Among the times they spent together, discussions about Duke Ertman’s estate were always brought up.
There is an evergreen forest to the north, and it’s truly a breathtaking sight in winter. It’s also great for rabbit hunting! When I was young, I used to go hunting in the forest with my wife, each of us carrying a bow.

Your wife?

That’s right! It’s a very amusing memory. Can you ride a horse?

As for horseback riding, I’ve learned enough as a form of etiquette.

Then let’s go hunting together in winter. I once got lost in the forest during winter, and Duke Ertman’s estate was completely turned upside down…

Arnold, laughing heartily, seemed quite delighted. The anecdotes of going hunting in winter with his wife were indeed entertaining.

‘Maybe I should suggest to Balthier to go hunting together in winter. Although she doesn’t know how to handle a bow like Arnold’s wife, she can ride a horse. If she diligently practices archery after marriage, she might be able to pretend well enough.’

‘Anyway, spending winter on the territory is common.’

If she asked Balthier, he might say it’s dangerous, but he seemed like the type to choose a horse for her, maybe even revealing what he was hiding by then. Also, they would probably be more accustomed to living like a couple than they are now.

With such thoughts, Odette entered Hwangbi Palace with an unknowingly smiling face. She had taken a stroll using the excuse of not being able to sleep and now intended to try sleeping again.

However,

“Why are you so happy, breaking in like that?”

The joyful mood shattered the moment she saw Inyeong sitting in the hall of Hwangbi Palace.

“……Lord Blake.”

“Hello, Odette.”

In the dim light, Blake, sitting on a one-person sofa with a single lamp lit, nodded casually to Odette and subtly smiled. Then, he pointed to the chessboard in front of him.

“Even though it’s lonely to play alone, care to join me for a moment?”

Odette’s gaze narrowed.

Blake was the only person in Hwangbi Palace whose attitude towards Odette had not changed. He remained aloof and simultaneously antagonistic.

But to invite her to join at this hour? There was nothing more to think about. Odette turned her head.

“I’m sorry, but I’m tired. I’ll go back now.”

“It’ll only take a moment.”

“……. ”

“You’ll regret it.”

Despite the sinister smile contrasting with his gentle face, his voice lacked any trace of laughter.

Blake was undoubtedly an unpredictable person, and the reason for the unease was that all his predictions had come true. Especially since these predictions spared no one, including Pia.

From experience, there was no good reason to ignore such things.
“If you’re going to talk about being Cedric’s concubine, I have nothing more to say.”

“Well, in life, you sometimes encounter clear-sighted fools. ”

It means not to lie about something obvious.

Blake, with a wry smile, said so and tapped the table where the chessboard was placed with his index finger.

“Anyway, that’s not what I’m here to talk about today. Sit down. Playing chess alone is somewhat boring.”

At his words, a chessboard was placed in front of Blake.

The pieces, a tangled mess of white and black, seemed to be in the midst of a fierce battle, but there was one characteristic.

“Here, I was trying to devise a strategy to win without taking out this white queen. If you were playing as black, how would you bring out this queen?”

The queen was the most valuable piece among the chess pieces. The player who lost the queen first often determined victory or defeat. Therefore, from the standpoint of seeking victory, it was necessary to bring out the queen.

‘I don’t know what kind of trick it is…’

Odette, sitting across from Blake on the side with black pieces, moved the pieces one by one.

The black pawn captures the white knight, then the white rook captures the black pawn.

The basic principle to win at chess is simple.

‘You have to capture the high-value piece with the low-value piece.’

Regardless of the strategy used, the basic principle on the chessboard remained the same.

Of course, no one would willingly sacrifice their queen to a pawn.

The previous skirmish, which started among low-value pieces, began to spread.

When she came to her senses, most of the high-value pieces had descended under the chessboard regardless of color.

However, even in the midst of that, the white queen remained in the same position.

It was only then that Odette realized that she had fallen into Blake’s trap from the beginning.

“…This was a setup from the start, wasn’t it?”

“When you touch a board that someone else has set up, you should expect to lose.”

It was a clean affirmation.

“Well then, may I ask why you made me play along?”

“Oh, of course. You have to pay the price for what you’ve received.”

Blake said so with a wry smile, then pulled out a letter from his pocket and handed it to Odette.

“Open it.”

“What is this…?”

As Odette opened the envelope with an uneasy feeling.

A thud, something fell.

It was a haphazardly cut, red lock of hair.