HPBUY Chapter 120

Sienna didn’t look back. She only repeatedly clenched and unclenched her fist that had been reaching for the doorknob, struggling to find an answer before finally giving a brief reply.

“Don’t say such things.”

Normally, she would have scolded him, saying it wasn’t even that far of a distance. Perhaps that would have been better. She regretted her words as soon as they left her mouth. Her stiff response seemed to make the atmosphere in the room twice as heavy.

Her eyes, fixed on the doorknob, blinked slowly. Her hand, which had almost reached the handle, withdrew jerkily as if malfunctioning.

She had so many things she wanted to say to him. This should have been the moment to confess everything without filtering, but her lips wouldn’t easily part.

That the cruel words she had spoken to him in the underground prison of her previous life were never sincere. That she had always been grateful for his help in Lopwell.

She wanted to tell him that there wasn’t a single moment when she truly hated him out of genuine hatred.

When Declan approached her side, Sienna’s reddened eyes turned toward him. As their gazes met, he showed her a slight smile.

Without breaking their locked gaze, Declan reached forward. Then, without hesitation, he grabbed the doorknob and opened it.

“Whatever life you lead,”

His soft voice gently pushed her back.

“I truly wish you well.”

He still loved her and probably would until his last breath, but he wished for her world without him to be even more brilliant.

It would be good if, as Sienna had once jokingly said, she met another man and started a family. He hoped that this time she would live a peaceful life.

Wouldn’t it be enough if she found with someone else the peace she couldn’t achieve by his side? Apart from his selfish desire to keep her by his side, Declan’s wish had always been the same.

He wanted her life to be peaceful. He wanted it to be filled with happiness, so that she wouldn’t even think about the past that had been full of thorns.

Sienna, who had been quietly staring at him, not knowing what expression to make, finally showed him a smile.

“I also wish that only blessings fill your future, Declan.”

After going through two lifetimes and finally understanding each other’s feelings with difficulty, they now realized how to handle these emotions. They now knew that sometimes love is completed through separation.

There were countless moments when she wanted to forget everything and stay by Declan’s side, playing the role of lovers with a predetermined end, but ultimately it was a feeling that had to be set aside.

Her feelings toward Declan weren’t something that could be fulfilled but rather something she had to give up. The way to protect the most precious person, both then and now, was nothing more than letting him go from her grasp.

What we can keep forever is only the fleeting moment that we briefly touched.

Our love was one that could only be perfectly completed at the moment of farewell.

****

Joseph, putting on his hunting gauntlet while listening to the head chamberlain’s report, glanced up at the sky. His gaze, confirming the bright sky, showed obvious displeasure.

“…A total solar eclipse?”

“Yes, it’s a rare total eclipse, and they say even the royalty at Parma’s court will be watching it together.”

At the head chamberlain’s words, Joseph exhaled as if annoyed.

The head chamberlain was equally perplexed by the unexpected news. Although imperial scholars had suggested that an eclipse might be observed during the hunting festival, they hadn’t imagined it would cover the sun completely.

While the empire did have scholars who observed weather and astronomy, they were no match for Parma. Despite having less than half the area of the empire, Parma boasted an unrivaled level of natural science throughout the Kralto continent.

“According to the message from Parma, it won’t last long… but I’ve prepared lamps used for night hunting in case you might experience any inconvenience, Your Majesty.”

At the head chamberlain’s gesture, one servant brought an oil lamp made of glass. Seeing it, Joseph snorted.

“Hanging that thing on my reins in broad daylight would surely go unnoticed by the nobles.”

His dignity was already compromised due to the Empress’s absence and the Duke’s matter. In such a situation, he didn’t want to voluntarily do anything that would attract the nobles’ attention.

The head chamberlain lowered his gaze, appearing apologetic.

“For now, keep it stored in the cartridge holder, and light it when the eclipse begins. By then, illuminating the surroundings won’t look so strange.”

Joseph let out a long sigh. But there was no alternative. He accepted the lamp with a still displeased face.

As Joseph examined the lamp, turning it this way and that, he suddenly raised his head as if remembering something.

“By the way, Sir Stefan.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The knight commander, who had been quietly waiting at the doorway, approached. The Emperor spoke in a light voice, shrugging as if it were nothing.

“I’ll decline the escort today. Having someone around makes it hard to concentrate on hunting.”

Sir Stefan’s face hardened.

“But Your Majesty, that’s too dangerous. There will be many people with guns around, and moreover, the deep forest where there are few people…”

“It’s fine, I tell you. Although I can’t compare to you, I’m at least capable of protecting myself. Don’t worry.”

But Joseph was absolutely immovable. His movement as he picked up the rifle was imposing.

At his attitude, Sir Stefan pressed his lips tightly. He knew further opposition would be useless.

Trying to change the Emperor’s mind beyond this point would hurt his pride. And Sir Stefan, having served as knight commander for quite some time, knew from experience that offending the Emperor’s pride was not a wise action.

The Emperor’s steps toward the gathered nobles seemed unusually light today.

Joseph’s gaze narrowed suddenly when he spotted Declan and Sienna standing not far apart from each other in the crowd.

Unlike Sienna, who was busy tidying her coat, Declan’s gaze was completely fixed on her. He no longer seemed to have any intention of hiding his feelings for the princess. Well, bringing her to the hunting festival as his companion was already quite a surprising move.

‘Soon enough, you’ll regret it.’

Joseph sneered inwardly.

He loaded the cartridge into his gun while eyeing his target for this hunt. Click, as the loading sound rang clearly, the corner of his mouth twisted upward.

This miserable connection will end today.

Not only Sienna, who wouldn’t see tomorrow’s new morning, but also Declan would clearly realize who his master was through this opportunity.

This should have been done long ago. His past attempts to persuade with words and connect as family by attaching his beloved sister now seemed completely foolish.

After all, hunting dogs aren’t tamed by gentle treatment but by beating them with clubs. He should have known better.

Since Sienna was also the surest way to cause the Grand Duke pain, what better weapon could there be?

The massive bell hanging from the spire rang heavily, announcing the start of the hunting festival.

As Joseph headed towards the forest at the forefront, the nobles followed.

Joseph, who had quickly advanced deep into the forest, captured his first prey shortly after the hunt began. Starting with a marten with glossy fur, he fired his gun incessantly.

By the time he had caught several animals, including the marten, pheasants, and foxes, Joseph felt as if his blood was completely boiling.

Firing cartridges repeatedly, he could feel his gun gradually heating up. The smell of ammunition mixed with the blood of beasts stung his nostrils. These were things he had desperately missed.

Joseph, dragging the limp carcass of a fox, had blood spatters all over his face, as if proving that until just now he had been completely immersed in hunting.

While dragging the carcass, he raised his head to look at the sky. Noticing it had darkened compared to earlier, annoyance clouded his eyes.

It had certainly been bright before.

Joseph put down the animal carcass in his hand with an irritated sigh. Then he took out the lamp he had received from the head chamberlain from the bag hanging behind the saddle for storing cartridges.

When he lit the wick with matches prepared in advance, it became bright enough to secure some visibility. As he hung the lamp back on the horse, the oil collected at the bottom of the lamp sloshed. Seeing this, Joseph clicked his tongue.

How much longer would this last?

His gaze turned to the animal carcasses hanging behind the saddle. The sprawled beasts were ornaments that would enhance his honor tonight, but the horse would probably not be able to maintain proper speed carrying all of them.

Moreover, having continuously caught similar-sized beasts, he was starting to get bored.

After dumping all the animal carcasses hanging on his horse onto the ground, Joseph finally mounted his horse again with a relieved expression.

Now it was time to target something larger than small animals.