Arasila and Demian attracted people’s attention from the moment they entered.

Their appearance walking in under the natural sunlight was like a masterpiece painting, but it was also because they each held a staff and sword, clearly looking like rival mage and knight to anyone who saw them.

“I hear this year’s hunting festival favorites are the Vandermir couple and His Highness the Crown Prince?”

“I wonder who will actually win.”

“A married couple wouldn’t seriously fight each other, so I think it will be His Highness the Crown Prince.”

Iris secretly shook her head at the conversation she overheard nearby. They wouldn’t seriously fight as a married couple?

No, those two would fight seriously.

Iris was certain as she sensed the subtle atmosphere between the approaching couple.

Arasila’s eyes were burning with such competitive spirit, and Demian had a similar feeling.

‘Even with a competitive dynamic, still. I can’t believe how alike those two are.’

It was quite a match, that neither tried to stop the other and they came this far.

As Iris silently sighed, Adrian peeked out from behind her, wearing a children’s hunting outfit.

Though too young to participate in the hunting festival, the child’s eyes sparkled as he spotted his second sister and her husband.

“Hello, elder brother.”

As soon as Demian came close, Adrian scurried forward and greeted him with both hands on his belly. Green eyes looked up at Demian brightly.

“I heard you’re participating in today’s hunting festival. Of course you’ll win, right elder brother? I’ll cheer hard for you!”

After opposing the marriage so strongly before, now Adrian called Demian “elder brother”. A child’s heart is naturally this fickle and pure in its simplicity.

Now in Adrian’s world, Demian was the most handsome, tall, and strong person. So it was natural for him to expect Demian to win the hunting festival.

On the other hand, Demian felt awkward at that admiring gaze.

Having rarely interacted with children in his life, he didn’t know how to react in this situation.

‘I probably shouldn’t say there’s no such thing as a sure thing in this world…right?’

Recalling their first meeting where he made Adrian cry, Demian brushed off the words that came to mind.

Glancing to the side, he saw Arasila already viewing him as a hunting festival rival and looking unwilling to help.

When their eyes met, she just gestured with her chin as if telling him to hurry up and answer.

“…Ahem, thank you. I’ll be sure to win.”

Demian awkwardly placed his hand on Adrian’s crown. His large hand made the child’s head seem too small, leaving his fingers feeling clumsy.

“Yes, elder brother!”

Fortunately it seemed to be an appropriate answer as Adrian smiled brightly. Demian briefly thought that this family’s smiles seemed to resemble each other.

“Ad, don’t you know your sister is participating too?”

Arasila interjected as she watched the heartwarming exchange between her brother-in-law and younger brother. She pinched her brother’s soft cheek.

“You’ve changed, haven’t you? How can you cheer for Demian and not your sister. Do you like my husband that much?”

“Ah, no, sister. That’s not it… I hope you win too!”

Adrian waved his hands and hurriedly made excuses. Arasila knelt down and pressed both of his cheeks.

“Ad, there can’t be two suns under the sky.”

“Huh?”

“Demian can only get second place. I’ll be the winner anyway.”

“We’ll see about that. Usually those who boast early on are the first to fall.”

Demian retorted, unwilling to lose. Arasila let go of her brother’s cheeks and stood up to look at her husband.

Iris rubbed her forehead at the competitive spark igniting in their exchanged glances.

“Arasila, Lord Vandermir. You two are a married couple, so you should be considerate and take care of each other. Winning the hunting festival comes after that, after.”

Though she advised them, it seemed Arasila and Demian weren’t listening.

As Iris’s sigh deepened, the Duke and Duchess appeared.

“Both of you, come back safely without getting hurt today. You know enjoying it is more important than competing, right?”

“Oh my, Ned. Didn’t you say before that it would be nice if one of them won? Yes, both of you have fun without overdoing it.”

Arasila and Demian obediently nodded, unable to continue their competition in front of Duke and Duchess Hugo.

Soon after, an announcement was heard for hunting festival participants to gather at the green tent.

Parting from their family, Arasila headed to the green tent alone with Demian. Other participants were also coming from all directions.

The area around the tent was quite crowded with young ladies lingering nearby, hoping for a last chance to give their handkerchiefs to participants.

As the two carefully avoided bumping into others, someone blocked their path.

“I pray for your victory in today’s hunting festival.”

The person who offered a handkerchief with a shy smile was none other than Nora White. She was dressed up as if attending a ball.

It contrasted with Arasila who had her hair tied back and wore hunting clothes without makeup.

“This is given as a sign of respect and support, so please don’t misunderstand.”

Nora’s eyes curved gently. It was meant for both Arasila and Demian to hear.

In reality, giving a handkerchief to hunting festival participants didn’t only have romantic implications. Some noble ladies gave handkerchiefs to promising young men as encouragement.

The difference in this situation was that Nora wasn’t a noblewoman of such standing, and the recipient was a married man of similar age.

‘Does she think we’ll let it slide if she says that?’

Arasila looked back and forth between Demian who stood motionless without accepting the handkerchief and Nora who stubbornly held it out.

Hmm. An outside woman giving a handkerchief that even the wife didn’t give, it does seem a bit off, right?

“Oh my, Lady White!”

Though Demian didn’t seem like he would accept it anyway, Arasila deliberately stepped in front of him. The surrounding gazes suddenly focused on them at her loud voice.

As Demian instinctively stepped back, Arasila and Nora came face to face.

“I had no idea you respected and supported me so much. Thank you, I’ll gratefully accept the handkerchief.”

Smiling as freshly as a crisp apple, Arasila swiftly took the handkerchief from Nora’s hand.

Nora, who had spent nights embroidering flowers to give it to Demian, was taken aback and dumbfounded.

“Who said I was giving it to you?”

“Anyone with sense wouldn’t give it to a married man, so of course it must be for me. You didn’t specify who it was for, after all.”

Of course, since Nora had clearly extended her hand towards Demian, there was no room for misunderstanding even without specifying.

But she hesitated to argue back with so many gazes focused on them. If she appeared too eager to give Demian the handkerchief, she might draw unwanted scrutiny.

‘Ah, but I don’t want to give that woman the handkerchief I worked so hard on!’

Noticing Nora’s dilemma of being unable to do this or that, Arasila gently placed a hand on her shoulder.

“I heard I’m the only female participant in today’s hunting festival. You must have known that and prepared this handkerchief for me.”

“…”

“Or did you really fall for me at first sight, like you said you would last time?”

Arasila cupped her chin just like when they met at the Vandermir mansion. It made her look as fresh as a flower blooming with morning dew.

“What nonsense-!”

“Anyway, I’ll make good use of the handkerchief, Lady White. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m in a hurry.”

Arasila bid farewell one-sidedly to the flustered Nora and grabbed Demian’s hand to pull him along. Demian followed her obediently.

Left alone, Nora could only watch the couple’s retreating backs.

She had intended to provoke the wife by giving the handkerchief to the husband in front of her, but instead ended up having her carefully made handkerchief taken away.

‘How annoying! I’m so annoyed I could die!’

Leaving the furiously fuming Nora behind, Arasila entered the tent and carelessly shoved the handkerchief into her pocket.

“Demian, take this.”

Then she untied the white ribbon in her hair and handed it to Demian.

“What is this?”

“Instead of a handkerchief.”

Originally Arasila hadn’t planned to give him anything, but seeing Nora offer the handkerchief just now changed her mind.

She realized that if she truly gave him nothing, some other young lady might slyly approach to offer a handkerchief.

Though they were a contract couple, they needed to prevent such things to some extent since they appeared to be in a good relationship publicly.

She also judged that showing support for her husband participating in the same competition would make their relationship seem closer.

Demian silently accepted the ribbon. With Arasila’s name embroidered on the end, it was immediately clear whose it was.

“Don’t people usually give hand-embroidered handkerchiefs?”

“My embroidery skills are terribly poor. You’re better off with this, don’t you think?”

Demian wordlessly tied Arasila’s ribbon to his sword hilt. Then he raised an eyebrow when he realized Arasila was still holding out her hand.

“Why are you still holding out your hand?”

“You should give me something too.”

“…?”

Demian looked at Arasila in confusion, not immediately understanding what she meant. Even without makeup, her cheeks and lips had a healthy red color that made her look vibrant.

After a few seconds of silence, Demian finally realized Arasila was telling him to give her a handkerchief or ribbon in return. He raised both hands.

“I don’t have anything to give.”

“Look carefully. If you really don’t have anything, tear off a piece of your clothes and give that.”

Arasila waved her hand like a creditor demanding repayment. With the competition about to start, Demian quickly looked himself over under the pressure to hurry.

He couldn’t really tear his clothes…

As he pondered, his gaze fell on the gloves he was wearing. Being right-handed, he took off his left glove and gave it to Arasila.

“This is the best I can do.”

“Well, not bad. I can tell it’s your glove from the red hawk emblem button.”

Since there was no rule that only the husband should receive support when a couple participated together, Arasila also accepted a handkerchief substitute in return.

The more obvious it was that they exchanged items, the more suitable it would be for displaying affection.

She put on the glove on her left hand with a satisfied expression. Though loose due to the hand size difference, it wouldn’t hinder her grip on her staff since she was also right-handed.

“The hunting festival will begin shortly! Participants, please exit the tent and prepare for departure!”

The royal attendant’s loud shout was heard. As they headed outside, Arasila spoke.

“Demian, I won’t go easy on you today just because you’re my husband, so be prepared.”

“That’s what I was hoping for. Don’t expect me to yield to you either, wife.”

Bwooooo-

The horn signaling the start of the hunting festival sounded. The participants all headed towards the forest at once.

Arasila and Demian also moved their feet simultaneously.

Meanwhile, Oscar, who had been standing in the corner of the tent, only sluggishly came out after everyone else had disappeared.

In truth, he hadn’t practiced at all for this hunting festival. He had just used practice as an excuse to avoid his mother’s eyes while going out to play with women every day.

So while it stung that Demian was a strong contender to win, he lacked the confidence to surpass him and was just going in circles in the same spot.

‘Damn, I’m not good at hunting. What should I do?’

As he sighed at the bow on his shoulder feeling as heavy as a thousand gold coins, the Duchess spotted her son lingering alone near the entrance and hurriedly approached to pat his shoulder.

“Oscar! What are you doing here?”

“Ah, Mother.”

Startled by his mother’s sudden appearance, Oscar hurriedly looked around for his father’s presence.

Fortunately, the Duchess was alone without her husband.

Oscar was relieved, knowing if his father had been there, he would have been scolded while having his ear grabbed.

“I asked what you’re doing here?”

“Do I really have to go hunting? Who can beat that brute Demian who’s only strong?”

Oscar grumbled, believing Demian was barbaric and clumsy, only good at physical tasks, while he himself was cultured and intellectual, the opposite.

The Duchess looked around and then whispered in a lowered voice.

“Don’t worry about that. We have something prepared. Demian absolutely cannot win. So go and catch as much game as you can!”