Chapter 74

Chapter 74

The horse that Seth was riding crossed the forest road, where a sharp wind blew. Because of the lengthy send-off, the distance from the nobles who entered the forest first widened, so he increased his speed even more.

Not wanting to waste a minute or a second, he wanted to find the finest monster in this subjugation that Marquis Loengram had prepared, finish this time-wasting game, and return to Min-ha and Noah’s side.

“Oh, my. What are you in such a hurry for, Duke of Persen!”

Suddenly, a man riding a brown horse approached him before running side by side.

It was the Marquis of Loengram.

Seth clicked his tongue briefly though the Marquis could not hear it, he then slowed down slowly. Seeing that, Marquis Lohengram, who had slowed down similarly to him, spoke in a friendly manner.

“You seem to be full of the spirit of victory today, Duke!”

“I got impatient because I promised the wife that I’d catch the mana stone monster with the largest gem among the preys for her.”

“Haha! It’s important to find a good monster faster than any other man and present it to the person you love, though it’s also important for any man to enjoy the hunt itself!”

“Well. I’m not a young nobleman who only commands subordinates while having no actual experience. I’m not interested in dealing with monsters that have just been released, that aren’t even dragons or monsters from the polar regions.”

Just like you.

Seth replied coldly as if blocking the words of the Marquis Loengram, who was trying to add one more word. For a moment, the Marquis hardened his expression, but soon, he forced himself to raise the corners of his mouth and smiled awkwardly.

Hahaha. It seems like that’s the Duke’s taste. Next year, I’ll definitely prepare a hunting banquet based on the Duke’s opinion.”

“You don’t have to. I wouldn’t be the only one attending this banquet.”

“Haha, still—”

“And, shouldn’t the budget be put into something other than a banquet like this?”

“What’s that…?”

Marquis Loengram narrowed his eyebrows as if he did not understand what his meaningful words meant in the slightest. Seeing that, Seth scoffed and gave him a cold expression. He stared at the Marquis before opening his mouth.

“Last night, you must have known that I led the knights to find my wife.”

“….!”

“There was a man inside the mansion who attacked her, and I pursued him. However, I ended up losing him.”

“…I, I see.”

“Because of the commotion, no one in Loengram Castle could have known. Still, there was no one to help assist me and my knights. It seems as though no one really knows about the intruder.”

“….”

“I didn’t know that security at a place about the size of Loengram Castle would be so lax? If I had known, even if Grand Duchess Blaine had invited her, I wouldn’t have sent my wife to the tea party alone.”

“Suc, such thing… Was the Duchess very surprised?”

“Fortunately, she wasn’t very surprised because she’s a strong-minded person. But…”

“…However?”

“Thanks to that, she experienced hell last night.”

“….!”

“So, I’m not going to let this go. It’s not something small, and he dared to touch my person. When Grand Duchess Blaine departed safely, and my party and I return to the Persen Castle, I’ll formally raise the matter with the Marquis, so it would be a good idea to investigate the facts in advance.”

“….”

“Well, I’ll have to excuse myself. I hope you enjoy the hunt.”

Greeting Marquis Loengram, who was as hard as ice, Seth swung the bridle in his hand. Although he had been smiling happily just a moment ago, he could feel Marquise’s gaze staring at him with his monster-like eyes.

Still, he ignored it.

Seth, who was constantly speeding up past a few horses in front of him, crept up and found Gawin and Lancelot riding their horses. It seemed that they had been escorting him secretly from the beginning of the forest.

Gawin grinned as Seth turned his gaze to them.

“Are you okay with that annoying man having a grudge against you, Commander? I saw him staring at you with very piercing eyes.”

“It doesn’t matter because I had no intention of responding to his proposal anyway, and even less so being on his side. So, it doesn’t matter.”

“As Your Excellency says, Sir Gawin. The Marquis of Loengram swallows sweet things and spits them out when used. If we’re with someone like that, we’ll have to worry about our backs every day.”

“Nonetheless, wouldn’t it be quite troublesome to have Grand Duchess Blaine behind the Marquis? I don’t know about the Marquis, though it would be quite cumbersome to turn the Grand Duchess into an enemy.”

“Well. I think that the Marquis and the Grand Duchess are only temporarily joining hands. They would betray each other at any time.”

“Regardless, the chances of that happening are slim. Your Excellency.”

“It doesn’t matter if it doesn’t happen.”

“…Yes?”

At Gawin’s concern, he dismissed it with a cold smile. When he asked in amazement, Seth replied in a low, subdued voice.

“No matter whom the Marquis joined hands with, it doesn’t change the fact that he sided with Rupert Guinivis and put my person in danger. It doesn’t matter if the Grand Duchess was behind him… because I’m definitely going to repay you for that grace. I’m sure you all have the same opinion as me?”

“That’s right, Commander.”

“Let’s stop talking about this for now. I can hear the hounds barking from over there.”

“It seems that they’d found a good prey. We’ll go ahead first.”

Following the sound of Gawin and Lancelot, who ran forward first, Seth drew his sword without hesitation.

…Yes, it does not matter who the opponent was.

He was determined to draw his sword against anyone who dared to stick their fingers at his woman, even if it made enemies and extorted them because of their malice.

Riding his horse, he glared at the prey with a sharp gaze as if they were in front of them.

It was the beginning of the hunt.

‘Wow…’

Following Percival’s guidance, Min-ha and Noah returned to the tent and were amazed at the completely changed interior in a very short time.

Until a while ago, only chairs covered with white linen were lined up. However, before she knew it, round tables covered with long white silk and several chairs decorated with white roses and acacias were placed around them.

At each table, there was a three-tier tray of colorful cakes, cookies, and desserts along with adorable and bright flower decorations.

Next to it was a blue plate covered with silver foil, a dessert knife and fork, and teacups and saucers.

Min-ha followed Percival’s guide and sat down with Noah at their designated seat as he pulled the chair for her. Originally, she would have moved the chair and sat down on her own because she was shy. However, she had no choice but to obey Percival, who took out the chair, before she could do so.

She turned her head to glance around only after confirming that Noah had sat safely in the seat next to her.

“…Ah.”

At that, she made eye contact with some of the wives who had been sarcastic to her at a tea party hosted by Grand Duchess Blaine last night. When Min-ha smiled at them meaningfully as if she remembered them, they hurriedly avoided their eyes.

‘Where did yesterday’s confidence go?’

It was really humorous to see them trying to avoid her gaze and turning the other way, so she smirked without realizing it.

However, when she saw their children sitting next to them, Min-ha smiled involuntarily.

The children, who looked to be around Noah’s age or perhaps a couple of years older, were peering at her as they sat in an upright posture, with their faces resembling their mothers. Their expressions were very arrogant, not like a child’s. Still, they were so cute since their eyes were filled with curiosity that could not be hidden.

‘Oh, they are cute.’

Min-ha secretly giggled and looked at their reactions, though she took her eyes off them when the children suddenly turned their heads. As she was peering at the other seats where her unfamiliar faces were located, she saw two empty seats opposite her.

‘It’s obvious that she hasn’t come yet.’

Vivian and Grand Duchess Blaine.

Min-ha thought, biting her tongue briefly.

‘Isn’t that the way the main character appears later?’

To be honest, it was frankly childish to think that they had such a fight at this part.

Thinking so, Min-ha smiled slightly and was about to look away when Grand Duchess Blaine and Vivian Loengram, accompanied by a servant holding her twins and a masked knight, entered the tent. Immediately, the ladies and children, who had been sitting a while ago, got up with the support of their attendants.

Thinking that she had to get up too, Min-ha pulled her back a little. Though Percival, who had been standing behind her all the time, bent his back and whispered to her.

“The Duchess doesn’t have to get up.”

“Oh. Thank you, Sir Percival.”

She thanked Percival with a slight nod before glancing at the Grand Duchess and Vivian, who strode slowly to their seats.

It was Vivian, who first sat down with the help of a knight who accompanied them. The last remaining vacant seat was replaced by a masked knight, and Grand Duchess Blaine sat in her seat.

‘…Huh?’

At that moment, Min-ha felt a strange sense of incongruity in the appearance of the Grand Duchess. While it was natural for the masked knight to move the chair for her, it was because of the friendly and affectionate gaze that Grand Duchess Blaine gave to the masked knight.

It was the exact opposite of how she had an expressionless face despite the excessive kindness of Marquis Loengram yesterday. Min-ha, who witnessed it, thought she saw it wrong for a moment.

Narrowing her brow slightly, she then stared intently at Grand Duchess Blaine and the masked knight standing behind her. However, the Grand Duchess was wearing an expressionless look like a doll again, and the masked knight also did not seem interested in her.

‘Was it an illusion? No… It mustn’t be.’

Thinking she needed to keep an eye on her, Min-ha turned her head before Grand Duchess Blaine would notice her gaze.

“….!”

At that moment, she met eyes with Vivian.

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