The morning of the day the summer hunt began was hotter than other days, and the sky was clear without a single cloud.

I glanced at the man sitting across from me with a modest posture.

Somehow, it was difficult to stare at Ricardo, who was wearing a tight-fitting black jacket and black pants, with golden epaulettes adorning his shoulders, and boots decorated with gold thread.

They said that a woman’s usefulness at a hunting festival was to wear tight-fitting hunting clothes and support a man’s shoulders…

Sabrina’s words were wrong from the start.

How could I further raise the shoulders of a man who already stood tall, unaware of how high the sky was? I’d be lucky not to make them slump.

Choosing the least flashy outfit among the hunting clothes sent by the Duchess was the only thing I did right today.

“There’s no need to steal glances at your fiancé like that.”

At his mischievous expression, I unconsciously bit my lip.

“You must be having so much fun, young sir.”

My words came out rather brusquely to the dazzling man I met after a long time. He smiled cheerfully with a truly amused expression.

“What is?”

“Watching me become a fool as I fall for you.”

He slightly raised his lips and chuckled, “Huh.” Even that sight made my heart flutter.

“Well, I’m not in a position to be observing other people’s situations right now.”

He’s an incomprehensible man saying incomprehensible things. He doesn’t match my usual preference for simplicity at all, but is it just because he’s handsome?

“By the way, have you already forgotten that you agreed to call me by a nickname?”

Of course I remembered, but after being given permission to use his name, it became even harder to say it. Rica, Ricardo. After rolling the awkward name around in my mouth, I just smiled a little.

“I suppose so.”

“Well, you’ve always been the type to change your mind as easily as flipping your palm, so.”

Ricardo shrugged his shoulders. Since I had indeed been that way until now, I had no particular response to make.

“I suppose so.”

He gazed at me with a calm gaze as I readily admitted it. Leaning slightly against the carriage, he slowly looked me up and down from head to toe.

“Ah, even if you’re my fiancé, how can you look at someone so openly like that?”

“Isn’t it better than stealing glances?”

He certainly has an innate talent for leaving me speechless, which isn’t really my preference.

In fact, until I met Ricardo again, I thought I preferred gentle men. Someone who warmly asks about your well-being every time you meet.

Although it was a very brief and clumsy relationship, there was once a man with whom I exchanged fluttering glances for a moment.

The son of an inn owner rumored to have made some money in the village, his name was… what was it again?

“What are you thinking about?”

“Thoughts that would be troublesome if my fiancé knew.”

He laughed briefly and then suddenly leaned towards me.

“Don’t think about other men.”

Startled, I drew back from him as much as I could.

“That’s really an amazing ability. That Rochester power you speak of.”

As I shook my head in renewed wonder, he shrugged his shoulders.

“This isn’t a power, I just took a guess. Troublesome thoughts in front of your fiancé, well, it must be something like that.”

The man who was as complex as he was inscrutable and not at all gentle was even becoming annoying. Yet my pounding heart showed no signs of calming down.

It was astonishing to realize that my heart, lacking both pride and hope, was not only beyond salvation but also diligent in its futile efforts.

“The hunting festival lasts three days, but you should return tonight.”

“Yes.”

Hearing my soft reply, he slowly turned his gaze out the window.

“That outfit… did you choose it?”

“Ah…”

Is it strange? There’s nothing particularly jarring about it.

“Yes, I chose it from among the clothes the Duchess sent. Is it not good?”

“…No.”

Somehow the answer seemed to come a bit late. Is it really strange but he’s not saying out of politeness? Looking at his perfect attire makes me keep examining my own outfit. The seat next to such an outstanding man is always tiring.

“If it’s not good, please tell me. I brought clothes to change into.”

“It’s not like that.”

I was already dying of awkwardness in these pants I’d never worn before. As I looked around and unconsciously rubbed my thighs, I glanced at him. Fortunately, Ricardo had his eyes completely covered with his long, delicate fingers spread out.

The forest was vast. The forest, which included several steep-looking mountains and huge lakes, was divided into three main areas according to the types of trees and the density of the undergrowth.

The hunting dogs were already in a state of high excitement. Five dogs, looking too dangerous for anyone but their owner to handle, were leashed and held in one man’s hand.

The long-legged, lean-bellied hunting dogs were barking at the air, ready to dash off at any moment.

The men’s appearance was not much different. Their eyes gleaming towards prey not yet visible, they looked like excited beasts.

While the men gathered in small groups discussing the hunt, Sabrina approached me. Unlike me, Sabrina had chosen the most elaborate riding outfit from those sent by the Duchess.

When she wore it, the large decorations didn’t seem so garish. In many ways, Sabrina suited the flamboyant style very well.

“Did you boost Young Lord Parkin’s confidence today as planned?”

“Well, yes. Everyone was looking at me with fire in their eyes, as if they wanted to bet on when I’d sleep with Julian.”

How does that translate to boosting a man’s confidence? The world Sabrina spoke of was truly one I neither understood nor wished to understand.

“It’s a bit hot. The forest really doesn’t suit me. I’ve finished what I needed to do, so I just want to go home quickly.”

Sabrina habitually searched her sleeve for a fan, then rubbed her empty arm with a dejected expression. While I couldn’t agree that she had finished her tasks, I shared her desire to go home.

“Today is for hunting small game like rabbits and foxes. They say the real hunt begins after all the women have gone home.”

“Ah…”

“So you won’t have to ride a horse at all. All that effort learning to ride was for nothing.”

Looking around, true to Sabrina’s assertion, it was rare to see a woman alone on horseback.

“That’s a relief then.”

At that moment, Julian, who had been surrounded by people in the distance, gave us a light nod. Sabrina, who had been frowning just moments ago, responded with a beaming smile as if nothing had happened.

She turned and left as lightly as she had come.

‘Good luck,’ wishing him fortune lightly.

Soon, the men who had decided on the hunting locations helped the women accompanying them onto their horses. Ricardo, seemingly having unfinished business with the Crown Prince, was conversing some distance away from me.

Even in the midst of their conversation, he occasionally turned his head to look at where I was standing.

I stood in an open area where he could see me well, mentally recalling how to ride a horse.

For a week before coming to the hunting festival, I had learned horseback riding with Freddie’s help.

Although Sabrina had boasted that there would be no need to ride, one never knows what might happen.

It didn’t make sense to wear riding clothes if one wasn’t going to ride at all.

While I wasn’t particularly unathletic, I wasn’t yet proficient enough to ride and gallop alone without someone’s help. I could just mount a horse and walk gently at best.

“Lady Pennel.”

At that moment, Walter suddenly approached. Riding a white horse that looked almost transparent except for its jet-black eyes and eyelashes. Without dismounting, he stood next to me and nodded slightly with a somewhat stiff face, his gaze fixed straight ahead.

“It’s been a while, Young Lord Chaplin.”

His behavior seemed somewhat unnatural, but my initial feeling was one of gladness.

“Did you not receive the letter?”

But the words that came were unexpected.

“What… letter are you talking about?”

He slowly turned his head to meet my gaze and immediately jumped off his horse. His blue-green eyes, trembling slightly as if it might be an illusion, looked straight at me.

“I sent a letter. I heard you were staying at the Rochester Duke’s winter villa…”

The source of that information was easy to guess. If it was a properly sent letter, there was no reason for it to be missing. Unless someone intentionally removed it.

“I asked Julian. To enclose it with the letter sent to Lady Sabrina Pennel.”

“Ah…”

“Along with a bouquet of yellow roses.”

As I heard his words, I recalled the bunch of yellow roses that had momentarily caught my attention.

“So those were the flowers you sent, Young Lord Chaplin.”

Sabrina had discarded Julian’s letter, which contained only formal words, without even properly opening it. Saying she didn’t want to see a letter that was clearly ghostwritten by someone else.

“I’m sorry, but due to my carelessness, I didn’t receive the letter.”

Unable to say that it had been discarded among unread letters, I gave a simple answer with an awkward smile. Walter visibly showed a relieved expression in response.

“I see. I… had many thoughts.”

“…”