I was completely scattered.
X was pressuring me so much that I could only give vague answers that were neither positive nor negative. Two versions of myself were sharply conflicting within me.
Of course, I should accept it and show that I can take care of myself and that I’ve grown up! Theodore also seemed lost in thought.
Theodore grumbled to X with his chin up.
“Does it have to be Mary? I have other siblings in the Conler family.”
“It was Mary who humiliated Prince Cameron, not your other sibling.”
That’s true.
Theodore also made a sound of hesitation at X’s answer and immersed himself in deep thought again.
Standing next to Theodore, I wondered why he had to go this far just to get revenge.
Well, of course, I’ve heard that Cameron couldn’t hold his head up at the academy after losing to me.….
If I had lost a bet to a child the same age as my youngest sibling, I believe I would have died of embarrassment…..
Is it normal to have this kind of bet even after so much time has passed?
I felt bad for involving Theodore when I could have handled it myself in some way.
If Theodore knew I was thinking like this, he’d probably grab me and tell me it’s not like that at all.
To be honest, I was nervous because the conditions were appealing. They will turn a blind eye to Theodore’s assault on Cameron, and Astina’s engagement will be called off.
Actually, I’d be happy with just these two.
“I’ll add one more condition.”
Theodore, who had been lost in thought, finally spoke up.
Theodore took my hand and squeezed it firmly as he said that. As if he’d made a decision.
“What do you want?”
“Possibly in the future, Cameron Arstans will take the throne and Gilbert Conler will hold the title of Grand Duke.”
“I suppose so”
“If that happens again, Gilbert Conler will become the imperial’s marionette.”
I thought I roughly understood what Theodore was saying.
And the reason he squeezed my hand firmly before explaining the terms. Even though he is older than me, I couldn’t help but feel proud of him.
I clasped Theodore’s hand in my hand.
“Hmm…”
“Promise that you will not make any unreasonable demands, especially if it endangers our lives; and if Gilbert Conler thinks your order is too much, you will give him the right to refuse.”
X’s expression indicated a keen interest in Theodore’s condition. He then gave a quick nod.
“Let’s do that.”
“What are you saying?”
When X agreed, Cameron, who had been watching us in silence, objected.
He remained motionless while X tried to persuade us, but when Theodore added his condition, he appeared threatened. When he becomes emperor, he must have plans to make irrational demands that will endanger Gilbert’s life.
I knew he was that kind of person, but it still made me feel uneasy.
“If you agree with it, then let’s do it; if not, let’s forget about it.”
Theodore, on the other hand, was now back to normal after regaining his composure.
It was refreshing to see the tide turn after being held back by the terms of the bet.
Cameron’s expression was more resolute than I anticipated, despite X’s apparent attempt to persuade him.
I felt like I was getting angry again as I was looking at it. No, what sort of demands will you make later?
“Well, let me add a condition.”
Cameron and X appeared to have reached some kind of agreement because X came back over to us.
Theodore motioned for him to speak. He appeared to be the most polite person I’ve met so far.
“Gilbert Conler will be given five opportunities to reject a request.”
“Ten times.”
Before X could finish his offer, Theodore firmly added. For the first time, X looked puzzled.
He thought he could get away with it, didn’t he? X groaned loudly.
“I can see why he said you were a pain in the ass…….”
“What?”
“No, then six times……?”
“Twelve times.”
“All right, eight times. No more.”
“Yes, eight times.”
Perhaps it was a fairly satisfactory bargain Theodore accepted the eight times. Most likely, he never even considered that he could get ten times.
X approached Cameron again with a look of disgust.
“We’ll let you know the exact date and place related to the bet later through a letter.”
“Wait a minute.”
“What?”
“The location, which will be in a forest where the beasts appear, will be determined by us.”
X readily agreed to Theodore’s words.
Cameron looked at us with an expression that seemed like he had something to say, then he got on the carriage without a word of goodbye and disappeared with X.
As we watched the carriage disappear, Astina ran towards us.
“What happened?”
“Astina!”
I hugged Astina tightly as she asked me what happened. Astina, who was suddenly hugged by me, soon patted me on the back.
“I believe I can call off your engagement!”
“What do you mean?”
I explained what had happened to Astina and how Cameron and I had decided to go hunting once more. I also stated that I had made it a condition that if I won, Cameron and Astina’s engagement would be called off.
Astina listened to me with her blue eyes filled with tears.
“Why did you do that?”
“Oh…”
“Why would you jump into something like that? It’s obviously dangerous and suspicious?”
“This isn’t such a bad deal…….”
“Why didn’t your Brother Theodore stop you from doing what you did?”
He negotiated.
Astina gave me a hard slap on the forearm, acting visibly enraged.
Even though the slap wasn’t particularly strong, it was a vast improvement from the whimpering slap I’d received when I was very young.
“Are you smiling?”
“Astina……. It’s your business, of course, but my family is also at stake.”
“Mary, you fool.. You’re so reckless!”
I gave Astina another hug as she sobbed uncontrollably.
Astina was clearly concerned about me, just as I was concerned about her. In a gloomy voice, Astina said as she hugged me.
“Let’s just run away…”
“Astina…”
“You can dig the potatoes…….”
Although Astina was serious, I chuckled. I delicately removed Astina’s hair from her eyes.
“I’m really fine. I can handle it. Do you remember that I was the orphanage’s best fighter?”
“You’re bragging…”
I attempted to assuage Astina’s fears, but Theodore tackled me from behind.
He looked really brave and reliable earlier, but now that he’s like this, I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Oh, where’s Rex?”
As Astina calmed down, I was finally able to inquire about Rex’s whereabouts.
“He went to Tahata to report that you fainted. Rex is probably on his way to the Grand Duchy with everyone, so we should head back.”
“Is our trip to Tahata over?”
The idea of leaving Tahata without having the chance to fully take in its surroundings made me sad.
But Theodore gave me a look that said, “Is that what you want to say now?”
It’s true that I had a bad experience in Tahata, but it was still disappointing that I wasn’t able to take in more of the breathtaking scenery.
When will our family be able to visit Tahata yet again? If I ever meet that guy from the underworld again, I really want to punch him once.
But it’s best if we don’t run into each other again.
“We should go back and tell them about the trouble we cause.”
“That’s right…”
I had no choice but to accept Theodore’s choice of words.
There was something more important than sightseeing in Tahata. Before anyone else speaks strangely, we have to tell them with our own mouths.
“I’m sure Brother Gilbert will say something, right?”
“What a troublemaker.”
“What?”
“I’m imitating Brother Gilbert. He would have said if he knew we had made that kind of bet.”
“Wow, that gave me goosebumps!”
In addition to their obvious physical similarities, Theodore and Gilbert’s voices, speech, and facial expressions were exactly the same, which gave me shivers.
We both laughed out loud.
“Try mimicking Brother Aiden too!”
“Oh, I’m practicing that.”
I held Theodore’s hand as we walked to the carriage. We appeared friendly at first glance, but we couldn’t help but tremble a little.
I was afraid of returning to the Grand Duchy and receiving a reprimand for the hunting bet.
But with Theodore by my side, it was less terrifying than the hunting bet I made when I was young.
