1. My Love, Earl Wilderun

The anxiety felt like it was burning her throat, as if bile would rise up. Sweat ran down her spine, making her body sticky, and the thirst that felt like it would scorch her made it impossible to focus. Just then, the carriage stopped behind her and Theo got out.

“Theo!”

At her call, not only Theo but even the knight standing with him twisted his face into a fierce scowl. Like, ‘What is she saying now? Has she lost her mind?’—that kind of expression.  

But right now, Judy didn’t care about their feelings. She ran with all her strength and grabbed his trouser leg.

“Please, help me. Theo! Please, save me!”

Now, Theo might be the only person who could save her life. His eyes, looking down at her desperate plea, were cold and indifferent.

***

In a dark and silent space cut off from the world by blackout curtains, a brisk sound accompanied the opening of the curtains as sunlight poured in. Startled awake by the sunlight hitting her face, Judy scrunched up her expression and pulled the blanket over her head.

“My Lady, please get up. If you keep this up, the whole day will pass.”

“Gianna, please close the curtains again. I really went to bed late last night.”

“You sleep late because you have the habit of getting up late. At least try to change your routine from now on.”

Gianna, who stubbornly pulled the blanket off Judy, managed to get her upright with rough hands. Still half-asleep, Judy wandered as if she were still dreaming, and Gianna grabbed her shoulders and shook her lightly.

“Did you forget you’re meeting Earl Wesley today?”

“I didn’t forget… How could I? He’s my beloved fiancé.”

“That’s why you need to get yourself together. If you don’t hurry and get ready now, you’ll end up seeing Earl Wesley looking like this!”

Gianna raised her voice in frustration, and Judy finally snapped to attention as if she’d been struck on the head. Judy shouted as she caught sight of herself in the mirror.

“Ugh! I look terrible! What am I going to do about this swelling, Gianna!”

She rushed out of the room in a panic.

***

After finishing her makeup with Wesley’s favorite pink, glamorous dress, Judy heard from the butler that Wesley had arrived in the reception room. She suppressed her urge to run and instead walked elegantly, holding back her excitement, and stood calmly before the reception room. She took a deep breath, then turned to Gianna.

“How do I look?”

“You’re so beautiful, My Lady.”

“My makeup isn’t caking, right? Should I take off this necklace? It feels a bit much.”

“No, you’re dazzlingly beautiful. Go on in, My Lady. Earl Wesley will want to see you.”

“Okay.”

When the servant opened the door, Judy carefully stepped inside. She wanted to look her best for him, so she took each step with extreme care. Wesley rose to greet her as she entered.

“Judy.”

She lightly gathered her dress and bowed gracefully, receiving his warm smile at the end of her gentle greeting.

“Have you been well?”

“Yes, I’ve been very well.”

Her fiancé, Earl Wesley, had been away from the capital to manage a coastal estate, so it had been almost three months since she’d seen him. She couldn’t help but smile uncontrollably at the joy of seeing him again. The two sat facing each other at the table, and Judy poured tea into Wesley’s empty cup herself.

“I’m looking forward to the taste of tea poured by my fiancée.”

He smiled charmingly and brought the cup to his lips, nodding with a satisfied “Mmm~” after tasting it. Judy felt good seeing his reaction and tasted her tea with her red lips.

“Lady Grant, you seem to get more beautiful every day.”

His brief compliment made Judy blush. She felt proud, knowing her efforts—managing her figure and applying crushed roses to her face—were paying off.

“Oh, I brought some interesting news.”

Wesley spoke excitedly to Judy.

“Interesting news?”

Her eyes sparkled like moonlight reflected on water. If he had told her he’d seen a dung beetle rolling dung, she would have laughed with him. Judy waited eagerly for his next words.

“I’ve been invited to the hunting tournament hosted by Young Duke Crawford.”

Young Duke Crawford?

She almost made a rotten pumpkin face but managed to control her expression. She could guess what would come next.

“It’s held four times a year, but this is my first invitation, so my heart is really pounding with excitement.”

When Duke Crawford hosted it, the tournament was only twice a year, but since Theo, who was half mad about hunting, started hosting, it increased to four times. Judy had participated several times herself. Of course, she never actually rode out to hunt; she waited under a tent marked ‘Hunting Tournament’ until the participants returned.

When boredom made her doze off, things became chaotic around her.

“That’s the infamous wolf, isn’t it?”

“I’ve never seen such a big wolf.”

“As soon as they spotted it, everyone said it was too dangerous and backed away, but Young Duke led the charge.”

“He’s the kind of person who’ll never know fear, not even at his last moment. He’s always been like that since childhood.”

Amid the fuss, Judy felt chills as she faced the wolf’s fierce blue eyes. She disliked the way people casually killed precious lives for entertainment and excitement. But Theo, unaware of her feelings, proudly approached with the dead animal on his broad shoulder.

“Don’t come near me!”

Ignoring her urgent protests, Theo placed the dead beast right in front of her and smiled with satisfaction.

“How about it? I won first place again in this tournament.”

“First place or not, get rid of it now!”

“Judy, how can you speak to Young Duke like that?”

Her father clicked his tongue in disapproval at her outburst.

“But Father, seeing this innocent wolf dead is so sad and upsetting.”

“Still, I’ve told you many times. You and the Young Duke are no longer childhood playmates.”

“Leave it be. If Judy acts properly, it’ll just feel awkward. And strictly speaking, I don’t actually have a title yet.”

Her father’s stern voice made Judy shrink, and Theo’s low, rough voice replied. Theo gently tapped Judy’s forehead, who was sulking at her father’s scolding.

“Don’t lose your spirit.”

She wanted to snap back about her forehead, but her father’s gesture behind Theo’s shoulder told her to stay quiet, so she remembered closing her mouth.

She squeezed her eyes shut at the sight of the dead beast at her feet. Poor thing. She hoped it wouldn’t face such a miserable death in its next life, whatever it might be.

Judy prayed silently for the dead animal.

“I’ll take care of it.”

Theo had a knight quickly remove the carcass, but after that, Judy never went to another of those brutal tournaments.

“What are you thinking about for so long?”

Wesley asked gently. Judy snapped out of her unnecessary memories of Theo and smiled brightly.

“You seem so excited, Earl, that I’m excited too.”

“What I’m most looking forward to this time is going to the tournament with you!”

“What?”

He looked at Judy with such anticipation. Was he really asking her to join him at that dreadful hunting tournament?

***

“Hoo…”

A hot sigh escaped Judy’s red lips. Gianna, who sat beside her looking at paintings, shook her head at Judy’s repeated sighs.

“What’s troubling you?”

“Earl Wesley asked me to go to the hunting tournament with him.”

Judy quickly shared her dilemma.

“Why not just go with him?”

“You know! I… I hate seeing dead bodies.”

“Then just say you won’t go.”

“How can I say that? He’s so excited to go with me. Besides, I don’t want to miss the chance to be with Earl Wesley.”

“I can’t decide for you.”

How could she be so simple when it wasn’t her problem? Judy glanced at Gianna with a prickly, disappointed look. But Gianna continued, unfazed.

“For reference, when the Earl was staying in the provinces, he once went hunting with a noble couple. He couldn’t stop admiring how impressive the wife looked, riding her horse and hunting herself.”

The more Gianna spoke, the deeper the shadow of worry on Judy’s face. She could ride, but hunting was unimaginable. Then a flower of curiosity bloomed.

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“But hunting is scary.”

“He’s not telling you to hunt. Just ride along with him.”

“Oh! That’s an option? But where did you hear that?”

Judy hadn’t heard anything like this.

“Oh, I’m a bit friendly with a maid at the Earl’s house. She said she overheard it during a meal.”

“I see. Thanks for the good info, Gianna.”

“You’re welcome. I just want you to always be happy with Earl Wesley.”

She took back what she said about Gianna lacking empathy.

“Okay. I’ll always be happy, just as you wish.”

Gianna smiled softly at Judy, who smiled as bright as a clear sky.