014. Hunting Competition (2)
Only after Lucia spoke did Louis finally take a good look at her.
“…What is this?”
A large black cloak, and on top of it, the emblem of a black wolf engraved.
It was draped over Lucia’s body, symbolizing Lord Verdine.
The meaning was clear, but Louis refused to believe the truth.
“Did you order someone to steal it?”
“I don’t have a hobby of stealing from me.”
In Lucia’s indifferent tone, Louis’ pupils narrowed.
“But then, how…?”
“His Lordship was here until a moment ago.”
The meaning in Lucia’s brief words was significant.
Lord Verdine had personally walked here to see Lucia, and he even offered her his cloak.
That was not something to be dismissed as ordinary.
Even Owen, who was only handing over a cloak or clothes, would have been enough to be amazed.
He was not someone with such sentiments.
However, what Owen handed over was an item with the family’s colors and emblem engraved on it.
It could only be used by someone named Verdine and should not be used lightly.
The fact that he willingly handed it over meant that Lucia meant that much to him.
“…”
Duke Edelt, who understood her words, seemed lost in thought, but Louis simply shook his head as if he couldn’t believe it.
“That’s impossible. What would he be doing here…?”
“Haven’t you heard the rumors?”
“Why bother with such useless things-“
“I just mentioned it. Sometimes rumors turn out to be true, so don’t close your ears.”
With a disdainful look, Lucia explained and then concluded, “Ask anyone around. You’ll get your answer quickly.”
With a sense of annoyance, Lucia finished speaking and swiftly turned around.
As she moved, the hem of her jet-black cloak fluttered.
Duke Edelt continued to watch Lucia as she returned to her tent, only lifting his gaze after a while.
And then, he called one of the knights who was waiting for inspection.
“Did Duke Verdin come by earlier?”
In response to his question, the knight stood at attention and replied.
“Yes. He was with the princess until a while ago and left for inspection.”
“…”
Upon the knight’s response, Duke Edelt narrowed his brow.
It was the same man who had said during their conversation at the mansion that he wouldn’t do this for business reasons.
“But why…?”
Lost in his thoughts, Edelt was interrupted by Louise.
“Why did he come looking for Lucia?”
“There must be a reason…”
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“There must be a reason. Otherwise, Duke Verdin wouldn’t just come looking for Lucia.”
Louise almost growled as he spoke.
Perhaps because he simply couldn’t accept it.
To him, Owen was the knight he admired endlessly, and Lucia was the one he despised and detested.
It was unbelievable.
That insignificant Lucia had somehow captured the heart of the person he respected.
“…Maybe he wanted to see the princess.”
“What would Duke Verdin want?”
“There have been rumors lately. They say the two of them met with interest and eventually became involved.”
“…”
After hearing the knight’s explanation, Louise finally understood the meaning behind Lucia’s words from earlier.
-You just said it. Sometimes rumors turn out to be true, so don’t ignore them.
It was clearly a statement affirming the rumors.
That the two were lovers.
“There’s no way that’s true.”
Although the words carried a clear meaning, Louise deliberately denied the implications.
“He must be lying.”
Lucia was the type of person who would do anything to get what she wanted.
Undoubtedly, this must be another one of her schemes, Louise concluded on his own.
***
The morning of the hunting competition.
All participants gathered in one place.
Before the competition began, they came together for the traditional ceremony of exchanging ribbons.
Numerous young men and women came forward with ribbons, offering them to the knights and wizards.
Some refused the ribbons, but most accepted the gifts they received.
While it was an individual’s choice to wear or not wear the ribbon, refusing the ribbon was considered impolite.
Of course, ‘Owen’ had never cared about such etiquette and had never accepted a ribbon.
As a result, there were no longer any preparations to give him a ribbon.
For the entire duration of the hunting competition, he consistently refused ribbons, making it pointless for anyone to prepare one for him.
However, there was one exception.
“Your Excellency.”
Lucia Edelt.
An heiress who would stop at nothing to get what she desired.
In the social circles, there was no one who did not know the intense red and vibrant thorns of a rose.
“It seems you’ve prepared a ribbon again this time.”
“It appears so.”
As Lucia approached Owen with a red ribbon, many around them cast admiring glances.
It was no wonder, as Lucia had presented a ribbon to Owen without fail every single year.
Despite being rejected each time with cold and indifferent eyes.
Even when everyone else had given up on Owen and turned away, she still brought a ribbon, just like every year.
The nobles smirked at Lucia.
Conquering someone so persistently was seen as quite impressive.
Pouring such passionate interest onto someone who showed no reaction at all was not an easy task.
“Isn’t it time to give up by now?”
“Is an Edelt heiress one to know when to give up?”
“Well, she isn’t.”
In some ways, it made sense.
Lucia Edelt never let go of her prey once she had it in her sights.
Whether it was an object, an animal, or a person.
She somehow managed to get her hands on it.
Owen Verdun was no exception.
Three years ago, from the day they first met, Lucía Edelt had never once given up on him.
Was it merely that she didn’t give up?
She cut off many who aimed for him.
Although Owen seemed indifferent to the attention of those around him, everyone in the social circle vividly remembered that day three years ago.
Everyone at that time thoroughly understood.
That one should never dare to casually snatch what Lucía was after.
“I’d like to tie the knot for you.”
Lucía approached him with a smile this year as well.
The nobles, looking at her, naturally predicted what would happen next.
Owen would look down at Lucía with a cold, indifferent gaze.
And then, he would likely utter a refusal.
At a time when everyone had the same expectation.
Owen, who was on horseback, dismounted.
Approaching her, he soon gave his answer.
“Do as you wish.”
As Owen’s answer spread softly, those around him looked at him in surprise.
He, who had previously ignored and dismissed others with a cold gaze, showing no emotion, now willingly got off his horse, met the other’s eyes, and gave a positive answer.
For those who had been observing Owen’s actions, it was an unbelievable sight.
Hence, as they couldn’t believe and stammered.
Lucía casually approached Owen who had dismounted.
Then, she tied her lace to the handle of Owen’s sword sheathed at his waist.
After securely tying the lace with two knots, Lucía smiled gently and said.
“It’s done.”
Owen, with a bright smile, gazed at Lucía’s face as she whispered, then glanced at the lace tied to the sword.
“There are roses embroidered on the lace.”
“I’ve prepared it with rose patterns embroidered in golden thread, as Your Grace likes roses.”
As she said, the red lace was embroidered with elaborate rose patterns in golden thread.
The lace, adorned so lavishly that it was hard to look away, seemed to resemble Lucía herself.
At least, Owen thought so.
Even without embellishments, beautiful and noble enough to attract people’s attention, his appearance of further enhancing himself with more splendor resembled the clear golden stitches engraved on the originally red lace.
Owen, who had been gazing at the tied lace on the handle of his sword, soon reached out and touched the lace.
The rose-shaped stitches embroidered in golden thread left a distinct texture on his fingertips.
“I like it.”
Caressing the lace for a while, Owen whispered.
His voice carried sincerity.
As everyone watched in astonishment at the words he whispered.
Seemingly unperturbed by their reactions, Owen nonchalantly mounted his horse again.
Then, he briefly greeted Lucía.
“Finish quickly and come back.”
In response to his greeting, Lucía also smiled and replied.
“I’ll be waiting.”
After the event of presenting the lace to everyone, the hunting competition began.
The knights and mages who had gathered together dispersed into their assigned groups and soon disappeared into the forest.
Lucía kept watching Owen’s back, but as he vanished from sight, she turned around.
Around her, there were already numerous young nobles and ladies.
“Lady Edelt, would you like to enjoy the tea party together?”
“I would like to have a conversation with the lady… if it’s not too much trouble.”
“If it’s not impolite, I would like to talk more with the lady-.”
Lucía was undoubtedly the flower of the Empire.
Until the protagonist Bella appeared, she had such a grip on the social circle that it was no exaggeration.
With that level of power and influence, naturally, many gathered around Lucía.
Most sought her favor to strengthen their position, and occasionally, there were those who coveted her position.
But no one had ever succeeded.
Nevertheless, she, who was already impressive, did something unimaginable today.
To directly tie a lace to the sword of the usually cold and indifferent Duke Verdun.
It was an incident that lent credibility to the rumors that everyone thought were false.
Perhaps everyone was eager to know the truth behind the rumors.
“It’s delightful to have many who wish to accompany me.”
Lucia flashed a brilliant smile, her lips blossoming.
“It would be even more enjoyable if we all savored the tea party together.”
Just the fact that she was seen tying a ribbon on Owen’s sword caused a drastic change in people’s reactions.
It was a comical reality, but Lucia was adept at leveraging such reactions.
Making a credible rumor out of thin air was no small feat.
Just by casually mentioning the times spent reasonably with Owen at the tea parties, everyone would easily be swayed.
Those who approached me to gain something were usually loose-lipped.
If they simply spread the word around, rumors could easily become reality.
And Lucia hoped for that.
With a graceful flicker of her eyes, Lucia raised an enchanting smile.
“How about we all head to the greenhouse for the tea party together?”