The Northern Mad Dog Is Wagging Its Tail

  The Crown Prince and Sig stood at the entrance of the Elliwood Forest, awaiting the arrival of the emperor. Soon, the emperor, riding a sleek brown horse, appeared with a group of people beyond the horizon.

 

  “We have been waiting, Your Majesty,” the Crown Prince said as the emperor dismounted from his horse.

 

  “Are you complaining that I made you wait as soon as I arrived?” the emperor sharply retorted, looking down at me from atop his horse.

 

  “Could I not wait upon hearing the news of the esteemed arrival of my beloved and respected Your Majesty?” 

 

  “You are flattering me without sincerity from the moment you see me,” the emperor scoffed, dismounting from his horse as if he didn’t believe me.

 

  “Indeed. Our adorable puppy brought the demons to the hunting grounds, didn’t he?”

 

 The emperor glanced back at Sig, who was following behind.

 

  “Thanks to that, I may be risking my life today, and it could be my last day of hunting,” the emperor’s sharp purple eyes slowly turned towards the prince standing next to him.

 

  “Well, you, with your heavy hindquarters, are still the biggest obstacle in becoming the emperor,” he said, raising his eyebrow, whether it was a joke or a serious remark.

 

  “It seems the news has reached Your Majesty’s ears. I apologize for causing concern. All the demons have been captured and dealt with, so such incidents will not occur again,” the prince said with a remorseful expression.

 

  “I misunderstood my brother’s intentions. It was my fault,” Sig quickly interjected, fearing his brother’s wrath.

 

  “It’s all my fault. If you want to scold someone, scold me…”

 

  “Did you say you killed all the demons?” 

 

  The emperor, who had been walking ahead, abruptly stopped and asked.

 

  “Yes, Uncle.”

 

  “So, there are no more demons?”

 

  “No, there aren’t.”

 

  “Not even one?”

 

  Sig couldn’t understand the intention behind his repeated questioning and tilted his head in confusion.

 

  But when he answered, the emperor, who had already seemed in a bad mood, became even more furious.

 

  They moved to the camp, and the emperor sat on a chair prepared under a tent with all sides open. He pointed his finger at someone.

 

  “Bring him here. He didn’t properly fill my saddle, causing me discomfort the entire journey.”

 

  Sig, who was trying to restrain his words, was struck by lightning.

 

  “Your Majesty! Your Majesty!”

 

  Sig pleaded earnestly for forgiveness, but at the emperor’s gesture, the soldiers dragged him away.

 

  “I don’t like the color red.”

 

  Some had to strip off the clothes they were wearing, leaving their upper bodies exposed.

 

  “Drinking water looks vulgar.”

 

  Before some could drink, their water flasks were snatched away, leaving them only with saliva.

 

  “Thanks to today, we’ll have a very productive time. After coming all this way, I might as well catch a rabbit or something.”

 

  Everyone looked around cautiously, trying to be careful with their actions, but this time, the emperor’s gaze turned towards the Crown Prince.

 

 “There are three bears, so it won’t be a boring time.”

 

  The Crown Prince smiled awkwardly and tried to dissuade him.

 

  “There are only two, brother.”

 

  Sig, who was watching his uncle’s reaction, leaned closer to the Crown Prince’s ear and whispered.

 

  “…So, you say there are two bears. One of them seems to have been attacked by a demon. It was such a dangerous demon that I had no choice but to eliminate it for Your Majesty’s safety.”

 

  The Crown Prince explained as if defending himself.

 

  “You take advantage of my safety as an excuse to take away my enjoyment.”

 

  The emperor snorted in displeasure.

 

  “Isn’t Your Majesty’s safety the top priority above all else?”

 

  “Why not even let me go hunting?”

 

  Sig felt uncomfortable, as if sitting on thorns. He couldn’t shake off the thought that the atmosphere had become like this because of what he had done.

 

  “Your Majesty, you will surely enjoy bear hunting.”

 

  “Anyway, my loyal Sig will have caught them all. What enjoyment is there for me?”

 

  The emperor stood facing the 2 o’clock direction, observing Sig, who had clasped his hands respectfully in front of him.

 

  “What’s the difference in bear hunting? It’s like catching a deer right before it takes its last breath, unable to move or breathe!”

 

  Recalling the incident from a year ago, the emperor complained.

 

  “Sig just eased his efforts a bit to make it easier for Your Majesty to catch the prey, that’s all,” the Crown Prince reminded him, bringing back his memory.

 

  “You always take Sig’s side. In fact, anyone who’s not me would side with him.”

 

  “Could that really be the case?”

 

  “Have you ever taken my side and raised your  voice when it was between Sig and me, or between the empress and me?”

 

  As the Crown Prince suddenly mentioned the absent empress, a sigh escaped him inwardly. He wondered why there was always some conflict between them, even before he arrived.

 

  “I am always on Your Majesty’s side,” the prince said.

 

  The emperor ignored his son’s words, finding them unconvincing.

 

  “What difference would it make if you caught a bear? The empress would have something to say about it, wouldn’t she? She would probably complain about how you all have been causing a ruckus behind her back without accomplishing anything.”

 

  “Your Majesty, the empress would never speak in such a manner.”

 

  After saying that, the prince immediately regretted it and fell silent.

 

  “Look at this. I said that, and yet you take the empress’s side again.”

 

  The emperor burst into loud laughter, as if he had expected it.

 

  “Fine. I won’t speak like that anymore. Instead, I’ll ask if you have gone for another stroll.”

 

  The emperor expressed his annoyance at her choice of the word “stroll” instead of “hunt.”

 

  “Even this morning, I called for an escort, and when I made you wait a little, you said, ‘Escort me noisily on my way for a stroll.’ Didn’t you say that?”

 

  Probably, I didn’t just make her wait a little. Oh no, unconsciously, I’m siding with my mother again.

 

  The prince kept his mouth shut to prevent his thoughts from being exposed.

 

  “Your Highness, the preparations for the hunt are complete.”

 

  He heard the welcome news. The emperor, who had been venting his complaints, reluctantly got up from his seat with a displeased expression.

 

  As he stepped outside the tent, he stood still while others were busy mounting their horses. He looked around, searching for something to seize upon. The attendants by his side avoided his gaze, sensing his intent to find fault with something.

 

  In his line of sight, a figure with pink hair entered. She was navigating through the tangled web of horses and people, searching for someone.

 

  Then, she grabbed hold of a knight from the northern region who was right in front of her.

 

  “Please inform the Duke that I will return home first. Tell him I will attend the evening banquet,” she said.

 

  Britia Lockhart.

 

  The emperor noticed who she was and approached her.

 

  “Are you planning to go hunting on foot instead of riding a horse?” he asked, having overheard their conversation.

 

  “If you don’t have a horse, I can lend you one. Is your quiver empty as well?”

 

  Upon his gesture, a soldier handed Britia arrows and the reins of a horse.

 

  “It is the emperor’s favor, so I accept it gratefully,” Britia said, her lips parting in surprise.

 

  “You refuse to accept it?” the emperor asked.

 

  “I will accept it with gratitude.”

 

  Britia, who had hesitated, quickly lowered her head. The emperor chuckled, observing her bewildered reaction to the unexpected favor.

 

  “Shall we go hunting then? How many prey have you caught so far?”

 

  “…I have caught a few rabbits and foxes.”

 

  The emperor narrowed his eyes at her somewhat unsatisfactory answer.

 

  “You have sufficient skills. Follow me.”

 

  “Yes?”

 

  As the emperor reached out his hand, a soldier brought the reins of the emperor’s horse and placed them in his hand.

 

  “Follow me. And never make me repeat myself.”

 

  With a graceful mount, the emperor spoke. He looked at Britia with an urging gaze.

 

  “If it’s alright with you, could you inform Earl Lockhart or Leon that I won’t be able to return?” Britia had to make another request to the knight.

 

  “It seems Your Majesty is nowhere to be seen.”

 

   Sig and the Crown Prince suddenly found the emperor missing. But then he appeared with Britia, and Sig couldn’t hide his surprise.

 

  Why are you here? Sig’s gaze seemed to ask, and Britia responded with an awkward smile.

 

  Exactly. Why am I here?

 

  Britia intentionally slowed down her horse’s pace to keep some distance from the emperor heading into the forest. As she did so, Sig approached her, riding his own horse, and came to her side.

 

  “Britia Lockhart!”

 

..Just as Sig was about to speak, they heard the emperor’s voice from up ahead.

 

..Startled by his angry tone, Britia urged her horse forward.

 

..”I told you to follow. Making me repeat it for the third time.”

 

..The emperor glanced at her as she rode up beside him.

 

  “I apologize, Your Majesty.”

 

  In the emperor’s wrathful gaze, Britia immediately apologized.

 

  But how does he know my name? Have I mentioned it before?

 

  “She claims she made me wait, but in reality, the empress has made me wait far more.”

 

  Despite calling her to come by his side, the emperor disregarded her and vented his frustration about the empress to the Crown Prince.

 

  “Oh, Britia Lockhart.”

 

  After a while, as if he suddenly remembered something, the emperor called her.

 

  “A few days ago, you met the empress, didn’t you? If so, you should understand what I’m saying. She’s so stubborn and cold-hearted.”

 

  The emperor wore a self-assured expression, claiming that his words were correct.

 

  The emperor had a deeply twisted personality. His love was expressed in such convoluted ways that it was hard for others to understand.

 

  He even asked his son if he wanted to quickly kill him and become the emperor. When asked such a question, the son replied that he was not his son and that he respected and loved His Majesty. This fact revealed that the emperor was merely pretending to doubt his son, driven by his desire to hear those words.

 

  Furthermore, he enjoyed expressing his dissatisfaction with his wife and setting traps. This led to the emergence of people who would belittle the empress to flatter or provoke the emperor.

 

  Then, the emperor would theatrically play along, seemingly satisfied, and later, when the time was right, he would seize and eliminate anyone who had fallen into his trap without fail.

 

  Even officials who made minor mistakes or forgot small details like eating peanuts or incorrectly adjusting a saddle found themselves chased away.

 

  As the emperor was known to be fond of such antics, people around him often thought he was being capricious. Understanding why the emperor acted this way was difficult, so they often found themselves entangled in his whims.

 

  “It seems that the empress is from the northern region. It’s so cold there that people become cold-hearted. Isn’t Duke Turas, famous for his icy demeanor, also from there?”

 

  The trapped official chuckled upon seeing Sig.

 

  The little guy who looks at me with narrowed eyes as if I’m wearing an icy mask.

 

  The emperor remembered well his words, belittling both the empress and Sig, and made plans to drive them out of the palace within a week. If the sound of laughter bothered him to that extent, it would suffice.

 

  “It is a prejudice to say that someone from the northern region has a cold personality.”

 

  Britia glared timidly at the trapped official and spoke.

 

  “Even Duke Turas, upon closer observation, has a variety of expressions. The empress, too, is not as cold as people think; she is kind.”

 

  Although she had a saddened expression on her face, she spoke with conviction. The emperor agreed with her words but deliberately laughed loudly to make her lower her guard.

 

  “That’s a slip of the tongue.”

 

  The emperor pressured her, urging her to speak honestly.

 

  “The empress may not be considered the most beautiful, but among her maids, there are many beauties. In your eyes, who stands out the most?”

 

  Engaging in a discussion about who among the maids is the most beautiful, which he believed would overshadow his wife as the most stunning, the emperor mentioned the names of the maids one by one.

 

  “Alright, choose one name.”

 

  “…In my eyes, Empress is still the most beautiful.”

 

  “Tsk. That’s just flattery.”

 

  His expression and tone made it seem uncomfortable for him to receive praise for the empress. However, his tail told a different story.

 

  If the trapped official agreed with his words, his tail wagged happily. But if the official expressed a differing opinion, his short, black tail wagged excitedly from side to side.

 

  Upon hearing that the empress was considered the most beautiful, his tail moved so quickly that it seemed to have multiple tails.

 

  But why does he keep insulting her without any reason?

 

  To Britia, who didn’t know how twisted and contradictory the emperor was, it remained a mystery.