At that moment, Count Watt stood nearby, his face etched with sheer shock.

Sheep head, deer body, fish tail, wolf hooves—what the hell else could this be but a qilin?!

Though Count Watt had never seen a qilin with his own eyes, he’d read its description in the Sowani family’s secret scrolls. In ancient times, the qilin was an omen of auspicious fortune—and the creature before him matched the scrolls perfectly.

“No way… You really went to the magical beast market?! You can buy a qilin there?! Give me a dozen, please!!” Count Watt was utterly speechless. He never imagined Karl could bring back a qilin after one quick trip. And Mia had just said the qilin bowed to them?! What the hell did that mean?! It meant the qilin had already chosen one of them as its master!!!

Legends claimed the qilin only served the kind-hearted… or emperors. Could it be Karl again? After the Ring of Kingship chose him, was the qilin choosing him too? Was this kid truly destined for greatness? But… shouldn’t the Mandate of Heaven belong to…? Count Watt cut the thought short and decided to observe longer.

Most importantly—this qilin’s presence must stay secret. Fortunately, few recognized it; records existed only in the Sowani scrolls. Even the well-read Count Watt could only suspect, not confirm. Others would likely have no clue what it was. Plus, Karl had already given it a perfectly serious “scientific name”: elk.

Perfect. From today on—you’re not a qilin. You’re an elk.

Count Watt exhaled slowly, smoothed his shocked expression, and approached Karl.

“Karl, how much did Mimi cost? If three thousand gold isn’t enough, I’ll have Lucina add more.”

Karl pulled out his coin purse. “Five hundred total. Two thousand five hundred left.”

The purse held only high-denomination coins, so it was light. Karl never inflated prices—he stated facts plainly.

Hearing this, Count Watt swayed, nearly stumbling. *Five hundred gold for a qilin?! That’s basically a free divine artifact!*

“Are there more beasts like Mimi? Bring another for company!”

Karl shook his head with a smile. “Only Mimi. If there were others, I’d bring her parents too—raise the whole family.”

“Did the shopkeeper say where he found her?”

“Just a forest cave. No specifics.”

Count Watt nodded. “I’ll send the merchant guild to search. If we find her parents, we’ll let them know Mimi’s safe.”

(He held little hope. Adult qilins were divine beasts—strong enough to overpower search parties. But as divine creatures, they’d understand words. And since Mimi had chosen Karl… she likely wouldn’t leave.)

Meanwhile, the mother-in-law eyed Mimi fondly but scolded firmly:

“Bathe her first—she’s filthy! And wash hands after touching her. Don’t go eating without washing!”

Mia nodded eagerly. “Off to bathe her now~ Sister, join me?”

Freya smiled. “Yes. I haven’t used the grand bathhouse in ages.”

Beyond private bathrooms, the manor boasted a communal bathhouse rivaling an indoor hot spring—a deeply soothing escape.

Seeing Freya agree, Mia shot Karl a mischievous grin. “Brother-in-law… joining us?”

Her mother-in-law shot her a glare.

Mia yelped, clutched Mimi, and dashed away.

------------------------------------------

Mimi brought vibrant energy to the household. Mia trained her daily—soon Mimi mastered litter-box habits and perfected cute, coquettish gestures. Freya, meanwhile, focused on combat drills. Karl watched, speechless, as Freya had Mimi charge wooden posts with her horns.

*Give her a break! She’s just a kid!!*

But Freya insisted: “If she doesn’t learn to fight now, she’ll get bullied later. As *my* magical beast, she must never be inferior.”

Worse—Mimi herself was fiercely “ambitious.” Her determined expression while ramming posts screamed: *I can do it! Higher! Faster! Stronger!!*

*Kid… you’re the only pet here. No need to be this competitive!!!*

A week flew by. The Thirteenth Prince and Fourteenth Princess arrived as scheduled. The welcome banquet filled the manor with every notable figure from the Sowani territory. Lucina, radiant as hostess, chatted with Rosely—the wife of Ironward City’s lord—and other distinguished ladies. All praised Karl’s poem and song.

Naturally, Karl couldn’t rest. His mother-in-law seated him at the piano: “Play more of your original pieces!”

*Original? I’m just copying… but whatever. No one here knows.*

He began playing the world-famous melody—*Für Elise*.

Notes danced gracefully. Listeners felt a gentle maiden guiding their hand past snow peaks, babbling streams, deep canyons—strolling forests, laughing in rain.

Applause erupted the moment the final note faded. No one knew the piece, yet all agreed: it would sweep the empire overnight.

As Karl bowed, a golden-haired girl with cute twin tails—around thirteen or fourteen—stepped forward.

“What’s this piece called?”

“*Für Elise*,” Karl replied automatically.

The girl gasped, eyes wide. “I-Is… is it written for *me*?!”

Karl froze—then realized.

The twin-tailed blonde before him was none other than the empire’s Fourteenth Princess—Alice.