When Parnes returned after briefly stepping away, his face had a somewhat different atmosphere than when he had gotten up from his chair earlier.

It was a chilling coldness that was difficult to describe in words.

Casaline picked out kidney beans from her salad and discreetly observed his expression.

“Did something happen?”

“Don’t be a picky eater.”

“……”

The kidney bean fell from the tip of the fork and rolled into the lettuce.

Casaline silently pushed the salad bowl away and distracted herself by sipping her drink, avoiding his sharp gaze.

He then let out a deflating laugh.

“You really are something.”

“What, what is it?”

“When you’re among people, you seem like a true adult, but when there are no prying eyes, you surprisingly show a childish side.”

As he spoke, he meticulously scanned the table, which had noticeably less food on it overall.

“Seeing that you’ve eaten all the meat, eggs, mousse cake, and fruit without a trace, while leaving most of the vegetables, your parents must have had a hard time raising you.”

“I’m just full, that’s all. And I was a very good daughter.”

“Don’t play dumb. You have a nasty temperament because you don’t eat a balanced diet.”

“And you, Your Majesty, have that kind of temperament because you skip meals at every opportunity?”

“…What?”

At the sharp drop in his voice, Casaline’s shoulders flinched upward.

In the midst of their playful banter, she had unknowingly gotten carried away and crossed a line.

Carefully gauging his reaction, she raised her head and saw Parnes bursting into laughter, contrary to her expectation that he would be angry.

“I give up. I surrender.”

He rubbed his forehead and shook his head as if he couldn’t be helped.

The sight of his usually cold, stiff lips forming a soft curve was unfamiliar yet tickled a corner of her heart.

He looked so dashing when he laughed.

Why didn’t he laugh more often?

“What is it? I don’t recall suggesting a bet.”

“No. It’s nothing. Just……”

He rested his chin at an angle and muttered as if talking to himself.

“You seem a bit cute, that’s all.”

“Huh? Who……”

“It’s already this late. If you’re done eating, let’s go.”

Casaline hurriedly followed Parnes as he left without looking back.

She thought she might have misheard what he said earlier, but seeing his back as he walked at a pace that matched hers, as he always did, made her think that perhaps she hadn’t misheard after all.

“You know the hunting competition is coming up soon, right?”

He spoke while walking straight ahead.

The annual imperial hunting competition was held under the pretext of being a kind of charity event to distribute fresh meat and other food to the poorhouses.

Apart from a few simple rules, it was basically a way for all the nobles to freely enjoy hunting.

Of course, Challen and Rose were also planning to attend, and as a lady-in-waiting, Casaline had to accompany and take care of Rose.

“Of course. I was just about to prepare thoroughly for it.”

“No. Take a sick leave and rest.”

“Pardon?”

His steps, which had been unusually slow as if he wished for the time returning to the palace to be longer, came to a halt.

He turned to look at her.

His face, devoid of the earlier laughter, was silently swelling with indecipherable conflict, confusion, and displeasure.

“It’s a schedule that would be too much for you to handle right now. Keep that in mind and stay in the palace.”

“That’s not possible. The hunting competition is an important event attended by major dignitaries from various countries, isn’t it? As a lady-in-waiting and as an elder sister, I must take care of Her Majesty the Queen.”

Casaline responded seriously, realizing that there was not a hint of jest in his words.

A strange sneer flashed in his honey-colored eyes as he looked down at Casaline.

“You have no obligation to take care of Queen Rose. There’s no need for that, and no reason to do so.”

“What do you mean……”

“You can afford to be a little more selfish and cunning. You’re still a decent person anyway.”

Leaving those incomprehensible words, he disappeared to the other side of the garden.

“I’m planning to take a sick leave for a while.”

Casaline found Challen during a break after dinner while having tea and told him.

Parnes’ firm voice telling her not to come to the hunting competition was bothering her.

In fact, even if it weren’t for him, going to the hunting competition might have been too much.

With sleep deprivation, neurosis, body aches, and even a cold, her physical condition had been far from normal recently.

If she were to go on a long journey in this state, there was a risk of accidents, and she might not be able to skillfully take care of Rose, so she was about to explain further that she would rather rest fully and return later.

“Permission denied.”

Without even hearing the detailed reason, Challen rejected it with a single word, sipping the bitter tea.

“Why can’t I?”

“Pretending to be sick and taking a sick leave when you’re not even this ill is a dereliction of duty. Keep that in mind and go back.”

One side of her head started to throb again.

The thought of having to argue with him once more seemed to revive the headache that had subsided while she was with Parnes.

“Do you think I’m pretending to be sick right now?”

“It’s fine for you to hang out and play with the Emperor, but you can’t attend the hunting competition to assist the Queen. If that’s not pretending to be sick, then what is it?”

“How did you know I was with His Majesty the Emperor yesterday? Were you perhaps watching us?”

“Just because you’re being treated specially, you think you’ve become royalty? Don’t be mistaken. The Emperor is merely treating you as an interesting toy and playing along with you for a moment.”

Challen put down the empty cup with a thud and stood up.

As he passed by Casaline, he informed her.

“Make sure to come to the hunting competition. Put an end to your petty act of pretending to be sick.”

Unfortunately, a few days later, Challen experienced regret for the first time in his life.

He shouldn’t have spoken to her like that back then.

He should have at least pretended to believe her when she said she was sick.

The day of the hunting competition, eagerly awaited by many nobles, dawned with a truly festive atmosphere.

The Emperor’s hunting grounds, sprawling across the mountainside, were located a 30-minute slow horse ride away from the imperial palace.

Delegations from other countries formed groups with their compatriots and departed in turns.

Many nobles had already gathered at the entrance of the mountain lodge, nestled between deep valleys and winding gorges, shrouded in a thick fog.

Amidst the bustling crowd, Casaline unconsciously searched for a certain man.

“When it comes to hunting skills on the entire continent, it’s undoubtedly His Majesty Emperor Parnes, isn’t it?”

“That’s right. Who else could take down a grizzly bear with a single arrow?”

Nobles dressed in stylish riding attire showered Parnes with endless praise.

From what she heard, it seemed that Parnes’ hunting skills were extraordinary.

Casaline continued to scan the crowd with her eyes while perking up her ears.

“By the way, to whom will His Majesty Emperor Parnes gift his game this year?”

The hunting competition had a special tradition.

Whether a gentleman or a lady, if they caught a good game, they would offer it to their spouse or, if unmarried, to someone they held dear, conveying their affection.

Thus, it was often used as a means of expressing interest.

Judging by the phrase “this year,” it meant that Parnes had also gifted game to many people until now. Casaline was thinking that she couldn’t quite imagine it when someone spoke.

“Let’s not get our hopes up. His Majesty the Emperor has always donated all his caught game to the poorhouses. Such a thing won’t happen this year either.”

“No. Perhaps this time, there might be a change. Look over there.”

The gossiping noblewomen turned their heads in unison towards a certain direction.

At the end of their gaze, Parnes was walking across the field with his characteristic swift and elegant strides.

However, soon there was no time to even admire him.

No sooner had he appeared than countless nobles swarmed around him, and Challen, who was standing beside her, called out to Casaline in an impatient voice.

“Casaline. What are you doing standing there in a daze? Hurry up and attend to the Queen.”

“I was just about to do that without you rushing me.”

Challen glanced at Casaline, who retorted without backing down, with a disapproving look, and then glanced towards where Parnes was.

Then, with a knowing tone, he sneered.

“Don’t tell me you also want to mix in with that crowd and gain the Emperor’s attention?”

“I didn’t say a word.”

“Your eyes just said it. Don’t play dumb after making a face that subtly hopes for the Emperor to gift you game.”

“What do you gain by portraying me as a frivolous and thoughtless woman in that way?”

When Casaline sharply retorted, Rose, who was beside her, grasped her hand.

“Elder sister. You can’t speak to His Majesty like that. His Majesty always considers the dignity of the royal family. As a lady-in-waiting, you should be careful with your behavior.”

“Indeed, our Queen understands my sentiments well. Unlike someone who pretends to be sick, the Queen actively expressed her desire to attend the hunting competition. I can’t help but commend her.”

As Challen simultaneously disparaged Casaline and elevated himself, Rose slightly bowed her head and smiled brightly.

The faint shadow that had been cast over her face had somehow completely lifted.

There was even a sense of superiority as the Queen and confidence in being loved by her husband.

“Casaline. From now on, stay close to the Queen. Although the area is controlled by soldiers, the forest is still dangerous. Make sure to assist her well so that she doesn’t get hurt by any chance.”

Casaline answered with silence and stood beside Rose as instructed.

Only then did Challen smile contentedly, curling his lips.

“We will depart soon! Everyone, get ready!”

A soldier at the front shouted loudly and was about to blow the horn.

“Wait a moment.”

At someone’s words, the soldier exhaled the breath he had taken to blow the horn.

Everyone’s gaze converged on one spot simultaneously.

The place where Parnes, who had been walking with his characteristic gait from afar, stopped was none other than in front of Casaline.

“Why are you here?”

“Your Majesty.”

“I personally advised you that it would be better to take a sick leave.”

Casaline tightly gripped the reins and lowered her long eyelashes.

At that, Parnes’ coldly stiffened face softened considerably.

“…I’m not angry, so don’t make that expression.”

“I apologize, but.”

At this point, Challen intervened.

With a face as stiff as the bark of an old tree, he alternately looked at Casaline and Parnes and continued speaking.

“Sick leave? What do you mean by that?”

“Exactly what it sounds like. I told her that it would be better for her not to attend the hunting competition and rest in the palace instead.”

“But why……”

“There was a reason for that. Unfortunately, just recently, on the day of a heavy downpour, she got drenched in rain because of someone and isn’t in good health. I thought the King would already be well aware of it. It seems you didn’t pay close attention to her.”

Realizing that Parnes was making a pointed remark towards him, Challen felt a twinge of conscience while simultaneously feeling a bit flustered.

It only now occurred to him that Casaline’s intention to take a sick leave might not have been a mere pretense after all.