When they reached a suitable spot, Karsten pulled on the reins to calm the horse. He continued moving from place to place, searching for somewhere secluded, steering them towards areas bursting with beautiful flowers or stunning scenery. But no matter where they went, Breti couldn’t take any of it in.

All she could feel was the warmth of his body behind her and how her heart trembled alone because of it.

“…Oh.”

Suddenly, dark clouds gathered overhead and rain began to fall.

Karsten quickly brought the horse to a stop in a sheltered spot.

He was the first to dismount, reaching out his hand to Breti.

“Come on, I’ll help you down.”

With her heart fluttering, Breti took his hand. But just then, the sudden rain made her foot slip as she stepped down. Thrown off balance, the two of them toppled awkwardly together.

Startled by the loud splat, Breti squeezed her eyes shut.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

“Y-Your Highness, are you all right?”

She was more worried that he might have been injured because of her.

“Let’s talk after you get up.”

It was only then that Breti realized she was sprawled on top of Karsten. Flustered, she scrambled to her feet.

“I’m so sorry!”

As she got up in a hurry, she noticed the state of Karsten’s clothes, now utterly filthy with mud, and apologized again.

“I’m sorry. It’s all my fault your clothes ended up like this…”

“It’s fine.”

“But they’re really dirty now…”

Breti, looking as if she might burst into tears, brushed off the mud from his clothes as best she could.

Karsten smiled faintly and patted her on the head.

“I told you, it’s fine. If anything, your clothes look worse than mine.”

Only then did Breti look down at herself, her face stunned.

She was wearing fabric personally bestowed from the imperial palace—designed and crafted by Meliover herself.

To ruin such precious clothing this way…

Breti hung her head, overwhelmed by shame.

“I’m sorry. This was a gift from His Majesty…”

“There’s no need to apologize. For now, let’s find some shelter from the rain.”

At his words, Breti realized something felt off.

Even though the rain was pouring down, Breti realized she hadn’t actually felt a single drop. When she glanced up, she saw Karsten had raised his arm to shield her head from the rain.

‘Why…’

Why would he go so far for her?

His thoughtful gesture only made Breti’s heart race even more, refusing to settle down.

“We should get under that tree.”

Karsten pointed to one with a thick trunk and dense leaves.

“Yes.”

Even as they hurried to the tree, Karsten kept his arm firmly over Breti’s head, not removing it until they were safely beneath the branches.

Under the shelter, they could finally escape the rain.

Breti was about to sit down when Karsten stopped her.

“Wait a moment.”

He shrugged off his muddy outer coat, laying it on the ground with the clean side facing up so she’d have a dry place to sit.

With a gentle gesture, he invited her,

“Now, have a seat.”

“…Thank you.”

As she sat down on his coat, Breti stole a cautious glance at Karsten.

‘Is it really all right for me to sit here…? And why is he being so kind to me?’

Unable to grasp the meaning behind his actions, Breti’s heart was filled with anxious confusion.

Karsten took a seat beside her.

Just as they settled beneath the tree, the rain outside intensified, drumming even harder against the leaves.

Breti spoke up, unable to hide her regretful expression.

“It’s really coming down, isn’t it?”

“It is.”

Karsten replied quietly.

Bretti watched the falling rain for a while, a tinge of disappointment flickering in her gaze.

‘If only this rain had come at night…’

Adrian would have come to me.

And then…

‘Stop being foolish, Breti.’

Breti shook her head at herself, then glanced over at Karsten.

He was still staring out at the falling rain, saying nothing.

“I’m sorry for causing you so much trouble, Your Highness.”

She couldn’t help but feel a little useless—every time, it seemed like she brought him nothing but hardship.

As Breti was lost in self-reproach, Karsten’s hand came to rest gently atop her head.

“I brought this on myself.”

“…Pardon?”

“I mean, it wasn’t because of you. It was my choice to come and save you.”

His hand stroked her hair so tenderly that it made Breti’s heart drop to her stomach.

‘Could it be…?’

She studied Karsten intently, suddenly wondering if Adrian had taken over his body. He had never been this gentle with her before—so it was only natural for her to suspect.

But Karsten just offered her a faint smile, holding her gaze.

If it were really Adrian, he wouldn’t just sit here quietly like this. He’d surely do something bolder.

‘No, it’s not him.’

He is really Karstsen.

This realisation brought her both relief and, strangely, a hint of disappointment, leaving her heart in turmoil.

A quiet, resonant silence fell between them, filled only by the steady drumming of rain.

After a while, when the downpour had eased a little, Karsten finally broke the silence.

“You once asked me why I haven’t participated in the hunting tournaments lately.”

“…Yes? Oh, yes, I remember.”

She hadn’t expected him to bring up such a topic himself. Karsten’s sudden words left Breti a little taken aback.

She glanced at his expression.

“From as far back as I can remember, I participated in this event every year alongside my father.”

There was a bitter smile on his lips that made Breti’s heart ache.

“Our family never once missed it. Even though I thought the whole event was senseless, we always put everything we had into hunting game for the Imperial tribute.”

“….”

“It was like that until three years ago—the year my father passed away.”

Karsten let out a deep, heavy sigh as he finished.

💙💙💙 💙💙💙

Three years ago, on the day of the annual Imperial hunting tournament.

Despite his age, Cariel had gone to the northern border himself that year to quell an uprising and returned severely injured. He fell into a coma, teetering on the brink of life and death, and only regained consciousness two days before the hunting event.

However, Cariel was in no condition to move.

Watching his father force himself upright in that state, Karsten couldn’t help but frown.

Unable to bear it, Karsten moved to support his father as he struggled to stand, speaking gently to him.

“Father, I really think it would be best if you didn’t participate in this year’s tournament.”

But Cariel was firm.

“No, Karsten.”

“Father—!”

“How could I ignore the call of my country?”

Despite Karsten’s attempts to dissuade him, Cariel refused to back down.

Meliover, who had been sitting quietly nearby, gently took Cariel’s hand.

“Cariel, please, don’t go. I’m so worried your health will get even worse.”

But Cariel insisted on rising, trying to reassure them both.

“My dear, don’t worry. I have my reasons for this—trust me.”

Cariel responded with a faint smile, but Karsten and Meliover remained grim-faced.

At last, the morning of the Imperial Hunting Tournament arrived.

Although Cariel’s condition had improved slightly, he was still too weak to move around.

Karsten kept a watchful eye on his father, fearful that he might collapse at any moment.

Nevertheless, despite his failing health, Cariel managed to hunt down a massive stag and present it as a tribute to the imperial family.

Unfortunately, the Emperor was too unwell to attend that day, so the Crown Prince, Fedriol, presided over the event instead.

Once all the nobles had offered their game, it was finally the turn of House White.

Cariel, summoning every last ounce of his strength, hefted the stag—nearly as large as himself—and moved toward the dais where the Imperial family sat.

Unable to watch in silence, Karsten stepped forward to steady his father, walking alongside him until they reached the royal platform.

Together, they laid the stag before the Crown Prince.

Bowing his head, Cariel declared,

“May endless glory be bestowed upon the Imperial House.”

That should have marked the end of their duty, and they were ready to take their leave—

But then—

“Duke White.”

Fedriol’s low voice cut through the air.

At his summons, both Cariel and Karsten stopped in their tracks and turned back, bowing slightly toward the Crown Prince seated at the high table.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Fedriol’s eyes narrowed.

“Is that the extent of your loyalty to the Imperial House?”