MHLM 28

Chapter : 28

In recent days, a strange atmosphere started to envelop the Valentino Castle. This was because of how Theodore’s attitude towards me had changed.

All over the castle, rumors had spread about how Missus Seymour had slapped me, and also about how Theodore was absolutely enraged because of this.

The ones who spread this probably were the people who sneaked in and peeked that day. I’m sure they’re the ones responsible for these rumors.

Ayla was promptly fired and kicked out of the residence, and Serena was kept under probation. Theodore felt pity for Serena because of her situation, that’s why he didn’t impose that heavy of a punishment for her. Besides, Serena had only been tricked by Ayla.

“Madam, will you be replying to Princess Alvinith’s letter?”

Charlotte hesitated to ask me this. I thought about it for a moment, but I shook my head.

Unexpectedly, a letter from Adeline Alvinith arrived this morning. There’s no need to reply though.

We’re going to meet again soon anyway.

I stood in front of the mirror and straightened my clothes.

“Bring me one more feather accessory. A pink one.”

“Yes, Madam.”

Charlotte moved swiftly and brought me the pink feather accessory. I adorned my ivory-colored hat with it.

There were already other white feathers on this hat, but it felt so drab with just white.

I needed to lighten my appearance at least. As it was, I looked as pale as an invalid on her deathbed.

“Is there anything else you need, Madam?”

“…Mm, I think this will do. Let’s get going.”

When I went down to the first floor with Charlotte, the servants waiting at the foyer greeted and bowed towards me.

This show of discipline was a 180-degree shift from how they treated me before.

Back then, although they regarded me with courtesy, there was a nuance to their behavior that still made it obvious how they were disregarding me.

Rather than this change being pleasant, it was just laughable.

People were always like this, so easily swayed by public opinion instead of sticking to their own thoughts and principles. The moment Theodore would revert his attitude towards me, so would they.

Of course, I don’t believe for one second that Theodore’s kindness towards me would last.

A cold smile naturally formed on my lips.

As I crossed the threshold, Missus Seymour and I met gazes, but neither of us extended a greeting towards the other.

At the sight, the servants clearly lit up and whispered amongst themselves. It was only a matter of course.

‘I’m so sick of this.’

With the familiar feeling of displeasure, I walked towards the front yard, where a carriage was parked before the front steps. Next to the carriage, House Valentino’s mage bowed towards me.

This man was as eccentric as anyone could be, but compared to the other people who constantly cursed at me, he had no particular interest in my business, and he often kept to himself while muttering some unfamiliar words to himself.

Even now, his gaze soon left me as he stared blankly in the air, just as he was doing before he bowed to me.

Being able to live in your own world was also some type of ability, I guess.

“My dear.”

I heard Theodore’s voice behind me. I would never get used to being called ‘my dear’.

Just the sound of it almost made my face distort, but I quickly schooled my features into an expressionless mask.

Theodore smiled at me and offered one outstretched hand.

“I’m late. I’m sorry to have kept you waiting.”

“……”

I didn’t want to talk to him, but I instead just shook my head and took his hand. Refusing his hand here when there were so many people watching would just be stupid.

Theodore held my hand tightly and leaned down his upper body a little, looking into my eyes intently. That attentive gaze of his was so burdensome. Despite the somewhat cloudy weather, his eyes were still so strikingly blue.

I used to like his eyes. But if I ever thought the same way again, I’d rather ram my head into the carriage walls instead.

“Your cheek isn’t swollen anymore. I’m glad it left no trace.”

“……”

To be honest, I wasn’t hurt that bad either.

Nevertheless, after that day, Theodore still checked my cheek several times more. It was dumbfounding how much he cared for me, as if I was a fragile, delicate porcelain doll.

How absurd was it that the man, who once wouldn’t hear me out and was so cruel and heartless towards me, was now someone who was so sweet and considerate.

I could feel my anger rising to the crown of my head.

“Then, shall we get into the carriage? I had it changed into a more comfortable carriage rather than the usual carriages we have. Our trip should be more comfortable this way.”

Once we get into the carriage, I’ll be able to let go of his hand. I nodded quickly.

The sound of Theodore’s soft laughter brushed past like the wind. Soon, he gently led me to the carriage.

As soon as I got in, I let go of his hand and sat in one corner. If he wasn’t riding on horseback to the venue, then he would of course choose to sit at the opposite side.

But unexpectedly enough, Theodore sat next to me. He even sat close and held my hand again.

I stared back at him with round eyes. I don’t know what I look like—I’ve lost my composure now.

He gave me a soft smile.

“I’ll sit next to you just in case, Lily. I’ll have to be close to you so I can protect you.”

“……”

Entering the carriage last, Charlotte hesitated before she sat across from us.

The eccentric mage, who entered as well before I knew it, spoke with a flat expression on his face.

“If you’re all ready to go, let’s set off.”

Then, the mana in the air turned into golden specks, soon coating the carriage at once.

I couldn’t see clearly because all I could see out the window was the color gold, but it seemed like the knights and the other servants were also covered by the spell.

It didn’t take long before the heavy, nauseating feeling came over. In a blink of an eye, the scenery outside changed.

And so, we arrived at the place where the hunting party was being held.

The Ashridge Forest, a terrain owned by the crown prince.

We traveled as a group for about fifteen minutes more, then we arrived at the crown prince’s villa.

It’s called a villa, but truthfully, it was as grand as a mansion. The place could accommodate more than fifty guests, plus also the servants and knights that each guest brought with them.

“Lily, the floor is slippery. Be careful.”

As he had been glued to my side throughout the entire trip, Theodore still wouldn’t stop sticking to me once we arrived. His behavior was so burdensome that I couldn’t control the expression on my face now.

Still, as I got off the carriage, I tried hard to school my hardened features because other people’s eyes were drawn to us at once.

Their gazes were full of prying curiosity, perhaps because of the rumors circulating about how the Duke and Duchess of Valentino have become amicable towards each other.

“I shall lead Your Graces the Duke and the Duchess of Valentino to the room you will be staying in.”

Ignoring the prickly gazes, we followed after the attendant who guided us to our room.

After checking the room we were guided to for a moment, we soon went out again. As we reached the middle of the garden, the crown prince was seen to be in the middle of a commotion.

“I can’t wait to see who will win the hunt! Firstly, though, it’s not going to be me—that’s for sure! Hahaha!”

…It still confuses me whether he’s just self-assured enough to make himself the butt of the joke or if he’s just pretending to be a carefree man.

In any case, it’s true that his hunting skills were terrible. He loved the sport of hunting itself, but he had no talent in shooting an arrow from a bow or throwing a spear.

Even so, he seemed to be adept enough in handling a sword.

“Oh? I wonder who’s this!”

After looking this way, the crown prince shouted at us in delight. He’s fond of Theodore. However, I didn’t know if it’s because of a personal reason or if it’s because of a political agreement…

Judging by the crown prince’s past behavior, he seemed to be trying to win Theodore over to his side.

“Duke Valentino! And the Duchess. I’m so pleased to see you side by side.”

As we approached, I smiled hollowly at the crown prince, who began to speak so much.

I really don’t think that I’ll ever be able to match the wavelength of this man, just like with Rozenne Delacroix. If I were to describe it, it’s like I lose strength the longer we talk…

“Goodness, Duchess, your pallor is much worse now compared to the last time we met. You should take more care of your health.”

The last time we met… It was last winter… No, it was around the end of March earlier this year.

The Fraunces Kingdom—though it differed from region to region—was a country that was not very hot during summer and not very cold during winter, but this year, the temperature had gotten especially low, especially as April approached.

The crown prince had visited the Valentino Castle by the end of March, when it was especially cold. He visited because he said he wanted to catch a white fox with luscious fur so that he could present it as a gift to his consort, but…

Eventually, the crown prince didn’t catch a single one. Theodore had caught six, so he gave the crown prince three as a gift.

“Duchess, will you be able to ride on horseback today? If you think it’ll be too hard on you, you may rest inside instead. You don’t have to push yourself.”

At the crown prince’s words, all I could say was, ‘Thank you for your concern,’ but the crown princess soon hinted at her husband.

Unlike the crown prince, she had a quiet, more reserved personality. She was also the direct opposite of her sister, Rozenne Delacroix.

It’s amazing to see how the royal couple, despite their differences in personality, were doing quite well together.

With a neutral smile on my lips, I spoke.

“I’m alright. Thank you very much for your concern, Your Highness the Royal Consort.”

“Yes, let me know if you’re having a hard time.”

Still smiling, I bowed my head to her. The crown princess has always been taking good care of me, but I still couldn’t tell whether this was out of duty or out of sympathy.

I have a feeling it’s the latter.

“Lily, I have something for you.”

Then, as if he just remembered, Theodore said this. From his pocket, he took out a brooch with a pale pink gem on it, then he proceeded to attach it directly to the collar of my riding suit.

Right then, people around use turned to stare in astonishment.

In particular, the most bothersome gaze was the crown prince stared so blatantly at us with curiosity.

“I infused the gemstone with my elemental power. I’m sure nothing will happen, but… just in case of an emergency, this will protect you.

“…Thank you.”

The gemstone seemed to be a rose quartz. When I gently touched it with a fingertip, I could feel its warmth.

People who have entered a contract with an elemental spirit had the ability to infuse their elemental power into metals or gemstones like this. Not all kinds of materials are good for this, but only gemstones or metals of the highest purity.

After being infused into a medium like this, it’ll be possible for anyone to wield the elemental power that’s inside it. Something like this was similar to how a magic tool worked.

Of course, compared to the original power of the contractor, this was much weaker and more limited.

Still, this was very helpful when dealing with monsters. That’s why the stronger the elemental power of the territory lords, the better they could protect their land.

“…The rumors must be true. The Duke seems to care very much about her?”

“Yeah, it seems like it. I didn’t really believe it myself, until I saw it with my own two eyes…”

People started whispering here and there. Then, when I looked around with an aloof expression, they all quickly closed their flapping mouths.

Hearing people gossip like this always made me feel dirty. Some of them have even made bets about when exactly the divorce would happen.

Did they not have any other hobby other than using other people’s misfortunes as their entertainment? Letting out a sigh, I glanced back at the crown prince.

I was about to ask what time the hunt would start, but the crowd grew noisy once more.

‘What is it this time…’

I frowned slightly as I stared in the direction of where the fuss had started. The first thing I saw was their silver hair that glowed with a blue tinge beneath the sun.

Ah.

This single sound left my lips as soon as I realized. I was wondering why I couldn’t see them anywhere yet. If I hadn’t been so aware of the crown prince, I would have noticed them earlier.

The two brothers of House Everett.

Owen and Hessen walked forward side by side. And, those two scoundrels were glaring straight at me.