We were gathered in the duke’s tent, having breakfast together.
I, having just finished an interrogation late into the night and returned, contorted my face at the news Derek brought.
“Why, why? After what happened yesterday, why is it still proceeding?”
“Since there were no fatalities, and even foreigners are attending, if the hunting tournament were to be canceled, it would damage the empire’s prestige.”
Derek replied bluntly.
‘A monster appeared and wreaked havoc, but what does prestige matter to him!’
I was so flabbergasted that I kept opening and closing my mouth.
“Well, it’s for the best. If we back down over such a trivial matter, we’ll only be looked down upon by those insignificant people.”
The duke nodded seriously in agreement.
‘Oh, no. This isn’t right.’
I thought I would just sleep in and return home, but I didn’t expect the hunting tournament to really continue.
I bit my lip and finally came up with the best course of action.
“...I’m not feeling well, so I don’t think I can attend the tournament.”
“You did push yourself too hard yesterday.”
Fortunately, the duke readily accepted it.
“This is a good opportunity for you, Penelope, to establish your position in society. The Countess Dortea even sent a maid early this morning.”
“...What? The countess?”
“She’s inviting you to the tea party that will be held during the opening ceremony.”
Since I had never attended a private tea party since coming here, the invitation left me bewildered.
However, the duke looked at me with a strangely proud expression.
“You must be bored just staying in the tent. Get dressed up nicely, attend the tea party, and mingle with the young ladies of your age.”
“She only brought hunting clothes, Father.”
Leonard, who had been eating, suddenly smirked and spoke up.
‘How did he know?’
It wasn’t unpleasant because it was true.
How annoying would it be to wear a long, flowing dress in the forest?
That’s why I had instructed Emily to pack mainly hunting clothes and simple outfits.
Unlike me, who was looking at Leonard with a puzzled expression, the duke scolded him in a displeased voice.
“Well, that’s even better. These days, proactive women are the trend, you stubborn fool! Tsk.”
He even clicked his tongue and added.
“That’s why you’re not popular with women.”
“I’m not popular with who?!”
Leonard retorted angrily, but the duke had already turned his head back to me.
Seeing the frustrated creature, I felt an overwhelming sense of satisfaction.
“Who knows? Some of those fools might have fallen for your bravery yesterday and might offer you a prize, making you the queen of this hunting festival.”
“Father, that’s enough.”
Derek, who had been silently eating, finally spoke up with a shallow sigh.
“If you let her have such unrealistic expectations and act arrogantly, it will only lead to even worse gossip than before.”
He then shifted his blue eyes to me for a moment before continuing.
“Isn’t it just starting to be said that you’re finally becoming more human?”
“Ahem...”
Unable to deny it, the duke cleared his throat and resumed eating.
I was so flabbergasted that I felt like I had been punched.
It was a much more unpleasant remark than anything Leonard, who always mocked me, could say.
‘Unrealistic expectations?! I never wanted to be a queen or anything like that.’
I stared at Derek with wide eyes, feeling flabbergasted, but he avoided my gaze.
‘...What a jerk. You’re out.’
Clutching my trembling fists under the table, I vowed revenge.
* * *
“Miss, are you sure it’s okay to go like this?”
Emily looked at me disapprovingly, constantly checking my outfit.
“What’s wrong? It’s a hunting tournament. Even if I don’t participate, I should at least make an appearance.”
“But...”
She looked at me with a lot to say.
I checked my appearance in the mirror again.
I was wearing the hunting outfit I always wore when practicing with the crossbow, and my hair was tied up in a ponytail.
My pale pink hair swayed over my back.
The new dark gray jacket and shorts, embroidered with the Ekkart family crest in gold thread, matched my hair perfectly.
‘Isn’t it just beautiful?’
I slung the crossbow, which I had already loaded with beads, over my shoulder.
“Why are you taking the crossbow, Miss? You said you weren’t feeling well...”
Emily asked with a worried expression, clearly trying to dissuade me.
“There’s a section where they release small animals for women and children, right? I want to check it out.”
“Are you going to hunt yourself?”
“Sitting still at the tea party would be boring.”
I replied cheerfully. At the same time, I thought of someone I had left at home.
‘...If I can’t even catch a rabbit, my dignity will be completely ruined.’
The sound of a small sigh. The gray eyes, tinged with a hint of amusement, were still vivid in my mind.
‘You definitely laughed at me. Just wait. I’ll bring back something for your scarf, at least.’
I was resolutely repeating this to myself when...
“Hey, are you still far away?”
Leonard’s urging voice came from outside the tent.
I hastily stuffed the cloth with crossbow bolts and a velvet box into my pocket and said goodbye to Emily.
“I’ll be back.”
When I stepped out of the tent, the men of the duke’s family were already fully prepared.
“Why are you so late?”
Leonard glared at me.
‘Oh.’
I would usually ignore him, but I couldn’t help but glance him up and down.
He looked very handsome in his dark brown uniform.
Derek, standing next to him in an elegant all-black uniform, was no different.
Their tall statures and good looks, fitting for the male leads, complemented the splendid hunting outfits.
Their annoying personalities were almost overshadowed by their appearance.
‘...If this were a game, I would have cheered even more.’
I thought this was a bleak reality.
“You were told to dress nicely, and how did you end up like this?”
The duke frowned at my outfit, particularly at the crossbow.
“I don’t want to have unrealistic expectations, as someone said.”
I glanced sideways at the person in question and replied.
The person in question didn’t even blink, but the duke, feeling a bit guilty, gave a loud cough.
“Ahem! ...You said you weren’t going to hunt, right? And you’re not feeling well.”
“I just want to see the small animal hunting area since I’m here.”
At this, the duke flinched and suddenly leaned in close to me.
He whispered discreetly so his sons wouldn’t hear.
“...Remember what I told you?”
“Huh?”
“If you really want to shoot, go to a place where there are few people.”
“Ah...”
I recalled the conversation we had when I received the crossbow.
The reason it was modified to use magic beads instead of arrows.
“Do you understand? Huh?”
The blue eyes urging me to answer were filled with distrust and anxiety.
They were similar to Emily’s gaze when she saw me slinging the crossbow.
I smiled faintly and replied.
“Of course.”
* * *
When we reached the entrance of the forest where the opening ceremony was being held, many nobles were already gathered.
“Go check on the horses.”
The duke and the two boys disappeared into the crowd.
I moved to where the people who had come to see them off were gathered, avoiding the group preparing for the hunt.
Most of the people sitting under the shade to avoid the sun were women.
The atmosphere, which had been quiet, immediately buzzed when I appeared. I could feel the gazes starting to focus on me.
I wasn’t bothered by it since I had already experienced it yesterday.
‘A villain is always a superstar, no matter where they go.’
However, I soon realized that the whispers about me were not just out of curiosity or disdain.
Looking around, I understood why Emily had been so displeased with my appearance.
‘I’m the only one wearing hunting clothes.’
The area was a feast of elaborate dresses, whether they were young ladies or distinguished matrons.
They seemed to be competing to see who could puff out their skirts the most, like peacocks showing off their feathers.
They held fans or parasols, not hunting weapons.
Naturally, I, the only one dressed in hunting clothes and carrying a grand crossbow, stood out.
My eyes widened in shock.
‘They said anyone could participate, regardless of gender...!’
Why am I the only one being treated like a spectacle?
I regretted not listening to Emily’s advice.
‘No, they can’t move around as freely as I can.’
I tried to think positively about my appearance.
“Everyone, if you’re ready, please gather in the center!”
A loud announcement came from the stage where the tournament was being organized.
It was almost time for the start. The nobles who had finished their preparations began to gather with their horses.
I quickly spotted the duke.
He was at the very front, even the lightest things were arranged by rank.
Sitting on a magnificent and ornate armored horse, befitting the head of a family, he was engaged in conversation with someone beside him.
His two sons were nowhere to be seen.
“Eh...?”
While looking for Derek and Leonard, I suddenly noticed the person next to the duke and my eyes widened.
“Wow, look. It’s the viscount!”
“He didn’t attend last year, but it seems he’s hunting this year. He’s carrying a bow! He’s so cool...”
I heard excited whispers from nearby.
The person the duke was talking to was none other than Bauder.