Summer Hunt (4)
Once news arrived that the Saintess would be coming, everything had been agreed upon—my family and I would all board a ship bound for a third country.
As a family engaged to the House of Rochester, we would act naturally, as if we were simply going on a trip, in case we were caught by enemies.
Then everything would be over. We would be safe unless the Emperor, for some reason, set his sights on pursuing us with burning determination.
Even on the day that plan was explained, the Duchess did not pressure me.
As if the choice was mine alone to make.
A deathly silence briefly filled the tent. The quiet was suddenly broken by a sharp clap, and I felt the Duchess rise from her seat. She approached me slowly as she continued speaking.
“Since the Emperor has bestowed a horse, it would be good to ride it, even if just for a moment…”
She appeared before me without warning. Since I hadn’t yet finished dressing, I fumbled about.
I was looking around and reaching for my outer garment to put on first when warm hands touched my bare shoulders.
Flinching, my movements stopped completely as the Duchess grasped my shoulders and straightened me up. Pulling my clothes slightly, she began to button them herself.
Because of this, I straightened my hunched body to stand properly.
“I heard from Freddy. You’ve learned how to ride in such a short time.”
I’ve only ridden for a week at most, and there’s still not a single part of me that doesn’t ache.
Though complaints boiled up inside me, not a single word came out to the Duchess who was attending to my clothes as if she’d done it all her life.
“Ride alongside him on horseback. When I introduce you to people, if you’re riding the Emperor’s horse, that too would look quite good.”
She continued in a whisper with an impassive face.
“People originally like such scenes, you see. Even while envying and fearing Rochester, they want them to be completely different from themselves. There’s a desire for them to remain lofty and high throughout.”
Won’t it become rather difficult to remain lofty and high throughout because of me?
“You’re an incredibly well-prepared child. In many ways.”
It wasn’t praise meant for merely being able to ride a horse at a canter.
But why on earth had I, of all times, learned how to ride?
Now I could no longer make excuses that I didn’t know how.
She gently stroked my cheek with her warm hand. When our eyes met, she showed a somewhat sad expression.
The Duchess didn’t add anything more and only left the tent after thoroughly helping me into my outer garments.
‘Huff,’ I let out a big breath. As if trying to expel the fear inside me.
I never imagined I would feel this way at the moment when I had to reveal such a tremendous and audacious decision to Ricardo.
Rather than wondering what expression he would make upon learning my true feelings, rather than that damned fate of ultimately being branded a witch and burned at the stake, I found myself thinking I’d be fortunate just not to fall off the horse in front of all those people.
To think that the first step I’d take to reach the top of the high stairs where Ricardo stood would be mounting a saddle.
I gritted my teeth as if making a resolution and lifted the tent flap with a determined face.
When I returned to the tent where Ricardo was, Freddy greeted me first. His anxious eyes that met mine were asking me.
‘Can you do it?’ Recalling the time I’d spent on horseback over the past few days, I nodded resolutely to him. At this, Freddy visibly showed relief.
“Shall I give you a drink?”
I shook my head vigorously at Ricardo, who approached with a wine glass.
“No.”
Alcohol, when I need every bit of focus I can muster?
Ricardo briefly frowned and stared at me intently. As if he intended to dig something out.
Fortunately, news came from outside that someone sent by the Emperor had brought the horses, and I slipped out as if I’d been waiting for it.
Freddy, who had hurriedly followed me, examined the pair of horses from various angles before approaching Ricardo, who had belatedly emerged from the tent.
“The horses are fine. Your horse will arrive by tonight, Young Duke.”
It meant that until then, we had to use the horses the Emperor had given. Fortunately, the horse given to me was a light riding horse, smaller than Ricardo’s. It was similar to the one I’d practiced on, which gave me some peace of mind. As I approached the horse, Ricardo tilted his head.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m going to ride.”
“You know how?”
“Yes.”
A resolute voice that even I could hear echoed through the hunting grounds. I slowly approached the horse and whispered while gently stroking its mane. Please, just don’t throw me to the ground.
Having safely settled into the saddle with Ricardo’s help, I steadied my breathing and focused on the horse’s movements.
As we rode toward where people had gathered, the Duchess of Rochester raised her glass and drew the nobles’ attention.
“Here come my son and my son’s fiancée.”
When the word “fiancée” officially came from the Duchess’s mouth, people’s gazes took on various meanings. Despite the heated stares pouring down on me like I was some exotic animal, I could think of nothing but struggling to maintain my balance on the horse.
The only thing important to me right now was not falling off this horse.
“Your Majesty the Emperor, and noble lords and ladies.”
As the Duchess continued, people’s eyes sparkled with interest.
“Today, I am raising my voice to correct unnecessary misunderstandings that have spread among the public.”
My body, which had been tilting forward, straightened a bit as I found some rhythm with the horse.
‘Huff,’ a hot breath of relief escaped involuntarily.
“People have been saying that Rochester is merely keeping Lady Fennel temporarily. That we’re hiding Fennel from some unknowable dark force.”
Even at this expression that directly targeted the Emperor, people remained silent.
“But that is not the truth.”
The Duchess’s unreadable crimson eyes swept broadly left and right once.
“Lienne Rowe Fennel is not only the one who helped with the manifestation of the Rochester heir but also the one who achieved his awakening.”
As people began to murmur, the horse carrying me snorted softly and shook its head slightly. I stroked the horse’s mane, trying to calm it.
‘It’s okay, it’ll be over soon. Really, there is an end. So don’t drop me.’ The speaking voice was trembling finely.
“Therefore, Rochester intends to maintain the engagement with the House of Fennel even if the Saintess arrives in the Dermeier Empire.”
The murmuring of the people grew too intense to ignore. What showed in their eyes was no longer just curiosity.
At this unprecedented declaration in history, some were already predicting the Empire’s doom. Though their voices weren’t yet loud, they were clearly afraid.
Even while I was utterly concerned about falling off the horse.
“One who is a Saintess but cannot do the work of a Saintess, and one who is not a Saintess but has done the work of a Saintess.”
At these words that precisely pointed out the facts, the people’s murmuring turned to silence.
I couldn’t bring myself to turn my gaze toward Ricardo.
Once I became confident that the horse bestowed by the Emperor would no longer drop me, I was able to assume a more perfect posture than ever before. As my body straightened, I could clearly see the expressions of the people standing below.
“Who, then, can truly be called Rochester’s companion?”
The sunlight that had been heating my head suddenly shone so brightly before my eyes that it was dizzying. My eyes automatically squinted at the blinding white light.
“Only God knows that answer.”
Suddenly, Ricardo raised his large hand and blocked the sunlight beating down on my head. The sun that had been tormenting me with its heat was completely blocked by his single palm.
I slowly turned my gaze to the owner of the hand that had created shade.
The pitch-black eyes that met mine held no emotion whatsoever.
Eyes so thoroughly indifferent that they horrifyingly made me think so many thoughts—black eyes that buried all other colors.
Even as the people in the forest cast sharp glances at me, I was bound by his black gaze, unable to do anything.
“Therefore, Lienne Rowe Fennel is an existence no different from the Saintess. At least to this Rochester.”
A wind heavy with moisture shook the now-quiet trees of the forest. His eyes seemed to be asking me. Had I known all of this?
My unwavering attitude throughout the Duchess’s speech must have already given him all the answers.
That I had already decided everything. That I was truly sorry but… this was something I couldn’t help.
Because I love you. Because this is such a terrible feeling that even I myself can’t do anything about it.
In the forest where even the beasts held their breath, my gaze trembled so loudly that even I could feel it.
Suddenly, a purple light swirled in his pupils again. This time it wasn’t the kind of color that disappeared in the blink of an eye.
‘What on earth is it…? That purple?’
It faded and then deepened repeatedly, but it was a definite light. So clear that even he, indifferent to all things, couldn’t contain it.
‘Could it be… disgustingly terrible, utterly repulsive. Or perhaps, a sense of betrayal, something like that?’
A man’s voice sharply cut through the hall that had been so quiet you could hear leaves falling.