“Thank you for attending the Hunt Festival until the end.”
At the emperor’s words from the podium, everyone showed various reactions. Some were completely uninterested, pretending not to listen, while others intently focused on every gesture he made, etching them into their memories.
Whether he was aware of such reactions or not, the emperor continued speaking slowly.
“It’s good to see that the gifts prepared for this Hunt Festival were worthwhile. I hope you enjoyed it.”
Beside the emperor were massive piles of various monsters. The tags displayed the names of both the hunters and the noble ladies who received the catches.
He glanced sideways at the towering stacks of prey.
“This time, there were particularly many rare monster offerings.”
As he said this, the emperor stood before three stacks marked by tags. The size of one pile, notably larger than the others, left him in awe.
From griffins to Ganesha and white lions, the towering piles showcased monstrous calamities of all types.
The spectacle of monsters piled up so high that one had to tilt his head back to see the top drew quiet admiration from the crowd.
“I wanted to determine a clear hierarchy, but with these three, it’s simply impossible.”
The tags read Rev, Leo von Shpenheim, and Abel von Hardenberg. Particularly, people were murmuring at Abel’s tag.
It was only natural that the duke, who had never shown his power before, would have left an impression at the Hunt Festival.
“However, Duke Hardenberg’s display of strength for his noble lady has already made a deep impression on me.”
He dragged over a half-deflated monster and placed it beside the pile marked with Abel’s tag. The massive creature with giant horns lay there, pitifully reduced to just its lower half.
“After all, one could argue that this was also a sacrifice for his lady.”
The emperor paused for a moment before continuing.
“Thus, the protagonists of this Hunt Festival are Abel von Hardenberg and Adele von Este.”
Even after his proclamation, there was no applause or cheers. Considering the notorious reputation Adele had left before being reborn, it was perhaps to be expected.
Clap clap clap.
As they tried to digest this fact, a single clap was heard amidst the crowd.
Turning, Estelle was seen smiling and clapping. This prompted those around her to join in, and the initially soft applause gradually grew loud enough to resonate in their ears.
In the midst of this, Abel cautiously took my hand, offering a faint smile.
Calming my slightly trembling heart, I climbed onto the podium behind Abel. The emperor approached us with his usual warm smile.
“This is your promised gift.”
In the hand of the attendant was a box. A peculiar presence of mana emanated from within it. Could this be the Generational Artifact of the Royal Family? Abel bowed his head and accepted the box, and I also bent my waist in tandem to show respect.
“Well done. I saw your achievements very well.”
“I’m honored by your words.”
“Hahaha! That’s a relief to hear.”
Although these were mere pleasantries, the emperor laughed heartily. With that laughter, Abel and I stepped down from the podium. Despite receiving the title of Queen, reality still felt distant. It was as if I was stuck in a dream.
No matter how hard I tried, I never expected something like this could happen to me, someone who only met various kinds of death until now.
“I really didn’t think it would happen.”
“You’ll be quite busy from now on. The title of Queen is a keyword that places you at the center of high society.”
The Queen of the Hunt.
Abel’s words hinted that such a title alone could be enough to overshadow even a notorious reputation, but it didn’t quite sink in. After all the struggles to escape that life, becoming the center of society with just a title felt rather deflating.
But soon, one question arose.
Why did Abel participate in the Hunt Festival?
As far as I heard, he had never once participated in the Hunt Festival before. I had learned that piece of information from Estelle, who had mentioned it casually. So why did he choose to participate this time?
“Could it be that the reason you joined the Hunt Festival was—”
“Of course, it was for the contract.”
“…Is that so?”
Abel von Hardenberg will become the fiancé of Adele von Este and provide assistance as much as possible for one year.
Now that I thought about it, that was indeed the agreement. I felt a slight sinking sensation as if my mood was deflating. It was a complicated mix of feelings, straddling disappointment and resentment.
Suddenly feeling that way puzzled me. What was I expecting from this simple contractual marriage that I was now so let down?
Did I really want him to dedicate himself entirely to me?
If that were the case, I had never felt a flutter of excitement from him. It was merely like looking at a beautiful doll. So why did I feel this strange emotion?
Perhaps Abel had sensed something from my expression, as he smirked and asked.
“Why? Are you disappointed?”
“What? Why would I be?”
Disappointed.
There was nothing to be disappointed about. In fact, I should feel grateful, not discontent. When I immediately dismissed his question, he wore a meaningful smile.
“Hmm… If that’s what you think, then it must be so.”
With those words, there was silence between us as we returned to the duke’s residence. The unusual stillness I experienced after a long time felt a bit awkward, but I didn’t show it. After all, he was performing his role as my fiancé quite well.
As Abel said, in the following days, I began to get busy.
Sorting through endless invitations pouring in, distinguishing between what to accept and what to decline. It sounded simple, but due to the intricate web of interests between families, I couldn’t decide hastily.
If not for Allen’s guidance at my side, I would have unknowingly caused various problems. His wise advice, a seasoned butler, helped me grasp the familial relationships even though I was not well-versed in politics.
I pulled out a new letter to read. Before I could marvel at its elegant design and luxurious quality, the sender’s name caught my eye.
‘…Estelle?’
Come to think of it, Estelle had mentioned she would send me an invitation. So this must be that invitation. I carefully read through the contents.
[To the dear Lady Adele]
I hope you have been well. Congratulations on securing the position of Queen at the Hunt Festival. I am writing to extend the invitation I had previously mentioned accepting. I apologize for the delay in inviting you; I’ve been rather busy, so I hope you’ll forgive me for this tardy invitation. I would be delighted if you could attend the tea party I am hosting and grace us with your presence. Since it is a tea gathering, I think it would be best if you came comfortably, without feeling burdened.
– Your friend, Estelle von Louis.]
A letter that simply stated the purpose of the invitation and its intentions. It stood in stark contrast to the other invitations, which were filled with flowery words and extravagant phrases.
What could Estelle possibly want by inviting me?
‘…I still can’t figure it out.’
I felt suspicious, but I had no reason or justification to decline at this point. Rejecting an invitation from someone who was the focal point of high society could lead to unforeseen consequences I couldn’t even imagine.
Of course, being at the center of society, I could also gain valuable information from Estelle.
With her help, I’d gain a better understanding of the opinions surrounding Abel, from his past to the kind of person he was. I could also learn more about the children he took in, as Evan had mentioned.
“Allen? Would it be alright to accept this invitation?”
“Adele.”
The way Allen spoke softly, as if to console, made me instantly realize my mistake.
“It’s good to take my advice, but the decisions you need to make should be your own.”
“…I understand.”
How many times had he pointed this out already? Even though I knew, breaking this habit wasn’t easy.
After all, I had suffered and died countless times due to the notorious reputation of being a villainess. The memories that still lingered in my mind remained shackles, preventing me from making decisions freely.
“By the way, I received an invitation from Princess Aria as well.”
With Allen’s words, the royal seal on the invitation seemed to confirm that he was telling the truth. The golden seal bore the royal insignia, affirming its authenticity beyond any doubt.
Aria von Shpenheim.
The only princess of the empire, the sole royal to renounce her claim to the throne. She was famous for not talking to anyone in high society, being nicknamed the unbreakable flower.
‘…Why would she invite me?’
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