Chapter 94
“Th-That is…….”
The two masked men exchanged glances with troubled expressions.
Ludwig was just about to hand them over to the Security Bureau when—
“Put down your swords.”
Ludwig’s body stiffened. He tried to turn his head, but the voice was faster.
“I told you to put down your sword.”
After hesitating, Ludwig finally lowered the hand holding his sword. Then he turned his head to look at the person who had given the order.
“……Hyungnim.”
First Prince Abelio was standing there. Crocker was behind him.
The difference from usual was that the golden eyes he rarely encountered were now looking straight at him.
Sensing that something was unusual, Ludwig spoke with tension.
“They are suspicious individuals. They must be handed over to the Security Bureau immediately.”
“They are my subordinates.”
Crocker said, signaling to the masked men with his eyes.
Ludwig frowned.
“Subordinates of the Marquis?”
“Yes. That is correct. They were faithfully carrying out my orders.”
“What is that supposed to—”
At that moment, an emotionless voice cut him off.
“Ludwig.”
“……Yes, Hyungnim.”
The voice calling his name felt extremely unfamiliar. But he answered calmly without showing it.
Abelio, who had been staring at him, spoke slowly.
“It is something I allowed.”
“…….”
“You should know well what you are supposed to do.”
Ludwig closed his mouth and clenched his teeth together. Then he obediently bowed his head.
“……I know very well.”
“Good.”
That was the end. Abelio withdrew the gaze he had given him.
Just like when the two of them usually crossed paths.
Ludwig did not ask anything else and left. Watching his retreating figure, Crocker asked Abelio:
“Is it really okay to leave him like that?”
“It’s fine. That guy can’t do anything anyway.”
Abelio let out a scoffing laugh while looking at the magic tool buried in the dug ground.
“Because he’s that kind of person.”
❧ ❧ ❧
When the day of the hunting competition arrived, Aileen and Rihardt had been busy since morning.
Especially Aileen checked her belongings several times to make sure she hadn’t forgotten the gloves she was going to give Rihardt as a gift.
“Aileen, are you done preparing?”
“Ah, yes!”
When Rihardt called her, Aileen hurriedly put the gloves into her bag and went outside.
He was wearing riding clothes that were easy to move in today. He looked more active than usual, which felt somewhat refreshing.
Rihardt smiled and held out his hand. Aileen took it as she always did.
“Have you arrived?”
When they went outside, Olden’s knights were assembled. They were also scheduled to participate in this hunting competition.
It was also to highlight Rihardt’s status.
Rihardt nodded and led Aileen to the carriage. The coachman must have paid attention, because the carriage was particularly polished today.
The carriage carrying the two departed, and the knights followed behind on horseback. Just looking at them, they were an imposing sight.
“Seeing everyone so determined makes me nervous for no reason.”
Aileen said while looking at the knights beyond the window. Rihardt glanced in the direction of her gaze and casually said:
“It’s just for show, so you don’t need to be nervous.”
“That may be, but still.”
Aileen couldn’t shake off her tension and fiddled with the bag she had brought. Seeing that, Rihardt asked:
“Is the gift for me in there?”
“That’s right. Are you curious?”
“Honestly, I am. The fact that you wrapped it up so tightly and won’t show it makes me even more curious.”
Rihardt let out a small laugh, his gaze still fixed on Aileen’s bag.
Of course, Aileen just smiled and didn’t tell him what she had prepared.
‘But it’s no fun if he knows in advance.’
Imagining Rihardt being happy when he received the gift, Aileen smiled.
She was eagerly waiting for the moment to give it to him when a sudden worry came to mind.
‘But did I raise his expectations too much?’
She was a little worried that by wrapping it up so much, she might end up disappointing him instead.
After hesitating, Aileen opened her mouth to lower his expectations a little.
“Just so you know, it’s not that grand of a gift.”
“That’s fine. No matter what Aileen prepared, I’m confident I’ll receive it happily.”
Rihardt said confidently. Feeling somewhat relieved, she teased him.
“What if it’s a divorce agreement?”
“Th—That…….”
A crack appeared on Rihardt’s usually relaxed face.
When Aileen laughed and added that it was a joke, he finally relaxed his stiff expression. Though he was a bit sulky.
While Aileen was soothing his sulky mood, they arrived at the Aurora Forest, where the hunting competition would be held.
When they got out of the carriage, many people were already gathered in the forest. And all their gazes were directed at Rihardt and Aileen standing beside him.
She had expected it, but when the gazes actually gathered on her, she felt a bit tense. But the tension soon eased.
“It’s fine, Aileen.”
Thanks to Rihardt wrapping his hand around hers.
When she lifted her head, Rihardt was smiling gently. Feeling reassured, Aileen smiled back.
He took her to the spectator seats and only then let go of her hand.
“Then I’ll go to the participants’ area.”
“Yes, see you in a bit.”
When Aileen waved with a now relaxed face, Rihardt grinned and walked toward the participants’ area.
As she was staring at his back, someone approached her.
“Madam.”
“Ah, Young Lady.”
Aileen turned her head to greet Letie, who had approached.
Letie glanced at Rihardt walking away and quietly asked her:
“Did you finish the gift?”
“Of course.”
Aileen smiled and slightly opened her bag to show her. Letie looked at the pair of gloves resting neatly inside and said:
“You made them beautifully. His Excellency will definitely like them.”
“I hope so.”
Aileen let out a soft laugh and hugged the bag carefully.
Seeing that, Letie smiled gently.
“By the way, didn’t you prepare a gift as well, Young Lady?”
“No. As I said before, there’s no one to give it to. I would have prepared one if Adrian were participating, but he’s still young.”
“Hmm…… That’s a shame.”
“Pardon?”
Aileen silently glanced at the men visible beyond Letie. When their eyes met hers, they hurriedly turned their heads away.
Aileen secretly laughed inside.
Letie had quite a beautiful appearance. On top of that, her usual quiet and expressionless demeanor added a mysterious atmosphere.
Even Aileen had been captivated when she first saw her, so she could understand the feelings of the men looking at Letie.
The problem was that Letie herself had no interest in others.
While she was thinking pityingly of those secretly glancing this way, a voice echoed through the forest clearing.
“Ah, ah. Ahem! Greetings, honored guests. We will now begin the opening ceremony of the hunting competition.”
“Looks like it’s starting.”
Aileen and Letie turned their gazes toward the center of the clearing.
Count Pudin, the commander of the hunting competition, was standing on the platform and addressing the gathered crowd through an amplification magic tool.
“First, I am deeply honored to be entrusted with the command of the hunting competition, which can be considered a traditional culture of the Empire. Especially as someone who mainly supplies the iron used in weapon manufacturing, I am so moved that I cannot even put it into words! Hahaha!”
“That’s boring.”
Letie muttered bluntly beside her.
She felt sorry for Count Pudin, but Aileen agreed. On top of that, his voice was so loud that her ears hurt.
It seemed others felt the same, as she saw people secretly doing other things. Still, since Aileen had acquaintance with Count Pudin, she tried to focus on his speech as much as possible.
And finally, the moment she had been waiting for arrived.
“Then, we will now begin the hunting competition. Participants, please enter the forest—before that! Please receive encouragement from your beloved family, friends, and lovers.”
“Go ahead.”
Letie said, turning to Aileen. After giving her a grateful look, Aileen left the spectator seats.
‘Where is Rihardt…….’
Aileen searched for Rihardt among the participants.
He had a distinctive face, so she thought he wouldn’t be hard to find, but……
At that moment, someone tapped her on the shoulder.
Thinking it might be Rihardt, Aileen turned around brightly. The moment she met the golden eyes that resembled Rihardt’s, she froze.
“……Your Highness.”
“Are you looking for Rihardt?”
Abelio asked with a faint smile.
After hesitating, Aileen nodded. Then he pointed somewhere with his finger.
“He should be over there.”
“……Thank you for telling me.”
She wondered if she should trust him, but there was no reason for him to lie about something like this.
Aileen hurriedly went in the direction he pointed.
She could feel a lingering gaze on her, but she pretended not to notice.
And just as Abelio said, she found Rihardt.
“Rihardt!”
At her joyful call, Rihardt turned toward her and smiled brightly.
“You’re here.”
“Of course. How could I send my husband without even giving him his gift?”
The word “husband” coming from her lips sounded so nice that Rihardt smiled softly. With a smile that seemed to melt his heart, Aileen also forgot about Abelio and took out the gift she had prepared from her bag.
“Here you go.”
“Gloves.”
Rihardt said happily as he took them.
“Did you stitch them yourself?”
“Yes, I did.”
“They even have Aileen’s magic stones embedded in them. At this rate, I think I’ll only be able to think about Aileen when I enter the forest.”
Rihardt chuckled and put on the gloves. Fortunately, they fit perfectly, and a satisfied smile appeared on his face.
Aileen hesitated and opened her mouth.
“Since you might hurt your hands when shooting arrows, I prepared gloves. And…….”
“And?”
“……If you shoot arrows, you’ll think of me even more.”
At the meaningful words, Rihardt tilted his head in confusion. Aileen just smiled and took a step back.
“Then I’ll be waiting in the spectator seats. Do your best, Rihardt!”
Leaving those words behind, Aileen returned to where Letie was. She was embarrassed.
Moving quickly so as not to interfere with the participants, Aileen suddenly noticed someone.
Ludwig was standing at the edge of her vision. His face seemed somewhat dark.
Because of what had happened with Rihardt, she was going to just pass by this time. Then she realized that his side was empty.
There was no one who had come to cheer for him.
‘……It’s none of my business.’
After staring at him for a moment, Aileen finally walked away.
