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Chapter 7 : Understanding (8)
*****
The moist flesh lightly touched and fell on the cheek not far from the corner of her mouth.
Fortunately, it wasn't on the lips, but all the surrounding eyes were directed this way because of the provocative action.
Regina, whose face is now red, looked at him with her eyes showing her embarrassment.
"I'll use this well."
The purple eyes slightly disappeared with the faint smile.
He wouldn't have acted thoughtlessly in front of so many people, so maybe it was all calculating, but the sudden touch still made her face hot.
After letting her go, he waved his handkerchief proudly and walked towards the participants.
Regina fiddled with the tip of her innocent glove for no reason and stepped under the tent.
As she drew nearer to it, the ladies, who had just been watching the commotion, looked at her. Some even waved her fan with a mischievous look on their faces.
"Hello, Lady Blois."
Duchess Haynes, who was sitting in the middle, spoke to her first. Iria Haynes smiled in her usual manner as if she hadn't seen the commotion just now.
"Hello, Duchess Haynes. The weather is so nice."
"I'm glad it's a perfect day for a hunting competition. I was worried about what to do if the weather is bad."
Following her guidance, Regina sat down in an empty seat and glanced around at the people who were seated.
Although she took a quick glance as she walked, about half of those present today seemed to be the faces she saw at the Duchess's tea party.
Suddenly, her eyes met with Lady Hilluens, who looked at her enthusiastically.
'That eyes, they're shining brightly today as well.'
She smiled once and turned her head out of politeness. She could clearly feel the gaze stuck in her side face.
When she talked to Duchess Haynes, others began to talk.
"Aren't you curious who will win the hunting competition today?"
“When it comes to hunting, Duke Allegrand is famous for being good at it.”
"I heard that the Kraon family's Son is also quite talented."
The subject of their conversation was the honorable winner of today's hunting competition.
Here, first place was given to the person who caught the most and the best. Hunting also requires skill, so usually the winner was decided among similar people who won the championship in the past.
Regina wasn't really interested in that, so she grabbed an egg sandwich and ate it, and someone came up with a familiar name.
"But today, there is also Duke Greroy."
It was inevitable that people's eyes would turn to Regina because of that name.
Usually, Arsene did not attend hunting competitions very often, and most of the time he did not participate properly. It was his way of participating to show his face at the end of the competition.
However, the animals he caught in that short time were not small things such as squirrels or rabbits.
"It was probably a deer, wasn't it?"
The person next to her nodded at the words someone said.
He came in late and took a very short time to catch a deer that could score a big score. Compared to those who caught several other animals, it was not a victory, but it was an excellent result compared to the time spent.
Regina didn't say anything because she was completely unaware of such a story. It could have been said that she didn't know more about her fiance than others if she intervened in between them for no reason.
"Since he is participating from the beginning, I think he was a strong candidate for the championship."
"That's true. So how many candidates are there for the championship?"
"Duke Greroy, Duke Allegand, the lady from Avene family ...."
She quietly drank her tea, while watching the people talking as if they were talking about an exciting story.
If she had been with Isota, she would have chatted with her even if it was not so much, but Isota was not good at social activities other than parties. Unlike a party, where she stands still in one place like ornaments and have a short conversation with close friends, It was because at such gatherings, there was always one person who would find fault with her status.
So Regina reached for the tray to eat a ham sandwich this time.
As she was about to bite her sandwich, someone who was teasing her spoke to the Duchess.
“Come to think of it, Duchess Haynes, the hat you are wearing today is very pretty.”
"I thought that too. I wonder how the lace is so delicate and where you bought it?"
Likewise, the Duchess, who was drinking tea quietly, put down the tea cup. She answered with a faint smile on her lips.
"Thank you. I got this hat through the merchant guild operated by my family."
Duchess Haynes seemed like a person who took a step back until they dared to talk to her about her style. She didn't open her mouth hastily, but that didn't mean she wasn't sociable.
"Ah, that's right. The Duke Haynes ran a merchant guild.
As she ate her sandwich, judging from the direction of the conversation, people seemed to be curious about the guild.
The name of the guild was Senia, and it was said that a reversed name of Haynes without much meaning. It was a place so famous that a third of the nobles in this place had ever used it.
Duchess Haynes explained for a long time about imported items and strange items from other countries in order to satisfy people's curiosity.
"But how do you know so much about it, Duchess?"
The Duchess smiled kindly when someone asked her that while listening to the story.
"I'm managing it these days."
Originally, the Duke was doing it in addition to his work, but recently, the work overlapped, leaving the guild to her.
The Duke trusted Iria's meticulous personality and passed it on. However, it was no exaggeration to say that the guild is doing better than before because she is more talented in business than he thought.
"Oh, really? I didn't know the Duchess was managing it."
People widened their eyes in amazement.
“It made me a bit busy, but running a guild suited me well.”
Duchess Haynes smiled softly and raised her arms on the table as if she was about to wrap up the conversation.
"Recently, I brought in a lot of new items, I'll show you sometime if you want."
Her wrist was filled with the bracelet from the East, which they mentioned earlier.
Delicate craftsmanship and jewels glistened subtly. It was a light that caught everyone's attention.
At first glance, greed passed by in the eyes of those who sat together. Some may not pay attention to it, saying it is not a taste, but fashion overwhelms taste.
Regina, who was now applying clotted cream after splitting the scone, expected them to wear that similar bracelet sooner or later.
'Should I buy one, too.'
Anyway, she was still on a mission to get acquainted with Iria Haynes. The money to buy accessories and dresses was not hers anyway, so there was nothing to worry about.
She even applied jam and took a bite of scone, but this time the topic moved on.
"Lady Hilluens has a good fashion sense even though she came from the countryside. The Countess seems to be helping a lot."
Aconite Hilluens, who had been glancing at Regina's diagonal seat for a while, turned her head to the side where the Duchess spoke to her in amazement. Seeing her like that, the Countess who was sitting next to her answered instead.
"She's my sister's child, who is very close to my husband, so I'm paying a little attention. Thank you for your compliment, even though I'm still not good enough."
Aconite finally came to her senses and greeted the Duchess.
Her pure and fresh appearance made some people look at her as if she were looking at her little daughter. It was inevitable that the ladies in the capital and the girl from the countryside would feel different. Maybe she grew up riding her horse and rolling on her lawn.
“Then did the young lady settling down in the capital?”
"Oh, no. I think I'll stay longer for a while, but I'll be back soon."
She answered the question softly with a shy look on her face. Those who listened to her shook their heads as if they were sorry.
"Then you should attend as many parties as you can before then."
One of the reasons she came up was because Regina thought she was looking for a good groom.
Countess Hilluens brought up such a story as if she thought it was time. Their topic of conversation has now moved on to talking about which family's children are good.
Regina finished one scone, drank her tea, and listened to their story in one ear. Because it was a story that had little to do with her. It was because of Arsene, but it was also because they were people who wouldn't be seen once they left this place anyway.
When she pretended to listen to their conversation and even finished the cake and macaroons, it became a free atmosphere where everyone took a walk for a while.
Having emptied her last glass, she also got up from her seat, rubbing her stomach full of tea and food. She was going to walk for a while to digest.
The forest where the hunting competitions participants entered was made up of tall trees, so there was a lot of shade. Maybe that's why the air was cool around there.
She moved her feet along the boundary of the open space and the forest to feel the freshness, someone caught up behind her with a rustling sound.
When she looked back to see who it wast, she noticed the fluttering orange hair.
"Lady Hilluens?"
Aconite, who was approaching timidly, trembled and nervous when her eyes met Regina.
Looking at her with a questioning gaze, she took a step closer and opened her mouth cautiously, lest she go against Regina's mood.
"I.... May I take a walk with you?"
Looking at her brown eyes hesitantly approaching made her feel strange. She doesn't know why she keeps bumping into her like this.
Regina pondered for a moment before she nodded her head casually.
Aconite, smiling brightly as if the flower buds were bursting, followed closely next to her.
"I'm glad I followed you because I thought you'd be bored to go for a walk alone."
The orange hair, which looked a little dull, blew lightly in the wind. After stroking her fluttering hair once and tidying it up, she hesitantly continued her words.
"When I usually attend parties, Lady Rosé is always with you..... It was difficult to get close to you because she seemed to hate me."
Regina nodded as she watched her wave her hand, saying she wasn't gossiping.
'She knew Isota didn't like it!'
She remembered Isota, whom she had blatantly said she didn't like her, when they met at a cafe not long ago.
However, it didn't happen once or twice, so it was necessary to talk to Aconite in moderation.
"Isota is wary of everyone. It's not necessarily because it's Lady Hilluens, so don't worry."
"Is that so? Then I'm glad......"
She was wrapped up in the strange feeling as she watched her sigh, and suddenly she felt goosebumps on the back of her neck.
And before she could figure out why, an unknown sound came from the forest.
Crack. Thud.
The repeated sound grew louder and seemed to be coming closer.
Aconite must have heard the sound as well, looking at the dark forest with a very nervous face.
Taking a step back from the forest, Regina grabbed and dragged her. However, it was the same for her that her legs were as heavy as iron.
".....Go back, Lady Hilluens."
Her hunch was telling. It's dangerous.
She could see the tree shaking now, as if it was coming right in front of her.
As she tried to run while holding Aconite arm, the tree that was shaking wildly fell into the open space.
The tree that stood in front of her disappeared, revealing a huge shadow that was hidden behind it.
Regina couldn't stop the curse from coming out of her own.
'Damn'
A large dark creature that she didn't know what it was, her eyes met something that glowed red.
That's.
The most horrible creature she've ever seen in her life.
*****
Arsene walked through the deep forest, slowly driving his horse with the gun in one hand.
The sound of horses hooves, insects chirping, and grass rustling made the forest look peaceful. It was a dangerous area where animals that would soon be killed could not take even a single step.
As he continued to go in, removing branches, he didn't see the people that had gathered in the forest anymore. It took a moment to separate them, but it allowed them to have an uninterrupted conversation.
"It's very quiet here."
Next to him was Duke Haynes, who followed him.
The Duke Haynes had been in a position not to get too involved in politics and power until recently, but now he has taken his hand. It was because he wanted to avoid Empress Dowager Alicia's rebellion and uproar in the Empire. They also had enemies outside. There was nothing good about showing weakness.
He ran the Senia merchant guild, distributed funds and gathered rumors from all over the place. Since it was a guild, it was sensitive to flow and there were lots of stories to be encountered, so it carried useful information.
It was also worth trying to appease him.
Arsene stopped the horse and let it graze. At this rate, no one could hear their conversation.
At first, Duke Haynes, who was conscious of the eyes of others talked about uninteresting story. But because there's no one here he brought up the main topic.
"The movement of the Duke Allegrand is suspicious."
Arsene was not surprised by the expected story.
"It seemed like his territories were recruiting soldiers."
Allegrand's territory was quite large, but the area was a little far from the capital. That's why it was hard to notice right away that they were recruiting there.
"Of course, it's not against the law since the previous enlisted soldiers didn't fill the quota, but it seems like we need to keep an eye on it."
Arsene, who was quietly listening to the story, stroked the neck of the horse he was riding.
“Even so, the atmosphere has been strange since the last party. Originally, he was a person close to the Empress Dowager, but it seems that he has taken her side.”
The voice that flowed slowly was monotonous, as if he didn't care too much. It was expected, so nothing new.
It was then.
The sound of rustling in the bushes turned their heads.
Arsene, who loaded his gun without hesitation, pulled the trigger towards the place where he felt a presence.
Bang!
He heard something fall. It was a hit.
"I think it's a deer."
Arsene was able to be shot with the sound and the size of the presence.
Duke Haines, who got off his horse and checked before him, nodded.
"Yes, that's right."
Arsene, who got off the horse after wrapping a smoke-filled gun, lifted the fallen deer lightly behind the bushes. The Duke Haynes helped him put a deer on his horse.
"As expected, the Duke is not ordinary. That's a quick shot."
Duke Haynes, who praised his hunting skills, was briefly troubled when he saw a large deer.
"I can't go empty-handed either, so should I catch a fox?"
"Then it might be better to move around a bit."
They climbed back on each horse. This was not a very good place for hunting.
Before moving, Arsene grabbed the reins at the cold feeling that brushed the back of his neck.
With all his nerves on edge, he called Duke Haynes, who was about to depart.
"By the way, Duke Haynes, the atmosphere seems a bit strange. What do you think?"
Duke Haynes, who tilted his head for a moment at those words, also made a strange expression as if he realized something.
"Come to think of it, why did the deer come this way?"
The place where they were located was out of the direction of the hunting competition participants' driving. That's why they were talking comfortably.
And most importantly, the forest was too quiet.
To the point where he couldn't hear a single bug.
Arsene drove his horse slowly, with the gun ready for use at any moment. His gaze scanned the surroundings forest.
Then, somewhere in the distance, a crackling sound was heard
"......."
Thump!
At the sound of something heavy falling, the purple and gray eyes met.
“It seems that something bad has happened.”
He felt his blood run cold.
The direction in which the sound came from was towards the vacant lot near the tea party, where Regina was.
====================
he's catching feels SO fast like???
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