~Chapter 7~
As expected, there wasn’t a woman who wouldn’t fall for him.
Kaire’s lips curved upward into a smooth, satisfied smile.
That smile only flustered Lorienne further, making her stutter.
“What—what?”
“I helped you because you need to make my potion. When I said you were my type, I was only referring to your taste in magic.”
As if to make sure she didn’t misunderstand, Kaire spoke with a faint smile, even lifting an eyebrow slightly. Then he handed the knife he was holding back to Pico.
“I—I didn’t misunderstand!”
“That’s a relief. Then I’ll be on my way.”
Kaire flipped his hood back over his head and turned to leave. Pico quickly hurried after him.
“Mage, make sure you lock your door! We’ll be going now!”
As Lorienne shut the door, she let out a deep breath.
The flashing blade from moments ago and Kaire’s face telling her not to misunderstand overlapped chaotically in her mind.
After returning to the palace, Kaire and Pico headed straight into the study where he handled his work.
“Don’t let anyone in until I call for them.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Once the attendant closed the door and left, Pico took out the potion he had received from Lorienne.
He carefully placed it on the desk, then with a grunt, removed the large mirror mounted on the wall and set it against the floor.
After confirming it was in place, Kaire immediately drank the potion.
His Adam’s apple bobbed—
—and in an instant, the beautiful man disappeared.
Instead, from within the clothes that collapsed to the floor, a golden retriever—its fur looking as if it had just been brushed—sprang out.
It was a large, fully grown dog.
Kaire sniffed his discarded clothes, barked once—“Woof!”—then calmly lowered his head to examine his front paws with a composure that didn’t match a typical dog.
“Wow, this is unbelievable. Your Highness turned into such a gentle dog? Well, I turned into a chihuahua, so I guess this potion really does have a flaw. It must transform you into a species that’s the complete opposite of your personality.”
Without thinking, Pico reached out and scratched under the retriever’s chin.
At that, the previously gentle-looking dog bared its teeth, wrinkles forming over its nose.
With a low growl—“Grrr”—it snapped once at Pico’s hand as if it might bite.
Startled, Pico quickly pulled his hand back and muttered:
“Even as a dog, your personality’s the same.”
Kaire growled again.
Pico chuckled. “Maybe your hearing’s gotten better since you turned into a dog.”
Snorting as if in disdain, Kaire turned and walked over to the mirror.
‘A perfectly complete transformation.’
After confirming his appearance, Kaire moved away from the mirror and began pacing around the study like a tracking dog.
‘The smells are far clearer than when I was human. The scent of wood, paper, and ink is strongest. There’s also a faint mixture of food and lingering human scent—probably from those who’ve entered before. I’ll need to limit who comes into the study and bedroom and memorize their scents.’
Thirty minutes later, Kaire returned to his human form—completely naked.
Pico, who had been waiting, quickly handed him clothes with an impressed expression.
“Wow… your body and face are truly a work of art. So why is your personality like that…?”
Pico muttered as he looked Kaire up and down.
Kaire snatched the clothes from him and slowly dressed himself, adjusting everything neatly.
Then he walked straight to his desk.
“Bring me a golden retriever puppy.”
“A puppy?”
“Yes. Since it’s a large breed, even a somewhat grown pup will grow quickly. I’ll raise it in the palace.”
“In the palace?”
Pico tilted his head in confusion.
Kaire was so obsessively clean that one might think he had a germ phobia—yet now he wanted to raise a dog?
Pico, who had loved dogs since childhood and currently kept several at home, knew how much work they required.
And knowing Kaire’s personality, he couldn’t help but wonder if he would tolerate the mess and trouble.
Besides, Kaire had always preferred hunting animals over caring for them.
“You’ll have to clean up after it, feed it regularly, take it for walks… Are you sure you’ll be okay with that?”
“What would I not be okay with? It’s your job.”
Watching Kaire already signing documents, Pico clenched his teeth and shook his fist.
But when Kaire looked up, Pico quickly stretched as if nothing had happened.
“And don’t tell that mage what kind of dog I turned into.”
“Why not? If she knows, maybe she could improve the potion next time. Maybe there’s a difference between small and large breeds?”
“There’s nothing more to improve. This is sufficient. And how could I trust that woman enough to tell her what I turn into?”
“Come on, it’s not like she seemed like someone who’d harm you. Even if she did call you a fake archduke…”
At the words “fake archduke,” Kaire’s gaze turned icy.
Feeling the chill, Pico immediately clamped his mouth shut, then quickly spoke again:
“Of course! My lips are sealed. I won’t tell her—absolutely not.”
Knock, knock.
At that moment, someone knocked on the study door.
Kaire’s brows furrowed slightly.
He had clearly ordered that no one be allowed in—and at this late hour, knocking like this without permission…
He could already guess who it was.
Pico, on the other hand, welcomed the interruption.
At least it meant escaping Kaire’s piercing gaze.
At Kaire’s signal, Pico strode over and opened the door, a smile already forming on his face.
“Good evening! Beautiful Princess Angel.”
A woman in a splendid dress stood at the door.
Angel smiled brightly and extended her hand.
Pico lightly kissed the back of it.
“Pico, you always know how to make people feel good.”
“Yes, everyone says that. Except for one person.”
Pico glanced at Kaire, but Kaire didn’t even lift his head, focused on reviewing documents.
Seeing this, Angel lifted the hem of her voluminous dress and approached him.
“Kai.”
“Kaire.”
Kaire corrected her in a low voice, cutting off the nickname.
Angel pouted slightly at his refusal to look at her.
“You always let me call you Kai when we were young. Why not now?”
“I’ve told you many times. We’re not children anymore. Don’t call me that again—before I start insisting you call me ‘Your Highness Kaire.’ This is your final warning.”
Sensing the cold tension, Pico cleared his throat loudly.
“I’ll be heading off now.”
After Pico left, the only sound in the room was Kaire’s pen moving across paper.
Angel stepped closer, waiting for him to look at her.
Forcing a bright smile, she spoke in a sweet, coaxing tone.
Finally, Kaire lifted his head.
“Alright, Kaire—look at this—”
Angel stepped back and twirled.
Her light green silk dress flared beautifully beneath her slim waist.
“How is it? Empress Arina gave it to me as a gift.”
“When are you returning to Ledouen? You’ve been in the palace for over two months.”
“Why? Do you want me to leave? Everyone else is happy I’m here—why are you the only one…!”
Kaire crossed his arms and stared at her.
Angel had pinkish-red hair and captivating red eyes—beauty that anyone would praise.
She had been invited repeatedly to Astum Palace by Empress Arina.
The invitations began when Emperor Tyr’s health started to decline.
Angel had never once refused.
“Angel, I have no intention of marrying you. So stop wasting your efforts.”
“…Everyone wants us to marry.”
“That’s unfortunate. Because I’m not included in that ‘everyone.’”
