Chapter 22
A maid named Silla bowed deeply and greeted them politely.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. My name is Silla.”
Gloria gave a small nod in return, then turned to Diana and whispered,
“But isn’t she too young? I don’t remember seeing her face when I visited your house.”
“Oh, she joined our household about a year ago, I think? She’s sixteen or seventeen.”
“I don’t want to interfere—it’s your household and your decision—but… You’re not keeping someone who’s been with you longer by your side?”
Gloria’s tone hinted at caution, as if she didn’t want to overstep. Diana smiled, squeezed her arm lightly, then let go.
“Who else but you could say something like that to me? I don’t mind—it’s because it’s you. And Silla came on the recommendation of the head maid. When she joined us, she brought several letters of recommendation.”
“At that age?”
Gloria asked, still skeptical.
If she was skilled enough to earn recommendations, she should’ve stayed in one place for a long time. Why hop from place to place? If she was truly good at her job, at least one household would’ve offered her better pay to make her stay.
After all, just as it’s hard for maids to find a good workplace, it’s also hard for employers to find competent help.
“Apparently she got scouted a few times. And in the long run, I don’t plan to keep her by my side—I want her to assist Roil. The head maid already helps me a lot.”
“By Roil’s side?”
“Yeah. I’m going to train her a bit, then assign her to Roil. He needs someone trustworthy to stay by his side. Let’s be honest—Rette’s already mentoring the boys. For the girls, I’m thinking of this one. So far, she seems smart and reliable.”
It was hard to argue with Diana’s reasoning, especially since it involved her child. Gloria glanced at Silla discreetly.
Something about her feels off. But… it’s not like my instincts are always right. I’m sure Diana knows what she’s doing.
“Lia!”
From behind the two women, who were now affectionately arm-in-arm again, Gerald’s booming voice rang out. Seeing his signal, Gloria and Diana walked over to join their husbands.
Gerald and Rette, each holding two sets of reins, handed one to each of the ladies.
“Shall we head out?”
Rette grinned mischievously and jerked his chin toward the woods. The knights, catching his signal, rode ahead and dispersed into the forest.
As the knights disappeared into the trees, Gloria and Diana swung up onto their horses with ease.
“Let’s go!”
With Gloria’s cheerful shout, the two of them entered the woods first. Gerald and Rette exchanged a glance, then followed behind.
Poooooo—!
After they had gone in some distance, the sound of a horn rang out nearby—a signal that game had been found.
They turned their horses toward the sound. When they arrived, they saw a wild boar. Hidden in the brush, the boar was too preoccupied watching the surrounding knights to notice their approach.
“Perfect for a first catch.”
Gloria pulled out three arrows and loaded them all onto her bowstring at once.
Even from atop a slowly moving horse, she expertly aimed at the boar. When she released, all three arrows flew true, striking its snout and chest.
The boar faltered but remained standing on all fours. With a scoff, Gloria loosed one more arrow.
This time, it struck squarely in the middle of its forehead. The boar collapsed instantly. Nearby knights began approaching to retrieve it.
“As expected, you haven’t lost your touch.”
“Please. Even if she were rusty, a boar like that wouldn’t be a problem for Lia.”
Rette and Diana praised Gloria as they examined the boar. It was massive—almost the size of a house—and though it was barely breathing, it was still alive.
“Oh dear. Poor thing.”
With pity in her eyes, Diana drew a dagger and plunged it into the back of the boar’s neck. Gloria scratched her jaw, slightly unnerved by the gap between her gentle words and decisive action.
“I’ll never get used to you doing that.”
“It just looks like it’s in pain. Better to let it rest quickly.”
Saying that, Diana accepted the dagger that another knight had just pulled from the boar’s neck. She looked like she was debating whether to skin it now.
“Diana, go ahead and leave it. We’re going to catch more. It’ll be too much to carry if you start skinning it now.”
“True, that makes sense.”
She wiped the blade and returned it to its sheath.
“Since the ladies showed their skills, maybe it’s our turn now?”
Gerald rolled his neck once and led the way with Rette.
Diana quickly mounted her horse and rode beside Gloria.
“Didn’t bring throwing knives today?”
“Oh, I did.”
Gloria discreetly pulled one from her coat.
“Come to think of it, isn’t Lord Yuzeph odd? Who teaches throwing knives to a princess?”
“Didn’t I tell you? I begged him. At first, he only taught me archery, but I kept pestering him for over a year, saying, ‘A princess can’t walk around with a bow all the time—teach me something I can hide in my clothes.’”
“…He put up with your whining for a whole year? Even His Majesty only lasted half that long.”
“That was my second-best record.”
She slung her bow over her shoulder.
“Speaking of throwing knives…”
Diana suddenly tightened her grip on the reins, causing her horse to slow. Gloria did the same and looked at her.
“What’s wrong?”
“I think Roil and Ellen have been teaching each other knives and throwing stars. Near your estate.”
“Oh, that?”
When Diana lowered her voice, Gloria did the same.
“Ellen always wanted to learn swordsmanship, not archery. I remember her complaining once about not having a close-range weapon. I think they’ve been training each other.”
“So you knew too?”
“Of course. They meet right next to our house—how could I not?”
Gloria shrugged like it was obvious, but then her expression changed.
“Does Rette know?”
“No. He just got back a few days ago. I haven’t told him yet.”
“Hmm. Then… could you keep it from Gerald too? Please?”
Gloria glanced toward their husbands and spoke just loud enough for Diana to hear.
“Are you going to keep hiding it?”
“You know how Gerald is. If he hears Ellen’s learning swordsmanship, he’ll shut it down immediately. Says it’s too dangerous.”
“Fair point.”
Diana scrunched her nose and snorted softly.
“Ellen knows that too. That’s why she’s learning from Roil in secret—out in the woods, not at the training yard. I want her to master it to her own satisfaction first and tell Gerald herself.”
“You think Gerald won’t be sulky when he finds out?”
Gloria was silent for a moment. She was almost certain he would.
“…Let’s worry about that later. Right now, what matters more than my husband sulking is my daughter gaining skills.”
Hearing that, Diana nodded with a smile that said she understood perfectly.
“Alright, Lia.”
GROOOOOOAR!
Their relaxed trot came to a sudden halt at the sound of a beast’s roar. Gloria and Diana urged their horses into a gallop. They’d chatted so much, they must’ve fallen behind the others. It took a few minutes of riding before they reached the source.
“Were there bears in this forest?”
Gloria asked casually.
“Not sure? I remember reading there was one, like, fifty years ago. Someone’s probably handling it already.”
Diana’s reply was equally unconcerned.
And sure enough, one man was facing off against the bear. The other was squatting in the corner, holding the reins of two horses.
“Yooo, Retteee~ Fiiightiiing~ You’re doooing greaaaat.”
Gerald called out lazily, drawing out his words like melting cheese.
“…I don’t need cheering. Just doodle in the dirt or something.”
Dodging a swipe of the bear’s paw, Rette flicked a pebble at Gerald, who caught it with a chuckle.
The only one nervous in the clearing was the bear itself.
—
Their hunting trip—which felt more like a casual outing—soon ended. With trophies like bears, boars, and deer in tow, the knights took care of transporting the game while the others returned to the camp clearing.
As soon as they arrived, Diana’s eyes went wide. She jumped off her horse.
“Diana!”
“Roil! Ellen!”
Rette shouted in surprise at her sudden dismount, but Diana waved it off and ran toward the tents. Roil and Ellen’s horses were tied up beside them.
Gloria also recognized the horses and dismounted quickly.
Having heard Diana’s voice, Ellen and Roil came out of the tent.
“Mom! Dad!”
“Mother. Father.”
The children greeted their own parents, then politely bowed to the other couple.
“Hello.”
“Hello.”
“What brings you here?”
Diana asked while wrapping an arm around Roil’s shoulder and extending a hand toward Ellen.
“We were at your place and got curious about the hunting grounds, so we came to see.”
Ellen smiled as she lightly placed her hand in Diana’s.
“But it looks like the hunt’s already over. Aww, and I even brought my bow.”
Pretending to pout, Ellen looked playfully disappointed. Diana, seeing right through her, gently brushed her hair aside.
“There should still be small animals around here—rabbits, birds. Want to show us your archery skills?”
“I’ll catch something before dinner for sure!”
Boasting confidently, Ellen grabbed Roil and dashed back into the tent to retrieve their bows.
—
The knights skinned the game and prepared the meat, which the maids then began barbecuing.
While the adults washed up and changed clothes, Ellen and Roil decided to do a short hunt nearby.
Though their steps were light as they walked into the forest, it felt like there were small stones pressing on their hearts.
Glance.
Glance.
Glance.
Since meeting that morning, their eyes had been darting side to side nonstop. If their eye movements made sound, every animal in the forest would’ve run off from sheer annoyance.
Even though they’d been glancing at each other all day, they somehow hadn’t made direct eye contact. Occasionally, each let out a small sigh, hoping the other wouldn’t notice.
