The discussion on “what women like” only ended as the dawn light began to break.
With his subordinates’ advice etched into his mind, Kay returned to his room.
Rishi was still fast asleep.
Kay sat beside her and stroked her hair.
—If the Countess dreamed of Windy, she must like animals… Giving her what she likes as a gift is a sure bet. There are many pretty puppies these days; why don’t you gift her a small, cute one?
That was what Nathan had said.
A small, cute puppy.
*Rishi already has me, which is more than enough when it comes to cute animals.*
Kay transformed into his wolf form, curled his body around her bedside like a protective blanket, and closed his eyes.
+++
It was a very good dream.
In it, instead of Rishi’s hand, Windy took the apple Rishi offered and nuzzled into her arms.
She woke up feeling refreshed, but the area near her cheek felt ticklish. Instinctively, she reached out and touched something fluffy.
*‘What is this?’*
When she turned her head, a thick tail came into view.
A jet-black, thick tail with smooth fur.
*‘Kay?’*
Turning her head to the left, she saw the massive face of a black wolf.
The wolf was fast asleep, oblivious to the world.
She could see fangs slightly protruding from his lips and hear his breathing, which carried a small, rumbling “grr, grr” sound.
Rishi turned her head back toward the tail. It seemed like it would feel wonderful to bury her face in that soft fur. She gently grabbed the tail and rubbed her face against it, causing the wolf to twitch and let out a soft “Grr…”
She hadn’t meant to wake him.
Rishi quickly let go of the tail. The hind legs near it seemed to paddle the air for a moment, and then the wolf rolled over.
Rishi sat up and looked down at him.
The black wolf, which looked so threatening when awake, was now sleeping on its back with all four legs in the air, exposing his belly. It was so endearing it made her laugh.
*‘He sleeps so soundly.’*
His two large front paws moved, wiggling in the air.
Was he dreaming of running across the plains?
Those large front paws, which surely looked intimidating in any other situation, moved back and forth with a steady rhythm. It was impossibly adorable.
Rishi watched the dreaming wolf, losing track of time.
This time, perhaps he was being attacked, because the wolf whined, “Ugh, ugh,” before barking a sharp “Woof!” and opening his eyes.
Dark, deep pupils wandered through the air before settling on Rishi.
“Rishi.”
Kay’s voice in his wolf form was more solemn than when he was human.
*But what good is being solemn now?*
*I’ve already seen you flip over like a ball while dreaming, wiggling your paws and whining.*
“Why is my wife wearing such a mocking smile this early in the morning?”
“Mocking? No, Kay. This is just… um, a smile.”
“I don’t think so.”
*Lick.*
The wolf licked the corner of Rishi’s mouth.
“Did I talk in my sleep, Rishi?”
“No. You were sleeping quite soundly.”
If she told him he had been whining and wiggling his paws, he probably wouldn’t ever sleep beside her in his wolf form again.
“Hmph…”
Kay narrowed his eyes as if he didn’t believe her, then leaped off the bed.
Predicting what kind of sight would unfold, Rishi quickly turned her head away.
Before long, human Kay’s voice sounded from right behind her ear.
“Rishi, why are you turning your head away?”
“Put your clothes on quickly.”
“You’ve already seen me, why are you being so shy now?”
“I haven’t seen anything. I was so startled I couldn’t even look properly.”
“Liar. I saw that look of shock in your eyes, you know.”
“I said put your clothes on, Kay.”
As Rishi scolded him, Kay chuckled.
*Rustle, rustle.* The sound of him putting on clothes followed.
“Rishi, come somewhere with me today.”
“Where?”
“You’ll see when we get there.”
Rishi, unaware that Kay had spent all night discussing “what women like” with his subordinates until daybreak, wondered why the busy Kay was so eager to wander about.
The rustling stopped, signaling he was dressed, but Rishi kept her face turned away.
She heard Kay approach the bed, and his fingers brushed against her back.
She could feel his finger tracing down her spine through the thin slip she was wearing.
“Don’t wear something this revealing.”
His index finger stopped near her tailbone before pulling away.
“Wear commoner’s clothes. I want to move about comfortably.”
+++
“Commoner’s clothes?”
When she informed the maids in the drawing-room of the outfit for the day, Krisina’s eyes went wide.
“Oh my. It sounds like you’re going on a date.”
“A date? That’s impossible.”
“Why is it impossible?”
“We’re already married.”
“What does that have to do with anything? A date is something you do when you want to.”
A date.
A time when a man and woman who have feelings for each other meet to spend a pleasant time together.
In her past life, Rishi had never been on a date.
Of course, she had heard of them often. Britney was always bragging about them—that she went to see a play at the request of some handsome knight, or visited an exhibition at the request of some handsome viscount… There was always a “handsome” man for Britney.
Going on a date with a man she had feelings for was a world away from Rishi.
Before marriage, it was the House of Whitlow; after marriage, it was the House of Huchis.
Rishi was just struggling to survive.
Krisina was excitedly opening the wardrobe to pick out clothes, while Erwel kept glancing at Rishi as if she had something to say.
“Erwel, do you have something to say?”
“Iris. I will accompany you.”
“Pardon?”
“I don’t know where the Count is taking you, but outside the mansion is dangerous. I think I should accompany you.”
If it’s dangerous outside, why would Erwel be the one to accompany her?
Erwel was just as much a delicate lady as she was.
“Oh my, El. What kind of crazy talk is—”
Krisina, who had come back with an armful of clothes, nudged Erwel aside with her hip. It wasn’t even a hard shove, but Erwel stumbled and swayed to the side.
*‘And she’s that delicate herself…’*
“The Count will protect Iris well, so don’t even think about crashing a date.”
“But, Sini. Iris is… Iris is too beautiful! What if someone just snatches her away?”
“Oh my.”
Rishi blushed at Erwel’s exclamation.
She had heard she was beautiful often, but hearing such direct, unadorned praise made her feel unsure of what to do with herself.
“That’s a problem for the Count to handle, El. I never thought there’d be an idiot who would try to tag along on someone else’s date, but I never imagined it would be you.”
Krisina muttered as she held up different pieces of clothing against Rishi. As the time they spent together grew, Krisina seemed to have become more comfortable with Rishi, using more blunt language than usual.
Rishi didn’t dislike that. She wanted to be comfortable with these two.
Misinterpreting Rishi’s smile, Krisina quickly changed her tone.
“I’m sorry, Iris. Erwel said something so foolish that I couldn’t help myself. Ho ho ho.”
“It’s alright. You can just be yourself.”
“If Krisina acts comfortably, Iris, you’ll be the one gasping for air.”
Erwel grumbled.
After much ado, she changed her clothes and went out, and Kay was waiting in front of the hallway.
“My. I told you to wear commoner’s clothes, but you came out looking too dazzling. Who would mistake you for a commoner?”
“But these are the most ordinary clothes I have.”
“Hmm. Do you have a hood?”
At Kay’s words, Krisina quickly brought out a long hooded cloak.
Kay personally draped the cloak over Rishi and pulled the hood deep over her head.
Then, he took a step back, crossed his arms, and examined Rishi before speaking.
“Hmm. You’re still beautiful even like that.”
Rishi didn’t know that Kay’s subordinates had advised him last night that “women are weak to flattery,” so she wondered why this man was acting like this today.
Erwel, standing behind Rishi, rubbed her arms as if she had goosebumps.
“It can’t be helped. You’d be beautiful even covered in mud.”
Kay laughed at Rishi’s words.
“Correct. It can’t be helped. We have no choice but to go out like this.”
They boarded a carriage in front of the mansion and started down the road.
1. Chapter 1
After descending, they got off the carriage before entering the busy streets.
Holding Kay’s hand as they walked, Rishi eagerly took in the sights of the city.
It was Rishi’s first time out like this, walking through the city.
In her past life, confined to the Wittlow Duchy and then moved to the Huchis Viscountcy, she had never had the opportunity to look around the outside world like this.
The only time she left the mansion was to attend parties. Since she always traveled by carriage, she had never been able to set foot in such a vibrant scene. Even when she headed to Tony’s Cave for the case with Alford last time, she had traveled by carriage.
Countless people were bustling about, going about their daily lives.
A young man carrying a load on his shoulder shouting, “Chimney sweep! Chimney sweep!”, shoe shiners sitting in a row polishing shoes, and people selling goods while carrying baskets.
As she passed by, busily observing the diverse crowd, they soon entered a clean and wide street.
“It’s quiet here.”
Even though there were many shops, there were no hawkers, peddlers, or street vendors selling goods.
“This is a no-peddling zone. You have to own a shop to sell anything. It’s a place frequently visited by nobles and wealthy commoners.”
Listening to Kay’s explanation, they walked down the shopping street.
The place where Kay stopped was an eye-catching building decorated in light pink and sky blue. A sign that read [Arhen’s Tea House] was attached above the entrance.
“We’re going here, Rishi.”
Kay pointed toward the entrance with his palm facing upward. He had an expression that said, *’Look at this. Are you impressed? Surprised?’*
Rishi stared at the entrance for a moment before opening her mouth.
“I’d rather explore the street we came from than a place like this.”
At Rishi’s mutter, Kay felt as if his knees had buckled.
*-There’s this place called Arhen’s Tea House. It seems to be in fashion these days. It’s incredibly expensive, but the atmosphere is said to be exactly what women love.*
*-Ah, I’ve heard of it too. The maids said that if someone were to take them there, they would fall in love.*
According to his subordinates’ advice yesterday, ‘Arhen’s Tea House’ was a very popular place among women.
Visitors were given a small teaspoon, available only at Arhen’s Tea House, as a gift, and it was said that women who owned this teaspoon were the envy of everyone.
“They say they give you a teaspoon as a gift if you go in there.”
When he told her, thinking Rishi might not know, she retorted firmly.
“We already have plenty of teaspoons.”
“No, that’s not it… The teaspoon they give out here is very special…”
“I know. But I want the comb they were selling on the street back there more.”
“A comb?”
“Yes, I want to brush Windy’s fur.”
Windy again.
That damn Windy!
However, he couldn’t let Rishi see him being jealous of Windy.
*-Captain, the most important thing in a date is for Iris to be happy.*
Jamie’s advice came to mind.
Right, if buying a comb for Windy was what would make Rishi happy, he had no choice but to follow.
“Alright, then. Let’s go there.”
Kay turned around abruptly and began to walk. Rishi quickly followed and said,
“Kay, are you angry?”
“Why would I be angry?”
“You seem angry. Ah! Did you really want to go to Arhen’s Tea House?”
“No.”
“It seems like you did. Did you need the teaspoon? If so, let’s go to Arhen’s Tea House. I’d like that place too.”
“No, Rishi. I don’t need a teaspoon or anything like that.”
“Then?”
“What?”
“Why are you pouting?”
“I’m not pouting.”
Rishi blocked the path of the grumbling Kay.
She tilted her head back and looked up at him. Her index finger touched Kay’s lips.
“You’re pouting, your lips are sticking out.”
Kay pursed his lips.
“I’m not!”
Seeing Kay protesting even while pursing his lips, the corners of Rishi’s mouth twitched.