Chapter 32: Chapter 32

Natalie answered confidently.

"Nothing."

"Natalie! Really? Not even a handkerchief?"

"I’ve always been this way. The men who offer me their game are usually so grateful if I hand them even a single rose petal."

"But this time, it’s the young marquis! He’s not going to offer you his game first… Actually, given how things went at the last banquet, you might manage, but still…"

Mother trailed off, her confidence faltering slightly. Natalie shrugged, looking smug, and Mother redirected her focus to me.

"Doris, what about you?"

"A handkerchief. Oh, it’s silk, of course!"

"From which region? What color is the embroidery? Did you include the Redfield family crest?"

"…"

Do I really need to think about all that?

Mother’s eyes narrowed sharply.

"You know how cliché a handkerchief is. That’s exactly why you need to pay extra attention—"

I was saved from further interrogation by the sound of barking from the carriage ahead.

"Woof! Woof!"

Father’s voice followed.

"Dear, it’s time to wrap it up! Our dogs are eager to sink their teeth into some deer!"

"Hah… Deer, my foot! Just make sure you don’t fall flat on your face. Our daughters will carry the Redfield family’s honor this year!"

Well, that’s not happening.

As Mother gave Father a wry smile, I couldn’t help but direct the same look at her. At the same time, the coachman urged the horses forward.

The hunting competition was held in Silver Helm, the forest adjoining the royal palace.

Though it was called a forest, half of it was mountainous. It looked like a mix of open fields and a mountain range inspired by Seoul’s Bukaksan behind the Blue House.

When we arrived at the Redfield camp, Father gave us a warning.

"Girls, don’t wander beyond the campsite into the mountains. I heard the ground’s unstable after the recent heavy rains."

"You be careful, too! Are you sure you’ll be okay?"

"I’ll be fine. If the others slip and fall, this might finally be my chance to avoid finishing dead last for once!"

As if. Are you planning to levitate or something?

Ignoring Father’s unfounded confidence, the servants began setting up the camp, assembling partitions and furniture. Natalie immediately threw herself onto the makeshift bed.

"This is so dull already. I wish women could participate in the hunt."

"Is there something you’d want to catch?"

"I’d like to test how far I can go firing an arrow at someone while pretending it was an accident. Especially with the excuse that the path was slippery this time."

"Get some rest."

Natalie, as consistent as ever.

With some time left before the opening ceremony, I stepped outside to explore.

The royal hunting grounds were dotted with dozens of camps set up far apart from each other. While the tents were similar in structure, the extravagance of the family banners and the size of the camps made it easy to guess each family’s standing.

The royal family’s camp stood out the most, with its vast area and the blue-maned lion flag fluttering majestically above it. The adjacent temporary stables were filled with enough horses to supply an army.

On the opposite side was Arthur’s camp. Though smaller, as it was meant for a single occupant, the northern duke’s pride was evident. The tent walls were adorned with enormous tapestries depicting white wolves, making the camp look almost like a shrine.

Then there was the Meyer family’s camp, tucked away in a corner.

I sighed at the sight of it.

Is this even a camp? It looks more like a heating tent for a studio apartment.

One gust from a wolf’s breath would probably send it flying.

Baron Meyer must have applied for the bare minimum accommodations, thinking it made him a "humble and kind" person. In reality, he was just a cheapskate, always bragging about how he "did his best" for his niece Maria while barely providing the essentials.

Not that it mattered much—Maria wouldn’t be spending much time there if things went as they did in the original story.

Still, since I was already here, I figured I’d say hello.

"Maria, are you in there?"

"Oh? Oh, my!"

Maria immediately emerged from the tent, her eyes sparkling.

"Doris! It’s been a while. Are your legs alright? Have you been well?"

"Perfectly fine. I was just escaping from our hunting dogs’ choir."

"Your father’s participating in the hunt, then?"

"I’m not expecting much from him. What about the Meyer family?"

Maria shook her head.

"Uncle is too old for such things. He just registered me to come and watch. Would you like to come in?"

Maria lifted the flap of her tent. The inside was bare, with a young maid nodding off in the corner. Startled by my unexpected arrival, the maid jumped to her feet.

"A-a guest! I’ll prepare tea… Oh, no. We don’t have tea… I’ll fetch some hot water!"

The maid dashed off with a kettle, leaving me feeling a bit guilty.

Maria, her cheeks slightly flushed, offered me a cushion.

"Please sit. I’m sorry I wasn’t better prepared to receive guests."

"There’s nothing to apologize for. Here, we’re all guests of the royal family. It’s just you and the maid representing the Meyers, right?"

I asked knowingly. Maria nodded, then hesitated before speaking.

"Rick is here too. But Uncle said he couldn’t afford Rick’s registration fee, so he’s working as a laborer helping to maintain the hunting grounds."

"That’s… dedicated."

"Right? Rick is such a diligent person! He said he wants to save up quickly and build a stable life."

That’s… not what I meant.

"Then you’ll have a chance to meet him when you’re bored?"

"No. Rick is here to work. If I approach him, it’ll only distract him, so I’m planning to avoid that."

Poor Rick.

While the maid was away, Maria carefully picked out tea leaves and spoke.

"The maid who just left is new, so she’s always nervous. I’m thinking of letting her rest at the house in the evening."

"Won’t you feel uneasy being alone?"

"Surely no ruffian would show up at a royal event, right? And if something happens, I’ll shout loudly, and someone brave will surely come to help."

I had my doubts.

The Meyer family’s camp was pushed so close to the forest that it wouldn’t be surprising if a snake slithered in.

Besides, in just a few hours, some scoundrel was definitely going to show up, hitting on her. And Maria wouldn’t even be able to scream properly.

Well, Rick will probably come to her rescue since he’ll be hanging around nearby.

But even if someone saves her, the emotional shock won’t be so easily undone.

"Maria."

"Yes?"

"If some bastard shows up, make sure to call me. I’d love to kick that jerk’s ass. Got it?"

Maria’s eyes went wide.

"What are you…"

"I’m serious. Promise me."@@novelbin@@

"Hahaha! You don’t have to worry so much… Okay, I’ll call you."

Maria smiled gently, and though her answer might have been half-hearted, it still gave me some relief.

I just wanted her to know that she had someone on her side.

To her, the young maid was someone to protect, and Rick was someone she shouldn’t burden.

A moment later, the maid returned with boiling water, and the three of us shared a modest amount of tea.

As we drank, I asked something that had been on my mind.

"Maria, have you prepared a gift for your hunter?"

"Yes, Uncle prepared a fine silk handkerchief for me. Want to see?"

"I’d love to!"

Maria untied the ribbon of a small box, revealing a white handkerchief. The sight of it made me feel relieved.

See, Mother? Even Maria prepared a plain silk handkerchief! Gifts can be simple; you didn’t have to criticize me so much…

…Wait.

It’s not plain at all.

"You embroidered it."

In the corner of the handkerchief, delicate yellow flowers were stitched with stems and leaves stretching gracefully, resembling Maria in a way. Beneath the flowers, white threads depicted a snowy field, turning the simple handkerchief into a beautiful canvas.

"It’s stunning…"

"Thank you. I heard that participants in the hunting competition often proudly show off the gifts they receive, so I put some extra effort into it."

Maria blushed as she looked at me.

"Do you have a gift ready, Doris?"

I did.

A plain white handkerchief that I hadn’t even bothered to personalize.

"Uh, well… I left it back at the camp. I’ll go grab it later!"

Thank goodness I hadn’t brought it with me.

If I’d shown it to Maria, she would’ve complimented it out of politeness, and that would’ve been even more embarrassing!

There was a reason I’d chosen such a basic gift, though.

Right before the hunting competition, I’d asked Natalie about the gift Doris gave Tristan last year, hoping to use it as a reference.

Natalie had frowned and replied bluntly:

"What are you talking about? You’ve never been to a hunting competition."

"Huh?"

"Tristan hasn’t sent you so much as a lark since his first competition debut. That’s why, even when you were old enough to attend, our parents kept you home. They didn’t want everyone to see their daughter getting nothing from her fiancé."

"…"

"Don’t think that just because he gave you a dress once, he’s suddenly turned over a new leaf."

Tristan had been inconsiderate from the start.

If we’d never exchanged gifts, then there was no point in having high expectations now. That’s why I’d settled on a simple handkerchief.

But would this really be okay?

Would Tristan sneer at it the moment he saw it?

…Or maybe…

He didn’t expect a gift from me in the first place.

Honestly, I kind of hoped that was the case.

Maria, unaware of my inner turmoil, smiled brightly.

"Then why don’t we go back to your camp together to fetch it?"