🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 32
“Never again will I play card games with Count Sig Turas!”
Count Rockhart, having suffered a humiliating defeat, angrily threw down his cards.
“Right. People who throw their cards after losing shouldn’t play card games in the first place.”
Britia teased him lightly, and the count shot her a sharp glare.
“Alright. Hurry up and do the punishment. But you, you’ve been looking a bit low on stamina lately—are you sure you can handle it?”
He found Britia’s smug attitude, as if she had won purely thanks to Sig, incredibly irritating. Ignoring his own behavior during the game, he felt the urge to push down her overly lifted shoulders.
“You know it’s ten times, right? If you fall midway, you start over.”
Britia, propping her chin up and grinning, was glared at by the count when a thought suddenly occurred to him.
“Britia, you lost that archery bet with me before, didn’t you?”
“What? Why are you bringing that up all of a sudden?”
“You still owe me two more commands, remember?”
“Wait, Crave!”
Britia shouted in panic, saying this was unfair, but the count was firm.
“It’s a command. I’m changing it.”
In an instant, the situation reversed. Britia, despite winning the game, was now the one forced into punishment.
“Crave Rockhart, I seriously hate you!”
Well, you shouldn’t have challenged him, the count laughed.
“Hailey.”
Britia sighed and called Hailey over. She had yelled at the twins out of frustration, but it wasn’t like she could refuse entirely. Compared to having to call him “big brother” for a month, finishing it in one go seemed better. At least Hailey was a very lighthearted person.
“No, I meant I want to switch my partner with my wife.”
“What? Then you’re saying you’ll do it while holding me?”
There was no way Count Crave would make it that easy. Britia shot him a suspicious look, and he grinned.
“No. You’re the one who’s going to hold me.”
“Why!”
“Because originally, my wife was supposed to carry me for the punishment.”
Britia shook her head furiously, telling him not to lie.
“You know if you fall, you start over, right?”
“How am I supposed to stand up while holding you!”
“Ten times, no exceptions.”
As Britia protested, mouth agape, Sig—who had been quietly watching—stepped beside her.
“If a substitute is allowed, may I take the role?”
Everyone’s eyes turned to Sig.
“You said ten times while holding someone, correct?”
Count Rockhart frowned at the tall man approaching him.
“I don’t want to be held by someone in such suspicious clothing!”
“It’ll be quick.”
“No! No! This feels like I’m being defiled!”
The count struggled against Sig’s grip, but unfortunately, he stood no chance in terms of strength.
“Britia! Switch with me again!”
“What? Switch again? What are you talking about now?”
The count, still caught in Sig’s grasp, reached out toward Britia.
“Have her do the punishment instead of me!”
In the end, this complicated “passing-the-punishment-around” situation concluded with Sig holding Britia.
“We won, so why did it turn out like this!”
“Because of Sig.”
“How is this the duke’s fault? It’s yours!”
“I don’t know. I can’t hear you. Nope.”
Count Rockhart covered his ears and shook his head.
“Just get on with the ten squats already.”
Britia had hugged Leo more than a hundred times before, but being held by Sig…!
She bit her lip, hesitating, when Sig carefully adjusted the blanket wrapped around his lower body and lifted her effortlessly.
“I’m sorry. After winning, this ended up like this.”
Britia’s voice was small, embarrassed by being held.
“It’s fine.”
He seemed slightly tense—his tail stiffened—but otherwise appeared calm.
“One~”
As Sig squatted while holding Britia, the count began counting. Like when holding the cards earlier, Sig showed no emotion outwardly, but internally he was fighting an intense battle.
“Are you heavy?”
Sig opened his mouth to answer, but his heart felt like it might leap out.
Even if he died, his heart coming out would be absurd—he thought such nonsense, but didn’t say it out loud.
How could he say something like “I feel like I’m dying because of you”?
“I’m fine.”
Britia looked at him and noticed his face growing hotter, almost steaming.
“Was Count Sig Turas not actually that strong? Or is Britia heavy?”
Seeing Sig’s reddened face, Count Rockhart teased.
“I guess I am heavy,” Britia said worriedly, and Sig’s eyes widened.
“That’s not it.”
“Then why is your face so red?”
Sig already understood the reason, but the count, pretending ignorance, teased him further.
“It’s because it’s hot.”
“Oh, so the northern duke can’t handle the capital’s early summer heat?”
“Yes. It’s very hot.”
After completing all ten, Sig placed Britia down and answered calmly. He had recovered somewhat, but everything he had touched while holding her still felt burning hot.
“Then you should hurry back to the cold north.”
“After my brother’s birthday celebration, I plan to return.”
“Oh.”
Britia accidentally let out a small gasp. Everyone’s eyes turned to her, and she quickly flinched.
“Duke.”
As she struggled to find words, the house steward entered and handed over Sig’s neatly folded trousers.
Finally, Sig was freed from his suspicious outfit.
While he changed, the Rockhart household remained silent. The count and his wife exchanged glances as they watched Britia lost in thought.
“There’s a nice smell from the trousers.”
Sig said after changing. It seemed like lavender—or something the steward had done.
“Congratulations on your scented trousers. Though the timing seems a bit off.”
“If you’re free, would you like to join us for a meal?”
Sig, who had been about to leave, blinked at the unexpected invitation from the countess and glanced at Britia.
“What do you think, Britia?”
“Huh?”
Startled, Britia snapped back to reality.
“Oh, yes. That sounds good.”
She forced a smile. Eventually, they had lunch together under the warm sunlight in the garden.
“Britia, are you feeling unwell?”
Sig asked as she barely ate, looking absent-minded.
“No, I’m fine.”
Her mind was tangled by what he had said earlier.
It was natural that he would return to the north. But even knowing that, her heart had briefly sunk.
Which meant… she would no longer see that tail.
“Is there something wrong with my tail?”
Sig asked as she stared sadly at it.
“Do you want to touch it?”
Since it would soon be gone from her sight, she might as well—but Britia shook her head.
“You may touch it.”
“I’m okay.”
She refused. If she grew attached now, parting would be harder.
“Have you grown to dislike it?”
“Huh?”
“You said you like all tails.”
His eyes were filled with betrayal.
“Now you don’t even want to touch mine?”
Sig set down his fork and knife. He suddenly lost his appetite.
“You used to be so happy before… and now your feelings have changed?”
Britia opened her mouth.
“It’s not that I dislike your tail.”
“Then why are you avoiding me?”
“I’m not avoiding you.”
“If you’re not avoiding or disliking it, will you touch it?”
“Ahem.”
Count Rockhart coughed to break the tension.
“Both of you, remember you’re eating.”
His eyes scolded them.
“Don’t say strange things like touch or not touch during a meal.”
“…My apologies. I got emotional.”
“Right. Save that energy for your card games.”
The count laughed lightly.
“Britia, you too. You love tails so much, but why are you avoiding Sig’s?”
“I never said I was obsessed with them!”
“And yet you dislike mine.”
Sig muttered bitterly, and the count raised both hands.
“Britia, this is your fault. Apologize.”
“What did I even do…”
Despite her frustration, Britia’s eyes drifted to his drooping tail.
“Thank you for today’s hospitality.”
Sig stood up to leave.
“What? You’re leaving already?”
Seeing his dark expression, the count nudged Britia.
“That’s your guest. See him off.”
“It’s fine. You don’t have to…”
The count and his wife silently urged her.
“Thank you for helping me find the tea I like.”
He said his goodbye and walked away.
Britia only then realized—it meant there was no reason for them to meet over tea anymore.
So this… was the last time.
The count kicked her under the table.
“Are you seriously going to let him go like this?”
Britia sighed, then stood abruptly.
“Duke!”
She ran after him, breathless, calling out just before he stepped into the carriage.
“You said I could touch your tail, right?”
Her heart pounded.
“If it’s truly the last time… could I at least hug it once?”
