Chapter 6
Baron Insetia fell into thought as he watched the roaring fireplace.
The flames burning the Black Ironwood—fire brought from Ebria’s fireplace.
‘How can Black Ironwood even burn?’
Ebria had claimed she accidentally created the fire while praying earnestly, but could that possibly be true? If it were, no one in Erel would have to shiver in the cold.
They had once brought a famous magician from the capital because of their reputation for great magical power, yet even that person had failed to burn Black Ironwood.
‘This fire was never created by accident. This is the power of Lady Ebria herself.’
Baron Insetia wasn’t one to be fooled by the lies of a young princess. How many years had he lived harshly, carving a life in the unforgiving northern lands? His experience made him far too seasoned to be deceived by a child raised delicately in the capital.
‘But Ebria’s magical power is said to be extremely low. If she has enough strength to create such a fire, why claim her power is weak?’
The Baron pictured Duke Oberon, Ebria’s father and his superior. Being a meticulous strategist, he surely had a reason for hiding his daughter’s great power.
‘Probably to avoid outside interference. Those with great power inevitably become targets of caution.’
The Oberon family already boasted a level of tradition and prestige comparable to the royal family. If a child with immense power were born there, Ebria would never have been able to live freely like she does now.
‘But the energy I sensed was far too ordinary for someone with such incredible power…’
Still, the Baron shook his head. He knew that once someone reached an extraordinary level, ordinary people could barely perceive it.
‘Could it be that the princess’s abilities have reached that level?’
He felt chills run down his arms.
‘It seems the Duke is playing the long game.’
If that was the case, Baron Insetia had no choice but to align himself with the Duke’s intentions. That was why, despite his doubts, he didn’t press Ebria too deeply.
‘Until the Duke mentions it first, I must remain silent.’
Yet, even with that in mind, he couldn’t help recalling the long-standing legends of Erel. Legends told only in the northern regions. Though not on the scale of the kingdom’s founding myths, the people here had their own stories.
Though now under the kingdom’s rule, the North had once been a separate nation.
Different race. Different culture. A land entirely distinct from the central nobility of the capital.
Before succumbing to the mighty flames of the blue wizard in the kingdom’s myths, the North lived freely. The Oberon family originated here in the North. Their roots were different, which meant they faced more scrutiny from the royal family than other houses.
‘They say a new flame will arise in Erel to dispel trials. That will be the first step of a hero who will save this land.’
Could this fire Ebria created be that legendary flame?
Did the Duke know everything and send his daughter here for this very reason?
To test the legend, the freedom of this land, and all its northern people?
‘I shall remain silent. Until everything is revealed.’
Baron Insetia’s eyes sank deep into thought.
“First, I must ensure this stays secret.”
He needed to prevent any news of the fire Ebria had created from leaking outside.
The butler spent the entire day going around the mansion, asking everyone, but unsurprisingly, no one claimed to have lost a dog. With Harry confirmed as a stray, the butler returned him to my room late at night. By then, a leash had been fastened around his neck.
“A leash?”
“That butler put it on. He said big dogs are dangerous. A leash, really. This is Teoharis’s greatest humiliation.”
Harry flopped onto the floor and scratched at the leash, but the tightly fastened strap didn’t budge.
“Do you think you can get out that way?”
I smiled and leaned down to stroke Harry’s head. His legs froze mid-kick in surprise.
“Why are you petting me now?”
He asked, clearly confused.
“Petting is a sign of comfort, isn’t it?”
Apparently, he remembered what I had said the first time I petted him.
“One action can imply multiple meanings. Right now, it means praise.”
I shrugged and continued to stroke him.
“Thanks for enduring that humiliation, Harry.”
Harry scoffed.
“Giving medicine after making me sick? If you hadn’t turned me into a dog, I wouldn’t have gone through this humiliation!”
“I know. That’s why I’m praising you. Oh, good boy. Well done.”
I mechanically praised him and then loosened the leash. Freed, Harry stood up with a refreshed look.
“Finally, I feel alive again.”
“I’ll make sure no one else puts a leash on you. But don’t show your fierce side in front of others. Otherwise, I have no reason to avoid using the leash.”
“Yesterday you told me to be a dog, now you want me to be a gentle lamb.”
Harry grumbled as he leapt onto the bed. I stared, astonished at his audacity.
“Harry, that’s my bed, you know?”
“I know. But I’m your pet.”
“So?”
“Don’t you know pets have the right to share their owner’s bed?”
Sleeping with pets was common, true.
“But you’re a devil inside.”
“You can’t hurt your contractor anyway. What’s to worry about?”
“True, but…”
I couldn’t help feeling suspicious. Devils were known for deceiving humans with clever words.
“I won’t do anything, nothing at all. I wouldn’t even think of touching a tiny kid like you.”
Harry wagged his tail lazily, clearly uninterested.
“By the way, how old are you now?”
“I’ll turn eighteen after my birthday. Then I’ll be an adult.”
Though I was technically older, by Ebria’s count, I was still seventeen. Harry let out a scoffing laugh.
“Eighteen? Such a crumb.”
Using age to brag, I thought incredulously, and crossed my arms.
“A crumb? How old are you to be bragging?”
“Me? 2,176 years old, why?”
“2,176?”
The number stunned me. Of course—Teoharis had existed since the kingdom’s founding myth.
‘Naturally, he’d be old.’
His appearance suggested early twenties at most, so I had never considered his real age.
“Harry… were you my grandfather…?”
“Grandfather? I’m a young man with a bright future!”
He pricked up his ears, offended by my words.
‘So 2,176 years is young for a devil?’
I stared at him, stunned, as he reclined elegantly on the bed.
“What? Not sleeping yet? It’s late. If you don’t like the bed, you can sleep on the sofa over there.”
He spoke as if he owned the bed.
“This is my bed. Why would I sleep on the sofa?”
I pouted and lay down. The bed was so large that Harry’s presence on the opposite side barely registered. The warm blanket and cozy air from the roaring fire made me feel comfortable.
‘All that shivering today from the cold… finally over.’
I silently shed tears of joy and fell asleep instantly.
‘End of hardships, beginning of happiness! Hooray!’
“What, already asleep?”
Harry lay diagonally on the bed, eyes narrowed. By now, he had returned to his human form, no longer the white dog.
“A crumb, huh? Still so naive.”
Trusting a devil while sleeping in the same bed.
‘I thought you were suspicious by nature.’
Harry reached out to stroke my hair. Compared to his silver hair, mine was a plain reddish-brown, but it reminded him of the fire, the source of his power, so he liked it.
‘Even touching me, I don’t wake up.’
I prodded my cheeks lightly, but I just shifted lazily, showing no intention to wake.
‘I appreciate that you trust me…’
But not being wary enough hurt his pride.
‘I look pretty good, don’t I? All the girls liked me.’
Devils thrived by winning human favor, and beauty was the easiest way. Harry was especially skilled among devils. Yet his appearance seemed ineffective on a new contractor.
‘Do they really think I’m a dog just because I transformed?’
Seeing me sleep so peacefully, he probably did.
‘Coming to the human world after so long, and getting treated like a dog…’
If the others in the demon realm knew he was wearing a dog collar, they’d laugh for at least a hundred years.
‘So I must get my reward for this dog-life ordeal.’
The question was how to tease this contractor.
‘What does my contractor desire? Looks okay, high status, seems rich. What could he lack?’
Harry didn’t worry. Humans all have hidden desires; it was just a matter of triggering them. Even if he currently disliked war and killing, whispering in his ear would sway him.
‘That’s human nature.’
Harry smiled satisfied and lightly kissed my hair.
‘Soon I’ll discover your desires. Wait and see.’
And the devil would indulge in pleasure.
As he grinned, a strange presence came from the outer parlor.
Someone moved carefully and stealthily.
Clumsy, but trying to be as quiet as possible.
‘An assassin?’
He had encountered similar situations with his first contractor. Visitors sneaking in this way were usually assassins.
Harry gazed at the sleeping Ebria.
‘If I ignore this, she’ll die, and the contract will end naturally.’
That would have been best for him, but he didn’t want it.
‘Teoharis’s contractor dying to a clumsy assassin? That won’t do.’
If a human called his name, they deserved a more dignified death.
‘So for now, I’ll be a loyal dog.’
