“It’s true. There was an accident on the road, and I lost the letter during the commotion.”
The guard didn’t say anything. He simply looked at me, expressionless. It was clear that my excuse wasn’t going to convince him. His gaze shifted to the animal in my arms, then back to my face. I could see the discomfort in his eyes, as if my presence here had already become a problem.
“I’ve sent several letters to the Duke over the past week. I know he received them.”
“I’m sorry, but without written permission, no one is allowed to enter the estate.”
“I am not just anyone. I am Serna Shube Troid of House Troid. This is an urgent matter.”
The guard’s expression changed slightly. Whether it was recognition or hesitation, I couldn’t tell. He looked at the other guard standing beside him, who gave him a subtle nod.
“Please wait here.”
One of them turned and disappeared behind the gates. The other remained in place, watching me silently. The gate stayed shut, and the wind brushed past my dress. The air here was colder than I expected.
The animal in my arms whimpered faintly, shifting a little. I gently held it closer and ran my hand along its back. Its breathing had steadied a little, but its body was still warm and trembling. The poor thing must have been exhausted.
Minutes passed, and the silence grew heavier. I glanced through the bars of the gate, trying to see if anyone was coming. The massive estate loomed in the distance, its walls tall and silent, like it was holding its breath.
Finally, the guard returned.
“The Duke has agreed to speak with you. You may enter, but you will be escorted.”
“I understand.”
The gates slowly opened, and I stepped forward, holding the white animal carefully in my arms. The guards didn’t hide their surprise, but they said nothing more.
The path leading to the mansion was long. With each step, I felt the weight of my decision settling deeper in my chest. I had no idea what kind of person the Duke of Valoran really was, but I had come this far. I had to meet him. I had to ask for his help.
For myself and for the little life, I was carrying.
To prove I was telling the truth, I ran over to the carriage and showed them the white dog. The dog, still asleep, twitched its ears at the noise and shifted its body slightly.
“This dog collided with the carriage, and because of the impact, it shook violently and…”
Before I could even finish my sentence, the guards looked inside the carriage and gasped in shock.
Was it because a noble lady had dared to bring what they considered a filthy animal into her carriage? They were citizens of the Aether Empire, so I assumed that was their line of thought.
“It is not dirty. It doesn’t smell, and it doesn’t bite.”
“Ah, well…”
“Look at its eyes. They are so pretty. They look like the ocean. Its fur is soft and fluffy and…”
Again, before I could finish, the guards gasped and covered their mouths with both hands.
“Why are you reacting like that?”
I turned to see what they were looking at inside the carriage.
And there he was.
“Who are you?”
A man I had never seen before sat where the dog had been.
Because of this completely unexpected situation, I now found myself sitting across from the Duke of Valoran, a man I had only heard about in rumors. The fluffy white dog was gone. In its place sat a man who was not only handsome but so striking that he looked unreal.
His silver hair and blue eyes were identical to the ones the dog had. I had no doubt now that the dog I brought with me was the Duke of Valoran.
But how could this make sense? A person becoming a dog, or a dog becoming a person, was not something that existed in Serna’s memories from life in the Aether Empire. There was no record or mention of anything like this.
The Duke pushed his hair back with a graceful movement and smiled softly at me. It was a polite and charming smile, but I felt like I was walking on thin ice.
“Lady, your tea is getting cold.”
“Yes, of course. I will drink it.”
I quickly lifted the teacup. The gentle scent tickled my nose, and as it reached my lips, the warmth helped me relax just a little.
I had come here with so much to say, but now my mind was completely blank.
Suddenly, I remembered kissing the dog.
The very same dog that had now become a man, who sat before me with a calm and unbothered face. My cheeks turned bright red.
How was I supposed to know the dog was a man? I tried to hide my flustered state by fanning my face. The Duke finally spoke, his tone cool and clear.
“I am not a man of patience. Let us speak plainly.”
“Yes, of course.”
“I would prefer that no one else knew what you saw today.”
“What I saw today?”
He looked at me without saying a word, but I could tell exactly what he meant. His eyes were saying, You know. That strange thing.
His every movement was elegant, as if he had stepped out of a painting. His silver hair flowed gently with the breeze from the window. His blue eyes sparkled like the finest jewels I had ever seen. His pale skin and the thin white shirt he wore made him look relaxed, almost too perfect.
And suddenly, I was distracted by how attractive he was.
Focus, Serna. Do not embarrass yourself.
“If what I saw is something you want to keep secret, then I would like to propose a deal.”
I forced my thoughts back into order and spoke with a steady voice, trying to stay composed.
He kept smiling, but his eyes were cold. They reminded me of snow in the middle of winter. Beautiful, but biting.
Stay focused.
“I believe you misunderstood my meaning.”
He paused before continuing.
“If you were not here, then no one would have known.”
The Duke of Valoran, with a face as graceful as an angel’s, had just said something terrifying in the calmest tone. His words sent a chill through me. Even in the warmth of spring, goosebumps rose on my arms.
“Then maybe you misunderstood me too.”
His eyes narrowed slightly.
“I did not come here to use your secret against you. I do not intend to harm you.”
“I must repeat, it is not a secret.”
Even though his smile carried a quiet warning, I kept my voice firm. Whether the Duke turned into a dog or not was not the reason I came here.
I had a more important purpose.
“I’m planning to start a jewelry business. To do that, I need a reliable source for gemstones, but my financial situation isn’t in great shape.”
At my words, he seemed intrigued. He leaned back into the sofa slightly, the corner of his lips lifting with faint interest.
“I would like to receive an advance supply of gemstones in exchange for keeping quiet about your… unusual form.”
“Is that the deal you’re offering me?”
“Yes, that’s right. In fact, this was the reason I was planning to come here, even before you got into my carriage in that form.”
“Form? What do you mean?”
His voice, low and steady, echoed through the room.
“Was I mistaken? Weren’t you a dog?”
“You are not required to understand, but if I must correct you…”
He paused for a beat.
“A wolf.”
His sharp blue eyes swept across me once more. He looked even more fearsome in human form than he did as a wolf. His eyes, angled sharply at the corners, held an intense gaze.
If I were being honest, he was almost exactly my type. I had decided to put love aside and prioritize money, but here he was. Handsome, powerful, a duke, and likely wealthy beyond imagination. It was hard not to be impressed.
“Very well.”
“I’m glad you agree. Wait, what?”
“I will accept your proposal.”
“Are you serious?”
I hadn’t expected him to agree so easily. This was the same Duke of Valoran known for being cold and withdrawn.
“Send me a list of the gemstones you need in a letter.”
“Wait, Your Grace!”
He had just stood up, leaving half a cup of tea on the table, when I quickly called out to stop him.
There was something that had been bothering me. Near his waist, through the thin white shirt, I had seen a bright red stain. It looked like a wound from when he crashed into the carriage.
Was he not feeling pain, or was he simply enduring it? The blood had soaked enough to be clearly visible, yet he showed no reaction at all.
“Are you alright?”
I reached toward the hem of his shirt and gently pulled it away from his side, careful not to touch the wound directly. He tilted slightly in response to my sudden touch.
“You got hurt when you hit the carriage, didn’t you? Doesn’t it hurt?”
“It is nothing. You may leave now.”
“You can’t just leave it like that. It will get worse. You need to disinfect it and apply medicine.”
The Duke had been about to walk away, but my words made him pause. He turned back and looked at me over his shoulder. In one hand, he held a pair of gold-rimmed glasses, which he tapped lightly against his thigh. He said nothing, as if deep in thought.
Why is he reacting like that? I was just showing concern. No wonder people say he lacks social skills.
The Duke continued to stare at me with a blank expression, blinking slowly as if trying to decide something.
“Why would you say something like that?”
“Because you’re hurt. I’m worried.”
“But we just met today.”
“So what? Just because someone is a stranger, does that mean I should ignore them when they’re injured?”
“I usually do.”
The way he said it so matter-of-factly left me speechless. His expression was so honest, like he genuinely didn’t understand why I cared at all.
It was almost as if his eyes were saying, “Why are you concerned? We’re nothing to each other.”
“Then I’ll be going.”
Without waiting for a reply, he turned and walked away.
If it weren’t for the deal, I would have already cursed him. Unbelievable. A wolf, indeed.
