Episode 19
The final day of the Karsian banquet was a hunting competition.
Since the royal family did not officially conduct hunting ceremonies, the annual hunting competition held on the last day of the banquet in the Grand Duchy was currently the largest event.
The winner of the hunting competition would have one wish granted by the Karsian Grand Duke, and the scale of that wish was beyond imagination.
Last year’s winner was the Royal Knight Commander Cedric Mihai, and he received one of Karsian’s numerous mines as his reward.
Its value was enough for three generations to live comfortably.
The news had a field day as it was almost like hitting the jackpot.
Behind the territory of the Grand Duchy lay vast forests, and since it was a place with dense spiritual energy, monsters often appeared.
They were not highly-ranked dangerous monsters, and only creatures with low intelligence that could be hunted frequented the area. Still, it could cause harm to the villages, so they usually kept protective barriers in place.
This barrier was lifted once a year, on the day of the hunting competition.
“Miss, the Grand Duke has come to visit.”
Around the time preparations were complete, Ludwig arrived.
“He’s here?”
Ludwig was dressed in hunting attire.
Wearing a tighter-fitting outfit than the banquet attire made him look even more handsome.
“Did you sleep well last night?”
“Yes, thanks to you.”
I overlapped my hand with Ludwig’s as he reached out to me.
My wrist, which I thought would be bruised and swollen, had returned to its fair skin by morning after I removed the bandage.
His gaze briefly touched my wrist.
“It seems like the medicine I gave you yesterday worked well.”
“I’m glad.”
And I also noticed the silver bracelet neatly placed on Ludwig’s wrist.
A proud smile crept onto my face.”
* * *
“A few hundred carriages lined up in front of the forest behind the Grand Duchy’s territory.
Among them was a carriage engraved with the emblem of the Karsian Grand Duchy, the Black Lion.
People tried to act nonchalant, but their attention subtly shifted in that direction.
Soon, as the coachman opened the carriage door, the man at the center of the commotion descended the steps.
Ludwig Karsian, the only heir to the Grand Duchy.
A man who had been shunned by his family due to the tainted blood of a malevolent dragon, despite his immense aura.
Just until recently.
“Did you come with Sierra Yeong-ae today?”
“It seems like it. Look, she’s getting down now.”
Ludwig soon offered his hand to Sierra, who had just revealed herself from the carriage, and politely escorted her.
She had tied her long blonde hair into a single ponytail and adorned it with a red ribbon.
Wearing a hunting outfit decorated with gold embroidery over her black clothes, Sierra looked as beautiful as if the moon goddess herself had reincarnated.
To the extent that no one would see her as a terminally ill patient.
While in the past, everyone looked at Sierra with sympathetic eyes, now they followed her with admiration and envy.
In fact, Ludwig and Sierra seemed to be a perfect match, making some wonder if they were truly lovers. However, it was unimaginable for the heir to the Grand Duchy to choose a terminally ill Yeong-ae as his fiancée.
As there had never been a case of a Lisbeth patient surviving beyond twenty-five, such rumors were dismissed as nonsense.
But…
“…What’s that? Lord Ludwig is…smiling.”
“Huh? Is that right? Must be a mirage… It’s real?”
Ludwig was smiling brightly as he engaged in a cheerful conversation with Sierra.
Though onlookers couldn’t hear their conversation from a distance, they wore shocked expressions.
After all, people could naturally smile when they were happy, and they could cry when they were sad.
That was an entirely natural assumption.
Except for one person, Ludwig Karsian.
Perhaps because everyone always thought his hidden face was endlessly cold-blooded, such a sight was too unusual.
At the same time, it stirred up the feelings of the young ladies.
“He might be warmer than we thought….”
“Yes, we may have misunderstood him all this time.”
Though he had no reason to smile at everyone, misconceptions began to spread like wildfire among the young ladies.
“Come to think of it, I don’t see Vincent anywhere. Since it’s hosted by the Karsians, he shouldn’t be absent.”
“Didn’t you hear about the incident last night? Well….”
Someone whispered the whole story to the young girl who had gone to bed early and missed the commotion.
“Oh, really?”
“That’s right. Vincent had to miss the hunting competition today as the one responsible for the disturbance.”
“So what about Jeriah?”
When the young girl asked, a lady quickly unfolded her fan.
Then, she whispered behind her fan as if hoping it wouldn’t be heard.
“She hasn’t left her room since yesterday. She claims to be unwell, but maybe she’s not coming out because Vincent isn’t participating?”
“Oh, so maybe they really have romantic feelings for each other…!”
“It seems Jeriah can’t help her background with the Karsians. Having feelings for Vincent….”
They fell silent as Lady Hugo approached with a stern expression.
* * *
“If you win today’s competition, what would you wish for?”
Ludwig was undoubtedly the most likely candidate for victory.
Although it seemed like I might be the only one thinking that way now.
“I think I have a feeling.”
“I see. If I were to win… then what should I request from my father?”
Ludwig seemed not to have considered it yet.
“Think about what you need most right now.”
“What I need most… I want to delegate the Grand Duchy.”
Although Ludwig’s words didn’t reveal it, I was slightly surprised.
It might have been half-joking and half-serious, but it would be a troublesome statement if anyone heard it.
It was a well-known fact that he had little interest in the Grand Duchy. Ludwig had deliberately created that misconception.
Revealing ambition would only lead to stronger checks from the council, so it was a natural course of action for him.
“Of course, it’s just a joke. My father is still healthy, and the Grand Duchy is too much for me.”
“It’s not too much at all. Not at all.”
I pretended to be understanding in response to his continued words.
But those words weren’t sincere.
Ludwig’s father, the current Karsian Grand Duke, was not at all healthy. In the original work, Ludwig had despised his father, who played the role of a puppet for the council.
“Do you have any other wishes then?”
“Well… if it’s another wish.”
He pondered for a moment, then suddenly smiled and looked at me with deep golden eyes filled with laughter.
His eyes were completely fixated on me.
“It’s a secret.”
“What? How boring.”
“You’ll find out later. I’m the type who always achieves my goals no matter what.”
What was that? Did he have another purpose besides seeking revenge for his mother and seizing the Grand Duchy?
With an enigmatic expression, I headed to the hunting ground with Ludwig.
* * *
“I extend my gratitude to the distinguished guests who have graced us with their presence today. With deep respect for our ancestors who fought for their lives in past battles against demons and for the heroes of our empire, the entire nation, we shall commence the 28th Karsian Hunt.”
Applause erupted in the grand ceremony hall. Simultaneously, the orchestra played cheerful music.
Soon, participants volunteering for the competition wrote their names on the list and mounted their horses.
“Come back without getting hurt.”
I said as I handed a red handkerchief to Ludwig.
After all, it’s my duty as a true partner.
Ludwig was inspecting his sword while sitting on his black horse, and upon seeing the handkerchief I discreetly offered, he wore a surprised expression.
“Believe it or not, they say that carrying a red handkerchief brings luck.”
Other participants were also wearing red handkerchiefs on their wrists.
“Thank you. With this, I think I might have a chance to win.”
Ludwig smiled brightly and took my handkerchief. He tied it as a knot around his wrist.
“Well then, I’ll be off.”
“Yes, I’ll be waiting.”
Ludwig pulled the reins, and with a powerful cry from his black horse, they raced into the forest.
I watched their departing figures for a moment before returning to the outdoor banquet hall.
“Young Lady Drenihan, come over here. It’s cooler here in the shade.”
A familiar face called me.
“Young Lady Silah.”
She was one of the fellow students I had seen at Jeria’s tea party last time.
“That confident one.”
I remembered her for not hesitating to tell Jeria to apologize.
Whether our relationship had soured back then, or the Young Ladies she was with now were not Jeria’s group, I couldn’t tell. I gave my thanks to Silah, who offered me a seat.
“Are you okay after what happened yesterday? You must have been quite shocked.”
“Lord Vincent is truly a man as rumored.”
“To use Young Lady Sierra just to express interest in Young Lady Jeria – that’s impressive.”
“I’m fine. It’s thanks to the Duke that I’m okay.”
As I was giving vague responses to those who were concerned, an unwelcome voice came from behind.
“Young Lady Sierra, are you feeling alright physically?”
It was Lady Iris, the Countess.
“Yes, I’m fine.”
“I’m relieved. As Jeria’s Aunt, I’ve been quite concerned.”
“Oh.”
Though I wanted to say that she was not at all related to Jeria and ask why she cared, I just nodded my head.
“Jeria has been reflecting a lot since yesterday. Even if the relationship doesn’t improve immediately, I hope you’ll be generous if she makes an effort.”
The Countess said that and left with a meaningful smile.
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