Chapter 14
Ever since Puppy came to live at the Steren estate, Dioana had been living quite the exemplary life, saying that as the owner, she had to show some dignity and authority.
She stopped sleeping in, didn’t show up late to her lessons, diligently attended heir training, didn’t skip her basic exercises, and most importantly…
“She doesn’t even pick at her food anymore!”
Dioana had always preferred sweets over actual meals. She used to hide candy or chocolate under her pillow, ruining her sheets, and even ended up with tooth decay because of it.
She wouldn’t touch vegetables or meat, and even if she did put them in her mouth, she’d just sit there holding them without chewing—causing endless worry. But amusingly, ever since Puppy showed up, she started eating everything as if to show off.
“Master, are you not eating your asparagus?”
“Uh…? Oh, no. I was saving it for later.”
“Right? My master would never be a picky eater.”
“Of course not! I’m Puppy’s master. I’ll eat all the asparagus. Right, Auntie? I’m not picky, am I?”
Something that couldn’t be fixed no matter how much effort she put into it… and yet, the moment that brat opened his mouth, it changed just like that.
‘How annoying. Is Dio starting to like that Puppy more than her own aunt…? This feels a little lonely. Wait, who am I even jealous of right now?’
But the frustration was hard to suppress.
Dioana, how could you do this to your aunt? I love you so much, and you change your heart so easily just because of one handsome boy? Is love really that fickle?!
In a burst of emotion, she unknowingly clenched her hand.
“Ah!”
A low groan escaped the boy’s lips.
“Auntie! You can’t go pulling Puppy’s hair like that!”
“Oh dear. My mistake. It wasn’t on purpose.”
“Puppy, are you okay? Let me see—gasp! Auntie’s holding Puppy’s hair!”
Feeling embarrassed, she quickly brushed her hand off. Who cares if his hair got yanked out? Honestly, it was kind of satisfying.
“I’ll blow on it for you, Puppy. Give me your head.”
“Dio, you said only Auntie gets to do that. Are you betraying me?”
“Betray? But Auntie just yanked your hair out!”
“I’m hurt, Auntie.”
“Ugh… Fine. Sorry, Puppy. Only Auntie gets to blow on it.”
“It’s okay, Master. It didn’t really hurt. And the former master didn’t pull that hard, right?”
Puppy looked at her arrogantly as he spoke.
How ridiculous. Like anyone would answer that. She turned her head sharply—then suddenly realized how much time had passed. According to today’s schedule, Dioana had to attend her heir classes, and she had to return to her official duties.
“Alright, Dioana. Time for your lessons.”
“Eh, already? Puppy, see you at dinner!”
“Yes. Please do your best in class, Master.”
Dioana waved reluctantly to both her and Puppy, then left with the maid who had come to escort her to the training room.
Puppy didn’t go with her because, as previously mentioned, it had been decided in a prior agreement between herself, Dio, and the old man.
First, whenever Dio and Puppy play, she has to be present.
Second, when he’s not with Dio, Puppy must remain under her supervision.
The reason she accepted Puppy in the first place was to observe him more closely. She didn’t believe for a second that he was someone who had lived a normal life or had been born a slave.
‘There’s no way this guy is ordinary. Says he lost his memory? You think I’d fall for that lie?’
Until she uncovered his hidden identity—whatever it was he was trying to get from her—she wouldn’t let her guard down for a second.
Puppy’s daily routine was simple.
He woke up, tidied his sheets, put on casual servant-like clothes, then went downstairs to pick up Dioana. When he got to the central staircase on the second floor, Daphne would be standing there, staring at him with a sour face.
“You’re late. Three whole minutes.”
“Sorry.”
“Tch. Making a duke wait—don’t you think that’s rather arrogant? …Well, Dioana is waiting, so go.”
“Yes.”
Daphne clicked her tongue disapprovingly and led the way. There was a very good reason the Duke of the Steren family was acting this way.
“Auntie, you’re just being mean to Puppy. Puppy is basically my friend. So you should try to get along with him too!”
The one person Daphne could never refuse was the precious jewel of the Steren family, Dioana Steren. She had kicked up a huge fuss over it.
“Your Grace, maybe just this once… consider it as letting Lady Dioana win.”
“From now on, Auntie and Puppy will come pick me up together! If Auntie comes alone, I’ll get mad! Puppy is family now, part of House Steren!”
“Well, she’s not exactly wrong. He’s not a salaried employee like the servants—he’s Dioana’s ‘Puppy.’ Just let it go, Your Grace. You know you can’t win against her.”
Even Russell, whom Daphne trusted, took Dioana’s side, and that clearly shook her.
What the hell is that damn Puppy to deserve this humiliation? She was probably thinking exactly that.
Of course Daphne wasn’t happy about welcoming Puppy. But what could she do? Her niece was totally smitten.
So Daphne, begrudgingly, had to go pick up Dioana with Puppy several times a day.
“I don’t trust you. Whether you’ve lost your memory or not, I’ll find out who you really are.”
“Yes, please do, former Master.”
“Don’t call me that.”
“Yes, Duke.”
“And if you ever think about using Dioana for your gain, give it up now. Unlike her, I won’t give you any affection.”
“Yes.”
“I’m watching you, so act properly.”
“Yes. Please keep watching me.”
As expected of the icy Northern Duke—her coldness radiated like frost. But even that side of her looked stunning and lovely in Eden’s eyes.
“Huh? Who are you?”
“I-I am…”
“‘I-I am’ what?”
“I… I’m the Empire’s Second Prince.”
“What? The Empire’s Second Prince?”
“Y-yeah.”
Even if he was a neglected prince, he was still royalty. The son of the emperor. When young Daphne looked at him like he was some pathetic little clown, he tried his best to maintain a dignified expression.
“Yeah, right. You’re the Second Prince? Even a stray dog would laugh. Hah! Tsk, tsk, you picked the wrong girl to mess with.”
But contrary to his expectations, she snorted, placed her tiny hands on her hips, and clicked her tongue.
She reminded him eerily of his older brother, First Prince Lucius, and he couldn’t hold back anymore.
“How dare you?!”
“Dare? You’re the one being shameless. How dare you lie?”
“Lie? What’s that?”
“Lying! There’s no such thing as a Second Prince!”
“I am the Second Prince!”
“Yeah, right. I know the entire original story!”
“…Original story?”
“Let’s see. Right. You don’t even have a name, do you?”
“How did you know…?”
He could never forget that day. Even if he wanted to, he couldn’t. His life at age seven began to change from the moment he met Daphne, who was eight.
When she saw him at the slave market, he recognized her immediately. She was Daphne Steren.
“That one. I’ll take that one.”
“He’s a high-end slave, miss. He’ll cost a pretty penny.”
“Doesn’t matter. I’ll pay whatever it takes. Load him up.”
At first, he thought she recognized him too. But all she said, after staring at his filthy, ragged appearance, was:
“First, give him a proper wash. No one could feel even an ounce of desire looking at him like this.”
She crushed his expectations completely.
Still, after being passed around as a prisoner of war, never getting the chance to bathe properly—he held onto hope. That maybe once he was cleaned up and looked decent again, she might recognize him.
He was scrubbed by the attendants like a piece of laundry, filth scraped off of him until he finally looked like himself again.
“You’re lucky, you know that? Your life just turned around.”
“Seriously. To be noticed by a lady of the Duke’s house… You better take care of that face. Lady Daphne is ice-cold—pure Northern blood.”
He had no idea what they were talking about, and before he could get an explanation, they shoved him into one of the luxurious guest rooms where Daphne was staying.
