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Chapter 1
Rain began to fall, one drop at a time.
Unaware of it, the servants of the Lockhart estate busily continued preparing for the party.
“Is this all the chicken we have?”
“Who was it?! Who got fingerprints all over the silverware I just polished?!”
Since the Count and Countess of Lockhart were putting their hearts into this party, there could be no mistakes.
The purpose of today’s event was only one thing:
To find a husband for Britia Lockhart, the Count’s twin younger sister!
“I told you, we ran out of invitations and had to make more in a hurry!”
Already dressed in her uniform and fully prepared, the youngest of the three Lockhart siblings—Leoni, a holy knight of the Valenderg Order—boasted proudly.
“I sent them to all my colleagues, unmarried graduates, even the instructors.”
Her shoulders rose proudly, clearly pleased with herself.
However, Britia, the subject of the party, didn’t look pleased at all. She was overwhelmed and burdened by the whole situation.
“Don’t worry. I told everyone how beautiful you are.”
And yet, her only younger sibling said something so tactless.
“The number of invitations sent doesn’t matter.”
The eldest sibling, the Count of Lockhart, spoke leisurely while reading a newspaper on the sofa.
“What matters is how many accepted.”
When he asked how many had replied, Leoni couldn’t answer.
“If sending invitations were all it took, we could send one to Mother and Father too.”
He said with a faint smile.
Their parents had passed away five years ago.
“Even someone with a terrible personality like him got married. There’s no way you can’t, sis.”
Leoni muttered to Britia.
“I can hear you, Leoni Lockhart.”
“And his hearing is annoyingly good, too.”
The Count grinned at his younger sibling insulting him.
“Leaving aside the few kind and idle people who’ll respond to your invitations—”
“Few?!”
“And your lively group of friends—”
Leoni flared up, but the Count corrected himself only slightly.
“This time, both my wife and I have put in effort, so there should be quite a lot of guests.”
He stroked his beard, clearly looking forward to it.
“This is too much…”
Britia sighed, but her voice didn’t reach her arguing siblings.
“What kind of important people did you invite?” Leoni asked suspiciously.
“The Marquis of Slanford.”
The Count raised his chin proudly.
“The what?”
“Slanford, Leoni.”
“That social butterfly?”
Leoni let out a scoff.
“You invited him as a candidate for our sister’s husband? Are you serious?”
“Crave…”
Britia called out, eyes wide with shock.
Since this was a party hosted by the Lockharts, it meant she would have to dance with him at least once!
“I’d die from the pressure just standing near someone like that!”
“Don’t make that face, Tia. Even I wouldn’t tell you to date him.”
Date?!
Just imagining it made her dizzy.
“He’s not here as a candidate for your husband.”
The Count reassured her gently.
“Then why invite him?” Leoni asked.
“He’s popular in high society.”
“So?”
“When word spread that he’d attend, guess how many acceptance replies we got?”
He held up two fingers.
“Twenty. In just one day!”
“So you’re using him as bait to attract guests?”
“Call it strategy.”
“All for Britia,” he said proudly.
“That’s disappointing.”
Leoni snorted.
“You’re this proud over inviting just one flashy playboy?”
“Who else could match that level?”
The Count frowned, offended.
“I thought you invited the Mad Dog of the North or something.”
Leoni smirked.
“I’m not the emperor. How could I possibly invite someone who never even leaves the North?”
The Count scoffed.
(In truth, he had sent an invitation two weeks ago—but never received a reply.)
“If the Mad Dog came, the hall would be packed with spectators.”
“But I didn’t invite him.”
Still, he licked his lips in regret.
Sig Turas—the Mad Dog of the North.
A man surrounded by terrifying rumors.
They said a noble lady who saw him turned to stone.
Another who accidentally bumped into him at a party was left unable to walk again.
“I’d definitely turn to stone if I saw him…”
Britia sighed in relief, thinking she’d never meet him.
“He is scary.”
“Wait, have you met him?” the Count asked.
“I have.”
Leoni grinned.
“You know what? The Mad Dog can twist a monster’s neck off with his bare hands.”
“That’s ridiculous!”
“I saw it myself.”
“If that’s what happens to monsters, wouldn’t humans tear like paper?”
While they laughed and joked, Britia’s face grew pale.
“Still, he’s in the North, right?” she asked.
“No. He’s in the capital right now.”
Leoni’s cheerful reply froze her.
“I met a northern knight a few days ago.”
“Then you should’ve sent him an invitation!” the Count shouted.
“Why would I do that?”
“…I did.”
Britia turned sharply.
“You what?!”
“I sent one.”
“WHY?!”
After all those horrifying stories?!
“It’s true.”
Leoni laughed.
“Don’t worry. He didn’t reply.”
“Of course not…” the Count muttered.
“Anyway, Tia, if you find someone you like, signal me.”
“I’ll go tell him how much dowry we can offer.”
“That’s awful!” Leoni protested.
“So you’ll bribe him with money?”
“Only if she likes him.”
“That’s still bribery!”
The siblings bickered, until—
“WHAT are all of you doing here?!”
The Countess appeared, furious.
“I’m running around checking everything, and you’re all chatting?!”
Everyone scattered immediately.
Finally, she turned to Britia.
“Why does the star of the party look like that?”
“…It’s useless.”
Britia lowered her eyes.
“There’s no point in all this.”
Because she had a secret.
“I see things others can’t.”
People would find her disturbing.
No one would want to be close to her—let alone marry her.
“Don’t say that,” the Countess said gently.
But—
Right now, beneath the Countess’s waist,
There hung a limp, brown, tail-like thing.
