Chapter 61
There were at most only small animals like rabbits in the forest.
It was an artificial forest created for the hunting festival, so they only captured small animals and released them on purpose.
The Grand Duke followed Gianna’s trail, examining each trace she left behind.
“I can’t entrust my mermaid’s safety to those airheaded idiots alone.”
He hadn’t planned to attend the hunting festival in the first place.
Gianna wanted to win, so how could he dare come and ruin her chance by showing up?
What he intended to do was help her win as much as possible from the shadows.
But he couldn’t make it too obvious. Gianna was very proud, after all.
“Hmm… Looks like she’s already caught about three rabbits?”
This time, many participants with outstanding skills were gathered for the hunting festival. Of course, they were nothing but small fry who couldn’t even touch the tips of Gianna’s toes.
Even if they wielded a sword, could they be sharper than Gianna? Even if they shot a bow, could they be faster?
“No way.”
The Grand Duke shook his head and smirked. The winner of this hunting festival would be decided by the number of animals caught.
Gianna would probably catch more than half the animals the organizers released all by herself.
The Grand Duke kept a distance far enough not to see her, following her tracks.
When he closed his eyes slightly, her scent felt even clearer.
The magical threads she used danced in the air.
She moved so quickly, hopping here and there, she almost resembled the rabbits she was catching…
“Hm?”
Was that… a man’s scent mixed in? How unpleasant.
Still with his eyes closed, he furrowed his brows and threw a punch.
“Pff—gah!”
“Who are you? Why are you here?”
When the Grand Duke opened his eyes, one of the three idiot brothers, Olsen, was kneeling before him clutching his nose.
“I told you to guard Gianna, so what are you doing in front of me?”
“Ah, D–Duke, that’s not it—”
“You three together aren’t even enough, but you left and came alone?”
Olsen, who’d been punched in the face, was crying both tears and nose blood.
He rubbed his face pitifully and muttered.
“Your Grace, we… really don’t have the skill to keep up with her…”
“Who asked you to guard her with swords? At least block things with your bodies! What if a stray arrow flies at her?”
“Well, Gianna is faster than us so…”
“Then at least pick up the rabbits she catches!”
“She gathers them all with magic threads, so…”
“You idiots! That’s why everyone calls you fools!”
The Grand Duke suddenly felt anxious.
He should never have trusted those idiots. He needed to go see her himself!
The Grand Duke crouched low and stealthily approached where Gianna was.
Around her floated a dozen rabbits and squirrels, dangling gently.
He lowered his voice as he asked Olsen,
“What is that? Am I seeing things?”
“Gianna said she didn’t want meaningless killing, so she’s keeping them all alive.”
Looking closely, each small animal was being gently held up by her magical threads.
One rabbit was even asleep among the strands like it was hugging them.
Olsen added,
“She said she’ll release them all after the festival ends.”
“Ha. That damn kindness. Who can stop my mermaid?”
“Exactly! We couldn’t stop her at all. All we could do was follow her around!”
“That’s exactly why I sent you—to follow her properly.”
Seeing Gianna disappear again into the trees, the Grand Duke gave Olsen another flick to the head.
Olsen held his skull and protested.
“We—we decided it with rock-paper-scissors.”
“With what?”
“She was too fast so we couldn’t do anything… But we thought if all three of us returned to you, we’d die, so we chose one person to report back…”
“And you lost?”
“Correct. Losing was painful enough, so please don’t scold me too harshly…”
“Tch.”
After striking Olsen’s head one more time, the Grand Duke ordered,
“Sit here.”
“Oh! Are you forgiving me?”
“That depends.”
When the Grand Duke sat on a large rock, Olsen quickly sat beside him.
“Kneel.”
“Yes sir.”
Olsen slid down and knelt properly. The Grand Duke seemed satisfied, then casually asked,
“Olsen. Have you ever dated someone?”
“Dated… sir?”
Olsen blinked dumbly, and the Grand Duke sighed and shook his head.
“Never mind.”
“Is this about Lady Gianna?”
“Would I be troubled like this because of you?”
He kicked Olsen’s knee lightly, and Olsen grumbled.
“You’ve gotten more violent lately, Your Grace.”
“Me?”
“You always cursed, but you rarely hit us like this.”
After hesitating, Olsen continued.
“If you’d just talk instead, I’d listen. I can’t give answers, but I can listen well.”
“How can I trust anything you say? You’re lighter than feathers.”
“I won’t tell Kan or Isaac! I swear!”
Seeing him lift his hand like an oath, the Grand Duke snorted.
“When I first met Gianna, do you know what she told me?”
“What did she say?”
“She said she has no presence. Ridiculous.”
Gianna lit up any space she entered. She didn’t lack presence—she overflowed with it.
Even in front of the empire’s only Sword Master, she’d shown no fear.
‘Was it because she’s a hero? No… She wasn’t afraid even the first moment she saw me.’
Her boldness was charming.
Even when she talked back sometimes, he accepted it with amusement.
“She said she has no presence? Impossible. Without her, we’re all doomed. I can’t imagine you without her, Your Grace.”
Listening to Olsen rant, the Grand Duke fell into thought.
When had it started?
That strange line he felt around Gianna. No matter how much they laughed and joked, there was a boundary. A fear she might vanish one day without a word.
Sometimes she felt so close, yet other times, she seemed like she could disappear forever, coldly walking away.
“About Lady Gianna…”
Olsen glanced at him nervously.
“She has a contract with you. When it ends… is she really leaving?”
“Say it right. Leaving me. Not ‘us.’”
“Right, right—leaving you, then?”
“The Grand Duke said wealth is the only thing he has. Didn’t you pay her enough? How stingy were you that she wants to leave?”
“Shut that mouth.”
Annoyance surged in him.
Lately, he had been growing impatient.
The deeper he fell for Gianna, the farther she seemed to drift—like a mirage in the desert. The harder he chased, the farther she receded.
“I didn’t pay her little. I swear Gianna’s salary is higher than yours.”
“Then why leave?!”
“If I knew, would I be asking you?”
If he at least knew the reason, he could persuade her. All she said was she wanted freedom. That was enough to drive him mad.
Olsen, still studying him, murmured,
“I just don’t get her. What kind of person leaves such a sweet job?”
“So you’re complaining about me, is that it?”
“Huh?”
Olsen panicked.
Recently, every time Gianna cooked seafood, the Grand Duke summoned the three idiots to serve as her helpers. Sometimes he even forced them to cook instead so Gianna could rest.
“You’re saying you don’t like me making you cook instead of her?”
“N-no, never!”
“Hmph. Looks like you idiots need discipline. How about I run you until the festival ends?”
“I WAS WRONG! I WAS WRONG!”
Olsen immediately sprawled flat, slamming his head to the ground over and over.
