Episode 48

“I don’t know.”

Rosalind sighed as if she expected that response.

“Alright, there are exactly three times a year. The Founding Festival. There’s always a ball then, right? And the Academy Entrance Ceremony. There’s a ball then, too, isn’t there? And lastly, the Hunting Festival in nine days.”

Hunting Festival?

Yes, now that I thought about it, it was almost time for the Hunting Festival.

“Because it’s held outdoors, the scent travels better, so the ladies don’t just buy one or two perfumes. So, when do you think is the busiest time?”

“…The Hunting Festival?”

“Exactly! Now that you understand, get out!”

With those words, the door slammed shut.

I blinked at the old, thick book and the fluttering designs of Rosalind’s perfume bottles.

That’s right.

The Hunting Festival was coming up soon.

The Hunting Festival began somewhere between summer and autumn.

It started as a means to expand the city walls due to the increasing population pouring into the capital, with the purpose of clearing the surrounding areas.

Later, young nobles were dispatched to the area to check its safety, assuring the capital’s residents that it was safe to move there.

The entire area of low mountains and forests became the site of the event.

Young people from all over the country, regardless of gender, were excited.

For the week-long hunting competition, they tailored dresses, hunting outfits, and bought new guns and swords.

On a day in early autumn when the sun was warm, and the breeze was cool, the whole country was buzzing with excitement.

Despite the nation’s excitement, I was absorbed in reading Rosalind’s book, which was like her diary.

Aside from her terrible handwriting, it had no flaws.

It was incredibly interesting and enjoyable.

From what I could deduce from the book, Rosalind seemed to remember at least seven lives.

Just one life was already so painful and difficult; I couldn’t even begin to fathom the weight of seven lives.

Rosalind had also written about magic and divination she learned from the book.

The problem was that I wasn’t a mage, so I couldn’t understand any of it.

No matter how much I mulled over it and frequented the library in the Duke’s mansion to try to grasp the content, it was no use.

I remembered Rosalind saying that creating the outer shell and transferring the soul was my responsibility.

Did she not know that I couldn’t use magic?

I couldn’t recall her ever asking if I had magical abilities.

What if using magic was essential?

The difference between someone who could use magic and someone who couldn’t wasn’t something that could be bridged with effort.

Not being able to do something and choosing not to do it were different.

People couldn’t fly, but birds could. That was the level of difference.

With a heavy heart, I took a few books from the library when a sharp bang echoed.

Covering my ears with the hand holding the books caused them to fall with a thud.

The sound came from the shooting range.

It seemed Igon was practicing for the hunting competition.

Usually, Igon didn’t participate in such competitions.

He was mostly busy and often away from the mansion during this time.

But this time was different.

For some reason, he declared his intention to participate.

One would expect fewer participants due to his overwhelming status as the favorite to win, but the opposite happened.

A record number of participants flocked in, surpassing previous years.

There were even talks of reducing the number to preserve the royal hunting grounds.

The Rodore family didn’t use firearms.

The fact that there were no musketeers in their knights showed how much they disdained firearms.

While it might have had to do with the various symbolic meanings of the sword, according to Igon, “The maintenance cost is high, and the effectiveness is minimal.”

Perhaps due to the presence of magic, firearms had not developed properly in this world.

There were times when cannons were used in wars, but I heard they were rarely employed.

In short, guns in this world were practically made for the hunting festival.

‘I wonder if Igon is good at shooting?’

He was a sword master, not a weapon master.

I thought he might be a bit clumsy with firearms.

However, the loud voice outside made me realize otherwise.

“Bullseye! It’s a hit!”

The excited cheers of men rang out.

So, he’s good at shooting too.

“Miss.”

“Liam.”

As I walked through the corridor with my books, Liam walked in alone.

I gave him a light nod and went on my way.

Not long after, I encountered the tailor and the maids who were waiting for me.

Yes.

Although the hunting itself was a game for the men, it also provided a social gathering for the women.

And a social gathering meant dresses, gloves, hats, outdoor parasols, shoes, and jewelry.

Bracing myself for the onslaught of fittings, I sighed inwardly.

‘I can do this.’

—

‘Boom! Boom!’

With a loud trumpet sound, fireworks exploded in the sky. The smell of gunpowder filled the air, and soon the band loudly announced the start of the competition.

I sat in an outdoor seat with a canopy, listening to the Emperor’s speech. Participants on horseback passed through the prepared rails.

They looked full of vigor.

Some carried numerous weapons, while others brought many traps like nets.

A few young noblewomen also participated.

Words of luck poured out for them.

The cheers grew louder when particularly handsome young men passed by.

I couldn’t tell if the host had arranged the order this way or if Igon was late, but the main attraction arrived last.

Igon, on a brown horse, passed by with his platinum hair flowing.

The noisy crowd fell silent for a moment as if they had forgotten how to speak.

The sky, heavy with clouds, was a bright gray. Underneath, the young man looked like a reborn angel or a solemn warrior.

Sitting upright on his horse, he exuded an atmosphere too sharp and sensitive to be met with noisy praise.

His focused eyes only added to the intensity.

As Igon passed by me, I threw the flower I was holding.

He glanced at the flying flower and then at me, smiling with his eyes.

As the atmosphere relaxed, cheers erupted from all around.

Leaving the commotion behind, Igon spurred his horse into the hunting grounds.

He would surely return safely, but I still wished for his safe return without any incidents.

—

Now familiar, I sat at the princess’s table and conversed.

The princess had selected a few handsome nobles, expecting them to offer her game.

“They will, out of courtesy. After all, you are the princess.”

Tielle pulled the princess out of her romantic reverie with a gentle voice.

“That’s too much.”

The princess whined but leaned her head on Tielle.

It had been a while since we had all gathered, so we stayed at the table and chatted.

“Stella!”

The princess spotted a young lady with neatly tied-up hair and stood up with a bright expression.

Stella smiled warmly as she approached the table.

“You’re all gathered here.”

“Have you been well? We haven’t seen you in a while.”

The princess smiled brightly and held Stella’s hand, bringing her to our table.

The other ladies asked Stella about her recent activities.

Since she had missed all the recent gatherings, everyone was curious.

Stella, appearing shy, explained her recent activities and then cautiously said, “Actually, I’ve been busy helping with the family business.”

“Business?”

“Yes, we are starting to sell high-end products like Imperial cosmetics abroad.”

The other ladies widened their eyes in surprise.

“To where and what exactly?”

The conversation took a serious turn, starting with Andrea, who had a knack for trade and business.

There were talks about how lace shades sold well in countries with strong sunlight and how tea was enjoyed cold.

I listened intently to these fascinating stories.

While Stella was briefly explaining her business, a group of noblewomen approached.

Among them was a familiar face.

Countess Mirren, who had initially brought me into society, with not-so-pleasant memories, was there.

Stella, responding to the ladies with a bright face, excused herself from our table.

“Sorry, everyone. May I step out for a moment? I need to discuss something with these ladies.”

It seemed like a business discussion.

We all cheerfully told her to go ahead, each offering words of encouragement.

These were friendly words exchanged among close friends.

“Stella is truly remarkable. I didn’t know she was getting into business so seriously.”

“She’s always been meticulous and capable. I’m sure she’ll do well.”

We exchanged words of praise for Stella and then moved on to other topics.

That was when I noticed that Camilla, who usually spoke a lot, seemed unusually quiet and had a dark expression.

“What’s wrong, my lady?”

“Nothing.”

Camilla hesitated and shook her head.

Worried, I quietly asked her.

I wondered if it was something she had eaten earlier.

“Are you feeling unwell?”

“Yes, is there something bothering you?”

“Well, actually…”

Camilla hesitated for a long time before she finally spoke.