“If it’s her seduction, I’m willing to consider falling for it once.”

“What did you just say…?” Shallen’s forehead bulged with veins.

Could Parnes still say the same knowing that Kasalyn had been pregnant before marriage and had a miscarriage?

No, certainly he would think of her as an ominous woman and be disappointed.

“I really didn’t want to say this─”

Just as Shallen was about to speak, a sudden interruption occurred.

“Your Majesty! You’re here. I’ve been looking for you everywhere!”

The heavy sound of several horses’ hooves thundered on the ground as the urgent voice of Captain Antonio of the Guard resonated through the dense woods.

Parnes frowned slightly and turned to him.

“Why did you come here? Didn’t I say I would return soon?”

“No, that’s not the issue right now. Something terrible has happened.”

Antonio swallowed dryly, trying to maintain composure.

“Miss Kasalyn is currently missing.”

A little earlier.

The sky, which had been reddened by the setting sun, was rapidly darkening as the sun hid beyond the mountain ridges. Dark clouds were gathering, hinting at imminent rain.

The few lodges built across a deep valley were for the nobility to rest during the days-long hunting contest.

Kasalyn, escorted by knights to the lodge where the ladies were staying, approached Rose, who was loitering at the forest’s entrance.

“Your Majesty, why are you outside?”

“Your face is glowing. Did you enjoy your outing with His Majesty?”

Rose glanced at Kasalyn disapprovingly, then impulsively grabbed her hand.

“Follow me without a word.”

“Wait. Where to…”

“It’s all because of you. Today, His Majesty couldn’t even catch a single deer or bird because of you. Do you know how upset he was? Even other gentlemen and ladies brought back at least one prey, but as the King, his pride must be hurt.”

“How is it my fault that no bird was caught in the hunting contest?”

As Kasalyn asked in confusion, Rose raised her voice in a venomous tone.

“Don’t you understand? It’s because you were flirting with Emperor Parnes like his mistress!”

“What did you just say?”

Kasalyn’s face hardened fiercely, causing Rose to flinch reflexively.

But soon recalling there was no reason to bow down to a mere maid, Rose began pushing Kasalyn deeper into the forest.

“Anyway, it’s your responsibility, so go and catch even a small creature. You must do something to appease His Majesty. Hurry up, will you?”

“Rose, stop it. It’s dangerous.”

Deep down, Rose knew confronting Kasalyn wouldn’t solve anything. However, she had been anxious, noticing Shallen’s frequent thoughtful moments. He often subtly followed Kasalyn with his eyes and mentioned her name.

She feared his emotions might stem from lingering affection or revived memories, leading to a change of heart.

‘Things would be perfect if only Kasalyn quietly disappeared.’

Maybe Shallen harbored more than servile feelings for Kasalyn.

Swallowed by this fear, Rose inadvertently pushed Kasalyn too hard.

Coincidentally, beside Kasalyn was a steep slope leading endlessly down the mountainside.

Under normal circumstances, Kasalyn would have easily regained her balance. Unfortunately, in her poor physical state, she stepped on a wet pile of leaves and slipped down the slope.

“Oh, Sister!”
Startled, Rose quickly reached out, but her fingertips only touched the cool air.

Two women’s shrill screams, almost sounding like one, echoed through the forest, and once momentum took over, Kasalyn’s body was relentlessly pulled deeper into the dark abyss of the hill.

Having tumbled to an unknown location, Kasalyn, clutching her throbbing head, called out for anyone, but her cries were met only by the ominous cawing of crows and the eerie sound of the wind.

The spot where Kasalyn had fallen was at the bottom of a steep hill, a terrain not easy to climb.

She needed to find a safe path back.

However, in the deepening darkness of the wilderness, unfamiliar with the geography, finding her way was nearly impossible.

Kasalyn walked aimlessly through the relentless downpour, but the scenery remained the same, devoid of any signs of life.

The overcast sky hid the moon, making it impossible to tell the time.

Her pace slowed as the rain intensified.

Already unwell for days, her condition worsened in the rain, causing splitting headaches and disorientation.

‘A real disaster.’

The rain muddied the ground, splashing over her shoes and damp leaves tickled her legs.

Unable to walk further, Kasalyn stumbled and collapsed.

「You must join the hunting contest. Drop the pretense of being sick.」

Why did Shallen’s words cross her mind at such a time?

A hollow laugh escaped her as she slowly let go of her fading consciousness.

Then, the sound of horse hooves squelching in the mud approached, and a voice, fraught with urgency but trying to stay calm, pierced through the dense fog in her mind.

“Kasalyn. Wake up. Do you recognize who I am?”

The voice, mixed with heavy breathing, was desperate and agitated.