The black bear kicked the ground and roared.

‘Uooooh!’

Dust flew thickly, and a black bear appeared. The beast looked like a dark demon. Its red eyes glinted, and one eye was torn, making it even more ghastly. The sound of a bell rang out at the gathering place to alert of an emergency situation, and the knights gathered.

“Wh-What is this commotion!”

The black bear opened its mouth wide and drooled. Someone shouted.

“This bastard is a man-eater!”

“Aim for the neck! If you don’t want to be torn to death by the black bear’s teeth…!”

Charlotte blinked blankly.

The downpour grew more and more intense. Her ears felt stuffy, and she felt trapped alone in a quiet world. The sound of rain drowned out everything.

Down below was chaos.

The black bear opened its maw and thrust its head. The man pinned under the bear stabbed his sword into its mouth and roared.

“There were no casualties here…”

Charlotte loaded a bullet into the crossbow.

Swoosh- The gunshot was muffled by the sound of rain.

The bullet pierced the center of the bear’s head.

“What a mess. Everyone.”

Charlotte put her resentment into each and every bullet.

In one, she put mourning, in two, she put sorrow, and in three, she put lingering attachment.

It was mourning, sorrow, and lingering attachment sent to the ‘me’, Charlotte, who died in her previous life.

Three gunshots rang out in succession. A deathly silence followed.

No. This silence was granted only to Charlotte. Her ears felt stuffy.

The rain poured down fiercely. Her hair, soaked with rainwater, flowed down below her waist.

“You’ll catch a cold.”

Catarina stood holding an umbrella.

“Please use this. The rain is making it hard to see.”

“…”

“It’s raining, isn’t it?”

“You’re strange.”

“In what way, my lady?”

“I thought you’d scold me for being foolish.”

“That is beyond my authority.”

Catarina sensed a sorrowful resentment from her lady. It seemed like her pent-up emotions were bursting out.

‘What is this? What is this?’

Her lady was weak but solid. She looked delicate and fragile but was upright and firm.

Catarina realized instinctively.

Right now, any words would do. The priority was to keep this lady’s consciousness.

“The black bear’s movements have slowed down too.”

“…Is that so?”

“Your crossbow skills are excellent.”

“Yes. I used up all the spare bullets too.”

“The guards will be able to handle that much.”

“…”

“Don’t overdo it. Your body is cold too.”

Charlotte groaned as if in pain. It was inside the forest.

“…He’s here.”

“Who, my lady?”

Charlotte lowered her arm holding the crossbow. The strength drained from her body.

“Benjamin.”

The rain soaked her hair. It grew quieter and quieter.

Benjamin climbed on the black bear’s back and slashed its neck. The skin was tough and hard. He narrowed his eyes and twisted the blade. The black bear rolled to the side, and Benjamin leaped off from behind.

Muddy water splashed, soaked by the rain. Benjamin asked, narrowing his eyes.

“It hasn’t eaten any people yet, has it?”

“No, Your Highness!”

“That’s fortunate then.”

Even in the midst of the black bear’s rampage, aside from a few rookie knights being hit by the bear, the damage was minimal.

“Take the injured outside.”

Cesar pulled out the injured lying on the ground.

“Why is there a black bear here?”

“It’s not uncommon for a herd of beasts to come down once in a while.”

Benjamin grabbed an injured man’s neck and tossed him to Cesar.

“Your Highness. Please handle the injured with care.”

“Where is our child? Where is our child?”

Aster appeared belatedly and scanned the surroundings thoroughly.

“Charlotte! Where are you!”

The beast filled with malice took its last steps.

‘Uooooooh!’

The dying bear lowered its body flat.

“It’s over.”

Benjamin thrust his sword into the black bear’s neck. As he put strength into his wrist and twisted the blade, the tip twisted inside. Benjamin tapped the back of the blade with his fingertips, and its breath was cut off.

“The injured have all been moved.”

Benjamin looked around carefully.

“Any casualties?”

Cesar sheathed his sword and replied.

“None. Everyone ended up with just injuries.”

“Brother! I don’t see our child!”

“She must be near the tents…”

“What if the child got caught up in this!”

“Aster, don’t interrupt. There’s no damage near the tents…”

“Charlotte! Charl! Where are you!”

“Calm down. It’s raining, and the child couldn’t possibly be outside, could she?”

Benjamin glanced down at Aster and smirked.

“I’ll send someone to the tents…”

As he trailed off, he narrowed his eyes. The bear’s corpse was strange. The gunshot wound on the bear’s head. This was a bullet mark.

“You overdid it again.”

Benjamin scanned the surroundings thoroughly. As if he knew well where his gaze should fall. He found Charlotte at once.

“There she is.”

Benjamin put down his sword and ran his hand through his hair. His gaze was blatant as he stared intently.

“Charl.”

Charlotte smiled faintly in the rain.

“Why are you here in danger?”

“I took a short walk.”

“I told you to hunt small animals, but I almost had to face a Charlotte nicely digested by a bear who found her appetizing.”

Benjamin strode over, narrowing the distance, and stood in front of Charlotte. He seemed a bit upset.

“You’ve become a wet puppy.”

Benjamin frowned, looking at Charlotte who was completely soaked.

“Who made you stand here?”

The sound of rain poured down.

Her two uncles shouted, disgusted by her rain-soaked appearance.

“Charl! Why do you look like that!”

[This is the timeline separator]

“Everyone, get out of the rain first!”

The hunting competition was wrapped up swiftly. Even at that moment, the downpour grew more and more intense, and rainwater flowed down the eyebrows.

‘Was that the first time Uncle got that angry?’

Aster and Cesar went to the tents.

‘These useless earthworms! Letting our child get to this state, what were you doing…! What is this! The child’s face is half frozen! If this frail child catches a cold…! Eep! Brother, wait a moment. Why are you doing this!’

‘Your Highness. We will take care of the hunting grounds first. Please take care of the child.’

Her body, soaked by the rain, shivered. Charlotte was dazed by the chill.

“Come here, Charl.”

Benjamin led Charlotte.

“You’ll catch a cold.”

“What?”

“You’re all wet. What is this? Hmm?”

Benjamin wiped her wet body with a dry towel.

“What foolish thing were you doing?”

“Wipe gently.”

“You foolish thing.”

“Benjamin, gently.”

“You put away the umbrella to use somewhere else. Completely soaked, your complexion is pale, your face is dark.”

Benjamin pressed the dry towel on her hair. Charlotte struggled, trying to escape his grasp, but Benjamin’s hands gradually became gentler.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

“I’m fine.”

“You must have been startled by the gunshots.”

“The black bear looked like it was going to eat people… Do bears eat people too?”

“Bears are carnivores too. That one seems to have eaten a few.”

Charlotte reached out and pulled down the towel.

“Charl, stay still for a bit.”

“I’ll wipe myself. Give me the towel.”

Benjamin let out a low breath.

“Your forehead is hot.”

As Charlotte flinched, Benjamin pressed his forehead against hers and exhaled.

“How long were you standing there?”

“Just a moment. Benjamin…”

“It’s like you were soaked in water and taken out.”

Benjamin smiled and pulled down the towel.

“I was going to nag at you endlessly.”

He whispered, sighing.

“It’s upsetting.”

A maid cleared her throat at the entrance of the tent, making her presence known.

“I brought a change of clothes for the young lady.”

The maid belatedly brought clothes to change into. The wet clothes were getting heavier by the moment.

As Charlotte tried to take off her wet clothes,

“Aren’t you going to leave?”

Benjamin stared at Charlotte blankly.

As water droplets fell from her red hair, Benjamin finally left.

“Oh my! Young lady, why are you in this state…!”

The maids hastily took off the wet clothes first. They were so soaked and heavy that it was difficult to move on her own.

“The two of them were very worried too. They were concerned that the young lady might have gotten caught up in the rampage of the crazed black bear.”

“I wasn’t hurt.”

“Even if you weren’t, who would have imagined you’d be completely soaked by the rain?”

After Charlotte changed into a spare dress, the rain stopped too. There was a damp smell of rain in the air.

As Charlotte gently stepped on a puddle with her shoes, ripples formed in the puddle. As she slowly took steps, she staggered.

‘Am I a bit dizzy?’

Her shoulders ached from shooting the crossbow a few times. Her arms hurt too. In her previous life and in this life, being healthy was out of the question.

[This is the timeline separator]

The entrance to the forest was a mess from the recent attack.

“It seems the black bear escaped from the forest, were there any other damages?”

“It was settled before major damage occurred.”

Benjamin scanned the now quiet area with his eyes and smiled.

“There was a small commotion, but it seems to have been handled well.”

“…”

“I think we can wrap up this competition like this.”

Benjamin carefully surveyed the surroundings and soon fixed his gaze on Charlotte.

“With this, let’s end today’s hunting competition.”

A small dimple formed on Charlotte’s cheek.

“All done?”

Benjamin waved his hand, saying he would skip all the cumbersome processes.

“Then wrap that child in a blanket and put her in the carriage.”

Aster also belatedly spotted Charlotte.

“That, that foolish thing!”

Benjamin left, saying he would take care of the hunting grounds.

Aster saw Benjamin off and immediately ran over to wrap Charlotte tightly in a blanket.

“Put this child in the carriage right away! The child’s face is so pale, what are you thinking leaving her outside…!”

Aster’s expression distorted like a demon.

“Uncle?”

Aster wrapped Charlotte in a blanket and hugged her.

In an instant, everything went dark. Her vision was blocked, and Aster pulled her close with both arms.

“That bastard!”

Charlotte blinked.

“Uncle, wait a moment…”

As Charlotte tried to pull down the blanket, Aster hugged her head with his large hands.

“Uncle, I can’t breathe.”

“Charl. Stay still.”

“I’m fine.”

“Please just stay still.”

A servant dissuaded Aster in bewilderment.

“Lord Aster, we’re outside.”

“So!”

“Please make your expression a bit more gentle…”

“Gentle? Gently? To hell with being gentle. Applaud and admire the fact that I’m not running at that bastard with a sword right now. It means I’m that gentle of a person.”

Soon, someone approached.