The Northern Mad Dog Is Wagging Its Tail

   “I hope you would marry me instead of Slanford.”

 

   He spoke sincerely, but Britia’s face turned increasingly grim, clearly taken aback.

 

   “…Do you still intend to marry Slanford?”

 

   Sig’s expression darkened.

 

   “If I were to ask you not to marry him…!”

 

   “Just a moment, Duke-nim.”

 

  Britia interrupted him and took a deep breath.

 

   “Why do you assume that I would ‘still’ marry Count Slanford?”

 

   “Didn’t you accept his proposal?”

 

   Britia felt a sudden jolt in her head. She should have realized it when it popped out of the teacup. He must have heard Harty’s ‘on my own’ proposal.

 

   Then he must have heard her rejection as well. Why is he saying these things?

 

   “I won’t marry Count Slanford.”

 

   “Do you not have feelings for him?”

 

   “I have feelings for you, Duke-nim!”

 

   Britia exclaimed, not understanding what he was talking about, and Sig’s pupils widened.

 

   “But you referred to him by his name, Harty. I’m still the Duke-nim….”

 

  “When did I ever call him Harty?”

 

   Britia expressed her disbelief at hearing this for the first time.

 

   “Isn’t it special when you call him by his name, something like Harty Special?”

 

  Sig looked at Britia with resentful eyes.

 

   Harty Special? Name?

 

   Britia couldn’t believe that he had said such a thing.

 

   No, wait. Could it be that he’s not talking about Harty Special?

 

   “Are you talking about Harty Special?”

 

   As if struck by lightning, Sig pressed his lips tightly without saying a word.

 

  “That, that’s the name of the tea blend created by Count-nim, not that kind of meaning…”

 

   Britia’s head throbbed. Hearing accusations of having feelings for someone else from the person she had a crush on was more painful than she had imagined.

 

   “There is someone else I want to marry.”

 

   That someone is you.

 

  As Britia glanced at him, Sig’s face grew dark.

 

   “Do you have another man besides Slanford? Could it be… Huate?”

 

   When Huate’s name came up, a scream escaped Britia’s lips.

 

   “No!”

 

   Britia was so excited that her hands were shaking.

 

   “I’ll tell you clearly. The person I want to marry is not Count Slanford or Huate, but you, Duke-nim. If you ask if there’s another Duke, no. I’ll tell you upfront. It’s Sig Turas. Sig Turas, you!”

 

   Britia blurted out in one breath, then took a deep breath. There was no seduction or atmosphere. She simply shouted that she wanted to marry him.

 

   Oh, it’s a mess.

 

   Britia felt tears welling up.

 

   “Will you marry me?”

 

   Sig’s voice rose at the end. He let go of the hand he had been holding tightly, turning red with tension, and tried to grab Britia’s hand.

 

   “But before that!”

 

   Britia avoided his touch and exclaimed.

 

   “Why are you suddenly proposing to me? Do you really like me, Duke-nim?”

 

   “I do.”

 

   Although she heard him say that he liked her, Britia’s face didn’t lighten up. He must have hoped to become a dog. It was suspicious that someone like him would suddenly propose, no matter how much she thought about it.

 

   Britia felt saddened by her inability to accept the words she had longed to hear. But she had to doubt and make sure.

 

   If he was just pretending to want to marry her and then planned to make her his mistress, she wouldn’t let it slide.

 

   Britia glared at Sig, his tail twitching. His fluffy tail seemed stiff, as if startled. She couldn’t tell if it was because he caught onto her trick or for some other reason. Britia’s narrowed eyes scrutinized him.

 

   A moment of silence passed.

 

   “Duke-nim, do you really like me?”

 

   “I do.”

 

   “But… do you love me?”

 

   “I love you.”

 

  Britia’s lips slightly parted as she looked straight at him confessing. The man who had only wanted to become a dog and had no intention of marriage had changed his attitude, which made her suspicious yet her heart fluttered.

 

   “Does that mean you love me as a dog?”

 

   “No, Britia, I have something to say about that.”

 

   Sig tightly held my hand again and spoke slowly.

 

   “I have been mistaken about my feelings all this time.”

 

   “Mistaken?”

 

   “If I truly wanted to become a dog, I should bless your happiness if you chose to marry Slanford.”

 

   Sig’s expression looked tormented even at the thought of it.

 

   “But I can’t do that.”

 

   If such a thing were to happen, he wouldn’t wish her happiness; he might even tear it apart. If anyone claimed to be her husband, she couldn’t forgive them.

 

   “I should have realized when I thought I didn’t want to give your place to anyone, not even my brother.”

 

   Sig couldn’t say anything in response to the exasperation in the Duke’s complaint. He felt frustrated with himself for not realizing his love for her despite sensing those emotions.

 

   “I love you, Britia.”

 

   Yet now he knew. He truly loved her.

 

   Sig confessed, pressing his feelings tightly.

 

  “…as a man, not a dog?”

 

  “Yes.”

 

   “As a woman, not just a master?”

 

   “Yes.”

 

   Upon hearing Sig’s confession, Britia leaned against his chest, lost in thought. She could hear his heart pounding.

 

   “Then why did you leave without a word?”

 

   Leaving someone who loves you?

 

   Sig was at a loss for words in response to Britia’s blunt question.

 

   “That’s… because I was in a hurry and my mind…”

 

   “You didn’t have time to care about someone like me. You’re a busy person.”

 

   “Britia, that’s not true.”

 

   “And that’s why you haven’t contacted me all this time. Come to think of it, Duke-nim has never sent me a letter first. Not even one letter asking how I’m doing…”

 

   Britia recalled that she always sent him letters first. No matter how much he claimed to love her, it didn’t seem to compare to her own feelings.

 

   “Well, even if I love you 10 times, Duke-nim’s love is only 1/10th of that. At least if he could love me half as much… Should I be grateful for him loving me even just a little?”

 

   “He’s like a dog who broke free from the leash. He kept filling the leash himself, asking to be raised.”

 

   “Britia, what I meant by wanting to become a dog was a mistake I made…”

 

   “You’ll probably say later that even your current declaration of love was a mistake.”

 

   As Britia spoke with frustration, Sig’s brows furrowed, and his mouth fell open.

 

   “No, that’s not true. It will never happen.”

 

   Sig felt a pang in his chest as she didn’t believe him. But who could blame her? He had lost her trust due to his own actions.

 

   “I truly love you. This is not a mistake.”

 

   Britia glanced at him with a hint of sadness in her voice.

 

   “…If you truly love me, I’ll test you.”

 

   Britia raised her chin slightly and closed her eyes. And she waited. She wanted him to kiss her, whether on her forehead or her cheek. She didn’t even hope for a kiss.

 

   But no matter how long she waited, nothing happened. Disappointed, Britia opened her eyes. She locked eyes with Sig, who was staring at her intently.

 

   “So you don’t even want a simple kiss. I understand Duke-nim’s intentions.”

 

   Disappointed, Britia turned her head away, and Sig firmly grabbed her hand.

 

   “Was it meant to be a kiss? I didn’t know that.”

 

   “No more excuses.”

 

   “I thought it meant to keep my mouth shut and wait until you say yes. Please give me one more chance.”

 

   “No, I don’t want to. I don’t want to put myself in an awkward situation anymore.”

 

   Sig pleaded with a pleading look in his eyes as he gently squeezed Britia’s hand.

 

   “Britia, please.”

 

   Britia closed her eyes as if she couldn’t do anything and slightly extended her right cheek towards him.

 

   What should I do if I don’t do this? Will he really kiss me?

 

   Half expecting and half worried, Britia’s heart pounded as she waited for Sig’s lips to touch her cheek. But instead, it was his large hand that made contact.

 

   Is he really trying to brush it off with a cheek kiss?

 

   Britia’s eyebrows gently furrowed, and as she turned her head towards Sig, she suddenly felt a soft sensation on her lips. Sig’s lips lightly touched hers and then pulled away.

 

   “I told you to give me a cheek kiss, but where’s the kiss you held on to!”

 

   As Britia took a deep breath, her chest rose.

 

   “You said to kiss you.”

 

   It wasn’t meant to kiss on my lips! Of course, it feels good, but…

 

   Britia hesitated with pursed lips and couldn’t say anything.

 

   “Do you now understand that I love you?”

 

   Sig softly caressed Britia’s cheek and asked. Britia took a long breath.

 

   “I need to think a little. I’m a bit confused about whether I can marry someone like you, an aristocrat.”

 

   “But Britia, earlier you clearly said that the person you want to marry is none other than me.”

 

   In her heart, she wanted to rush into marriage right away, but Britia pretended to ponder and closed her eyes.

 

   It was a misunderstanding to want to become a dog. Fortunately, but how much pain and anxiety did I go through during that time?

 

   He should experience some torment for a moment. Humph.

 

   “Britia.”

 

   “I need to think, so please don’t talk to me.”

 

   “Are you teasing me? Your lips are smiling.”

 

   But Sig caught a glimpse of her inner joy on her face.

 

   “Stop teasing and please accept my proposal.”

 

  Sig kissed the back of Britia’s hand.

 

  “Britia.”

 

   Her face involuntarily flushed at his sweet voice.

 

   “It’s uncomfortable for you to tempt me while pretending to be innocent.”

 

   “Did my attempt to persuade you turn into temptation?”

 

   How fortunate it is to see Sig smiling and looking so lovely and cunning.

 

   “I want you to become mine. Not as a master, but as a wife.”

 

   “Tell me more. I don’t know if my heart will completely sway towards Duke-nim.”

 

   Britia didn’t answer his proposal because she wanted to hear more of his sweet voice, even until they arrived home.

 

   “Duke-nim.”

 

   Britia got off the carriage and stood behind Sig, calling him.

 

   “Stay right there.”

 

   When Sig tried to turn around, Britia stopped him.

 

   “Becoming Duke-nim’s wife like this feels too unfair to me, no matter how I think about it. So…”

 

   “Hmm.”

 

   As Britia grabbed Sig’s tail, a sound escaped from his lips.

 

   “You can stroke and hug me until you feel relieved.”

 

   Sig gritted his teeth and held onto the carriage.

 

   Britia opened her mouth wide and then released her grip gently. Weaker than the force she used to grab his tail.

 

   “When you really anger me, I said I would bite your tail, didn’t I?”

 

   “……”

 

   “I’ll let it go this time, but never anger me again. Next time, I’ll bite without hesitation.”

 

   Britia playfully laughed, warning Sig not to take it lightly just because it didn’t hurt so much. But there was something strange about Sig’s condition.

 

   “Duke-nim?”

 

   Sig, who had no response, staggered and fell to the ground with a thud.

 

  “Duke-nim!”

 

   Britia’s mouth hung open. She thought he didn’t make any sound because it wasn’t too painful, but Sig had fainted.

 

   “I just lightly, lightly bit him! How… I’m sorry, Duke-nim!”

 

   Britia held onto him and shook him, trying to wake him up, but he remained completely unconscious.