Chapter 149
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 149
“I had to come here anyway, okay?”
“Sure, sure. You said your subordinates were finally returning as a formal delegation. Fi. Nal. Ly.”
The distance between the Spring Continent and the Summer Continent was indeed vast.
It had taken over a full year for Klaus’s men to finally return to the Brillant Empire as an official delegation.
“I have to greet the Emperor, too. It’s not like I followed you because I wanted to.”
“You have the seal of the Lupinus royalty anyway. Couldn’t you have just shown that and stayed at the Imperial Palace?”
Since a precious bloodline from the Summer Continent had arrived, the Emperor himself would have come out to receive him. So why was he being carried around in my arms like some little mutt?
“Hey.”
Klaus’s tail puffed up.
“I’ll die without you, remember? That’s why I have no choice but to stay by your side.”
“But Klaus, isn’t it strange?”
“What is?”
“If I’m your life-saver, shouldn’t you treat me with more respect? Before I decide to tie you to the bed and leave?”
“...!”
Klaus’s ears perked up. He stared at me with shocked eyes, and then—
“...?!”
He stuck out his tongue and licked my cheek.
“Hey! Are you crazy? Have you lost your mind?”
“You told me to be respectful. I was.”
“How is this respectful in any way? My makeup is ruined! It’s ruined! Ugh, seriously!”
Fuming with rage, I tucked Klaus under my arm and hurried outside.
I called over the maids I had brought as my attendants and had them quickly touch up my makeup.
“Oh my. It looks like Kl-Kl licked the Young Lady’s cheek.”
“He’s just thoughtless.”
“But isn’t he so cute? Oh, look at him wagging his tail! He looks angry, oh dear!”
The maids squealed, looking like they wanted to scoop Klaus up and hug him right then and there, but they didn't actually try.
Even amidst the fuss, Klaus remained curled up in a ball in my lap.
I hope this guy doesn't keep acting like this even after he turns back into a human.
I didn't know what kind of conversation he’d had with Grandfather, but Klaus hadn't returned to his human form even once since that day.
“Is your true form actually that dog... no, a wolf? Is that why you’re always in that shape?”
“What kind of nonsense is that? Maintaining this form is actually much more uncomfortable. It’s incredibly exhausting.”
“Then turn back into a human when we’re in private. Why do you insist on staying like that?”
When I asked in a puzzled voice, Klaus had replied while thumping his tail against the floor.
“They said your reputation might be at risk if I stayed in a form that’s comfortable for me.”
Then, he had flopped onto his back on the bed, exposing his belly.
“Besides, you’d kick me out of your bed if I wasn't like this, wouldn't you? Then I’d wither away and die.”
“Ah. Seeing how you keep saying you’ll wither away, I guess you’re subtly bragging that you’re a flower.”
“I was often called that back in my kingdom.”
A triumphant voice paired with ridiculously cute eyes.
Sometimes, I wondered if it had all been a dream—the fact that this cute little creature had large hands capable of crushing a person alive.
“Oh, Lady Tulia.”
Meeting Lady Francoise again after that was purely a coincidence.
It just so happened that another dance for the same gender was being played, and somehow, I ended up dancing with her once more.
It seemed that the beautiful light pink fabric I had gifted specifically to Lady Francoise had gained me an unexpected ally.
“Hah. Did you see that? How was it? Don't you think my dancing has improved a ton?”
After the dance ended, I took Klaus back from the maid and asked.
Only the back of his fluffy head was visible as he replied in a grumpy voice.
“Well. It was just barely short of a disaster.”
“And what do you really think?”
“You were so gorgeous it was killing me. It’s annoying. Why did you come out looking so pretty? You’re already beautiful enough. It pisses me off. Seeing all those other bastards staring at you.”
This guy. No wonder he’s one of the male leads.
Every single word he said was intense.
I toyed with Klaus’s twitching ears. He didn't even look back at me, as if he were truly annoyed, but I didn't really care.
Perhaps because of the overwhelming force of the ‘Oath of Submission’ magic, Klaus’s favorability toward me had been near max from the very beginning.
Actually, that was a point of curiosity.
I thought it would be at the absolute max from the start because of the submission.
But there was a distinct difference between being ‘near max’ and actually ‘hitting the max.’
I wondered if he was holding onto his pride as one of the male leads... but regardless, it actually gave me a small sense of caution.
I shouldn't treat him too poorly.
...That kind of caution?
Because of that, we talked quite a bit, always ate together, and I even learned how to make him spit out his true feelings quickly. And so on.
But Klaus wasn't exactly lying.
One entire wall of the Imperial Palace’s Grand Banquet Hall was covered in mirrors.
In addition to making the space look much larger, it allowed guests to easily check their appearance at any time.
I was the same.
Since I was sitting not far from a mirror, I could easily check my face just by turning my head slightly.
Tulia really is breathtakingly beautiful.
As Tulia grew older—specifically, as the start of The Milk Bread approached—she became dazzlingly beautiful.
If Corico was a modest and neat beauty, Tulia was the kind of beauty who could kill with a single glance—literally like a glamorous, poisonous mushroom.
“Ahem. Lady Tulia Frezier.”
It was then that a young nobleman with flushed cheeks approached.
“If it wouldn't be an intrusion, would you grant me a dance later? I’ve truly wished to dance with a lady who looks like a fairy of the woods.”
Before I could even respond, the man continued as if trying to preempt me.
“The dress you’re wearing today is refreshing, but that ring on your finger—isn't that ‘Midsummer Wave,’ which Marquis Frezier won at the recent auction? Surely...”
“Yipe!”
The nobleman, who had been subtly trying to touch my hand, fell backward in surprise after being bitten by Klaus.
I put on a look of pity and said, “Oh my, I’m sorry. Our little one is a wolf, you see.”
“A-A wolf? It wasn't a dog?”
There were often ladies who brought small puppies in their arms, so he must have assumed Klaus was one of them.
But Klaus isn't a dog, you know?
“He’s a wolf. Want to see his fangs?”
Klaus immediately growled and bared his teeth.
“Grrrr.”
“Ha, haha... Y-You’re raising a wolf... You brought such a dangerous animal into the Grand Banquet Hall...”
“Yes, yes.”
“But isn't that behavior unbefitting of a lady?”
“Of course, I spoke with His Majesty the Emperor beforehand and received his permission.”
“I see... Argh!”
“Oh dear. I’m sorry. It seems my wolf gets excited when he smells blood. Since you’re bleeding quite a bit, why don't you head out? He might bite you again.”
“E-Excuse me.”
After fending off the creeps like that, I thought to myself.
Indeed. Being known as the eccentric young lady who keeps a wolf might not be a bad idea.
The reason I danced with Lady Francoise twice was, of course, to get a feel for how the Althorn Ducal House—the closest confidants of Empress Carmi—was beginning to fracture over that single piece of fabric.
But honestly, dancing with a woman is much more comfortable than dancing with a man.
I didn't have a fiancé yet, and as the only direct granddaughter of the Frezier family, there was no telling what kind of rumors a single dance might spark.
Even that nobleman bitten by Klaus earlier likely approached me for my background rather than out of genuine infatuation.
With Kim Ddong-byul still monitoring me, I couldn't afford to waste energy on headache-inducing matters like marriage or engagements.
So, the best plan was to just dance with some young ladies and then head home. However...
“I wonder who Lady Tulia Frezier will have her first dance with today?”
“I know. The twin young lords have already had their debutantes, so by custom, they’re out.”
“My mother is watching very closely.”
“My father is, too.”
“Wouldn't it obviously be His Highness the Second Prince? He had his own royal debutante ceremony this year, and he’s sent several proposals to Lady Frezier...”
Hearing the occasional voices of the ladies in the distance, I checked the heels of my shoes.
That was the thing.
Damn Imperial law.
After entering and dancing with the same gender as a blessing, custom dictated that a debutante’s first dance partner could only be a member of the opposite sex who had their debutante in the same year.
The guys who were hitting on me earlier didn't ask to be my ‘first dance partner.’ They were just asking for the next dance.
This meant everyone more or less assumed the Second Prince would be my first partner.
Well, I can give him one dance.
I happen to be quite the dancer myself.
After checking my heels—which were so sharp they were practically blades—I waited for the Chief Attendant to bring the ‘Dance Token Box’ with the heart of a warrior going into battle.
Like a sort of lottery, the box contained beads engraved with the surnames of the gentlemen who had requested a dance with me.
Naturally, the fuller the box, the more popular the person was in society. Conversely, if the box was empty and made a hollow sound, it meant they were a ‘social wallflower.’
While ordinary attendants (though all well-dressed) went to the other ladies, the Emperor’s Chief Attendant himself came to me due to my special status as the direct granddaughter of Grand Duke Frezier.
“Lady Tulia Frezier.”
“Chief Attendant.”
“Congratulations on your debutante, My Lady. Would you grant me the honor of checking together how many beads are in your box today?”
“Of course. Hmm. I hope it’s not too few.”
Since all eyes were already on me, I gave a formal reply and opened the token box.
“Congratulations, Lady Tulia Frezier. You have received the most beads today.”
“The gentlemen were very considerate. I’m grateful.”
As I spoke, I quickly scanned the beads arranged in the compartments.
This was why ‘speed reading’ was a mandatory subject for nobles.
Of course, just as not everyone can be first in class even with the same lessons, not everyone could master the skill of reading text rapidly.
That was why the beads in the box were color-coded.
Blue for knights and sons of those with single-lifetime titles.
Green for Barons and Viscounts.
Yellow for Counts.
White for Marquises and Dukes.
And red for the Imperial Family.
In the center of the numerous beads, a red bead shone vividly.
I had suspected as much, but it was exactly as I thought. After pretending to deliberate for appearance's sake, I had to choose the red bead.
What lady would have the guts to choose any color other than red? Especially when it belonged to the current Empress’s only son.
the attendant said with a smile, “His Highness the Second Prince and Lady Tulia Frezier... you will make a truly beautiful pair.”
Don't make me laugh. Tulia is the only beautiful one here.
Anyway.
There was about a fifteen-minute break before the next dance—time for the ladies and gentlemen who would be having their first dance to prepare—so I quickly headed to the lounge.
The maids immediately began checking my attire and makeup again.
“Huh? Where’s Kl-Kl?”
Knowing the palace servants would be frantically busy once the ‘bead drawing’ started, I had briefly left Klaus in the care of one of my maids.
But the maid’s arms were empty.
And then, I heard something completely unexpected.