Although his lips didn’t move, it seemed like I could clearly hear the voice in his eyes.
His expression clearly showed he was anticipating an unpleasant future, thinking ‘Surely not… right?’
‘But what can I do? It seems that prediction is spot on?’
Veronia felt slightly embarrassed. She had to say that one sentence the other person didn’t want to hear.
But since it couldn’t be helped, Veronia put on a bright formal smile and said in a light tone.
“Please accompany me on today’s hunting festival.”
“What? What do you mean…?”
“Don’t misunderstand. This proposal is solely to save Lord Killian.”
“Save me? What do you mean by that?”
At the sudden words, the shadow of disbelief in Killian’s eyes deepened.
Veronia began to lay out the long-winded excuse she had practiced all last night.
“I intend to save you from the attention, jealousy, and envy of countless people.”
“…”
Killian, not yet fully understanding her words, kept his mouth shut and focused only on listening.
“You’re a war hero. Many people already regard you as the strongest man and respect you. So there’s no need to win this hunting festival as well, is there?”
“…”
“Have you never thought about it? That it’s time to lower yourself a bit?”
Killian couldn’t help but be surprised by Veronia’s words.
He had no idea that Veronia had the insight and empathy to understand the awkward situations others were in.
‘I thought she only knew how to make herself stand out, without any regard for others’ positions. Was that not the case?’
He could clearly feel the strangeness he had been feeling for the past few days once again.
The princess had changed.
“People tend to feel uncomfortable around those who are far superior to them. Especially those intoxicated with power.”
As Veronia glanced to one side with rather sharp eyes, Killian naturally followed her gaze.
Where their eyes landed were Jonathan and Tate.
Veronia’s two older brothers were smiling with satisfaction, intoxicated by the nobles’ polite words of praise.
‘Even criticizing her own blood so sharply… is unfamiliar.’
Seeing Killian listening to her story, Veronia gained courage.
At this rate, it seemed she could persuade him.
“But if you appear to be taking it easy, they’ll talk behind your back, saying you’re putting on airs of humility. So use my excuse.”
“…”
“Let’s just catch small animals while reluctantly accompanying me. Taking it easy.”
She whispered the last words softly into Killian’s ear.
She didn’t forget to smile brightly.
Killian rubbed his reddened earlobe and laughed softly, “Ha.”
Veronia’s words made plenty of sense.
Though he still couldn’t believe this quite decent plan came from her mind.
“Alright.”
Killian nodded.
He decided to ignore the fact that his heart had skipped a beat for a moment at her breath on his earlobe.
Pwooooo-
As the horn sounded to signal the start of the hunting festival, Veronia and Killian mounted their horses.
The nobles who witnessed the two riding side by side began to chatter with wide eyes.
“Oh my! It seems Her Highness the Princess and Lord Killian are going together!”
“Ah, I see! So that’s why Her Highness decided to participate in this hunting festival herself! Now I understand.”
The middle-aged noble ladies wore fond smiles as if looking at their own children, while the young ladies wore envious smiles towards their objects of admiration.
“They look so good together! Don’t they seem to be getting along much better lately?”
“Could this be a sign that their wedding is approaching?”
“There are so many events this year! And that’s good!”
“I should prepare early before dress reservations get backed up!”
While the noble ladies were smiling contentedly at the sight of Veronia and Killian entering the hunting grounds together.
On the other side, Jonathan and Tate frowned and whispered among themselves.
“Veronia, why is that idiot interfering? So tactless!”
“Indeed, brother. Her efforts are admirable, but this time her stupidity is going too far. What should we do?”
“What do you mean what should we do? We proceed as planned.”
Tate’s eyebrows twitched momentarily at Jonathan’s words, which were spoken as if grinding his teeth.
It was true that Veronia was pretty on the outside but stupid on the inside.
Still, she was their sister, and the princess.
‘They say there are no eternal allies or enemies in politics… I knew this man was like this, but… tsk.’
Tate felt a chill down his neck at Jonathan’s cruelty, not batting an eye even in a situation where their sister could be hurt.
But for now, he had no choice but to bow his head.
After all, the other was the crown prince who would inherit the throne next.
“Yes, I understand, brother.”
[This is the timeline separator]Veronia headed towards the small animal hunting area with Killian.
Seeing Killian riding beside her with a calm expression, she let out a shallow sigh of relief.
‘Thank goodness.’
If things had gone according to the original story, Killian would have gone deeper into the forest to hunt fierce animals or magical beasts.
‘If that had happened, he would have fallen victim to the villains lying in ambush there.’
Though it wasn’t a fatal wound, it was said to have been a fierce battle resulting in quite serious injuries.
Even for a Sword Master, it wouldn’t have been easy to face over a dozen masked villains alone in a defenseless state.
‘Not only the villains, but he would have had to deal with wild beasts and magical beasts drawn by the smell of blood.’
Ugh, just imagining Killian falling into the trap made the hair on the back of her neck stand on end.
‘Will it be alright today?’
Veronia thought that since it was just a light trap for gaining the upper hand, they wouldn’t go to the trouble of moving from their original ambush location to find her and Killian. Naively so.
Of course, Veronia had one more thing she believed in. The fact that she was the princess.
‘No matter how heartless the crown prince and second prince are, they won’t try to attack me too. I’m still a useful tool after all.’
It was a bitter reason, but it was true.
That’s when Killian spoke, looking at the bow and arrows Veronia had slung over her shoulder.
“I didn’t know Your Highness could shoot a bow.”
“Ah… this? I can’t shoot. I just brought it as a sort of accessory. Since it’s a hunting festival.”
Ho ho, as Veronia laughed even more brightly on purpose, she could see Killian’s brow furrowing slightly. Feeling a bit guilty, she immediately wiped the smile off her face.
‘I seem to be laughing a bit too easily today. It was unavoidable to persuade Killian… but I should restrain myself from now on. Before any misunderstandings arise.’
Soon, silence fell between the two.
[This is the timeline separator]As the forest grew denser, Veronia and Killian dismounted and began walking.
After walking for a while, they spotted a deer in the distance among the bushes.
At the appearance of prey, Killian’s eyes sparkled as he immediately drew his bowstring.
That’s when it happened.
“Oof!”
Veronia, who had been standing next to him, tripped on a rock and stumbled before falling flat.
Startled by the noise, the deer bounded away.
“Are you alright?”
Killian released the bowstring and approached the fallen Veronia.
“Thank you. And I’m sorry. I made you lose your prey.”
“It’s fine. Are you hurt anywhere?”
“No, fortunately not.”
The two continued walking, pushing through the underbrush.
Silence naturally enveloped them.
This time, they saw an even larger deer ahead. Killian immediately took his stance and raised his bow.
Veronia thought his movements were so quick she couldn’t even dream of matching them.
Just as he was about to draw the bowstring, she swayed next to him as if dizzy.
“Ugh…!”
“Your Highness, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”
Killian put down his bow and supported her.
Once again, the startled deer hopped away in another direction.
But Killian didn’t care about the lost prey anymore.
“Uh… I suddenly felt dizzy.”
“Sitting in the shade for a while should help. Here, this way…”
Killian supported Veronia towards the flat shade of a tree.
“Oh no, I made you lose your prey again because of me…”
Veronia showed an apologetic expression.
But this time, perhaps her act didn’t work properly. Killian immediately hardened his expression and spoke.
“Are you intentionally interfering?”
“…Pardon?”
“You never intended to hunt in the first place, did you? You said you brought the bow just as decoration.”
“…That’s right.”
I’ve been found out. Veronia scratched her cheek needlessly and blushed. She didn’t yet have the shamelessness to smile when caught in a lie.
“…It was obvious. I’m sorry. I don’t really like seeing blood. It’s scary.”
“Ha… This is a hunting festival. Aren’t we supposed to hunt?”
“Is that really necessary?”
Killian made a dumbfounded expression at Veronia’s retort.
Regardless of his reaction, Veronia calmly continued.
“Anyway, you can just say you enjoyed a cozy time with me, your fiancée, rather than focusing on hunting. Right? That’s why you agreed to my proposal, isn’t it?”
“…Now that you mention it, that’s true.”
Seeing Killian slowly nod, Veronia smiled brightly.
As that sight entered his view, Killian’s heart once again skipped a beat.
He quickly averted his gaze and thought.
‘Her ability to leave me at a loss for words remains unchanged from before to now. In that sense, I suppose she hasn’t changed much after all.’
Though he tried to look away, Killian found himself unconsciously following her with his eyes.
That’s when it happened. There was a rustling sound nearby.
It was such a faint sound that Veronia’s ears couldn’t hear it, but it was clear to the ears of Killian, a Sword Master.
He could also sense that it wasn’t a sound made by a harmless animal, but by a human with killing intent.
Killian lowered his head and whispered in Veronia’s ear.
“Your Highness, hide behind me.”
“What? Ah…!”
As soon as Killian finished speaking, his body moved almost reflexively.
Male lead first thought she played hard to get, only to realize she
really disliked him
Short intro:
What she can’t stand the most is the streets full of effeminate men, especially that so-called top beauty whom she avoids at all costs.
Shen Yaoxing looks at Jiang Mingyue, who keeps approaching her with coy shyness.
Shen Yaoxing: Bro, don’t be like this, I’m really about to throw up!
She fears nothing in heaven or earth, except for him getting close to her.
*
At first he thought she was just using the trick of feigning indifference to attract his attention. Later, he learned that she truly despised him.
This dealt a heavy blow to Jiang Mingyue, and he vowed to make her, like everyone else, fall at his feet in worship!
***
Synopsis:
Before transmigrating, Shen Yaoxing only wanted to find a reliable man to spend her life with. Who knew that after transmigrating, she would become a reliable woman herself…
A forced misandrist, highly skilled, and reliable female lead
vs.
An initially aloof and arrogant, later morbid, obsessed male lead
_____
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