CHAPTER 001
Late autumn rain poured incessantly in the deep mountains.
Darkness quickly filled the void left by the setting sun. A small, frail figure climbed the steep, unmarked mountain like a nimble squirrel.
“Whoa, whoa….”
Her legs tangled as she sprinted along the muddy path. She flailed her arms to regain balance, but,
“Ahhhh, ouch…!”
Eventually, she slipped and fell into a puddle.
The girl stood up, frowning in pain, and patted her waist and hips with her fists. Her clothes were already soaked and muddy, in complete disarray. Her sleeves and skirt hem were torn in several places.
“Thank goodness I didn’t break the medicine bottle.”
She sighed in relief, clutching a small glass bottle to her chest. White breath puffed out into the cold air as she wiped the rain from her eyes and resumed climbing the mountain.
After a while, the dense forest gave way to a cliff with a waterfall. Panting, Arabelle stepped onto the slippery rocks and began to leap from stone to stone across the river. She reached the waterfall and saw a cave entrance covered in moss.
Arabelle parted the mossy curtains and entered the cave. The dim light from the dying fire illuminated the cave. She saw a mound of leaves and branches piled high beside the fire.
The mound of leaves… was moving up and down slowly. Sharp, red eyes glinted through the leaves, following Arabelle's movements.
She spoke to the tall mound of leaves in a gentle, clear voice that didn’t match the dark, damp cave.
“Sorry, did you wait long? Just a moment, I’ll warm you up.”
Before she finished speaking, she crouched by the fire and took out a small bottle from her inner pocket. It was a glass bottle, barely as big as her two fingers.
She poured the clear liquid onto the dying embers, and the fire soon roared back to life. The warmth quickly spread, thawing her cold body. Arabelle's tense shoulders relaxed.
The beast’s wary eyes watched as the girl approached. She carefully removed the leaves covering the massive creature.
Leaves fell around the beast, revealing a huge, black panther. Though injured and lying motionless, it exuded an overwhelming presence.
“Grrrr….”
The panther growled menacingly with its large fangs.
“You must be hungry. I’m sorry this is all I have.”
Arabelle unwrapped her apron, revealing wild berries. She spread them on the leaves in front of the panther.
“I thought about sneaking salted lamb from the kitchen, but my teacher said that food seasoned by humans can be harmful to injured wild animals. Wild berries are better.”
The panther didn’t seem to have the strength to open its mouth. Arabelle’s eyes filled with pity as she watched the beast.
Determined, she grabbed a handful of berries and stuffed her cheeks full. The out-of-season berries were sour and gritty, but she chewed them vigorously.
She spat the purple juice into her hand and, without hesitation, pushed her hand into the beast’s mouth.
“Grr….”
The panther gulped down the juice, its rough tongue licking her hand insistently.
“Alright, alright, let go of my hand.”
She petted the panther’s ear to soothe it.
After repeating this several times, the panther finally released her hand. The berries were all gone, and Arabelle’s lips were stained purple.
Though somewhat relieved of its thirst, the poison in the panther’s body spread rapidly. It shuddered in pain.
Arabelle quickly took out the medicine bottle from her chest. She carefully poured the thick yellow liquid onto the panther’s wound.
“My father uses this for treating injured wild animals, but he’s never treated one as big as you…”
The liquid touched the wound, producing smoke and a sharp smell.
“Grr…”
The beast’s agonized growl echoed in the cave.
“The medicine should be working by now.”
Arabelle’s voice trembled as she watched the wound. Her large, gentle eyes filled with tears.
The wound didn’t heal but instead bled profusely. Blood pooled beneath the panther’s belly.
“I’m sorry… I think I made it worse.”
Tears streamed down her scratched cheeks.
“If I had my family’s healing powers, I could’ve healed you by now.”
Her small hands tried to stop the bleeding, but it was futile. Her father, sister Camille, or even her brother Roxy could’ve healed the panther.
‘I should go back and ask for help.’
But then she sat back down. They would kill it on sight.
The panther was a declared beast of the empire. Everyone was required to report or kill it immediately. Capturing one earned a commoner nobility, while letting one go brought severe punishment.
Panthers had been extinct in the empire and the continent for a hundred years. But Arabelle encountered one this morning behind her estate.
Seeing the approaching beast, Arabelle hugged the rabbit family to her chest. She had planned to release them secretly but ended up facing the panther herself.
Contrary to its menacing eyes, the beast moved slowly and weakly. Arabelle noticed the short spears embedded in its belly.
She set the rabbits free and approached the panther. It bared its fangs but let her pull out the spears.
Once the spears were removed, the panther collapsed. Arabelle thought,
‘If I leave it, it’ll be killed or become prey.’
She remembered the cave behind the waterfall. She dragged and pushed the beast into the cave.
“Just this morning, you could still move on your own.”
The beast lay its head on the ground, blinking weakly. Arabelle realized there was nothing more she could do.
She hugged the beast’s cold body, trying to share her warmth. She whispered,
“All life is precious, yet why so cruel… I’m sorry I couldn’t help you.”
The panther’s heart stopped. Her tears fell on its wound. The sounds of rain and crackling fire lulled them to sleep.
***
The chirping of birds woke Arabelle. Sunlight filtered through the moss, tickling her eyelids.
She wriggled, not wanting to leave the warmth. It felt like she was trapped in a warm, smooth stone. It was firm but oddly comfortable.
Still half-asleep, she nestled deeper and ran her hand over the warm surface. Her fingers explored its smooth and rugged texture.
As her hand moved down, a long hand gently grabbed her wrist.
“It’s fine if you want to touch, but wouldn’t it be better with your eyes open? You’d enjoy it more.”
A strange man’s voice spoke above her. Startled, Arabelle’s eyes flew open.
Her eyes met a vast expanse of bronze skin. She looked up to see a handsome face that seemed unreal.
She closed her eyes tightly, hoping it was a dream.
“You’ve explored quite a bit for someone pretending to be asleep.”
His voice, with a hint of laughter, made her realize the truth. She was in a strange man’s arms. And he was naked.
Too stunned to think, she tried to wriggle free, clenching her hands. But his arms held her tighter.
She felt his strong body, and her mind went blank.
Voices called from outside the cave,
“…Arabelle…!”
“Miss Arabelle!”
The voices grew closer.
“Panther!”
Arabelle snapped to attention and looked around the cave for the dying beast.
She had fallen asleep holding it, but now she was in a strange man’s arms.
Her large eyes met his golden-red ones, and she stammered,
“…Panther…?”
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