“I’m fine. If anything happens to me, I’ll get treated separately later.”

Looking at the servant girl’s wound, Atia urged the officials.

“Hurry. If you delay, the injured area may get infected.”

Following her words, the officials took out medicine from their bags, disinfected the wound, and bandaged it.

Only after witnessing the officials’ treatment did Atia finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Then Owen, as if waiting for this moment, turned his eyes toward her.

“Such an incident in a pleasant banquet. I apologize on behalf of everyone.”

The tear spot under his eyes made Owen’s smile even more charming.

When he tilted his eyes like this, no woman could resist. Even a woman in her right mind would have been slightly moved.

Owen had the ability to detect even the slightest tremor in the other person, as if he could recognize that momentary wavering like a ghost.
“No, Your Highness, it’s not a mistake or anything.”

Atia’s voice was clearly kind, but the desire Owen anticipated was nowhere to be seen.

He thought Atia’s heart would waver even a little.

Therefore, Owen became more curious about Atia.

Wanting something more when you can’t catch it.

Looking at Atia’s sky-blue dress stained with wine, Owen spoke with a regretful tone.

“Still, who would have expected to be struck by lightning after taking all these steps?”

“It’s okay.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to change your clothes and come back?”

“Well, I guess so.”

Atia replied briefly.

Owen found it intriguing.

If it were anyone else, they would have been angry and stormed out of the banquet hall immediately. However, the Duchess of Wellington seemed to act as if such an incident was nothing special.

‘Maybe it’s because she’s a duchess from the northern region. Something seems different.’

But soon, he noticed something strange.

Atia was said to be almost treated like a reject in the Harad Viscount’s family, being a child born out of wedlock.

There were rumors about her extremely timid personality and her inability to speak properly.

Although he hadn’t fully understood her personality yet, it didn’t seem like the rumor about the timid nature of the Harad Viscount’s illegitimate child was true.

Still, what if the rumors were true?

She might say it’s okay with her words, but in reality, due to the shock and embarrassment of the overturned food, she might leave the palace.

Maybe even tonight.

If that were the case, he should at least keep the Wellington couple in place.

Owen turned to Casus, who was guarding Atia.

“By the way, how about inviting them to the hunting competition?”

Casus narrowed his eyes without answering.

“Since the Duke of Wellington has come to the capital for a rare occasion, I thought of organizing a hunting competition for friendship.”

It was a proposal to embarrass Casus.

Owen wanted to make him kneel down definitively this time.

So, he deliberately spoke in front of many nobles.

If Casus refused, he would seem like a cowardly avoider of confrontation.

Moreover, if he rejected the prince’s proposal, his reputation would worsen.

Even if Casus accepted the offer, it wouldn’t harm Owen. After all, the winner would be someone familiar with the geography of this place.

“Well, if the duke refuses, there’s nothing we can do, but…”

Owen twisted his lips in disappointment.

That was when Atia spoke, not Casus.

“Yes, a hunting competition. It seems like it could be fun.”

The answer came from the Duchess herself, not Casus. Owen’s face stiffened slightly at her unexpected response.