At that moment, Princess Melissa, who had been quietly observing the situation, opened her mouth.

“Indeed. It seems the magical tool you created is impressive. But I have one question, Lady Lyuschino.”

“Please, speak.”

“Isn’t it common for magical tools to use magical power? Is there a reason for specifically utilizing holy power? Or is the magical tool you developed only usable with holy power?”

The nobles nodded one after another. It was something they were curious about as well. Kasha answered the question simply.

“No. Of course, it can also be activated with magical power. Simply inserting a magic stone to use it… is also possible to develop.”

“Then why?”

“However, I.”

Kasha suddenly paused and looked directly at Simon trembling below the platform. His face had now turned completely ashen.

The pitiful sight of the man who once nearly dominated her life was both amusing and disheartening.

“…I believe that… the production of… lethal magical tools… should be done very carefully. If mishandled… they could become… the spark of war.”

“That’s right.”

Princess Melissa nodded thoughtfully.

“So, as one way to… keep magical tools in check, I… also created magical tools using holy power. Also, until proper verification and… preparations are made, I do not plan to… mass-produce them.”

“…”

No one dared to challenge Kasha’s stuttering speech anymore.

Everyone looked at Kasha with different eyes than before.

“They said she was an idiot, a madwoman… Could she actually be a genius?”

“Lethal magical tools. Every country on the continent will try to ally with the Lyuschino family.”

The whispers of the people grew louder. Princess Melissa, who had been lost in thought for a moment, replied briefly.

“I see.”

Due to her expressionless face, it was difficult to read what she was thinking.

“…In any case, the situation seems to be settled. If anyone has any further objections to Miss Katiana Lyuschino’s victory, step forward.”

People murmured, but no one dared to come forward and raise any more objections.

“Then I officially congratulate you on your victory, Lady Lyuschino.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

“Now then, there’s only one thing left to do.”

At Princess Melissa’s words, the nobles finally came to their senses and began to chatter again.

“No way… that?”

“Come on. Surely not. They’ll just skip that part. No matter how brazen, for a woman to do that first. Unless she’s completely shameless…”

Crunch.

Odette crumpled the folding fan in her hand. Simon was now chewing on his fingernails.

“Now, Lady Katiana Lyuschino. As you know, there’s a special privilege for the winner of this hunting competition.”

Princess Melissa continued calmly.

“You can formally court the person you have feelings for, and the nobles present here, out of respect for the winner’s rights, cannot court that person for the next month.”

In other words, the winner and their partner become an official couple, exclusively for each other for a month. In some ways, it could be an even stronger bond than a formal engagement.

“However,”

Princess Melissa suddenly turned to look at Kasha. Perhaps because they were cousins, her purple eyes, strikingly similar to Leon’s, pierced through her.

“For this to happen, it is a rule that the winner must court their partner.”

In other words, Kasha, the winner, had to court Leon, her partner. Not Leon courting her.

The problem was that in noble society, it was considered shameful for a woman to court first.

“No way. She has pride as a noble lady.”

Someone around Odette openly spoke loudly. Several malicious laughs could be heard as well.

Listening to that half-heartedly, Kasha turned to look at Leon indifferently.

He was still standing there. Looking neat, beautiful, and constant, as if he would always be there.

Kasha turned towards the voices mocking her. More precisely, she looked straight at Odette.

‘Pride, face. Such things hold no meaning for me at all.’

“Kasha, what are you doing!”

Daril’s small cry of exasperation could be heard, but Kasha ignored it and took a step towards Leon.

His beautiful eyes watched her with interest, or perhaps wariness.

‘In making what I want mine, such things are completely useless.’

Kasha approached Leon and naturally knelt on one knee.

“Kasha. What on earth…!”

Daril’s voice of disbelief could be heard from below. Along with others clicking their tongues and expressing disbelief.

Placing that commotion beneath her feet, Kasha continued speaking clearly.

“Will you accept my courtship? Leon Miloyonif Aranias, Your Highness the Grand Duke.”

Impossible! She’s crazy! Does she have no pride? The nobles’ criticism and jeers stabbed at Kasha.

However, at this moment, there was only one thing that could hurt Kasha.

‘Surely Leon won’t reject me.’

‘Don’t follow me anymore.’

‘I’m uncomfortable.’

Remembering how she had pushed him away throughout the hunting competition, she felt regret.

‘I acted tough for nothing.’

As Leon’s silence grew longer, Kasha felt anxiety creeping up.

‘Don’t forget our contract romance, Leon.’

Just as she was desperately repeating that in her mind,

“Alright.”

Leon’s low voice pleasantly struck her eardrums.

“Pardon?”

Kasha looked up at Leon with wide eyes, wondering if she had misheard.

Looking down at her like that, he smiled slightly. A real smile, not a sneer or self-deprecation.

It was so dazzling that she unconsciously staggered for a moment.

“Are you alright?”

But before she could even register her own unsteadiness, Leon’s hand quickly came to raise her up.

The hot body temperature felt through the glove.

Only then did Kasha feel relieved and gripped his hand tightly, smiling faintly.

“…”

Leon, who had been looking at Kasha with an expression that seemed lost for words, slowly removed his hand after seeing that she was stable.

“So, Lord Leon Aranias, do you mean to accept Lady Katiana Lyuschino’s courtship?”

Princess Melissa calmly asked again.

Come to think of it, the nobles were still watching their every move with wide eyes.

Then Leon, in turn, knelt before Kasha and looked up at her. His platinum hair scattered, revealing his handsome forehead.

Leon opened his mouth.

“Kasha Lyuschino. As one who stands on the soil of the Theatrum continent, under the name of the great goddess, I lay my humble heart at your feet.”

Those who recognized that he had recited the exact vow used in noble engagement ceremonies let out internal screams and covered their mouths.

Kasha, unaware of this fact, only thought that he had used quite impressive words. It was enough to make her heart flutter, even knowing it was a courtship based on contract.

Kasha reached out her hand to him as if entranced. Leon, understanding the meaning, hesitated for a moment but calmly took that hand and lightly pressed his lips to the back of her pale hand where blue veins were visible.

“What’s going on!”

“No, Lord Leon…”

Though it was just for a moment, his lips, the pulsating hot temperature, were imprinted like a brand on her cool hand. Kasha shivered at the strange sensation running down her spine.

Leon’s eyes, looking up at her, also sparkled darkly and persistently.

“May I have a moment of your time, Lord Leon?”

As all the events were wrapping up and Leon was checking the condition of his horse for the return journey, someone approached him. It was a handsome servant in elaborate attire.

“What is it?”

“My master is looking for you. Please follow me for a moment.”

The servant pleaded with a careful expression. It seemed his master had quite a nasty temper.

Not wanting an innocent servant to suffer because of him, Leon followed behind and boarded an elaborate carriage.

“You’ve come.”

A face he had guessed from the moment he saw the curtains attached to the carriage.

Odette Tyrot greeted him with her folding fan half-covering her face.

“It’s truly… difficult to see your face.”

Listening half-heartedly to Odette’s words, Leon briefly considered whether to immediately leave his seat. However, Leon was too tall to stay long in an awkward position inside the carriage.

He sat down roughly on the seat opposite her and hardened his expression.

“What is the matter. To request a private audience with a man in a place like this. As you know, I have now entered into an exclusive courtship relationship with Lady Kasha, so this kind of meeting is uncomfortable.”

Pfft.

Odette burst into laughter.

“How amusing, really. To think Lord Leon was such an entertaining person. If I had known earlier, I wouldn’t have bothered with formalities in approaching you.”

“If you have nothing to say, I’ll be taking my leave.”

Just as Leon, with his face hardened in displeasure, was about to rise,

“Did you know that Grand Duke Osilote borrowed 10,000 gold from our merchant guild?”

Leon’s movement stopped. Odette twisted her lips as if she had expected this.

“My father thought our marriage arrangement was settled and lent that large sum with just a single promissory note. But.”

She raised both hands in an exaggerated gesture.

“The situation has become quite messy, hasn’t it?”

“What’s messy is not the situation, but the ulterior motives of my father and your father in bringing money into a marriage arrangement.”

Leon replied dryly. However, his face had noticeably darkened.

Watching this, Odette lifted her folding fan to slightly part the curtain on the carriage window and peek outside. Whatever she saw made the corners of her mouth lift slightly.

“In any case, my father is extremely angry, Lord Leon.”

“I will repay that money.”

“How?”

Odette laughed as if amused.

“Do you plan to sell off the Grand Duke’s castle?”

Whoosh.

Suddenly she flung the curtain wide open. Then she ostentatiously threw the folding fan she was holding out the window.

“Oh? Where did this fall from…?”

A familiar voice rang out loudly from outside the window.