119. The Hunting Festival (1)

The Empress Dowager’s expression twisted. Her hatred for Larael was so deep that the scheme she had prepared merely to teach her a small lesson had come to nothing. The plan had been to stage a robbery at the candle shop when Larael visited, drag her down into the cellar, and beat her mercilessly.

Upon hearing that Larael had gone out alone without Edward or any escort knights, she had been unable to suppress her fury and had hurriedly arranged it. Even though the plan was rushed, she had not expected it to fail before it even began.

The Empress Dowager studied Larael’s face closely, trying to discern whether she was speaking only to test her or if she truly spoke without suspicion. Yet, judging from Larael’s expression alone, it was difficult to tell, and so the Empress Dowager hesitated to speak.

Larael could not know exactly what plot the Empress Dowager had devised. Still, from what she knew of her, although impulsive, the Empress Dowager was mindful of the consequences of her actions and would not go so far as to aim for Larael’s life. But the same could not be said for Sasha or Joanna’s lives—and that was what angered her most.

“…How unfortunate.”

The Empress Dowager feigned regret, but her eyes betrayed an anxious tremor beneath her calm exterior.

“Putting that aside, you have no intention of telling me how you came to know of John William, do you?”

“Of course not.”

“Did John himself ever tell you what you claimed?”

Even as she asked, the Empress Dowager thought it unlikely, but she inquired just in case. For a fleeting moment, a look of disdain crossed Larael’s face.

“No, he did not.”

“I see. Yes, that would be impossible.”

At the sight of her oddly relieved expression and her self-assured words, Larael was dumbfounded. She shook her head at the Empress Dowager’s shameless assumption that while she had abandoned everyone else to secure her own position, John alone would forever remain loyal to her.

“You ought to re-educate your maids.”

Larael remarked as her gaze drifted across the empty table before her. The Empress Dowager glanced at the table where Larael’s eyes had lingered, then gave a mocking smile.

“If you mean by that, then they’ve done their job well. A hostess doesn’t serve refreshments to a guest she does not welcome—wouldn’t you say that’s proper training?”

“Your Majesty, you should be grateful that I didn’t go to the candle shop today.”

Larael spoke those words, rose to her feet, and lowered her gaze to meet the Empress Dowager’s eyes. A flash of shock crossed the older woman’s face before quickly vanishing.

“How dare you…! Are you threatening me? And what is that attitude of yours?”

Unmoved by the outburst, Larael simply offered a brief bow and turned to leave. As she exited the reception room, she glanced back. The Empress Dowager was shaking with fury, her shoulders heaving, unable to contain her rage. By her usual temper, it would not have been surprising if she had flown at Larael and grabbed her by the hair. Yet Larael knew very well why she was restraining herself so bitterly.

With a faint, hollow laugh, Larael left the Empress Dowager’s palace and returned to her own.

***

Larael gazed down at the silver ribbon she had carefully embroidered. It was the first time she had ever prepared such a ribbon for someone attending the hunting festival. The decision had been sudden, and she had stayed up late into the night to finish it, but the thought of tying it to Edward’s sword filled her with excitement. A ticklish, warm emotion bubbled within her. It was like the heart of a young girl preparing a secret gift for the man she secretly loved.

‘How childish of me…’

She bit her lip as she looked at the ribbon dyed the same color as her hair. She had chosen it deliberately, hoping Edward would think of her whenever he saw it. But now there was no turning back. Larael handed the ribbon to Sasha, who carefully rolled it and placed it into a box she had prepared.

Whenever Sasha and Joanna saw Larael like this—muttering to herself, earnestly working on her embroidery, showing a side so reminiscent of the Larael of old—they felt reassured. More than once, they exchanged smiles as they quietly watched her.

Edward had already departed for the hunting grounds in Rendura Forest, so Larael boarded her carriage alone to join him there. She held the box containing the ribbon tightly in both hands.

Upon arriving at the forest, she found the headquarters of the festival bustling with activity. Numerous tents had been erected, and people were scurrying about. Edward’s attendant, who had been waiting for her carriage, greeted her and escorted her to his tent.

“Your Majesty.”

As Larael entered, she saw Edward wearing a leather-padded vest over his tunic. At the sound of her gentle voice, the atmosphere in the tent shifted, as though a soft spring breeze had blown through. A bright smile broke across Edward’s previously impassive face, and the attendants quickened their movements.

Seated in a chair, Larael quietly watched as Edward dressed himself in hunting attire.

“Your Majesty, I have heard there is a tradition of presenting a ribbon to a family member or loved one before the hunt, as a wish for their safety.”

When Edward, fully dressed for the hunt, approached and noticed the box in her hands, Larael fiddled with it nervously, trying to explain herself. Rising from her seat, she handed the box to him. Edward opened it and drew out the silver ribbon, the same color as Larael’s hair.

“You should tie it yourself.”

He handed the ribbon back to her and held out his sword. Larael wound the ribbon carefully around the hilt and tied it into a knot.

“I’m not very skilled at tying knots…”

“No, you did perfectly.”

Edward gazed down at the sword hilt, his eyes brimming with emotion. It felt as though he could seize every prey in the Rendura Forest with his own hands. 

‘Was this how all the countless participants of the hunting festival had felt before him?’ 

Unable to hold back the joy swelling within him, Edward burst into laughter.

“Your Majesty, do I seem strange to you?”

“No, not at all…”

When Larael saw his laughter, she feared he might be mocking her. Edward shook his head, struggling to contain himself.

“It’s just… I’m so happy that I can’t help but laugh.”

“I see…”

“I will sweep away every last prey in the forest.”

“No, that’s not necessary. So long as you return safely, that is enough for me. Shall I simply leave a place empty for the golden brooch?”

“Those words are scarier than telling me to win.”

Edward chuckled, lifted her hand, and brought it to his lips. Soft and warm—that simple touch made everything feel perfect. A flawless man pressing a kiss to her hand, and a woman looking at him with tender eyes… yet, in that very moment, the smile that had been bright on Larael’s face suddenly faded.

Something felt wrong. It was all too perfect, too blissful—so much so that it unsettled her. Her mind clouded, as though wrapped in fog, leaving her unable to think at all.

Edward noticed the change, and tilting his head, he looked closely at her face.

“Larael?”

His voice pulled her up from the haze.

“Yes?”

“What are you thinking about? Sitting here before your husband as he sets out to the hunt…”

“…Husband.”

The word slipped from Larael’s lips in a whisper, almost to herself. What Edward had meant as a playful jest struck her differently, and she repeated it absentmindedly, as though dazed, ignoring the nuance he had intended.

“Is something wrong?”

Edward narrowed his eyes at her, searching her expression. Larael pressed her lips together, then forced a smile. He knew by now when she was pretending.

“It’s nothing. I only meant… since I don’t wish for you to win, please don’t go too far and return quickly.”

Edward gave a half-hearted nod to her request, but his eyes already gleamed with the hunger for victory. Fastening at his waist the sword bound with the ribbon Larael had tied, he threw a fur-trimmed cloak over his shoulders.

At the sound of the horn summoning the participants, Edward held out his hand to her. Larael, suppressing the unease that clung to her heart, placed her hand in his, and they stepped out of the tent together.

With Edward’s declaration that the hunt had begun, the horn sounded three times, echoing through the air. At the forest’s edge, before the hunters entered, people gathered to see them off.

Not far from Edward, Herwen was also receiving a send-off from Ariella. Yet Ariella’s expression soured as she noticed Herwen’s eyes drifting again and again toward Edward and Larael.

“I suggest you refrain from doing anything foolish.”