The Northern Mad Dog Is Wagging Its Tail

Chapter 119

 

  Britia had a dream that she met Sig in the tail world and tried to kiss him, but he suddenly turned into a dog. It was a very strange dream, to say the least.

 

  Could it be Sig isn’t really a dog, is he?

 

  It was ridiculous, but the doubt wouldn’t leave her mind. It was probably because of what he said about wanting to be her dog.

 

  Britia went to wash up and have breakfast, still feeling dazed. She wanted to talk to her family and clear her mind a bit. Crave would probably tease her a bit, but that was okay.

 

  “So, I had a strange dream today…”

 

  Huh? Why is Sig at our breakfast table?

 

  Oh, he looks cute with his mouth full of bread.

 

  Britia stopped thinking and froze. She realized what state she was in. She didn’t want to get out of bed, so she hadn’t changed her clothes or combed her hair. Her hair was a mess.

 

  Britia’s face turned red in an instant.

 

  “Tia, it’s okay to dress like that when it’s just family, but you should be more careful when there are guests.”

 

  Crave said, rebuking her, but he couldn’t hide his laughter.

 

  “Well, Sig will be your family soon.”

 

  Britia didn’t say anything to his words and turned around to run away. She came back a long time later, dressed and with her hair neatly combed and braided to one side.

 

  “Good morning.”

 

  Britia greeted Sig and the vice-commander as if she was meeting them for the first time today. But she was too embarrassed to look them in the eye for long.

 

  “I told you not to drink outside like that. Did you do it again?”

 

  Crave said to Britia, who seemed to be trying to pass by quietly.

 

  “I didn’t drink much. I didn’t even have a drink. I guess the alcohol got to me and I got drunk quickly…”

 

  Britia, who had no memory of such a thing, opened her eyes wide.

 

  Really?

 

  Britia pouted at Crave. Crave nodded, but Britia looked at Hailey in disbelief and pouted again. When Hailey nodded too, Britia’s head became dizzy.

 

  What on earth did I do!

 

  Britia’s neck became stiff as she was too embarrassed to look at Sig’s face.

 

  “Are you okay?”

 

  “…Yes.”

 

  Britia couldn’t look at him and answered in a thin voice to Sig’s worried question.

 

  “Your complexion doesn’t look good. Are you sure you’re okay?”

 

  “She’s just embarrassed. Don’t worry.”

 

  Crave grinned. Britia felt the urge to smack him on the mouth.

 

  What the hell happened last night?

 

  All she could remember was looking at Harty’s collection at the Slanford mansion. Harty and Brian were definitely there too.

 

  She had once told Sig that she had asked him to let her touch his tail when she was drunk and injected. Surely she didn’t ask them to wag their tails too?

 

  “Did I, do something really weird last night…?”

 

  Britia found the courage to look back at Sig. But she couldn’t bring herself to finish her sentence.

 

  “You didn’t do anything weird. You were just tired and fell asleep.”

 

  The vice-commander smiled at Britia.

 

  “You were too comfortable with Sig being around, weren’t you?”

 

  Crave teased Britia and glanced at the vice-commander.

 

 “The young lady fell asleep at the party. Hahahaha.”

 

  The vice-commander, who had appeared with Sig carrying Britia, scratched his head and said. Crave was surprised, but calmed down and said that it was late and they should go to bed.

 

  The vice-commander thanked him and gladly accepted the offer and set foot in the Lockhart mansion. Crave saw it then. The bloodstains on his boots!

 

  He said he came from a party, but why were there bloodstains on his boots? It was also strange that he went to the party in the first place.

 

  Britia had clearly gone out, saying with an annoyed face that she would go to the Slanford mansion for a short while. What the hell happened?

 

  Crave suspiciously looked at the vice-commander’s boots, which were now shining without a trace of bloodstains, as he drank his coffee.

 

  “Do you like these boots?”

 

  The vice-commander asked, noticing his gaze. Crave was startled and nodded awkwardly. He was afraid of people who smiled so brightly, as they often hid dark secrets while pretending to be kind.

 

  “But Tia, didn’t you say you had a strange dream?”

 

  Crave quickly changed the subject.

 

  “Oh, it’s nothing.”

 

  Britia tried to play it down. She was embarrassed to talk about how Sig tried to kiss her in front of Sig. And to say that he turned into a dog when it was about to happen.

  

  “What is it? Why did you start to say something and then stop? Did you have a bad dream? Right? That’s why you can’t talk?”

 

  Britia glared at Crave as his playful side started to show.

 

  “Be quiet. Before I hit you.”

 

  Britia warned him, pouting her lips.

 

  “You’re good at blackmailing too, Duchess Turas, tsk!”

 

  Crave, who had been teasing her happily,   yelped in pain as his foot was stomped on under the table.

 

  After breakfast, Sig said he was going to go back. She was surprised to see him in the morning, but Britia felt sorry for him when he said he was going, so she saw him off to the carriage.

 

  “I’m embarrassed that I showed you my disheveled appearance in the morning.”

 

  “I liked it.”

 

  Sig couldn’t get the image of Britia’s tense and disheveled appearance out of his head. He was a little disappointed that she had run away so quickly before he could examine it all in detail.

 

  “I guess I’ll be able to see that look every morning after we get married, and even at night. I’m a little excited about that.”

 

  The corners of Sig’s mouth curled up.

 

  “Hmm, that sounds weird.”

 

  Britia pushed Sig’s chest, embarrassed. Sig took her hand.

 

  “Britia, do you remember the promise you made to me?”

 

  Britia felt a sense of déjà vu at Sig’s question. She felt like she had heard those words somewhere recently.

 

  Sig pulled Britia into the carriage and held her face. Britia closed her eyes and thought as she felt his lips on hers.

 

  On the day she had a good dream, Britia headed to the palace at the empress’s summons.

 

  It was the first time she had met the empress alone, so Britia was very nervous.

 

  “I knew it would come to this from the moment I saw that child who melts away just by talking to him.”

 

  The empress said with a happy face that they would make a lovely couple.

 

  “But Britia, do you know how to knit?”

 

  Britia flinched at the word “knitting.” While she could somehow manage to sew even if the result was strange, knitting was a world that Britia found completely incomprehensible.

 

  “I, I’m not very good at it. In fact, I should say I don’t know how to do it…”

 

  “Have you ever been taught by anyone?”

 

  Britia was momentarily confused because it sounded like she was being asked if she had received any education.

 

  “I’m sorry. My mother taught me when I was little, but I didn’t have a talent for knitting…”

 

  “Is that so? Then would you like to learn from me again now?”

 

  The empress asked with a bright smile.

 

  “It was my dream to one day share stories with my daughter-in-law while doing something like this.”

 

  The empress’s face, who said she would teach her and do it together, was shining like a girl’s. Britia was relieved to know that she was not being scolded.

 

  “It is a great honor to be taught by Her Majesty the Empress herself. I don’t know if I will be able to learn well, but I will do my best.”

 

  The empress burst out laughing as Britia spoke with a determined face. She was reminded of Sig, who was always serious about everything.

 

  “You don’t have to be so hard on yourself. It’s a happy time for me, and I hope it’s a happy time for you too.”

 

  The empress sat down and showed Britia how to hold the needles. Britia struggled at first, but as she was taught step by step, she was able to knit a little bit.

 

  “Are you knitting a sweater, Your Majesty?”

 

  Britia, who was getting a headache from concentrating so hard, took a break and asked the empress what she was knitting. It was a half-finished pink sweater.

 

  “Yes. I’m going to give this to His Majesty for his birthday next month. He promised to grant me any wish, so he agreed to wear it.”

 

  The empress laughed at the thought of the emperor wearing it.

 

  It seemed that the emperor and empress had reconciled, judging from the fact that the emperor had not summoned her since the hunting competition. She had expected this, but it seemed that their relationship was even better than she had thought.

 

  She had been a little worried because they were still awkward when dancing, but it was a relief. The emperor must be in a good mood now too.

 

  “But Your Majesty, is His Majesty busy these days?”

 

  Britia asked cautiously. She had already received permission to marry from the empress, but not from the emperor yet. Sig had told him, but he kept putting it off, saying, “I’m busy now, so talk to me later.”

 

  “Is His Majesty making you suffer by using your marriage as a hostage?”

 

  The empress asked, noticing Britia’s thoughts. The look of worry on her face was clear.

 

  “I’ll talk to him.”

 

  This is when an adult should step in.

 

  The empress told Britia not to worry too much. She looked so much like her nephew when her face brightened up, and the empress found the couple charming and cute.

 

  Two days after hearing those words from the empress, Britia received a message from the emperor to come to the palace.

 

  Finally!

 

  Britia headed to the palace with a fluttering heart.

 

  “You want to marry Sig?”

 

  The emperor, who was waiting for her in the inner garden, asked Britia as soon as he saw her. On the table was a cup of tea for him and a fairly large box.

 

  Could it be that he had prepared it as a wedding gift?

 

  Britia reflected that she had thought of him as a very sensitive and rather grumpy person who was too proud.

 

  “Yes, Your Majesty.”

 

  The emperor pursed his lips as Britia answered with sparkling eyes.

 

  “I oppose that marriage.”

 

  Britia froze at the words that were like a bolt from the blue.

 

  Why? Why are you opposed to it? Was there something I did that he didn’t like? I had somehow managed to convey to the empress that the emperor loved her.

 

  Thanks to that, he even made me dance and was so satisfied that he gave me a prize!

 

  “If you get married in a hurry while I still have work for you to do, what will happen if you go to Altheim? I won’t be able to give you any work.”

 

  What are you talking about? You never call me!

 

  Britia barely managed to suppress the urge to scream.

 

  Calm down. Calm down. He’s not saying he’s against it because he doesn’t like me.

 

  “Your Majesty, I am ready to run to your side whenever you call for me, no matter where I am.”

 

  Britia nodded with a serious face. The emperor’s tail, which had been drooping, wagged slightly.

 

  This is it!

 

  Britia was sure she knew what he wanted.

 

  “I will devote this body to Your Majesty as a loyal servant.”

 

  “Is that so? Then I have a task for you right away. Can you do it?”

 

  Britia burned with passion, saying that she could do anything.

 

  The emperor pointed to the box on the table with his eyes.

 

  “Open it.”

 

  Britia did as he asked and opened the lid of the box. Inside was a very familiar half-finished pink sweater.

 

  “Go to the empress and confess that you stole it. Say that it was never my order and that you did it on your own.”