Ask Away, Your Majesty - Chapter 13
Indeed, there wasn’t a woman who didn’t fall for him. Kyle’s lips curved into a gentle smile.
Caught off guard by his odd expression, Lorienne stumbled over her words. “W–what?”
“I helped you because you needed to make my potion. When I said you were to my tastes I was merely referring to my preference of magic,” Kyle said, assuring her not to misunderstand.
With a smirk on his face, he passed the knife back to Pico.
“Oh, I don’t think I misunderstood you?”
“If you didn’t, that’s a relief. Well then, goodbye.”
Kyle pulled his hood back up and turned to leave, with Pico hurrying behind him.
“Take care now, Miss Mage,” said Pico. “We’re off!”
Lorienne took a deep breath as she closed the door. The images of the swiftly moving blades before her eyes and Kyle’s face urging her not to misunderstand, intertwined in a dizzying blur.
* * *
Upon returning to the palace, Kyle and Pico went straight to the study where official matters were attended to.
“Let no one in until you are summoned.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Following the order to keep everyone out, the servant closed the door and vanished. Pico retrieved the potion he had received from Lorienne, handling it with caution as he placed it on the desk. He then removed a large mirror attached to the wall, which creaked as it came off.
Observing the mirror resting against the wall on the floor, Kyle immediately drank the potion. A substantial gulp slid down his throat, and the handsome man vanished within seconds. In his place, a golden retriever, freshly brushed, sprang from the pile of clothes that had sunk to the floor. He was a hefty, full-grown dog.
Kyle, with a sniff at his discarded clothes, let out a single bark with an air of inexplicable composure. Then, with an uncanny calmness, he lowered his head to inspect his front paws.
“Wow, unbelievable,” said Pico. “His Highness transformed into such a gentle dog? Well, I turned into a chihuahua, after all. Apparently, this potion has its flaws. It clearly changes into a breed with a completely opposite nature.”
Pico absentmindedly scratched under Kyle’s fluffy chin. The retriever’s normally docile face wrinkled at the touch, revealing his teeth. It barked once more with a mix of a growl and a whimper, ready to bite Pico’s hand.
Pico quickly withdrew his hand and mumbled, “Even as a dog, you have the same personality.”
Upon hearing this, Kyle let out another growl.
Pico chuckled, “Seems becoming a dog has enhanced your hearing abilities.”
Kyle snorted mockingly, then turned toward the mirror.
Truly the perfect image of a dog.
Once satisfied with his appearance, Kyle began to roam the study like a seasoned scent hound.
The scent is much clearer than when I was human. The smell of wood, paper, and ink stands out the most. Faint but a mixture of various foods and a vague odor must be remnants from the human who entered here. I need to limit and familiarize myself with the scents of those who frequent the study and bedroom.
After 30 minutes, Kyle returned in his full human form. Pico, who was waiting, swiftly handed over the clothes with an expression of awe.
“Wow, your body and face are truly a work of art, but why does your personality…” muttered Pico as he scanned Kyle’s body.
Snatching the clothes from Pico, Kyle slowly put it on, smoothing it out as he did. Then he straightened up and headed for his desk.
“Fetch me a golden retriever pup.”
“A pup?”
“Yes. It’s a large breed, so a somewhat grown puppy will soon be of the right size. We’ll need to raise it in the palace.”
“In the palace?”
Pico scratched his head in disbelief that Kyle, who was so obsessively neat and tidy, would want to have a dog in the palace.
Pico, on the other hand, had been a dog lover since he was a child, and even had several dogs back home. He knew how much work it was to raise a dog, and he couldn’t help but wonder if Kyle would tolerate a dog that behaved contrary to his wishes. Besides, Kyle preferred to hunt animals rather than raise them.
“You’ll have to clean up after its mess, feed it regularly, take it for walks… Are you sure about this?” Pico asked.
