IWAPUF 37

Indeed, the Emperor had been indulgent with me. Despite the indefinite postponement of my
wedding to the Crown Prince, he never once expressed disappointment or reproach. He treated me
with the same unwavering kindness as always.
I decided to stop questioning whether the Crown Prince’s or the Emperor’s attitudes toward me
were genuine. Whatever their true intentions, I resolved to accept their apparent goodwill at face
value.
Trying to unravel their motives or harbor endless suspicions would only exhaust me. My mind
would fray under the weight of constant doubt. It was better to trust the kindness they showed me,
at least for now.
If they betrayed that trust, I could think about revenge when the time came. There was no need to
preemptively wound myself by running from imagined betrayals.
“Well, more importantly, you said something happened in the West?” I asked, deliberately steering
the conversation.
Anasha didn’t press me on the abrupt shift. Instead, she answered my question.
“Yes, it seems serious enough that Evan went to the West himself.”
“Do you know what happened?”
“It was urgent, so he left in a hurry without sharing details.”
The fact that Evan had gone to the West troubled me. I had tasked him with investigating the
Deisha Ducal House specifically. While that wasn’t the only matter concerning the West,
something about it felt ominous. I tapped my fingers on the table.
There were roughly two years left before *she* would arrive in the capital. Perhaps because of the
lingering emotions from that time, thinking of her always soured my mood.
“Is Evan all right?” I asked.
“A letter arrived yesterday, and so far, it seems he’s fine. Is something worrying you?”
“No, I meant the wound on his neck.”
“Oh!” Anasha let out a small exclamation, as if something had just clicked. She smiled brightly,
fine lines crinkling around her eyes in her characteristic way.
“Evan’s wound wasn’t as deep as it looked. He’s been treated by a skilled physician.”
“That’s a relief,” I said.
Her eyes sparkled, as if she’d discovered an amusing toy. “By the way, is His Highness really as
jealous as the rumors say? It’s hard to imagine the famously gentle Crown Prince acting that way.”
“Ah…”
Even I, usually indifferent to gossip, couldn’t help but feel embarrassed this time. The incident had
happened on a busy street, and the rumors had spread like wildfire.
Among the more malicious tales was one claiming the Crown Prince, enraged by catching me in
an affair with Evan, had drawn his sword on him. Evan’s absence since then only lent credibility
to the story.
The Pison trading company quickly clarified Evan’s identity, emphasizing that our relationship
was purely professional—the granddaughter of the former head meeting the current head. The
Crown Prince himself explained it as a minor misunderstanding born of jealousy over seeing
another man by my side.
To prove our closeness, he began visiting the Eliont estate almost daily, as if delighted to have an
excuse to see me.
Setting aside the tangled emotions, he wasn’t bad company as a friend. Though he carried the
arrogance typical of a Crown Prince, it blended with his confidence, making him all the more
charismatic and lively. His ingrained etiquette put people at ease, and the smile on his sculpted
face was more than enough to please the eye.
Having a man so near perfection in ability, personality, and looks who claim to care for me was
undeniably pleasant. Despite my racing heart, I didn’t entirely mind his forward behavior.
I didn’t know what the future held, but letting myself lean into this feeling didn’t seem like a bad
idea. I was starting to look forward to how he might try to win me over.
—
The sun blazed fiercely overhead. The air was filled with the snorting of horses and the clanking
of knights’ armor.
The hunting tournament was held in a forested mountain three hours by horseback from the palace.
As it involved the Emperor, other royals, and high-ranking nobles, the annual event was among
the empire’s five most significant occasions.
The palace courtyard was crowded with horses and carriages assembled for the journey to the
tournament grounds. Palace attendants and noble families’ servants bustled about, preparing for
their masters since early morning.
As the departure time neared, nobles began boarding their carriages or mounting their horses in
small groups. I was about to climb into my waiting carriage when—
“Oh!”
A gust of wind tugged at the hat I wore to shield myself from the sun. As I reached reflexively to
Grab the brim, a heavy presence settled over my head.
“Careful,” a low voice rumbled above me.
I looked up to find Marquess Eliont’s deep blue eyes gazing down at me.
“Thank you,” I said.
Without a word, he adjusted my hat, turning it this way and that as if trying to set it straight. His
An unexpected gesture caught me off guard, but I stood still, letting him fuss.
He seemed unaccustomed to such tasks. Despite his serious expression, the wide-brimmed hat
kept slipping in his hands. His brows twitched upward as he glared at it.
“Hmm…” A low, almost groaning sigh escaped him.
I barely stifled a laugh. Lately, unlike before, he’d been making efforts to grow closer to me. I
didn’t know what had prompted the change, but it wasn’t unwelcome.
Watching him struggle with the hat was amusing, but time was running short for departure. I
placed my hand over his.
His body flinched at my touch, but he didn’t pull away or resist. Holding his hand, I adjusted the
hat myself.
“This is how you do it,” I said, lowering my hand.
Marquess Eliont released the hat as well, his gaze lingering on me in silence.
“Is there something you wish to say?” I asked.
His face remained impassive, but I’d come to recognize what his expressionless demeanor could
mean. When the Marquess stared at me for a prolonged moment, it often signaled he had
something to say.
“I…” he began.
Fwooo!
A loud trumpet blast cut him off, signaling the imminent departure. His gaze shifted toward the
Emperor and Empress board their carriage, his brow furrowing slightly.
“Shouldn’t you be at His Majesty’s side?” I asked.
As the empire’s chancellor, Marquess Eliont was expected to travel alongside the Emperor. A low
sigh escaped his lips.
“Will you be all right on your own?”
His blue eyes turned to me, a fleeting hint of concern in them. He seemed worried about me
traveling alone to my first hunting tournament.
His unexpected thoughtfulness caught me off guard. I hadn’t realized he could be so considerate.
A warm, tingling sensation stirred in my chest, and a smile spread across my face unbidden.
“I’ll be fine. Please don’t worry,” I said.
Unlike what he assumed, this wasn’t my first hunting tournament. I had attended every year, both
as the Crown Princess and later as the Empress.
The tournament was held in a rugged, high mountain part of the Emperor’s private lands. Access
was restricted, preserving the dense forests and abundant wildlife, including fierce beasts.
While the event was called a hunt, its primary purpose was festivity rather than serious hunting.
Bringing noblewomen to such a perilous forest meant safety was well assured.
The hunting grounds were carefully designated. Most nobles focused on socializing and enjoying
the event rather than hunting with fervor. For their convenience, gamekeepers herded suitable prey
into specific areas. Except for a few spirited young men, no one ventured beyond these safe zones.
The area where noblewomen gathered to rest was meticulously cleared of dangerous animals by
knights days before the event. Guards patrolled throughout the tournament, ready to prevent any
accidents. It was truly a lighthearted affair, designed for leisurely enjoyment.
Despite my reassurance, Marquess Eliont lingered, reluctant to leave. One by one, carriages began
to move. Still, he only glanced toward the Emperor’s carriage without making a move to go.
“May I accompany the young lady?”
A woman’s voice interrupted just as I was about to reassure him again. The Marquess and I turned
toward the sound. A middle-aged noblewoman stood there, smiling at us.
“It’s been a while, Marquess Eliont,” she said.
The Marquess inclined his head slightly. “It’s been a while, Countess Seight.”
“Pleased to meet you, Countess Seight,” I said, following his lead with a curtsy.
Her smile warmed, soft and kind. “This is our first time meeting face-to-face, isn’t it? Please, no
need for formal titles. Call me Isabella.”
“It’s an honor, Isabella. Please call me Beonne.”
“Of course, Beonne,” she replied warmly.
Isabella, once known as the First Imperial Princess, was the Emperor’s eldest child. Upon
marriage, imperial princesses were removed from the royal registry and took their husband’s
status, effectively ceasing to be royalty.
Her husband, Count Seight, was a border count with significant military power, governing an
estate in the southern frontier. A staunch supporter of the Emperor and the Crown Prince, his lands
were far from the capital. The Seights visited the capital only a handful of times a year.
The first time I met Isabella was on the day of my coming-of-age ceremony, which coincided with
my wedding to the Crown Prince. Unlike then, she hadn’t attended my recent ceremony, as the
sudden event left her no time to travel to the capital.
A couple of days after my coming-of-age, a gift arrived from her—a letter expressing regret for
missing the occasion and a handwoven lemon-yellow shawl. It wasn’t ornate but was wide and
thick, practical for various uses, an uncharacteristically utilitarian gift for a noble. I sent a reply
with thanks, along with some Leisha flower tea.
A few days later, another letter arrived from her, expressing her anticipation of meeting me in
person. Though the hunting tournament was a major imperial event, it was primarily for
entertainment. Nobles from distant border regions, like Count Seight, typically didn’t attend.
Those present were usually from the capital or nearby estates.
“Are you surprised to see me here?” Isabella asked.
“A little, yes,” I admitted.
She covered her mouth and laughed. “I did say I was looking forward to meeting you, didn’t I?”
Her smile was as fresh as a young girl’s, despite the fine lines crinkling around her eyes.
Isabella was the only one who had ever spoken bluntly to me back then. She urged me to embody
the grace and virtue expected of someone in my position.
The Crown Prince had lost his mother, the Empress, shortly after his birth. Isabella, then the First
Imperial Princess, had raised him like her own child. Twenty-two years his senior, she cared for
him until her marriage to Count Seight.
It was perhaps natural that she, as his surrogate mother, would offer advice to me as the Crown
Princess. But back then, I saw her actions as overstepping. I took offense, deeming it improper for
someone no longer royal to lecture the Crown Princess, and insulted her in return.
Looking back, that may have been when it started—the moment the Crown Prince, who had once
shown me kindness, began to withdraw, treating me only with cold courtesy.
“May I join her? I think the Marquess would feel more at ease if she’s not alone,” Isabella said,
her eyes sparkling.
Unlike her gentle, matronly first impression, she exuded a youthful, lively energy. The Marquess
glanced at me, as if seeking my opinion.
“I’m fine with that,” I said, nodding.
Isabella clapped her hands, her smile widening. “Since time is short, shall we board the
carriage?”
At her gesture, an attendant approached to assist her. I was about to signal for my own attendant
when a soft cough came from beside me. Turning, I saw Marquess Eliont extending his hand
toward me.