The Northern Mad Dog Is Wagging Its Tail

 Harty felt a chill run down her spine when she saw the woman holding the knife. She wondered who the man was and what the woman’s identity could be. Why did she appear in front of her with a knife?

  

  As Harty questioned the woman, the woman looked around, avoiding eye contact, and smirked.

  

  “Count, why don’t you have a happy face when you see me?”

  

  Instead of answering Harty’s question, the woman made a different remark.

  

  “Why don’t you call me by my name?”

  

  The woman’s face gradually transformed into a scary expression. Her dirty black hair was unkempt, and her gray eyes lacked focus.

  

  “No way. You can’t possibly have forgotten my name, Count Slanford!”

  

  The woman pointed the knife at Harty and shouted.

  

  Harty was startled and trembled. Her mind couldn’t think straight due to the woman’s threat. Nevertheless, she tried to remain calm and averted her gaze from the tip of the knife, looking into the woman’s eyes.

  

  “I have no reason to know your name.”

  

  Though her stomach churned, Harty held back. She didn’t know the woman’s name. However, when she looked into those unfamiliar eyes, memories of where she had met her started to resurface.

  

  It was half a year ago at Lady Robley’s evening party. There was a woman who had stumbled and become a laughingstock.

  

  “Oh, be careful.”

  

  The flatterers always accompanying the Countess deliberately tripped the woman and pretended to be concerned, mocking her. Harty, who happened to be passing by, extended her hand in kindness, asking if she was okay.

  

  For an angel, it was a natural act without any special meaning. It was just part of her everyday life. Ignoring the dismissive Count Stanford was more unusual.

  

  But since then, that woman started hovering around him throughout the party. She followed him closely without saying anything, making her presence felt.

  

  “Why do you keep doing things that make me uncomfortable? What do you want?”

  

  As Harty questioned her, she realized that the woman had treated her badly before.

  

  That woman from back then, without a doubt.

  

  Finally, Harty discovered the woman’s true identity. However, she still couldn’t understand why the woman had appeared in front of her.

  

  This forest was a place Harty had bought from Mr. Devon about three months ago. Its purpose was to rest quietly without any disturbances, so she hadn’t told anyone, including Kayla.

  

  But then, someone appeared behind her. Could it be that they followed her?

  

  Even if that were the case, it was still hard to believe. He had immediately cast a spell on the forest to prevent anyone from entering. It was meant to ensure that no accidents would occur, preventing anyone from accidentally stumbling upon him while he rested.

  

  To enter this place, one had to go through the entrance of the forest. The entrance was naturally guarded by Slanford’s soldiers, who were now at peace.

  

  Did that woman manage to get past those soldiers? Armed with just a small dagger?

  

  “I was momentarily speechless because I was so glad to see you. That’s all.”

  

  No matter how she managed to be here, it was best not to provoke someone holding a knife.

  

  Harty forced a smile.

  

  “It’s been a long time since we’ve seen each other like this, hasn’t it?”

  

  The woman, who had initially been threatening, smiled broadly at Harty’s words.

  

  “Yes, it has indeed been a long time. It’s just the two of us now.”

  

  Harty didn’t like the sound of the woman’s voice, but she still kept her composure and slowly approached her with her hands raised.

  

  Since the woman was blocking the carriage door, Harty was in a disadvantageous position. At the very least, she had to get out of the carriage, or else there would be no chance of escape.

  

  Even if she shouted for help from the coachman, who knows where he had gone? Besides, if she tried to silence the woman by jabbing her with the knife, who knows what would happen?

  

  “What’s happening here? Is there anything I can help with?”

  

  Harty tried her best to maintain a gentle tone while racking her brain.

 

  “The Duchess has something for me to do.”

  

  “I’m glad I can help. What can I do?”

  

  “The Count said I was beautiful.”

  

  I said she was beautiful?

  

  Harty was bewildered by what the woman was saying, but instead of denying it, she nodded her head. In response, the corners of the woman’s mouth curled up, she took a deep breath, and her chest swelled.

  

  “When I confessed to the Count in a shy voice, asking you to be with me for the rest of our lives, you accepted.”

  

  “When did I…!”

  

  Harty almost blurted out, but she bit her lip tightly.

  

  “We couldn’t have a wedding ceremony back then because of the interference. But it’s okay. Today, there’s no troublesome relatives around, just the two of us.”

  

  She was a delusional woman. Harty had encountered people like her a few times before.

  

  Every time, Kyra would chase them away, telling Harty to see a doctor or go to the temple if her head hurt.

  

  At this moment, Harty desperately longed for her annoying but reliable cousin.

  

  “Oh, I see. In that case, should we go inside from here?”

  

  Pretending to remember, Harty subtly encouraged the woman to come out of the door.

  

  “I happen to have a nice treat for you. Let’s have a drink and chat. It’s something very important.”

  

  The woman nodded blankly, as if entranced, and stepped back. Harty swiftly escaped from the carriage.

  

  The coachman probably wouldn’t be far away. If he noticed something was wrong because I’m not in the carriage, he would come looking for me.

  

  Harty’s plan was to go to the cottage and buy time until the coachman arrived.

  

  However, to her surprise, she swallowed her breath. The coachman lay beside the horse, bloodied and unconscious.

  

  “Count Slanford.”

  

  The woman approached from the side, and Harty couldn’t move.

  

  This woman, what is she doing? I need to run away immediately.

  

  Although he understood the need to take the action in mind, Harty’s legs froze and wouldn’t budge.

  

  “You haven’t called my name once since earlier.”

  

  Noticing, the woman asked.

  

  “I, did I, forget?”

  

  Harty stammered in fear. It would take about 15 minutes to reach the entrance of the forest. Running might be a bit faster, but she couldn’t run for more than 10 seconds.

  

  Furthermore, even if she made it there, there was no guarantee that the soldiers wouldn’t be there, most likely with a high probability.

  

   “That’s the name of the person who will be your wife. Call your wife’s name.”

  

  Most likely, I fell into the hands of that crazy woman.

  

  “What is your name…?”

  

  “Count Slanford.”

  

  “….”

  

  How did she know and remember the name of a woman who didn’t even introduce herself?

  

  Harty felt frustrated and angry. She couldn’t bear the situation where her life was being threatened any longer.

  

  “Ugh, uweak!”

  

  Harty leaned over by the wheel of the carriage and vomited. The combination of guilt and worry over Sig’s situation had upset her stomach to the point of regurgitation.

  

  “Are you okay?”

  

  The woman who approached Harty asked. The stench emanating from her pierced Harty’s nose, and she started vomiting again.

  

  “You really look pathetic.”

  

  The woman said, brushing Harty’s back. Harty had an impulse to push her hand away, as being physically close to this woman was unbearable.

  

  “It’s okay. I can love even your dirty and smelly aspects.”

  

  Harty wiped her mouth and tried to distance herself from the woman. She pushed away her hand and staggered to her feet.

  

  “But you can’t even remember my name properly. You’re such a bad, bad husband!”

  

  Suddenly, bhe felt a strange sensation, as if his stomach was wet. It wasn’t cold, but rather warm. Harty touched his abdomen and became dizzy.

  

  It was blood. The woman had stabbed his side.

  

  “Well, once you receive some punishment, you’ll remember.”

  

  The woman, pulling the knife out of Harty’s side and stabbing him again, smiled.

  

  “Ugh…!”

  

  In pain, Harty collapsed to his knees.

  

  “You still don’t remember?”

  

  The woman approached with the knife stained with Harty’s blood. Harty pleaded to her.

  

  “Stop. It hurts…”

  

  “That pain will connect me and the Count. It’s the weight of my love.”

   

  The woman approached with a flushed face, but suddenly stumbled with a loud noise.

  

  “Slanford, are you okay?”

  

  Harty felt relieved, believing that someone had come to rescue him with the familiar voice.

  

  “Tha–“

  

  Hartt froze, realizing who the brown-haired woman approaching him was. Instead of expressing gratitude, he was struck silent.

  

  Oh my goodness. What day is it today?

  

  She was the woman who had actively pursued Hartt in the past. He didn’t have a bad appearance, and he didn’t seem to care that Harty couldn’t be exclusive with just one person.

  

  However, her actions were absolutely inappropriate. She had been caught stealing his belongings several times. She had even tried to cut his fingernails while he was sleeping.

  

  “You belong to me! That’s how it should be!”

  

  Eventually, Kyra must have slapped her when she refused to stop meeting him. Since then, Hartt had been avoiding both her and Kyra.

  

  “I missed you so much. Really, so much all this time!”

  

  The brown-haired woman embraced Harty with an ecstatic expression and whispered. Harty’s back tingled at the touch of her wandering hands.

  

  “Why… why are you here…?”

  

  Harty managed to ask with a trembling voice. In response, the brown-haired woman smiled and caressed Harty’s cheek.

  

  “There’s a woman who wants to take your life because of that man. I rushed here to save you. If it wasn’t for me, you could have been in serious danger.”

  

  It was ‘that man’ again. The woman who stabbed Harty also mentioned that she came here because ‘that man’ informed her.

  

  Were these the actions of the same person? If so, what was their purpose?

  

  “That man…”

  

  The woman’s finger gently caressed Harty’s lips.

  

  “Don’t mention other people because you’re jealous.”

  

  Harty closed her mouth at the fiery gaze of the woman.

  

  “From now on, you should only live for me, Slanford. I will confine you in a house where no one can see you, my beautiful… uh!”

  

  The woman, who had been giggling, let out a moan. The black-haired woman who had collapsed quietly stood up, holding a knife.

  

  “Stay away from my husband!”

  

  The two women started fighting.

  

  “This delusional bitch!”

  

  “This filthy swime, who does she think she is!”

  

  Harty, who had been dumbfounded by the chaotic scene unfolding before her, suddenly snapped out of it and struggled to move her feet. With each step, or even each breath, the painful areas where he had been beaten throbbed.

  

  “Slanford!”

  

  A roar-like sound echoed from a distance. Harty became anxious and hurriedly moved his feet faster.

  

  Then, he heard a thumping sound from somewhere. It wasn’t a natural sound. As he headed towards the source of the noise, he saw a figure. It was blurry with tears, but there was definitely someone there.

  

  Please, please save me! Goddess, saint, Duke.Turas! I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die like this!

  

  Approaching desperately, the person who felt his presence turned to look at him.

  

  “Count Slanford…?”

  

  Britia looked at Harty with surprise, holding an axe. It was a gaze that asked why he was here.

  

  Save me.

  

  As tears fell from her eyes, Harty’s lips trembled as he recognized her.