Chapter 11
“Because it was the best at hunting. And I like the young ones.”
“Because they’re cute?“
‘Because I can tame them.’
Gopher answered only in his mind and shrugged. A hunting dog only needed to be good at hunting.
The poor lineage was an advantage to him. No one else would covet such a dog, which meant he alone could claim it. Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say they could claim it.
“Looks like you picked the wrong one. Want to trade for mine?”
“Why?“
“Well… because I’m the older one.”
Gopher glanced at Mixel’s gloves. The artisan gloves his cousin used to wear were nowhere to be seen. Mixel’s hands were now wrapped in leather gloves, identical to Gopher’s.
Gopher returned the puppy from Mixel and set it down on the ground.
“I like this one. It’s not about what the head thinks—it’s what the heart feels.“
“What? Pfft, that’s so not like y—“
“Gopher!”
Startled by the sudden shout, the puppy bit Gopher. Even through his gloves, his hand stung, and he wondered if he was bleeding.
Mixel’s eyes widened like saucers as he looked back and forth between the dog and Gopher. Meanwhile, the one who had called Gopher approached them.
It was Gopher’s father, Isaac.
“I told you to return as soon as the lord finished hunting! There’s a mountain of work to do, and what’s this filthy dog?“
“It’s a dog the hunter gave me. I’ll head back shortly.“
“Make sure it’s within five minutes. And Mixel, your father is looking for you, too.“
“…Yes, Uncle.”
Isaac gave them a dissatisfied look before turning away. Even if he returned on time, Gopher doubted the day would end peacefully.
‘What’s the difference between me and a dog?‘
“Hey, Gopher, your hand!”
At Mixel’s shout, Gopher looked down to see red seeping through the gaps in his gloves.
“See? This is why lineage matters! That dog—give it to me.“
“Why?“
“I’ll take it and put it down. What use is a hunting dog that bites its owner?”
Sensing the tension, the puppy flattened to the ground, growling softly. Gopher reached for its neck. With deft movements, he avoided its snapping jaws and—click.
“Ah.”
The leather leash slipped free as the clasp pressed down. The released dog darted off, and Mixel’s hands grasped at empty air. The puppy bolted into the forest like an arrow.
“It’s running away!”
Gopher adjusted his gloves. If anyone saw the bite, the dog would be put down. That wasn’t a pleasant thought.
“So, it bit you, and you’re letting it go? Do you like it that much?“
“It bit me, so why should someone else decide its fate? Even if it’s to be put down, that’s for me to do.“
“What? That’s…”
“Let’s go, Mixel.“
“Uh… okay.”
Gopher led the hesitant Mixel back to the estate.
A week later, the runaway puppy reappeared at the hunting grounds.
Its tiny body was bloodied, a testament to the harshness of life in the forest, yet it approached Gopher. Mixel screamed on his behalf this time, but the dog licked Gopher’s hand instead of biting it.
Gopher asked his grandmother, Stella, for permission to raise the hunting dog, and she granted it. The dog’s name became Rex.
With its sleek black fur, Rex met Gopher’s expectations as the best hunting dog. That was a long time ago.
“You’ve grown old, too.”
Over ten years had passed, sapping Rex’s vitality. Its once glossy coat had become coarse, and its hearing had dulled.
But it still recognized only its master’s touch. Gopher gently pressed Rex back into a sitting position and stroked its back.
“At your age, it’s normal to rest. Don’t push yourself.“
“Is that advice for me?”
A sharp voice interrupted him, and Gopher turned to see Stella Allnight. Dressed in a crisp white shirt, the elderly woman, well past seventy, approached with her back straight as ever.
“You’re here early.“
“I just stopped by to pick something up.”
She crossed her arms and scrutinized Gopher, her expression full of disapproval.
“So young, yet you already hold a title.“
“If you’re concerned, you could always postpone it.“
“Don’t say what you don’t mean. Do you think I don’t know how hard you’ve worked for this position?”
Gopher laughed silently.
“Marriage won’t go as smoothly as you think. A spouse isn’t like a subordinate you can command. You’ll face countless twists and turns. You’ll also have to take responsibility for their mistakes.“
“You and Grandfather managed well, didn’t you?”
“Don’t act like you don’t know better, little brat.”
Stella snorted before asking, “Is that girl perfect?“
“You’ve seen her several times yourself.“
“I’m asking how she seems to you.“
“She’s good. Perfect.“
‘To me, anyway.’
Stella lowered her head, causing the chain of her silver-rimmed glasses to dangle. She seemed to be contemplating something before raising her gaze again.
Her deep-set eyes, the same color as Gopher’s, gleamed more intensely under her heavy brow.
“The succession ceremony will be a month after the wedding.“
“Thank you for trusting me, Grandmother.“
“It’s far too early, but some guests insist on arriving ahead. I’ll place them in the annex for now, so greet them when it feels right. I trust you won’t cause a scene because there are unwelcome visitors?“
“Have I ever let you down?“
“I trust you, Gopher. Do it perfectly.”
The face that had been smiling like a picture-perfect portrait faltered briefly. Then, once again, he smiled flawlessly.
“Yes, Grandmother.”
With those words, Stella Allnight left the study. Gopher watched her retreating figure briefly before sinking slowly into the sofa.
He leaned back as if lying down, his neck craned to look at the ceiling. His throat moved up and down slowly as he murmured:
“Perfect?”
Perfect, perfect, perfect.
Hah.
“You expect too much from a mere human.”
For Gopher, the term was all too familiar. People spoke highly of him. The most noble-like, and thus, the most perfect young man. Even articles had been written with such headlines.
Not that he particularly liked the sentiment. Nobility and perfection were not the same thing.
From the moment he took his first steps, Gopher lived every second as if it were precious. After reaching adulthood, he’d been granted half the freedom others enjoyed, yet even now, he never wasted his time.
But could the same be said of all nobles? Of course not.
Being noble doesn’t make one sound.
He judged people solely by their utility. It was a dangerous mindset but had never been an issue for him. After all, wealth, honor, power—and even competence—were often concentrated in the hands of nobles.
Most commoners, by contrast, never had the chance to receive an education.
And so, looking at this uneven playing field, he often wondered: If a lamb were disguised in a wolf’s skin and sent into a wolf pack, would it survive?
That was the excuse he used when he gave Bleria Heaven a chance. He could always withdraw if things didn’t work out.
But as the results unfolded, his thoughts changed.
‘Bleria survived.’
Everyone now saw her as the daughter of the Heaven family.
Though there had been much skepticism early on, she had seamlessly integrated into noble society.
Of course, the fact that Duke Heaven—once thought on the verge of death—had recovered to provide solid backing played a role. Even so, it was impressive.
Because of the Duke’s influence, even Damian treated her respectfully, and his wife did the same.
And now, at last…
A wedding date has been set.
Even if he hadn’t intended to marry, it was too late to back out now without incurring a loss.
On the surface, Bleria was the perfect match. Eager to dote on his long-lost daughter, Duke Heaven lavished her with gifts. Many business deals between Heaven and Allnight were arranged as a result.
With Bleria’s secret in his hands, there was no risk of her trying to control the Allnight, unlike how Stella had severed ties with the Elboy family over Tristan—Gopher’s grandfather.
And most importantly…
A slight whining sound came from beside the sofa. The dog had crept up to him, seeking attention. Sitting upright, Gopher gently patted its head, recalling a letter he’d received that morning.
“I’ll come visit in three days. I hope you’ll spare me a little time, even if you’re busy.”
His lips twisted into a faint smirk.
He had already replied, telling her not to bother, but Bleria would never listen. Once a year, his fiancée became impossibly stubborn.
And the reason for her persistence was the same reason Gopher had ultimately decided to marry her.
Bleria loved him. He saw no reason to refuse with her body and heart devoted to him.
Gopher was always lenient with those who couldn’t leave him. Even when their behavior annoyed him, it was rarely more than a momentary irritation.
Of course, that didn’t mean he loved her in return.
***
“You grow more beautiful by the day, my lady. I can’t wait for your wedding.”
A richly adorned woman with silver hair gazed at her reflection in the mirror. Her once-rounded face had slimmed to a sharp elegance, her features polished and flawless.
Crimson eyes stood out vividly on her pale face, striking and intense.
Even Bleria Heaven herself thought she now looked the part of a noblewoman. Yet, there was still something that bothered her.
Letting the maid’s compliment pass unacknowledged, Bleria ran a hand through her hair. Though it appeared sleek and well-kept with the help of fragrant oils, the texture remained coarse to the touch.
The maid glanced nervously at her mistress, gauging her reaction.
“I’m sorry, my lady. My skills must not be up to par.“
“It’s not that your skills are lacking—it’s quite the opposite. Reviving this mess of fur to this extent deserves praise.”
***
NOTE: Some of you who have read this story earlier might be confused with the current head of the Allnight Duchy (The ML’s Family).
For clarification, the head of the Allnight Duchy is Duchess Stella. There is no current Duke in line right before the ML. So, if you happen to read in the previous chapters that the current head of the Allnight Duchy is His Grace/Duke Allnight/Lord Allnight, please disregard them and consider them the female version of those titles. Those are entirely mistranslated.
But for those who might not have encountered these mistakes, please disregard this note because it means you have read this story after I edited the whole error.