The Elven Duke Reluctantly Marries The Cursed Lady - Chapter 5
Just a little bit. Just let me touch you for a little bit…
“Migya~~~~~!!”
Noticing Hydrangea, the cat screeched and scratched the back of his hand as hard as it could.
“Ow!”
And then, they ran.
Instead of the sensation of touching a cat’s fluffy fur, he was left with claw marks and a bleeding hand.
A cold wind blew past him. At that moment, it felt as if the wind was telling him to give up on the cats.
◇◇◇
Hydrangea visited the back of his house the next day and the day after that, but none of the cats appeared.
I probably won’t see them again.
[Greetings, Seventh! I have news for you. There were complaints about some troublesome cats that came to live at the back of the mansion previously, yet it seems they have been gone for a few days now so the gardener has been in a good mood lately.]
“……”
The one who spoke to the dejected-looking Hydrangea was the Great Spirit “Pomeranian” who was in the form of a small dog.
His shiny fur was the color of wheat and his charming appearance was very popular in the tales of old.
But not many know that contrary to its appearance, he spoke in an old-fashioned way and had a gruff voice. He made a contract with Prince Dicentra of Lilliphiltia a thousand years ago, but after his passing, Pomeranian has stayed with the Ducal House of Laudense ever since.
As to why he addressed Hydrangea as “Seventh”, it is because he is the 7th generational head of the family starting from the founder.
The First had lived 500 years, the Second lived up to 300 while the Third had lived as long as 200 years. But Hydrangea’s father, the Sixth, only lived up to 55 — which meant that their lifespan gradually shortened as they continued to interbreed with humans.
Incidentally, Hydrangea’s father died of illness.
[Is it not because you frightened those kittens away?]
“I did not frighten them, I merely wanted to pet them.”
[To a little cat, that would be considered frightening, indeed.]
Although he was a little miffed at Pomeranian’s words, he did not see anything wrong when he looked at it in a cool-headed perspective.
After all, Hydrangea, who possessed mana as great as the First head of the Ducal House of Laudense, posed a threat to creatures that did not have resistance to magic.
The same could also be said for humans as those who are not resistant to magic can also fall ill by just being in the same space as him.
And for that reason, it could be said that the search for a bride for Duke Laudense was next to impossible.
[If you become her spouse, she would be the one most affected by your mana.]
“I do not intend to engage in spousal activities anyway.”
[You keep on saying that, yet did you not send a passionate letter to the young lady of the Count Northpole House asking for her hand in marriage?]
“Where, and how did you read it?”
[Did you not send it through correspondence magic? I saw it a few nights ago.]
“……”
Correspondence Magic, which is a type of high-level magic, is usually reserved for emergencies or important messages, so the letter Hydrangea sent using the spell was said to be a passionate letter.
“In the first place, how did you know what I wrote?”
[Seventh, do not underestimate us Great Spirits. If I can read the mana covering it, of course I can know its contents.]
His whole life, the Great Spirit Pomeranian had never considered anyone as his equal. Not even his father, nor his grandfather.
[That being said, I am here to cheer you up after being rejected by those cats. Come, I’ll even permit you to pet me.]
Pomeranian looked up at Hydrangea while exposing his belly.
[I have never done this for any of the previous heads but you.]
“I refuse.”
[Why!?]
That is because Hydrangea was a cat lover and not a dog lover.
[You are wasting a great opportunity. Nobody can beat me when it comes to fluffiness!]
Hydrangea ignored Pomeranian and focused on clearing away the documents that had piled up on his desk.
