Elise smiled and stroked his glossy black hair. The orphan lifted his head, still clutching Elise’s hand and pressing his lips against it. His dark eyes, an odd mix of colors, were fixed on Elise.

Elise could tell.

She finally had a dog who would follow only her.

***

A clattering sound echoed across her bedroom.

Elise slipped the collar around the orphan’s neck, the kind they put on hunting dogs. The black collar, with its chain around the nape of her slender neck, looked quite appropriate. Elise wasn’t a fan of black, but it suited the color of the orphan’s hair and eyes.

‘I’m glad I chose black.’

Elise stroked the orphan’s cheek with satisfaction, and the touch made him squirm and close his eyes. She loved his long lashes and the slight flush on his pure white cheeks. He looked like he could burst with sweet nectar if she took a bite.

“It’s ready, just wait.”

Elise patted the orphan on the cheek and stood up. The orphan was calm during the leashing process, but as soon as Elise stood up, he became very agitated. He whimpered pitifully as if he didn’t want her to leave him behind.

“Elder, Elder…….”

“Sit down.”

Elise said, gesturing to the floor.

“Sit and wait. I’ll get you something to eat, okay?”

Elise said it several times, making sure the orphan understood.

The orphan still grunted and made pained noises and struggled to sit up, but soon he obeyed and sat on the floor and waited. Although he couldn’t speak, he didn’t seem to be completely unable to understand.

Elise glanced back at the orphan several times before leaving the room. She liked the way he looked at her pitifully, his sunken eyes wide and blue. It felt so good to have someone waiting for her.

“I will bring more cake.”

It made her normally boring solo tea time unexpectedly enjoyable. She didn’t hesitate to use her hands to carry the food. Elise chose a sweet cake with lots of white cream from the mountain of cakes and placed it on a plate.

‘It’s delightful that something fit for maidservants can be so enjoyable.’

Elise ran upstairs to her bedroom excitedly.

Where her very own dog, whom she didn’t want anyone to see, was waiting for her.

***

“Here, eat.”

Elise placed the cake, dripping with pure white cream, in her palm.

“You must lick every last bit of it.”

The orphan nodded good-naturedly. The chain around his neck made a rattling sound.

Elise briefly considered removing the chain, but decided it wouldn’t interfere with his ability to eat. She did, however, loosen the leash around his neck.

“Mmmmm, mmmmm, ung…….”

The orphan moaned and licked at the cake, her palms tickling with every swipe of her tongue. Elise winced at the unexpected tickle. It was a tickle that felt ethereal. Her toes curled strangely as the cream on her palm disappeared.

“Ugh…… it tickles.”

The orphan was still on his knees, licking the cake as he was told, when Elise jerked her head up, unable to resist the tickle, and whipped cream splashed into the corner of Elise’s mouth. The orphan scrambled to his feet and licked at her lips and cheeks.

“No! Stop it! I said stop it!”

Elise let out a new scream and twisted her head this way and that. He couldn’t help but laugh, whether it was the feel of his hot, soft tongue across her lips or the tickling sensation of his cheeks. The orphaned beggar was indeed a dog. She wondered where such a beautiful dog came from.

Elise giggled with satisfaction, then realized she didn’t know what to call the dog.

“What should I name you?” 

A monk, who pitied an orphan whose name and age were unknown, once said that he had called him Angelo. While everyone was pointing fingers, calling him the devil’s child, the one monk who had compassion for the orphan died of a strange fever.

‘Angelo.’

Elise said the name to herself. It was an angelic name that suited the orphan’s beautiful face. But she didn’t like it.

‘Angels fly away.’

Elise didn’t want a beautiful angel in heaven, she wanted a loyal dog who would look out for her on earth.

‘A loyal dog…….’

After a moment’s thought, Elise remembered that her old hunting lodge dog was named Argen. He was a big, fierce dog, and his black muzzle was always dripping with hot saliva. Because of his hideous muzzle, Elise had never dared to go near him.

‘Well.’

Elise tilted her head slightly. Considering the dog’s appearance and the crudeness of his name, Argen would never be a good match for the orphan in front of her.

But the dog, it was said, had been so loyal that he had eventually been shot instead of his master. Elise liked that very much.

“Argen.”

Elise said the dog’s name out loud.

“Your name is Argen.”

The orphan stared off into the distance with a puzzled expression on his face. After a few repetitions, he realized she was calling him.

“Argen.”

Elise called him once more, holding out the back of her hand in a noble gesture. Unaware of the meaning, Argen stuck out his tongue and gave Elise’s hand a long lick.

“You stupid dog!”

Elise’s laughter was heard beyond the bedroom.

***

“May the night come soon.”

Ever since she had Argen, Elise had always looked forward to returning to her bedroom. Most of the day was still boring, and she couldn’t be with him during that time. Argen was chained to one side of Elise’s bedroom, unable to step outside.

?You can’t step out of the bedroom. Do you understand??

Elise had set a deadline for Argen. Of course, she wanted to take him everywhere and play with him, but her mother wouldn’t let her. She knew all too well how the toys her father had bought her as gifts had been ruined by her mother’s hands.

But the thought of returning to Argen soon made the boring hours bearable. Besides, she could bring him something tasty at mealtime or after tea. Joy filled her heart as she stroked Argen’s head with her palm.

It was possible because Duke Bernhardt, who had returned to his territory, was still away from home, and the Duchess did not come out of the bedroom.

When he returns, she doesn’t come out. Elise knew the unwritten rule well.

In the past, she would have complained incessantly about having to dine and tea alone in the vast space, but now she was grateful for it.

At night, she used to gossip with the maids, but now she changed into her pajamas at dusk and went to bed very early.

“Come here.”

Elise untied Argen’s leash. A red mark remained on his slender neck, a mark that gave her the odd feeling that she had carved her name into his body. Elise wondered if she should tighten the leash a little more.

“Elder, Elder.”

Meanwhile, Argen had burrowed straight into Elise’s arms. Elise stroked his head as he snuggled up against her waist. To think he’d been locked in her bedroom all day, waiting for her, was a delight.

“Stop, you’re tickling me.”

But Elise didn’t know how to express her feelings, and she only laughed softly as she pushed away from Argen, who rubbed his head against her chest. Argen, who had been waiting for Elise all day, was undeterred by the gesture.

“I told you to stop.”

Elise hugged Argent tightly as she spoke, noticing a scent she had never smelled on him before. She liked the fragrance, so she buried her nose in his neck and sniffed, then quickly turned her head, her face blushing with the thought that she felt like a dog.

Then, this time, Argent delved into Elise’s neck, obstinately smelling her scent. Each time he took a deep breath, her tender skin seemed to be drawn in. Moreover, whenever his hot lips touched her neck, she felt a strange sensation for some reason.

“Ungh, Elder, hngh…….”

Each time she fed Argent, the moan that mixed at the tip of his tongue vividly resounded in her ears. For an unknown reason, Elise’s heart was beating fast, and her neck became unusually hot. Unable to bear the sensation any longer, Elise pushed Argent away sharply.

“I told you to stop, go away!”

“Elder, Elder.”

Elyse pushed Argen’s head away, and he instantly turned into a sobbing mess. He stretched out his arms, pleading with Elise to hold him again. Still reeling from the strange sensation from earlier, Elise glared at him with a stern expression.

“Don’t you ever do that again. Do you understand?”

A slightly withered Argen nodded.

Elise liked the way he looked, like a puppy with his tail between his legs, so she opened her arms. He scooped her up into his arms with a gesture like he was about to pounce. Elise pinched him lightly on the cheek before pulling him into her arms.

As she leaned into him, their cheeks touched. His cheeks were pleasantly cool.

Argen smiled with the most delightful smile he could muster and lightly rubbed his cheek against Elise’s. He narrowed his eyes to gauge Elise’s reaction, as if he was afraid he’d get in trouble.

“Good boy.”

Elise smiled and stroked Argen’s head. Snuggled into Elise’s arms, looking happy again, it wasn’t long before Argen was asleep. His wheezing breaths echoed in her ears, and the warmth of his body gave her a sense of contentment that she hadn’t felt when sleeping with her doll.

Elise hugged Argen tightly and whispered.

“You’re mine.”