My Reincarnation Went Wrong - Chapter 11.1 - Heart-Fluttering First Date (2)

……Runi was filled with worry for Elena, who had gone out with the wolf emperor. Even though she felt somewhat relieved knowing the emperor was by her side, she couldn’t help but fret about what might happen when and where. She was embroidering while anxiously hoping for their safe return.

Knock knock.

“?!”

Startled by the sudden knock, Runi stared at the closed door with wide eyes. There were only two people who would visit her room: the Empress, whom she served and Ramie, the only carnivorous therianthrope she had befriended. The Empress had not yet returned with the emperor, and Ramie had informed her the previous day that she would not be coming to the palace today because she would be spending time with her fiancé.

‘Then… who could be outside?’

She thought of the Prime Minister of this country, who always looked at her in an uncomfortable way. Although the Empress she served had told her not to view him negatively and to try to get along with him, Runi felt quite uncomfortable with the way he looked at her.

“Wh-who is it?”

“It’s me. Could we talk for a moment?”

Although Runi didn’t want to meet that man alone at this time when neither Elena nor Ramie was around, she knew she couldn’t avoid such situations forever if she was to continue living here. Even though she was scared and trembling with fear, she swallowed hard and rose from her seat.

Click.

“What brings you here?”

Opening the door just enough to see his face, Runi came face to face with Rihan, who was visibly well-groomed from head to toe. If he weren’t a wolf therianthrope, Rihan would have been Runi’s ideal type. Tall and handsome. He even openly expressed his affection for her, but unfortunately, he was a frightening carnivorous therianthrope. And not just any carnivore, but a wolf, considered among the most ferocious of predators.

“I came because I have something serious to discuss with you. I promise I won’t harm you in any way, so could you please come out for a moment?”

“Umm…”

Runi looked around and stepped outside, facing the Prime Minister, who was smiling gently, a change from his usual intimidating gaze.

“Runi, I fell for you the moment I first saw you.”

“!”

“I know you’re afraid of me being a wolf therianthrope. That’s understandable. But there’s one thing I want you to know. I! Will! Never harm you, the first person I’ve ever held in my heart, and I swear to protect you in any situation. Please accept these feelings. Runi, I truly like you. I want to share love with you.”

“Ah…”

Runi looked at Rihan, who was kneeling on one knee, offering a bouquet of roses with his head deeply bowed. He had been an uncomfortable man from the first time she saw him. A man whose gaze made her feel burdened and frightened. Even now, her body trembled with fear and caution toward this man, but strangely, her heart was pounding at receiving her first confession.

‘Why am I like this? I…’

“Runi.”

As she met his earnest eyes, Runi’s face flushed red. The man before her was clearly a predator and a frightening carnivorous therianthrope, yet somehow he looked so adorable right now. Wondering if there was something wrong with her eyes, Runi reached out and took the bouquet in her hands.

“Thank you… for liking me, Prime Minister.”

“Rihan, I’d like you to call me Rihan.”

“But… that wouldn’t be proper…”

“It’s only natural to want to be called by name by the person you like.”

With his infinitely warm smile and gentle voice that softly reached her ears, Runi’s heart pounded even more.

“Please stand up first.”

At Runi’s words as she held the bouquet to her chest, Rihan rose to his feet. A woman who became more lovable the more he looked at her. The moment he first saw her terrified expression when she set foot in this place, Rihan experienced firsthand what it meant to fall in love at first sight. A woman so adorable that he couldn’t take his eyes off her. A woman who, despite her body’s intense reactions of fear, came to this place full of carnivorous therianthropes out of loyalty to the rabbit Empress.

Having fallen for this adorable woman at first sight and feeling a desire to protect her for life, Rihan now stood before her, expressing his feelings that had grown too large to hide.

Every time he saw her fear and attempts to avoid him, his heart ached, but today, he was simply grateful to her for making eye contact with him like this.

“Rihan.”

“Yes.”

“I’m afraid of you being a carnivorous therianthrope.”

“…”

“I am scared, but I’m truly grateful that you confessed your feelings for me. How about we get to know each other gradually?”

“?!”

“Both you and I don’t know much about each other. I, I want to become friends slowly. Then, I think we might come to like each other more.”

Before confessing, Rihan had prepared himself for an outright rejection. And now, he never dreamed Runi would say she wanted to get to know him slowly. His expression was one of pure delight at this unexpected fortune.

“Y-yes! Runi! And thank you so much.”

“Pardon? What are you thanking me for?”

“I thought you would reject me. But you suggested we get to know each other first and even said we might come to like each other more, which is truly… thank you.”

Seeing Rihan with tears welling in his eyes, Runi could tell he was a genuinely kind-hearted man. She felt sorry for having viewed him through the lens of prejudice as a carnivorous therianthrope, a predatory wolf therianthrope.

“I’m sorry for being afraid and avoiding you without reason, Rihan.”

“N-no! From your perspective, I must be frightening! If, if you don’t mind, would you like to have tea with me? I also have some delicious desserts.”

“I’d like that.”

“Ah! Thank you so much! I’ll bring them right away, so please wait inside.”

“Alright.”

Runi watched Rihan walk away, laughing so loudly the corridor echoed, wondering what made him so happy. Once he disappeared from sight, she looked down at the bouquet in her arms.

“It smells… really nice.”

Entering her room, Runi carefully placed the bouquet on the shelf and shyly smiled as she thought of Rihan, who had confessed his feelings while offering these flowers.