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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: Embraces and Hunting Invitations
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Meanwhile, the gazes around them shifted from curiosity to envy and amusement at the sight of the two embracing.
"Why do I obey the words of this pure white being?"
Masera felt Cynthia's arms wrapped around his waist and subtly pulled back. It was due to that troublesome signal known only to men.
From some point on, a betraying sensation unlike what his mind dictated began to creep into his body.
Because I'm a man, and she's a woman?
Still, I've never felt anything like this before.
What made Cynthia different from all the women he'd seen so far?
He clenched the hand resting on her back and sank into thought for a moment.
A woman he'd meant to torment, yet who tormented him instead. A woman adept at smiling as if unscathed.
Small and soft, yet unbreakable...
His dawn-hued eyes drifted toward her opal hairpin.
She wears it every day. She must like my gift. Next time, earrings...
Realizing he was unconsciously stroking her back, Masera hurriedly tried to pull his hand away.
But Cynthia tugged at the retreating Masera and spoke.
"Karos big brother is staying in the capital for a while. Seems like he's exchanging marriage proposals with a lovely lady."
That wasn't it. Karos nearly blurted out an excuse without thinking.
Lady Valeria had first expressed her interest and sent a marriage proposal, but he hadn't responded yet.
This time, he'd only brought her along as his partner to gauge Cynthia's reaction.
"Valeria Eldrin. That's right. There have been marriage talks with Prince Karos recently."
Valeria shyly smiled as she introduced herself to Masera.
Cynthia stifled her disgust at the "prince" remark and forced a smile.
At that moment, an elegant middle-aged lady appeared and offered a welcoming greeting.
"Thank you all for coming. You've had a long journey."
It was Major General Izac's wife.
As she exchanged greetings one by one, her eyes met Cynthia's.
"It's an honor to meet you, Princess. I heard my husband enjoyed an impressive dish at the official dinner."
Cynthia returned the greeting with a bright smile.
"Ah, the ratatouille?"
"He said mine didn't taste the same. I'd be grateful if you could share the recipe sometime."
Major General Izac's wife elegantly covered her mouth as she laughed.
Cynthia closely observed her as she continued greeting the others.
Izac's wife seemed particularly fond of Helen, grasping her hand and beaming widely.
"Princess Helen, that hunt the other day was so much fun, wasn't it?"
"Absolutely. I was truly impressed by your marksmanship that day."
The two had built a close friendship through frequent exchanges.
As a former soldier, Izac's wife was skilled with firearms and loved hunting enough to run her own hunting club.
For Cynthia, whose trigger was the sound of gunfire, getting close was practically impossible.
"It'd be great if Cynthia joined the Hunting Deer Club too, don't you think?"
Helen urged Cynthia with a smiling face.
In a nation where hunting dominated, it was an essential part of high society.
Among them, the Hunting Deer Club was an elite social gathering that every noble aspired to join.
She probably hasn't even learned to shoot, and I heard she trembled at the sound of guns when she tagged along to a hunt as an attendant before.
It was an invitation that spelled trouble whether accepted or declined.
"Unfortunately, my skills aren't up to par..."
Helen grabbed Cynthia's hand as she tried to slip away.
"It's not about marksmanship. It's for socializing. You could learn from Mrs. Izac."
Helen kept steering Cynthia toward the awkward path.
"No worries if you're not skilled, Princess. I'll teach you well. I'd love to see you more often."
Izac's wife smiled kindly.
Cynthia swallowed dryly and forced a nonchalant smile.
"All right, thank you."
It was something she couldn't avoid forever. Eventually, she'd have to overcome it.
Cynthia let out a sigh.
After a simple lunch, the guests headed to the colonel's private forest for the hunt.
Helen, changed into her riding habit, approached me and whispered lowly.
"Cynthia, do you know how to ride?"
A born maid like Cynthia learning to ride? Unlikely.
Helen pointed to a rest tent pitched off to the side.
"Plus, you hate the sun, right? I heard from big brother Karos. Rest in the tent."
It didn't feel like genuine concern.
Soon, people began mounting their horses and heading into the snow-covered white forest. I decided to stay behind in the tent with some tea.
There were others staying too, so chatting over dessert sounded nice.
"Is it all right if you stay here?"
Then Masera, shotgun slung over his back, approached and asked. He seemed worried I'd be startled by the gunshots.
"You're going deep into the forest, aren't you? If it gets tiring, I'll head to the villa."
He nodded and departed. As I quietly gazed at the snowy landscape, Karos rode up on his bay horse.
"Syndi, want to take a quick ride? I'll carry you."
"What about Lady Valeria?"
"She went ahead with her close lady friends."
He had something to say to me.
It was obvious he'd pester if I refused here, especially with eyes on us, so I agreed for now.
I could just ask him to go slow enough for my parasol.
"Hm?"
I realized my ever-present parasol was missing.
Did someone hide it? I looked up and spotted Helen in the distance, riding away with my parasol.
Damn! That parasol thief!
She knew I was weak to the sun and stole it on purpose!
At least it wasn't lost. I scratched my cheek.
"I probably can't ride for long. Might get motion sick."
Karos nodded and extended his hand.
I took it and mounted behind him.
Karos set the horse off at a leisurely pace.
A short while later, we turned onto a side path leading to an icy pond, and he dismounted.
I stepped down too, with his assistance, and asked,
"So, what did you want to say?"
Karos draped his coat over his shoulders, striking a dramatic pose, and said,
"I came to tell you that marriage seems unavoidable. I'm the eldest son set to inherit the family."
Why tell me this...?
"Then just do it."
To my indifferent response, Karos stepped closer and looked down at me.
"I've said it before—you've been acting strange. Why do you seem like a completely different person? It's not like you."
Because I am a different person!
"What is like me, then?"
I shot back with a classic rebellious line.
Karos grabbed my wrist and yanked me close.
"Did you lose your memory or something?"
"What...?"
"You seem to have forgotten I could drag you to the execution block anytime."
He was referring to the incident where the original Cynthia had accidentally killed her father.
I furrowed my brow.
"What, you think I've been scared and cowed because of that?"
"That's exactly why I'm asking. Ever since you came to the capital, you haven't shown a hint of fear."
True enough.
I tried shaking my arm free by twirling it, but it looked ridiculous, so I stopped.
"Go ahead and report me. But I won't die alone, you know?"
To do that, he'd have to reveal I wasn't the Queensguard Count's daughter, not royalty, and that it was a sham marriage.
"You think a one-dimensional threat like that would make me tremble?"
My words struck home; I could see him grit his teeth.
"What do you want out of this? Fake Dad hasn't said a word, so it seems like no issue at all."
I got Helen's "how dare a mere maid!" vibe and Edford's "then why'd you smile at me!" sulk.
But what was Karos's excuse for this pettiness?
"No, I..."
Suddenly, he released my hand and faltered. It was as if even he was grappling with cognitive dissonance.
"...I'm just worried you'll feel betrayed by my marriage and sabotage everything."
"As if. We're already in the same boat, aren't we?"
I glanced down at the translucent icy pond reflecting the sunlight and added,
"People's feelings change. Mine are completely different from before."
Karos's face twisted for a moment.
"No matter who I marry... you're fine with it?"
"Of course."
To my firm declaration, he stared intently, searching for any trace of a lie.
What happened next unfolded in an instant.
Suddenly, Karos yanked my arm and pulled me into his embrace.
I struggled to break free in disgust, but he held me fast.
"Let go!"
I bit down on his arm hard enough to draw blood.
Yet he didn't flinch, hugging me as if desperately seeking remnants of old emotions.
How much time passed like that?
"...You're right."
With a hollow voice, I saw blood staining his shirt.
"You've changed."
He released me from his arms, his expression vacant for a moment before he smiled again.
"Let's head back."
Meanwhile, some people far off had coincidentally witnessed Cynthia and Karos's embrace.
It looked just like an older brother consoling his little sister, who was upset and angry over his marriage.
"No way... So the scandal was true?"
The shocked woman lowered her hand from her mouth, revealing her excitedly upturned lips.
"The war hero, who doesn't just cherish his wife but fawns over her, actually has another man in his heart. And it's his own brother."
Standing behind the woman was the expressionless Valeria.
