Chapter 30
“W–why are you saying that?!”
Liriope asked in a flustered voice, her face completely red.
Theo looked at her with a perfectly calm expression and replied,
“Because you’re my woman.”
The absurdity of his answer made Liriope let out a faint groan without even realizing it.
What am I supposed to do with this man?
Feeling a mix of exasperation and pity, she looked at Theo with a helpless expression.
Did he have any idea how sorry he’d feel later—and how guilty he’d be toward Rosarin—for saying such things now?
“So you can fall for me all you want, Lipe. I’m already yours anyway.”
He pointed at his own chest with his index finger.
Liriope stared at his lips, which curved in that mesmerizing smile clearly meant to captivate her, and then imagined those very lips telling her they should break off the engagement someday.
When that time came, she had to be able to accept it calmly.
No—maybe it would be better if she were the one to bring it up first before he did.
After all, she was the one who had dragged him into this, and because of her, two people who should never have been involved ended up engaged.
Right. I didn’t want things to turn out like this, but it’s still my fault they did.
Thinking of the future where Theo would become a “dumped fiancé,” Liriope resolved that she would do everything she could to support his relationship with Rosarin from the sidelines.
Her growing infatuation with the original novel’s male lead was a dangerous and selfish feeling—she had to snap out of it.
While Theo had no idea what was running through her mind, he noticed Liriope’s eyes fixed on his lips and smiled faintly.
“Lipe.”
Those beautiful lips moved lazily as he spoke.
Her gaze lifted to meet his.
“Do you want my lips?”
The completely unexpected words made Liriope’s eyes widen so much they nearly popped out.
“……What?!”
* * *
To celebrate the hunting festival, the Emperor himself appeared.
Thanks to that, Liriope was able to escape from Theo and his talk about lips in a hurry.
She admitted that she had been staring at his mouth too much—
Those lips were so perfect they had dragged her into a daze of unwanted thoughts.
Still, to think he’d actually misunderstand like that! Between that and the last time he said he wanted to hold her, wasn’t he surprisingly… indecent for someone who looked so cold and proper?
“The Hunting Festival of Gardeia has been passed down since ancient times…”
As the imperial spokesperson began the opening speech, everyone turned to face the podium.
Behind the spokesperson stood three grand, regal-looking chairs—occupied by the Emperor, the Empress, and a clearly disgruntled-looking Cardin.
The Emperor had the appearance of a kind elderly gentleman—nothing like the stunning beauty that was Cardin.
Cardin, in contrast, seemed to take after the Empress beside him, whose cold beauty made her seem both noble and untouchable.
Liriope glanced at the Empress, the villainess of the original story, and couldn’t help wondering what could have possibly driven someone so beautiful and powerful to harbor such evil intentions.
But seriously, what’s with him?
Her gaze shifted back to Cardin, who sat slouched with his chin propped on one hand, lips pouting like a sulky teenager scolded by his parents.
Liriope silently prayed that the idiot wouldn’t, like in the original story, go charging into Theo’s hunting grounds out of jealousy.
Of course, she didn’t want Theo getting hurt in Cardin’s place either—so once she took care of the monsters attacking the tents, she planned to go find him.
Before leaving, she’d warned him to be careful in the hunting grounds.
He probably hadn’t taken her seriously—after all, the festival was only supposed to include low-level monsters. But that didn’t matter. She’d go to him herself if she had to.
“Now then, we ask that all nobles participating in the Hunting Festival display their full abilities and vanquish as many monsters as they can.”
As the spokesperson finished, applause broke out among the nobles.
The sound grew louder when the Emperor himself stepped forward to speak.
Liriope clapped so hard her palms stung.
The Emperor gave a brief, graceful speech before stepping down from the podium—no wonder everyone in Gardeia adored him.
When the speech ended, Liriope glanced toward Theo, who was being summoned by the Emperor.
He approached the Emperor, the Empress, and Cardin, speaking with them quietly.
His face remained as unreadable as ever, replying to the Emperor’s questions with curt nods or short answers.
Come on, Theo—he’s the Emperor! Can’t you at least pretend to be polite?
Watching his icy demeanor made her nervous on his behalf.
Then suddenly, as Theo sighed softly and replied “Yes, Your Majesty,” his head turned toward the gathered nobles below the podium.
Startled, Liriope quickly ducked her head, pretending she hadn’t been staring.
Oh no—did he notice me watching him?
After a moment, she cautiously lifted her head again.
“……!”
And at that exact moment, she locked eyes with Theo—who had been looking right at her.
He smiled faintly, so subtly most people wouldn’t notice—but Liriope, who had come to know his expressions all too well, recognized it instantly and flushed bright red.
Honestly… this man is terrible for my heart.
“The 182nd Hunting Festival begins now!”
Thankfully, the shout announcing the start of the event and the blare of horns filled the air, drawing everyone’s attention.
Nobles bustled about, preparing to enter the hunting grounds.
Theo and the Crown Prince each received their own maps of the hunting areas.
“Lady Liri! Did you get your hunting map?”
Rosarin, her face flushed with excitement, ran up to Liriope the moment the horns sounded, leaving Lady Meradot behind.
Liriope waved her own map.
“Yes, I got it.”
“Then let’s—”
“Ah, Rosé, but I’m actually starving.”
Liriope cut her off with an apologetic smile.
“I’m going to grab something to eat from the camp first, so you go ahead with Lady Meradot.”
“Oh, but I could stay and eat with you—”
“No, no. You’ve got to win that prize! Go on ahead and sweep up all the monsters before anyone else.”
At that, Rosarin laughed awkwardly but nodded.
She clearly wanted to stay with Liriope, but Liriope couldn’t bring her into danger.
She didn’t want Rosarin to end up in any romantic subplot with Cardin like in the original story—but she wanted her far away from where the high-level monster was supposed to appear.
“If you win, I’ll be so proud of you.”
“I-I probably can’t win, but I’ll do my best to make you happy, Lady Liri!”
Her words, meant to gently push Rosarin away, instead made the girl clench her fists with determination.
Liriope couldn’t help smiling at how adorable she was.
After confirming Rosarin had left with Meradot toward the hunting grounds, Liriope turned and headed back to the tents.
Children of noble families were running around playing, while their guardians watched them fondly from nearby tables.
No one suspected that tragedy was about to strike this peaceful scene.
Liriope hoped desperately that the future could change—that maybe, since she’d already altered the original story, the high-level monster wouldn’t appear this time.
But that hope was shattered in an instant.
“Kyaaaaaaah!!”
A bloodcurdling scream ripped through the air—from the direction of the third tent.
Liriope immediately ran toward the sound.
A woman was sprinting out of the tent in terror, and behind her—
The monster appeared.
A high-level beast, far more hideous and enormous than anything described in the novel.
For a moment, Liriope froze, her whole body locking up at the grotesque sight.
Then someone shouted from behind her:
“A—a high-level monster!!”
Snapping back to herself, Liriope quickly scanned the area for the children.
“Everyone, get inside the tent—now!!” she shouted.
Parents grabbed their children, pulling them toward safety.
Kids stumbled and cried, some frozen in terror as their parents dragged them along.
The scene was pure chaos—hell on earth.
“Uaaagh!”
A nobleman screamed as the monster struck him.
Startled, Liriope conjured two large, blazing fireballs in her hands and hurled them at the creature.
The monster dodged easily, without even turning its head.
“Damn it!” she hissed.
Refusing to give up, she summoned more fire—then formed a glowing cloud of flame high above the monster’s head.
The fiery cloud began to rain down burning embers, forcing the beast to flinch and move.
Liriope seized the opening and hurled the twin fireballs in her hands straight at it.
“KIIIIIIIK!!”
Yes!
Both fireballs hit squarely in the creature’s abdomen, sinking into its flesh.
It writhed in pain as the firestorm from above continued to fall.
“Let’s help the Lady!”
A woman’s shout rang out from behind.
Liriope turned in surprise—and her eyes widened.
The noble guardians who had been hiding in the tents were now emerging, each summoning magic in their palms.
“Assist the Lady! Drive out the monster!”
“We’ll protect our children ourselves!”
“Cover the Lady!”
Every noble left in the tents had rallied around Liriope, united as one.
She blinked in astonishment, overwhelmed by the sight she hadn’t expected at all.
