Chapter 14. I’m Not the First One

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Theo followed closely behind Yuelina as she headed towards the entrance of the hunting ground.

The hunting ground was a space artificially created with dense forest paths by activating magic stones.

So flowers bloomed abundantly regardless of the season.

Hydrangeas, roses, and cosmos were in full bloom on both sides, and the thriving trees above blocked the vast sky.

Perhaps because of this, it was even colder than other places.

The trees and flowers using magic stones just grew without vitality. They didn’t block the wind or raise the temperature.

But today, the flowers decorating the hunting ground seemed to have a fragrance.

Theo knew that the source of the wafting fragrance was Yuelina herself.

When she was next to the cosmos, it smelled like cosmos; when she was next to the hydrangeas, there was a deep, rich hydrangea scent.

When looking at the roses, it seemed as if their thick sap had seeped into Yuelina’s hair.

“It’s so vast.”

Yuelina said brightly, continuously admiring the flowers and trees.

Theo turned his head to look back at Yuelina’s words.

It was ten steps in his stride.

Just ten steps back was the entrance to the hunting ground.

Yuelina wasn’t good at eating, and it seemed she wasn’t good at walking either.

She seemed to be walking diligently, moving busily, but they were still at the entrance of the hunting ground.

It was hard to tell what she had actually walked.

Thanks to this, Theo followed Yuelina with very slow steps.

She had stopped for a moment, staring at the riverside visible through the bushes.

“Can we skate there?”

Theo stood beside Yuelina with his hands behind his back.

Seeing that the river, glittering with sunlight, hadn’t frozen yet, it was indeed still autumn.

“Yes.”

“What exactly is skating?”

“It’s running on frozen rivers wearing shoes with blades attached. So you can do it when the river freezes.”

“Can rivers really freeze?”

“They do when winter comes.”

Yuelina’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.

She had often heard that when lakes freeze solid, ladies would take their maids and go skating.

It must be quite fun, as numerous letters would arrive at the Black Mansion from those wanting to visit the riverside within the territory.

“Then we can skate when winter comes, right?”

“Yes. There are activities you can only do in winter.”

“Are there other activities besides skating?”

“You can also ride sleds. It’s possible when there’s a lot of snow.”

“Sleds?”

Theo explained that sledding was sliding down a snowy hill on a wide board.

Yuelina smiled brightly.

“That sounds fun. I wish winter would come soon.”

Yuelina’s answer just now was cause for alarm.

When winter comes, the demand for magic stones doubles, and the worries of the principality’s people deepen.

No matter how abundant magic stones were in the principality, there were always people who couldn’t benefit from them.

Especially the refugees at the city walls would try all sorts of methods to enter the principality, unable to endure the severe cold.

At such times, even Theo, who usually didn’t actively involve himself in the principality’s affairs, would take action directly.

Yuelina’s hometown was just about to change seasons.

She probably didn’t know how terrifying winter could be. She likely had never experienced a full winter before.

Come to think of it, it was a bit strange.

No matter how far south Yuelina’s island was, no matter how undeveloped it was…

For the seasons to be so different.

Theo fell into thought, stroking his chin.

“Can you teach me how to skate and sled later?”

“If you want.”

Right.

Why the seasons suddenly changed in Yuelina’s village, when it had maintained a warm climate until now — that could be figured out later.

Since Yuelina would continue to live as the Grand Duchess from now on, he should slowly pay attention to her village as well.

Right now, Theo was captivated by the thought of winter coming soon.

As for the people of the principality left out of the magic stone supply, Theo himself could work harder to take care of them.

The refugees trying to break through the city walls could be strictly controlled.

Winter had to come so they could skate and sled.

“But aren’t you cold?”

The wind in the hunting ground was harsher and colder than in other places.

No matter how thick her cloak was, it seemed too much for Yuelina to endure.

Theo, wearing only hunting clothes, had no coat to give to Yuelina.

If she wanted, he was fully prepared to take off the shirt he was wearing and go bare-chested.

However, Yuelina insisted she was fine, even while sniffling.

She looks quite cold though.

Theo glanced at Yuelina.

Her already delicate white cheeks were flushed red from the cold wind.

Every time she brushed her hair back, her soft earlobes were also radiating heat, turning red.

And what about her hands?

Her fingertips were as red as ripe peaches. Especially her hands, weren’t they injured?

If this were a battlefield, Yuelina would be in a very urgent situation.

Theo would have carried Yuelina on his back and run recklessly in the opposite direction of enemy lines.

He would need to quickly treat her palms to prevent scars from forming.

It seems we should go back… Going back and calling the court physician would put his mind at ease.

Just then, Yuelina rummaged through her pocket and pulled out velvet gloves.

She put on the gloves on both hands with a determined attitude, and used her gloved hands to warm her chilly face.

But how much further did Yuelina intend to walk that she even put on gloves? Though no matter how much she walked, she wouldn’t get past the entrance of the hunting ground.

“If you had gloves, you should have worn them earlier.”

Theo muttered, watching Yuelina.

Yuelina smiled brightly and showed off her gloved hands to Theo.

“Secretary Ulysse gave me these gloves as a gift. He said I should wear gloves because the hunting ground would be cold.”

At her cheerful voice, Theo’s expression instantly hardened.

Looking closely, unlike the well-fitted hunting clothes, the gloves were quite large.

Just the size of Ulysse’s hands.

“I see.”

This bastard?

He prepared Yuelina’s hunting clothes without telling me, making me realize my heart is still attached to the left side of my chest…

Now he even gives Yuelina gloves as a gift, making me realize my heart can freeze colder than midwinter.

A gift, huh.

Theo wanted to smash his head against a solid tree.

A gift!

Why didn’t he think of giving Yuelina something as a gift?

Why did he stupidly miss the chance to be the first to give Yuelina a gift?

Theo stared intently at the gloves Yuelina was wearing.

“Do you like them?”

Yuelina nodded, with a face that seemed to ask why he would even ask such an obvious question.

Of course, she probably answered without any thought… but that’s how it looked to Theo.

“Yes! They’re warm and nice.”

“I see.”

“Secretary Ulysse seems really kind.”

“…Is that so?”

“He’s very gentle.”

Theo turned his head and pouted his lips.

Does giving one gift immediately make someone kind and gentle?

Theo tried to think objectively about Ulysse.

First, is Ulysse kind as Yuelina said?

No.

Ulysse is not kind at all.

The number of nobles Ulysse has thoroughly shaken up and kicked out of the parliament exceeds ten.

Moreover, how strategic he is on the battlefield.

He’s a person who only chooses dirty and underhanded methods to win.

Then is he gentle?

Of course not.

He’s quite good at beheading criminals who grab his trouser legs begging for just one chance.

Despite Theo’s insistence that he doesn’t need a doctor, Ulysse always schedules appointments, telling him not to talk nonsense.

Also, when Theo wants to drink a bit, Ulysse gives all sorts of criticism and nagging.

Thus, looking at Ulysse objectively, there’s not a single kind or gentle aspect about him.

So Yuelina calling Ulysse kind and gentle is ultimately because of the gift.

Stupid fool.

The Grand Duke should give at least one gift to the Grand Duchess. How could he miss something so obvious again?

She’s going to live as the Grand Duchess by his side for the rest of her life…

And when winter comes, they’ll have to skate and sled together…

What if she gets frustrated with the indifferent Grand Duke while sledding or skating?

What if she runs away across the river on skates?

No, would she even want to learn skating or sledding from someone as dull and scary as him?

What if she asks the kind and gentle Ulysse to teach her instead?

Wouldn’t it be better in many ways to make Yuelina mistakenly think he’s a kind and gentle person so she stays by his side?

Theo was realizing some very strange things during this hunt.