ALL NOVEL Chapter 68
“I saw it, you know?”
“Yes?”
“I saw Lady.”
“Really?” Selleana’s face lit up brightly.
Temporarily overwhelmed by her cheerfulness, Rakrensius barely continued, “But you seemed too happy with this person and that person.”
“This person and that person…?”
“Would Lady even have had a moment to see me?”
Selleana recalled the people she had talked to during the departure ceremony. Her father, her brothers, and then Margrave Gotenfrid. “No, those people…”
“And there were so many people worth noticing. You seemed quite busy with your gaze.”
“No, that’s…! It was because those were my friends being bothered by others, so I was on guard to prevent any nonsense…!”
“
Hmm
, was that so?”
“Yes, that was the case.”
Selleana’s lips were firmly set, her chin raised to his chest height. Along with that, her amber eyes appeared unjustly shaken, as if she was being wronged… It felt unusually tense for Selleana.
Not in the office with Saendi but alongside her friends.
Perhaps this novelty also provided a pleasant thrill. Rakrensius’s lips unknowingly formed a fine smile.
“Anyway, I’ll consider the handkerchief received…”
“Where did that come from?”
Suddenly pulling out a handkerchief from her pouch, as if received from Michi at some point, Selleana said, “It’s not embroidered or anything… but it’s something I always carry with me.”
The handkerchief pushed under his chin was fragrant with the perfume Selleana usually wore, a scent Rakrensius could never forget. It was the fragrance that always came to mind when recalling that day, and ever since Selleana began visiting the Magic Tower, he couldn’t forget it.
It was around the time the naturally related thoughts warmed his ears again.
“Think of me as always by your side. I’ll be your goddess of victory.”
“I’m not really planning to catch anything…”
“Then at least finish in first place.” Selleana smiled softly, reached out to hold his hand, and then…
“…
Ah
.”
She turned the handle of the bow towards her and wrapped the handkerchief around it, tying the short ends of the handkerchief into a small knot. Tapping the tiny knot, Selleana slowly said, “I’m so glad to see you like this.”
“…”
“Don’t come back with even a scratch.”
Moving his hand again, she made him grip the handle of the bow, imprinting the knot she made into his palm. “See you the day after tomorrow?”
It was followed by a bright smile, not the fake smile Selleana scattered around the social circles, but a casual smile that sometimes made Rakrensius’s heart drop.
Watching it, Rakrensius thought no matter how much he intended to disconcert her, the sweetness gifted by an angel could not be surpassed by any embarrassment. He was about to reply but missed the moment. What followed was an awkward farewell.
“Lady, I hope you do well in the treasure hunt.”
“It was nice to see you,” he finally said to the other friends before returning to his original place.
In the silence that followed his departure.
“…
Wow.
”
The silence was broken by Rosaline.
“You’re right! He’s totally smitten with you.”
“I told you. Even when he’s riding a horse, he can’t take his eyes off me.”
“Look at that. Those are completely infatuated eyes. What’s with him?”
“Well, he must have his reasons, right?”
“
Oh
, Michi. Are you defending him because he gave you a magic tool?”
“More than that… It feels like he understands my heart. Maybe because he used to be a commoner?”
“Yeah, he does seem like a straightforward guy.”
“Oh my, oh my. Did Lea bully him?”
“Don’t even get me started. Yesterday…” Michi whispered to Rosalli with a mischievous smile. The words were clearly nothing significant, and Selleana couldn’t help but chuckle.
* * *
The treasure hunt was held on the second day of the hunting competition.
“Participants, please come to the executive tent after lunch for registration!”
Selleana went to register for the event with Rosalli. Michi and Agnesia stayed in the guild’s tent to avoid attracting attention, and Doloret was busy attending to business partners again.
“Blessings of Orot. We’re here to register as participants.”
“
Uh,
La-Lady Elard?!”
“I’m joining too.”
“
Gasp,
Lady Glen as well…! He-Here’s the registration form…”
The campsite buzzed with the arrival of the two ladies. Treasure hunts were not typically recommended for women.
“Oh my, is Lady Elard participating too?”
“La-Lady Glen too?”
“…I should try to join the next hunting competition as well.”
“Yeah, it seems like quite an active hobby….”
Fortunately, the reaction was positive.
No matter what Pavellian says about being a tomboy, so what? Anything we do becomes a trend.
Being an early adopter and trendsetter, Selleana thought it would be great if self-defense techniques became popular among Nepelsian ladies. She handed in her completed registration form.
“Got it. What tools will you be using?”
“Here.” Selleana handed over her wooden sword to the official, causing a stir among the onlookers.
“A-A wooden sword… really?”
“Yes.”
Selleana remained calm, anticipating their surprise.
They never imagined I’d handle something like a sword.
In truth, Selleana had never formally learned martial arts. She had only mimicked a few basic moves from watching Peredo. Just like what she boasted to Rakrensius, Selleana was good at everything except swimming, so she could handle a sword quite convincingly.
“
Ah
, understood…
Um
, Priest?”
The official handed Selleana’s wooden sword and an extra wooden dagger to a waiting priest, who chanted over them, causing a faint light to envelop the weapons. When animals were struck with these consecrated tools, they would faint without pain. The holy power induced a shock.
“And Lady Glen?”
“I have these.”
“These… What are these?”
“Rubber balls.”
“
Ah
, I see… understood.”
Meanwhile, Rosalie presented tiny rubber balls the size of a thumbnail. They were the bullets for her magic tool gun, but no one knew their true nature. People simply assumed that Lady Glen was participating in the treasure hunt out of boredom.
Other participants also had their wooden daggers, axes, and un-tipped arrows chanted.
“When the bell rings, please come to the starting line.”
“Yes.”
“Thank you.”
The two ladies flashed charming and refreshing smiles at the officials and priests before leaving the executive tent.
Outside, a crowd had gathered.
“Even the fourth prince is participating in the treasure hunt….”
“He looks so dignified in his hunting clothes.”
Most of them were there to catch a glimpse of the fourth prince, who was attending his first hunting competition.
“If the fourth prince is participating…”
“The empress must be here to cheer for him too….”
“There she is.”
Indeed, the empress, his mother, was present, and naturally…
“Those people are participating too.”
“Since they’re with the empress’s faction, they probably knew the fourth prince was joining. Look at how well-dressed they are.”
The same people who had been with Eunice Jenon were also participating, wearing practical outfits for the event.
“We have to win against them, right?”
“If we’re going to win, we should do it overwhelmingly.”
Selleana and Rosalli eyed them with determination. Both ladies maintained amicable relationships with everyone in the social circle. Therefore, they had never felt the need to view anyone as rivals. Especially Selleana, who was once the crown princess candidate.
But they started it, right?
As Selleana fueled her competitive spirit while eyeing the empress’s faction participants, Rosalli nudged her. “Lea, look over there.” She gestured towards the entrance to the hunting grounds. “Someone seems to be returning.”
Looking that way, they saw some gentlemen coming back from the hunt. It was customary for the brave men of Nepelsian to spend at least one night in the hunting grounds, but from the second day onwards, some would start returning. After all, the event was primarily about showing loyalty to the imperial family.
Some were uninterested in showcasing martial prowess and preferred to spend time with their ladies or family in the scenic Bellanyu Forest. These men would return with just enough game to maintain appearances. Or they might return due to injuries. Of course, men like the Elard ones, keen to display their prowess, stayed in the hunting grounds until the last day.
Then, Rosalli spotted someone among the returning men.
“
Uh
, that person.”
“…Damn.”
It was none other than Viscount Miniel, the old bachelor who had troubled Selleana before.