“Of course. The hunting competition is an event not only anticipated by nobles but also by commoners. According to Michelle, on the day of the hunting competition, not only nobles but also commoners stitch numbers onto handkerchiefs and give them as gifts to their lovers. Since it’s a special day, good-quality fabrics can’t be obtained unless prepared two months in advance.”
“Thank you so much. Thanks to you, I’ve been relieved of a big burden.”
“I’m glad you like it. I’m sure the Viscount will also appreciate it.”
“Has Lady Michelle decided to whom she will give the handkerchief?”
Usually, handkerchiefs are given to the engaged person, so Lina was curious about whom the yet unengaged Michelle would give it to.
“Yes, I’ve already finished embroidering it.”
She raised her cup with a proud expression.
“You’ll find out on the day of the hunting competition.”
Michelle’s face seemed to brighten for a moment.
As time passed, it was the day of the hunting competition. Lina, who arrived at the royal hunting ground, disembarked from the carriage with the Duke’s escort.
“I’ll be waiting here. I’ll be back soon.”
“Yes, take care.”
As Bellige responded to the summons of the hunting participants, Lina, who was left alone, attracted numerous gazes.
“Oh, isn’t that the woman from the rumor…”
“Engaged to Duke Fermannes…”
Constant murmurings about her. In case someone caught onto her secret, she cautiously moved away with careful steps.
“This should be enough.”
The place where people gathered was limited, making it difficult to completely avoid the crowd, but she found a corner to settle in, and the constant murmurings seemed to subside.
“I would have been in big trouble if I hadn’t attended the tea party.”
Perhaps because she had experienced this atmosphere in advance, she was better able to endure it than at that time. However, Lina, who still felt uncomfortable with the many stares, took out the handkerchief she had put away.
“Do you think he’ll like it?”
Practicing dozens of times while looking at the embroidery book.
Even if it couldn’t be called skillful craftsmanship, she felt a sense of satisfaction with the embroidery that was quite decent compared to the first time.
Usually, it is traditional to engrave the symbol of the family, but with her skills, she couldn’t bring herself to carve it to that extent. Instead, she engraved Bellige’s initials.
It was when Lina was trying to forget her tension by imagining Bellige’s reaction when she received the handkerchief.
Whether the gathering was over or not, Bellige was wandering around, looking for her.
“Duke[Dash].”
When Lina cautiously raised her hand, only then did Bellige seem to discover her and quickly approached.
“It seems we’ll start hunting soon.”
“Is it not dangerous?”
At Lina’s worried words, Bellige chuckled as if it was unbelievable.
“At most, it’s a hunting ground where deer come out. It’s not that dangerous.”
Relieved by his reaction, Lina, who had been worried, hesitated for a moment before handing over the handkerchief.
“I made it. It’s my first time embroidering, so the skill is not great.”
“A handkerchief?”
Perhaps he didn’t expect that Lina had prepared a handkerchief, as he looked at the handkerchief she handed over with slightly widened eyes.
Then, for a long time, he stared at the handkerchief with his name embroidered in golden threads without saying a word.
‘Is he displeased?’
Watching the Duke gaze at her with an anxious look, Lina asked cautiously.
“…Do you not like it?”
“…”
But he made no response to her question and quietly brought the handkerchief to his face.
“Do you not like it?”
Lina, who stared at the Duke with an uneasy gaze, asked cautiously.
“…Is it not to your liking?”
However, instead of giving any answer to her question, he quietly pressed the handkerchief to his face as if trying to find traces of her left on it, as if looking for her.
Watching him with a face that turned red for no apparent reason, Lina suddenly snapped out of her thoughts when the surroundings became noisy.
‘What’s going on?’
Afterward, she turned her head towards where people’s attention was gathered.
“Looks like someone has arrived.”
“Probably Alex or the princess.”
Following Bellige’s words, mentioning that it’s about time for them to arrive, she found the two.
“Oh my.”
“Is that… by any chance…”
The reaction was somewhat strange to the appearance of the Crown Prince and his prospective fiancée. Sensing something unusual, Lina approached the gathering crowd.
Then, what caught her eye was.
“…Is that Prince Bliteus?”
It was the Second Prince.
‘Why is he…’
Lina heard that the Second Prince does not participate in such events. That’s why the nobles who saw him considered it rare. But why?
With a stern face, Lina walked closer to the place where people had gathered.
“Could it be Prince Bliteus?”
“Impossible. Is Prince Bliteus participating in the hunting competition…?”
It wasn’t just Lina who was surprised; many people couldn’t hide their confusion, astonishment, and admiration.
Those who had seen the frail Second Prince in person were a very small minority.
Therefore, there were always various rumors about his appearance. Being as small as a child, having a large scar on his face, and so on.
So how surprising it must have been now that they realized all those bizarre rumors were false.
With the sudden appearance of the Second Prince, his face, which had been veiled until now, was enough to unsettle the hearts of the noble ladies. But only for a moment.
As if realizing something, a woman murmured.
“But, isn’t that… a handkerchief?”
“Yes? That can’t be, which lady would…”
Listening to the women’s murmurs, Lina looked at the fingertip they were pointing at.
Then, Bliteus had a handkerchief embroidered at the end of the quiver he was carrying on his shoulder.
‘A handkerchief?’
At first, Lina casually glanced at the handkerchief, thinking it might have been given by another lady, but her expression froze in an instant.
“Why is that…”
The handkerchief attached to the arrow carried by the Second Prince was precisely the handkerchief Lina had lost.
‘Why would that man…’
In her shock, Lina, without realizing it, continued to stare at it for a long time.
As if searching for something, Bliteus, who had been wandering around, met eyes with Lina.
An Indifferent Woman is the One Men Desire the Most
One-line summary: The female lead is actually cold-hearted and extremely rational. She has stage-by-stage relationships and won’t two-time, but there will always be someone who secretly likes her.
This novel has the following triggers, so if you’re sensitive to these, please don’t read:
1. The female lead has had many relationships, but she treated each one seriously and broke up properly.
It’s just that the men unilaterally pestered her incessantly. For the female lead, when she doesn’t like someone anymore, she simply doesn’t like them.
(This applies to her relationships with Male Lead 1, 2, 3, and 4 as well, but she’s loyal in each 1-on-1 relationship!)
2. In this novel, Male Lead 2 and the female lead kiss in a car, and Male Lead 1 sees it and beats up Male Lead 2.
The female lead calls the police and sends both Male Lead 1 and 2 to the police station! Male Lead 1 begs the female lead not to break up with him.
3. Male Lead 1 has a gentle appearance but an obsessive personality.
Male Lead 2 has a delicate and soft appearance, slightly green tea-like (two-faced).
Male Lead 3 is a youthful college student and a smart person who has secretly liked the female lead for a long time.
Male Lead 4 is the female lead’s father’s special assistant, a business elite with deep, hidden thoughts.
4. At the beginning of this novel, the female lead has already broken up with Male Lead 1 (Chapter 4) and gotten back together with Male Lead 2 (ex-boyfriend).
5. Enter with caution if you have triggers!!!
