The Northern Mad Dog Is Wagging Its Tail

Britia doubted her ears.

“It’s enough for me to understand that falling in love with me is like an inevitable fate, something humans cannot avoid,” Harty raised both hands towards the sky and then let them drop.

“But you’re not willing to reciprocate no matter how broad-minded I am, so just give up,” he continued.

Britia’s mind was now in a complete whirlwind.

“Why do you think I fell in love with you?”

She tried her best to express her displeasure in her tone, but unfortunately, it had no effect on Harty.

“Is there anyone in the world who wouldn’t fall for my beauty?” 

he proclaimed with such confidence that it was almost exhausting.

Britia thought that there was only one person in the world who could be so confident and proud of their beauty.

“But this beauty belongs to the whole world, so I can’t give my heart to just anyone.”

Harty sighed as if being beautiful was truly tiresome.

“So don’t be so sad about it.”

“When did I look sad?”

Harty turned sharply to face Britia’s murmuring.

“I understand your desire to pretend, even though you must have some petty pride.”

Harty spoke with a compassionate smile and a gentle tone.

Britia wanted to tell him that he wasn’t that good-looking, but she couldn’t bring herself to say it. It was frustrating, but Harty’s face was like a living, moving painting, so beautiful.

“Just accept that I’m being kind to you and give up. Got it?”

“Yes, yes, I’ll give up.”

However beautiful he may be, Britia didn’t want to see him anymore. She just yearned to be free from him as soon as possible.

“I’ll gracefully give up, so you can leave now, okay?”

“As much as I want to feel the same way, I can’t until I finish my task.”

“Task? What task?”

“At 3 o’clock, the luncheon at the Lockheart Mansion.”

Harty pointed at Britia with his index finger.

“You invited Duke Turas. How dare you!”

“What does your duty have to do with me inviting Duke-nim?” Britia retorted.

“I have a responsibility. As a human responsible for perfection in this world, I must protect another perfect being from someone who leaves imperfections behind,” Harty explained.

“What are you talking about? But if that’s the case, then please leave now. The duke you’re waiting for won’t come. Today is not the day of the luncheon.”

“You’re a liar. My eyes can’t be deceived.”

Britia now knew what it meant to be driven mad and frustrated.

***

On that day, Harty spent two hours prying into Britia’s mind and left with a refreshed expression on his face.

And the next day at half past two, he returned to the Lockheart Mansion.

“You’re wearing a dress so outdated that it’s hard to look at,” he remarked.

And the day after that as well.

“That hairstyle, it’s the worst.”

He continued to visit the Lockheart Mansion on the following days.

“Now that I look closely, you’re like a small pebble. Just a pebble left carelessly on the beach, one that people step on,” he commented.

Every day, he didn’t forget to deliver his harsh criticisms. If he weren’t the Duke of Slanford, Britia would have picked up a broom and swept him out.

“I told you the luncheon is on Friday. Why do you keep coming here?”

“Even if I deceive swindlers, I can’t be deceived.”

“If you have such unwavering trust in people, then go find a priest, not me.”

As Britia spoke, urging Harty to pray, Harty’s eyes narrowed.

“Goddess granted me the blessing of perfect beauty, why didn’t she grant you even a tenth of that blessing?”

“Seriously, what an unfortunate thing,” Harty said, clicking his tongue.

“That face, it really gets uglier as the days go by. I thought you couldn’t get any uglier, but you’re surprisingly amazing in that aspect.”

“Lord Marquis must be happy to receive blessings.”

Britia said mockingly, but it had no impact on him.

“You, who haven’t received the Goddess’s love, can’t even imagine such a blessing. How pitiful.”

“Lord Marquis, please tell me honestly.”

Britia asked seriously, saying that she couldn’t bear it anymore.

“If you’re trying to disturb my meeting with Duke Turas, I clearly told you it’s on Friday. Yet you keep coming every day.”

Britia glared at him with an imposing look.

“You’re just tormenting me, aren’t you?”

Harty, who was looking straight into her eyes, smirked.

“Britia Lockheart.”

He kept sticking out his tongue and gazed at Britia with pitiful eyes.

“I wondered if you had the intelligence of an ant, but it seems not even that. Do you think I’d waste my precious time just to torment you?”

Seeing Harty laughing loudly, Britia tightly closed her eyes. Her anger boiled inside her.

“You laughed too much; my throat is dry.”

Wiping away the tears that formed in his eyes, Harty picked up a teacup, smelled it, disgusted, and put it back down.

“Why do you always prepare such terrible tea? I can’t drink it.”

Despite Britia’s protests, Harty put a hot stone into the boiling water.

“How can we match Lord Marquis’s sophisticated taste? We dare not.”

Ignoring her usual snide remarks and rude retorts, Harty remained silent this time, which only fueled Britia’s irritation.

As soon as Harty left, Britia started writing a letter. The recipient was Duke Turas.

[To Duke Turas]

★★★

“If tormenting me endlessly is what you desire, then so be it. Hahaha!”

Britia’s eyes blazed with a desire for revenge.

“You sometimes scare me,” said Crave, looking at Britia’s mischievous smile.

“What?” she replied.

Instead of answering, he sneaked a peek at the letter Britia was writing.

“What are you planning to do?”

“Since Harty Slanford is bothering me, I’ll do what he hates the most.”

“What is that?”

“Meeting alone with Duke-nim.”

When she explained that she would ruin their time together, Britia’s eyes sparkled mischievously.

“By saying that, are you actually trying to avoid spending time with Duke Turas?”

Crave looked sheepish.

“I just wanted to enjoy some private time with him. Mischievous Britia.”

“Mischievous? What are you talking about?” Britia snapped.

“Why are you getting all worked up? Did something happen with Duke Turas? Did he even touch your tail or give you a little pat?” Crave asked, wrapping his arms around her.

“Stop saying weird things!”

“Oops? Why is your face turning red? Did you really plan something?”

“Enough, Crave Lockheart.”

“Oh, I’m scared. I wonder if people know the two faces of Britia Lockheart, who pretends to be sweet outside.”

Crave covered his eyes with his hands and made a fake crying sound.

“Does Sig know?”

“Stop before I hit you.”

“You have such a temper! Alright, I got it. Since it seems like I might get hurt, I’ll leave.”

Crave raised both hands in surrender and sat next to Britia.

“I can’t understand why Harty Slanford picked a fight with someone as scary as you. Well, I can’t say I fully comprehend his feelings, but…”

As Britia continued writing her letter, she looked up.

“You think understanding his feelings is that simple?”

“To some extent. That man seems to be similar to me in some ways.”

“While you may annoy me, irritate me, and make me furious, he’s not like that at all.”

Britia’s ambiguous praise or taunt made the marquis burst into laughter.

“See? Your reactions are so entertaining.”

“You’re enjoying my reactions?”

“I am. I mean, I’m Crave Lockheart, not Harty Slanford. Honestly, I don’t know what that man is thinking.”

The marquis shrugged and playfully poked Britia’s side with his finger.

“Although you usually pretend to dislike me, you actually like me, don’t you?”

“You’re family, so I can’t help but like you.”

“But you can’t deny that you like me.”

Britia thought there was a certain resemblance between Crave and Harty, especially in their ability to provoke and irritate her.

“Crave, you invited Lord Slanford to the party in the first place.”

“Yeah, I did. Although I announced that he was coming, he never showed up.”

“Is that why? Even though he’s also a famous figure, he tries to be friends with you, Crave, but acts distant and composed when it comes to the persistent Turas-nim who visits every day.”

As Britia questioned, Crave crossed his arms and closed his eyes.

“I told you. I think he’s similar to me.”

In response to that, Crave shuddered as if he disliked the idea.

* * *

The next day at 11 a.m., Britia held the letter she had sent yesterday as Sig Turas came to visit.

“Sorry for changing the time suddenly.”

“That’s alright,” he replied.

His face seemed a little tense, but his wagging tail showed his sincerity. Britia felt more at ease with Sig than ever before, especially after dealing with the poisonous Harty every day.

“Today, we have lavender tea.”

“Oh, I see.”

“How do you like it?”

Sig looked at Britia, who was eager to see him try the tea, with sparkling eyes.

“It’s good, I think.”

His words came out a bit choppy for some reason.

“Really? So, have Sig-nim finally found his preferred tea?”

Britia clapped her hands in congratulations. Then, Sig couldn’t bring himself to confess that he wasn’t sure if he really liked the taste of the tea.

“Yes.”

But seeing her smile, he thought it would be fine. He had been trying to like the tea from now on.

“Lavender has a soothing effect, so it might help with better sleep.”

“That sounds nice.”

Only then did Britia take a sip of her own tea. As she watched him, she noticed that Sig seemed to have something to say, as his lips kept twitching.

“Why are you like that, Sig-nim?”

Britia asked, but Sig couldn’t easily find the right words.

“You fell into the water. Is your body alright?”

It was difficult for him to bring it up, and Britia found him a bit cute for being hesitant.

“So kind. Yes, I’m fine.”

Upon hearing her response, Sig suddenly stopped as if something inside him had broken. No one had ever told him that he was kind.

“Are you feeling hot? Should I open a window?”

Seeing steam coming off his head, Britia asked. It was still early summer, but she hadn’t realized he was wearing such furry clothes.

“Well, I’m not actually feeling hot, and I know I’m fine because Crave told me. I’m not particularly kind.”

Sig seemed flustered and spoke a bit faster than usual.

“Even if you knew that, you still showed concern and asked because you were worried, right? That means you were being kind.”

“But if that’s the case, then shouldn’t I be that way with everyone?”

Britia blinked her eyes as she looked at Sig.

“I’m only concerned about you, so I’m not kind to everyone.”

Her face flushed as if she had just confessed something.

“Ah, then I guess I should open the window.”

Britia hurriedly got up from her seat.