“I apologize, Your Majesty.”

He stepped back with one foot and bowed respectfully to apologize.

Soon the announcer shouted in a booming voice.

“Then the jockeys, please take your positions!”

(This is the time separator.)

‘Please, let nothing happen!’

Adel clasped her hands and prayed tightly.

Until yesterday, there was no competition between Christine and Stone. But this final game was going to be the fight between Christine and Stone, as everyone expected. Moreover, it was an offfield game, not a race that everyone was watching.

She was worried that cunning Stone might play some tricks where people’s eyes wouldn’t reach.

At that time, the jockeys drove the horses and passed in front of Adel one by one. Unlike ordinary citizens, the nobles were sitting in the designated seats around the riding arena. And Adel was seated next to the stage where the jockeys were most visible, along with the Empress and her daughter, Seira, and others.

Suddenly, Stone, who had gained popularity in this competition, stopped his horse as he passed in front of Adel. It was natural that people’s eyes were drawn to his action.

He lifted his feathered hat and bowed respectfully to Adel.

With a triumphant smile, as if promising victory to his lady.

The smile took Adel’s breath away, and she felt a chill.

‘What does that smile mean?’

She didn’t even hear the murmurs of people looking at them both.

It was then.

Christine came galloping between them on his horse, leaped lightly off it. Cheers flowed everywhere for his graceful and beautiful action. Jumping over the fence, he came to Adel, knelt on one knee, and kissed the back of her hand.

“Wow!”

When exclamations were heard here and there, Adel finally came to her senses. And she realized that now was showtime. She had to imprint on people that she and Christine were the best lovers.

Adel embraced his cheek and kissed him gently. It was embarrassing, and her face was hot, but just the thought of Stone’s twisted expression gave her a strange pleasure.

“Isn’t that too hot for show?”

As the kiss ended, he whispered, wiping Adel’s lips with his finger.

With a flushed face, she glanced at him prettily.

“You don’t have to win, just come back safely.”

“My goal is not to win.”

“Then?”

He responded with a wink and jumped back over the fence. The intense love act between the two had long overshadowed Stone’s presence. Adel was a little sorry she hadn’t seen what expression he had made.

And the noble ladies around were not just quietly watching.

“I’m really envious, Lady Adel.”

“Indeed. Adel must feel a bit strange. Once she was with Oswald, but now she’s rooting for Vice.”

The noblewomen around Adel chattered as if she had been Stone’s woman and then changed her mind for Christine.

Even the Empress chimed in.

“Don’t just be envious, learn something. Whether it’s innate or polished, I don’t know.”
Adel bowed her head politely, pretending not to understand their insinuations.

“If you wish to learn, I am willing to teach you. Of course, the natural part is more significant.”

At her provocative response, the women stared at Saira with unnecessary coughs. But the Saira, who was seated next to the empress, just smiled quietly, waving her fan. Normally, she would have attacked Adel more than anyone.

“Adel, no matter what you do, do you think your husband will let you go?”

Saira was recalling the ominous words Stone had said just before he entered the game.

“It doesn’t matter who Vice Count is. The dead can’t do anything.”

“Don’t touch him? No. He’s the emperor’s right arm. If you mess with him, you’ll incur His Majesty’s wrath.”

“Well, even if you offer a better card, will the emperor really be angry?”

“Did you talk to the emperor?”

“That’s a secret.”

Bwoooooo!

The horn sound signaling the start of the game was heard.

The four riders began to rush forward.

(Time separator)

Stone was the first to lead, and Christine followed at a distance. The other two were not seen, having gone different ways.

Stone was heading towards the Wolf’s Valley. It is said to have been named that because wolves used to appear frequently there before the imperial palace was built.

The opportunity seemed to come sooner than expected.

There was only one way up the Wolf’s Valley, and there were many cliffs.

Even the most skilled rider could slip off the cliff with his horse. The entire area was slippery with snow and ice, which had fallen heavily not long ago.

And today, Stone would become like that.

Once you climb that hill, there was an old hut used as a guard post. It was a suitable place for the emperor to hide his treasure, so Stone would surely dismount and start searching from there.

It was a perfect place to get rid of him.

Thinking of what that guy had done to Adel, it seemed that killing him in one stroke would be too merciful. But if the nobles who were to follow caught a hint, it would be a headache, so it was best to end it quickly.

Christine increased her speed to catch up closely.

As expected, Stone, who had arrived in front of the guard post, dismounted and went into the hut.

Christine also gently jumped down from her horse at a distance and approached, muffling her footsteps.

Upon arriving at the guard post, she grabbed the sword at her waist with one hand, and the door handle with the other.

“……?”

For a moment, she felt something strange.

She couldn’t detect Stone’s movements inside. If he was looking for the emperor’s treasure, he should have been bustling around by now, but she couldn’t even hear his breath. But his unpleasant stench was clearly present.

That’s when it happened.

“Heh!”

A thin laughter was heard.

It was an unpleasant sound, like laughter that had been held back and burst out.

‘Did he expect me to follow him?’

Stone was cunning and intelligent. Perhaps he was waiting inside, having set a trap.

Then Christine’s lips turned cold.

‘This is getting interesting.’

After all, it might have been disappointing if it had been dealt with too easily.