The Northern Mad Dog Is Wagging Its Tail

  “Britia-nim,” Sig wanted to assert his innocence, saying he would never do such a thing. But he was too flustered to form coherent words.

 

  “I…!”

 

  All he could do was desperately shake his head.

 

  “Don’t worry, Tia. Sig isn’t wielding a knife or anything.”

 

  Sig, who had been vigorously nodding his head at Crave’s words, paused and nodded emphatically up and down.

 

  “But he could be hiding it behind that big cloak.”

 

  “No!”

 

  Sig spun around to face Crave, his face contorted. The lord was surprised by his raised voice, his eyes widening, but then he quietly smiled and winked at Britia.

 

  “What’s wrong, Tia? Looks like he’s really angry. Now he’s raising his voice.”

 

  Sig’s lips slightly parted. He was too indignant to make a sound when he spoke like that.

 

  “Please believe me, Britia-nim. I would never even think of doing something like that.”

 

  He spoke with a desperate voice, as quiet as an ant.

 

  “Enough teasing, Crave.”

 

  When Britia made a sarcastic comment, Crave, who had been suppressing his laughter, couldn’t hold it in any longer and burst into laughter.

 

  “But Sig really enjoys being teased.”

 

  Sig alternated his gaze between Crave, who was snickering with delight, and Britia, who couldn’t contain her laughter.

 

  “Crave was just joking. I never thought Sig-nim would attack me.”

 

  Sig felt relieved when Britia said it wasn’t true. But still, something bothered him.

 

  “Did you really cry?”

 

  There were red marks around Britia’s eyes and nose. Unless Crave had manipulated even that, it meant she had truly cried.

 

  But why? Why did she cry? Who made her cry?

 

  Sig’s face darkened as he looked at Britia.

 

  “Yeah. Apparently, this grown adult cried embarrassingly, wailing and sobbing. Hahaha.”

 

  Crave laughed aloud, mocking Britia. In response, Sig’s head slowly turned. Crave momentarily hesitated as he saw Sig’s expression, which was filled with annoyance.

 

  “Don’t openly suspect me. I didn’t make her cry. It’s not something to brag about, but Tia isn’t the kind of person who cries even if I try to make her.”

 

  Crave’s face, as he denied bragging, had a strangely proud look. Seeing such a lord, Britia couldn’t believe her eyes.

 

  “Crave is such a fool, and I was wondering how to deal with this fool, and then tears started flowing.”

 

  “What? You called me a fool? Take it back immediately!”

 

  “I only called a fool a fool, and it’s not an incorrect statement.”

 

  Although Crave shouted, Britia stood her ground and didn’t back down. Contrary to their worries, the sight of the two getting along softened Sig’s expression as well.

 

  “Thank you for being friends with this fool, Duke-nim.”

 

  “You called me a fool again!”

 

  “Can you continue being friends with this fool in the future?”

 

  At Britia’s request, Sig blinked his eyes and nodded.

 

  “Sig, you should say that my friend is not a fool. Why are you just nodding obediently?”

 

  “…I only called a fool a fool, so it’s not an incorrect statement, right?”

 

Sig recalled Britia’s words and responded, causing Crave to gape. Then, slowly clapping his hands, Crave exclaimed in admiration.

 

  “Not bad, huh? My efforts to teach you not to lose in a verbal argument seem to have paid off.”

 

  “He’s a really good friend.”

 

  Britia chuckled, claiming to teach good things.

 

  “Are you feeling okay then?”

 

  Although she appeared fine, Sig felt that Britia’s smile lacked its usual strength and asked.

 

  “If you’re not okay, I can leave you alone.”

 

  Upon hearing this, both Crave and Britia blinked with identical expressions.

 

   Perplexed by their seemingly unenthusiastic response, Sig was taken aback. Then, he barely remembered that she had asked for something other than leaving her alone last time.

 

  “Or would you like me to hug you?”

 

  At those words, Crave let out a whistle.

 

  “Do you think that would make Tia feel better?”

 

  Crave turned his mischievous gaze from Sig to the his twin.

 

  “Would you feel better even without doing anything?”

 

  Sig asked Britia again, assuring her that he didn’t mind.

 

  “Oh, you’re so eager.”

 

  “Crave, it’s enough. Aren’t you busy?”

 

  “Huh? Are you trying to kick me out so that you two can be alone?”

 

  Britia glared at him without denying it.

 

  “Well, if that’s the case! Fine. Since even a troublemaker like me can take a hint, I’ll leave now.”

 

  Crave, who had been teasing them until the very end, pretended to steal glances through the door and finally left.

 

  “I’m really grateful to you for being friends with such an embarrassing brother.”

 

  Britia blushed slightly and spoke. Sig shook his head, denying it.

 

  After the noisy departure of Crave, silence settled between the two. Sig felt a sense of obligation as if he should say something.

 

  However, he couldn’t judge what words would be effective in breaking this silence. What did Crave say in situations like this?

 

  He remembered that starting a conversation by asking a question about something one was curious about would lead to some kind of dialogue.

 

  “Why were you crying? What happened?”

 

  But as he said it, he felt like he was persistently asking the same question. Moreover, Britia seemed slightly uncomfortable. It seemed that he had chosen the wrong point of curiosity.

 

  “If something happened, how can Duke-nim help?”

 

  Britia’s question to Sig sounded like she couldn’t give in, asking why he kept probing.

 

  “I’m sorry for asking something inappropriate.”

 

  “No… It’s just that I’m not feeling great right now, so I acted thoughtlessly towards Duke-nim. It shouldn’t have happened, I’m sorry.”

 

  As Britia looked downcast, Sig watched her and felt a heaviness in his heart. Whenever she appeared sad, he couldn’t help but feel a pang of sorrow himself. He wished for her happiness, because it would bring him joy as well.

 

  “Would you like to touch the tail too?”

 

If she wasn’t feeling well, Sig suggested that he could hug his tail tightly. Britia raised her chin and tilted her head with a face that showed reluctance.

 

   “Are you sure you’ll be alright? I’m not in a state where I can control myself right now.”

 

  Upon hearing her words that she couldn’t control herself, Sig swallowed hard and resolutely nodded.

 

  “I’ll endure it.”

 

  With a determined expression, he turned his back to Britia and sat down, offering his tail.

 

  “Duke-nim, whatever happens, I don’t know.”

 

  In Britia’s unusually cold voice, Sig tensed up and nodded, feeling on edge.

 

  “Well, then…”

 

  He felt her hand approaching. Sig tightly closed his eyes and clenched his teeth. No matter how tightly she held onto his tail, he was determined to endure the pain.

 

  However, her touch on his tail felt surprisingly cautious, just like usual. Whether he had become accustomed to it or Britia had learned a way to handle it without causing pain.

 

  This time, Sig realized that the pain wasn’t as unbearable as before, to the point where he might involuntarily make a sound. He could bear it.

 

  Finally!

 

  He had achieved some progress in secretly allowing her to hold his tail. However, since she mentioned not feeling well, there was always the possibility of a sudden change in mood.

 

 That moment would come soon.

 

  However, contrary to Sig’s worries, Britia completely let go of his tail.

 

  “Britia-nim?”

 

  As Sig turned around, Britia was suppressing her laughter, just like Crave had done before. But when her eyes met Sig’s, she couldn’t hold it in any longer and burst into laughter.

 

   “Actually, I’ve been feeling better since earlier. Meeting Duke-nim makes me feel good.”

 

  Sig was glad to know that his tail had been trained. But her words pleased him even more than that.

 

  “Why is that?”

 

  Sig felt the words come out without passing through his mind.

 

  “I wonder why?”

 

  Her reluctance to give an easy answer was frustrating yet intriguing.

 

  “Let’s stop talking about the story where I cried. It’s making me a bit embarrassed. Let’s talk about something else.”

 

  Britia turned her head slightly with a somewhat sheepish expression. Sig quietly observed her profile.

 

  “I heard that you came to see me a few days ago. Was there something you needed to show me?”

 

  Britia slightly lowered her head and met Sig’s eyes, causing him to startle as if awakening from a spell.

 

  “I came because I wondered if you could accompany me for a walk. But I heard that you were invited to the palace by my lord brother..

 

  So I went to the palace, but it was a bit difficult for me since your portrait was in his possession.”

 

 Sig somehow felt embarrassed about discussing the details.

 

  He couldn’t quite understand why he felt embarrassed, but it seemed like it would be a bit awkward if it was revealed that he had her portrait.

 

  “Could you accompany me for a walk even now?”

 

  “Right now?”

 

  Britia thought for a moment and then nodded eagerly.

 

  Afterward, she quickly changed into clothes suitable for going out and joined Sig in the carriage he had arrived in.

 

  “First, we’ll choose the fabric.”

 

  “Fabric?”

 

  “Didn’t you agree to accept a dress as a gift?”

 

  Ah, that’s right.

 

  Britia nodded her head.

 

   But the mention of choosing fabric meant that she would even have it custom-made.

 

  “I’ve been thinking about what kind of dress would suit you. Now that I have a rough idea, I want to start making it.”

 

  Britia pondered over what it meant to start making it. Then Sig retrieved something from his pocket.

 

  “Since it’s difficult to take measurements inside the carriage, I should have measured you beforehand.”

 

   Even so, Sig concluded that it would be fine as long as they bought plenty of fabric.

 

  Britia blinked her eyes quickly, not understanding.

 

  “Just a moment, measurements? Why do you need to take measurements?”

 

  “Because we need to know them to make the dress.”

 

   When she asked the obvious question, Sig looked at Britia with a slightly surprised expression.

 

  Britia blinked her eyes rapidly. She knew that measurements were necessary to make a dress. Usually, they were taken in a dressing room. There were people who would call for someone to come and do it at home, but Sig hadn’t called anyone like that.

 

  Moreover, Sig had a tape measure in his hand.

 

  “…I don’t understand, so let me ask first. Did you say that Duke-nim would be making the dress?”

 

  “Yes.”

 

  As soon as Sig answered, Britia realized that things were not going as she had thought.

 

  “So, you brought that tape measure to take my measurements? Duke-nim will measure me personally?”

 

  “Yes.”

 

  Sig looked at Britia with a puzzled expression, as if there was some problem. Her mouth was getting wider and wider.

 

  “No, it can’t be!”

 

  Britia exclaimed.

 

  “I can’t make it if I don’t know the measurements.”

 

  Sig tried to convince her, firmly holding onto the tape measure and explaining that it was necessary.

 

  “That may be true, but no, it can’t be!”

 

  As Britia briefly imagined him personally measuring every part of her body, her face flushed red, and she shouted desperately.