* * *
Meanwhile, the gazes around them changed to envy and laughter at the embrace of the two.
‘Why do I find myself following the words of this snow-white being?’
Masera slightly pulled back his body as he felt Cynthia’s arms wrap around his waist. It was due to a troublesome signal that only men know.
At some point, he felt a rebellious feeling different from his mind was creeping into his body.
Is it because I’m a man and she’s a woman?
‘But I’ve never felt like this before.’
What was different about Cynthia compared to the women he had seen before?
He clenched the hand on her back and fell into thought for a moment.
A woman who tormented him rather than being tormented as he intended, a woman skilled at smiling as if she wasn’t hurt.
Small and soft, but not breakable…
His dawn-like eyes turned to her opal hairpin.
‘She wears it every day. Does she like my gift? Next time, earrings…’
Masera hurriedly tried to withdraw his hand when he realized he was unconsciously stroking her back.
Then Cynthia pulled back the retreating Masera and said,
“Bother Carlos says he’ll be staying in the capital for a while. It seems he’s in marriage talks with the beautiful lady next to him.”
That’s not it. Carlos almost involuntarily tried to explain.
Lady Valeria had first expressed interest in him and sent a marriage proposal, but he hadn’t given an answer yet.
This time, he had only brought her as a partner to gauge Cynthia’s reaction.
“I’m Valeria Eldrin. That’s right. There have been marriage talks with Prince Carlos recently.”
Valeria introduced herself to Masera with a shy smile.
Cynthia forced a smile while feeling nauseous at the “Prince” remark.
Just then, an elegant middle-aged lady appeared and gave a welcoming greeting.
“You must all be tired from coming here.”
It was Major General Isaac’s wife.
As she exchanged greetings with each person one by one, her eyes met Cynthia’s.
“It’s an honor to meet you, Princess. I heard my husband had an impressive dish at the official residence dinner.”
Cynthia smiled brightly as she returned the greeting.
“Ah, the Ratatouyou?”
“He says when I make it, it doesn’t taste the same. Please do share the recipe next time.”
Major General Isaac’s wife covered her mouth with one hand and laughed gracefully.
Cynthia observed her intently as she went on to greet others.
Isaac’s wife seemed to particularly like Helene, even clasping her hands with a broad smile.
“Princess Helene, wasn’t the hunt that day so much fun?”
“Of course. I was amazed by your shooting skills that day, madam.”
The two had become close friends through frequent interactions.
As a former soldier, Isaac’s wife was skilled at shooting and loved hunting so much that she ran a hunting club.
For Cynthia, who had gunshots as a trigger, there was practically no chance to become close.
“It would be nice if Cynthia came along to the Deer Hunting Club too, what do you think?”
Helene suggested to Cynthia with a smiling face.
In this country where hunting was prevalent, it was essential in high society.
Among them, the Deer Hunting Club was a special social gathering that every noble wanted to join.
‘She’s probably never learned to shoot, and I heard she trembled at the gunshots when she went to the hunting grounds as a maid before.’
It was a troublesome suggestion whether she agreed or not.
“Unfortunately, my skills aren’t very good…”
Helene grasped Cynthia’s hand as she tried to subtly decline.
“We don’t gather based on shooting skills. It’s for socializing. It would be good to learn from Madam Isaac.”
Helene kept pushing Cynthia into a difficult position.
“It’s alright if you’re not good, Princess. I’ll teach you well. I hope we can see each other often from now on.”
Isaac’s wife smiled kindly.
Cynthia swallowed dryly and forced a casual smile.
“Alright, thank you.”
I can’t avoid it forever anyway. It’s a problem I’ll have to overcome eventually.
Cynthia sighed.
* * *
After a light lunch, the guests headed to the forest owned by the Major General to have hunting time.
Helene, who had changed into riding clothes, approached me and whispered softly.
“Cynthia, do you know how to ride a horse?”
There’s no way Cynthia, born a maid, would have learned horseback riding.
Helene pointed to a resting tent off to one side.
“Besides, don’t you dislike sunlight? I heard from Brother Carlos. Rest in the tent.”
It doesn’t seem like she’s really worried about me.
Soon people began to ride horses into the snow-covered white forest, and I decided to stay in the tent and have tea.
There are other people staying behind too, so I can chat and eat desserts.
“Is it alright if I stay here?”
Just then, Masera approached with a hunting rifle on his back. He seemed concerned I might be startled by the gunshots.
“Aren’t you going deep into the forest? If it gets tiring, I’ll go back to the villa.”
After he nodded and left, I was quietly looking at the snowy landscape when Carlos, riding a grayish-brown horse, called out to me.
“Cindy, won’t you come for a short ride? I’ll give you a lift.”
“What about Lady Valeria?”
“She went ahead with her close lady friends.”
It seemed he had something to say to me.
It was obvious he would persistently nag even if I refused here, and there were eyes watching, so I agreed for now.
I could just tell him to ride slowly enough that I could use a parasol.
“Hm?”
I realized the parasol I always carried was gone.
Did someone hide it? I raised my head and focused my gaze in the distance.
Soon I discovered Helene riding away on horseback, using my parasol.
‘Eek! That parasol thief!’
Knowing I’m weak to sunlight, she deliberately stole my parasol!
At least it’s not lost. I scratched my cheek.
“I don’t think I can ride for long. I might get motion sickness.”
At my words, Carlos nodded and held out his hand.
I took his hand and got on behind him.
Carlos slowly started the horse.
After a while, he got off the horse when we entered a side path with an icy pond.
I also got off with his help and asked,
“What did you want to say?”
Carlos, draping his coat over his shoulders and deliberately setting the mood, said,
“I wanted to tell you that the marriage seems unavoidable after all. I’m the eldest son who will inherit the family.”
I don’t know why he’s telling me this…
“Then do it.”
At my unenthusiastic response, Carlos came closer and looked down at me.
“I’ve been saying it’s strange for a while, but why do you seem like a completely different person? It’s not like you.”
Because I am a different person!
“What’s ‘like me’?”
I asked back with a rebellious cliché line.
Then Carlos grabbed my wrist and pulled me close.
“Did you lose your memory or something?”
“What…”
“You seem to have forgotten that I could put you on the execution stand at any moment.”
He’s talking about the incident where the original Cynthia accidentally killed her father.
I frowned.
“What, did you think I was intimidated and cowed because of that?”
“I’m asking because that’s not the case? You haven’t been cowed even once since coming to the capital.”
That’s true.
I tried to twist my arm to shake off his hand, but stopped because it looked a bit silly.
“Go ahead and report it. But I won’t die alone, you know?”
To do that, you’d have to reveal that I’m not Count Queensguard’s daughter, not royalty, and that I committed marriage fraud.
“Do you think I’d tremble at such a one-dimensional threat?”
Struck by my words, I could see him gritting his teeth.
“What do you want that you’re doing this? From what I see, fake father doesn’t seem to have any problem with it?”
I understand Helene’s feelings of ‘How dare a mere maid!’, and Edford’s feelings of ‘If you were going to be like this, why did you smile at me!’
But I was just curious why Carlos was being so spiteful.
“No, I…”
Suddenly he let go of my hand and started to falter. It seemed he too was experiencing cognitive dissonance.
“…I’m just saying this in case you feel betrayed by my marriage and ruin things.”
“That won’t happen. We’re already in the same boat, aren’t we?”
I looked down at the opaque icy pond reflecting the sunlight and added,
“People’s feelings change. I mean my feelings are completely different from before.”
For a moment, Carlos’s face contorted.
“You’re saying… you don’t care at all who I marry?”
“Of course.”
At my assertion, he stared at me intently as if trying to find even a hint of lie.
What happened next was instantaneous.
Suddenly, Carlos pulled my arm and embraced me in his arms.
I tried to break free in disgust, but I was held captive without being able to move.
“Let go!”
Crunch.
I even bit Carlos’s arm hard enough to draw blood, but he held me without moving.
As if trying to find remnants of emotion.
How long had it been like that?
“…I see.”
Along with a dejected voice, I could see blood spreading on his shirt.
“You’ve changed.”
He let me go from his arms and wore an empty expression before smiling again.
“Let’s go back.”
* * *
Meanwhile, there were people who happened to see the scene of Cynthia and Carlos embracing from afar.
“Oh my… This can’t be.”
As the woman who covered her mouth in surprise lowered her hand, her upturned corners of her mouth revealed her excitement.
“To think that the wife, whom the war hero cherishes and dotes on to no end, is having an affair. And with her own brother, no less?”
Behind the woman stood Valeria with an expressionless face.
