“Meow.”
Yes. At this rate, I can’t do anything.
The tiny puppy reflected in the mirror looked so insignificant.
“Woof, woof.”
It’s just adorable. Do you really think this cotton candy-like creature can prevent a family’s extinction?
Could it even stand before that black lion? Not even a bite-sized snack.
“Woof, woof.”
Alright. Becoming human comes first.
I aggressively stomp my feet and stand up suddenly. Looking around, I see a rope hanging at the foot of the bed.
‘If I pull that, someone will come, right?’
But even with three people lying down, it’s a double-king-sized bed. And the mattress is so soft that moving causes imbalance. It’s a long journey to get there.
A lump forms in my throat.
“Woof, woof…”
And that rope, somehow, I feel like I’d have to jump and bite it to reach it.
The thick rope intertwined with gold and red is hanging just within reach for a person, but for a small, cute dog like me, I’d have to jump.
Looking up at the rope, my vision blurs.
“Woof…”
No, I just had to try.
Even possessing a human form—I, a beast—what’s impossible? I might as well die trying!
Gulp. I swallow once and run towards the rope. With the momentum, I shout, “Yah!”
“Woof, woof!”
“You’re awake, Miss!!!”
“Wo-woof!?”
The door suddenly bursts open, and in comes a girl with striking red twin tails and adorable freckles on her cheeks. It was Annie Blanche, the maidservant of Ishel.
“Woof… Woof, woof!?”
Wait, was the size of a person always this big?
Startled, she straightened her tail and blinked with teary eyes, kneeling before me.
“Miss! You fell to the floor in your beast form yesterday, and we were so shocked! And you remained unconscious for hours! Still, I’m so glad you woke up. I’ll call the doctor immediately.”
Hold on!
“Woof, woof! Woof, woof!”
As Haley tried to stand up, I quickly puff up my body and shout fervently.
‘I can’t become human!’
“Woof, woof, woof, woof, woof!”
But, as expected, all that came out of my mouth was bark… no, just a dog’s bark.
“Miss…?”
Haley tilted her head as if puzzled.
“Miss, if you have something to say, please transform into a human and speak. I, being a leopard beast, cannot understand your words.”
Leopard. Beast. Leopard beast?
“Woof… Woof.”
A hiccup escaped me involuntarily.
Now that I think about it, the Obruch family is a leopard clan.
Looking closely, I think I see a flash of bright yellow in Haley’s elegant brown eyes.
“Woof… Woof, woof.”
Come to think of it, Annie—
“Miss?”
The freckles girl, looking harmless with gentle eyes, is a bird—the king of birds, an eagle.
Though not as noble as the Aquila family, the Blanche family also has sharp beaks, claws, and powerful wings.
When I rummage through Ishel’s memories, I realize Annie’s beast form was even larger than that wardrobe over there.
“…Woof.”
I instantly shrank down.
Would I really be able to survive between a leopard and an eagle?
If she finds out I’ve taken over her precious miss’ body, wouldn’t she just gobble me up?
“Woof!!!”
Terrible imagination makes me jump in fright.
No, no! That can’t happen!
But my tail subtly hides between my legs, and my eyes instinctively glance downward.
“Miss?”
“Woof…”
I peek at the two of them, then shake my head lightly.
No, it’ll be okay. For now, I just need to focus on becoming human.
But why could I remember how to be a beast but couldn’t think of how to revert back to human form?
That’s right. In the story, transforming into a beast was described as an instinctive, sudden process—something you just experience.
Oh… I hit my head on the poorly written beast transformation setup.
“Miss, what’s wrong with you?”
An, who was busy giving orders to the maids, quietly approached and asked.
She even pointed two fingers to my forehead with a suspicious look, making me sigh deeply.
Puuh…
What should I do now? Feeling down, I notice the quill and paper on the reception table.
“Woof.”
Yes. Even though I was a dog now, wasn’t I once human?
No matter how trivial I was, I shouldn’t be unable to write.
Happy, I eagerly bark toward the direction of the two items.
“Woof, woof, woof, woof, woof!!”
“Miss?”
Please, give me that.
“…You want the pen and paper?”
“Woof.”
Nodding enthusiastically, Haley instructed the maid behind her.
“Alice, place the paper and pen in front of the lady.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
As the girl with blond hair streaked with brown laid down the white paper and quill, I immediately bit onto the body of the quill.
Then, I started moving the quill with determination.
‘I—I don’t remember how to become human… just write it well!’
Finished. I wag my tail happily and hit the paper with my paw.
“Woof!”
It’s done. Look!
But for some reason, the expressions on Haley and the maids’ faces were quite strange. Why was that?
I follow everyone’s gaze and look down at what I’ve written.
“Wo… woof?”
What is this!
“I… me. My name is… Mame… I am… not a… monster…”
“Woof!?”
I thought I’d written perfectly, but what is this? How could I be so bad at writing? I can’t even recognize it.
Among the maids desperately trying to hold back their laughter, Haley alone calmly lifted the paper.
“Miss, what exactly is this?”
Well.
“Huung.”
My butt sinks heavily without grace. Saliva drips from my mouth. Well, a dog trying to write with a pen is already a marvel, a miracle.
But this was just too much.
“Woooff… Wooouooff…”
Fortunately, Haley was a capable Countess and has raised Ishel for 17 years.
This meant she could recognize even this terrible handwriting.
She carefully examined the paper for a long time, then slowly hardened her expression.
Finally, she crumpled the paper and put it into her dress pocket and stood up.
“An, call the doctor.”
“Woof?”
“Doctor, how is she?”
Concerned, Haley gently laid my trembling hand on the bed.
“There’s nothing physically wrong with her. She’s healthy.”
“Then why can’t she transform into a human?”
“I’m not sure myself…”
The doctor turned to look at me.
“Miss, did something happen? Some shocking or difficult experience that made you unable to remember how to transform?”
“Hmm… meow…”
It’s not that I don’t want to tell; it’s just that…
“Well… yesterday, the royal maid collapsed on the floor in her mermaid form as usual, after studying court etiquette and humanities, then practicing Laonese and watercolor techniques, and lightly practicing the harp before bed.”
Hmm…
Our gazes, mine and the doctor’s, tangled in the air, but neither of us said a word.
Because Haley’s face was shining with pride.
The doctor gently covered me with a soft blanket and looked away from Haley.
Anyway, madam, I believe there’s nothing more I can do. I’m not a ‘beast caretaker.’ Just a simple human doctor.
We should call the beast caretaker immediately. And also send a telegram to the duke in Beijing.
Then, the doctor cautiously opened his lips.
“…And the young master?”
“…”
“Of course… I wonder if it’s wise to inform him, but it’s such a serious matter that I think we should.”
A moment of silent tension filled the room.
You’re right. It’s a serious matter. But if the young master finds out, things could get complicated.
Exactly.
Seeing Annie’s face also turn into a complex expression from afar, I tilted my head.
‘Who on earth is that young master…’
Ah!
It must be Alec. Alekheia Drakanslof.
He’s the younger brother of the Lycan Duke and the second older brother of Ishel.
And he’s known as the “Sword Master of the Continent,” so he’s naturally skilled with swords, and with Lycan blood, he was overwhelmingly formidable on the battlefield.
But wasn’t the heavens just unfair?
Even geniuses had their flaws—he was, to put it kindly, cheerful in temperament, but, badly, overly aggressive.
And…
‘He secretly loves Ishel terribly, even if he pretends not to.’
If he finds out about this situation, he’ll definitely flip the Lycan family upside down trying to find the culprit.
“Sigh.”
“Phew.”
“Puuung…”
All three of us sighed together.
“It’s frightening just to imagine it, madam.”
“Still, I have to inform you first. Lady, you’re in such a dangerous situation, and we can’t just keep it to ourselves.”
“Woof.”
Reluctantly, I nodded, and Hailey stood up from her seat.
