The Duke's Killer Rabbit [BL]

Clint's body tensed when he heard footsteps and soft voices nearby. Both he and Elric turned their heads slightly and saw several maids and butlers walking quickly between the hedges and along the stone path, clearly searching for something.

Clint knew instantly they were looking for him again.

Elric frowned, then suddenly reached out and grabbed Clint's wrist tightly. "Come with me," he said in a firm voice.

Clint's eyes narrowed as His stance shifted, ready to break free, when Elric added "Or should I take you to the Duke instead?"

That made Clint pause. 'Damn it… if I get close to that guy again, I might turn into a bunny on the spot.'

He gritted his teeth. 'I still haven't gotten the potion, and I can't risk transforming again while I'm in the middle of something like this…"

So, against every instinct in his body, Clint let Elric pull him away.

They walked quickly through the side path, slipping past the bushes and hedges until they reached the front side of the estate. There, a simple but elegant black carriage with the Wizard Tower's crest was waiting.

Elric opened the carriage door and climbed in, gesturing for Clint to follow.

Clint glanced behind for a second, hearing something faint but firm footsteps coming from the gravel path. A soft wind moved through the trees, and he turned slightly to look.

And then he saw him.

The Duke.

Darius Valen Beaumont stood near the garden wall, his golden eyes fixed on them on him. He wasn't walking, just standing there quietly, coat brushing lightly with the wind.

Their eyes met.

For a long moment they stared directly at each other.

No movement.

No words.

Clint felt something again—something heavy. His chest tightened, not from fear, but something heavier he couldn't name.

And still, the Duke didn't look away.

Neither did he.

Not until Elric called from inside the carriage, "Hurry."

Clint finally turned his head, gaze breaking away, and stepped into the carriage without a word.

The door closed behind him But in his mind, Clint frowned to himself as the carriage started moving, he sat down arms crossed and a deep scowl on his face.

He shook his head slightly and muttered under his breath, "Why the hell does he look like a sad puppy?"

Elric, sitting across from him, raised a brow. "What are you talking about?"

Clint didn't answer. He looked at the Duke again leaning his elbow on the window frame But then something caught his attention.

The Duke still standing in place. Still looking around. But this time, his expression wasn't just serious—it was dark.

And his hand…

Clint narrowed his eyes, then stood up slightly in the carriage to see better. His body swayed a little with the movement of the wheels, but he managed to steady himself with one hand pressed to the wall as he squinted.

The Duke's hand was clenched so tightly that blood was dripping from it And in that hand… was a small dagger.

"What the—why the hell does he have a knife in his hand?" Clint muttered, eyes sharpening.

The Duke wasn't attacking anyone. He wasn't using it. He was just standing there, holding it tightly. Clint didn't know why, but a chill ran down his spine.

He turned around again, trying to shake the thought, when suddenly—he felt something cold touch his neck.

His body froze.

Something was pressing just beneath the skin, His eyes moved slightly to the side.

A wand.

Pointed directly at the base of his neck. Elric's face was calm, too calm, his voice low and smooth behind him.

"Now tell me," Elric said. "Who are you really?"

Clint didn't flinch. "That's gonna shoot fire, right?" he asked coolly, eyes focused ahead.

Elric's voice didn't waver. "Much worse."

Clint didn't even flinch as the wand stayed pressed against his neck, and instead, he let out a low annoyed sigh before turning his head just enough to glare at Elric from the corner of his eye, and he muttered, "Not only are you two-faced, you're also a backstabbing bastard."

Elric blinked, clearly caught off guard by the sudden insult, and he raised his voice with a frown, "What?!"

Clint slowly turned to face him more fully now, the tip of the wand still close, but he didn't care, because his irritation was boiling over, and he said with a hard tone.

"Oh, don't act surprised. You act so polite and calm when the Duke's around—your voice soft, your face all composed—but the moment he's not watching, you switch like a broken coin. Grabbing me, shouting, shoving wands in my face. What's with the switch, huh? You trying to keep both faces polished?"

Elric narrowed his eyes, his jaw clenching as he snapped, "You don't know what you're talking about."

Clint snorted and leaned back against the wall of the carriage, arms crossed and his glare locked with Elric's as if challenging him to deny it again, and for a few long, tense seconds, neither of them moved, the space between them thick with silent fury as the carriage rumbled along the dirt path outside.

Then, as if something invisible snapped, the air between them cracked with hostility.

Elric's wand hand twitched, and Clint's body leaned forward at the same time, their eyes never leaving each other's, and in just a second, it became clear that neither of them was about to back down.

Clint's muscles tensed, ready to strike, while Elric's magic began to stir faintly in his fingers and enough to make the air feel hotter and tighter.

Their breathing deepened.

One second passed.

Two.

Then 10...

In one swift motion, Clint lunged forward, hand cutting through the air, aiming straight for Elric's wand hand with precise speed, but Elric stepped back just in time, twisting his wrist as he shifted his stance, keeping the wand out of Clint's reach.

The carriage was narrow, and both their bodies moved fast, elbows hitting the wooden walls, knees brushing the padded seats, but neither cared.