Perhaps he heard my murmurs that I let slip alone, as Dante cautiously asked,
“Are you worried?”
“A little. It’s my first time for something like this.”
“It will be fine. I’ll make sure you don’t suffer any unnecessary harm…”
“Stop. If you’re going to say something like that, just don’t say anything at all. It makes my stomach turn.”
Was it that he was truly caught off guard? Dante fell silent.
What am I supposed to do about this self-esteem that has been trampled to the ground?
Thinking about it, it’s all because of those nobles. Why are they trying to crush our male lead’s spirit?
“...By the way, I guess we’ll see a lot of nobles at the hunting festival.”
“Indeed. Most of the nobles from the Empire will participate.”
“Aha.”
I wore a sly smile.
Right. Let’s see those faces that have crushed our male lead’s spirit.
Before I knew it, my worries about my first social debut had been pushed far back.
* * *
Not long after, as soon as the schedule for the hunting festival was set, an invitation arrived from the royal family.
Just as Dante had thought.
How is it that things never deviate from expectations? Can’t they think of living a little more creatively?
Anyway, as soon as the invitation arrived, I began studying the etiquette related to the nobility.
I had been studying it bit by bit before, but I increased my study time even more.
Still, in the end, I didn’t have enough time to fully memorize everything, and I had to proceed with a rough understanding.
Well. That’s fine.
As long as I don’t grab anyone by the collar at the ball, right?
Still, just in case, I held one more meeting with the Northern Ladies for practical training.
Since it was the second meeting, it proceeded in a more relaxed atmosphere than before, filled with warmth.
When I revealed, “I’m weak, and this is my first social event. I’m so nervous,” they showed their loyalty by offering to help me.
I feel reassured, our Northern girls!
Anyway, time flew by, and on the day before the hunting festival,
I climbed into the carriage with a solemn determination.
Alright. The preparations are perfect.
Now, all that’s left is to go and see the faces of the nobles who have crushed our Dante’s spirit.
…Or so I thought.
“I’ve never been in a carriage for this long, ugh.”
I never expected an unexpected hurdle to be waiting for me.
My perfect preparations crumbled in the face of the long carriage ride.
The hunting festival was to be held in the western forest owned by the royal family.
Since the western forest was about an hour or two away from the capital, we decided to move to the Richter family’s townhouse in the capital first.
We planned to spend the night there and then head to the western forest the next day.
However, the problem was that it took a full 8 hours or more to get from the Richter mansion to the townhouse in the capital.
We clearly set off in the morning, but by the time we arrived, it was night.
It must have been similar when we went north after the wedding, but why was I fine then?
Perhaps the fear of marrying the monstrous duke had swallowed even my motion sickness.
Whatever it was, I was feeling miserable right now.
“...This is terrible. Ugh.”
The nausea lingered at the pit of my stomach.
As I gagged, Dante rubbed my back with concern.
“Are you alright?”
“Ugh. No, I’m not alright. I want to rest. I feel like I’m dying.”
As I honestly expressed my feelings without holding back, Dante let out a soft groan.
And then, for a moment.
“Ugh?”
“Just hang in there a little longer.”
With a gentle whisper, my body was lifted into the air.
What do they call this?
Ah. The princess carry.
Dante lifted me in the princess carry position.
And it was the most stable princess carry in the world.
Despite my unnecessary anxiety, my body tensed up involuntarily, but Dante’s solid muscles supported me like a human hammock.
Wow. Truly our male lead.
“Thank you. Ugh.”
Feeling like I was dying, I chose to lean into his consideration rather than refuse it.
He carried me to the bedroom.
The maids, who had prepared the bath in advance and were waiting, widened their eyes in surprise when Dante walked in carrying me.
I was worried they might pop their eyes out.
“I-I’ve prepared the bathwater, but if you’re going in together, I can prepare it again…”
“No.”
“Not at all.”
Our simultaneous responses made us look at each other’s faces before quickly turning our heads away.
We were still in a position where our faces were too close.
Going in together for a bath?
The maid, who looked shy but surprisingly bold, said something quite daring.
“...I’ll wash in another room. Please rest first after you wash.”
Dante’s words, which he added as if to make an excuse, made me feel even more embarrassed.
Saying something like that makes it sound like he’s telling me to wash and wait.
Once I started to be conscious of it, I could feel the muscles that had seemed indifferent until now pressing against my skin.
Bulging and firm…
“Please put me down.”
As I pleaded for him to let me down, Dante quickly but carefully set me down.
If I had stayed in his arms a little longer, I might have had some incredibly lewd thoughts about our male lead.
Phew, phew.
As I barely chased away the devil in my heart, I felt the maid’s lewd gaze following me.
…No. That’s not it.
It’s not that.
Really, it’s not.
* * *
“Fortunately, the weather is really nice.”
“It feels like full autumn, doesn’t it?”
“Indeed, hoho.”
In the western forest where the hunting festival was being held.
The nobles who had settled in early were gathered, chatting softly.
As they said, the weather was splendid.
The sky was a bright blue, soaring high, with not a single cloud in sight.
Yet, thanks to the cool autumn air, it wasn’t hot at all.
A refreshing autumn.
Thanks to the good weather, the excitement among the people was also heightened.
The hunting festival was one of the largest events in the Empire.
Nobles from all over the Empire gathered in the western forest to participate in or watch this event.
It was the perfect opportunity to forge new connections.
Especially at the hunting festival, there were events that deepened relationships between men and women.
Specifically, the “Lady of the Year.”
Typically, the men participating in the hunting festival receive handkerchiefs from the ladies who support them.
And after safely returning from the hunting festival, they return their handkerchiefs, which is quite a romantic event.
Through this, the number of couples who actually start dating or even get married is surprisingly high.
Among them, the focus of everyone’s attention was undoubtedly the winner of the hunting festival and their partner.
The winner of the hunting festival receives a prize from the emperor, and there is a custom of presenting it to their partner in front of everyone.
Thus, the winner’s partner came to be called the “Lady of the Year.”
The winner of the hunting festival and the Lady of the Year.
Young nobles participated in the hunting festival dreaming of becoming the protagonists of this romantic story.
As a result, naturally, the hottest topic of conversation before the hunting festival began was this.
“Who do you think will be the protagonist of this hunting festival this year?”
Predicting the winner of the hunting festival and the Lady of the Year.
As everyone fell into thought to come up with an answer, a freckled young lady was the first to speak.
“Isn’t that person the most likely candidate this year?”
“Who?”
A glance. The woman’s gaze turned to a corner before returning.
There stood a beautiful woman, alone like an island, among groups of people chatting amicably.
Serafina Richter.
“The Duchess of Richter.”
A brief silence followed the young lady’s lively answer.
The young lady, who had suddenly created a quiet atmosphere, blinked her eyes in confusion.
At that moment.
“Ah, ahahaha. You’re so funny, young lady!”
With someone’s laughter, others also burst into laughter.
Hahaha.
Hohoho.
The laughter, known only to one person, continued for a while.
“Well, Lady Tinea has only recently come to the capital, so she might not know the social scene well yet.”
With a tone that seemed to subtly belittle, Lady Tinea’s expression darkened a bit.
She had made her debut in the capital’s social scene for the first time this year.
It was also her first time participating in the hunting festival, and every time she attended such gatherings, she felt the capital’s nobles subtly looking down on her.
I wonder how it is that all the nobles in the capital are so unlucky.
At this point, I even began to suspect that there was some strange current flowing in the capital.
Or perhaps they were all attending a class on “How to Be an Unlucky Noble.”
“The Duchess of Richter will not become the Lady of the Year this year.”
“Why not? Isn’t the Duke of Richter the strongest person in the Empire?”
With a question tinged with a bit of stubbornness, the other person shrugged their shoulders.
“Well, that might be true. But the Duke of Richter has never hunted at the hunting festival. He just keeps his seat.”