Episode 110
I pondered as I got into the carriage, wondering if I was already in the eye of the storm.
The hunting competition, originally just the starting point of the power struggle for the throne, had changed because of my intervention.
With Cesar siding with the Crown Prince, and the Emperor practically turning his back on the Empress, the hunting competition was the Second Prince’s last chance to turn the tables.
I could feel the story’s climax approaching faster than in the original novel. But at the same time, another question arose.
‘Even if the story quickly reaches its happy ending, if the dangers approaching me don’t disappear… can it be considered an ending? If I’m still in the eye of the storm…’
“We’re here, Lily.”
I flinched, startled by his voice. I hadn’t realized we had arrived so soon.
“Sorry, I was lost in thought.”
I took his outstretched hand and got out of the carriage.
As soon as I stepped outside, I felt a barrage of gazes. I looked around and saw dozens of pairs of eyes filled with curiosity and suspicion directed at me.
Come to think of it, rumors must have spread.
Rumors that Duke Clovis, who had never been close to any woman besides Lady Veronica, had suddenly brought a woman into his mansion and was keeping her close.
Those gazes were probably a mixture of curiosity and animosity. The Clovis Dukedom, after all, was considered the second-best marriage prospect after the Imperial family.
I nervously whispered to Cesar,
“Cesar, my cheeks are burning.”
“You should have expected this.”
“I did, but… this really shows how popular you are, Cesar. The gazes of those noble ladies are… intense.”
Even a brief glance made me feel intimidated.
Cesar looked in their direction and then quickly looked away. A low, warning voice whispered in my ear,
“I don’t think those are the gazes you should be worried about. The Second Prince, from his seat of honor, is practically glaring daggers at you.”
I finally noticed his chilling gaze. His murky green eyes were filled with unconcealed animosity.
‘He has good eyesight. He recognized me from so far away.’
“My hair and eye color are different; he still recognized me.”
“He’s not a complete idiot.”
As more gazes turned towards us, Cesar, with a friendly smile, guided me to where Sylvia was.
Once the hunting competition began, the men would go hunting, so the area was divided accordingly.
Before leaving, Cesar gave me some instructions.
“The hunting competition will begin soon. I have a feeling they’re planning something, so stay close to Sylvia’s side. And take this.”
He placed a beautiful jewel in my hand.
“If you break this jewel, it will guide you to me. You said you would protect me, but I feel the same way. I don’t want you to be in danger while I’m not there to protect you. Please don’t get hurt while I’m gone.”
His voice was laced with anxiety. There was no need for him to worry.
“Alright. Did His Highness give you any instructions?”
“He asked me to keep an eye on the Empress’s movements. The Second Prince will be going into the forest, but the Empress will stay in the area designated for the women.”
“I see.”
As I turned to go find Sylvia, Cesar stopped me.
“Lily. The delegation from the Holy Kingdom will be near the tents prepared for the guests observing the hunting competition. It’s some distance from the women’s area, but be careful.”
“You should be going. Why are you so worried? They won’t recognize me.”
I was prepared.
No matter what happened, I would protect him and bring an end to this tiresome novel’s plot. I wanted to give him a happy ending, not a tragic one.
“I’ll be back, Cesar.”
“Yes.”
As soon as we parted, a trumpet signaled the start of the hunting competition.
As I approached the tents where the women were gathered, I felt a barrage of unpleasant gazes. I ignored them and entered the tent. Sylvia, who had been looking around, spotted me and smiled brightly.
“Lady Witten, over here! I almost went looking for you.”
I realized she was talking to me and approached her.
‘I’m still not used to this title. I should get used to it.’
Seeing a familiar face relaxed my tense body.
“I’m sorry I’m late, Lady Veronica.”
“I just arrived, too. His Majesty will begin his address soon, now that the trumpet has signaled the start of the hunting competition.”
She made space for me to sit beside her. I noticed another young lady sitting next to Sylvia.
Her face looked familiar, and I suddenly remembered.
‘Ah, Lady Cartlow.’
She was the noble lady I met at the tea party, who had become friendly with Sylvia.
“Oh, I should have introduced you. This is Lady Beatrice Cartlow of the Count Cartlow family.”
“Apologies for the late introduction. I’m Beatrice Cartlow.”
“Hello, I’m Valerie Witten of the Viscount Witten family.”
“Ah, you’re the one who was recently adopted…”
Lady Cartlow stopped mid-sentence and quickly apologized.
“I’m sorry. Please forgive me if I was being rude.”
“It’s alright. Don’t worry about it.”
The other noble ladies, who had been eavesdropping, probably heard everything, but I didn’t care. That wasn’t what mattered right now.
After a brief apology, they continued with small talk, and then the conversation stopped as the Emperor stood up to begin the opening ceremony.
The hunt would begin soon. And the cornered Second Prince and Empress would make their move.
After the Emperor’s formal address, the chatter among the noble ladies resumed.
“Who do you think will bring back the biggest game this time?”
“I wonder. His Highness the Crown Prince brought back the biggest game last time, didn’t he?”
“That’s true, but Duke Clovis also brought back quite a large one. This will be interesting.”
In the novel, a commotion interrupted the hunting competition, and it ended abruptly. It would probably be the same this time.
Although, the events would unfold very differently from the original story.
“…Lady Veronica, I apologize, but I have to excuse myself for a moment.”
Lady Cartlow, who had been sitting next to Sylvia, stood up.
It seemed like Countess Cartlow had summoned her. As a neutral family, they were probably wary of her associating with Sylvia, the Crown Prince’s fiancée.
Sylvia smiled and bid her farewell, then leaned closer and whispered,
“Lily, just call me Sylvia. You’re making me sad.”
I had also felt bad about her stiff reaction when I called her “Lady Veronica.”
“Sorry. But you saw how everyone was staring. As soon as I entered with Cesar, their gazes were so intense.”
“There are rumors spreading in social circles, so everyone’s curious about you. In a bad way.”
Sylvia’s voice turned cold. I blinked in surprise, feeling the chilling air around her, just like Cesar’s.
But then, I smiled. It was so like Sylvia to be angry and worried about me.
“It’s okay. We have to keep an eye on the Empress, not their reactions. I heard she’s planning something. Did you hear anything specific, Sylvia?”
“…I don’t know the details. But I was told not to go anywhere near the hunting grounds. And if there’s an evacuation order, I should just run away without looking back, not worrying about the Empress.”
“What do you mean?”
That was news to me.
An evacuation? What did she find out to warrant such a warning? I hadn’t heard anything about that.
“It must mean something dangerous will happen, so we shouldn’t get involved.”
Cesar had been constantly worried about me coming here. He probably knew I would jump in to help if I knew the details.
I touched the jewel Cesar gave me and wondered if I should break it.
Just then, a hot gust of wind blew. I looked to the side and saw the wolf-shaped spirit from the dungeon and another spirit, one I had never seen before, approaching me.
Judging by the flickering flames, it must have been the fire spirit Sylvia recently summoned.
“But Lily, to think he’s telling you to stay put after saying that. That’s absurd, isn’t it?”
Sylvia’s eyes, as she looked at me, were sharp.
The Crown Prince must have said that out of concern for Sylvia’s safety, but she wouldn’t take it well.
Who would want to helplessly watch their fiancé handle everything alone? Especially Sylvia, who wasn’t some weak, helpless damsel in distress.
And I felt the same way.
Why did I come here? For whom was I here?
“You’re right, Sylvia. To think he’s telling me to stay put after saying that.”
“I knew you would say that. At first, I just wanted to stop you from coming to this dangerous hunting competition. But now I understand. I’m angry at him for not trusting me. He treats me like a helpless noble lady, incapable of doing anything… I can’t just stand by.”
It seemed like both Sylvia and I were in love with rather foolish men. Men who thought they were being considerate by hiding us and not trusting their lovers.
If we were truly weak and fragile, we would have crumbled long ago. We wouldn’t even have considered being with them.
But we had fallen in love, knowing the dangers that lay ahead, and we were determined to stand by their side.
How could such a resolve not be strong?
“Sylvia, let’s use the wind spirit to find out what’s happening at the hunting grounds. And we have to observe the Empress and restrain her. Since she chose the location, she must have something to do with it.”
“Alright, Lily.”
‘The Second Prince must have already set a trap to attack the Crown Prince in the forest. And the Crown Prince and Cesar would have anticipated that.’
So if an evacuation order was issued, it meant something beyond their control would happen.
‘And yet, he just gave me this jewel and left without telling me anything.’
I gritted my teeth.
I would think of a way to punish that bad man later. I moved stealthily with Sylvia.