Chapter 64
Gave Me Chills
“Any wife would feel the same, I suppose.”
“Oh my, is that so? How’s married life treating you?”
“It’s… ordinary.”
Anshi lifted the corners of her lips in a smile. But even that word—ordinary—elicited gasps of awe from the women.
Anshi de Orfe.
No longer Anshi of Rubelsa, but now the Duchess of Orfe.
She had married into the illustrious House of Orfe and become the wife of none other than Damion de Orfe—a man with striking looks, a noble bearing, a keen mind, and exceptional ability.
So when she called her married life “ordinary,” everyone present knew it was a high bar indeed. Just waking up next to that man’s face would be enough to make any day feel like a dream.
“I saw you and Lord Damion at the luncheon earlier,” one lady said with a flutter. “The way he looked at you—his eyes were dripping with honey!”
“Truly, Anshi. I was shocked myself,” added Marianne playfully. “I never knew my son was such a smiley boy.”
Their cheerful laughter filled the air, and Marianne’s affectionate teasing made the women giggle.
“I imagine you won’t be too bored waiting for the men during tomorrow’s hunt, Anshi.”
“Indeed. You’ll probably be buried in all the birds Lord Damion brings back.”
“Yes, I’m looking forward to it.”
That was her answer, but Anshi knew she wouldn’t have the luxury to count how many birds Damion would shoot tomorrow.
While the men were off hunting and the women waited, she had her own hunt to finish—the final stroke of her revenge.
“Oh, by the way—doesn’t Lord Cardian shoot quite well too?”
“Yes, Karl enjoys hunting very much.”
The topic had shifted naturally to Cardian. At a lady’s question, Bexi responded lightly, and Marianne joined in, pride glinting in her eyes.
“Karl even won the Emperor’s hunting competition last November. The gun he was awarded was absolutely exquisite.”
Cardian’s gun.
At that, Anshi turned her gaze to Marianne.
“Yes, I remember reading about Lord Cardian’s win at the time.”
“I saw it in the papers too. They even printed a picture of the gun, didn’t they? It was magnificent.”
“Did they really? I’m curious now.”
The women’s attention gathered around Cardian’s gun. Anshi had seen the photo as well—she had scoured every article related to Orfe.
“Lady Bexi, do you think Lord Cardian will bring that gun tomorrow?”
“No, I think he’ll probably use one he’s more comfortable with.”
“What a shame. We can’t sneak a peek at it, then?”
“I’m afraid not. Karl manages the armory himself, so it’s difficult.”
“I see.”
With sighs of disappointment, the conversation shifted again.
But Anshi held on to that thought—
The armory that Cardian manages personally.
Cardian returned directly to the annex after watching a polo match with the visiting men from Sobelvio.
“Disgusting little worms.”
Team Volbi had lost. To a team that didn’t even make it into the rankings on a regular basis. It was beyond pathetic.
Everyone else had brushed it off, saying wins and losses came with the territory—laughing as if they could already foresee their bullets missing tomorrow during the hunt.
Amusing, perhaps. But not fun.
There was nothing worth discussing over drinks with such men.
Rather than let the contempt show on his face, Cardian had chosen to return to the annex. Finding peace in his own space was a much more productive way to prepare for the next day’s hunt.
The soft music playing from the phonograph helped calm his mood as he strolled toward the terrace.
That’s when he noticed her.
A woman with deep indigo hair, standing just below the annex.
“…Anshi?”
Cardian raised an eyebrow. He glanced around to see if she had come with anyone—but she was alone.
No Bexi. No Damion. Just Anshi.
“Could you give me a tour of the annex? I didn’t get to see it last time.”
Cardian’s brows lifted higher. For her to come here herself, after the way she’d acted before… It was strange. Suspicious.
But interesting.
“Come in.”
He granted her entry. Anshi stepped into the annex, and Cardian descended the wooden stairs to meet her. She moved like she was walking on clouds—her footsteps making no sound.
Anshi de Orfe, in his space.
Seeing her in the annex stirred a curious unfamiliarity within him.
After showing her around, she finally spoke.
“I heard you’re a very skilled hunter, Lord Cardian.”
“From whom?”
“Everyone says so.”
“I wouldn’t say I’m skilled—I simply enjoy it.”
Cardian slowly scanned her face. So this was the real reason.
Why ask about his hunting skill? To ask him to let Damion win tomorrow?
“Is my hunting skill important to you too, Anshi?”
“Of course. Your skill is Orfe’s skill. And I’m part of Orfe too, aren’t I?”
Flattering words, the same ones he heard everywhere.
Yet something was different—because they came from her.
It was in her eyes. That calm, unwavering gaze that didn’t feel like flattery at all. It was one of the reasons Cardian found Anshi fascinating.
“So if I say I’m not bad… what’s your next question?”
He smiled slyly, and she didn’t miss her chance.
“What kind of gun do you use, Lord Cardian?”
“Ah. So that’s why you’re here. Are you spying for Damion?”
“No. It’s not for Damion. I just… I have a genuine interest in guns.”
“You do?”
“Yes.”
Cardian arched an eyebrow, intrigued.
There were women who knew how to shoot—but that was more for show, during the winter hunts. If a woman liked hunting too much, she was often deemed aggressive.
But Anshi admitted it plainly.
Frankly, he didn’t love the idea of her being into guns. He agreed that too much enthusiasm in a woman for weapons could feel unsettling. Still, she didn’t seem to care what he thought—and that boldness piqued his curiosity even more.
“Want to see them?”
He decided to show her.
They left the annex together and walked a short path leading to a small cabin.
“If you follow this trail, you’ll reach the hunting grounds. I’m the only one who uses it.”
Cardian chuckled as he opened the door. Anshi glanced down the trail before following him in.
She moved slowly, biding her time until he disappeared into the inner room. As soon as he was out of sight, she approached the window.
Click.
She quietly unlocked the latch.
“Here it is.”
His voice rang from the back room. Anshi quickly turned and walked toward him. As she stepped around the corner, she saw him holding a rifle.
An ivory-colored rifle.
“It’s made by Weltza,” he explained. “The body is crafted from ivory, with metal components in all the key areas.”
“It’s very unique,” she said, running her eyes over it.
Delicate engravings adorned the pale surface. At her interest, Cardian smiled faintly and nodded.
“It’s a finicky piece. The bullets are custom-made. Doesn’t hold many rounds, but the recoil is minimal. So—satisfied with the sight?”
“It’s beautiful. I like it.”
Her eyes remained fixed on the gun. Cardian’s gaze softened with satisfaction. He offered the rifle to her.
“Would you like to hold it?”
Anshi accepted. She lifted it with both hands and tried a shooting stance. It felt good in her grip—well-crafted, expensive.
She raised her eyes to meet Cardian’s.
Her mind flashed back to that night in southern Zidenka, months ago.
When she’d promised herself that if she ever saw Cardian again, she would kill him. She’d checked and rechecked the pistol strapped to her thigh, heart pounding with fury.
And now, here she was. Standing before him, rifle in hand.
If her past self could see this moment, she would’ve called it the perfect opportunity.
She had imagined his death a hundred times over. Turning that vile smile, that voice, those eyes—all crimson red.
But no. Not yet.
If her rage could be quenched just by putting a bullet through his head, she wouldn’t have come this far.
“You need to bring it closer to your shoulder—like this.”
Cardian stepped behind her, gently guiding her hands to adjust her posture.
His touch overlapped hers.
A shiver ran down her entire body.
