I opened my mouth wide. What on earth did he mean by that?
The duke's words sounded like he was giving me permission to shoot people.
“A-Ah, Father. What do you mean by that...?”
Stammering, I tentatively asked if I had understood him correctly. The duke clicked his tongue loudly.
“Tsk, don’t think about causing a scene in front of everyone like a wild calf and disgracing the family!”
“...”
“Anyway, once you faint, you’ll lose your memory, so don’t leave any witnesses that you were here. Got it?”
His tone was like he was trying to persuade a reckless daughter who was about to cause trouble.
‘He was banned from participating for a year because he was going to shoot me with a crossbow?!’
But instead of telling me not to do it, he suggested using a pearl that would make me faint and casting a memory-erasing spell.
‘Indeed... I should say the duke’s influence is formidable...’
Or perhaps it’s more impressive that Penelope has become so uncontrollable.
“Why aren’t you answering?”
The duke urged me, looking at me suspiciously because I was silent.
“A. Yes...”
I mumbled in a daze.
I couldn’t bring myself to say that I wouldn’t hunt humans and would behave properly. My attendance at the hunting competition, which I had tried to avoid, was now confirmed.
“...I understand, Father. I’ll use it well.”
“Cough. If you understand, that’s fine.”
After I reluctantly confirmed, the duke cleared his throat and added.
“I was going to explain the situation to you and give you this as a side note, not to scold you.”
It was an unexpected comfort. I looked at the duke with wide eyes.
“Hmm, understood. You can take it and go now. Our conversation has gone on long enough.”
He seemed as surprised as I was by his own words, and he awkwardly laughed as he hurriedly tidied up.
Before I could stop him, he called a maid and instructed her to bring the crossbow to my room.
I hesitated, looking at the suddenly neat table.
“A, I...”
The duke, still sitting, looked at me curiously.
“Hmm?”
Forget it. Since he brought it, I might as well give it.
“I have something to give you, Father.”
I fumbled and took out something I had hidden under my skirt.
Unlike what I gave Emily, it was a box wrapped in luxurious velvet.
I opened it and carefully extended it to the duke.
A brilliant silver light filled his widened eyes.
He seemed quite surprised by the sudden gift.
“This is... an amulet, isn’t it?”
“It has an emergency teleportation spell inscribed on it.”
“Why are you giving this to me...?”
As expected. From the duke’s reaction, it was clear that his youngest daughter had never received even a single flower from the garden.
I shook my head at the foolish Penelope and explained in a gentle voice.
“Recently, this is the most popular gift among the nobles attending the hunting competition, Father.”
“A gift...?”
“Yes. This time, the competition will include guests from other countries and rare animals they bring.”
“That’s right.”
“I hope you’ll keep it with you throughout the competition, just in case.”
“...Who would dare attack me in this empire?”
“They might not attack, but some faction could approach you to target Ecart’s political position.”
My answer made the duke look at me as if I were a strange creature he had never seen before.
The silver amulet I gave him, inscribed with an emergency teleportation spell, was quite expensive.
Actually, I had debated between a defensive spell and this one, but this was better.
Ecart had remained neutral and not participated in the war.
If someone were to kill or attack the duke, it would turn Ecart into an enemy and reignite the war, so no one would do such a foolish thing.
‘But they could kidnap and threaten you.’
“If anything unfortunate happens to you, some factions will surely try to involve Ecart in factional struggles.”
“Yes, that you would think of such a considerate thing...!”
The duke muttered in shock, then hesitated and said, “No, no,” closing his mouth.
“Well, I’ll keep it with me.”
He answered with a dazed look, just like when I received the crossbow with the memory-erasing spell.
He clearly hadn’t expected to receive such a meaningful gift from his unruly daughter.
“I’ll go up now.”
I had originally brought the gift to avoid his anger.
Although it wasn’t for the intended purpose, the gift-giving was over.
Feeling a bit uncomfortable, I got up and hurried towards the door. That’s when it happened.
“Penelope.”
A low voice called me from behind.
“Yes, Father.”
“...You’ve become quite mature recently.”
The duke looked at me with an unreadable expression.
It was a nice compliment.
But for some reason, it made my throat tighten. I didn’t know why.
At that moment, my mouth moved on its own.
“...Duke.”
Hearing the title after a long time, the duke’s blue eyes gradually widened.
“I can’t say I never resented you.”
“...”
“But...”
Was this for the pitiful Penelope? Or,
“I have never once thought that I should not be grateful for bringing me here.”
Was this a miserable statement from someone who didn’t even get treated like a foolish calf like Penelope?
At that moment,
〈SYSTEM〉Your reputation with Duke Ecart has increased by +15 (Total: 30).
Either way, I felt like crying a little.
* * *
The hunting competition was approaching in a few days.
In the morning, I called the butler and received a bundle of blunt-tipped practice wooden bolts (arrows).
I couldn’t use the expensive, double-enchanted pearls just for practice.
“Miss, and this...”
After giving me the bolts, the butler didn’t leave immediately.
He hesitated and then handed me an envelope.
“...What is it?”
I was puzzled.
After my successful meeting with Bunter, I had instructed the butler to burn all the invitations I received.
“This is a letter from the palace, so I couldn’t dispose of it on my own.”
“Palace...?”
My facial muscles twitched at the butler’s words.
What could the palace possibly have to write to me about?
The golden wax seal with the imperial dragon looked ominous.
‘...I don’t want to read it.’
But I had to read it to prepare.
I sighed deeply and opened the envelope with a paper knife.
I took out the contents and started reading.
[Dear Penelope Ecart,
It has been several months since our meeting in the maze garden.
Every time there was a large or small banquet at the palace, I instructed that you be invited, but you never attended.
Are you still struggling with the poison?
Fortunately, the hunting competition is coming up soon, so the day we meet again is not far off.
You must have heard that the ban on your participation has been lifted?
I personally advocated for it for the sake of my ailing lady.
Please recover quickly and meet me in good health.
P.S.: You haven’t forgotten our agreement, have you?
It’s best if you remember, lady.
I have been eagerly waiting for your response, enduring the poison for a long time.
- Calisto Regulus.]
“Crazy!”
I shivered as I read the signature in strong handwriting and crumpled the paper mercilessly.
‘Why can’t he forget it already!’
The prince’s persistence made me shudder.
I couldn’t understand why, after being possessed in a dating simulation game, I had to receive not love letters but threatening letters.
“A, Miss?”
The butler looked at me in surprise.
“What kind of letter is it that makes you react like this?”
Yes. A threatening letter from some crazy person with nothing better to do.
“...Butler.”
I swallowed my words and asked abruptly.
“When do the knights’ training sessions end today?”
“I believe it’s until 6 PM, but why are you asking?”
I originally planned to try shooting a few times when I had time.
To gauge how good my archery skills were and why I caused such a fuss last year.