Chapter 161
‘I should definitely warn her.’
It would be much better for my sister’s romance to be delayed than for something unthinkable to happen to her. Following them would only get in the way, so I needed to naturally pass on information so she could prepare. My sister would interrogate me about how I knew, so it would be better to probe the Second Prince.
‘There should be hints about the timing, but I can’t remember clearly.’
I should check my notes when I return to the duke’s residence. After recalling my past life, I wrote down everything I could remember bit by bit, so there must be some relevant mention.
***
“You didn’t eat dinner?”
In the carriage returning to the duke’s residence, I asked Luwen what he had eaten, and my voice rose at his unexpected answer.
“How could I leave when you were alone in a room with a stranger? I wasn’t that hungry, so it’s fine.”
“Theobalt is someone you can trust. Don’t do that next time. Why starve yourself?”
“…Next time?”
“That’s not the important part.”
To me, Luwen skipping dinner was a much bigger issue. This meant that while I was eating dinner with Theobalt and even enjoying dessert, Luwen was standing alone in the hallway.
“It’s important to me. You trust people too easily, young master.”
“So? If you’re invited to another meal, will you starve yourself like today?”
Luwen’s eyes were deeply sunken. His pitch-black eyes fixed on me without the slightest waver.
“My duty is to protect you, young master.”
It was essentially his stubborn insistence that he would behave the same way next time. Perhaps… it was also a complaint that if he didn’t want to go hungry, I shouldn’t dine with Theobalt.
‘Despite knowing how much I care about his meals.’
I recalled the schedule Theobalt had given me. Most were dinner times. Since that’s when his siblings would arrive at the marquis residence after leaving the palace, I’d likely be having dinner with them more often. I couldn’t let Luwen go hungry each time.
“Then I’ll go alone.”
Since Luwen had first threatened me with something I disliked, I countered in kind. If he didn’t want to wait alone, he’d have to eat properly.
“…That’s too much.”
“It’ll be fine if Luwen just eats properly.”
I deliberately turned my gaze to the window, avoiding looking at him. I was afraid I might weaken if I saw his dejected face.
“Young master.”
He was clearly calling to persuade me, so I purposely didn’t answer. Luwen called me once more, but again I ignored him. Then I heard a faint sigh.
“I understand.”
He surrendered. Thank goodness. I could overlook anything else, but starving was absolutely unacceptable.
“Will you eat properly?”
“Yes.”
“Don’t think about lying. Next time, I’ll ask Young Master Theobalt to confirm that you’re eating well.”
I looked him in the eyes to show my softened mood, and he nodded with a bitter expression.
“When we get back to the mansion, let’s eat. I’ll make whatever you want.”
It felt like giving medicine after causing illness… but I casually suggested it, feeling sorry for the dejected Luwen. I thought he’d be happy since he liked my cooking.
But Luwen just pressed his lips tightly and smiled awkwardly. The fact that he didn’t refuse suggested he liked the idea, but his mixed feelings seemed stronger.
‘It was a different answer than he expected, so his reaction is understandable.’
I’d need to do this often from now on… Despite my bold resolution, my heart was already wavering.
‘No. If I was going to end things half-heartedly, I shouldn’t have started at all.’
For Luwen’s test, I needed to keep meeting Theobalt. Besides, this provocation was necessary for changing our relationship. I steeled my resolve once again.
***
Tick-tack—Listening to the crackling fireplace, I examined the original story content I had written down before. It was chaotic since I wrote whatever I remembered.
Reading thoroughly from beginning to end, I read everything I had written about the imperial hunting competition attack incident.
‘…It’s ambiguous.’
I had detailed notes about what situation the two people faced, where they escaped to, and how many battles occurred. But there were no hints to determine the exact timing.
[It rained the day before, making the ground muddy.]
[Clouds gather when the hunting competition begins.]
[Thunder strikes right before the attack.]
All I gleaned were only weather-related details. The problem is there’s no way to warn about this in advance. If I was going to act like a prophet, I should have done so earlier.
‘I’ll have to participate.’
If it rains the day before the hunting competition, I’ll have to follow my sister. If I look at everything with suspicious eyes, perhaps I’ll notice something unusual. And I might be the only one who would notice.
“Sigh…”
I hope things flow as in the original story. I hid my record book deep in the bookshelf and trudged toward the bed.
When I closed my eyes, I naturally thought of Luwen.
‘He still seemed somewhat lifeless after returning to the mansion.’
I made him his favorite food and sat across from him, but instead of eating heartily as usual, he just picked at it. After that late dinner, he said he had something to do and left me behind without another word.
‘What if we grow apart while playing this push-and-pull game?’
I was slightly anxious. Luwen should be drawing closer as I push him away, but I worried he might just keep drifting away.
‘No. Luwen likes me.’
On the day Luwen and I were intimate, I clearly felt his affection. The emotions I read in his hands and eyes as he touched me weren’t lies. They couldn’t be misunderstandings either.
‘Luwen is originally good at hiding his emotions.’
Luwen was the one who never revealed his feelings for Irene until the end. So my current approach must be correct.
‘I have to make sure he can’t say things like “please forget it” or “it was a mistake.”‘
I don’t know how many times I’ve committed to pushing through firmly. Am I always this wavering, like a reed? Or am I just lacking resolve?
‘I’m not like this with other matters…’
Whenever Luwen is involved, I always feel like I lose myself. Or perhaps I’m discovering new aspects of myself?
‘I don’t know. I just wish this would end quickly.’
I fell asleep while reproaching my pathetic self for lacking courage and leaving everything to Luwen.
***
A week had passed since I told my sister I wanted to participate in the hunting banquet hosted by the Lorentz Marquis family. Naturally, she strongly opposed it.
‘I’ll take Luwen with me, so Fei should stay at the mansion.’
Since my purpose was to show Luwen to the deputy head of the Sword Dancing Division, it wasn’t a bad proposal. The problem was that Theobalt had sent a reply expressing his wish for me to participate as well.
‘He wants to show off with me by his side in front of Walter.’
In other words, my participation in the hunting banquet was part of our deal. From Theobalt’s perspective, he was killing two birds with one stone.
Honestly, I still don’t understand why Walter Lorentz likes me. Even when I asked Theobalt, he just smiled mysteriously without giving a proper answer. Well, I wasn’t that curious, so after deciding he wouldn’t answer, I didn’t ask further. I just hoped his interest would fade after Luwen received his special permission.
I waited for my sister to return to the mansion and ran to her as soon as she arrived.
“Fei!”
Her joy at my welcome was brief; after exchanging greetings, I immediately showed her Theobalt’s letter, and her face hardened. Knowing what deal I had made with him, she glanced at Luwen once and took me to her office.
“Are you really going? It’s winter hunting. Moreover, it’s monster subjugation.”
“It’s a matter of trust, so I have to go. Theobalt knows I’m weak in winter and said he’ll prepare to keep me warm.”
“Sigh. The Second Prince will also be participating this time. Honorary Duke Cromwell has accepted the invitation to the hunting banquet.”
“Him?”
He wouldn’t be interested in hunting, but it seems he’s participating because the target this time is a group of ogres. It appears the Second Prince hasn’t won over Cromwell yet.
“Yes. So I’ll probably have to be with the Second Prince. I might not be able to properly look after you, Fei. That’s why I’d prefer if you didn’t go…”
“It’s okay. Luwen will be by my side.”
“That’s true, but…”
My sister clutched her head as if it was giving her a headache.
“Can’t you just become a knight a year later? Do you really need to push through with this so desperately?”
“I ruined it because of me. I want to fix it myself.”
My sister comforted me, saying it was absolutely not my fault. It was all the First Prince’s fault, not mine. But that was something she could say because she didn’t know it was a planned kidnapping.
‘I can’t tell the truth either.’
All I could do now was insist stubbornly. In the end, my sister would give in to my persistence.
Sure enough, after some back-and-forth, my sister surrendered.
“…Haa, alright. But I’d like you to stay in your exclusive tent.”
“Yes, I will.”
I have no desire to wander around in the cold anyway.
Afterward, my sister urged people to prepare a large quantity of winter supplies. They weren’t for her, who always moved around in light clothing with just a sword. They were all for me.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
