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"I thought you'd be too embarrassed to come after what happened at the boutique, but you're here?"
I looked at him with a distinctly unpleasant expression, and Faydan's eyes took on a strange look when he met my gaze.
I ignored his eyes and looked away.
Because there was someone else I needed to watch more closely today.
After looking around for a moment, I found the "person of interest" and frowned.
'Deon Zahir.'
As expected, the culprit had arrived.
Of course, the thing I'm worried about might not happen, but I hope it doesn't...
'I can only hope it's just paranoia.'
While I was trying to manage my anxiety, the imperial carriage arrived.
Soon, the hunting festival began in earnest.
The nobles greeted His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress before preparing for the hunt.
Idris excused himself, saying he had to talk to the Imperial Knights before leaving for the hunt.
I came to the place where the horses were gathered with carrots in hand.
"Leo, please take care of me today."
Leo sniffed for a moment, then quietly began to eat the carrots, as if he recognized me.
After the riding lesson, Idris gave me Leo as a gift, saying that we seemed to work well together.
And today was the first day to show us off to other people.
After the men left to hunt, the women and children who had learned to ride horses were scheduled to ride around the area.
I was giving Leo a bribe in preparation for that when I suddenly noticed the scenery around me.
The noble ladies and young ladies were giving handkerchiefs to their husbands and lovers.
It was a custom with a rather affectionate meaning: to ask the man going out to hunt to return safely and return the handkerchief.
I was unknowingly staring when I saw Idris approaching me.
"Are you ready?"
"I finished a long time ago. Thanks to my excellent teacher."
Idris chuckled, seemingly quite pleased with my answer.
I smiled back, but then I noticed his wrist, which looked rather bare.
'...Should I give Idris a handkerchief too?'
Even though we're just in a contractual relationship, we're still a couple in public, so I should give him a handkerchief.
I don't know why I suddenly feel so awkward.
Just as I was hesitating to bring up the handkerchief, Idris spoke first, erasing his smile from a moment ago.
"Do you see that man with the black hair and wing-shaped badge?"
"The commander of the 2nd Imperial Knight Order? Why him?"
"If anything happens, follow his instructions. I don't trust the others, but he's definitely on the Emperor's side."
At his ominous tone, I couldn't help but turn to look at him.
Idris's serious eyes were looking down at me.
After meeting with Ludian last time, we made a plan for the hunting festival.
Idris would protect His Majesty the Emperor, and I would protect Ludian.
We decided that anyone trying to threaten the imperial family would take advantage of the commotion at a hunting festival.
We had considered having both of us stay by Ludian's side to protect him, but there was no guarantee that Deon wouldn't attack His Majesty the Emperor.
Besides, noblemen were expected to participate in the hunting festival, and it would seem strange if Idris stayed by Ludian's side.
That was the decision we made.
"But don't worry too much. I've stationed Imperial Knights here, so the chances of anything dangerous happening are low."
"Okay."
"And if any problems arise, stall for as much time as possible. Until I get there."
"You're coming? How will you know where I am?"
"Well... let's just say it's the power of love for now."
I scoffed at Idris's brazenness, but I soon understood.
I didn't know how it worked, but I believed that he could really find me.
And more than that...
'This guy, he keeps worrying about me.'
I heard that hunting grounds are usually managed to prevent wild beasts from entering.
But in this hunting ground, where the Imperial Hunting Festival is held every year, wild beasts live as they would in nature.
As the largest hunting festival in the empire, they had considered adding a thrilling element, or so they said.
So, if you look at the possibilities, Idris is much more likely to be in danger, but he's only worried about me.
His kindness is certainly appreciated, but why...
'Why does this man's kindness feel resentful lately?'
I suppressed a sigh, feeling strangely sentimental, and took out the handkerchief from my arms.
"Take this."
Idris's eyes widened slightly, as if he hadn't expected me to give him a handkerchief.
"Well, I'm giving it to you because we're partners. You're the one who's going to be in danger."
I looked away, feeling awkward, when I heard a horn sound, signaling the gathering.
The couples who were preparing for the hunting festival began to kiss each other on the forehead and cheeks in farewell.
While I was watching them, I felt the handkerchief slip out of my hand.
And...
'...Huh?'
A warm, soft sensation lightly touched my forehead and then moved away.
It was a beat later that I realized it was his lips, and I looked up in shock, and Idris grinned.
As if he was very pleased with my reaction.
"I'll be back."
I blankly stared at Idris's receding figure, absently touching my forehead.
The spot where his lips had touched felt hot, as if it had been burned.
After the men left to hunt, the time that the noble ladies and children had been looking forward to had arrived.
Now was the time to show off their riding skills.
They weren't hunting, just taking a walk through the forest, so the women didn't prepare anything special.
But the children who had seen the adults exchanging handkerchiefs seemed to have different ideas.
"I want, I want to receive a handkerchief too!"
In response to their earnest wish, time was set aside to give the children handkerchiefs before they started riding.
Ludian was no exception.
I came to where the imperial family was gathered to check on Ludian, and Ludian, who found me, ran up with a delighted expression.
"Letitia! Look at this!"
A cute light yellow handkerchief was tied around Ludian's arm as he smiled brightly.
Behind Ludian, Her Majesty the Empress was smiling warmly.
However, Her Majesty the Empress's complexion didn't seem as good as usual.
I decided to respond to Ludian's expectations first.
"Oh my, now that you've even received a handkerchief, you've become a full-fledged hunter. How are you feeling today?"
"Very good! I practiced hard yesterday and went to bed early."
"Good job. I practiced hard too, so I wouldn't embarrass Your Highness. Let's do well today."
"Yeah!"
"Oh, by the way, Your Highness, did you know?"
"Ung?"
"Your Highness's uncle said that it's good to give the horses a carrot to eat before riding, so that they will take you more safely."
When I said that it was Idris who had said it, Ludian's golden eyes rapidly filled with trust.
His eyes, which couldn't hide his emotions, were so cute that I chuckled and suggested.
"Then, would you like to go give Brandon a carrot?"
Ludian nodded vigorously and walked away with a knight.
After watching him for a moment, I approached Her Majesty the Empress.
"Your Majesty the Empress."
"Ah, Miss Letitia. Cough..."
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