“Huh? Did the chat window have an error? Holy See members? Are you there?”
With the last question mark from the Holy See, no new conversation appeared.
The number of viewers remained the same, but the chat window was frozen.
“Did the high number of viewers cause lag? Ugh, why is there an error now of all times?”
I could have heard more about Shinwoo, but the frozen chat window awaited its release, while a bitter liquid flowed from my nose.
“Ah… nosebleed again.”
I got up from the bed in a hurry.
I looked around, but there was nothing to wipe it with. Quickly, I pulled the sleeve of my pajamas and pressed it against my nose.
The sleeve became stained with the flowing nosebleed.
“My Shinwoo used to have frequent nosebleeds too.”
I thought about that while sitting there absentmindedly.
I heard a sound coming from outside.
“Lady, it’s me, Genia. Are you awake? Can I come in?”
“Come in.”
“Did you have a good dream? The weather is really nice today. I’ll open the window for you.”
“No, bring me a towel first.”
“A towel? Why…”
My gaze met with Genia’s.
“Aaah!”
The morning at Luteous Mansion began with Genia’s scream.
***
I made my way to the dining room after circling the mansion for breakfast.
The atmosphere in the mansion felt particularly suspicious today.
“Is it just my mood? Everyone seems to be giving me strange looks…”
Sure enough, as if on cue, the employees who usually went about their tasks quietly approached me, each with a word to say.
“Lady, I heard you had a nosebleed this morning. Are you okay?”
“Huh.”
“Lady, how is your health? Are you feeling any pain anywhere?”
“No, I’m not.”
“Lady, shall I prepare some carrot tea for you? It’s a tea that expectant mothers usually enjoy, but they say it’s also effective when you have a nosebleed.”
“…No.”
Even the Duke Luteous, who was drinking coffee at the head of the dining table.
“I heard you had a nosebleed this morning.”
I clenched my teeth tightly.
Everyone in the mansion knew that I had a nosebleed. It was all because of Genia’s fuss in the morning.
I cast a reproachful gaze at Genia.
But Genia just widened her eyes, as if asking, ‘Oh? Did I do something wrong?’
‘She’s gotten shameless lately.’
“Yes, just a little.”
I replied absentmindedly and took a big bite of the bread.
Then, the Duke Luteous casually flipped through a document and asked.
“Is the burden of being a Hunter taking a toll on your body?”
“No.”
“Are there any other issues with your health?”
“No, it’s nothing like that.”
“You’re perfectly fine, yet you had a nosebleed?”
“Well, sometimes it happens, you know. I’m sure even the Duke must have had a nosebleed at some point in his life.”
“Never happened. Isn’t nosebleeds something only the weak have?”
“…”
. Oh, shoot…
..I tossed the remaining bread onto the plate.
Duke Luteous tapped his finger on the table, signaling to Frank.
“Frank, call for a healer. We need to find out why a perfectly healthy person is having nosebleeds since morning.”
Isn’t it just a nosebleed that happens when you accidentally bump into something or when the weather is dry?
I don’t understand why it’s such a big deal.
“It’s frustrating.”
I let out a long sigh.
“Duke-nim, you seem concerned that my value might diminish. Wouldn’t it be more ridiculous to call for a healer just because a Hunter had a nosebleed?”
“…”
“As you can see, I’m really fine. I’m not in pain, and I’m perfectly healthy. If someone sees you worrying about me, they might think you care.”
“…”
Duke Luteous fell silent.
“Did I hit a nerve and leave him speechless?”
I chuckled inwardly and tossed a small piece of bread into the air, catching it skillfully in my mouth.
Duke Luteous frowned, seeming displeased.
“I clearly told you to uphold your dignity as a lady.”
“Dignity is something that those who rely solely on their authority uphold. I don’t need that.”
“So you think you’ve stepped out of your role as a lady.”
“You also think that way, Duke-nim. That’s why you made a contract with me. You see me not as a lady, but as the top-ranked Hunter. Am I wrong?”
“That’s my case. But I wonder if others share the same opinion.”
“I don’t care about others’ opinions. It’s a clear fact.”
“Hmm…”
Duke Luteous slightly raised the corner of his mouth.
It was when I narrowed my eyebrows at his ominous smile.
He lifted his coffee cup and spoke.
“The Emperor has forbidden any mention of the rankings.”
“Is it because Dante is not in the rankings?”
I understood his intentions to protect his son, but for an Emperor, it was a trivial action.
I shrugged my shoulders.
“Does it really become a secret just because of that? The Hunters all know.”
“He plans to invite the Hunters for a party in the near future.”
“A party?”
“Yes, he mentioned that it will be revealed during the party, so the secret will be kept for now. The invitations will arrive soon, so prepare in advance.”
“Are you really going to have a party? In these times?”
“The Emperor is not concerned about the current situation. Even during times of war, he held parties without hesitation.”
He held parties even during times of war?
It was a statement that could be easily misunderstood.
It could sound like criticism, even though it was just an example of the Emperor’s power.
“But that’s unlikely.”
Duke Luteous remained loyal to the Emperor’s orders and participated in the war, leaving his pregnant wife behind.
He had no right to criticize the Emperor.
“But anyway, those in power are insane, whether in this life or the previous one.”
Opening a party when the whole world is in chaos.
I lost my appetite involuntarily and put down the butter knife.
Duke Luteous observed me quietly.
“Control your expression.”
“What do you mean all of a sudden?”
“It means not to show your emotions. Expressing anger won’t solve any problems. It will only expose your weaknesses. Maintain a cold facade but sharpen your inner blade. Make sure no one can guess what you’re harboring inside.”
“Does the Duke also hide something in his heart?”
“That’s correct.”
My gaze met the Duke Luteous’.
A heavy silence fell upon the dining room, where the only sounds were occasional clinking of utensils.
For a moment, Duke Luteous’ eyes flickered intensely. It felt like I caught a glimpse of the deep thoughts that were tightly concealed.
“What is that?”
Just as I was about to ask, a maid approached and quietly informed us.
“Milady, a message has arrived from the Magic Tower. They have canceled today’s visit.”
“Why?”
It seems that the Archmage received a summons from His Majesty. They will let us know the available time for a visit tomorrow and come then. What should I tell them?
“…Tell them to come around lunchtime, just like today.”
“Understood, Milady.”
Due to my postponing the appointment, the schedule became tangled.
“Should I visit the house I planned to see tomorrow instead of today?”
Instead of adjusting the schedule, I tapped the table.
“It’s strangely unsettling.”
Kael, who had promised to visit today, was summoned to the palace.
It might not be a big deal, but for some reason, I didn’t feel good about it.
Duke Luteous mumbled to himself while sipping his coffee.
“It’s peculiar. His Majesty calling commoners to the palace.”
“And he plans to invite the Hunters for a party? There might be commoners among them too.”
“A party is an act of tolerance and generosity, while a personal summons signifies extending a hand first. You need to distinguish between the two.”
“But is the origin irrelevant to Archmage?”
“Well, His Majesty values birth more than ability.”
In that case, isn’t Kael’s special origin significant? After all, he’s a black mage.
I stared at the Duke, as if asking what he meant.
However, Duke Luteous didn’t lift his gaze from the documents.
“You’re saying strange things today. Have more walnuts. They’re good for preventing dementia.”
The tendons on Duke Luteous’ hand, holding the documents, tightened. It seemed like he clenched his teeth, and even the muscles on his jaw bulged.
But he didn’t add any further comments.
‘He seemed like he had something to say. Or did he not?’
“I’m going out today.”
“Prepare the carriage.”
“Please don’t bother me every time. Just assign me a dedicated carriage.”
“It takes more than five years to make one.”
“I don’t need a carriage like the one the Duke rides in. Just give me one spare carriage in the family.”
“…Frank, take care of it.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
I left the dining room, thinking it was not worth paying attention to.
