Ryeoju's first love was taken away - Chapter 59
Mother and Helen discussed the events of yesterday and then left their seats, saying they would investigate together.
Then, a blatant gaze was fixed on me.
The hardest part of the hunting festival, where I didn't actually hunt, was essentially an extension of high society.
And without the queen, Tatiana dominated this high society.
However, due to her reduced activities over the past few years, her influence had weakened considerably.
All I did was have light conversations with the people around me.
Since I wasn't particularly close to them, our conversations were superficial.
The question they asked the most, surprisingly, was about Aster.
'I'm still afraid of him, and scared of him.'
When I went to see Aster earlier, the contempt in people's gazes was actually disguised fear.
He had wandered battlefields for quite a while and was a target of the late emperor's torment.
Perhaps due to the late emperor's influence, people also subtly ignored him.
Such a long habit of ignoring him wasn't easily broken.
Or maybe it was the influence of the original story.
If it were just about power and looks, women would have lined up outside the castle to become his wife.
'Is it because he's Ryeoju's first love that he's still here?'
Indeed, it was rare for a first love to be absent from a story.
The most perfect scenario was for the first love to end in death.
If he wasn't going to end up with the heroine, it was better to die and be preserved in her memory forever.
That's what the cliché of unrequited love is all about.
In any case, things couldn't stay this way.
'I need to bring Aster to the center of high society.'
I wanted to repay him for his help.
To do that, I needed to take Tatiana's place in high society.
The fastest and most certain way was through marriage or engagement.
'Since it's something I have to do anyway.'
If I had to get married, I wanted to do it with someone of value.
At least, I thought I could maintain a not-so-bad alliance with Aster.
He's the kind of person who wouldn't fall for Tatiana's seduction.
'I should seriously talk about the engagement after the hunting festival ends.'
While I was organizing my thoughts, Mother and Helen returned.
The sun was beginning to set, and the people who had gone hunting started to return one by one.
As the sun set, the men who returned began to give gifts to the women, starting the event.
While everyone around me was receiving gifts, Wilhelm returned.
Many women were captivated by his appearance as he returned on horseback.
"Indeed, his face is worth looking at."
Mother nodded in agreement with Helen's comment.
Wilhelm brushed his hair back with one hand.
The proud and elegant, noble knight dismounted and knelt before Tatiana.
He lightly placed his forehead on the back of her hand. The scene looked like something out of a fairy tale, with a holy maiden and her guardian knight.
Tatiana called his name with an elegant smile. Wilhelm's servant brought a cart and showed the game he had caught.
"Of course, it's Sir Wilhelm."
The number of game was impressive, but what he had caught was even more remarkable. Three intermediate-level magical beasts and one high-level magical beast.
"I offer these to you, filled with my admiration."
He was really putting on a show.
I clicked my tongue, and Helen, standing beside me, couldn't help but sigh.
We glanced at each other and shrugged.
Without saying a word, we knew we were on the same page.
Daniel, who appeared after Wilhelm's grand entrance, looked relatively shabby in comparison.
He scratched his head awkwardly and stood before Tatiana.
"I'm sorry I didn't catch anything impressive."
As he said this, he handed her one intermediate-level magical beast.
Tatiana tilted her head in confusion.
It was as if she was wondering why he didn't give her the other one.
Daniel, seemingly unaware, turned and passed her.
"Miss Pionea, will you accept my apology?"
The atmosphere suddenly became quiet.
Everyone looked surprised that I would receive something from Daniel.
Of course, I was surprised too.
"About what happened a few years ago, I want to apologize here. Back then, I pushed all the responsibility onto you and hid behind you, which was a cowardly act."
Saying this, Daniel knelt on one knee and bowed.
My mind went blank at his public apology for past events.
"I don't think a mere apology can compensate for the time I was criticized. But..."
I didn't want the past to be brought up again in such a public setting.
That memory was like hell to me.
When I couldn't say anything, Helen interjected.
"The Duke of Malphurion still only thinks about himself. Did he think we would be happy to hear such a story in this setting?"
Daniel seemed to regain his composure from Helen's sharp words.
I sighed deeply and said,
"You're still clueless, Daniel."
I glanced at Tatiana. She was stiff with shock.
Daniel's public apology was also a declaration that his relationship with Tatiana was not a proper one.
"I accept your apology, but that's all. I don't want to discuss this matter any further."
Helen, standing beside me, emitted a threatening aura, and Daniel hurriedly left.
The frozen atmosphere quickly heated up.
Until now, it was known that the reason for the engagement between Daniel and me was my fault.
People suspected that I had doubted Daniel and Tatiana's relationship and had been cruel to Tatiana, leading to my abandonment.
Daniel didn't deny it, and Tatiana let it pass ambiguously, making it a de facto fact.
But the public apology changed everything instantly.
"Then, what really happened between the Duke of Malphurion and the Grand Duchess?"
"But they've been close since they were young."
"Come to think of it, they were engaged for a short time."
Everyone was buzzing with excitement.
I remained silent amidst the chatter.
Then, Raymond appeared on horseback, his face stiff. As a mage, it was unlikely he would have done well in the hunting festival.
'He probably caught a few.'
I didn't expect much from Raymond.
I just wanted to see how similar the original story needed to be for the suppression to weaken.
Raymond bowed deeply and stood before me. I expected him to give the larger, more impressive game to Tatiana first.
'Could he have only caught one?'
Unfortunately, that was the case.
Raymond pointed to his cart with his chin and whispered,
I glanced down at my arm, but there was no change in the bracelet.
The window I had hoped would open didn't.
Even if the person was the same and the act of pledging loyalty was similar, the original story's suppression didn't weaken.
Raymond left with his head bowed, seemingly deeply hurt.
After Daniel and now Raymond gave me their game, the murmurs grew louder.
'I didn't wish to be the center of attention like this.'
Tatiana, looking shocked, was barely standing with Wilhelm's support.
I smiled at her when our eyes met.
Wilhelm, standing beside her, looked even angrier.
At Mother's words, I turned my gaze from her. Aster looked the same as when we set out.
The hibiscus I had pinned on him was still in the same shape as in the morning.
He walked over with light steps and stood before me.
Seeing the game behind me, his straight brows furrowed.
"Quite a few guests have arrived already."
"The person I was waiting for has just arrived."
Aster's expression relaxed slightly at my words. He took the flower from his jacket and bowed, offering it to me.
"Thanks to your prayers, I returned unharmed. I hope you will accept my heart."
Behind him, I could see a cart piled with several high-level magical beasts in the form of wolves.
Without even looking, I knew Aster had won the hunting festival.
"It's an honor, Your Majesty."
I reached out and took his flower.
Then, I raised my heels and lightly kissed his cheek.