In the Midst of Revenge on Cinderella - Chapter 58

“Do you know what the charm of the royal jousting tournament is?”

Marchi suddenly asked while Cahirun was away for a moment.

“I’m not sure.”

I stepped back a couple steps and replied reluctantly to the uncomfortably sparkling eyes.

Whether fighting with swords on horseback or throwing stones while riding cows, I had no interest at all. What’s so fun about watching people bleed and fight?

“It’s that there’s an official opportunity to confess.”

“…What?”

I tilted my head at the unexpected words. Marchi continued with a rather serious expression.

“The winner of the jousting tournament receives a golden rose from His Majesty the King. Afterwards, it’s customary to offer that rose to a lover or someone you have feelings for. There’s a romantic superstition that it will surely lead to love.”

So it’s like a public confession?

‘Ugh, that sounds awful.’

Isn’t the reason love is guaranteed because they can’t refuse in front of everyone?

Not noticing my uneasy expression, Marchi’s voice was more excited than usual.

“That’s why many knights who are about to marry their lovers enter the competition.”

“I see.”

As I was responding indifferently, my eyes widened at his next words.

“And this year, His Highness Cahirun is also participating.”

“What? His Highness?”

“Yes, even though he’s never participated before, saying such events are a waste of time.”

Marchi narrowed his eyes and spoke meaningfully, almost in a whisper.

“The golden rose is as good as won already.”

“The other knights must be discouraged.”

Isn’t it cheating for a Sword Master to enter the competition?

“That’s why this year they’re offering a prize equivalent to the golden rose for second place. It’s actually better for knights without lovers. And besides the prize money, the chance to cross swords with His Highness Cahirun is rare, so there will be more applicants than usual.”

“I see.”

There was only one reason I could think of for Cahirun suddenly entering the jousting tournament.

‘The other person still doesn’t know my feelings. They’re quite oblivious.’

He’s trying to confess to that supposedly oblivious person with the golden rose. Cahirun making a public proposal? I can’t imagine it at all.

‘Who could it be?’

I’ve tried to figure out who Cahirun likes, but every time he just teased me.

His smirking smile, as if daring me to guess, just made me more stubborn.

But even after that, I never saw Cahirun meeting anyone or sending letters to anyone, so the identity of the person remained a mystery. But now,

‘So I’ll finally be able to see who that person is?’

I found myself looking forward to the jousting tournament I had no interest in until just now.

“The wind has turned chilly.”

“It’s autumn after all.”

At my indifferent reply, Cahirun stared at me intently. I tilted my head, wondering why he was looking at me like that, and he furrowed his brows in an expression of incomprehension.

“The person I like is shivering like this.”

Cahirun pointedly grabbed his trembling shoulders and glared at me reproachfully.

“You’re utterly heartless.”

“…”

I glanced at Marchi and Randolph standing behind Cahirun. The two men joking lightly had taken off their robes, saying the sun was hot.

I recalled the phrase “gets cold easily” written in the Q&A.

But the season just turning from summer was mild, and the breeze was merely cool. Moreover, it was Cahirun who suddenly suggested a picnic because the weather was nice.

A man who had fought long campaigns in the north shivers like this in such weather?

Seeing my skeptical look, Cahirun raised an eyebrow.

“What’s with that disrespectful gaze?”

“It’s nothing.”

“I’ve been having some doubts lately.”

As I unconsciously frowned, Cahirun narrowed his eyes and looked me up and down.

“Are you really in love with me?”

“…What?”

“You seem to have no interest in the person you like.”

It seems like he’s lying.

I averted my gaze from his disbelieving look. I don’t understand why he’s being sulky again when he knows it’s a lie anyway.

“I even said I was willing to play along, but you don’t even lay a hand on me.”

“That’s…”

What’s with this talk as if he wants me to touch him?

Suddenly remembering that Cahirun had someone he liked, I eyed him suspiciously.

‘I thought he had no interest in women, to the point of rumors about him preferring men, but was he actually a playboy?’

Come to think of it, he did emphasize that he definitely likes women.

‘Is this guy the type to mess around behind people’s backs?’

“I don’t know what absurd misunderstanding you’re having, but your expression is very unpleasant.”

Cahirun’s brows furrowed. I quickly wiped the suspicious look off my face. Then, recalling the slight friendship I felt when he was a sword, I offered some advice.

“Your Highness, I think the most important thing when courting someone is sincerity.”

Cahirun nodded as if it was obvious.

“You said you have someone you like, right? Although you’re not in a relationship yet, still, for someone who has a person they care for to act like this…”

I hesitated for a moment, choosing my words. Making advances? Giving openings?

But this man is just teasing me who sees right through him, so does it matter? No, even if it’s just teasing, how can he look at me like that when the person he likes might see? He really does seem like a playboy.

“Like what?”

Cahirun asked suggestively, leaning his shoulder closer.

‘See, he’s skillfully closing the distance like this.’

I subtly moved away from the uncomfortable proximity.

“I don’t think it’s good to give openings to other people of the opposite sex.”

“I think so too.”

Cahirun nodded firmly.

“If the person you admire sees, they might misunderstand. Hurting the other person is an extremely base action.”

“Right. It’s utterly despicable.”

Before I could wonder at Cahirun strongly agreeing with my words, he continued.

“Infidelity is the worst action that betrays that trust. Don’t you agree?”

“Huh? Yes, that’s right.”

“You should be everything to each other. It’s unacceptable to even look at someone else. If such a thing were to happen, you’d deserve whatever punishment you got.”

“Yes, well… I suppose?”

I thought there might still be some room for explanation, but I found myself answering automatically at Cahirun’s gaze.

“Secretly planning to run away is also a betrayal of your lover, so of course you shouldn’t do that.”

“That’s right.”

Ghosting is the worst. I nodded.

“You shouldn’t keep secrets from your lover either.”

“That’s right. It would be upsetting to find out later.”

It’s painful to think they don’t trust you.

Something about the flow of the conversation felt off, but Cahirun wasn’t saying anything wrong. Cahirun smiled, seemingly satisfied with my answer.

“I’m glad we think alike.”

“Yes, well…”

I couldn’t shake the feeling that I’d been trapped somehow. Especially Cahirun’s grinning face made me very uneasy. The feeling that I’d enthusiastically dug my own grave with my own hands…

Though I felt unsettlingly like I’d lost out somehow for reasons I couldn’t understand, I continued what I had originally meant to say.

“Anyway, it’s true that I like Your Highness, but I don’t expect any reward. Just being by your side is enough. So I think it’s best not to do anything that might cause misunderstandings with the person you care for.”

At my advice not to cause misunderstandings with his real lover, when he didn’t even believe I liked him anyway, Cahirun stroked his chin with long fingers.

“The person I care for is so oblivious that no matter how much I show I like them, they don’t notice. At this point, I’m starting to suspect they’re just toying with me.”

Maybe they just don’t like you?

− I swallowed those words before they could escape my mouth.

“Well, I plan to make it crystal clear soon, so I’ll enjoy it a bit more until then.”

Cahirun smiled brightly. Seeing that nasty-looking face, I inwardly shook my head and gave up on further advice. I just thought that whoever had caught this lunatic’s fancy, though I didn’t know who, must be terribly unfortunate.

“So, I said I’m cold?”

Cahirun raised an eyebrow as if complaining. Looking dubiously at him, who didn’t seem cold at all, I stood up.

“I’ll borrow robes from the knights.”

But before I could even get up, my elbow was grabbed and I sat back down on the blanket.

“You can give me that.”

What Cahirun pointed to with his eyes was the blanket I had draped over my knees. Though I wasn’t cold, I had prepared it because it gave me a sense of security when covered.

“Is that blanket too precious to give to the person you like?”

Damn it. I’m about to develop a ‘person you like’ neurosis.

Suppressing the urge to throw the blanket at him, I handed it over quietly, and he immediately draped it over his shoulders. Then he spread out one arm wide, as if unfolding the blanket.

“If you’re cold, we can share it.”

‘You said infidelity was a despicable act.’

I shook my head at his smiling face, inviting me closer. How could he think of making advances on a maid in this wide open garden? What kind of rumors would spread if someone saw?

“I’ll borrow robes from the knights to cover up with.”

When I cut him off firmly, Cahirun narrowed his eyes.

“I don’t like that. It makes me feel bad.”

What do you have to feel bad about? As I was about to retort with a glare, that’s when it happened.