Chapter 55

It was a bright day for fox hunting. A few days ago, I prepared a tailored dress and met Juri, and time flew by. The news from Sir Shubart came two days after the bridge accident. It was good news for me that he would arrive late due to a problem.

But I couldn’t relax. It would be a disaster if Sir Shubart came to the capital first instead of bringing the carriage. I couldn’t relax until I saw with my own eyes that Sir Shubart didn’t come until the end of the fox hunting. Now all I could do was pray.

Because of it, my mother became extremely sensitive. She probably had plan B and plan C, but it must not be on the same day. Nevertheless, my mother seemed to be very upset about being stranded today at the best time.

“Make no mistakes.”

She usually moved only after the sun went down, but I saw her during my morning make-up.

“Don’t worry. After all, the second prince won’t even attend. I also made a promise with the first prince.”

After a long time in my life, my mother touched my hair, which almost touched my heart. I used to want to be touched by my mother, so I always prepared a ribbon strap around my hands and pockets. Then at some point, I felt like I had the whole world when my mother touched my hair.

“Mother, there is something I want to say.”

“Say it.”

“How did you know I have a special power?”

My mother had no answer. As I raised my head, I made eye contact with my mother, who was looking at me through the mirror.

“Just.”

“Yes?”

“I heard it from someone.”

Heard it from someone.

“Who is that person? That person must be the one who sent my mother to me.”

“You don’t need to know. All right, that’s it.”

My mother warned me again that I should never make a mistake as Sir Shubart wasn’t here. She even stayed by my side until I got on the carriage. It felt like she was holding my hand for a while, but it was such a moment that I was confused about whether I got caught.

“I’ll be back, Mother.”

“Yes.”

The carriage door closed. Soon, the carriage wheels began to roll toward the Imperial Palace.

The carriage door closed. Soon the wagon wheel began to roll toward the Imperial Palace.

The daytime banquet, where fox hunting was held outside.

All the nobles gathered at the Frezio Grand Garden, one of the largest central gardens at the Imperial Palace. There was a huge forest owned by the imperial family behind it, so it was the perfect place for an event like today.

I had the invitation, so it was easy to enter, but from now on, it would be the war. In the previous banquet, many young ladies had just had their coming-of-age ceremony or were about to reach adulthood. Unlike back then, there were many married people and a lot of splits, so it would be difficult to join them. That was why I had to accept others’ invitations more generously. But don’t worry, I have a weapon called Juri del Chartero.

Rich music was spreading throughout the garden. The nobles who didn’t participate in person usually wore light clothes. On the other hand, the nobles participating in fox hunting had come with extensive preparations as if they were fighting a war. All they prepared was a bow and arrows, but the laughter of the other nobles mocking them as if they were about to tell the emperor they could do anything for him.

Before the hunting began, I passed the nobles gathering in twos and threes, going to the table under the awning, and sat down.

“Isn’t the weather very nice?”

Not long after I moistened my throat with a light tea, a young master approached me. It was the man I had seen before by chance. Son of the Marquis Radwike, Habikus Radwike. He was wearing a mask at that time, though.

I heard he was about to get married soon, but it was clear that he still hadn’t come to his senses. I just nodded instead of speaking out.

“I came here because I thought you would be lonely because you were alone. Does Lady also attend fox hunting?”

“…”

I stared quietly, then turned my head. It was no use trying to find out about it anyway.

“Ah, so you decided to just watch. As expected. This event can be a bit dangerous for ladies. I think you’re wise.”

“…”

“Ahem! Actually, I decided to watch it instead of participating in person. Sweat is valuable when it is poured at the place where it is needed.”

When I didn’t answer, Habikus Radwike coughed and pulled a chair to sit next to me. How quickly he changed the subject when he had prepared as much as the person who would become everyone’s spectacle before. Even though he didn’t need a sword today, he wore it on his side.

You’ve prepared equipment as quickly as the person who became everyone’s spectacle earlier, so how fast you’re changing your attitude. Even though I didn’t need a sword today, I was wearing it on my side.

“I think it’s a good day to pour it for today.”

Soon after, Habikus’s mouth opened wide. After staying still as if he had hardened, he blinked a few times and quickly turned his eyes. Meanwhile, I turned my head again and moistened my throat with cold tea.

“It’s embarrassing to say this, but have I met Lady before?”

“No, it’s my first time seeing you today.”

“Is that true? Have you never seen me?”

We only met once, but did he recognize my voice? Habikus began to annoy me. I let out a low sigh, thinking I had opened my mouth for nothing.

“We must have met once in a banquet hall somewhere. It is a place where everyone gathers.”

“N-No. Not that kind of meeting—”

“I think there’s someone waiting for you, young Master Radwike.”

Habikus Radwike and my head turned at the same time at the familiar voice. It was Juri del Chartero.

At the end of Juri del Chartero’s gaze, a certain young lady had an expression as if she was about to cry. It was obvious that lady was his fiancée. Habikus Radwike gasped.

“L-Lady Chartero.”

Then, at once, Juri’s eyes became cold. Come to think of it, Juri’s least favorite kind of person would be like Habikus Radwike. A person who was born as the eldest son and would take over the head of the family without any effort.

Habikus Radwike looked alternately between his fiancée and me, then smiled awkwardly.

“You seem busy. You should go.”

“Y-Yes. I have urgent business to do. See you again, Lady.”

Habikus Radwike hurried toward his fiancée. Juri pulled out the chair he was going to sit in and sat there lightly. She then grinned.

“What a fool like that is the next successor,” muttered Juri.

“Even though I don’t know, it seems the Marquis must be quite worried.”

“Are you feeling better?”

“Yes. To the point where I want to participate in fox hunting. Ah, I met the person Juri said.”

Then Juri pulled the chair closer.

“How is it? Do you think you can work together?”

“He was kind.”

“Really? That’s fortunate. You can ask me, but he would be helpful if you have any hard time. Have you decided on the time?”

“I was still thinking about it. He gave me a lot of recommendations, but I decided to see him again next week.”

“Congratulations on your new beginning, Blake.”

The nobles, who had freely conversed, began to gather in one place.

“I guess it’s starting. The Imperial family is also in attendance, so everyone wants to look good.”

“Shall we go too?”

Juri and I got up from our seats and headed to the place where the nobles gathered. The emperor, the empress, and even the first appeared. But there wasn’t someone I was looking for. I kept looking for Valery while everyone was focused on them.

“Just tell me the answer.”

“I’ll be there.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Is there anything else you want?”

He said he was going to attend.

As expected, he couldn’t disobey the emperor’s order. Sir Shubart didn’t appear here, but I started to get anxious in case there was something I didn’t know. Then I made eye contact with Delkian. He smiled mischievously, perhaps because he promised to give me the reward of fox hunting. I smiled back and started looking for Valery again.

The fox hunting began, and the nobles headed to the forest. As they entered the forest, more than half of the tables were almost empty. Juri, like me, didn’t participate in the hunting personally. Perhaps, looking at her face full of anticipation, her fiancé must be promised to give her the reward. I looked at her with delight and paid attention to my surroundings again.

* * *

After noon, the sun began to sting, and a few hours later, the sun began to set. Some nobles returned first in the middle, and the fox hunting would be over in about an hour or so.

Then, the awards ceremony and the evening banquet await the nobles. By then, the sun would have already set, and it would have become night.