The Northern Mad Dog Is Wagging Its Tail

 The vice-captain pushed the next document in front of Sig with a sullen expression, as if accustomed to hearing familiar complaints.

  

  When Taraf actually went to see it, he found that the grass was truly lush, and he confirmed that there was no trace of darkness in the shrine.

  

  Fortunately, although it hadn’t been touched by human hands for 200 years, if left as it was, it would just be a ruin. To make it at least habitable, there was a lot of work to be done, such as repairing the collapsed ceiling, fixing doors that wouldn’t open, and so on.

  

  “This is a repair project for the demolished fountain.”

  

  “Are you planning to rebuild the fountain? Why is that necessary?”

  

  Evry, who was busy organizing the documents signed by Sig in the corner, raised his voice.

  

  “It’s not absolutely necessary, but wouldn’t it be nice to show off a bit? Just imagine, when we first arrived in the unfamiliar northern land with a tired body, there’s a beautiful fountain displaying its grandeur in the center.”

  

  “But it will freeze in winter.”

  

  “But it’s summer now. For those who spent their summers in the south, the refreshing summer in the north will feel quite pleasant to them.”

  

  The vice-captain imagined Taraf’s handsome appearance while stroking his chin. Then Sig slammed his palm on the desk, diverting the vice-captain’s attention.

  

  “Something is happening witg Britia. I have a strong feeling that something big has happened.”

  

  “My Lord, please stop worrying about that lady.”

  

  Every day, he reported on her well-being to Robert and couldn’t understand why he was so worried.

  

  The vice-captain bit his tongue.

  

  “I was surprised to hear about the involvement of Count Slanford. But didn’t Robert handle it well?”

  

  “That’s not the feeling I have. Yeah, that’s right. This is not about Britia, it’s about me being in danger.”

  

  “Hahaha! Who can put you, My Lord, in danger? If such a person exists, I would like to see it.”

  

  The vice-captain laughed loudly, saying he would give half of his fortune to the person who could bring Sig down.

  

  “Oh, by the way, are you still worried about Count Slanford, who is afraid of riding carriages and can’t go home?”

  

  When the vice-captain asked, Sig’s face contorted oddly, as if in pain.

  

  “Then, if you just imagine that she’s getting closer to the Count and making My Lord jealous, why not try writing her a cute letter or something?”

  

  “A letter?”

  

  “You’re probably going to write one anyway, aren’t you?”

  

  The vice-captain laughed, saying it was a good time.

  

  “When you start living together in Altheim, it’ll be awkward to exchange letters and stuff. Enjoy the romance now.”

  

  “I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”

  

  Sig had a puzzled expression, and the vice-captain’s laughter gradually subsided.

  

  “…You are writing them, aren’t you? Letters.”

  

  “I haven’t sent a letter to Britia since returning to Altheim. Why do you think I’m writing them?”

  

  The vice-captain couldn’t laugh anymore.

  

  “Not even a single one?”

  

  “What letters! I hurried back to the south after dealing with Allendino. I was so busy trying to return as soon as possible that I didn’t even have time to say goodbye to the lady in Altheim.”

  

  Evry, who had been glancing at the papers at the end of the table, spoke up.

  

  “You’re rushing around like someone’s chasing you, and I barely managed to leave a note for Robert.”

  

  “Then until now…”

  

  The vice-captain felt a chill down his spine.

  

  “Until now, for nearly three weeks, not a single…”

  

  The vice-captain couldn’t finish his sentence. He had said he needed to go back quickly, but he hadn’t sent a single letter. It was beyond his understanding.

  

  “Fine. Let’s just say I wasn’t in my right mind. But you had enough time to write if you were so eager to go back.”

  

  As the vice-captain pressed him for answers, Sig blinked slowly.

  

  “There were no invitations to luncheons or plays. So why would I write a letter?”

  

  “Why, no invitations? But besides those ‘invitations,’ have you exchanged anything with the lady up until now?”

  

  The vice-captain couldn’t believe it anymore, so he asked, and Evry answered in his place.

  

  “I did send replies to the letters the lady sent. She hasn’t sent any first.”

  

  “Is writing a letter so bothersome and time-consuming for you? Then why did you send a reply in the first place?”

  

  “It’s not about the time.”

  

  The vice-captain pressed on, and Sig made a face.

  

  “I never even considered the thought of writing first. I thought it would bother her, and besides, returning quickly…is faster than sending a letter, isn’t it?”

  

  The more he spoke, the more it felt like he was just making excuses, and Sig’s voice grew smaller.

  

  “But you sent Robert regular updates about that lady, didn’t you? Just like a messenger?”

  

  “…Because I was worried.”

  

  Sig mumbled in a small voice, avoiding the vice-captain’s gaze.

  

  “I really have to go back because of this Count.”

  

  The vice-captain let out a long sigh through his nose and closed his eyes slightly.

  

  “Let me tell you an old story. There was a married couple who lived next door. But one day, the husband disappeared without a word.”

  

  The vice-captain calmly began his story with patience.

  

  “The wife waited for a while, hoping to see her husband who she heard had gone towards Elime. But no matter how long she waited, he never came back, so she thought he had died and remarried.”

  

  As Sig listened anxiously to the vice-captain’s story, his pupils widened in a pale color.

  

  “But oh my! The husband who they thought had died after a month, came back alive.”

  

  The vice-captain asked how things would have turned out with the husband returning to find a new husband for his wife.

  

  “How could the husband be angry when he’s alive? Is there anything he could do? They thought he was dead. That wife is still living well with her new husband. It reminds me of that incident.”

  

  The vice-captain laughed loudly, opening his mouth wide.

  

  “For that lady, who didn’t have a husband to begin with, it’s a strange situation, isn’t it?”

  

  “Do you want to say that when I return, Britia may have a new husband?” Sig asked, grinding his teeth.

  

  “You understand my meaning so quickly.”

  

  “Robert didn’t do anything about that report.”

  

  “He’s just providing protection, he’s not constantly watching to see who that lady is talking to.”

  

  Sig was taken aback as he hadn’t thought about it that deeply.

  

  “Perhaps the Count didn’t return home to propose. It’s easy to think that if someone takes care of you attentively while you’re weak, you might consider marrying that person.”

  

  Sig’s complexion turned pale upon hearing the vice-captain’s hypothesis.

  

  Could it be true that when he returned, Britia would be married to Slanford? If this uneasiness he was feeling right now was because of that!

  

  “I have no official duties, but I thought I could write her a letter, even now, but if it’s too late, I should go back immediately…”

  

  Sig’s eyes trembled as he rambled on.

  

  “Harty Slanford must find it easy since her competition for marriage is a fool.”

  

  The vice-captain glanced at the pale-faced Sig and slid a blank paper in front of him.

  

  “It might already be too late, but if you want to catch even a straw, you should try writing a letter now.”

  

  Sig nodded wearily and slumped into the chair, his hand gripping the pen with little strength.

  

   ****

  

  As Sig was earnestly writing the letter, Britia and Harty were engaged in a quarrel.

  

  “I like you, Britia!” Harty exclaimed, closing her eyes tightly and clinging to Britia’s arm.

  

  “You’re really persistent, Count-nim. Saying things you don’t mean,” Britia retorted, looking at him with an annoyed expression.

  

  “I can’t have you falling in love with me just because I said something like that. You understand, right? I made a promise to the goddess.”

  

  “Please, just let it go!”

  

  Britia’s voice revealed irritation, but oddly enough, it eased the tension that had gripped Harty’s throat.

  

  “Oh, you’re indeed lacking in many ways. Your heart isn’t fully open,” Harty murmured with a sad face.

  

  “I wish I were with Duke Turas right now. It would have been so comforting. Not with someone like you, a mere pebble.”

  

  Britia was bewildered by Harty’s sobbing while hanging onto his arm.

  

  “I also wish the person next to me right now was Duke Turas, not a Count like you.”

  

  Who could have guessed that someone would be in this situation willingly?

  

  Britia muttered to himself, and Harty, who had been bowing his head low, looked up.

  

  “You still haven’t given up on the topic that caused a big clash at the party that day?”

  

  Harty’s trembling, which had been present just moments ago, subsided as if it were a lie.

  

  “I’ve always wondered why the duke chose someone like you, a mere pebble, as his lifelong companion. No matter how much I think about it, I can’t find an answer. Of course, because he never chose you!”

  

  Britia regained his laughter, feeling a quiet anger as he looked at the revitalized Harty.

  

  “What’s with all this? ‘I love you’? If you’re going to tell such lies, at least act consistently with your words.”

  

  “But Duke Turas even said that he would propose to me.”

  

  “But it’s strange to say now, as if you knew it all along,” Britia pointed out.

  

  “Even angels make mistakes sometimes.”

  

  Britia seemed to have completely regained his usual demeanor, as his face gradually brightened. His half-unraveled tail shimmered.

  

  “Haha, Britia Lockhart, who failed in love! How pitiful!”

  

  “Do you want me to leave the carriage and leave you alone?”

  

  “What? No way!”

  

  As Britia tried to get up, Harty urgently stopped him.

  

  “Instead of a pitiful woman, have someone reliable sitting next to you.”

  

  As Britia pushed away Harty’s clinging hand, he suddenly saw purple dust floating in front of him. It was the reaction of magic being used.

  

  But why the sudden magical reaction? Could it be that someone is targeting Harty’s life again? Is it another mage stalker?

  

  “Count-nim!”

  

  Britia urgently called out to Harty, and the scattered purple dust gathered in front of her, exploding with a bang. The carriage was instantly filled with sweet-smelling purple smoke.

  

  “Ah! What’s that sound? What’s happening?”

  

  Startled by the sudden noise, Harty closed his eyes and grabbed Britia’s arm, shaking it.

  

  “What’s going on? Could it be, could it be again?”

  

  Both Britia and Harty were equally bewildered by what had just happened.

  

  “I have no idea…”

  

  At that moment, a white envelope fell onto Britia’s lap. She recognized the handwriting on the envelope.

  

  It was Sig’s handwriting that she had been eagerly waiting for.