~Chapter 109~
Beneath the towering walls, nobles had set up rows of carefully decorated tents around the hosts of the festival.
Each time a hunting team’s name was called, the young ladies inside the tents perked up with wide eyes and eager ears.
They had to hand over the handkerchiefs they had embroidered stitch by stitch to the one they admired. If they weren’t paying attention, their chance could slip away in an instant.
The young men and knights were just as tense. Sometimes the ladies came forward to offer their handkerchiefs, while sometimes a gentleman would boldly step into a tent to receive one from a lady he admired.
Will the one I want come to me? Or should I go to them myself?
Riden found this subtle battle of glances very amusing—until her eyes froze on one person.
The teams for Zone 6 were being called. Among them was Damian Florence.
‘What?’
The young ladies who had been hesitating suddenly rushed out without a trace of doubt and surrounded Damian.
Riden was stunned.
She wanted to stand up right there and shout at the top of her lungs:
“Everyone, can’t you see? That bastard cheated on his wife! Don’t cheer for him, boo him instead!”
But the young ladies encircled Damian in a frenzy, eager to hand over their handkerchiefs.
Damian put on a mild, courteous expression as if butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth, and Riden felt sick.
‘Unbelievable… I have no words.’
He looked ridiculous acting so proper. It was even laughable that he was here at the hunting festival.
Hunting? The only exercise that man ever did was breathing.
At that moment, Mari moved. She stepped forward and handed her handkerchief to Damian. He accepted it with a gentle smile.
‘Perfect match.’
They were free now—no wife standing between them. If they wanted to continue their foolish love from the last life, they could do it all they wanted.
“Sir Damian is quite popular, isn’t he?”
‘!’
Riden, who had been glaring with a cold face, flinched when Stanley suddenly appeared beside her without a sound.
“Wow… how many handkerchiefs does he have now?”
Stanley, too distracted counting others’ handkerchiefs, didn’t notice her expression.
“Even though he’s not the eldest son, I guess it’s his looks. My lady, do you think I could get one too?”
Riden calmed her surprise and replied:
“Of course. If it’s about looks, you should get one easily, Stanley.”
He truly was warm and handsome, with a kind aura. Many young ladies had brought extra handkerchiefs just in case they met a man like him today.
Stanley’s brow furrowed slightly, as if touched.
“That’s the best answer, my lady.”
“Stanley!”
Ethan, who had been checking his equipment before the hunt, called for him. Stanley left.
Riden glanced back at Damian returning to his tent.
‘I feel nothing.’
It would be a lie to say she felt nothing at all, but honestly—it wasn’t much. Even when her ex-husband spoke sweetly with Mari right before her eyes, even when he received handkerchiefs from many ladies… it didn’t matter anymore.
Back when she had first entered this world, she thought she’d ask him why.
Why did you cheat? What was the reason?
But now—
‘I don’t care anymore.’
Whatever he did, whether he cheated or hunted, it no longer mattered. She only wanted him to disappear from her sight.
She had only one rule left for herself:
‘Live your life however you want. Just never figure out who I really am. Because I want to live freely too.’
Soon, the announcer’s voice called the teams for Zone 7.
Riden walked over to Ethan, who was busy checking the hunting gear. Unlike the other knights, who were giddy and excited, he had no interest in handkerchiefs at all.
‘Of course not.’
Their engagement had already been made public. If anyone dared hand him a handkerchief, it would be like challenging her directly. Unless she gave him one, he wouldn’t accept any.
‘…I did prepare one, but…’
When she hesitated, Ethan wordlessly held out his empty hand.
“People will think you’re preparing something special the longer you take.”
In other words: stop stalling and hand it over.
‘Ugh. I made one, but he’s so matter-of-fact about it that I don’t feel like giving it anymore…’
Her embroidery was simple—cute at best. Compared to the refined, artistic pieces other young ladies had prepared, hers was plain.
‘I should’ve just bought one!’
So she pretended her handkerchief didn’t exist.
“Something special? Are you talking about a handkerchief?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t have one.”
Ethan didn’t flinch.
“Stop raising expectations and hand it over.”
“Hmph! A handkerchief is given for the hunter’s safety, isn’t it? But I’m also a participant today. That means I should be receiving one, not giving one.”
Ethan paused, then lifted his head from inspecting her crossbow.
“Don’t worry. I plan to stick to you like that handkerchief in your pocket—for your safety.”
She stayed still, but suspicion began flickering in his dark eyes.
“You really don’t have one?”
He set down the crossbow, stepped closer, and turned her lightly by the shoulders as if to check.
“Hmm.”
He looked like he wanted to search her pockets but held back, only studying her intently.
Then his eyes narrowed. A tiny corner of fabric peeked out of her jacket pocket.
“Your Grace, pretending won’t make one appear out of thin air.”
“Maybe. But I need one.”
“It’s not required.”
He draped both arms over her shoulders and gestured toward the crowd of onlookers.
“Look.”
She followed his gaze. Dozens of nobles were watching curiously.
“They’re all wondering what kind of handkerchief my fiancée will give me. If I don’t get one, it’ll be humiliating. But you said you don’t have one.”
“…Yes.”
“Ha. This is trouble.”
His voice dropped lower, heavier than usual.
“Even if our marriage is just a contract, we still have to act properly as duke and duchess in front of others. Don’t you agree, Riden McCurry?”
‘He’s serious. Is he actually angry?’
He had always laughed off her teasing before. But his stern face now made her bite her lip. It was time to confess.
Her hand moved toward her pocket—when suddenly, Ethan gently cupped her head.
‘Huh?’
His face brushed lightly against her forehead, then pulled back.
She blinked at him, stunned.
He let out a quiet sigh and his lips twitched faintly.
“If I say my fiancée gave me a kiss on the forehead instead of a handkerchief, at least I won’t be shamed.”
Her face burst into flames.
‘Did he just… smile wickedly?’
Ethan glanced at her pocket and smirked.
“See? That works too.”
“What?!”
“At least no one will say I didn’t get anything because we’re on bad terms. Keep that handkerchief safe—I’ll take it later.”
When he turned away, satisfied, Riden grabbed his sleeve.
At that moment, Stanley’s voice rang out.
“Your Grace!”
People whispered all around, shocked after witnessing the display between the duke’s heir and his fiancée.
Stanley approached proudly, a handkerchief tied to his wrist, with Damian trailing beside him, looking troubled.
“There was an error in team assignments.”
“What error?”
“Too many were assigned to Zone 6. Some must be moved. Sir Damian is one of them.”
Stanley, who had become friendly with Damian after visiting the Holy Knights’ headquarters, added brightly:
“Why not put the secretary in our team instead?”
