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Chapter 87

Back inside the tent, Emilia pulled out the handkerchief from her bag.

Hmm...

She'd chosen the best among the dozens she'd made over the past few days, but it was still far from satisfactory.

Still, I can't not give it.

Resolved, Emilia stepped outside.

As she was about to call Kayden, she noticed he was staring intently at something.

What's he looking at?

Emilia followed his gaze with a curious expression.

In the distance, she saw a blonde woman entering a tent.

Emilia paused.

Though she couldn't see the woman's face, she could easily guess who it was.

The tent she'd entered belonged to the House of Romains.

Reina...

Emilia's hand unconsciously clenched.

In fact, she'd been a little surprised to see the Romains crest upon arriving at the hunting grounds.

Still, their assigned areas were far apart, so she'd thought it wouldn't be an issue.

But why is Kayden...

Was he naturally drawn to Reina?

Even if this wasn't the same meeting as in the original story, Reina was still the heroine.

Just then, Kayden's voice came.

"Emilia?"

"Y-yes?"

Startled by the sudden call, Emilia answered in a higher pitch.

Finding that odd, Kayden raised an eyebrow.

"Do you have something to say?"

"No?"

"Then why..."

He trailed off, his gaze dropping downward.

Following his eyes, Emilia let out a short gasp.

"Ah."

She was clutching the hem of Kayden's coat.

"A-hem."

Emilia quickly let go, and instead held out the handkerchief.

"It's not that I have something to say—I have something to give you. Here."

Kayden took the handkerchief and examined it closely.

He slowly traced the clumsily embroidered stitches.

Emilia felt the heat rush to her face.

"D-don't look at it so closely."

At her scolding, Kayden looked up at her.

"I'll make a better one next time, so..."

Kayden paused and asked to confirm.

"Next time?"

"No! I mean, well..."

Startled, Emilia quickly shook her head.

Come to think of it, there wouldn't be a "next time" for giving him a handkerchief.

"Anyway, it's quite rough, but will you accept it?"

After all, he was participating in the hunting competition because of her request.

She'd practiced hard to make it, wanting to express her gratitude with this handkerchief.

A faint smile tugged at Kayden's lips.

"If it's from my wife, anything will do."

Then Kayden took her hand and lifted it.

Ah, this is...

In the hunting competition, it was customary to kiss the back of the hand as thanks when receiving a handkerchief.

Emilia recalled the time Kayden had unexpectedly kissed her hand in his study and felt flustered.

But instead, he simply held her fingertips and looked at her for a moment—then let go.

"...?"

While Emilia was puzzled, Kayden wrapped the handkerchief around the back of her hand.

Then he lowered his head and pressed his lips to it.

Through the fabric, his lips touched her hand, and Emilia blinked in surprise.

She seemed to want to ask why he hadn't kissed her bare hand.

At that, Kayden inwardly smiled.

The flustered expression from that night in his study vividly came to mind.

Her face turning red—he wanted that only for himself.

There was no need to show that adorable sight to anyone else.

But Kayden, keeping his thoughts to himself, silently released her hand.

If she knew what he was thinking, all his restraint would be for nothing.

---

Soon, the signal to begin the hunting competition sounded.

Kayden smiled at Emilia, who still looked a bit dazed.

"I'll be going now."

"Ah, yes."

Emilia, still somewhat stiff, quickly nodded.

He strapped on the standard weapons and headed to where the participants were gathered.

Looking at the horse prepared for him, Kayden let out a short laugh.

Given its muscle tone and light coat color, it was clearly an old horse—retired long ago.

Since the standard weapons could be replaced easily, they'd used a horse instead, which couldn't be swapped.

"I-is something wrong?"

The servant asked, perhaps feeling awkward about giving him such an inferior horse compared to the others.

Though he didn't seem inclined to replace it.

"No."

Kayden answered briefly and mounted.

As long as it could move, it didn't matter.

A short while later.

Clip-clop, clip-clop.

The mounted participants lined up at the starting line.

Under the cloudless, scorching sun, their weapons gleamed.

While the participants waited, the ladies from the tents gathered nearby to cheer.

Emilia stood among them, watching Kayden.

He seemed to be checking the horse's condition, stroking it.

As he bowed his head, his fine black hair fell forward.

It created a striking contrast against the nape of his neck revealed in the sunlight.

The sight held her gaze, and she stared at him blankly for a moment.

Why was it that among so many people, she could find him so easily...

"Oh my, look over there—it's His Grace the Duke of Valen. How can one man stand out so much?"

"I know! I can't even see my brother anywhere!"

"Oh dear, I'm sure your brother would be hurt to hear that."

At the distant whispers of the ladies, Emilia flinched.

...Right.

Of course, he wasn't the only one who caught her eye.

Reminding herself of that, she felt a strange sense of relief.

Just as she turned her gaze back to him—

Oh?

Kayden seemed to be looking at her.

She was practically surrounded by other young ladies.

How had he found her in that brief moment?

Wondering if she'd imagined it, Emilia shifted to the side.

Kayden's gaze followed her.

She moved again—and he followed again, frowning as if to ask what she was doing.

"..."

He really was looking at her.

Emilia blinked slowly.

Just then, the trumpet signaling the start rang out loudly.

"Let the hunting competition begin!"

At the signal, the waiting horses surged past the starting line in unison.

Kayden took his eyes off Emilia and took the reins.

Thud, thud, thud—

Dust rose, and the sound of hooves striking the rough ground echoed.

"Shall we head back now?"

The ladies, having seen off the participants, began to disperse—some to enjoy their own tea parties, others to return to their tents.

As Emilia walked along a quiet forest path back to her tent—

She heard a woman's sharp voice from somewhere.

"Are you crazy?! Where do you think you are—how dare you come here!"

The woman was lashing out at someone in a shrill tone.

Emilia frowned—then the next words reached her ears.

"Reina, are you ignoring me?!"

At the all-too-familiar name, Emilia's footsteps came to a halt.

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