A few hours ago.

Edric left his office to get some fresh air.

‘You know that night was just a one-night stand, right? Who would think about the future over one night?’

Melly’s words echoing in his ears kept clawing at Edric’s heart.

As he turned the corner of the corridor leading to the central staircase, Edric almost collided with Oz, who was coming from the opposite direction carrying a load of laundry.

“I… I’m sorry, Your Excellency.”

Thanks to Edric catching her, she didn’t fall. She only dropped the laundry.

She apologized with a bow and hurriedly gathered the scattered laundry back into the basket.

Edric, who was about to pass by indifferently, stopped. He recognized those clothes as Melly’s out-of-season garments.

“Are you coming from Melly?”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

“What is Melly… doing right now?”

He hoped she was at least a little troubled by his thoughts.

“She was having a snack, sir.”

Oz, unaware of the situation, could only tell the truth.

Edric was dumbfounded.

‘So she can eat snacks, I see.’

While he couldn’t focus on his work.

Edric could truly confirm that Melly had no interest in his proposal.

To Melly, he was really just a one-night stand man…

“Then I’ll be on my way, sir.”

Oz bowed politely and went on her way.

Only then could Edric wake up from his humiliation.

He was a man who knew the priorities of his work.

Anger or humiliation were of no help in this situation. He needed to figure out what was wrong with what he had done, why Melly felt no attraction to him, and what he should do next.

The thought of giving up on her was not an option in his choices.

Edric intended to seek a solution while taking a slow walk.

It was when he was about to move.

A checkered notebook fallen on the floor caught his eye.

It seemed to have fallen from Oz’s laundry basket.

“Here…”

He turned to call Oz. But suddenly remembering whose laundry was in the basket, he stopped.

Edric picked up the notebook and opened it.

‘As expected.’

It was Melly’s handwriting.

The year was written, and most entries began with ‘I’, so it appeared to be her diary.

‘Did Melly keep a diary?’

It was the first time he knew this fact.

Well, was that the only thing he didn’t know about Melly?

Edric closed the notebook. Then, after confirming that no one was around, he returned to his quarters.

Sitting in his private living room, Melly’s neat diary that he viewed under candlelight was more intriguing than any book he had ever seen.

Because he was in it.

On most pages, no, every four or five lines, his name appeared.

The dates were sporadically entered from ten years ago until now, and judging by the changes in handwriting, it wasn’t a false record.

Melly liked him.

“Haa.”

The corners of his mouth lifted involuntarily.

Just a few minutes ago, he was agonizing as if the world had collapsed. But now, now he couldn’t stop smiling, feeling as if he owned the world.

‘Melly Enwood, you deceived me so perfectly.’

Edric rose from his seat in a good mood.

He intended to go and return the diary to her, then propose again.

But just as he was about to turn the doorknob, he changed his mind.

‘Why should I do that?’

It seemed much more advantageous not to.

He slowly removed his hand from the doorknob.

Returning to the armchair and opening the diary again, his face was now full of composure.

Now he will calmly think about it.

How he can repay this cute woman for the terrible torture she had inflicted on him over the past few hours.

And he must also think about this.

How he can effectively utilize this diary.

A moment later, he pulled the bell rope to summon Wilson.

“Your Excellency, you called?”

“Prepare for hunting.”

Wilson turned his gaze to the window.

“At this hour of night?”

He asked again with a worried face.

“Has something bad happened again?”

‘That’s exactly the thought I want everyone to have.’

Edric didn’t answer like that.

“Well, something like that.”

“Ah… I understand. I’ll prepare right away.”

As Wilson left, Edric approached the mahogany collection cabinet on one side of the office.

Opening both doors revealed various weapons including guns and swords.

‘What should I choose?’

Edric’s gaze, slowly scanning, suddenly stopped at one spot.

He took it out and slung it over his shoulder.

The bow, which required predicting everything from vital points to range of motion and even the wind, was truly alluring. More so than his specialty of hunting with a gun.

The soft touch of the arrow fletching tickling his cheek was pleasant. The wriggling movement of the arrow flying like a loach as soon as the bowstring was released, and the thrill of it piercing the prey’s vital point in a gentle parabolic trajectory were exhilarating.

Completely absorbed in this unexpected enjoyment, he strayed far from his originally planned return time.

When he realized this, the light drizzle had already turned into quite heavy rain.

“Wouldn’t it be better to return now, sir?”

Wilson said. Edric, who was already thinking the same, released the drawn bowstring.

“That would be best.”

“What should we do with the caught game?”

“Skin the leopard and marten, bury the rest.”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

While Wilson followed the instructions, Edric pulled the arrows from the bodies of the game and returned them to his quiver.

The blood and flesh clinging to the arrowheads were quickly washed away by the pouring rain.

The appearance of the rain was ominous.

The wind was also intensifying.

It seemed a storm was about to hit.

He brushed back his rain-soaked bangs and quickly scanned the surroundings. It was to check the way back.

But a fleeting image interfered with his purpose.

He turned his gaze back to where he had seen something. But there was nothing there.

‘Did I see wrong?’

He tilted his head. Just then, lightning struck and the surroundings became as bright as day.

“……”

Edric’s eyes widened.

Less than thirty paces away was a boar as big as a house. Its tusks were as sharp as spear tips.

“Your Excellency, it’s all done.”

Wilson, who had perfectly carried out Edric’s instructions, said with a proud face.

“Don’t move.”

“……Pardon?”

“I said don’t move!”

But it was already too late. Wilson had already taken a step towards Edric.

Realizing that the two objects were living creatures, the boar hesitated no longer.

It revealed a terrifying aggression and leapt forward at a ferocious speed.

“Get down!”

At Edric’s command, Wilson threw himself to the ground.

Edric quickly nocked an arrow to his bowstring.

But by the time the arrow’s fletching touched his cheek, the beast was already right in front of him.

The range was too short to plant an arrow instead of a bullet.

The arrow only made a small scratch on the beast’s wet body before falling to the ground.

Fortunately, the boar with poor eyesight charged at the old tree next to Edric, mistaking it for the target.

While its tusks were stuck in the tree, unable to move, Edric dealt with the beast using the dagger at his waist.

Wilson, standing up on shaky legs, said:

“That was truly amazing, Your Excellency.”

Then he pointed at the prey that had died with its tusks stuck in the tree.

“Shall we bury this too?”

“No, there’s no need for that.”

He didn’t want to waste any more time.

Wilson looked at his master, who calmly dispatched the monster even in such a tense situation, with eyes full of reverence. In his eyes, Edric was becoming more and more great with each passing day.

Just then, lightning struck again and the surroundings brightened.

“Y-Your Excellency.”

Wilson pointed at Edric’s body with a trembling finger.

One side of his waist was stained red.

“Your Excellency, you’re… injured.”

The boar might have had poor eyesight, but it wasn’t stupid.

If the distance between the old tree and Edric hadn’t been that close, it wouldn’t have mistaken its target.

The tusk had grazed Edric’s side.

Unlike Wilson who had turned pale, Edric spoke calmly.

“It’s just a scratch, don’t make a fuss.”

He wanted to go home now. Melly would be waiting.

“No, you must go to the hospital right now for treatment.”

“I’ll call a doctor tomorrow.”

“It must be now.”

The usually obedient Wilson was uncharacteristically insistent.

Though he flinched at Edric’s sharp gaze, he didn’t back down.

“M-My uncle also died after being gored by a boar’s tusk while hunting. Just like Your Excellency, he insisted he was fine, that it was just a scratch, but he died of tetanus three days later.”

“……”

It wasn’t wrong.

Edric had heard of a few cases where people had underestimated being bitten by wild animals and met with misfortune, but he hadn’t considered it because he was certain it wouldn’t happen to him.

But he wanted to go back quickly. He had things to do too.

“Please be hospitalized for treatment. I’ll inform the household.”

“……”

Suddenly, Edric’s mind started working quickly. It seemed there was no need to do what he had to do at home.

“No, there’s no need for that.”

Edric said.

“An injury sustained while hunting is not at all honorable. Just say I went on a business trip.”

“I… I understand.”

It seemed unnecessary, but well… He must have his reasons.

To Wilson, who nodded in understanding, Edric said:

“You can tell Melly.”

“……”

“If she asks, that is.”

Of course she will ask.

By now, she’ll be pacing in front of her room window. She knows better than anyone what night hunting means to me.

A smile appeared on Edric’s lips as he quietly imagined what would follow.

Wilson looked puzzled at the happy smile that didn’t fit this situation at all.