One day, a beautiful woman appeared in the garden of the Imperial Palace. She doesnât know her name or where she came from. So some people were convinced that she was a witch. It was because when she appeared like a lie, the demonic beasts went wild.
She is not interested in anything from the royal family, and even the arrogant Estin Conler, who was only doing what he was told, advised the emperor not to keep her close. But the emperor, so immersed in her mystery, put the woman in the palace. In a small but elegantly decorated palace.
The emperor couldnât help but fall in love with the woman who could not remember anything. He felt like he could trust and rely on her. So a son was born between them.
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The son was Demimore Arstans.
It was only natural that the empress regarded her and her child as an eyesore. But since the emperor loves her, she doesnât touch her easily. But what will happen if the emperor loses his love for her and takes his eyes off her?
***
âDid you have to come all the way here?â
âHow can I miss such a fun sight?â
Demimore answered Jasperâs question with a big smile. A bet between the Conlerâs young lady and his half-brother. He couldnât afford to miss such an event.
Ever since he met Mary Conler back then, all her ridiculous stunts were stuck in his head. Whenever Mary came to his mind, the corners of her mouth automatically went up. As he recalled the memory of the day, he remembered how much he believes in herself.
Iâd like to ask you the same thing if I get to see you.
What on earth did Mary believe in that she accepted a hunting bet with Cameron? No matter how much he thought about it, he was curious. Is she a master of archery that is hiding in the wild?
âI thought about it then, but sheâs really an amazing girl.â
At Jasperâs tired voice he just nodded and laughed. What on earth did Mary do for nine years that sheâs living so fearlessly?
âDonât worry.â
âWhat?â
âI can make a bet with Cameron for Jasper, too.â
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âOh, is that so?â
Jasper, who listened to Demimore, smirked and soon hardened his face, he whispered to Demimore in secret.
âThen for meâŠâŠ.â
âJasper.â
âIâm just saying.â
Even though Jasper didnât finish her words, Demimore stopped her with a firm voice. Jasper looked away from her as if nothing had happened.
âIâm not interested.â
âNo, why?â
âI just want to live in peace. With my mother and Jasper.â
âYouâre not interested in governing the country peacefullyâŠâŠ.â
âJasper.â
Jasper raised his hands as if he had lost. Jasper was obviously confident that Demimore would be a better emperor than Cameron, who is quick-tempered and thinks only of himself.
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But since youâre not greedy.
So Jasper became greedy. Surely Demimore if he awakens he could become a wise king. As long as thereâs an opportunity. Even if itâs a very minor occasion.
***
âSo, where are we going?â
Aiden asked, dumbfounded. Itâs been a long time since he went to see his family, but the place they were heading to was not their house, but at Count Steinâs hunting ground. Lewen moved his lips, as if hesitating to speak. He spoke with his eyes closed.
âMiss Mary, I heard sheâs at the hunting ground because of a bet.â
âThe bettorâŠâŠ.â
âItâs the First Prince.â
Even Lewen, who broke the news, doesnât know what he was talking about. He hasnât even met the youngest lady yet because heâs assisting the three brothers at the academy but he suddenly heard the news that she had made a hunting bet with the first prince.
He read it several times hoping that he was illiterate or mistaken, but Lucasâs urgent transcript was clearly written. On the day the two young masters departed, Miss Mary made a bet with Cameron Arstans, so you should head to Count Steinâs hunting ground, not Conler Castle.
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Theodore, who was listening to Aiden and Lewenâs conversation, suddenly burst into laughter. Aidenâs expression crumpled when he saw Theodore.
âIs it funny?â
âIsnât it funny? My only sister made a hunting bet with the First Prince.â
âOh, itâs not funny. What the hell did Gilbert do?â
âHe doesnât really like Cameron Arstans.â
âBut he would never let our younger sister make a bet with Cameron.â
âWhy did they make a bet?â
âMiss Maryâs maid made a mistake with the First Prince. So the First PrinceâŠâŠ.â
âAsked her to be fired but she said no. Is that the bet?â
âI think so.â
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Hearing the whole story, Aiden felt like he didnât know what to say. Theodore just kept smiling as if the situation was funny. It was strange no matter how much he thought about it. Neither father, nor Lucas, nor Hestia, nor Gilbert stopped her?
He didnât think well of Cameron himself, but that doesnât mean he would make a bet with the imperial family. All he has to do is take care of it using money. Thatâs how things work. Even if she lived in the mountains for nine years, she should know something about the world.
He doesnât understand why the people of Conler seemed to be quite vulnerable to Mary Conler.
Someone should also teach her how to distinguish between when to step up and when not. He hasnât met her yet, but he felt that someone needs to let her know about it.
âBut, does she know how to hunt?â
âShe lived in the mountains.â
Aiden replied curtly to Theodoreâs worried tone. She lived in the mountains, she must be confident, so he gladly accepted the bet.
âNo, and think about it.â
âWhat?â
âWhat if she looks like our mother?â
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Aiden bit his lips for a moment without saying a word. He didnât know what to do when longing hit him like this. So if that little sister is talented in shooting arrows like their mother.
âThatâsâŠthey said itâs her first time shooting an arrowâŠ.â
But how far will his one and only sister go against his expectations? Thanks to that, his longing disappeared again. He doesnât know if he should be thankful for this or not.
At Lewenâs careful words Aiden uttered a cry.
That stupid Cameron is good at hunting. He uses betting to get everything he wants at the academy! A bet with a guy like that?
In fact, beating a nine-year-old girl wouldnât make Cameron so proud or so honored. Rather, people in the public may argue about how cheap Cameron is to make such a bet.
But when it comes to Conlerâs daughter, itâs different.
How big are peopleâs expectations of ConlerâŠ
âYou should have told me in advance.â
If they had told him in advance, Aiden would run to stop the bet. No matter how much he thought about it, his father and brother who agreed to make this bet were strange. Why on earth did they allow it?
âWill it change if they tell you in advance? I think your father gave her permission.â
âThatâs why Iâm so angry!â
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If Mary loses to Cameron, he doesnât want to see the sarcastic look on his face. The Grand Duchy of Conler would be defeated and the maid would be fired. Just thinking about his expression gave Aiden goosebumps. His eyelashes trembled.
It didnât matter how old Mary was or what gender. Cameron was such a cheap shot.
Theodore was just laughing at the situation. Aiden, who is a proud Conler, is so angry that he canât laugh openly, but Theodore thought, âMaybe?â
Maybe Mary Conler can beat Cameron?
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âDo you want to make a bet?â
âWhat kind of bet? Do you want to hunt, too?â
âCome on.â
Despite Aidenâs sensitive voice, Theodore smiled slyly and shook his head.
âThis hunt, who will win.â
âWho do you want to bet on?â
âIâm going to⊠take a chance.â
âYouâre going to put it on Mary Conler?â
At Aidenâs words, Theodore smiled and nodded. The sunlight in the carriage created a strange pattern. Aiden was silent for a moment, looking only at the pattern.
âWhat about you?â
ââŠâŠ.â
âHuh? Youâre definitely pick Cameronâ
âIâŠ.â
âYes.â
âMe too, Mary Conler.â
âWhat? Then the bet wonât work.â
No matter how proud he is, Aiden, who is cool-headed, thought he would definitely choose Cameron Arstans.
Aiden stuck out his lower lip and looked at the grumbling Theodore for a moment, then focused on the pattern of sunlight again and murmured.
âNo matter how hard it is, I canât help but believe that Conler will win.â