RVMPT Chapter 49

Chapter 49

After calling the maids to fix my hair, we got into the carriage.

Even as we traveled, my heart was still racing from what had happened at the mansion. My head spun, making it hard to focus.

“Diana, we’ve arrived.”

“Huh? Already?”

…Oh, we really had.

When I snapped out of my thoughts and looked outside, the Sapphire Palace, where the hunting tournament was taking place, was right before me.

‘When did we get here?’

Harold stepped out first and reached out his hand to me.

I closed my eyes for a moment and took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves.

‘I am the Duchess. I cannot make mistakes. I am the Duchess. I cannot make mistakes…’

After mentally preparing myself, I took Harold’s hand and stepped down.

“The Duke and Duchess of Baisen have arrived. I will guide you to the tournament grounds.”

Following the attendant’s lead, we arrived at a tent connected to the forest, where many nobles had already gathered.

“Oh my, look over there. It’s the Duke and Duchess of Baisen.”

One by one, more and more eyes turned toward us. Their stares were so intense that I could almost feel them on my skin.

No one openly whispered, but their expressions were filled with curiosity, as if they were seeing something strange for the first time.

And beneath that curiosity lay the familiar looks of disdain and contempt.

It had been a while since I faced such gazes, having only attended regular social gatherings.

‘To them, I am still the villainess.’

As I glanced around, I made eye contact with a noblewoman I had seen at my wedding.

Her face paled, and she quickly hid among the crowd.

“What’s wrong, Diana?” Harold asked.

“…It’s nothing.”

We greeted the nobles who approached us, but soon, a loud voice interrupted.

“His Majesty the Emperor and His Highness the Crown Prince have arrived!”

At once, everyone stopped talking and bowed toward the center, following etiquette.

I did the same, but my mind was racing with thoughts about the prince.

‘The rumors about him are completely different from the wise ruler described in the novel’s epilogue.’

People either said he was kind and easygoing or that he was clueless and foolish.

But the one thing everyone agreed on was that he was stunningly handsome, just as the novel had described.

As I thought about Prince Andrew, who was said to have fiery red hair, I suddenly remembered Young Lord Dante.

After all, he also had beautiful red hair.

“You may all raise your heads,” the emperor’s aged voice rang solemnly.

Finally, I could see the crown prince standing beside him.

I lifted my head and froze.

‘Ah…? Wh-what?!’

Why… why is Dante standing there?!

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Fiery red hair, sunset-colored eyes. A beauty said to rival even the continent’s most gorgeous woman, Ella.

The only difference was that he wasn’t wearing glasses.

But there was no doubt—this was the same person I knew.

‘I never even considered that they might be the same person…’

Still in shock, I kept glancing at Dante—no, Prince Andrew—when I suddenly felt a gentle poke on my cheek.

Following the hand that touched me, I met Harold’s gaze.

“It’s just surprising and interesting, that’s all,” I quickly said.

“I know. It’s written all over your face.”

“Huh? I was trying to keep a straight face. Was it that obvious?”

Harold’s eyes flickered up and down before he tilted his head slightly.

“It is to me.”

Oh, no.

‘That’s bad!’

In high society, even the slightest reaction could lead to endless gossip and attacks.

As a duchess, failing to manage my expressions in public was dangerous.

I quickly forced my facial muscles into a neutral state.

‘Now it should be fine.’

At that moment, a loud horn signaled the start of the tournament.

Participants began crossing the starting line and heading into the forest.

I encouraged the five knights representing us and then turned to Harold.

“Take care. Oh, and—”

I was about to tell him not to overdo it when he interrupted.

“Don’t worry. I won’t push myself too hard. I wouldn’t want my wife to be concerned.”

“…Did I make it obvious again?”

“To my eyes, you did.”

Oh, come on.

As I bit my inner cheek in frustration, Harold took my hand and softly kissed the back of it.

Then, unlike our usual quiet exchanges, he raised his voice for everyone to hear.

“Diana, I promise to bring back the most hunting trophies. You can look forward to it.”

A murmur spread through the crowd. I was stunned.

Of course, we needed to show our closeness. And to win, he had to hunt as much as possible anyway.

But now that he had made a public promise, it had become a matter of honor.

I wanted to say something, but with so many eyes on us, I forced a smile and responded,

“…I’ll be looking forward to it.”

Harold climbed onto his horse and smiled at me.

“I’ll be back.”

With that, he and his knights rode off into the forest.

I watched him and leaned toward Anna to ask quietly,

“Anna, do my expressions really show a lot?”

“When you’re at the mansion, you have a variety of expressions, but outside, not at all.”

“Really? You can be honest with me.”

“I swear on my position as your personal maid!”

Anna placed her hand over her chest and widened her eyes with determination.

Since she was so serious, I doubted she was lying.

‘So, I’m not bad at controlling my expressions after all.’

Then how did Harold always notice?

I glanced at Harold, who was now among the crowd.

Maybe because of his strong presence, even from far away, I could spot him easily.

Once I could no longer see him or even his shadow, I headed into the Baisen family’s tent.

The hunting tournament lasted for three hours, and until then, those who stayed behind were free to do as they pleased.

“Madam, before the tea time, I will fix your hair and outfit again.”

“Alright, thank you.”

Today, I had decided to attend Countess Russell’s tea time.

She had invited me many times before, but I had always declined with different excuses.

However, since I kept meeting her at other gatherings, it was getting harder to keep refusing.

So this time, I had accepted her invitation.