A Fall on Flat Ground

Normally, a dog could not remember things for very long. But Audrey had told me I was a dog who had taken a Potion, smarter than other dogs...

Susie tilted her head and, from the shadows behind the doorframe, kept watching the noisy hall. She soon remembered where she had seen those eyes.

It was a long time ago, when her owner Audrey had asked her to find a way to draw someone's face...

But on closer inspection, apart from the color of her eyes, this woman did not look quite like that person. Her hair color was different, and so were her other features... Her Spectator instincts quickly picked out the black-haired woman's distinctive features, and Susie began to think she had been mistaken.

Just then, the scuffle among the nobles' beloved dogs behind her died down. A sleek-haired black dog sidled up to Susie, panting at her ingratiatingly.

Susie's eyes and expression showed unmistakable disgust.

"Woof, woof."

She barked twice under her breath, using Psychological Suggestion to send the black dog back to romp with the other pets. Then she lay down by the door again, bored, her gaze sweeping over the guests like a dutiful guard.

"The family who just came in belongs to the Earl of East Chester. He prefers people to call him Earl Hall. He takes pride in his own achievements, not the territory his family inherited."

Councilor Macht, whom Angel and Klein both knew, was quietly introducing the guests entering the hall. The gentleman had also risen from humble beginnings into high society. They saw him often, and he had become part of their close circle, so he had come over shortly after they entered.

"As in being a major shareholder of Backlund Bank?"

Angel asked, feigning curiosity.

"That is only one