RODH Side Story Chapter 2

Side Story 2. I Became a Ferret

“Kki-ang!”

“Kki-ang!”

“Kkiaaang!”

Ian tried to say something—anything.

But every time, only strange, incomprehensible sounds slipped out of his mouth.

What the hell is happening to me?

Unable to adjust to the suddenly enlarged world around him, Ian spun around in place.

And then he saw a fluffy white tail.

A tail?

He turned his head to the side and looked behind him. There, as soft as freshly fallen snow, was a white tail.

Thinking it couldn’t possibly be, Ian tried moving it.

The tail moved just as easily as his hands did.

Finally, he lowered his gaze to his hands.

His hands had turned into soft pads and fur like a cat’s, tipped with tiny, useless claws.

My body’s gone wrong!

Ian let out a scream.

“Kki-aaaang!”

“What on earth just happened?”

Nevan had clearly seen Ian’s body shrink before his eyes.

Now, he was a ferret.

Crying out in confusion—kki-ang, kki-ang—Ian whimpered pitifully.

Chloe, flustered, hurriedly checked the name on the potion bottle.

She gasped, clutching at her head with both hands.

“Your Grace, what should we do?”

“Explain in detail.”

“Well… while researching the northern environment recently, I collected a few animal furs. Using those, I made a shape-shifting potion, but I must have mixed up the bottles. I have no excuse!”

“So you’re saying this white ferret is Lord Ian.”

“Yes… I’ve committed an unforgivable sin.”

Chloe’s voice trembled on the verge of tears.

Nevan gathered the confused Ian into his arms and stroked his back.

Like a flailing fish, Ian twitched for a while before finally calming down.

Or rather, he melted completely into Nevan’s warmth.

With his body so small, the cold struck quickly.

And hunger came frequently, too.

Damn it, give me back my body!

“Kki-aaang…”

Ian stretched out limply like melted candy and burrowed deeper into Nevan’s arms.

Though he felt wronged, the exhaustion pressing down on him was far greater, and soon he drifted off to sleep, snoring softly like a tiny purr.

* * *

Because of the unexpected accident, the second part of the wedding ended earlier than expected.

Everyone had wanted to see Ian one more time, but Nevan only answered mechanically that he was resting.

The ones who stayed until the end were the three alphas who still couldn’t let go of their interest in Ian’s position as a mistress.

Seor asked,

“Where is Ian?”

“He is resting in his room.”

Then Lucian said,

“I’d like to at least see his face before I leave.”

“He is resting in his room.”

Finally, Alvis asked,

“Did something happen to him?”

“He is resting in his room.”

With Nevan’s iron wall blocking every attempt, the three gathered their heads together.

Knowing Ian’s personality, even if he was tired, there was no way he would miss the second part of the wedding.

“Then something must have happened…”

Lucian opened a portal and stormed into Ian’s room.

The other alphas followed through the boundary of the portal.

But inside the room, there was only Chloe—and a ferret sprawled across the bed.

“A ferret?”

“Th-this… this is a ferret Her Grace received as a gift.”

The snow-white ferret with not a single pattern on its fur lay flat on its back, sleeping peacefully.

Just like its master would if he were asleep.

Peter asked,

“His Grace said Her Grace was in the room—so where did he go?”

At the probing question, Chloe’s face went pale.

Her eyes rolled nervously until Nevan returned, and she immediately hid behind him.

Looking at the four alphas surrounding Ian, Nevan sighed.

“It seems Lord Ian has stepped out for a while. Please leave.”

At the polite dismissal, the group had no choice but to turn and go.

But then, the ferret buried in the blanket suddenly sat upright.

Lucian, suspicious, pointed at the ferret that resembled Ian too much and asked,

“What’s its name? If it doesn’t have one, I’d like to give it one.”

“It has… no name.”

“Really? Let me see.”

Lucian grabbed Ian under the armpits and lifted him high into the air.

Just waking from sleep, Ian felt as if he’d been thrown over a cliff, his tail pressed tightly to his stomach.

“Kki-ang! Kkiaaang!”

You crazy bastard, are you trying to kill me?!

He protested with all his might, but Lucian, not knowing it was Ian, grinned.

“Look at that temper. Doesn’t it really seem like Ian? How about ‘Jewel’? Ian loves gemstones.”

Worried Ian might get hurt, Nevan snatched him away from Lucian.

Seeing that, Seor spoke up.

“The Grand Duke is very possessive. It’s said that spouses who are too possessive don’t last long in marriage.”

Are you cursing me?

Snuggled deep into Nevan’s arms, Ian glared at Seor.

“Hey, I swear that ferret just glared at me.”

“Looks like it.”

“That’s… that’s impossible, right? How could a ferret glare at someone?”

Chloe stammered awkwardly, forcing a laugh.

Something felt off, but none of the four gathered in the room understood why.

“Well, then just give him my regards.”

Lucian left first, followed by Seor and Peter at the very end.

After everyone had gone, Chloe collapsed into a chair, her legs giving way.

Soon Bain came in, looking for Ian.

“Your Grace, have you seen our young lord?”

Nevan decided Bain, at least, should know the truth.

“Here he is.”

“…Pardon?”

Bain narrowed his eyes as he looked at the soft, white-furred ferret.

When doubt clouded his expression, Nevan repeated,

“This ferret is your master.”

“Whaaat?”

“I am so sorry, so sorry! I confused the bottles, and Her Grace drank the shape-shifting potion!”

As Chloe poured out her endless apologies, Bain’s eyes filled with tears.

“M-my lord… is it really you?”

Looking at Bain, who seemed about to burst into tears, Ian answered.

It’s me, Bain.

“Kki-ang!”

“Oh heavens, my word!”

“Kkiaaang.”

“Even as an animal, how can my lord be this adorable!”

“Kki-ang?”

What? You weren’t worried about me?

But before he could think further, Bain crushed him in a hug so tight his bones nearly cracked.

“Kkiaaang!”

“Hueegh, you’re too cute, my lord. It’s a shame this happened, but I really love animals.”

“Kki-ang! Kki-ang!”

When I get my body back, I won’t let you off!

Grinding his teeth, Ian let out a squeak.

Nevan, unable to stand watching, intervened.

“He’s weaker than usual, so be careful.”

“Oh, you’re right. I’m sorry.”

“Kki-ang! Kkiaaang!”

“Are you mad at me?”

Hmph, I’m not talking to you.

When Ian turned his head away sharply, soft chuckles could be heard.

You little—

Spinning his head back, Ian bit Bain’s finger.

“Ow!”

“Ian.”

“It hurts, my lord! Aagh!”

Why else would I bite you, if not to hurt?

After finishing his biting attack, Ian seemed drained, and he lifted his tiny forepaws toward Nevan.

Nevan, accustomed to it, held out his arm, and Ian immediately nestled into the curve of his shoulder.

A small growl of hunger rumbled from his belly near Nevan’s ear.

“Bring him some food.”

“Yes, Your Grace. The young lord… will need something special, right?”

By “special,” Bain meant live larvae.

The moment Ian saw the glass cup full of squirming larvae, he froze in horror.

Are you seriously planning to feed me that?

Are you insane?!

“Kki-ang!”

“You must be very hungry.”

“……”

Nevan, knowing Ian would never eat live bugs, handed the cup back to Bain.

“These should be released somewhere else.”

Thanks to Nevan’s wisdom, Ian was spared.

Instead, he nibbled on small, round meatballs.

The one good thing about having a smaller body was that even a little food made him full.

Climbing up Nevan’s body wasn’t so bad either.

But how long do I have to stay like this?

As if reading Ian’s thoughts, Nevan asked Chloe,

“When will Lord Ian return to his original form?”

“Normally, a shape-shifting potion wears off in half a day, but…”

Like someone about to be severely scolded, Chloe shut her eyes tightly and confessed,

“Since this was a special potion, it will take at least three days.”

Three days?

Ian dropped the meatball he had been eating.

Looking dazed, like a beaver that had lost its dam, he sat there while Chloe bowed again and again in apology.

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, Your Grace!”

Give me back my wedding night!

“Kki-ang! Kkiaaang!”

If only I had drunk the yellow potion I was meant to, this disaster would never have happened.

Like a defeated soldier, Ian staggered and rubbed his cheek against Nevan’s hand.

Nevan soothed him gently.

“It’s alright.”

“Kkiiing.”

“Even in this form, you are still just as lovely.”

That’s not the problem, Nevan.

With both the wedding night and the honeymoon ruined, Ian couldn’t help but wilt.

And on top of that, having to endure this flimsy, spineless body like some invertebrate for three whole days was its own misery.

While he was buried in all those gloomy thoughts, someone knocked on the door.