. It was painless, stress-free and smooth like changing underwear. It was nothing like the agony she had felt the first time.
She looked down at her skin.
It was white like snow. It was not dull or lifeless, but porcelain-like, pristine, the kind of skin that felt precious and meant to be protected.
In her former life, she had wished for skin like this, but she had been naturally tan. Now, this skin felt unreal. It was Perfect.
Just as she had predicted, she was completely naked.
Thankfully, there was a bathrobe nearby.
The bathrobe clearly wasn't meant for her because by the time she had worn it, it was enormous. She wrapped herself in it anyway. It felt less like clothing and more like a blanket tied around her body with a belt.
She turned to the vanity mirror.
The girl staring back at her had high brown eyebrows, a straight, elegant nose, and delicate, rosy, heart-shaped lips—small enough to seem as though they could disappear beneath a wide smile. Her eyes were a deep, captivating purple. That was her most striking feature.
Her cheeks carried a soft peach-blossom glow, and her overall appearance was youthful and fragile.
Her height and proportions were interesting.
In her human form, she was the size of an average human woman, unlike the beast men, who were all larger than normal humans.
Linda knew it wouldn't last. Soon, she would revert to her rabbit form again. That was the rule of the beast world which is one she still didn't fully understand, but had come to accept.
Her hair caught her attention next.
It was very long and silvery white, neat and flowing, reaching all the way to her hips.
She quickly grabbed a towel and dried it before stepping out of the bedroom.
There were no proper clothes for her. Clearly, no one had expected a woman here.
As she had been told before, women were scarce in this world. The wardrobe contained only a single black shirt. When she put it on, it hung on her like a gown, the dark fabric sharply contrasting her pale skin.
***
Meanwhile, in another larger room, there was a vast living room with a long table at its center.
Gaffer sat calmly, consuming fresh raw meat.
From time to time, he lifted a glass and took slow sips of the blood collected from the beast meat.
After his hibernation, his skin no longer looked pale. It was lively, vibrant and full of color. There were no visible signs of his illness left behind.
His movements were elegant and controlled as though he had never been weak at all.
Someone sat opposite him.
"You… ah, my brother," the man said with a grin. "You really are something, aren't you?"
The speaker was Scarlett.
Gaffer lifted his gaze and looked at him coolly.
"I am not your brother," Gaffer said flatly. "Call me Your Majesty. Or Master. I am your king."
Scarlett rolled his eyes.
He was the commander-in-chief of the entire Scales Tribe army. Every scaled beast answered to him but he still answered to the king which is none other than Gaffer!
But Gaffer was also his closest friend. What was wrong with calling him brother?
Still… Scarlett couldn't deny Gaffer looked pleasing to the eyes today.
Despite being known as the most dangerously handsome man of the Scales Tribe, even he had to admit it that Gaffer looked exceptionally good today.
Aside from everything else, Gaffer looked… happy. He looked genuinely pleased and that was strange!
Scarlett leaned back and scoffed. "I heard you're getting married to a beast pet. A low-ranked rabbit."
Gaffer didn't answer.
He simply stopped eating the meat and reached instead for the glass of blood wine.
Scarlett clicked his tongue, irritation clear on his face.
With open disgust, he continued, "Really, King Dragon? Master? You know your position. You know your status. And you think marrying a rabbit is what will make you happy?"
His voice sharpened. "What about your son's mother? She would have been good enough for you. Why degrade yourself? Why disgrace your throne with a little rabbit who can offer you nothing but herself as meat?"
At that moment, Linda—who had just stepped into the living room—heard every word.
She froze.
Scarlett went on, yapping unaware. "Yes, we're lacking women. The entire world is lacking women. But how can you even be sure she's an original woman? How do you know that rabbit isn't female on the outside and male on the inside?"
He laughed dryly.
"Duopaws, triopaws…. you can't trust them these days. And how do you even expect to consummate such a union? Have a child with a rabbit?"
He kept talking, throwing insult after insult at Linda, clearly trying to provoke Gaffer, who still didn't react.
Then suddenly, Scarlett felt a presence.
His words trailed off as he looked up toward the entrance of the living room.
Gaffer noticed the silence and lifted his gaze. Seeing where Scarlett was staring, he turned as well.
That was when both of them saw her.
Gaffer didn't immediately understand the look in Scarlett's eyes, until he followed his line of sight.
A girl stood there.
She was very pale and unnaturally white, yet radiant. Small, but perfectly proportioned. The oversized black shirt she wore clung softly to her form, its dark fabric sharply contrasting her skin and outlining her curves.
She was undeniably feminine and undeniably real.
Her beauty was not something recorded in ancient murals or histories of beast women. It was ethereal, almost unreal, yet standing right there before their eyes.
Even Gaffer felt a sudden surge of pleasure, hunger and desire.
He didn't try to hide it.
Scarlett remained completely dumbfounded as the girl—Linda—began to walk toward them.
Linda noticed the man seated across the room from Gaffer. He was striking and far beyond merely handsome. The word handsome didn't quite fit him; poisonous and dangerous described him far better.
Pity, he had a wide foul mouth!
Who was he?