RKDPMC 08

Chapter 8

Even if that were not the case, countless people had attempted to assassinate him along the way. Surely, at least one or two of those attempts had been orchestrated by the emperor behind the scenes.

Besides, the New Year was approaching.

Since he had been away from the capital for a while, it was only proper for him, as a subject, to bring a gift back for His Majesty.

Having watched Gun Guyeon for several days and experienced his sinister nature firsthand, Un Suk-eum immediately understood his intentions.

She could not help rolling her eyes.

‘This man really is rotten to the core.’

Who could receive a gift like that at New Year and not cough up blood and collapse?

‘Ouch!’

Someone suddenly flicked her ear.

Un Suk-eum trembled from the pain and glared at Gun Guyeon.

Gun Guyeon said,

“Don’t look at me like that.”

Un Suk-eum buried her head between her front paws and grumbled inwardly.

‘I’ve tried all sorts of expressions while looking in the mirror before, but this rabbit’s face only ever looks cute and stupid. There’s no way to read any other emotion from those clear eyes.’

And yet, for some reason, this man could always detect every little movement she made as though he had supernatural instincts.

Gun Guyeon saw the fluffy white ball bury its head between its soft paws as though it were sulking, turning its rear toward him.

With a slightly mischievous look, he gave the rabbit’s round little bottom a light tap.

Then he caught her tail between his fingers and gave it a gentle pinch.

The rabbit’s ears immediately stood straight up.

She raised her head and stared at him in disbelief.

‘You pervert!’

Although she could not speak as a rabbit, the words seemed to be written so clearly in her limpid eyes that Gun Guyeon could practically read them.

He lowered his head slightly and chuckled softly.

Then, when the rabbit tried to escape, he caught her in one swift movement and pulled her back.

With his large hand, he ruffled the fur on her head until it was completely disheveled.

Only after that did he say to Mang Gyun,

“Have the ship increase its speed. We need to enter the capital before the New Year.”

Mang Gyun watched in fascination as Gun Guyeon played with the rabbit.

It was the first time he had ever seen his master behave so intimately with a living creature.

However, when he felt Gun Guyeon’s gaze fall upon him, he quickly lowered his head.

“I will obey your command.”

As the ship approached the outskirts of the capital, Un Suk-eum began to truly dislike this man.

He had been kneading and rubbing every part of her body as though she were a stuffed toy.

Outside, he was an endlessly cold man.

But in reality, he was a severe fur addict.

Even when he slept, he would fiddle with the rabbit.

Sometimes he would put her inside his blankets and hold her tightly enough that she nearly suffocated to death.

Un Suk-eum desperately wanted to turn back into a human and leave him as soon as possible.

So she tried everything.

She acted cute, threw tantrums, and kissed his hands, neck, face, and even his abs.

But the rabbit remained a rabbit.

There was absolutely no sign that she would turn back into a human.

The only place she had not yet managed to kiss was his lips.

Unfortunately, Gun Guyeon’s lips were practically a forbidden sanctuary she could not approach.

Every time she got close, he would grab her by the scruff and pull her away.

The only time she had almost succeeded while he was asleep had been ruined by Mang Gyun.

Un Suk-eum was so frustrated she felt she could go insane.

By the time the government ship stopped at a ferry landing near the capital, and Gun Guyeon carried her off the ship amid the people who had come to welcome him before returning to the Regent Prince’s residence, Un Suk-eum still had not found a chance to turn back into a human.

The entire court had not come out to welcome the Regent Prince, but quite a few people were waiting outside the city gate.

After following Gun Guyeon into the residence, Un Suk-eum headed toward his quarters, Chengming Hall.

She watched miserably as Gun Guyeon changed into a black silk robe and draped a matching outer coat over himself, preparing to leave.

She sighed.

‘When on earth will I be able to turn back into a human?’

At that moment, Gun Guyeon, who was sitting in his wheelchair, turned his head and looked at the little ball of white fur lying listlessly on the bed.

Seeing her pink ears drooping, he suddenly changed direction and pushed his wheelchair toward the bed.

He reached out and scratched beneath the rabbit’s chin.

Ever since she had been stopped from kissing him on the way here, the little creature had been in this state.

Gun Guyeon gently scratched her chin and asked,

“Do you really want to be this close to this prince?”

Un Suk-eum snorted inwardly.

‘I just want to turn back into a human! Who said I wanted to stay close to this jerk?’

Unable to bear the tickling beneath her chin any longer, she angrily bit down on his finger.

Instead of becoming angry, Gun Guyeon simply lifted the rabbit into the air.

“Stay here quietly. If you wander around and someone catches you, they might skin you and turn you into rabbit fur.”

Un Suk-eum rolled her eyes.

These days, this man threatened to skin her alive whenever he had the chance.

Besides, with a rabbit’s tiny body barely the size of a hand, she could easily be stepped on and killed if she wandered around.

Where could she possibly run?

Gun Guyeon saw her rolling her eyes and his expression softened as he smiled.

Then, without warning, he pulled the rabbit close and kissed her.

He lightly stroked her ear and whispered,

“Stay here obediently, you sly little rabbit. When I return, I’ll let you kiss me again.”

“……”

After being placed back on the bed, Un Suk-eum froze.

The moment Gun Guyeon tapped her head and left, pushing his wheelchair away, that familiar chilling sensation began to spread through her body again.

Startled, Un Suk-eum quickly burrowed beneath the blankets.

Her entire body tingled, and it felt as though her bones were melting.

A moment later, her body became heavy, and the blanket rose into a mound.

A person suddenly appeared on the previously empty bed.

Long black hair spilled across the bedding.

Her skin was as pale and flawless as porcelain, while her round yet alluring eyes were filled with bewilderment.

Her lips were slightly parted, and beneath the blanket, the curves of her body formed an enchanting silhouette.

The young woman was astonishingly beautiful—both delicate and alluring.

Although the silk blanket covered most of her body, the skin that remained exposed was so white and smooth that it seemed capable of captivating anyone who looked at it.

Overwhelmed with joy, Un Suk-eum stared at her own hands.

She touched her body and legs, marveling at the smooth and soft sensation.

Her eyes curved into crescent moons as excitement filled her.

She almost screamed with happiness, like a child who had just been given a piece of candy.

She had tried so hard to kiss Gun Guyeon, yet somehow she had finally succeeded in the most absurd way possible.

Un Suk-eum hurried out from beneath the blankets and began hopping up and down on the spot.

When she felt both feet touch the floor, tears nearly sprang into her eyes.

Then—

Someone outside pushed open the door.

‘Is someone coming?’

Startled, Un Suk-eum quickly hid herself.

A moment later, she saw a short, thin man dressed in blue enter the room carrying something.

“Oh? His Highness said there was a rabbit here?”

The man was Sanbao, one of Gun Guyeon’s servants.

He had been one of Gun Guyeon’s close attendants since the days when he was still in the imperial palace.

Before leaving, Gun Guyeon had ordered Sanbao to take care of the rabbit, feed her, and make sure she did not leave the room.

But no matter how carefully Sanbao searched the room, he could not find even the slightest trace of the rabbit.

He searched again.

Still nothing.

Sanbao’s expression immediately changed.

It was extremely rare for His Highness to become attached to something, so losing that rabbit would be a serious matter.

Just as the anxious Sanbao turned around to call for someone, he suddenly felt a cold gust of wind and a sharp pain in the back of his neck.

His vision went black.

He collapsed straight onto the floor.

“Phew.”

Un Suk-eum hurriedly caught Sanbao as he fell.

She was afraid that if he hit the ground and blood splattered everywhere, she might somehow turn back into a rabbit again.

After laying him on the floor, she finally realized that she was completely naked and cold.

She was about to search for some clothes, but stopped.

Gun Guyeon was the Regent Prince who controlled the imperial court.

Although she did not know exactly how he lived within the residence, she had seen enough of his clothing and belongings on the journey to the capital to know that every single one was of the highest quality.

She did not know whether his clothes bore any special insignia.

But if she went outside wearing something so conspicuous and luxurious, she would certainly attract suspicion.

If there were even some forbidden emblem embroidered on the clothing, she would probably be arrested before she could even reach the Marquis Mu’s residence.

Un Suk-eum abandoned the idea of searching through Gun Guyeon’s clothes and instead looked down at Sanbao lying on the floor.

She immediately removed Sanbao’s clothes and shoes, quickly changed into them, and twisted her long hair up, stuffing it beneath his sable-fur hat.

Fortunately, there was a gray cloak hanging near the door.

A thick fur collar surrounded its neck, and a few snowflakes still clung to the cloak.

Un Suk-eum realized that it belonged to the man who had just entered.

She quickly wrapped it around herself.

Her slender curves disappeared beneath the heavy cloak, making her figure look considerably bulkier.

She pressed her ear against the door and listened.

Only occasional, faint footsteps could be heard.

There was no servant standing guard outside the door.

Taking advantage of the guard’s absence, Un Suk-eum quickly opened the door and slipped out.

She tightened the collar of her cloak and hurried toward the wall across the corridor.

But she had not gone far when she ran into someone.

“Isn’t that Eunuch Sanbao?”

Startled, Un Suk-eum immediately lowered her head.

She buried her chin deep into the fur collar and pulled the hat down tightly.

The sable fur covered her forehead, leaving only her eyes barely visible.

Un Suk-eum did not know Sanbao’s exact position, but judging by the fact that people in the Regent Prince’s residence called him “Eunuch” and that he could freely enter and leave Gun Guyeon’s private quarters, she assumed he must be a high-ranking close attendant.

Someone like that was essentially equivalent to the chief eunuch of the imperial palace.

Ordinary people within the prince’s residence would never dare question him carelessly.

Un Suk-eum kept her head half lowered and buried her face in the fur collar.

As a eunuch, Sanbao naturally had a rather delicate and refined appearance, so even with her face concealed in this manner, she did not look particularly strange.

Sure enough, the other person merely assumed that “Sanbao” was hunched over because he was cold and did not suspect anything.

After all, who would ever imagine that someone would dare impersonate Sanbao inside this heavily guarded princely residence?

The person approached with a respectful smile.

“From a distance, I thought your figure looked like Eunuch Sanbao, so I came over to take a look. It really is you. This area is near Houhu Lake. What brings you here, Eunuch Sanbao? Is there anything I can help you with?”