The Emperor’s expression hardened.

Anderson Young Lord?

It was a family name he had never heard before.

The aide standing next to the Emperor quickly introduced Anderson Young Lord.

“Anderson Young Lord is the second son of a baronial family located at the western end of the Empire.”

“…Hmm.”

A baronial family.

A look of dismay flashed across the Emperor’s face.

A baronial family in the most desolate western region of the Empire?

Moreover, he wasn’t even the eldest son of the family.

The Imperial Knights were pushing the black bear’s carcass together, as if he couldn’t have carried the massive black bear alone.

“Well, well. Today’s winner has been decided.”

Dietrich glanced at Anderson Young Lord, who was triumphantly waving to the people around him, and said with a sneer.

It was an irritating and annoying attitude that made one’s teeth grind.

However, the Emperor couldn’t continue this battle of nerves with Dietrich.

Because he had to introduce that humble baron’s young lord as the winner.

Damn it.

Anger rising, the Emperor gritted his teeth. He was so furious he wanted to behead that foolish Anderson and Dietrich right then and there.

“Have the Imperial physicians treat the injured. You all have done well.”

As the Emperor flicked his hand towards the aide, the aide called for the Imperial physicians waiting under the tent.

The Imperial physicians who rushed over urgently examined the injured and calmly explained their condition.

“They’ve lost a lot of blood, but it’s not critical. With recovery potions and healing magic, they should be fine in a few weeks.”

“Then go and treat them. I must go to greet the winner.”

Two physicians with long white beards bowed politely and called the nearby knights to carry the injured on stretchers.

Another physician rushed over when a noblewoman fainted upon learning her son was injured.

When the situation was somewhat settled, Dietrich and Nocturne stepped back.

The winner was Charles Anderson of the Anderson baronial family.

He, a young lord of a baronial family who hadn’t stood out much until now, was beaming with joy at his great achievement.

“How nice. He looks so happy. Well, marriage to Princess Ariana… What greater social advancement could there be?”

While Nocturne spoke mockingly, Dietrich was busy searching for black hair.

In doing so, Dietrich naturally missed seeing a man passing in front of him, heading towards Lady Leriana.

There were unnecessarily too many people at the hunting competition.

“Where is she?”

However, the exotic black hair was quite rare here, so Heidi soon caught his eye.

Dietrich, who was about to go straight to Heidi, stopped and stood in place.

Then he asked with a frown:

“Aren’t you going back to the magic tower?”

“Huh?”

Dietrich tapped the watch on his wrist and said calmly, as if he had no intention:

“You think I don’t know you came to the hunting competition to skip your magic tower schedule?”

“It’s okay because I came secretly without my master knowing. Probably by now, he’s completely fooled by the ‘human-like potion maker’ I created, thinking I’m obediently making potions in my room.”

Dietrich’s brow furrowed even more.

It seemed Nocturne had no intention of returning to the magic tower right away.

He had no choice but to leave Nocturne behind and stride towards Heidi.

Nocturne followed right behind Dietrich, as if he had been waiting for this.

“Where are you going?”

Nocturne’s blue eyes, following closely behind, were sparkling brightly.

Like a true magician, he couldn’t contain himself when something interesting was happening.

Dietrich walked faster, his irritation rising.

However, Nocturne, who had found the only interesting thing in this boring and dull hunting competition, didn’t mind and followed right up to his back.

“Heidi.”

He called out to Heidi, who was dozing off under a tree.

It was a bit pitiful to see her sleeping uncomfortably, crouched and leaning against the tree trunk.

Heidi’s white cheeks were flushed red, perhaps tired from the hot weather.

“Heidi.”

“Yes, yes! I’ve peeled all the potatoes!”

“Pfft!”

Heidi, who had jumped up saying strange things, looked around to assess the situation.

Her green eyes, like a clear forest, widened a little upon discovering Dietrich and Nocturne.

“Ah, ah, Dietrich… young lord!”

Heidi, who had gotten used to speaking informally, hurriedly added the honorific and grinned while rubbing her stiff neck.

“Hello, Young Lord Frey.”

Nocturne waved his hand happily. A happy smile appeared on Heidi’s bright face.

‘She’s that happy to see Nocturne smile like that?’

They had only met twice, no, the other time she was inside the sword, so it shouldn’t count as a meeting.

Then is it okay to be that happy over meeting just once?

Heidi was more fearless than he thought.

‘Fearless indeed. She keeps approaching me fearlessly and consistently.’

It took fearlessness to keep hovering around without being scared.

So having principles but appearing too intimate with Nocturne was not very…

‘What do I care about that.’

Dietrich crumpled up and threw away all the thoughts and emotions that were chaining one after another.

“By the way, are you back already?”

“Ah, there was a bit of a situation.”

As Nocturne stepped forward to explain the situation, Dietrich took a step forward.

Standing in front of Nocturne, perfectly blocking him, Dietrich said:

“There were injured, so we brought them back.”

“Ah, what about that monster? Did you catch it?”

It seemed Heidi also knew about the incident, as someone had escaped from the black bear.

Dietrich shrugged, showing his empty hands.

“Didn’t catch it.”

“You didn’t catch it, not couldn’t catch it?”

“I said I wouldn’t come in first, didn’t I?”

Then relief filled Heidi’s eyes, which had been full of worry.

Clapping her hands and hopping, Heidi gave a thumbs up.

“You did so well. How admirable to keep your promise like this.”

“Is that so.”

Dietrich’s eyebrow twitched at the praise of being admirable. A faint smile that would go unnoticed unless one looked closely also appeared.

However, Nocturne, who had been observing Dietrich for over a decade, noticed the change immediately.

‘This maid Heidi, her taming skills are quite remarkable?’

To make Dietrich, who was like ice from a snow-capped mountain, smile.

Nocturne’s mouth gaped open at Heidi’s amazing ability.

“Then who came in first? Oh my. I didn’t even know who came while I was sleeping.”

“They say it’s Young Lord Charles Anderson.”

“Who’s that?”

“No need to know.”

There was a roar of cheers, as if the winner had lifted the trophy.

Heidi stood on her tiptoes and peered around, as if wanting to see.

However, blocked by Dietrich’s broad shoulders, she couldn’t even catch a glimpse of the winner holding the trophy.

“Then is Princess Ariana marrying this Young Lord Anderson?”

As if that could happen.

Dietrich shook his head, crossing his arms.

There was no way the greedy Emperor would give away the Princess, who had the good excuse of marriage, to a humble baronial family.

But that wasn’t an important issue for Dietrich.

He gestured to Heidi, who was yawning constantly.

It meant for her to come closer.

Heidi approached weakly, fanning herself as she looked up at him.

As he met her green eyes like a clear forest, Dietrich felt his insides churning.

Today, he seemed a bit tired from various events.

“Yurian has returned too, so let’s head back first.”

“What? With you, young lord? I came today as Young Lord Yurian’s dedicated maid.”

“I know. But after seeing that, do you want to ride in the carriage with Yurian and the Duchess?”

Heidi’s body stiffened as she turned her eyes following Dietrich’s gaze.

The Duchess was holding onto Yurian, carefully checking if he was injured anywhere.

Yurian was also busy comforting his tearful mother.

“You wouldn’t want to interfere with this touching mother-son reunion, would you? If you join in there, the atmosphere will freeze over again.”

It was a reasonable point. Heidi stepped forward without hesitation, as if she had never wavered, waving her hand lightly.

“Come on, let’s go home quickly!”

Nocturne burst out laughing as he saw Heidi furrowing her brows as if to say ‘What are you waiting for, hurry up’.

Seeing this, Heidi asked in a gentle voice.

“Is Young Lord Frey coming with us too?”

Nocturne waved his hands.

Of course, he wanted to observe this uniquely interesting maid a bit more, but if he stayed any longer, he felt he might get a good scolding from his master.

Instead, he approached Heidi and gently took her hand.

It was an elegant and courteous gesture typically reserved for young ladies.

“It’s a bit regrettable, but how about we part ways today and meet again next time?”

“I, I’d like that. So much that I’m even stuttering.”

“Hahaha, you’re really honest.”

Nocturne’s beautiful eyes, like the blue sea, sparkled with delight.

He lifted Heidi’s white hand and kissed it.

With a soft sound, Heidi froze in place.

Dietrich was also speechless.

“Nocturne Frey. You, just now…”

“Well then, I’m off!”

Confirming there was no one around, Nocturne winked and disappeared in an instant.

There wasn’t even time for the startled Dietrich to say anything.

Dietrich gritted his teeth as he watched Heidi staring blankly at the spot where Nocturne had vanished.

‘Nocturne Frey, that playboy.’

He knew that women flocked to him for his handsome looks and impressive job as a magician.

But to try to seduce even a maid of the Delgado family, no, even the spirit of the sword.

‘How dare he.’

Seeing Heidi seemingly reminiscing about Nocturne’s traces irritated him for some reason.

A crack appeared on his expressionless face.

“Didn’t you say you were tired?”

“I am tired, young lord.”

“Then let’s go already.”

He said to go, but Heidi didn’t budge an inch.

Finally, Dietrich let out a deep sigh and gently grasped Heidi’s wrist.

At the same time, Harpe’s green eyes looked up at him.

As he met her eyes blinking lovingly, he looked down at her white hand that was obediently held.

‘This hand…’

It was clearly the hand that Nocturne had touched with his lips.

Dietrich gently cupped her hand. Then he subtly rubbed her hand.

As if trying to erase Nocturne’s traces.

Her hand that he held softly seemed a bit hot.

Dietrich calmly said as he quietly felt that warmth:

“Let’s go home.”

At that moment, Harpe’s heart dropped with a thud.