Digital Bonus Chapter: The Thoughts of a Hunting Dog
“IF I’m gone, my husband will search for me.”
“Only if Lucas Stock is still alive.”
Iris sucked in a sharp breath in Leik’s arms. How long had it been since this farce started? How pitiful, Leik thought, directing a look of disappointment toward Mikhail Streltsy, who was barking in front of him. The butler was eager to finish this farce and clean up the mountain of duties he had so he could relax.
“What’s wrong?” Mikhail asked. “Scared? Don’t worry, you’ll live. If you listen to me, I won’t treat you horribly.”
The more talkative the man was, the more apparent it was that he feared the fragile lady in front of him. It was as clear as day that he was afraid of Iris Stock. The smallest dog barks the loudest and bares his fangs the most.
Isolated and helpless, Iris had been dragged into the basement, restrained, and had a knife pressed to her throat. Just how large and terrifying does that idiotic oaf view her? Leikzig looked at Iris, his master’s wife, in his arms. She didn’t seem at all daunted and instead sighed.
“Mikhail, your plan will end in failure,” she said.
She can act confident and composed. Not even her hands are trembling; impressive. But Leikzig knew how nervous she was; the finger he had pressed against her neck felt the rapid pulsations of her heart. She’s acting tough.
The butler internally gave a forced smile toward his mistress, who was energetically fighting back. He was glad that she wasn’t the type to cry, tremble, or be confused during these situations. Hence, he wanted to serve her. A gutless, weak woman wasn’t suitable to be Lucas Stock’s wife.
Even if Mikhail was caught and convicted here, danger would constantly chase Baroness Stock. The wife of a young, new aristocrat who stood out like a sore thumb would be a prime target for abductions and assassinations. Leikzig, himself, could be killed at any moment.
In the worst-case scenario, should the master die before fulfilling his goal, the lands and assets of the Stock Trading Company would go entirely to his wife and would fall under her control. That responsibility came with marrying a nouveau riche baron who made his wealth in a single generation. Hence, Leikzig had tried to threaten and appraise her before his master completely fell for the lady. But, of course, my fears were utterly baseless. There was no need for my apprehensions.
Leikzig looked at Iris favorably. That was different from what he felt toward his master. Iris was a necessary part of the house, and he held genuine respect for her. Despite being born as an aristocratic lady, her body weak and frail, she had honed her pride and dignity, polishing it into a sharp blade for her to use. She was delicate, evanescent, virtuous, and beautiful. It was akin to the light of his master that brilliantly shone through the skies as he was born in poverty and worked his way up, creating a fortress of glass. Indeed, these two suited each other quite well, and the butler was willing to become a dog or a blade for them.
Blood dripped from Leikzig’s finger, dyeing Iris’s blouse red. For a lady like her, he was more than willing to spill his blood.
“I’ve told you that Lucas Stock is no longer with us,” Mikhail said.
“Whether he be alive or dead, I will give birth to my husband’s child,” Iris answered.
“Are you talking about the necessary process? We can just ask the first prince to handle it.”
As Mikhail barked, Leikzig stared at the scene as if watching a boring play. He thought back to the first time he’d met Lucas. Back then, Lucas Stock had a heavier accent, looked scarier, and had a tense air around him. He was dangerous, resembling a darker, more evil type of man that one would rather not encounter instead of a merchant. He seemed like the kind of guy who would gather individuals who looked just as menacing and take care of assassins of his own accord. And yet, he’s so pure and innocent that he struggles to lay a finger on the dear wife that he finally obtained.
It was adorable. The more Leikzig thought about Iris, the more he realized she was Lucas’s type. The lady was straight and honest to the point it was worrying; she was like an unattainable flower with a powerful heart and spirit. Yet her limbs were so pale and frail, and her small mouth and head invoked a desire to protect her. In contrast to her appearance, she would never back away without a fight and never cried. She seemed quiet, but she was unexpectedly strong-willed and stubborn. There was never a person like her around Lucas Stock. She was the absolute perfect, ideal person for him.
What would’ve happened if her younger sister had married into House Stock as initially planned? It’d be impossible. She’d be sent back before she even arrived in Solalitika. Or would he have allowed her to come to Solalitika, only to use her as a pawn to negotiate for a governess to be sent in her place as she wouldn’t be able to endure her time there? No, I don’t think my lord could stand a woman like her for any period of time. He would’ve chased her away and requested a different person. Leikzig’s master was a handsome man—precisely because Lucas was handsome, he could tell when women were simply after his looks and wealth. If this was a customer, he might’ve tried to conduct some business, but in general, he disliked those after his appearance.
Leikzig brought himself back to reality; Mikhail was still trying to bite Iris.
“Secondly,” Iris said, raising her second finger and pausing. The butler felt her breathing grow erratic as she hesitated before brightly declaring, “I love my husband.”
Mikhail looked stunned, while Leikzig felt excited. This is getting interesting.
“What are you…” the oaf gasped.
Iris deliberately tried to sound cheery. “Why do you continue to assume that Lucas and I are in a mariage blanc?”
“Huh?” Mikhail said in astonishment as he froze. It was as though someone had splashed cold water on his face. In the next moment, he grew pale and started to tremble. “Iris, a-are you saying—”
“I won’t let you say you’ve forgotten the mark of protection that he left on me.”
Ah, now I see what she’s getting at! Leikzig thought while Mikhail let out an agonizing scream. Iris was acting pregnant, and Leikzig did everything to stop himself from laughing. My stomach hurts! Ha ha ha! My lady! That statement gave me quite a shock!
Of course, the butler knew she was lying. While the happy couple spent their nights in the same bedroom, had she been pregnant, it would’ve been a virgin birth. Lucas may have looked and acted vulgar, but he was pure and honest to a fault. That hadn’t changed since Leikzig aimed for his master’s life as a hunting dog. Time and time again, Lucas chased away the beautiful people sent in to kill him. Ultimately, Leikzig had been dispatched to finish the job.
Iris’s ears were red, likely embarrassed by her bold claims, and Mikhail sounded utterly deranged.
“I won’t forgive you!” he screamed. “I won’t, Iris! I-I-I-I’ll never forgive such a thing! A K-Karelia’s noble body, savagely defiled by a lowly man?!”
His face was a deep scarlet as he shook his head and bellowed, leaving no vestige of the handsome man he once was. Leikzig remained vigilant while he tried his best to hide his laughter.
“Have an abortion! Right this instant! An abortion! I won’t forgive you if you give birth to that child!” Mikhail shouted.
Are you still not here? Your wife is in a tight spot! Hello? Leik remained nonchalant as ever, tired of this foolish sham. His master was surely facing his assailants by now, but Leik possessed baseless confidence that his master would be safe. I won’t forgive the man being killed by some small fry when even a hunting dog couldn’t finish him.
Just as Leik was internally muttering his complaints, he noticed a different sound on the floor above. Ah. Before his mind could react, his bored body felt reinvigorated with excitement. You’ve finally arrived, my lord. Neither Mikhail nor the other dogs noticed. To him, it was a different sound than random passersby, carriages, and the footsteps of mice. The air shook as the butler felt the door open.
The dogs, finally noticing this presence, glanced at each other in surprise. These simple footsteps told Leikzig the shoes that his master wore, just how tired he was, and even his mood. The butler’s master suppressed his excitement as he took every step, like a beast prowling for its prey, approaching his wife. Each step caused Leik’s heart to thud with elation. Like a beast waiting for his master—if he had a tail, he would’ve surely wagged it with delight.
“Simply thinking of that man’s remnants wriggling away in your body is unforgivable!” Mikhail shrieked.
Your imagination is disgusting. Just shut up already. The butler tried to listen to his master’s long-awaited footsteps, but Mikhail’s voice drowned it out. Leikzig clicked his tongue and lowered his stance.
“Aghhh!” Mikhail bellowed, pouncing on Iris.
At that moment, Leik chose to protect Iris. All right, all right, shut up already! This is the end! In lieu of his tail, he whirled his right leg around and kicked a frenzied Mikhail away.
“Gah!”
Leik repositioned his arms to firmly shield Iris. She looked up at him quietly.
For a brief moment, her dark eyes narrowed with a sense of trust as they met his. Her lips formed a faint smile, and as her nerves eased, she trembled ever so slightly. Their gazes crossed for only a split second, but Leik could understand her thoughts. Iris was a normal daughter of high society—she couldn’t tell if her husband was close yet. Leikzig flashed a smile, indicating that she should be at ease. This was scary, wasn’t it? Your beloved person will come soon.
“You… I thought you betrayed them! Didn’t you say you hated Iris?!” Mikhail roared.
The noisy small fry continued to snarl. Leikzig licked the blood that dripped down his hand and tugged the corners of his mouth upward.
“Oh, I do. Very much so. My lord changed ever since my lady arrived,” he answered.
The butler then firmly placed his arms around his master’s precious, precious treasure.
There were only a few seconds left before he arrived. The end credits would roll soon.