Chapter 70.
There was a small grove of trees next to the forest clearing that hosted the hunting convention. The women waiting to attend looked out over the businesslike greenery, the scenery created for a social venue, the long table in the center adorned with flowers, and like the Countess said, most of the seats were filled.
“Gentlemen!”
The organizer clapped his hands, “Focus over here!”
“Everyone look here! I’ve brought someone!”
“Oh my God!”
“See!”
I followed Mrs. Dorthea into the arena and the women I saw made a comment. There were so many whispering with fans covering their mouths that I wondered if this was a positive reaction.
You can say it without covering your face.
You don’t know who it is by looking at the face anyway.
There were a lot of people attending the tea party, all kinds of people from young ladies to older noblewomen. Somewhat surprisingly, unlike me, who left Emily behind to come here, most of the people were followed by maids of honor behind their backs.
Plus, looking at everyone, there were no women in hunting clothes like me. Although I just realized it, but confirming that I was wearing a different costume seemed to be a blow and became silent.
”Should have brought Emily.”
I kind of regretted putting the maid on hold all this time. I was worried that I would be told that I was a public lady with no manners, so I decided to try not to speak.
“Thank you for the invitation.”
In order not to look too condescending, I lowered my head appropriately. There were inexplicable eyes shot at me like this. It was similar to the marvelous expression that Lady Dorthea showed when she accepted my greeting just now.
“Come, take a seat over here, male daughter.”
Fortunately, Lady Dorthea didn’t do anything childish that would embarrass the invitees, and hastily pulled me to sit down next to the three organizers. The organizers of the party were right next to each other, in the most visible position. Thinking about Penelope’s reputation, there were some unexpected treats.
“Pour tea for the male daughter.”
Mrs. Dorthea instructed the maid standing behind. The teacup in front of me was filled with steaming golden-colored tea.
“This time my husband was sent as an emissary to the country of Sadina and returned with precious exotic teas, please taste them.”
I slowly raised my teacup at Madame’s cheerful persuasion. I wasn’t interested in socializing, I just heard the nagging from the Duke to get along well with other nobles. But really sitting in this kind of seat is really a bit awkward and …… ah, a bit scary!
Pretending to be careful, he put the cup to his mouth, sniffed the scent, took a sip, and then put it down again.
“That smells good, ma’am.”
It wasn’t actually very good. Probably because it was something exotic, and all of a sudden I could smell the strange flavor in the tea.
But I knew better than to say it truthfully on such an occasion.
“Yes? I’m so glad the male daughter said that! Do all think so?”
Mrs. Dorthea asked everyone with a smile.
“Yes.”
“That’s great news.”
A couple of the women covered their mouths with their fans this time, too, and replied. I looked at the eyes and was relieved that this was the first time I had greeted them, and it seemed to be going well.
“Your Highness, I heard that great deeds were performed at the Eve Festival?”
A young lady sitting across from me asked.
Probably about 15.16 years old, the young girl who still looked young stared wide-eyed with a sparkle in her eyes.
“Ah, nothing great.”
I smiled awkwardly and waved my hand.
‘Modesty is a noble’s virtue.’
My attitude made the child I didn’t recognize redden her cheeks, how cute. She exclaimed.
“Since yesterday, I’ve been thinking about the deeds of the male daughter with a stirring mood!”
“Aha, is it?”
She suddenly added sullenly.
“Since I was not well, I would have tented early and not had time to see you.”
“Good heavens, Miss Aris, did you miss that precious scene?” Before I could answer, I heard a surprised inquiry.
I looked that way. The man covered his mouth with a fan, unable to recognize his face, and quickly lost interest.
‘Aris-sama.’
I memorized the name of the young lady who showed me favor. There are always people who memorize names to avoid embarrassment, but this was for the Duke’s words about building friendships with young ladies of the same age.
Meanwhile, the seated ladies began to talk and laugh with me as the topic.
“Duke Eckhardt’s daughter is great at archery, that shooting of demons is really handsome!”
“Really? Ah, I’d love to meet ……”
“That’s right, Aris-sama will regret leaving the banquet hall early yesterday.”
“But, male daughter, can archery skills be improved that quickly?”
Most of the ones who opened their mouths were slightly older noblewomen. Without realizing it, they were holding me in a higher position than themselves. I noticed it immediately, but there was no need to show it.
It’s a bad reputation these days too, so it’s really two-faced!
There’s no need to spoil the harmony by putting on an unhappy face for no reason, so I perfunctorily smile with an appropriate smile.
“If taught by a good teacher and practiced properly, Stone Bow’s strength will soon improve.”
“Oops …… who are you practicing to match this time?”
It was a bored voice coming out of the mouth of the woman sitting on the diagonal with her gloved hand covering her mouth.
“…… Is it?”
I looked at the woman carefully, thinking back. The blue hair impressed me as a young lady my age. The moment she locked eyes with me, she curved her eyes as if in greeting.
“What?”
The words I just heard seemed like a taunt to me, contrary to the meek face.
“Aha, did Kailin-sama see the male female archery yesterday?”
At that moment, the organizer naturally guided the temporarily frozen conversation. A sudden thought came to me. Miss Kailin? Where have I heard that name before ……
Meanwhile, Miss Kellin answered with a broad smile.
“Of course, ma’am.”
“How does it feel, Miss? Please tell us in detail!”
Aris-sama once again inquired eagerly. It was clearly centered around me, so how come it was getting to seem as if the subject wasn’t me.
But no one thought so. Everyone gathered their eyes on Miss Kailin.
“Actually, I was at ease when the male female shot the stone bow.”
“Reassured why?”
“Hmm. By the way. Kailin-sama has been appreciating the male daughter’s mobility since last year, right?” The noblewoman asked her questions one after another.
She appreciated my bow skills? It can’t be ……!
The moment she snorted at the noblewoman’s unfounded words, a certain event flashed through her mind.
”Heavens.”
It took me a moment to realize who that blue hair was. I didn’t do it myself, and I forgot all about it because I didn’t think it would be anything.
She was …… last year!
Thanks to Penelope, she became the queen of the hunting festival.
”It’s over.”
A chill ran down my back, so it’s no wonder I had an uneasy premonition. This is a bad position for Penelope, no, for me.
“Because I’m reminded of the male female from last year’s hunting competition.”
In the center of such a storm, Miss Kailin said with equanimity.
“She showed me the art of shooting the mosquitoes around me with arrows, aiming her crossbow at me.”
“My God!”
Hearing her words, everyone looked at me and let out an exclamation.
“Is that rumor true?” Lady Dorthea asked with a trembling voice.
“I don’t know what the rumor is, but a male daughter would never shoot arrows so indiscriminately without common sense or taste.”
“Don’t get me wrong, the Duchess is just mercifully catching mosquitoes for me.” Miss Kailin smiled sweetly and answered in a way that wasn’t beautiful at all.
Tsk. Let her curse to her face!
The ability to gossip to your face is great. I don’t know what you said that could make the Penelope of the year want to kill you completely despite the water.
“Because of what happened last year, rumors spread against the male daughter, and my heart is heavy about that.”
But the gossip didn’t end there. Kaelyn looked at me with a smile.
“Yesterday it wasn’t a small mosquito, but a house-sized demonic creature, so there’s no need to worry about hitting the wrong one, right?”
‘It’s not like the male daughter is blind.’
In direct translation, ‘The male daughter isn’t blind, so since she was able to hit a demonic object that big, it’s really uncharacteristic.’
Why did the uneasy premonition not deviate once. I finally realized why the maid was handed over to the duke early in the morning. No wonder the people who are smiling are marvelous.
The women led by Kailin successfully set the trap and began to poison today’s prey with gusto.