Chapter 67.

“Huh?”

They gathered at the Duke’s for breakfast together.

Derrick had returned from his interrogation late, and I cringed at his news.

“Why, why? Why would something like that happen yesterday and the deaths didn’t heal.”

“If the hunting convention fell through in such a way and people from other countries attended. What will happen to the prestige of the Empire?” Derrick replied indifferently.

What was meant by prestige or something like that, I felt outrageous and smacked my lips.

“Great. Those who back down and shrink over cockamamie things are just being found out by insignificant guys.” The Duke nodded seriously in agreement.

Oh, Duke. It’s not like that ……

I thought I was going to be able to go home after only one night’s sleep, but I didn’t realize that the damn hunting convention would continue. I bit my lip in a cackle and came up with my best response.

“Because of my poor health, it might be difficult to participate in the competition.”

“Alright. You worked hard yesterday.”

Luckily, the Duke readily accepted

“Using this opportunity, you can also get a new foothold in the social world. The Countess of Dorthea sent over the invitation early in the morning.”

“…… Countess?”

“I heard you were to be invited to a tea party at the outing ceremony.”

Coming here I had not once attended a private tea party, such hospitality was puzzling. However, the Duke, for some reason, looked at me with a face full of satisfaction.

“If you stay in the tent all day, you’ll get bored too. Dress up and come out for the tea party, and interact with the ladies of your age as well.”

“I brought back plenty of clothes, Dad.”

After dinner, Leonard came over with a grin on his face. How did you know that?

It wasn’t offensive because it was true.

Is it true that if you want to go through the forest, you wear a long green dress?

Therefore, I instructed Emily to take only the championship by mainly wearing simple clothes including hunting clothes.

Unlike Leonard who was looking on with astonishment, the Duke scolded in a terrible voice.

“That’s even better. What’s popular lately are aggressive women, you fool!…” And with his tongue bitten, he had to continue.

“That’s why you’re unpopular with women.”

“Who’s unpopular.”

Despite Leonard’s angry retort, the Duke had already turned his head. It was painful to see him energized by the fact that he couldn’t bear to refute it.

“Probably didn’t know anyone liked you.”

“Some fellow who was charmed by your brave spirit yesterday and gave you your prey, and you’ll be the prey this time, I suppose.”

“Dad, that’s it.”

Derrick, who had been eating in silence up to that time, said with a sigh.

“If people get cocky with this false sense of expectation, instead they’ll be better off than they were before, it’ll become a saying, won’t it?”

He shifted his azure pupils to me for a moment and continued.

“People always say you don’t act like a normal person.”

“Oh.”

Probably unable to deny it, the Duke began to eat again.

I was struck dumb and angry beyond measure. It made the words sound more uncomfortable than Leonard, who was busy sneering.

Oh, vain expectations? I don’t want to be like Jin either, okay?

I glared hopelessly and glanced at Derrick, but there was no gaze that he met.

Can’t guy, you’re out!

Clenching my trembling fists under the dining room table, I was determined to get my revenge.

* * * *

“Miss, do you really want to go like this?” Emily continuously looked at my dress with dissatisfaction.

“Well, it’s just a hunting competition.”

“Even if you don’t participate, you still have to meet the requirements.”

“But ……”

She looked at me with a deep stare. I re-look at the mirror. Every time I practiced bow and arrow, I wore the hunting clothes I wore and tied my hair together.

The dark hair hung low in the back. Yagat’s pattern was printed in gold silk the new gray jacket and shorts matched the head tricolor.

Is it pretty?

I looked around the overall look as I held the stone bow with the preloaded beads.

Emily asked uneasily. It looked like she was trying to dissuade me.

“Is there a special area open for women and children with small animals? Go check it out later.”

“Are you going to hunt yourself?”

“It wouldn’t be fun to sit around without going to the party.”

I replied briskly. All the while thinking of someone at home.

… I bet if I can’t even catch a rabbit, then I’ll be disgraced

Alas, a hushed sound. The large eyes that are faintly tinged with laughter are still clear

It must be a smile, right? Wait a minute. My sister snatched one of your scarves.

That’s when resolve repeats itself.

“Hey, how much longer?”

Leonard’s urging came from outside the tent. I panicked, stuffed my shotgun shells in my pocket, and saluted Emily.

“I’m leaving.”

Out of the card tent, the Duke and the Barons were ready.

“Why are you so late!” Leonard fumed as he looked at me.

Oh. Normally, I might have ignored him, but I unconsciously looked him up and down with my eyes.

He looked handsome in his dark brown uniform. So did Derrick, who was next to him in his elegant all-black uniform, which stood out even more when the hunting clothes that were similar to his male counterpart’s white height and handsome appearance met. Even his fierce personality would offset that and would be comforting.

If it were a game it would have been more cheering.

I was intrigued by the fact that it was a dismal reality.

“It’s not so I can dress up.”

The Duke, probably not liking my outfit, frowned.

“I don’t want to harbor false expectations like whoever said that.”

I glanced at the man coldly for a moment before talking back. The man in question stared blankly but didn’t know how to respond, and the Duke coughed dryly as if frozen in place.

“Ahem, didn’t I say do it properly? I’m not feeling well.”

“Since I’m here, I thought I’d stop by and see the rest of the hunting grounds.”

Hearing that, the Duke shrugged and suddenly lowered his head to me. Then quietly whispered so that his sons couldn’t hear.

“… You should bear in mind father’s words, right?”

“Huh?”

“If you want to fire a cannonball, go off the beaten path.

“Ah ……”

‘I remembered that there was a conversation about the stone bow a few days ago. To explain why magic balls were used instead of arrows’

“Know what? Hmm?” The blue eyes that goaded the reply wavered with distrust and unease. Just like Emily’s eyes when she saw me carrying the stone bow just now. I chuckled softly in reply.

“Of course I understand.”

* * *

Upon arriving at the entrance of the forest where the marching ceremony was held, a lot of nobles had already gathered.

“Look at them.” The Duke and the two guys disappeared into the bustling crowd.

I avoided a group of people who were preparing to hunt and turned to the place where those who were seeing off the march were gathered. Most of the people who were sitting underneath the shed pergola to avoid the sun were women.

As soon as I appeared, there was an immediate tremor in the calm atmosphere. I sensed that people began to look at me one by one. Because of what happened yesterday, I didn’t pay any attention to it.

The evil girl is a superstar wherever she goes.

But it didn’t take long for me to realize that I was only nagging myself out of curiosity or contempt. I looked around and realized why Emily was looking at me the way she was.

I was the only woman in a hunting outfit!

Surrounding me was a feast of gorgeous cloud dresses. Both the young ladies of my age and the taller noblewomen looked like a puffed up peacock, not knowing who was more sumptuously dressed in a dress, as if in a competition. Instead of weapons, they held fans, umbrellas, and the like.

I was left alone in my hunting clothes, carrying my stately stone bow. My pupils shook like an earthquake.

It’s a hunting convention that is open to all regardless of gender.

But why am I the only one doing this? I regretted that I shouldn’t have listened to Emily.

It wasn’t. Lawns don’t walk around casually like I do, and I struggled to be positive about my dress.

“When you’re ready, meet in the center! ”

At that moment a loud shout came from the stage in charge of the assembly. Unbeknownst to me it was nearing the time to go out. The nobles who had finished checking in began to ride one by one.

I quickly recognized the Duke’s appearance. Because he stood in the first position, even though he stood far away, I didn’t know if it was by sorting or what.

True to form, he was the head of the family, sitting on a steed wearing a flashy harness, intently talking to those around him. The two sons didn’t seem to have returned yet.

“Oh ….?”

In the process of searching for Derrick and Leonard, I, who had inadvertently recognized the person next to the Duke, immediately opened my eyes

“Gosh, look. The Marquis-sama ah”

“I didn’t participate last year, so I might have to hunt myself this year. Carrying a bow and arrow! It’s so handsome…”

From another embarrassing place came staggering back talk. The person next to the Duke was no one else.