Lyna didn’t recoil or step back despite the closer proximity. Instead, she directly asked Ainar, “Is it because of your luck, Your Highness?”
“I’m risking everything, including my luck,” Ainar replied honestly. Lyna’s heart quivered, sensing the sincerity in his words.
Unable to ignore her curiosity, Lyna asked Ainar, “Why do you go to such lengths to protect me? Is winning the bet more important than risking everything?”
It was a simple and genuine question, but Ainar’s response was only comprehensible to Lyna. “No. What matters to me is your existence in this world,” he said.
Although it sounded like a declaration of love, neither of them interpreted it that way. They were the only two individuals in the world with peculiar and ominous luck, and only they could understand each other. This connection was far more urgent than any romantic feelings they might have had.
Lyna lightly pushed Ainar away by placing her hand on his chest, and then spoke up. “Okay, let’s find out what secrets Becky has and what the blackmailer wants. Also, I heard that you’ve never participated in the hunting competition before?”
“That’s correct. However, this time I have decided to take part,” Ainar responded.
Lyna questioned, “Why, Your Highness? Don’t you get tired of everything after just trying it out twice… Ah.”
As Lyna spoke, she seemed to have realized something, and Ainar smirked.
“The prince who gets tired of everything within two days. He’s famous,” Ainar said.
Lyna didn’t need any further explanation; she understood it well. Just as she failed at everything she attempted, Ainar succeeded in all he did. If everything were guaranteed to be a success, it could only become monotonous.
Lyna, whose life was governed by “luck,” was the only person who could comprehend him, but there was a vast gap between them. “From my perspective, who has never succeeded even once, it’s a story that makes my stomach churn,” Lyna said.
Ainar couldn’t respond to Lyna. He knew that even if Lyna cursed or hit him until she was satisfied, it wouldn’t matter to her. Besides, Lyna had already experienced death and returned to life once.
Lyna gazed at Ainar, who had fallen silent. When they first met, his expression was gloomy, as if he found the world dull. Lyna could understand why. Even before she went back in time, he always wore that same expression. Success or failure, good or bad luck, meant a lot to him, more than it did to Lyna. She had already experienced hitting rock bottom after putting in all her effort. Couldn’t even love that lasted a thousand years lose its spark eventually?
After her regression, Lyna attempted to live her life without striving for anything and giving up on everything. Nothing could shake her heart anymore. Hence, Ainar’s sincere words, such as “I will protect you,” “I’m betting everything I have for you,” and “What’s important to me is that you exist in this world,” were enough for her to take a step forward.
A mischievous smile emerged on Lyna’s lips, perhaps for the first time in a long while since her mother passed away. “Aren’t you going to say anything?” she asked.
“I wouldn’t have anything to say, even if I had ten mouths,” Ainar replied. He couldn’t make eye contact with her, so he couldn’t see Lyna’s expression.
“In that case, I’ll say it,” Lyna declared. “It’s okay. Really. I’m not angry or sad. I’ve already experienced those emotions too much.”
Lyna spoke the truth without any deceit, just as Ainar had been honest with her. Eventually, Ainar looked up and smiled at the smile on Lyna’s lips.
“You really stirred things up,” he commented.
“It’s a rare experience for you, isn’t it, Your Highness?” Lyna teased.
“You’re the first and last person to do it,” Ainar replied. It was a statement that one would make to a loved one they intended to spend their entire life with. However, both the speaker and the listener accepted the words as they were.
“That’s quite an honor. So, is that why you’re participating in the hunting competition?” Lyna inquired.
“I offer the biggest and most beautiful prey to Lady Bolsheik willingly,” Ainar said without further explanation.
Lyna understood what Ainar was trying to do and gladly accepted it. “Then, I must pray for your luck and success, in a magnificent and beautiful appearance that no one can take their eyes off,” she said.
Actions spoke louder than words. At the upcoming hunting competition, Ainar, known publicly as the Grey Wolf, and Lyna Bolsheik would orchestrate an affectionate scene that would reveal their relationship to a vast audience, hinting at an engagement. It was an excellent way to humiliate Smith.
“It’s futile now, but my aide made an effort. Please take a look,” Ainar said, handing Lyna a paper.
Lyna read a few lines on the paper and let out a meaningless laugh. “Did you think this would work?”
“I was told it would work if it bore my seal,” Ainar replied.
“He’s not entirely wrong about that,” Lyna acknowledged.
The two continued their conversation, as if the conversation flowed naturally.
“I’ll send you the clothing and accessories that you’ll wear at the hunting competition, Your Highness,” Lyna offered.
“Will they match Lady Bolsheik’s outfit?” Ainar inquired.
“Of course. We have to demonstrate that level of sincerity if we want to create that kind of image,” Lyna replied.
“I’ll wear them with pleasure,” Ainar said, as he walked towards the door, smiling.
“By the way, Lady Bolsheik,” Ainar said, pausing before he left.
“Yes, Your Highness,” Lyna responded.
“How about we call each other by our names? We’re going to be engaged in a fiery love affair, and it would be odd if you didn’t address me by name,” Ainar suggested.
“His Majesty the Third Prince has never allowed me to use his name,” Lyna replied.
“But I want you to. More than anything, I want you to call me by my name,” Ainar said, with a light-hearted smile that belied his sincerity.
As Lyna gazed into his gray eyes, she slowly stood up, took a step forward, and then another. Finally, she stood before Ainar and reached out her hand towards him. Her fingertips came close to touching his eyes before she withdrew her hand and spoke.
“What an odd thing.”
“What is?” Ainar asked.
“The messenger with good luck from the sky has irises the color of burnt gray,” Lyna said, half-raising and lowering her eyes.
“But my irises, with the bad luck that the sky threw away, are a blue that signifies beginnings,” she continued.
The two, with their contrasting eyes, looked at each other for a moment.
“What am I seeking in you?” Lyna wondered.
“And what are you seeking in me?” Ainar mused.
For the first time, Lyna smiled at Ainar.
“Ainar.”
At that moment, Ainar’s heart thumped loudly, although he barely realized it. He patted his chest unconsciously, as the fleeting moment passed.
After Ainar left, Lyna set aside the documents she was reviewing and stood up. She needed to see her father if she wanted to publicly announce her relationship with Ainar at the hunting competition and immediately become engaged to him.
Lyna had walked this path before, even before she traveled back in time. At that time, her opponent was the Crown Prince, and her steps were not as leisurely as they were now. She thought of her past, when she fell in love for the first time, and believed she could never love like that again.
“What love. It sounds like a dog chewing grass,” Lyna quipped at her past self and quickened her pace.
Soon, she arrived at her father’s office. “Father, it’s me,” she announced.
“Lyna? Come in,” Duke Bolsheik replied.
After the aides left, Lyna bowed once and faced her father alone. “Sorry for suddenly bothering you. Do you have time?”
“Sure.”
“I want to become engaged to His Highness the Second Prince,” Lyna declared matter-of-factly.
Duke Bolsheik’s eyebrows twitched as he saw Lyna talking as if she was talking about the weather. “If it’s the Second Prince.”
“Yes. It’s Ainar,” Lyna said, the prince’s name rolling off her tongue comfortably.
Duke Bolsheik, who had been staring at his daughter without taking his eyes off her, noticed a subtle change in her expression that even she herself did not realize.
“Why do you want to do this?” he inquired.
“Because I love him,” Lyna replied, her voice dry and her face lacking in emotion.
Since Lyna spoke those words, her father did not ask further questions. “Okay. I’ll talk to the Royal Family. It’s better to have the engagement ceremony soon, since the hunting competition is approaching. How about right after the competition?”
He was more proactive than Lyna in pushing for the engagement ceremony.
“I’ll do that. And about the hunting competition…”
“I leave everything to you,” Duke Bolsheik said, giving his daughter full control.
Although Duke Bolsheik had never opposed what Lyna wanted to do so far, he had never allowed her to do anything like this.
“Thank you for your time. I’ll leave now,” Lyna said, quickly exiting the Duke’s office and heading straight to her study.