Episode 50

 

The air was thick with the scent of lush greenery.

In the royal hunting grounds, tents in shades of green and blue, fitting for the summer season, were spread out in a dazzling display.

As planned, the entire forest belonging to the royal palace was being used for the hunting festival. Nearly every noble child who had a residence in the capital had gathered.

I stood among them, dressed in a bright green riding dress.

“The days are long, so we’ll be able to hunt for a while today,” Helena whispered as she passed by. The hunting festival was always held during the summer solstice, when the daylight lasted the longest. I nodded, agreeing with her.

“You’ve already finished your hunt, haven’t you?”

She was referring to the count who had been sent to the Repentance Ward at St. Floren Hospital.

Helena smiled, covering her mouth with her fan.

I could feel Helena’s friends watching us from a distance, curious about our conversation. Helena leaned closer and whispered again.

“Are you planning to hunt someone of your own, Miss? The Grand Duke, perhaps?”

“Are you suggesting that I’m hunting the Grand Duke?”

“Well, it seems like that’s your goal.”

“…I—”

“If you need help, just let me know. I’ll assist the two of you.”

With those words, Helena walked away, casting her gaze elsewhere.

Chris was standing there.

“……”

It had been days since I last saw him.

Recently, Chris had been tied up with managing the affairs of the North, constantly summoned by other military families. The southward movement of monsters in the North was affecting the transportation and supplies of other regions.

I didn’t want to disturb him, so I hadn’t visited, which meant I hadn’t seen him for several days.

‘The matters of the northern territory are important to Chris, after all.’

“So, Your Grace, do you expect another southward invasion this winter?”

“As I mentioned before, I cannot give a definite answer.”

“But surely, Your Grace must have some preparations in place? Perhaps you’d consider trading for transport supplies?”

Even now, noblemen and military officials were crowding around Chris, whispering. His face looked visibly tired from being surrounded.

I had no intention of joining that group and was watching from a distance when—

“……!”

Chris’s gaze met mine, and he stared at me silently. Even the nobles around him, who had been eagerly speaking, sensed the shift in the air.

“……”

Chris seemed as though he wanted to say something, his lips moving slightly.

The nobles, noticing the shift, stopped speaking and stepped back slightly, giving him space to approach me.

Chris nodded politely and walked toward me, a soft smile spreading across his face.

‘Why is he smiling like that?’

Unconsciously, my hands clenched. I felt as though birds were fluttering around inside my chest, their feathers brushing against my heart.

And then—

“Your Grace!”

Aria, dressed in a vibrant yellow gown, suddenly ran over and grabbed Chris’s hand without warning.

The eyes that had been watching Chris approach me now shifted to Aria.

‘Grabbing his hand so suddenly?’

It was a rather impolite act, but Aria’s charm softened any offense.

I glanced around, looking for a chaperone who might stop her, but Lady Ellie had not attended the hunting festival. Countess Claire was busy conversing with others.

‘And the Duke’s family?’

They were also engaged in conversations with the pro-imperial nobles. Seth, on the other hand, was nowhere to be seen.

‘He’s probably off flirting with the young ladies who came to the festival.’

I clicked my tongue softly as Aria cheerfully greeted Chris.

“It’s been a while!”

“…Lady Aria Reinhardt. I heard you were unwell.”

“Oh my, are you worried about me?”

Aria’s innocent delight at his words drew even more attention from the surrounding crowd. Chris, too, seemed to be caught up in the moment, his lilac eyes looking down at her.

I couldn’t bear to watch any longer and turned my head, stepping away.

“Wait a moment…”

I heard a voice calling from behind, but I deliberately ignored it.

‘There’s nothing urgent that I need to tell Chris right now.’

Servi had been lying low for a while, so no new clues had surfaced.

What had just happened was merely my selfish desire to see Chris and exchange greetings.

So instead of standing there, watching Chris and Aria talk, I figured it would be better to enjoy the summer atmosphere.

Still, as I walked away, the thought of what others would say about Chris and Aria left a bitter taste in my mouth.

‘I wish the Crown Prince would show up and steal the attention for a change.’

It seemed that the Crown Prince was expected to be late once again today. Considering what had happened at Aria’s debutante, he had likely been scolded by the Empress Dowager or the Emperor.

And as if on cue, a royal servant called out loudly.

“Presenting His Imperial Majesty, the Sun and Staff of the Empire, Uldrian de Fasas Alathes!”

The announcement made me flinch.

It wasn’t just me. Most of the nobles gathered there reacted similarly.

“…Hasn’t His Majesty been staying away from public events due to health issues?”

“I was certain the Empress Dowager and the Crown Prince would appear together.”

The Emperor rarely made public appearances due to his fluctuating health and was often too busy managing internal affairs.

Because of this, most social events were handled under the influence of the Empress Dowager. The fact that the Emperor appeared instead of her was highly unusual.

“Your Majesty.”

“His Imperial Majesty!”

In the distance, a middle-aged man with a sharp, irritable expression was walking, surrounded by knights. He held a scepter in his hand, and his outfit, adorned in gold and white, stood out.

“Your Majesty, may you be in good health.”

The nobles bowed in unison, making way for him. Chris, who had been caught by Aria, did the same.

Aria, though disappointed, released Chris and bowed to the Emperor, clearing the way. Her posture conveyed the understanding that even she shouldn’t act so carefree in such a setting.

“I’m pleased to see you all gathered under such bright skies, showing the youth and vibrancy of the Empire. It brings joy to my heart,” the Emperor said.

Behind him, the Empress Dowager and the Crown Prince made their entrance.

‘It seems he’s been scolded.’

The Empress Dowager’s gaze toward the Crown Prince was anything but kind. Meanwhile, the Crown Prince wore a bored expression but narrowed his eyes when he spotted Chris.

“The Empress Dowager and the Crown Prince have arrived!” a chamberlain announced, prompting everyone to lower their heads. The Emperor nodded and continued speaking.

“Today is a special day, not just because of the hunting festival, but because it’s a day that showcases the unity of the entire Empire.”

As he spoke, the Emperor stretched out his hand and pointed somewhere.

It was where Chris was standing.

Chris stiffened, and I, too, instinctively tensed my fingers.

‘So that’s why he’s here.’

As far as I knew, this was the first time Chris had officially participated in the capital’s hunting festival.

During his time as a hostage, he may have watched the festival as a spectator, but the participants were always 16 and older.

Chris had joined the northern monster front as soon as he turned 16.

While the capital’s nobles hunted tame animals in the comfort of a well-prepared forest, Chris had been in the freezing, harsh northern lands, fighting off real, dangerous monsters.

“It’s been a long time since the North has participated in the capital’s hunting festival. I think this is a truly meaningful occasion, Grand Duke Elzerian,” the Emperor said.

“…It is an honor,” Chris replied.

“Come stand here.”

Chris didn’t refuse and obediently went to stand before the Emperor.

“You’ve grown well. The former Grand Duke would be proud.”

Though Chris remained expressionless, I clenched my fists.

The Emperor’s words were shameless, considering the imperial family had never properly investigated the Grand Duke’s death. It made me want to sigh.

“For today’s hunting festival, I would like the groups to be formed in honor of this significance. Grand Duke Elzerian, I’d like you to organize a team with the Crown Prince, as well as one noble from the West and one from the East.”

Normally, for the hunting festival, the young lords and ladies would group up spontaneously.

For a moment, Chris’s eyes met mine. He probably had been planning to form a group with me.

I nodded slightly, indicating that it was fine.

“…I will follow your command.”

As Chris responded, the Crown Prince’s face twisted into a grimace. He looked like he was reluctantly accepting the Emperor’s orders, unable to protest.

‘He really is a coward,’ I thought.

He had no problem speaking freely in front of the Empress Dowager, who doted on him, but he cowered in front of his father. It was an unsightly display.

“Let the hunting festival begin,” the Emperor declared.

With that, the young lords and ladies began forming their groups.

Surprisingly, a few young ladies seemed interested in approaching me.

“Um…”

One of the young ladies was about to speak to me when—

“This is my first hunting festival… Could you accompany me?” Aria’s bright, clear voice rang out, drawing everyone’s attention.

Her innocent demeanor, as if she were experiencing something new for the first time, captivated the crowd.

“Young Lady, come over here,” I heard one of the other young ladies say.

The ones who had been about to approach me shifted their attention to Aria.

‘Even I would rather group up with Aria than myself.’

I quickly distanced myself, not wanting them to suggest we team up. I had no desire to be around Aria at the moment.

‘I’ll just take a leisurely ride.’

The animals in the hunting grounds were mostly harmless creatures like rabbits or foxes, so there was no real danger.

Since I hadn’t brought my own horse, I headed to the stables to borrow one from the palace.

As I approached the stable, the attendant guarding it gave me an odd smile.