The hunting dog that had lunged at me as if to bite only snatched the bread bag I was holding and ran off into the distance.

“Hey, you! Stop! No! Wait!”

Startled, Tom hurriedly issued a flurry of commands, chasing after the dog. I watched his back as he awkwardly ran, dragging the leash on the ground. Then, I looked at the torn paper bag left in my hand.

‘My bread…’

A puppy had just stolen my bread.

“Lea, are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. It’s not like I was attacked or anything.”

“Do you want to head back to the dorm first? Tom is slow at running, so I need to call someone to help! Sorry, Lea!”

Selly hurried off, shouting as she ran. I recalled the damp nose of the hunting dog that had touched my hand and nodded.

‘I never thought I could read an animal’s memory.’

For a brief moment, when the hunting dog’s nose touched my hand, I was able to see its past.

In my previous life, I never took off my gloves, and in this life, I hadn’t touched an animal without gloves, so I didn’t know.

‘Could I always read an animal’s past, or has my ability to read recent pasts improved with use?’

I couldn’t be sure, but I felt I knew where that hunting dog had run off to and why it was acting so wildly.

I turned around, heading back the way I came.

“Looks like my long day isn’t over yet.”

Just as I turned, I heard a voice behind me, tinged with regret. I stopped in my tracks and half-turned.

“…Duke, are you my stalker?”

“That’s a dangerous and scary statement to make.”

Laughter edged Laches’ voice as he strolled over and stood beside me. A gentle breeze brought a sweet scent with it.

“I was just trying to look after you since I didn’t see you at dinner. I’m disappointed.”

“…Are you really my stalker?”

“Hmm. Let’s just say I take good care of people.”

Laches responded lightly, shrugging it off as if it didn’t matter.

“So, where are you going now? Isn’t your work done?”

“My work is done, but I have a place I need to go to…”

I stopped and looked at Laches. Walking to the west entrance would take too long.

“Duke.”

“Hmm?”

“Could you please show me that kindness of yours once more?”

“My kindness?”

“Could you give me a ride in your carriage? To the west entrance.”

Laches frowned slightly at my abrupt request.

“Do you really think I’d agree to that?”

“That’s why I’m asking for your kindness. Otherwise, I’ll have to start walking now.”

Without further explanation, Laches didn’t ask any more questions.

Then he signaled a distant butler.

“Tell the coachman to bring the carriage. Right now.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

What kind of master listens to a maid’s baseless request so easily?

“…I saw the hunting dog you brought from the monster’s nest.”

“Ah, that troublesome thing.”

Laches, with his arms folded, casually responded as he waited for the carriage.

“What will happen to the hunting dog if it continues to be wild?”

“A hunting dog that doesn’t recognize its owner and doesn’t show loyalty is useless. And at Violenstus castle, we don’t keep things that are unnecessary.”

His tone was nonchalant, as if he truly didn’t care much about the matter.

I chose not to ask any more and closed my mouth. Soon, the coachman brought the carriage. Laches got in naturally, and since it was clear he wouldn’t let me go alone, we headed together to the west entrance.

The garden was so vast that even riding in the carriage took a while to reach the west entrance.

“But why are you going to the west entrance?”

“To catch the hunting dog.”

“…What?”

“The dog ran away earlier.”

“What?”
No sooner had the carriage stopped than I thanked Laches and got out. Laches followed suit.

“Came here to catch a hunting dog? What are you talking about?”

“There it is.”

A few steps from the carriage, the western entrance guarded by the security guards came into view. At the entrance, Tom was standing off with the dog, unable to leave the estate, accompanied by several knights.

“Your Grace.”

The people spotted Laches and greeted him respectfully. Laches furrowed his brow at the sudden encounter.

“What’s going on here? I wasn’t informed about this.”

“It’s my fault, Your Grace. The dog suddenly ran off, and I lost hold of the leash.”

Tom confessed and bowed to Laches, who let out a disbelieving chuckle.

“You should have reported to me first.”

“I heard you were away, Your Grace…”

I glanced at Laches. Considering he prepared my dinner earlier, it seemed he had been waiting for me, setting aside his work.

Why was he treating me so specially?

“Oh, I had something important to do. Any injuries?”

A knight responded to Laches’ query.

“None, Your Grace. But the dog won’t calm down, so we’re on standby.”

The dog, with the stolen bread still in its mouth, drooled without eating it. A threatening growl echoed between its sharp teeth. Tom tried throwing snacks and food, but the dog ignored them all, standing stiff and ready to pounce.

The knights seemed tense, ready to kill the dog if it posed a threat.

I couldn’t directly communicate with the animal, but I felt like I understood the dog’s feelings.

“…It’s okay.”