CH 3

Joy. 

Surprisingly enough, the name seemed like it suited with the current situation because Alexa’s ultimate goal is to be happy and not die. 

Well…. 

‘But, is the name Happy too much for the male lead?’

To everyone else who will look at the dog, it is Happy, but it was also The male lead in the form of a dog. He looks like that because he’s still young, but he will grow up into a very attractive obsessive man. However, she couldn’t think of any other name than Happy. 

The child asked at the right time just as Alexa finished thinking. 

“Nuna!”

“Yes?”

N-Nuna? That’s right. 

‘I’m 15 now.’

Still, Alexa’s conscience was poked when she heard the child call her ‘Noona’. 

“What is his name?”

“His name is Happy.”

Alexa said the name she came up with on the spot. The puppy was running around while barking as if he knew they were talking about him. Alexa thought that he might also like the name she gave him. 

‘Yes, you are Happy starting today.’

That’s what I am going to call you until the Grand Duke’s men come. 

“Kiiiiiing…”

Happy, who is timid for a wolf, faltered and hid behind Alexa with its head sticking between her legs. 

“Oh my… it looks like Happy is scared.” 

“Yes, he is a coward.”

This was an improved response. Just how it was difficult for her to seduce Happy to go back with her to her apartment when they first met. Besides, he was scared and crouching whenever she reached out, so she didn’t pet him for the first three days. But, not now! Alexa proudly stuck out her chest. 

After one month of intense training, the puppy was reborn as a dignified dog. 

Alexa then told the puppy, “Sit!”

“Wow! The puppy sat down, Mom! He is really smart.”

“Yeah, he listens better than you.”

“Huh?”

“ Doesn’t he?“

Chuckle. Alexa smiled proudly at their conversation. 

‘I guess my dog is smart in the eyes of other people.’ 

I will have to give you a lot of snacks when we get home today.

“Good job, Happy. Now, make a turn!”

“Arf!”

As if he understood it, Happy spun around. You look like a weird ball of cotton, but okay, I will give you two snacks. 

“Last, Happy. Lie down!”

“Wow! Mom, I want to raise Happy too!”

“Mom is too occupied with you.”

“Aww?”

“You can’t.”

Alexa scrunched her nose. Happy is qualified to eat three snacks today. All eyes were on him as he has a cute appearance, but what’s more eye-catching was Happy being obedient as a sheep in front of Alexa. She could hear praises for Happy everywhere, so she was exhilarated. 

She can see the reward of studying behavioural sciences when she attended veterinary school. Though her efforts went down the drain when she died before she could even build a hospital… 

Alexa walked the streets proudly. 

“Please give me this.”

“The chicken breast? Tell me where you will use it and I will cut it for you.”

“I’m going to smoke it and make it into jerky.”

“Then it would be better to slice it thinly.”

“Yes, Auntie!”

Alexa replied bravely. 

She then bought dried drumsticks, salmon, rice, eggs, and apples. Though she had something to eat, it was made as a snack for the dog. There wasn’t anything here to feed the dog, so she could just make do with rice, while she added snacks to fill in the lacking nutrients. It wasn’t like his fur and nose were shiny on it’s own. Besides, how strong is the dog? It can run for about two meters inside their narrow house. 

Wasn’t it beneficial to feed him? 

“Let’s go, Happy.”

“Arf, arf!”

Their gazes continued to linger on the cute girl and the dog. Of course, Alexa thought that Happy alone was attracting attention, but the pink-cheeked girl with reddish-brown hair and light blue eyes was also attracting enough spotlight. And there were certainly people who were watching both of them. 

“That dog just listened to her like that…?”

“What do you mean Young Master Ysildus was such a gentle wolf! Are you stronger than the Young Master?”

“You need to see this for yourself, Knight Commander ….”

“Who on earth is that kid…? She must be a great talent. Can she wield magic perhaps?” 

They were the ones Alexa had been waiting for.

The knights, who were gradually expanding their search in the Grand Duchy, witnessed a strange sight in a small town they happened to stop by. 

He had not eaten anything no matter what they gave him, and there was no furniture, ornaments, or anything that was left in the castle as he wandered around it…. They witnessed an unbelievable sight. 

The knights surmised – that girl must’ve been sent as a saviour by the God who took pity on the people of the Grand Duchy! 

* * *

A man in a black robe roamed the village. He was chasing the red-haired girl walking through the market with a baby wolf in a white puppy’s clothing. The girl had red hair and the same blue eyes as the wolf with white fur. It was clear they were the ones they were looking for. 

“Crap.”

However, the problem is that the two of them shouldn’t be together. The man then cast a spell towards the shadow. A gloomy, hell-like voice and a pitch-black crow rose from the dark shadows. 

Crackle ~

The black lustre flowing through its feathers seemed to gather all the darkness.  

“Go to the tower.”

He must notify the tower of this situation quickly. They had to completely revise their plans. 

* * *

Sweeping the floor and cleaning the house diligently, Alexa rolled around the skein. Surprisingly, dogs had a similar aspect to cats, so she remembered playing with this skein very well. So, she rolled it up just in case….

“Arf! Arf! Arff!”

He was running after the skein from Alexa. She would kick the thread with her feet then he would tap it with the tip of his nose. As it rolled around with its thick front paws, the thread untied and rolled around. 

She didn’t know what was so interesting about that, but the dog kept running around after it. 

“Alright.”

Alexa had to work while the puppy was having fun. Right, I have to go to work. 

She woke up early in the morning and made small portions of smoked jerky. I should give him white rice and eggs to make his stomach full…. 

Alexa sneaked out. It was always war whenever she went to work because he would chase after her so fast. He would be hanging on Alexa’s legs or stretching out in front of the door. She couldn’t squeeze his precious body, so she often went to work every day by a narrow margin as she wrestled and soothed him. 

Creak – 

‘D**n it.’

This old door is always a problem. When she slowly turned her head back, the puppy was sitting on his buttocks on the floor and tilting his head, not playing. 

Alright. 

‘What are you doing now? Close the door and come here.’ 

That is what she wanted to say to herself.

“Hey, think about it… If I make money, you can eat too, right?”

She was supposed to go to work today quietly, but she missed the chance. The dog was scampering with all his might.

“Hnng …. Hiing! Arf!”

“Ugh!”

Do you still think You are lightweight?

Alexa grabbed the puppy by the tummy as the puppy, who had grown so much bigger than the first time she met it, bumped into her. Fortunately, however, she had a secret weapon prepared for such situations. She pulled out something from the pocket of her apron and threw it as far as she could. 

“Eat!!!!”

“Arf!”

As expected. Alexa got out of the house as soon as possible, avoiding the dog that propelled its body towards the flying yellow apple. She saw him chewing on the apple as she looked from outside the window. 

Aunt Jane, who was wandering in front of the inn, shouted at Alexa. 

“You’re being late again! Come and clean the hall!”

“Yes ~”

Alexa took a step forward, tying her hair up. Still, Aunt Jane, who is considered to be a heartless person, had left two rice balls for Alexa on the table in the hall. When she looked at this, maybe she wasn’t a seriously bad person at all…. 

“Hurry up eating and start working, you mouse bell-like brat. If you keep on playing around….”

“Yes ~, yes. Is it  ‘I’ll give you ten Deons less’?”

“Aigoo!! My insides are gonna explode! Where did I get such an idiot?” 

Alexa struggled with the two rice balls as she saw Aunt Jane already picking up a broomstick. Alexa ran away from the dull Aunt Jane as she chewed and swallowed the rice ball. 

“It’s delicious.”

Without knowing about the black shadow approaching her.

* * *

The one who voluntarily searched with the knights in place of the butler was Visten, the Grand Duke’s assistant, who was now on the battlefield. It was based on the judgement that Visten would judge the situation more cold-heartedly than the compassionate butler. And as expected, Visten was coldly watching the whole situation with no mercy. 

Ysildus, the young heir of the Grand Duke’s family, was chasing after a young girl like a good dog. 

“I am sure he was given some sort of drug.”

“Yes?”

“Otherwise, we wouldn’t be able to understand the overall situation. Was the Young Master Ysildus you know, such a cute pet dog?”

Pet dog – it was a bit rude to refer to their master, but no one could deny it as that was exactly what Ysildus looked like right now. 

“Good job, well done! You have to bring this too.”

“Arf!”

The girl waved the ball in her hand in front of Ysildus, and then threw it away. Ysildus jumped up in the excitement and was even tilting his ears back! He really looked like a dog that listened to its owner obediently. Biting the thread, Ysildus fell flat in front of the girl and perked up his stomach. 

“Look at you. Want belly rubs?”