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Chapter 2
Countess Lockhart was upset.
Born into a count’s family, beautiful, and with a gentle personality—she lacked nothing!
Britia Lockhart possessed every quality that noblemen desired in a wife.
“Such a pretty face, yet it’s clouded with gloom.”
And yet, she herself had so little confidence.
“Everyone thinks I see the souls of the dead.”
Britia, who had unconsciously been staring at a tail again, lifted her head.
She had resolved not to look anymore because people found it strange, but it wasn’t as easy as she thought.
“You could just tell the truth. That it’s not ghosts you see, just tails.”
It wasn’t as if Britia hadn’t considered that.
She had even gathered the courage to confess it once to a man she had been on the verge of becoming engaged to. But—
“They just accuse me of being out of my mind.”
What she received in return was nothing but fear-filled contempt.
“Cowards like that were never suited for you anyway.”
The Countess placed a comforting hand on Britia’s back.
“This time, it’ll be different.”
Her tone suggested she had something in mind.
“If it’s that person, even if you really said you see ghosts, he wouldn’t bat an eye.”
“That person?”
As Britia looked puzzled, the Countess placed a finger over her lips.
“A surprise guest. I haven’t even told your father yet.”
She smiled meaningfully.
At some point, it had become like a competition among the family—who could bring the most unusual guests to a party.
Though she felt a little freer from the pressure to meet their expectations, Britia’s feelings grew complicated.
“I already have five guests here.”
Just as she thought, Count Lockhart glanced at Leoni, who still had no guests, and spoke.
“Just wait, brother. The party’s only just begun. Look—my guests are arriving.”
Where Leoni pointed, a lively group from the Valenderg Holy Knights was approaching.
“Reni!”
“So this is the sister you’ve been bragging about!”
“She’s truly beautiful!”
They grinned brightly as they greeted Britia.
“Why are you talking like this is our first time meeting?”
They had been children who ran across the southern plains together with Leoni.
“Reni’s orders, my lady.”
Why would she make them do something so pointless?
Britia didn’t understand, but Leoni seemed pleased.
“Good. Keep praising my sister like that everywhere.”
“Her personality is as soft as velvet.”
“Her bearing is like a noble rose in bloom.”
“Oh, beautiful Britia!”
“Stop it, you guys.”
Britia’s face turned bright red as she tried to stop them.
“I always say this, but don’t you dare fall for my sister.”
Leoni crossed her arms and glared at her friends.
“If I catch you, you’ll have to duel me to the death.”
At the threat, they panicked and shook their heads. None of them could beat Leoni in a real fight.
“Then why did you invite them?”
Count Lockhart scoffed.
“They’re here to hype things up.”
“We’ll work hard for the food and drinks, brother-in-law!”
They laughed heartily, giving thumbs up.
“I hate your cheerful friends.”
The Count shuddered, and the knights booed.
“That’s harsh!”
Up until then, the atmosphere had been fine. But as night fell, the Lockhart family began to realize the party was a disaster.
Most of the 100 invitations Leoni had sent turned out to be useless.
“You sent invitations to the academy for people whose addresses you didn’t know?”
Count Lockhart was dumbfounded.
“I thought they’d pass them along!”
“You even sent them to graduates you don’t know. I should’ve known this would happen.”
The Count looked at his sister in disbelief, and Leoni snapped back.
“What about you?”
The Count frowned deeply.
The Marquis of Slenford had sent word after the party started that he had twisted his ankle and couldn’t come.
“As if I knew he’d suddenly change his mind!”
The Count gritted his teeth, vowing never to invite him again.
On top of that, the stormy weather made things worse.
“We’ll head back before it gets worse.”
Guests began leaving one by one, using the rain as an excuse. The Count suspected they might be heading to another party held the same day.
Why did it have to be the same day?
In the end, before midnight, the only guests left were Leoni’s friends.
The Count, who had feared this outcome, now had a headache.
Even the band had stopped playing at some point.
“At least thanks to you, it sounds like there are a hundred guests here.”
He muttered, looking at the noisy group.
“We’re worth a hundred people!”
“I’m worried our Reni will become even more foolish because of you.”
“Hahaha, your brother is hilarious!”
They laughed, taking his sarcasm as a joke.
“Thank you for staying until the end. I’m glad you’re here.”
When Britia said that, their laughter suddenly stopped.
“Nu-nuna!”
“Please don’t make that face!”
“We’ll bring you a husband ourselves!”
“Let’s go raid a noble house!”
They began getting up as if ready to kidnap someone.
“What are you talking about!”
Britia grabbed them in shock.
“If you do that, I’ll punish you!”
They exchanged glances and grinned.
“Punished by nuna? Sounds nice.”
“Is that normal?”
“It is. My heart’s racing too.”
“You guys, honestly…!”
Normally, their teasing wouldn’t bother her. But today, the empty party weighed heavily on her heart.
“…”
She tried not to cry, knowing it would make things worse—but tears welled up anyway.
Britia ran out.
She sat on the steps at the entrance, sniffling.
The rain had eased.
It wasn’t that she hated Leoni’s friends.
She hated herself for being so pathetic.
So much money and effort had gone into this party.
Even her dress—commissioned from an exclusive designer through great effort—cost ten times the usual.
Decorations, food, drinks—
It was the most expensive party they had ever hosted.
She wanted it to succeed.
But what could she do with no guests?
She sighed, removing the flowers and pins from her hair.
“Maybe I’m just not meant to marry.”
She pulled her tail close and buried her face in it.
“Maybe I should devote myself to the goddess like Leoni.”
As she murmured, rain suddenly poured again.
As if the goddess rejected her.
Britia pouted at the sky.
“If you’re going to reject me like this, at least send someone who can marry me!”
Thunder crashed loudly.
Startled, she saw something large before her.
A massive shadow—
Flash!
Lightning struck, revealing a man.
With an eyepatch and a scar beneath it, black hair soaked and clinging to his face—he looked like a drowned corpse.
“Aaaah!”
She screamed and threw a hairpin at him.
It bounced off his chest uselessly.
“Ah…!”
Terrified, she couldn’t even beg for her life.
Had she really started seeing ghosts?
“Unni!”
Leoni rushed out.
“You bastard!”
She lunged, but the man easily dodged.
Her eyes widened.
This movement… was familiar.
“Wait—why are you here?!”
“Do you know me?”
His voice was eerie.
“W-who is he, Reni?”
Britia clung to her.
“Well…”
Leoni hesitated.
“Sorry for startling you!”
Another man stepped out.
“We’re not suspicious!”
Soaked, he raised his hands awkwardly.
“Our carriage got stuck in mud.”
Then he said:
“This is Duke Sig Turas. I’m his adjutant, Evry.”
Sig Turas?
Britia blinked.
She had heard that name.
The man called the mad dog of the north—
“Unni, it’s him. The one I told you about.”
“The one who tears monsters apart with his hands.”
The Duke’s eye twitched.
“Leoni!”
Britia gasped.
How could she say that right in front of him?!
