The Northern Mad Dog Is Wagging Its Tail

  Unaware that Sig was listening right below them, the two continued their conversation.

 

  “No, it doesn’t make sense. The fact that such documents exist and you were completely unaware of it.”

 

  “It was signed by our late father. He didn’t tell us about it, so we didn’t know…”

 

  Harty was stunned and couldn’t even speak. He had believed that everything was going smoothly and his heart was very calm. But now, he was not just angry, he was utterly bewildered.

 

  “Are these forged documents?”

 

  Even if the late Lockhart was known for being naive and innocent, could he have been so extreme as to hand over the entire territory?

 

  “You know, the family seal cannot be perfectly replicated.”

 

  “But it’s not impossible to attempt replication.”

 

  At that time, Lockhart didn’t even have a magician who could discern it.

 

  “First, hire a magician to verify the authenticity of the documents.”

 

  Harty rubbed his forehead and tightly closed his eyes.

 

  “No, when you try to hire someone in such a hurry, you have to pay twice as much, and do you think you have the means to do that? I’ll lend you one person, so make sure to verify it properly. Got it?”

 

  “….”

 

  “Do you understand? Why aren’t you saying anything?”

 

  “Even though the Count is really unpleasant, he has been helping us a lot recently.”

 

  Harty thought that even if Lockhart sat on the street, he would still find a way to live there.

 

  “You begged him for help and even threatened him. And who would help Lockhart? They should help a good country instead.”

 

  Harty raised his eyebrows, reminding her to always feel grateful and treat others kindly when they help.

 

  “I’ve always felt that way. Thank you, Count-nim.”

 

  When she expressed her gratitude so sincerely, Harty hesitated.

 

  “It’s a hard story to believe, and it raises suspicions of forgery. But considering how confidently Huate demanded your help, there is a possibility that it’s true.”

 

  Harty worried that if she placed hope in it and the magician turned out to be genuine, she would be disappointed. In response, Britia faintly smiled.

 

  “Well, there is a good chance that it’s true.”

 

  Britia’s voice sounded resigned and melancholic.

 

  “Forging the family seal is a serious crime that His Majesty would never forgive. Moreover, it is forbidden by the treaties among noble families. If it were to be exposed, we would face condemnation from everyone.”

 

  Robley could have harassed Lockhart in many other ways. With Harty’s help, they had only solved one aspect, which was the transportation of goods. But Robley could have easily blocked the waterway to Lockhart, cutting off their supplies and causing their demise.

 

  “There’s no reason for them to go through such great risks just to bother us.”

 

  Furthermore, while talking with Crave again, they realized something.

 

  On the day their parents passed away in a carriage accident, it was raining heavily, and the road was dangerous. Despite their children’s objections, the two insisted on getting into the carriage, saying they must meet with Robley.

 

  Why did they make such a reckless decision?

 

  At that time, they couldn’t understand. But now, in the current situation, one reason for their actions came to mind.

 

  At that time, they couldn’t understand. But now, in the current situation, they remembered one reason why they had to do it.

 

  “They must have done it to ask for an extension on the repayment deadline for the territory, which was set at five years. If it was for that reason, even I would have gotten into the carriage that day.”

 

  Britia felt as if Crave’s melancholic voice still echoed in her ears.

 

  “…Still, let’s verify it. There’s nothing to lose by trying.”

 

  Seeing Britia’s seemingly complete resignation, Harty spoke up.

 

  “I won’t charge you for lending my magician.”

 

  Harty glanced at her expression and stood tall confidently.

 

  “He’s a high-ranking magician, so normally he would be really expensive. Let’s say I’m helping out a poor little stone this time and won’t charge anything.”

 

  “…It would have been nice if you didn’t say that last part.”

 

  Britia squinted her eyes and glared at him. After a brief staring contest, she burst into laughter first.

 

  “If you’re trying to comfort me, you should do it until the end. What’s with the ‘poor little stone’?”

 

  “Why should I comfort you?”

 

  Harty raised an eyebrow as if he heard something absurd.

 

  “You always call yourself an angel, don’t you?”

 

  “But I won’t act like an angel towards you.”

 

  “Why not?”

 

  She felt unfair. While he acted that way towards everyone else, why was he different towards her?

 

  Britia had done nothing wrong. At first, she had been the one who got angry and told him to stay away when he tried to become someone she respected, someone close to Sig.

 

  But now it was the opposite. She only focused on Sig and supported her love, even if it meant she would act quite fiercely if anyone betrayed her.

 

  What harm would it do if she showed that support and kindness to others?

 

  “If I acted like an angel towards you too, I wouldn’t get a moment’s rest.”

 

  Britia shrugged at Harty’s attitude, which seemed to have no intention of treating her kindly.

 

  “I almost cried with emotion because Count-nim said so, but I stopped myself.”

 

  “Well, that’s a relief. You shouldn’t cry.”

 

  Harty closed his eyes tightly and lowered his head. It didn’t matter to him whether Britia cried or not. But Sig was different, wasn’t he?

 

  “You have to smile. Even if you want to cry or get angry, you have to smile.”

 

  “Where’s the forced smile in that?”

 

  ‘Could they be facing a crisis even before the wedding?’

 

  Evry felt anxious.

 

  “Okay, I understand. I’ll keep smiling in front of Duke-nim, at least.”

 

  As Britia’s voice continued, Sig couldn’t bear it anymore and quickly came out from under the terrace, walking briskly into the banquet hall.

 

  “And it’s something we don’t know. Maybe Robley is even dumber than we thought and got caught forging it.”

 

  Harty said, emitting a sinister vibe, completely unaware that Sig was approaching them.

 

  “If that’s the case, my magician will find out, and we can report it directly to the Emperor and destroy Robley.”

 

  “Destroy Robley?”

 

  “I’ve made a list of families who dislike Robelly during this opportunity, so it’s not an impossible task to approach them and talk.”

 

  Harty spoke confidently, but Britia was skeptical.

 

  “I don’t even hope for that.”

 

  “Then what do you want?”

 

  “I just want our family to settle down somewhere. It doesn’t have to be in the south.”

 

  Because if they were in the south, Robley might still cause trouble.

 

  “We earned 50,000 gold today, and I thought of using that to buy land.”

 

  “50,000? That’s not enough to call it a territory. You’ll barely have enough land to put your foot on.”

 

  Harty chuckled and mocked, but then his face hardened.

 

  Then he suddenly realized how bad Lockhart’s finances are.

 

  “More than that.”

 

  “He must be really upset.”

 

  “By the way, Count-nim, where is Kyra?”

 

  “Well, she just disappeared somewhere.”

 

  Kyra left Lockhart Mansion yesterday after staying there for a while. Of course, she didn’t return to the Scandars Duchy.

 

 “How’s her new house?”

 

  “It seems really good. The door is sturdy, for starters.”

 

  “That’s a relief.”

 

  Britia thought Kyra was a very bold person. She said she needed a place to work on her art, and she managed to successfully tear down a house from the Scandars Duchy.

 

  “But won’t Rutherford go to visit her there?”

 

  “He won’t be able to do that. The affectionate Duke Scandars is currently doting on Kyra like she’s a goose laying golden eggs.”

 

  Harty explained that Rutherford is living anxiously, trying to protect his precarious position as the heir.

 

  Just as Britia was about to say how fortunate it was, the terrace door opened. A tall man with a dark aura appeared.

 

  “Well then, I’ll take my leave, Britia.”

 

  When Sig appeared, Harty finally felt a sense of accomplishment. In fact, Harty was worried that another pest like Huate would bother them while Sig was absent. So he stood by her side, guarding and preventing anyone from approaching.

 

  “Don’t worry, Duke-nim. I made sure no bugs could get close.”

 

  Harty silently spoke to Sig and left the terrace. Little did he know that Sig was the one he was most worried and jealous about.

 

  “Duke-nim?”

 

  When Britia called out, Sig glanced at her. With eyes that seemed resentful, Britia tilted her head.

 

  “Sig, what’s wrong?”

 

  When she called him by his name, his body flinched. He took a deep breath through his nose. The summer night air in the capital was humid.

 

  “Everyone would naturally feel upset if they were the only ones who didn’t know an important fact that everyone else knew.”

 

  Britia didn’t understand what he was suddenly talking about.

 

  “Are you saying that Lockhart Territory was taken away from you?”

 

  Only then did Britia realize that he had been listening to their conversation for a while.

 

  “I had no idea about that. You didn’t tell me. But it seems Slanford has known about it for a long time and has been helping you.”

 

  As a self-deprecating smile appeared on his shadowed face, Britia quickly took his hand.

 

  “I’m sorry for not telling you and letting you find out like this. Are you angry?”

 

  “….”

 

  “I swear I only found out about that fact today in the hunting grounds. That’s why I said I was upset to Crave in the forest.”

 

  Sig looked closely at her face. She didn’t seem like she was lying. But if that’s the case, why did Harty talk about how he had been helping her for a long time?

 

  “Are you very upset?”

 

  Britia asked, but he kept his gaze down and didn’t even look at her.

 

  “Sig.”

 

  Britia pulled his hand and took a step closer, entering his line of sight.

 

  “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.”

 

  Before Sig could express his full feelings of disappointment, it seemed like he would forgive her just by looking into her eyes. That’s why he desperately turned away from her.

 

  “I’m like a little boy. No matter where I am, if you even briefly pet a dog or a cat, I will get angry.”

 

  “…Are you asking me to pet you?”

 

  That wasn’t it, but when she reached out her hand and gently petted his head, Sig let it happen. Bending his knee to meet her was something that happened without him even realizing it.

 

  “I want to be cute to you, rely on you, and be greedy for your attention. But it seems like I’m not really someone you can rely on.”

 

  “I am more than anyone else, a source of strength for you.”

 

  With both hands embracing Sig’s cheeks, Britia spoke. How depressed she must have been knowing that her family had hidden important things. She regretted not letting it all out in Elliwood Forest.

 

  However, aside from feeling sorry and regretful, Sig’s shaken appearance unsettled Britia.

 

  Would he get mad if she wanted to give him a kiss? He looks so cute right now.

 

  But then, what’s different from Leon, who tries to get away with being cute? Well, no, I’m not saying I don’t reflect on my actions.

 

  If it’s meant as an apology, can’t she just say it lightly?

 

  Britia’s mind became complicated.

 

  “I want to properly convey the words I couldn’t say because we kept getting interrupted in the hunting grounds.”

 

  Sig, who had been avoiding eye contact, lifted his head with a determined expression. Seeing that, Britia couldn’t help but tense up and swallow nervously.

 

  “Britia, I want to be your dog.”

 

[Damn….! He said it…!]