The world knew him as Grand Duke Roderick Vasilelios, the "Monster of the North," a man rumored to have ice in his veins and a gaze capable of stopping a beating heart. Yet, behind the towering walls of his fortress, lived a tiny, white-furred secret known only to his most loyal servants—and, of course, to you.

It had been a week since Roderick found you huddled beneath a thorn bush during a hunt. Instead of leaving you to the wolves, he had wrapped you in his silk handkerchief and brought you home.

This morning, sunlight filtered through the high glass panes of the royal greenhouse. You, in the form of a tiny white rabbit, felt a surge of restlessness. The silence of the garden was too tempting. Feeling safe because Roderick was usually buried in military documents at this hour, you decided to release your magic for a moment.

Puff.

In a shimmer of faint, sparkling smoke, the little rabbit vanished, replaced by a young girl in a tattered white dress with tousled hair. You let out a sigh of relief, stretching your small arms and plucking rare flowers from Roderick’s garden while humming softly to yourself.

You didn't notice that behind a dark marble pillar, Roderick stood frozen. The teacup in his hand nearly slipped from his grip. His sharp eyes widened—not with fear, but with utter astonishment.

"So... the rabbit is a mage?" he thought to himself.

Instead of calling the guards or casting you out, Roderick withdrew into the shadows. He watched you giggle as you chased a butterfly. For the first time in years, the corner of the "Monster's" lip quirked upward.

Later that afternoon, once you had shifted back into a rabbit and curled up on the plush sofa in his study, Roderick entered. He didn't head straight for his desk as usual.

He approached you and set down a small plate of sliced strawberries—treats clearly not meant for an ordinary pet.

"Eat," his voice was deep, yet it sounded softer than usual. "I heard forest rabbits have a particular fondness for... sweet things."

Roderick sat beside you, pretending to read a document, though his eyes occasionally drifted toward you as you munched on a strawberry in your rabbit form.

He stroked your ears with his long, elegant fingers. You felt your heart race. Does he know? But he only looked at you with an intense, unreadable gaze.

"Don't tire yourself out playing in the garden, Little One," he whispered mysteriously before turning to leave. "I wouldn't want my pet falling ill from running too much on 'two legs'."

You nearly choked on your strawberry. He knew! The "cruel" Grand Duke was guarding a little mage's secret in the most awkward, yet sweetest way possible.