I Raised the Fallen Lop-Eared Rabbit into a Yandere 19

Chapter 19: Cliff Fall

Soot, wrapped in the smell of fish, hung over the docks like a rotting shroud.

In the blind spot of a searchlight, several tattooed men in rubber raincoats were salvaging a floating corpse—it was their brother, a casualty of yesterday’s gang shootout.

A girl squatted beneath the lighthouse. Her golden curly hair was divided into two braids. Shiny pink leather shoes paired with a snow-white puffy skirt made her look like the daughter of a wealthy family.

If one ignored the blood on her skirt hem and the forceps and dagger hidden in her flower basket, she would look even more like it.

A porter, who should have been off duty, returned to the docks under the cover of night. He rummaged through a wicker basket full of cod, hoping to steal a couple of fish to fill his stomach at home, but was caught by a merchant.

“Die!”

A trident pierced through his chest. Scalding blood splattered on the slippery bluestone slabs, immediately attracting a flock of night-owl seagulls.

Thank you for the human’s gift.

Thank you, God.

Thank you for the late-night snack.

Herlkin stood atop the lighthouse, watching the slaughter with indifference. Her eyes were numb, devoid of any ripples.

Burning, killing, looting, stealing, cheating, whoring, and gambling were the true colors of this lawless zone.

The royal family had long since abandoned it. A town where the dregs of society gathered was not worth investing effort or money in. The scriptures of the church were equally powerless to save the “bastards” who were accustomed to violent struggles for survival, who walked on the edge of humanity.

As long as one could produce the chips, anything could be traded here. A human life was worth less than two slices of black bread.

“Have you found out?” Herlkin took off her lace gloves and accepted a glass of whiskey from her maid. “What does Huaguang like?”

The person standing opposite her nodded slightly. “The princess has no preferences.”

“Everyone has desires,” Herlkin took a small sip.

“She doesn’t want people to see them. Even during her daily meals, she eats an equal amount of every dish, so no one can tell her favorites. She lacks nothing in terms of food, clothing, and daily necessities, gold, silver, or jewels.”

The whiskey slid through her mouth, the flavors of caramel and vanilla slowly spreading. Herlkin was silent for a few moments, then said, “What about people?”

When one is well-fed and warm, lustful thoughts arise; when one is hungry and cold, thieving thoughts arise. It has been so since ancient times.

“Even less so. The princess is only accompanied by a personal knight and two maids each day. However, a few days ago, she summoned several ladies-in-waiting to her bedchamber. It is said that her headache has acted up again.”

“Acted up again?” Herlkin caught the key phrase. “She often has headaches?”

“It’s an old problem. She’s been receiving treatment for it every year, but it never gets better.”

Herlkin had traveled extensively over the years and was a seasoned veteran. In a flash, she knew how to address Huaguang’s pain point. She said, “You may go. I’ve already placed your payment in the usual spot.”

“A pleasure doing business with you.”

A ghost ship quietly docked in the dark night. The maid holding the wine glass looked at her pocket watch and said, “My lady, it’s our cargo.”

Herlkin drained the amber liquid in her glass. The alcohol numbed her nerves, and a pair of red-and-white fluffy ears slowly revealed their true form.

The red fox’s fur was very glossy, still as soft and bright as satin in the darkness, making one want to reach out and touch it. She was not a good drinker. Half a glass was enough to bring a blush to her face.

“There is a woman on Mount Lantes who is skilled in witchcraft. She is an expert in treating headaches.” Herlkin paused at this point, a myriad of emotions seeming to churn in her hazy, drunken eyes.

After a long moment, she plucked a tuft of red-and-white fur from her ear. “Send a few reliable people. Take my fur and find her to trade for medicine. You have half a month for the round trip. It must be done.”

Perhaps it was the wine that made her soft, or perhaps plucking the fur was too painful, but a lingering sadness appeared in Herlkin’s usually indifferent eyes.

The maid saw that her eyes were already moist when she turned her back.

Herlkin collapsed onto the bed and transformed back into her fox form. She curled up, hugging her large tail tightly. Her two ears trembled in the salty sea breeze, looking extremely fragile.

*

There was half a month left until the Sacred Cult’s Monastery Open Day.

Lina could already control a horse at a trot by herself.

The arms that gripped the reins were no longer as thin as bamboo sticks. A hint of definition could be seen under the thin skin. The flesh and blood nourished by pure love were growing wildly.

The back that was once habitually hunched had straightened again. The head that was habitually lowered now had the confidence to be raised.

Lina controlled the horse beneath her. From being too scared to get on at the beginning, to now being able to basically handle it, her courage and spirit had also been slowly increasing.

Her small face had gone from being as pale as paper at the beginning, to having slightly fuller cheeks, and now to having a healthy, even complexion. The sickly sense of weakness had been completely eliminated.

Winter had finally been torn open by a sliver of pale sun. Spring and clear skies were just around the corner.

“Relax, heels down.” Adele’s voice came from behind. She sat on horseback with ease, like a silent guardian, always within Lina’s line of sight.

Lina turned her head at the sound, her eyes no longer holding fear as she looked at Adele. “I know.”

Living together day and night, countless tests had already convinced her that her teacher was a good person.

Lina adjusted her posture according to the instructions. She looked into the distance. The grassland was boundless, filled with the scent of freedom.

She focused her attention on the horse beneath her, feeling its breath.

Today, she was going to learn to speed up.

Adele had already explained the key to becoming one with the horse before she mounted.

Lina took a deep breath and looked back at Adele one more time before setting off.

“I’m right behind you.” Adele waved her hand. “Go on.”

“Okay!”

Lina no longer hesitated and gently squeezed the horse’s belly.

The horse, which she had been working with for over a month, immediately understood her intention.

The wind carried the smell of grass. The canary, once imprisoned in a birdcage, had finally flown back to the blue sky.

As she galloped, Lina once again felt freedom. She also truly understood the sentence from the queen’s biography—only by holding the reins in your own hands can you go wherever you want to go.

The wind whistled past her ears. Hatred surged in her heart. Fate wanted her to be a sacrificed offering, but she refused. She wanted to be herself. Today she could control a horse; tomorrow she could control her own life.

Her heartbeat gradually synchronized with the horse’s hooves. A fierce light appeared in Lina’s eyes. She didn’t control the horse’s speed. Instead, as if venting her anger, she ran faster and faster.

Why is this life so rotten!?

Why can everyone step on me!?

Why?

Why!

By the time Lina came to her senses, the horse’s speed had already exceeded her control. She instinctively squeezed her legs, trying to find balance, but it only made the horse under her startle and neigh.

The horse’s front hooves reared high. Lina was caught off guard and thrown backward violently in the intense jolt. The reins also slipped from her hands.

The wind scraped against her cheeks like a knife. Her mind went blank, with only one thought—I’m going to fall!

Fear swept through her body. She squeezed her eyes shut at the moment of falling, but the expected pain never came. Instead, a strong hand wrapped around her waist.

Just as she was about to fall, Adele caught her and pulled her in front of herself.

“It’s okay.”

Adele’s expression was normal, but if one listened carefully, they would find that her voice was trembling.

Lina was terrified and huddled in her arms, not daring to move.

Adele wrapped the reins around her hand, held Lina with one arm, and with a flick of the leather strap, reined in the other startled horse.

She calmly handled the crisis. Only after the horse had calmed down did Lina come to her senses.

She pressed herself tightly against Adele’s chest, feeling the chaotic heartbeat inside.

“I’m sorry…” Lina turned her head, her tone full of apology. “I got distracted.”

Adele was backlit. Her long, curled eyelashes cast a gentle, dark shadow. She smiled and shook her head. “Losing control is normal for a beginner. You just lack skill and experience. I’ll teach you everything, and soon you’ll be able to handle it too.”

The sunlight dazzled Lina. Time seemed to stand still at this moment. In such close proximity, she once again smelled the cool fragrance on Adele.

She heard Adele speaking, but her mind was completely focused on the person’s lips.

I want…

Adele understood the desire in her eyes and immediately turned her head away. “I-I’ll take you for another ride.”

Lina also came to her senses. She turned her head guiltily and said in a small voice, “Okay.”

The sunlight shone through the lop-eared rabbit’s fur. The wind blew her scent right into Adele’s nose.

Adele broke out in a sweat.

She was hot, and also agitated.

She suddenly sped up.

Lina cried out in surprise and, in the lightning-fast gallop, gripped the corner of Adele’s clothes.

“Teacher… so fast…”

Sweat broke out on Adele’s neck, soaking her collar and her person.

She wasn’t deliberately trying to scare the little rabbit.

Adele thought that by galloping, she could leave those amorous thoughts behind, thought that the cold wind could blow away her agitation…

It was just self-deception.

She was afraid Lina would fall, so she could only hold her tight. But the closer they got, the harder it was to control herself.

The little rabbit ball hadn’t done anything, yet Adele was about to surrender.

The one who was truly powerless to resist, from beginning to end, was Adele.

In her rapid breaths, she stared at Lina’s ears with a burning gaze.

Her appetite exploded.

I want to eat.

Lina had already gotten used to the jolting. She knew who was behind her, so she wasn’t afraid.

“Teacher… faster!”

Adele took a deep breath. She had always been responsive to her requests. She forced down the trembling in her chest and said in a hoarse voice, “Okay.”

She didn’t know how much longer she could hold on.

But, at least not now.

The afterglow stretched their shadows. The world seemed to be filled with only each other’s breaths. Only when the crescent moon appeared over the western mountain did the two prepare to return.

Adele dismounted first, but the moment her feet touched the ground, the flat grassland beneath her suddenly disappeared, replaced by a bottomless chasm.

In the moment of weightlessness, Adele saw Lina’s terrified expression. Only at this moment did she realize that her concern for the little rabbit had already surpassed human instinct.

She should have screamed, but in these few short moments, the three words that came out of her mouth were: Don’t be afraid.

Her rapidly falling body was out of control. She watched the sky grow darker and darker, with only one thought in her mind—

If I’m gone, what will happen to Lina?

Only when a person is about to die do they realize they have so many regrets.

She hadn’t found a good teacher for Lina yet;

She hadn’t secured a good future for Lina yet;

She hadn’t had time to wait for her to grow up…

Lina witnessed the accident happen. She was horrified, her face instantly turning pale. She practically fell from the horse’s back, scrambling and crawling to the edge of the chasm.

“Tea…cher…”

Looking at the bottomless crack, Lina’s throat was dry and tight. She couldn’t make a sound. The nightmares that had been briefly suppressed by Adele’s presence came rushing back like a tide.

It’s over.

It’s over.

It was bottomless. A fall from there would surely mean death…

The teacher who cared about her was dead…

No one would make her beautiful dresses anymore, no one would spend three or four hours helping her remove fish bones, no one would tirelessly tell her to respect and love herself…

No!

No!

Lina felt as if she had been plunged into an ice cellar. Her lips trembled several times. What came out before her voice was blood.

The glaring red soaked her new clothes. A few scalding tears burst from her eyes. She finally let out a hoarse roar—

“Adele!”

…

“Cough!”

Adele let out a short cough and woke up, trembling. She opened her eyes in a daze. Before she could tell if this was heaven or hell, a pair of leather boots appeared before her.

“We finally meet.”

Adele followed the voice and looked up. What she saw was a face exactly like her own.

“It’s you…”

The anger that had accumulated over many days turned into a rush of blood that shot to her head. Her eyes were bloodshot, filled with a surging hatred.

“Why did you hurt Lina!”

“There’s no why. It’s like stepping on a kitten or a puppy. I just like watching the weak being bullied, watching their terror when they can’t fight back. Screams are the most beautiful sound in the world.”

“Bastard!” Adele was about to get up when she realized that both her legs were immobile.

The imposter stepped on her left hand and roughly took off the seashell bracelet.

“Your little rabbit is mine now.”

“No—”