The Duke's reaction was utterly unfamiliar. I smiled awkwardly.
"I'm sorry to worry you. Things happened so suddenly..."
"Those bastards, how dare they! Where do they think they are!"
Seeing that I was unharmed, the Duke suddenly burst into a fit of rage.
"I'll send out soldiers as soon as we get home. After capturing those remnants, I'll break their limbs one by one and crush them..."
"Father, Father."
If this continued, he would end up explaining his plan to eliminate the remnants of the new kingdom right in front of the banquet hall.
So, I cut in gently and called him softly.
"I'm really tired. I want to rest soon."
"Yes, of course. Let's go! Don't carry anything heavy, give me the crossbow."
Fortunately, the Duke hurriedly moved his steps.
I didn't really intend to let him carry the crossbow.
"I'll carry it, Miss. Give it to me!"
Fortunately, Emily extended her hand.
"Thanks, Emily. I thought it was going to kill me."
I laughed playfully, untied the strap, and handed it over.
I didn't realize how heavy it was until I handed it over, and I felt incredibly light.
"Tsk, Penelope Eckhart. Don't take the lead in such matters again."
The Duke clicked his tongue and glanced at me.
"Stay hidden until the guards arrive. How dare you, a young lady, rush into any situation! I almost fainted when I heard from the nobles who arrived first!"
"But I did well, Father."
I pouted my lower lip at the Duke's nagging.
"How hard I've studied under the teacher you assigned. That's why I was able to shoot them all."
In reality, I had the system's help, but I was the hero of the day.
'At least praise me for doing well.'
How long do I have to live as a reckless brat?
I thought resentfully but didn't really expect much.
People's perceptions don't change that easily.
Even after seeing me hit the monsters, some still doubted me.
Some probably thought I just got lucky.
'I guess I did have some luck... or rather, the system's help.'
"…Yes."
But the Duke suddenly stopped and turned to look at me.
"I'm very proud that you're my daughter, Penelope."
His face was filled with an unexpected, pleased smile.
The way he patted my shoulder as if encouraging and praising me was unfamiliar.
So, I felt very strange.
* * *
There were a total of five cabins set up in the Eckhart family's campsite.
Indeed, befitting a ducal family, they were all luxurious and large tents.
However, no matter how much comfort they tried to provide, the campsite was still a temporary accommodation.
It was very inconvenient for a woman, so the Duke suggested setting up a room for me in the palace if I wanted.
"I'm fine, Father."
I declined, finding it troublesome.
The forest where the hunting grounds were located was quite far from the main palace, requiring a long carriage ride.
I wished they would just send me home, but the interrogation of the attack was not yet over, and the decision on whether to hold the hunting competition had not been made.
'Please, Game, cancel it.'
I earnestly prayed, having been tormented by the male leads since the pre-party.
The sight of the cabins gathered around the burning bonfire reminded me of a camping site.
If it were any other time, I would have looked around more, but I was in a state where I could faint at any moment.
"Father, I'll go in first."
"Go ahead, rest well."
As I entered the campsite, I bid farewell to the Duke.
"Come this way, Miss."
The cabin where the young lady would stay was located at the far end.
As I followed Emily, Leonard also greeted the Duke and moved with us.
'Is he in the cabin next to mine?'
If the hunting competition proceeds as planned, I would undoubtedly encounter the guy who always sneers at me the most often.
I wished again that it wouldn't happen.
However, even after reaching the entrance of the cabin I would use, Leonard didn't stop following me.
I frowned slightly and turned around.
"…What?"
"What?"
"Why are you following me?"
"Damn it! Who's following you!"
The guy flared up at my question and shouted.
"This is my cabin, okay?"
He pointed to the cabin next to me.
My fears were realized. I clicked my tongue inwardly and replied indifferently.
"Then sleep well."
Just as I was about to turn and walk towards Emily, who was waiting,
"Hey! Wait, a moment!"
The guy blocked me again. I frowned.
"Why, again."
"Why are you so impatient? Is someone going to eat you?"
"I'm tired. If you have something to say, say it quickly."
I urged him irritably, but he hesitated and didn't immediately explain why he blocked me.
'Why is he like this?'
Sensing the tense atmosphere between us, Emily also retreated into the cabin.
Watching Leonard, who still didn't speak, I turned around again.
"If you have nothing to say, I'm leaving."
"Hey, you got hurt here, you brat!"
Then, Leonard suddenly grabbed me and pointed to my neck.
"…Hurt?"
I was confused.
Leonard gently touched somewhere on my neck with his finger.
It was a light, almost brushing touch.
"Here."
"Ah."
A faint pain I hadn't felt before tingled.
"Does it hurt a lot?"
Surprised by my involuntary gasp, Leonard quickly retracted his hand.
It wasn't that painful. If it were a big wound, I would have felt it earlier.
I must have been scratched somewhere while fighting the monsters without realizing it.
"I'm fine. It doesn't hurt much."
I really wasn't bothered, so I told the truth.
For some reason, Leonard's face contorted as if he were in pain.
"…Wait a moment."
He fumbled in his pocket and pulled out something.
It was a small, flat container.
"What's that?"
"Medicine."
It was an unexpected item for him to have.
"Do you carry this kind of thing?"
"I got it from the infirmary, okay?!"
I rolled my eyes at his tone.
Come to think of it, neither the Duke nor Emily, nor Derrick, who didn't come, had asked about my well-being, but Leonard hadn't said anything.
I belatedly asked,
"…Did you get hurt earlier?"
"Sigh…"
The guy looked at me with a disappointed expression, as if to say, "What am I supposed to do with this…"
He sighed deeply and said,
"…It's because of you, idiot."
"What did I…"
"Stay still."
Leonard opened the medicine container and dipped his finger in it.
A sticky green liquid oozed out, and a foul smell wafted.
I took a step back to avoid it. Leonard approached me and said irritably,
"Stay still. I'm applying it to your side."
I stopped moving.
He bent down and started rubbing the sticky medicine on my neck.
Where he had pointed out the wound earlier.
"Uh…"
Leonard's face was very close. I could feel his breath near my nose and lips.
I stiffened, feeling bewildered.
The cold liquid spread over my skin, and it felt strange.
"…Did that guy notice your wound? Did he know?"
While applying the medicine, Leonard suddenly asked.
I answered a beat late.
"…That guy?"
"That old guy earlier."
I recalled Bouter's age from the game profile.
'Was he twenty-five or twenty-six…'
He wasn't that old in reality, but he was the male lead with the biggest age difference from the female lead.
However, that was only in relation to the 'female lead.'
Thinking about the future, I shouldn't get too close to Bouter or create an adversarial relationship with him.
"That's rude to the Marquis."
Recalling Leonard's shocking behavior earlier, I couldn't help but scold him.
Leonard's fine brows furrowed.
"What's rude! What are you going to do with the crossbow? You didn't shoot those guys who were getting close."
"He's not that kind of person."
"Is there a kind of person who isn't? Men are all the same, you fool."
"Ah!"
Leonard pulled my side hair with his other hand.
I yelped and glared at him.
"Do you want to die?"
"Hey? You're just as bad."
I didn't realize my true feelings had slipped out, but Leonard didn't get angry.
He smiled playfully and straightened up.
The breath that had tickled my nose was now distant.
"Have your maid wrap a bandage around it."
He gestured to the wound, indicating he was done.
'…I never thought I'd have a day like this with him.'
We were still baring our teeth and growling at each other not long ago.
It felt so strange that I couldn't help but laugh.
"…Thank you, brother."
Despite his annoying nature, he had helped me.
I sincerely expressed my gratitude.
At that moment, Leonard's face froze.
Then, like when he suddenly apologized to me on the way to the training ground, his eyes turned red.
"Yes…"
"…"
"Yes, I don't need your thanks or anything!"
Leonard, who had been grinning, suddenly shouted and turned to walk quickly to his cabin.
'Why is he like this again…'
At that moment, something flashed above his roughly tousled pink hair.