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Chapter 84

"A-ahem. That's a relief, but I was worried my son might have been rude to you."

Kayden's brow furrowed slightly, then relaxed.

"That's also been resolved, so please don't worry."

It was a strange reply, but the Count took it lightly and sighed in relief.

"Haha! Is that so?"

He figured the two men of similar age had shared drinks and some candid conversation.

"Ah, by the way—are you planning to participate in the hunting competition we mentioned today? Even that old man seemed quite excited about it."

Count Ernst recalled Marquess Monstera, who was about his age.

The Marquess had been delighted at the news of the competition—as if he'd been waiting for it.

Shrugging, the Count made a light suggestion.

"Now that you're married, wouldn't it make a great memory to catch a fine trophy and present it to your wife?"

At that, Kayden recalled a conversation he'd had with Emilia.

She'd seemed interested in the ball, so he'd tried to invite her—but she'd been strongly opposed.

He guessed she would find the hunting competition burdensome as well.

Still, he knew at least that much about his wife.

Kayden answered the Count firmly.

"No, I don't plan to participate."

---

Emilia had recently developed a new daily routine.

Checking the mail that came to the ducal residence.

Because of the invitations for the upcoming hunting competition.

The letters from the imperial household were all so ornate that they were impossible to miss.

But why haven't they arrived yet?

Given the timing of the hunting competition from the original story, the invitations should have come by now.

Sensing something was wrong, Emilia went to Kayden's study.

"What is it?"

At her sudden visit, Kayden raised an eyebrow.

Standing before him, Emilia hesitated, then spoke.

"Um, Your Grace—are there any events I should attend as the Duchess?"

Kayden thought for a moment, then answered.

"There was one."

"Really?"

Emilia's eyes went wide.

With a sense of foreboding, she asked urgently.

"What is it?! Surely not..."

"The hunting competition."

"Really?!"

Emilia exclaimed in surprise.

Kayden set down his fountain pen and frowned.

"It wasn't mandatory, and I've already sent word that we won't attend."

At the unexpected news, Emilia's mind went blank.

Seeing her reaction, Kayden sensed something amiss.

"Did you want to go?"

But Emilia didn't register his words.

She'd already made preparations to win the hunting competition, yet now she heard he wasn't attending...

"Win... you needed to win, Your Grace..."

Hearing her dazed muttering, Kayden's eyes went wide.

He shot up from his seat.

Emilia looked up at him in surprise, and Kayden said firmly.

"I'll go sign us up right now."

---

That was a close call.

That day, Kayden returned after successfully registering for the hunting competition.

Emilia, who had been anxiously waiting, finally breathed a sigh of relief after he confirmed it.

She then explained why he needed to win.

She told him she'd overheard the Empress's maids talking at the Princess's tea party, and laid out her plan in detail.

After discussing it with Kayden, a new task was added to Emilia's routine: embroidery practice.

It was customary for a wife to give her husband a handkerchief embroidered with her own stitches when he participated in a hunting competition.

...It's harder than I thought.

Emilia looked down at the handkerchief she'd been working on all day.

Given her skill, she probably couldn't even embroider his name properly, let alone the family crest.

She let out a deep sigh.

But there's no helping it.

This was her first time embroidering.

She glanced at Laura, who had fallen silent beside her.

"..."

At first, Laura had been full of enthusiasm, cheering her on—"Miss Emilia is good at everything, so of course she'll be good at embroidery too!"

But now her expectations had lowered; she seemed to hope only that the crest would be recognizable.

Suddenly snapping out of it, Laura said encouragingly.

"I-it's okay! You made it with love! His Grace is sure to appreciate it, haha!"

"Laura, have you forgotten this is a sham marriage?"

Emilia pointed out the flaw in her words, and Laura quickly fell silent.

"Right, I forgot."

Emilia made a modest—though perhaps still ambitious—request of Laura.

"So I'd settle for him not looking too troubled when he receives it."

"O-of course! Let's do this, Miss Emilia! We can manage that, probably!"

---

Before long, the day of the hunting competition arrived.

After finishing her preparations, Emilia stepped outside and looked up at the sky.

The hunting grounds were far away, so they had to leave early—the sky was still dark.

"Emilia—"

Just then, Ivan came out in his pajamas, rubbing his sleepy eyes.

Startled, Emilia approached him.

"Why are you already up?"

"Hehe, just because."

Ivan smiled bashfully.

He clearly wanted to go to the hunting competition too.

But since he couldn't, he seemed to have come out just to see her off.

After a moment's thought, Emilia rummaged through her bag.

"Ivan, wait a moment."

She pulled out a spare handkerchief she'd prepared just in case.

"A handkerchief!"

Ivan's eyes went wide.

He realized this was what she'd been painstakingly making for days.

"Is this for me?"

Emilia smiled at Ivan's expectant expression.

Though the handkerchief was meant for the hunting competitor, she tied it around Ivan's small wrist and said.

"Sir Ivan, I'm counting on you to look after the residence while we're gone, alright?"

"Yes, yes!"

Overjoyed, Ivan hopped up and down—then gave her a peck on the cheek.

Emilia's eyes went wide, then she smiled back at Ivan.

Just then, Kayden came out, ready to go.

As they boarded the carriage together, Emilia immediately turned to look out the window.

"Emilia! Have a safe trip!"

Ivan was now in Robert's arms, waving the hand with the handkerchief tied around it.

Emilia waved back.

Watching her, Kayden spoke in a low voice.

"I'm the one going hunting, yet you seem to be the one getting all the encouragement."

Emilia turned to him with a slight pout.

"That's why I'm coming along to cheer you on. Isn't that enough?"

"No—of course it is."

Kayden let out a short laugh.

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