Chapter 28
It seemed that the true highlight of the hunting competition was not the hunt itself, but this grand party held at night like a finale.
The noble ladies and young women did not even enjoy hunting, yet they had all come. Now it was clear why — it was for this brilliant and luxurious party.
When I entered the hall, I was given a mask like everyone else. The moment I put it on, I felt strangely free. It had been a long time since I felt released from the burden of being the Duchess.
Wherever I went, people always stared at me as the wife of the Duke of Zenki. It was exhausting. But now, with my face and status hidden, I could finally exist as myself. Even among the crowd, I could rest.
Even among all the masked guests, I recognized Ricardo at once.
That tall height, that strong and firm build, his black hair like the darkest night, and that unique atmosphere — those belonged only to him.
‘He really is handsome.’
As I watched him from afar, I had to admit it. But I was not the only one who noticed him. Soon, people began to gather around him.
Women dressed as brightly as peacocks tried desperately to catch his attention. But Ricardo showed no interest in them. Instead, he had been speaking for quite some time with a round-bellied man.
‘Who is that?’
It did not seem to be Marquis Gueneiro. I tried to recall from the original story which other nobles had been close to Ricardo.
I could not remember his exact name, but after the hunting competition, one person had appeared frequently.
‘He was one of the high-ranking members of the Elder Council.’
I was not sure if the man in front of Ricardo was that person. Still, the sight made me remember what had happened in the original story.
After the hunting competition, Ricardo had visited the neighboring kingdom of Kaia as the Emperor’s representative. It had been the wedding of that kingdom’s prince.
When that episode came to mind, another name suddenly became clear.
Marco.
He was the central figure of the Elder Council and belonged to the Empress’s faction. Ricardo had found a weakness of his.
Because of that, instead of sending the Third Prince Ilane as the Emperor’s representative, Marco used his influence to send Ricardo instead.
And in Kaia—
My spine tingled.
That was where Ricardo had his fateful meeting with Zeno Haverston.
The two of them formed a strong bond there. Later, at Ricardo’s invitation, Zeno came to the ducal residence and stayed for some time. That was also when Stella’s one-sided love for Zeno had begun.
‘Wait… then what happens now?’
My mind began to race. Because of me, the original story had already changed. The events that followed might also change.
Originally, the Duke and Duchess were supposed to attend that wedding together. But after the hunting incident, Kayla had fallen out of favor and was ordered by the Emperor to reflect on her behavior. She could not go with Ricardo.
But now—
Maybe I could attend the wedding with him.
If that happens… I might meet Zeno Haverston much earlier than expected.
The thought made my heart uneasy. Everything felt like it was moving too quickly.
Just then, a large hand was extended in front of me.
When I looked up, it was Ricardo.
I only stared at him in surprise instead of taking his hand. He grasped my hand himself and gently pulled me up.
“It seems we have many things to talk about.”
He whispered near my ear. Even with my mask on, he had recognized me.
“How did you know it was me?”
“Let’s just say it’s similar to how you recognized me.”
He led me to the center of the hall. I stood stiffly until he placed one hand on my waist and held my other hand, slowly guiding me.
“I… I—”
I was about to say I had never danced before, but he spoke first in a low voice.
“People already know who I am. That means they know who you are too. Did you relax just because you’re wearing a mask? You were the one who insisted on attending the hunting competition. Or has being the Duchess suddenly become too much for you?”
I pressed my lips together and followed his lead, moving slowly.
Just as he said, people were glancing at us. As if they knew we were the Duke and Duchess.
Soon their attention drifted elsewhere. Only then did I understand why Ricardo had asked me to dance.
“You convinced Ernhardt quite well,” he said quietly. “Why did you deceive everyone? You never intended to hunt in the first place. It almost seemed like you knew that situation would happen.”
I flinched inside but laughed as if it were ridiculous.
“Are you saying I planned everything?”
“If not, then why did you order that engraving on the arrow? Don’t give me that excuse about commemorating our first event together. It seems to me that you wanted to emphasize it wasn’t your doing — as if you knew the marquis’ daughter would be injured.”
It was embarrassing that he had seen the engraving I secretly asked Ernhardt to carve. But this was not the time to shrink back.
“I told you before, didn’t I? While I am the Duchess, I will do my best. Yes, I ordered the engraving on purpose. Anyone who saw it would not doubt the relationship between the Duke and Duchess. If we at least pretend to have a good relationship, Her Majesty the Empress will feel reassured and lose interest in us. I did not expect it to be revealed like that in front of everyone because of the marquis’ daughter.”
His steps paused for a moment.
“You are more calculating than I thought.”
“Isn’t it fortunate that because of that calculation, I cleared the misunderstanding that the Duchess bullied the marquis’ daughter?”
“If you had simply listened to me and not attended in the first place, none of this would have happened.”
I answered only in my heart.
‘Then I would still believe you were the one who killed me… without knowing Yelena Gueneiro’s true face.’
He still did not know what kind of person Yelena truly was. If I spoke honestly, he would only think I was jealous and despise me more.
Behind the mask, I could not tell whether he was dancing with me or interrogating me.
His attitude irritated me, and the words slipped out.
“Instead of accusing the wrong person, why don’t you find the real culprit who hurt someone precious to you? I heard Lady Gueneiro has left for the capital. If you’re worried, perhaps you should have gone with her.”
At my words, he released my hand and stared at me silently before walking away.
Left alone again, I grabbed a glass from a nearby table and drank it down.
Even if this was a forced marriage, I had almost been publicly disgraced today. Yet he did not even ask if I was all right.
“Ha.”
The slight guilt I had felt for suspecting him of killing both Kayla and Stella disappeared completely.
Now that I was certain Yelena was the true culprit, I no longer cared whether she was the heroine of the original story.
If I wanted to survive, I had to make sure Yelena Gueneiro could no longer act freely.
Having completely lost interest in the party, I slipped through the crowd and left. It had been a long day. I just wanted to return to my room and rest.
As the night grew deeper, the nobles slowly returned to their assigned rooms. Ricardo also headed toward his room.
Officially, only one room had been assigned to the Duke and Duchess.
Yesterday, he had avoided people’s eyes and slept elsewhere. But tonight he could not. At the party, a servant had delivered a message: the Emperor had sent a wedding gift and ordered them to receive it personally in their room.
It was strange to send a wedding gift at such a random time and place. Still, he had no choice but to return to the assigned room.
Ironically, it would be the first time since their marriage that they would share a room.
As he walked down the dark corridor, he suddenly stopped.
His sharp senses detected a faint sound coming from inside the room.
Just as he expected, the door opened and someone stepped out.
Instinctively, Ricardo hid himself behind a pillar in the corridor.
