The Northern Mad Dog Is Wagging Its Tail

  The Empress and the Emperor had reconciled, so Britia thought the Emperor had no reason to keep her by his side.

 

  “You can’t go home until the wedding.”

 

  It was Britia’s miscalculation.

 

  “Who knows if that wedding will happen this year? It might not be possible until next year, or even 10 years from now.”

 

  The Emperor smirked and snickered.

 

  “I wonder how long it will take Sig to prepare for the wedding.”

 

  Britia begged him to let her go so that she could help with the wedding preparations. However, the Emperor dismissed her with the remark that if she couldn’t prepare without him, she shouldn’t get married.

 

  “The more I think about it, the more I find it infuriating that you’re dreaming of getting married after just begging me for forgiveness.”

 

  Britia knelt down at the sound of his voice, asking her how she could think she could get away with what she had done.

 

  “It’s too late. You were the Empress’s spy, and you should have known from the moment you betrayed me for money. You’re a faithless wretch.”

 

  But it was Your Majesty who gave me that money, Britia thought to herself.

 

  “What does the Empress have that’s so pretty that you’re so taken with her?”

 

  Britia couldn’t even utter a sound at the Emperor’s words that her neck would have been on the line if it hadn’t been for her.

 

  Get in the carriage. Get me some water. Bring me some alcohol. Show me your skills. Sing a song. Stop singing. Dance. Dance harder.

 

  The Emperor kept Britia busy by giving her petty orders.

 

  “That’s a boring and clumsy dance move.”

 

  Even when she danced diligently, she received no praise. Still, the Emperor seemed to find her clumsy dancing amusing and often watched her dance.

 

  Maybe he was just bored.

 

  Britia was mortified to the point of death every time she danced with all her passion and energy. She had to find a way to soften his heart. And there was only one way to do that.

 

  “Her Majesty the Empress seems to be happy every day these days.”

 

  “Why are you telling me that the Empress looks happy?”

 

  The Emperor snorted, but when Britia stopped talking, he looked at her with a look that said, “Why aren’t you talking anymore?”

 

  “She said several times that she was happy because Your Majesty had become so affectionate.”

 

  “Changed? I’ve always been affectionate.”

 

  “She said several times that she was happy because Your Majesty had become so affectionate.”

 

  “Changed? I’ve always been affectionate.”

 

  Britia was speechless for a moment at the sight of the Emperor. She should have come up with an answer right away, but since it was a story that she had no heart for, she couldn’t spit it out right away.

 

  “Why are you silent, traitor?”

 

  The Emperor glared at her sharply. Britia just smiled awkwardly and averted his gaze. The Emperor did not forgive her for trying to slip away.

 

  “Answer me.”

 

  He pressed Britia to the end.

 

  “Your Majesty is originally an affectionate person.”

 

  “You’re just moving your tongue without any sincerity.”

 

  Presumptuous. As the Emperor glanced at Britia, the Empress’s maid came to see her.

 

  “Her Majesty the Empress is looking for Lady Lockhart.”

 

  Even the Emperor, who had been tormenting her by preventing her from going anywhere, gave her a brief moment of freedom when the Empress called for her. Of course, the Emperor’s knight was attached as a guard to prevent her from flying off to another place in the middle.

 

  The Emperor didn’t like the fact that his wife was only looking for Britia.

 

  “I thought she would say she wants to see me by now, but she doesn’t mention it at all. She must be calling only that Britia Lockhart on purpose. Even though she knows my heart!”

 

  Today, he felt even more disappointed.

 

  “I’ll be back, Your Majesty.”

 

  The Emperor, who had been sulking, didn’t even answer when Britia spoke. Britia had a hunch that the Emperor’s torment would get worse when she returned. She had to figure out something.

 

  But no clever idea came to mind until she finished spending time with the Empress and returned to the Emperor’s side. If she went back like this, she would only make the Emperor angrier, and that would make things harder for her.

 

I should tell the Empress that the Emperor seems to want to spend time with her.

 

  As Britia was walking by, regretting, someone recognized her.

 

  “Britia.”

 

  Is it because she had been living in the palace for so long that there were no familiar faces in the crowded and vast place? Britia’s ears perked up at the familiar voice.

 

  “Lord Slanford!”

 

  Britia exclaimed in joy, unaware that she was raising her voice.

 

  “What brings you here?”

 

  Britia was surprised to see Brian next to him as she was happy. Brian, who met her eyes, smiled and grabbed Harty.

 

  “What are you trying to do, fall over?”

 

  Brian knelt down on the ground, saying that something else would break. It was as if he was used to tying Harty’s shoelaces.

 

  “Be quiet. Stay away. Go back. That’s right. Stay there and don’t come any closer.”

 

  Brian obediently followed even the cold orders. It was a completely different attitude from the past when he was busy picking on Harty.

 

  “What happened?”

 

  Britia asked in surprise.

 

  “I acknowledge and reflect on the fact that I had an inferiority complex, so I listen to everything he says.”

 

  Harty sighed and said, looking back at Brian.

 

  Inferiority complex?Acknowledgement?

 

  Britia tilted her head. As far as she knew, that wasn’t the kind of feeling Brian had for Harty.

 

  Britia, who didn’t understand this situation,stole a glance at Brian, who was looking at Harty with a happy face from a distance.

 

   “Are you saying that you listen to everything the Count says?”

 

  That guy?

 

  When Britia looked suspicious, Harty glared at Brian.

 

  “Cover your ears.”

 

  Brian immediately covered his ears with his hands. But when his eyes met Harty’s, he smiled brightly.

 

  “You see? He comes when I tell him to come and goes when I tell him to go.”

 

  Harty said with a sullen face, saying that if he is told to fetch water, he will fetch water, and if he is told to peel fruit, he will peel it himself.

 

  “You were growling at him like that.”

 

  Britia asked in a small voice if he had taken Brian as his lover. At that, Harty frowned.

 

  “Who’s the lover? I’m just taking him around for a while because his submissive appearance is funny. I’m not even going to match him up if I find Kyra.”

 

  Harty shuddered, saying that she didn’t need such a bothersome man.

 

  “Then Kyra is still missing?”

 

  When Britia asked, Harty sighed and shook his head.

 

  “That’s why I’m here anyway. Uncle, haven’t you seen Duke Scanda4s?”

 

  Britia was surprised by the sudden question and answered that she hadn’t seen him.

  

  “Why are you looking for Duke Scanders?”

 

  Harty opened his mouth to answer, but closed it again when he saw the Emperor’s knight standing behind her.

 

  “If you haven’t seen him, then forget it. Actually, I’m in a hurry, so I’ll go.”

 

  “Just a moment, Lord Count!” Britia called out to Harty, but he hurried away as if being chased by something. Britia stood there dumbfounded, watching Harty and Brian disappear down the corridor.

 

  Why would they be looking for Duke Scandars while searching for Kyra?

 

  Of course, if her father, the Duke, knew where she had gone, he might have an idea. But Britia knew very well that they weren’t that close.

 

  Harty’s attitude bothered Britia, and she couldn’t easily shake off her uneasiness.

 

  There must be a reason why Duke Scandars had to be found without fail. What could be happening to Kyra?

 

  Growing more concerned, Britia tried to catch up with Harty, albeit belatedly.

 

  “Where are you going?”

 

  But the Emperor’s knight blocked Britia’s path.

 

  “I have something to ask the Count.”

 

  “Your Majesty is waiting.”

 

  The knight was firm. Britia pleaded with a desperate face, but the knight didn’t budge.

 

  “Just a moment is all I ask.”

 

  “It’s not possible.”

 

  Britia and the knight clashed.

 

  “Britia.”

 

  At that moment, the Crown Prince, passing by, spotted her and approached her.

 

  “I heard that you were in the palace, but I thought it was just a rumor since I hadn’t seen your face until now.”

 

  Britia, who had been glaring at the stubborn knight, relaxed her gaze and greeted the Crown Prince.

 

  “I heard about the two of you from Sig, who couldn’t contain his excitement. Congratulations.”

 

  “Thank you, Your Highness.”

 

  “We fought quite fiercely at the party before. But it seems like things have been resolved.”

 

  As the Crown Prince laughed teasingly, subtly hinting at the fact that he had resolved the situation by seeing my face, Britia’s cheeks blushed slightly.

 

  “I apologize for causing you trouble back then.”

 

  “No, I’m the one who should be grateful for your help. And I heard about the letter from His Majesty as well.”

 

  Britia smiled awkwardly at the mention of the letter. Although she was glad that the Emperor and Empress had reconciled, she was now trapped here because of it.

 

  “Since we’ll be family soon, I wanted to take some time to talk to you. But His Majesty seems to be very possessive of your time. I’m curious about how you managed to gain his favor.”

 

  Britia felt a pang of discomfort at the word “favor.” She could almost hear the Emperor’s voice mocking her dancing, saying that even a newborn calf would do better.

 

  “But still, it’s good to see you like this. I was planning to meet your friend as well. Why don’t we all have a cup of tea together?”

 

  The Crown Prince suggested to Britia.

 

  “His Majesty ordered me to bring Lady Lockhart back immediately.”

 

  When she tried to refuse, saying that it was inappropriate, the Crown Prince shrugged.

 

  “Even so, can’t we have a cup of tea with an old friend? His Majesty would forgive us for that much. He’s a generous and loving person.”

 

  “Wait a minute, Your Highness. My friend?”

 

  One person came to Britia’s mind when she heard the word “friend.”

 

  “You have a close friend who only paints landscapes, but she would even paint your portrait for you.”

 

  The Crown Prince spoke casually, then smiled faintly as he spotted someone.

 

  “There she is now.”

 

  Britia followed the Crown Prince’s gaze and her lips parted as she saw the familiar red hair. There was Harti’s long-lost friend, Kyra, and Duke Scandara.

 

  “I didn’t know the Duke was coming too.”

 

  The Crown Prince looked puzzled at the sight of the two people together.

 

  Britia watched Kyra, who was slowly approaching them, with surprised eyes. She looked much thinner than before, as if she had been through some hardship. She seemed to be trying to cover it up with makeup, but it wasn’t enough.

 

  She also seemed to be struggling to walk. She used to be a confident woman who would never let anything get her down, but now she looked like a completely different person.

 

  “Kyra.”

 

  Kyra stopped three steps in front of Britia, but she didn’t seem to recognize her. She just stood there with a strange smile on her face, as if she was in a daze.

 

  “Kyra!”

 

  Britia called out again, and Kyra turned her head slowly. Only then did her eyes seem to light up as she finally recognized Britia.

 

 Letting out a short sigh, Kyra burst out crying.