Chapter 15
“I was passing by, and I thought I might be able to help you with something you were looking for…”
Ethan casually continued the conversation, picking up the copy of The Empire that I hadn’t picked up off the floor.
“I see you’ve been reading the Empire.”
“Oh, yeah. I guess I didn’t look like a good sport to read it for while I was picking it out.”
“Not at all.”
He pursed his lips, like a man choosing his words with difficulty. His eyes slowly shifted from the Imperial Book to me.
“I’m afraid I’ve been rude to you, seeing you so intently focused.”
His answer was slightly awkward. It was as if he was at a loss for words, uncomfortable with his own behavior.
I stared at his pure white face and noticed the tips of his ears were reddening in stark contrast.
“I was trying to be polite,” he said, “but this is the first time I’ve ever talked to someone like this.”
He’s shy. His clear eyes, which had been vacillating, finally made eye contact with mine as if he’d finally mustered up the courage to speak.
“… I know it must be hard for you to come all the way from so far away, but are you feeling well?”
“Yes, I’m fine, thank you for your concern.”
I smirked, wondering if he’d gone to all that trouble to say that.
I tilted my head slightly to look up at him and saw that he was averting his eyes like someone who’d been upset.
“Oh, that’s…”
“…”
“I’m afraid I’ve been too intrusive. Perhaps you’d be better off alone.”
“Oh.”
He held out the Imperial Tome, now stained red to the nape of his neck, as if to offer it to me. I took it hesitantly, then swayed momentarily off-center under the weight.
“I’m sorry.”
He watched me anxiously, wondering if he should take it back, then breathed a sigh of relief when I stood up straight with the book in my arms. Then he turned on his heel, bowed, and turned away as if to flee.
I felt like my first impression of skillful politeness had been quickly undone.
I quickly followed him at a brisk pace, amused by his naive boyish clumsiness, and stood in the corner.
His hair was disheveled, and I could see his back as he walked away with his head bowed low.
“What a weird guy…”
Unfortunately, all I got from coming to Podia was a deep sense of suspicion.
***
The unwanted dinner hour had arrived, and the shock of having to dine with Thierry reminded me of something I’d momentarily forgotten.
“Do you know how to ride a horse?”
It was a hunting festival.
I looked at Thierry as I shoved the meat into my mouth, chopping it up as finely as I could in case I couldn’t digest it.
“No. My health has been poor and I’ve been bedridden for a long time, so I haven’t been able to do anything strenuous.”
He clicked his tongue briefly in disapproval when I replied, putting my fork down.
“Well, that means you need to exercise more.”
“… I do go for walks.”
“A walk is exercise?”
“Um… Walking exercise?”
“Princess.”
“What?”
“You’re a good mouth exerciser, huh?”
What was he talking about?
I let out an awkward laugh, feeling a cold sweat trickle down my back.
He must have liked my tight-lipped demeanor because he pulled the corners of his mouth into a smile.
“Well, shouldn’t you learn to ride a horse, then, so you can earn it?”
His sullen eyes, devoid of the slightest trace of laughter, seemed to glaze over.
“Are you going to walk around during the hunting festival?”
“What? Do I have to ride a horse at the hunting festival? I thought women were supposed to just observe…”
“Princess, why are you so uptight, why do you think women are only supposed to observe?”
It’s true, and it’s a good idea, but Thierry’s words made me feel dirty.
“… Your Majesty is right, but unfortunately I’m not feeling well, and I don’t think I’ll be able to hunt.”
“I don’t expect you to catch anything. Rather, you’ll be lucky if you don’t get eaten by the beasts.”
And now you’re sending me out on a hunt?” I felt dizzy with the grim humanity.
“Take your horse for a quick ride around the block, you never know, something interesting might happen.”
Whatever the hell he was up to, Thierry had no intention of backing down. He hadn’t brought up the hunting festival to ask for my opinion in the first place, just as a heads-up.
Playing dagger here would only jeopardize my safety.
“… I see. So, do you think I should learn to ride from Sir Oscar?”
“No. This body will gladly teach you.”
The way he stared at me, jaw set languidly, made my eyes flutter.
Ha, life.
I should have just told him I couldn’t, regardless of the risk to my safety.
***
It had been a long time since I wore pants.
Marie’s white riding jacket fit neatly, and the long black boots that wrapped around my calves were much more comfortable than the uncomfortable shoes I’d been wearing, which lifted my spirits a bit.
I slipped out of my shoes, rolled my now comfortable feet on the floor a few times, and asked Marie in passing as she smoothed my outfit.
“What are the rules of the hunting festival?”
“The winner is the one who catches and brings back the most games before dusk. The winner is awarded a diamond chest and a cash prize, which he can transfer to someone else.”
“Transfer it?”
“Well- another way of saying it is to give away one’s honor, so it’s a tradition that it’s usually exchanged between betrotheds.”
“I see. So there’s a lot of nobility here?”
“Yes. I’m expecting an unprecedented number of people this time, especially since last year’s hunting festival was canceled due to the war with the Kingdom of Tachel, and the Debutante, which was supposed to be held this spring, has been delayed.”
“Oh, so the Debutante is still on…”
“Yes, and I heard that the young people who were supposed to be debutantes this year have been granted permission to participate in this year’s hunt.”
Marie glanced over at me as she arranged my loosely braided hair in front of my left breast.
“Speaking of which, the Debutante is next month, and I was wondering if the Princess had taken the Debutante?”
“I’ve decided to pass on it for health reasons.”
I hadn’t even had the chance to talk about it with my family, but I smiled and brushed it off.
Marie gave me a sympathetic look, understanding my situation, and took a step back as if she was ready.
“Well, let’s go then.”
I let out an unconcealed sigh and opened the door.
“I hear you’re learning to ride from His Majesty himself today?”
Oscar, who was waiting in the doorway, said in a tone of surprise.
But with more to think about, I didn’t have time to respond enthusiastically.
“Well… There you go.”
I blurted out, and I could feel Oscar looking at me in wonder for a moment.
‘Don’t ask, but I’m sure he’s just curious about Thierry’s whims.’
I pretended not to see him, and went on to reiterate my earlier concern.
‘If it’s a debutante this year, it’s time for the original Female Lead to come out too…’
Since the original female lead hadn’t made her social debut yet, there was a good chance that she and Thierry hadn’t met yet if they hadn’t been in contact.
‘If they do meet at the hunting festival, could things change?’
In the original story, Thierry meets the original heroine once at the age of eighteen, and by the time he’s twenty, he’s ready to take revenge on the Emperor for letting his mother die, as well as the Crown Prince and Empress for trying to kill him, and by that time he’s reunited with the original heroine, they have each other’s hearts, and the original heroine is quite helpful in helping Thierry seize the imperial throne.
There are so many variables at this point that I’m not sure how their relationship will turn out, but there was a glimmer of hope that I still harbor. If Thierry were to fall in love in the future, he might be more forgiving.
‘Perhaps I should sneak a peek at you two when the Lady appears at this year’s hunt.’
I paced with a determined expression.
“If anyone sees us, they’ll think we’re going to war.”
“Hmph!”
A voice from behind me startled me, and I whirled around to find Thierry looking down at me like I was an insignificant creature.
“Greetings, His Imperial Majesty, the Sun of the Empire.”
Thierry brushed past me with a look that said he didn’t care if I greeted him or not.
‘Anyway, I’m a human…’
Today, he continued to show off his good looks, but his character was even better.
I stole a sneaky glance at his back and followed him.
‘He seems to be walking slowly, why is he so fast!’
I eagerly followed him, hoping to catch a pod if I fell behind, but the distance didn’t close.
He was a head taller than I was, and his long legs carried him along at such a brisk pace that I was reduced to a jog.
‘When I was younger, I used to hold his hand and walk side by side with him, keeping pace with him…’
I felt strangely resentful, as if it was due to the unavoidable height difference. I pouted and frowned at my increasingly short breath.
Ah, life.
I felt sad again.
At this rate, I’m going to pass out before I even get on the horse…
My body was already getting tired from all the walking I had been doing.
‘He doesn’t seem to care if I come or go, so why don’t we take a break?’
The temptation was so strong that I slowed down. I stared at his long back, which was getting farther and farther away, then looked down and caught my breath.
I’d rather faint, I thought to myself, not that I’m afraid of riding a horse, but I don’t think I can do it in this condition.
‘If I stick to my plan to stay in my room, my health will be the first to fail, but I’ll try to be diligent and move my body anyway.’
I let out a heavy sigh and opened my eyes.
“Ah…”
Thierry had returned, and was now standing in front of me, glaring down at me.
