Chapter 39: Chapter 39

Marriage…

Thinking about it in concrete terms makes me uneasy.

Could I truly live well with Tristan?

‘With someone who doesn’t love me, and whom I don’t love?’

Sure, people in the Joseon dynasty married like that all the time, but I’m from the 21st century.

If we ever argued, would I even be able to voice my opinion to a royal?

I briefly imagined sitting across the dinner table from Tristan, bickering with him—and then my thoughts came to a screeching halt as I pictured his face while he drew back the bow earlier.

What am I supposed to do?

‘I think I’d forgive him just by looking at his face.’

Why does he have to be so unnecessarily handsome?!

Calm down. Life isn’t all about appearances. As soon as I talk to that arrogant man, any illusions I have will surely disappear.

Determined to face that reality, I turned toward the banquet hall… but paused mid-step.

‘What about Maria? Will she be okay?’

This is the exact point in the original story where a minor antagonist targets Maria.

A noble named Alex sneaks a wounded rabbit into the Meyer family tent. Maria, who’s alone, is startled. Alex uses her scream as an excuse to approach, claiming to offer help—until Rick shows up, grabs him by the collar, and throws him to the ground.

So far, the major events have played out just as they did in the original.

‘Except for a few meddling villains being more aggressive than I expected.’

Rick isn’t a villain, and he’s unquestionably devoted to Maria. He’ll definitely come to her rescue.

…Even so, I couldn’t shake my unease and found myself heading toward Maria’s tent.

Even if there’s a 99% chance the story follows its original path, what about the remaining 1%?

An isolated tent. A closed-off space. A strong, arrogant nobleman and a lower-ranking lady, alone.

In the worst-case scenario, the outcome is obvious—and Maria would bear the brunt of the damage.

I’ll just confirm that Rick saves her and then head to the banquet.

Though it was summer, the evening light was still bright, casting long shadows across the ground. I concealed myself beneath the shade of tall trees near Maria’s tent.

A young maid emerged first, speaking to Maria.

“Are you sure it’s okay for me to leave first?”

“It’s fine. Go help with the meal distribution and make sure you eat. If you don’t eat now, all that’ll be left after the banquet is the tasteless leftovers everyone avoids. Big parties are always like that.”

“Understood. Thank you!”

The maid bowed before scampering off.

I couldn’t help but admire Maria’s character again.

People who make sure others get something good to eat are truly kindhearted.

‘Be happy, Maria…’

Murmuring this silent wish, I nibbled on the snacks I’d brought.

They really were delicious. The tea party’s food, apparently ordered directly by the royal family, lived up to its reputation.

As the shadows deepened, the faint sound of footsteps crunching through grass reached my ears.

I tensed immediately.

‘He’s here.’

It wasn’t hard to identify him—the white rabbit squirming in his arms gave him away.

Alex… I couldn’t recall his full name, but he was definitely the son of a marquis.

He kept glancing over his shoulder as he approached Maria’s tent. The nearest tents were dozens of meters away, and most people were likely heading to the banquet, leaving the area deserted.

Satisfied that no one was around, he turned his gaze forward, a sly smirk spreading across his face.

He stopped in front of Maria’s tent.

Perhaps hearing his footsteps, Maria’s cautious voice called out.

“Who… is there?”

Alex didn’t reply. He simply lifted the rabbit higher, letting it struggle as blood dripped onto the ground.

Maria’s voice trembled slightly, as if sensing danger.

“Is someone there?”

Alex reached for the tent’s entrance.

In the excruciating seconds that followed, I focused all my attention, searching for a sign of Rick.

Rick Ray, where are you?

Alex crouched and shoved the rabbit into the tent’s narrow opening.

The rabbit tumbled in with a cry.

“Squeak!”

“Oh, oh? What is this…? Aah!”

Maria screamed, likely upon seeing the rabbit’s wound.

Outside, Alex chuckled, clenching and unclenching his fists in excitement. Meanwhile, my sweat-soaked palms gripped my clothes as I glanced around desperately.

Rick, when are you getting here?

This is the perfect chance to beat Alex to a pulp without Maria seeing!

Inside the tent, Maria tried to help the rabbit.

“Hold still, little one. Just stay there!”

But catching an injured, panicking rabbit is no easy task. While Maria was distracted, Alex stretched his arms, cracked his knuckles, and reached for the tent flap.

Rick! You owe me dinner for this!

I ran out, my thoughts racing.

Alex’s broad back grew closer.

Rick may be well-built, but I was just an average-sized woman fueled by sugar, butter, and flour. There was no way I could overpower Alex in one move.

But humans have tools.

In emergencies, memories from the original story can flash vividly in your mind.

*"A hunter must always remember that they can become the hunted. In this sense, Alex was the worst hunter of this tournament. Had he paid more attention to his surroundings, he might have noticed the large traps loosened by last night’s rain, lying scattered on the ground…

But it was too late.

The role of the hunter had now passed to Rick Ray, an uninvited participant in the hunt. Without hesitation, Rick picked up a fist-sized trap and—"*

Thwack!

Instead of Rick, I was the one who picked up the trap from the original story and swung it straight at Alex’s head.

…Did it work?

A moment later, the man who had been crouched in front of the tent began to sag, his knees buckling as he collapsed onto the muddy ground.

In the original, Rick had lifted him effortlessly and rolled him down a nearby slope to prevent him from falling into the tent. Of course, I lacked that kind of strength, so I had to use my entire body to shove him away.

"The rain from the previous night had made the ground slippery, which worked in Rick's favor. Without hesitation, he lifted the scoundrel and, as gracefully as a swan on a frozen lake, hurled him toward the slope…"

In contrast, I shoved Alex more like a duck—or a pyramid laborer hauling stones—with my whole body.

The slope loomed just ahead.

Below, a stream ran through the valley—a classic fictional danger zone where anyone who falls in is guaranteed to survive.

He won’t die.

He’ll just suffer a little.

Leaning into the slope, I shifted my weight and let my shoulders relax. Alex slid down the rain-slicked incline with a satisfying shhhrrrk…

“Ugh!”

But just before he tumbled all the way down, Alex regained enough awareness to grab my arm in a desperate clutch.

He’s coming to his senses.

But there’s no way I’m stopping now!

Without hesitation, I leaned down and bit his fingers as hard as I could.

The taste of dirt flooded my mouth.

“...!”

Alex yelped and let go, his hand flailing back. As he lost his grip, he slid further down the muddy incline.

His fingers clawed uselessly at the slippery ground, leaving long furrows in the muck. But the rain-soaked earth offered no hold, and his body continued its descent.

He tried to lift his head, perhaps to catch a glimpse of the person who had attacked him.

But I didn’t give him the chance.@@novelbin@@

I stomped my heel hard against the slope’s edge.

“Augh!”

Mud splashed onto his face, and that was the final blow. Alex fell, tumbling into the valley below.

Seconds later, a distant quack-like squawk reached my ears.

Don’t worry—he won’t die.

Almost immediately, the door to Maria’s tent opened. Flattening myself against the ground near the slope, I strained to listen.

“Is someone there?”

If Maria looked out, she might notice traces of my scuffle with Alex. But just as in the original story, the rabbit leaped from the tent and bolted toward the bushes.

“Oh, bunny!”

“Squeak!”

“That’s dangerous! Stay with me until the tournament ends!”

Maria chased after the rabbit into the underbrush. Seizing the opportunity, I quickly smeared mud over any suspicious footprints and backed away from the scene.

Ha… my clothes are a mess.

The maids had gone to such trouble preparing me for the banquet, and now my outfit was ruined. My skirt was soaked in mud up to the ankles.

I briefly considered returning to my tent to wash up.

‘But there’s no water left.’

Thanks to the Redfield family patriarch’s unfortunate tumble earlier in the day, all the bathwater had been used up. They’d said it would take time to fetch more.

With no spare formalwear, attending the banquet was officially out of the question.

‘At least I have an excuse now.’

Still, there was something I needed to do.

Where the hell is Rick?

And I also need to find Tristan…