TCBUP 03

3. The Hunting Tournament

[SYSTEM]

The second capture episode for male lead Damian Ortiz, Duke of Ortiz, has been completed.

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Now that the episode had ended, Damian’s affection for Lily must have definitely increased.

So it wouldn’t be wrong to say he hadn’t been completely faithful.

Of course, it’s only natural for him to be attracted to a woman who knows exactly how to target his weak points—especially when she’s clearly trying to win him over. Who could resist that?

“Let me think about it.”

“Young Lady.”

“Can you leave me alone? If I write an apology letter right now, I’ll only be pouring emotions into it—and that’ll just make things worse.”

“Ah, you’re right. Then I’ll bring you some warm tea. Try to calm down while you drink it.”

“Okay. But actually… bring something cold, please.”

After sending Mary away, I silently stared at the status window that had appeared in the air.

Rather than calming my emotions like Mary said, I was more focused on collecting my thoughts to write a review.

▶ Even if a character is just a throwaway extra, forcing them to act this childish and sloppy will absolutely ruin everything. Damn developers! If you’re not going to fix it, at least let me skip it!

One month later, the day of the hunting tournament arrived.

For Lily, this episode was a golden opportunity to raise affection in one go. For Sienna, it was a chapter of torment that would mark her with the disgrace of a broken engagement.

And for me? It was a glimmer of hope that I could finally escape the “death by shame” route.

“You look like you’re in a good mood.”

In the Hagrives family’s exclusive tent, the Countess gently struck up a conversation.

“Me?”

Was it that obvious?

Startled, I quickly fixed my expression.

“There’s no reason to be happy. Damian still barely contacts me, won’t meet me…”

As I lowered my head gloomily, the Countess let out a long, deep sigh.

Compared to the Count, who was assertive and loud, the Countess was timid, quiet, and rarely voiced her own opinion.

Whenever I was scolded by the Count, she would merely sigh beside him—never stepping in to either scold or support me. She was a thorough bystander.

“Sienna. Please behave yourself today. If you cause another incident, your father really won’t forgive you.”

“Yes, Mother.”

“Please, just live quietly for once. My head hurts because of you.”

“I’m sorry.”

After every scandal I caused, the Count would take out his leftover anger on the Countess instead.

He’d complain about how she raised me, ask what she was doing while I was misbehaving, and even say I turned out this way because I was just like her.

The Countess, lacking the courage to fight back, would relieve her stress through shopping.

The frugal Count, perhaps feeling guilty afterward, would allow her to spend freely—just that once.

Which meant, once today passed, the Countess would be going on a shopping spree.

Because ‘Sienna’ was about to commit a grand scandal that would simultaneously get her blacklisted in high society and have her engagement broken.

“Did you bring the handkerchief for the Duke of Ortiz?”

“Yes.”

Every year, a hunting tournament was held in the eastern forest of the capital. Though it wasn’t a large-scale event, it held a special meaning for unmarried nobles.

The tradition was for young women to hand their suitor a handkerchief with their own embroidered hopes for a safe hunt and a valuable catch. The men, in turn, would catch rare game and present it as a gift to their chosen lady.

It was both a matchmaking event and a battlefield of romantic entanglements, which meant endless gossip followed afterward.

“Let me see it.”

Maybe she felt uneasy because I wasn’t acting as excited as I had in previous years. The Countess reached out her hand, asking for the handkerchief.

When I hesitated, she gestured more firmly.

After a short back-and-forth, I reluctantly placed the folded handkerchief in her palm, making sure the embroidery side was hidden.

“…This is it?”

“Yes.”

“You’re really going to give this to the Duke of Ortiz?”

“Yes.”

The Countess stared at me like she wasn’t sure if I had handed her the wrong one.

But when I firmly repeated that it was the right one, she began turning it over, inspecting it closely, clearly flustered.

That made sense.

There were no strict embroidery rules, but usually people stitched the crest of the recipient’s noble house.

I had considered it, but the Ortiz crest was far too complicated to finish in one day after procrastinating for so long. I had to give up early on.

Instead, I just embroidered a single pink tulip.

The reason was simple.

I liked tulips, and ‘Sienna’ liked the color pink.

“No matter how you feel, this is a bit…”

Her expression said she didn’t understand why I’d suddenly changed when I used to work so hard on the embroidery.

I feigned ignorance and took the handkerchief back.

“Well, I’ll go give it to Damian now.”

My expression must have lit up unconsciously at the thought of seeing Damian—even though it wasn’t really my will—because I could feel the episode had officially started.

With the handkerchief in hand, ‘Sienna’ stood up.

“Alright, go ahead.”

The Countess sent me off with a wave.

I wanted to beg her to stop me. To hold me back.

But once an episode begins, I can’t do anything except follow the script.

‘Why is that man here?’

On the way to Damian’s tent, I spotted a familiar face.

It was the man who had treated me like a crazy woman.

Unlike the other nobles in elegant suits holding hunting rifles, he wore plain black clothes for easier movement. In his hand was a short musket, and his leather chest holster held a pistol and dagger.

Now that I looked more closely, there were several men dressed like him stationed throughout the area.

‘Security? Guards? Something like that.’

It made sense. With love triangles and guns involved, a serious security team was definitely necessary.

But despite looking in his direction, my feet didn’t stop.

When my neck started to hurt, I forced myself to look forward again.

And entered the tent of Duke Damian Ortiz.

“Damian. I’m here.”

“Oh, Sienna.”

“I came to give you the handkerchief.”

“Thank you.”

Maybe it was because we did this every year, but Damian didn’t seem particularly moved.

While ‘Sienna’ blushed bashfully, Damian looked at the simple tulip embroidery with slight surprise.

Still, he quickly shoved it into his jacket’s inner pocket.

“Damian?”

‘Sienna’ had reached out to tie the handkerchief around his wrist, as was tradition for fiancées, but froze mid-movement.

But Damian didn’t even give her the chance—he had already stuffed it away.

“Um…”

Flustered, ‘Sienna’ looked hurt, her face growing redder.

She started fidgeting with her fingers nervously, and something caught her eye.

Inside the cuff of Damian’s sleeve… another handkerchief.

‘Sienna’s voice instantly turned sharp.

“What’s that?”

“Nothing.”

Damian casually pulled his sleeve down.

But ‘Sienna’ was faster and grabbed his wrist.

“I knew it. What is this? You got this from someone else, didn’t you? Who? Lily again? Is it her?”

“Sienna. Let go.”

“I knew it! And you still say nothing’s going on between you two? What exactly have you two been doing for you to get this?”

“Sienna.”

“That’s why you’ve been ignoring me all this time, right?”

Before Damian could respond, ‘Sienna’ stomped her feet and yelled loudly.

At that moment, someone lifted the tent flap and walked in.

“Your Grace, I brought the— Sienna?”

Holding a white basket, Lily froze when she saw her.

As soon as she did, ‘Sienna’ shrieked.

“You sneaky little fox!”

Blinded by rage, she grabbed Damian’s hunting rifle that had been leaning against the tent wall.

There was no time for Damian to stop her. The muzzle now pointed straight at Lily.

Startled, Lily instinctively stepped back.

“Sienna. Put the gun down.”

It was loaded for the tournament and too heavy for her to hold properly—especially since she didn’t even know how to use it. It was dangerous.

Damian stepped forward and reached out his hand.

“Give it to me. It’s dangerous.”

“You’re siding with her again?”

“Think about what you’re doing right now.”

“Like I don’t know?”

But ‘Sienna’ refused to lower the gun, her hands trembling.

Damian moved to shield Lily.

Now the gun was aimed straight at his chest.

But ‘Sienna’ stubbornly refused to back down.