TVGS 67

Chapter 67

Pant, pant, pant.

I stared at the Border Collie wagging its tail and looking at us.

Such a happy face, and that fluffy fur…

“You…”

Leaving Heros behind, who was kneeling in front of me, I quickly walked over.

Then I began aggressively petting the cute dog’s head.

The Border Collie panted with its tongue out, looking at me with bright green eyes.

So cute. Seriously.

“Still no owner? Then where have you been all this time?”

I enjoyed petting him for a while when Heros walked up behind me.

Then, in a cold voice, he addressed the dog:

“You’ve come for the medicine, haven’t you, Your Grace?”

My hand, which had been patting the dog, froze mid-stroke.

I looked back and forth between the panting dog and Heros.

Heros bowed slightly, still keeping his butler-like composure, and added:

“This is the Duke of Montella, Lancelot Ovier.”

“The Duke?”

“….”

“No way.”

“Please stop petting him now.”

Only then did I reluctantly pull my hands away from the fluffy fur.

The full moon was now high in the night sky.

“You’re kidding. He’s this cute? So adorable and pretty?”

“But those green eyes… they match the duke’s perfectly.”

“…I guess you’re right.”

I remembered Lancelot’s handsome face and strong build.

“He really does lose his reason when he transforms into a dog.”

No way a dignified man like him would go around wagging his tail and rubbing up against people if he were in his right mind.

“Well, being a dog is still not bad. One of his ancestors turned into a wild beast and killed people. Another turned into a bird and got eaten by an eagle. The worst was one who turned into an elephant.”

I shared what Lancelot had told me earlier.

“Poor thing.”

As I reached to pet him again, Heros stopped me and spoke.

“It’s time to give him the medicine.”

He looked toward the door—Lancelot’s subordinate must’ve released him into the garden.

“Okay. Give it to me.”

I held out my hand, and Heros slowly pulled out a small glass vial from inside his coat.

Inside the tiny test tube was a translucent blue liquid.

With a hesitant look, Heros made a request:

“I need you to hold His Grace tightly from behind—so he can’t move.”

As I reached toward the duke, he wagged his tail and came right to me, licking my hand.

“Disgusting animal,” Heros muttered under his breath, twitching with irritation.

Seriously? It’s not like we’re competing for the dog.

“Choke him tighter.”

Under the moonlight, I hugged the duke tightly.

“Make it quick. Don’t spill it.”

I really hoped he wouldn’t struggle.

Pant, pant.

Then Heros muttered softly,

“If the young lady weren’t here, I would’ve just knocked him out first.”

Suddenly, I pictured Heros smacking the Border Collie on the head.

“That’s animal abuse.”

“He’s not an actual dog.”

Sitting reluctantly in front of the dog, Heros opened the vial.

He forced open the panting dog’s mouth and tilted the liquid inside.

The blue solution slid into the dog’s mouth.

!!

As Heros had warned, the medicine tasted awful—and the dog began to thrash.

But he couldn’t spit it out, so I hugged him even tighter.

“Ugh…”

Holding down a large dog wasn’t easy.

But I clung on, while Heros held the dog’s face so he couldn’t spit it out. We struggled for a few minutes.

This was… really exhausting.

Eventually, the dog calmed down.

“If the medicine brings back his human mind… this is going to be awkward.”

I looked at the soft fur on the back of his head and thought that to myself.

Soon after, the Border Collie completely settled down, and I carefully let go.

Heros locked eyes with him and said:

“I think he’s regained his mind—AH!”

But before he could finish, the dog bit Heros’s shin.

After biting him hard, the dog—no, the duke—turned to me.

“…!”

For a split second, he looked up at me with green eyes—then gently licked the back of my hand.

…Lancelot?

I froze, startled—but he quickly turned around and ran off toward the entrance.

“Tch… that damn mutt.”

Heros cursed, watching him disappear into the distance.

I raised my eyebrows and looked at Heros’s leg.

“Are you okay? You’re bleeding!”

“It didn’t go deep, my lady.”

“Put on some ointment and wrap it. It could get infected.”

Heros was limping slightly, but it didn’t seem too serious.

I looked off in the direction the duke had run and walked back toward the estate.

“Hmm… I hope the medicine worked properly.”

Ugh. So much happened today.

The Next Day

The imperial finance officer came to visit me.

Clearly, the emperor sent him—he was smooth-talking and skilled at negotiation.

He explained how urgently the emperor wanted to purchase the mine.

“That’s fine. But I can’t just send away the reporters I invited for lunch. Can they join us?”

The reporters, already seated, perked up with interest.

If the official dared to offer a lower price than what was agreed, word would spread fast.

I could see uncertainty in the finance officer’s eyes.

“It’s perfect. These guests can be witnesses to our deal.”

Normally, imperial officials try to lower prices by guilt-tripping sellers—saying things like “Is that all your loyalty to His Majesty is worth?”

But today?

Could he really pull that line in front of all these journalists?

I jumped in before he could speak:

“Oh, if it’s too expensive for the Empire, I could maybe offer a little discount…”

His hand trembled slightly.

“The emperor doesn’t have enough money and needs a discount from a noblewoman?”

That would crush his pride—especially with reporters around.

“N-No, not at all. His Majesty simply told me to buy the mine.”

“Ah! Forgive me. I didn’t mean to insult His Majesty’s will by implying a discount!”

His eyes pleaded with me not to say any more.

They begged me to lower the price “for the emperor’s dignity.”

But I ignored it and handed him the contract.

A contract for 100 million den.

With trembling hands, he signed on behalf of the emperor.

I gave him a comforting smile and added,

“My late father always said there were 300 million den worth of treasures buried in this mine. I’m so honored to offer it to His Majesty.”

“I-I see. That’s why Duke Lancelot showed interest…”

His pale face suddenly lit up.

‘What a naïve guy. Hah.’

Still, it was safer this way.

He truly believed he’d made a great deal, and left while convincing himself of it.

I couldn’t help but laugh once he was gone.

“Thank you all for coming today.”

I thanked the reporters and patted Heros on the shoulder.

“I’ve been through a lot in life, but I always learn from you, my lady…”
He flushed slightly as he said it.

“You’re the perfect villain.”

I chuckled softly and stretched.

Well, I only act like a villain to other villains.