CH 20

Britia was spending a rather peaceful time.

She couldn’t completely sever her connection with the outside world, just as Earl Lockhart had said.

However, thanks to her constant rejection of various invitations, she had hardly set foot outside the mansion, let alone beyond the property.

Lockhart’s siblings made efforts to uplift her spirits, but she remained somewhat despondent.

To cheer her up, Leon willingly offered his tail. He knew that stroking it would improve her mood.

However, Leon was currently absent, engrossed in the training of the Knights Templar.

In his place, Crave tried to muster the strength for Britia.

“Tia, how long do you intend to stay like this? You can’t keep avoiding your responsibilities.”

However, considering his position as an Earl, it was quite challenging for him to keep holding onto his tail, as he was busy with various matters.

Countess Lockhart, feeling embarrassed and uncomfortable with her tail being touched, didn’t even attempt to do so.

As a result, days passed with Britia lying on the bed or the couch, clutching her tail.

“Do something productive, lazybones. Otherwise, you might as well merge with your tail.”

“Even if I merged with it, you wouldn’t see it with your own eyes.”

Britia retorted sharply to Crave’s nagging.

“Just because I can’t see it doesn’t mean I can’t sense it.”

Crave grabbed Britia’s arm and helped her sit up.

“Go out and shoot some arrows at the target or something.”

“Why?”

When Britia refused, he sat down on the couch.

“People are meant to move around and be active.”

“There were times when people were born to stay still, remember?”

“That was something you said to Lenny.”

Crave flicked his index finger back and forth.

“Excessive movement like him is self-inflicted abuse.”

“You’re saying that to someone who wants to become stronger?”

“He’s not here right now, so it’s fine if he can’t hear me.”

He winked slightly, pressing his index finger against his lips, indicating it was a secret.

“Go and come back, Tia. You used to enjoy shooting arrows.”

“I don’t feel like it right now.”

“Once you start moving, your thoughts will change.”

“Sounds like something Lenny would say. The topic of bravery.”

Britia chuckled, and he gave her a stern look.

“The topic of bravery? It sounds like a disrespectful remark to me, Britia Lockhart.”

“It sounds disrespectful because it is, Earl Crave Lockhart.”

He crossed his arms and let out a hollow laugh.

“Look at this! Disrespecting your older brother!”

“You’re not my older brother. You can’t even hit the target properly with an arrow.”

Britia retorted sharply.

“Don’t you remember when I caught a bear?”

“You didn’t catch it. It was Duke Turas-nim who caught it.”

“You’re slyly claiming it as your achievement.”

Britia glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, and he lifted his chin.

“You don’t know it, but I’ve made significant progress in my skills.”

“How can your skills improve when I’ve never seen you practice?”

“I practised secretly. Now, I can even defeat you in a match.”

“Lies.”

“Want to put it to the test?”

Britia chuckled.

“I won’t fall for that.”

“Oh, are you scared of losing to your older brother?”

At the provocation from the count, she stood up from her seat.

“Fine. We’ll shoot ten arrows each, and the one who hits the target more times wins.”

“You said you wouldn’t fall for something like this.”

Observing the smirking count, Britia tried to lie back down. But he hastily grabbed her arm.

“It won’t be fun if we just do it without a wager.”

“What?”

“The winner gets to make three demands that the loser must fulfil.”

The Earl chuckled.

“Are you sure you’ll be okay with losing?”

“I’ll win, so it’s fine.”

Britia found Crave’s self-assuredness suspicious.

She already knew his abilities, so why was he so confident? Could it be that he had been practicing all this time?

“Don’t cry to me if you lose and go crying to your wife.”

“You’ve become quite provocative, haven’t you?”

Crave stood up with a snort.

“Don’t go crying to me or Duke Turas-nim.”

“Why would I cry to Duke-nim when you’re the one who’s gonna cry?”

Britia thought he always made nonsensical jokes like that.

She had no idea what he was scheming.

The two of them stepped outside and filled the quivers with ten arrows each.

Britia pulled back the bowstring first. Unfortunately, her shot missed the center of the target, causing the count to snicker beside her.

“Let’s see that skill you claim to have improved.”

When she saw him pulling back the bowstring next, Britia widened her eyes.

“Watch closely.”

He released the arrow with a flick.

“You call that watching?”

Britia gritted her teeth at the arrow that missed the mark. She successfully hit the next three in a row, while the count narrowly managed to hit one.

“You said you practised!”

As the match seemed to be ending too quickly, Britia shouted.

“What a disappointment, Crave.”

“It’s strange. I practiced.”

Crave muttered gloomily.

“My lord.”

At that moment, Butler Walter called out to the Earl as he approached.

“Oh, really?”

Crave smiled happily at the news and placed the arrows back in the quiver.

“This complicates things. We’ll have to postpone the match for a while.”

“You’re being cowardly. Running away because you think you’ll lose?”

Britia glared at him, causing the Earl to turn to Butler Walter.

“Who did Duke Turas-nim come to see?”

“He came to see the young lady.”

Britia blinked rapidly.

“Me?”

Leaving Crave, who claimed to be Duke Turas’ friend, behind?

“What could it be about?”

“You’ll have to go and ask him yourself. How would Walter know?”

Crave snatched the arrow from Britia’s hand and placed it in the quiver.

“Now, go on. Hurry.”

He gently nudged Britia’s back.

Following Butler Walter’s guidance, she headed to the reception room. As the butler tried to open the door, she stopped him.

Then she cautiously opened the door and peeked inside. Sig was standing by the sofa, not sitting down.

“What on earth is happening?”

Seeing his dark face, worry consumed her.

“Sig-nim.”

As she fully opened the door and stepped inside, Sig’s head swiftly turned. His tail, which had been drooping downwards, suddenly shot up and wagged energetically from side to side.

“What is the matter?” she asked, her face filled with concern.

“Britia-nim.”

As she approached, she noticed that he was holding something in his hand. In response to Britia’s curious gaze, he raised what he was holding.

At first glance, it looked like an invitation.

Britia tilted her head in confusion, and Sig swallowed hard.

“I have come to give this to you today,” he said, passing it to her as if transferring a burden.

“May I open it?”

Britia asked, and Sig nodded. She inspected the object from front to back, and indeed, it resembled an invitation. Furthermore, it was neatly enclosed in a familiar-looking envelope.

While puzzled, Britia couldn’t hide her anticipation as she took out the contents.

“Another gathering?”

The memories of the unpleasant events from the previous gathering immediately resurfaced, and Britia struggled to maintain her composure.

“It seems I have failed once again.”

He mumbled sadly as he observed her reaction.

“Pardon?”

“I always strive to see you receiving and enjoying such things,” he murmured with pursed lips, as if expelling his breath.

“But it seems I always fail.”

‘Was it because my efforts were insufficient?’

Sig tried to accept it humbly, but his chest kept hurting, causing him to tightly bite his lip.

“Always failing?”

Britia blinked her eyes quickly.

“No, Duke-nim. When I received the handkerchief, how delighted I was!”

She said to Sig, who looked dejected, with a bright voice.

“When you gave me the hairpin, I was surprised, but also happy.”

“Apparently, this invitation doesn’t bring you any joy, even in words.”

Although she should deny it, Britia couldn’t find the words to do so.

“It’s not Duke-nim’ fault, but for other reasons…”

She trailed off.

As the face of Marquis Slanford and his group came to mind, it became even more difficult for her to manage her expression.

“I heard that you’ve been feeling down recently.”

“From Crave?”

“I heard it from Leon-nim.”

When he mentioned Leon’s name, Britia felt something strange.

How did she end up becoming friends with both twins and even the youngest one?

“Did you also receive this invitation from Lenny?”

The contents of the paper were clearly about him inviting Britia to the gathering.

However, something about the paper seemed familiar; it had the crests of the Lockhart family imprinted on it.

“That was given by Crave. He advised me on how to write an invitation for the gathering.”

Worried that Britia might refuse the invitation, Sig’s words became slightly faster than usual.

“Because I’m not familiar with such matters, he taught me various things.”

Britia felt like she understood the flow of events that led to her receiving this invitation.

She knew how to write an invitation, so she must have written it for someone she actually wanted to invite. And that someone was her.

“Can I get an answer?”

Sig’s mouth became parched as he waited for her response.

“Hmm.”

Having become friends with Earl Lockhart, who wanted to help with his illness, he had advised him to casually invite Britia to the gathering first.

However, he doubted if this would actually lead to a resolution. Instead, it only made him think about her more, and it felt as if his heart was being squeezed tightly.

Could this be a symptom of his condition worsening?

“Yes, I will attend.”

Sig’s face suddenly brightened at Brithia’s response.

“Are you pleased?”

Britia asked, observing his tail vigorously wagging.

“I thought you would refuse.”

A faint smile appeared on his face.

“I heard you were tearing up and burning all the invitations without even opening them.”

Britia, who had been half-listening to his words, tilted her head curiously.

No matter how many invitations she declined lately, she always sent a response. She had never torn them up or burned them.

“Still, I thought you might accept it if I handed it to you personally.”

He placed his hand on his chest, expressing approval.

“Did Crave tell that to Duke-nim?”

“Yes.”

Britia was furious. Why did she have to tell such a lie and trouble people?

She thought Sig had a liking for her, but was it not true?

She couldn’t understand what her twin was thinking.

In her effort to appear composed, Sig furrowed his brow even more seriously when he saw her.

Recently, Leon’s words about her not being in a good mood came back to him. When he asked Earl Lockhart, he confirmed it. Moreover, now that he looked at himself, there was no doubt.

How could he make Britia happy unconditionally?

In the end, Sig, who defeated Leon, was able to discover that secretive method.

However, upon hearing that method from Leon, he felt despair. It might be an easy method for him, but it required significant emotional preparation for Sig.

“Britia-nim.”

He wasn’t prepared to even now. However, Sig, with his audaciousness, called her.

“My tail, will you touch it?”