Chapter 90
My Breath, My Salvation
As soon as Senelia stepped down from the carriage at the entrance to the Imperial Hunting Grounds, she froze in place.
The commander of the Imperial Knights appeared with his men.
“His Majesty has ordered us to escort His Grace the Grand Duke and Lady Daphne.”
Many nobles were entering through a single gate — meaning there were plenty of eyes watching.
When the emperor’s knights arrived in full force, there was no avoiding attention.
Feeling all those gazes pressing down on her, Senelia’s face turned pale.
At some point in her life, she had become extremely sensitive to being watched.
Because Clifford had always assigned eyes to monitor her, she’d developed the reflex of tensing up whenever she felt anyone’s gaze.
And although no one in high society had openly insulted her recently, ever since she’d become known as Benelucia’s lover, Senelia had understood exactly how people looked at her.
At first, their eyes had been filled with pity — like they were watching a moth drawn to a burning light.
Then, over time, the looks had split into two kinds.
The first came from those who wanted to get closer to her, thinking that if she managed to stay by the Grand Duke’s side for so long, she might actually become his duchess.
That kind of gaze wasn’t so bad.
The second, however… was from those thinking, If even a woman like that can stay beside the Grand Duke, why not me?
In truth, when Benelucia left his mansion, the number of young ladies scheming to entangle themselves with him had doubled.
Of course, Benelucia was ruthless toward such women. After several of them were harshly punished and banned from society for a while, the number of attempts dwindled again.
But after Senelia passed the usual age of marriage — and after Benelucia’s scandal — she didn’t even want to think about how those same eyes had changed.
She had worked tirelessly to forget the way people had looked at her back then.
As a result, Senelia had grown to despise attention altogether.
Clifford, of all people, knew that about her.
Yet he had sent this whole squad of knights anyway.
“Oh my—Lady Daphne, you’re here.”
If Countess Canolia’s voice hadn’t reached her right then, Senelia might have forgotten to breathe entirely.
“I saw you often while preparing for the hunt. It’s lovely to see you again like this.”
Next, Marchioness Petriccio greeted her with a smile.
Behind the two noblewomen stood several young ladies who treated them as patrons or chaperones, maintaining close relationships.
Thanks to them, Senelia was partly shielded from the knights — and from prying eyes.
“Are you all right now, Selli?”
Benelucia bent down slightly and whispered, holding her hand.
Unconsciously, she looked up at him.
He smiled, as if to reassure her.
Then she realized — Countess Canolia and Marchioness Petriccio’s timely appearance had been arranged by him.
If the emperor had meant to draw everyone’s attention to Senelia, Benelucia had countered by surrounding her with a commotion, diverting the focus entirely.
“…Yes, I’m fine.”
She nodded softly.
Once again, Senelia realized what it truly meant that Benelucia loved her.
In moments like this, she was protected.
Without thinking, she squeezed his hand tightly.
This hand — she never wanted to let go.
Because this hand… was her salvation.
“Sir Davies, this lady and I have something to discuss. You don’t mind if we enter together, do you?”
The Duchess of Elchesca approached with her usual composed grace.
The commander, Andrea Davies, looked troubled.
After all, they weren’t arresting the pair — merely escorting them.
He couldn’t forbid them from chatting with acquaintances.
Still, knowing the emperor’s true intentions, the commander felt a deep sense of unease.
“Lady Daphne, you don’t mind, do you?”
The Duchess of Elchesca turned to her politely.
Since Senelia wasn’t yet married to Benelucia, she couldn’t be addressed as “Your Grace” in official settings.
Yet the three noble matrons — women of the highest standing — all spoke to her with honorifics.
It was a gesture of respect toward her as the future duchess.
No one in society could now dare speak down to her after this public show of deference.
“Of course not. It’s an honor to converse with a lady as wise as the Duchess of Elchesca.”
Her throat tightened unexpectedly.
Ah… I’m breathing again.
She realized she’d been living as if she’d forgotten how to breathe.
“Please let us join you as well. We’ve been too busy preparing for the hunt to chat properly.”
“Yes, don’t leave us out,” said the other noblewomen cheerfully, closing in around Senelia and the duchess.
Benelucia naturally stepped aside, giving them space.
“Then, Sir Davies, shall we go ahead? It isn’t chivalrous to eavesdrop on the ladies’ talk.”
Benelucia casually guided the knight commander forward.
With the Grand Duke leading, the knights hesitated briefly before following.
Andrea Davies realized there was no changing the situation.
“…As you wish, Your Grace.”
In the end, he could only trail obediently behind.
Meanwhile, Senelia walked comfortably with the noblewomen, away from the knights’ line of sight.
“My brother seems to have grown defiant.”
Clifford’s voice carried easily through the tent, where Senelia and Benelucia sat near him.
Though he smiled, Senelia — having lived most of her life reading his moods — instantly sensed his displeasure.
And why wouldn’t he be? Benelucia had just effortlessly neutralized the emperor’s petty attempt to humiliate them.
That arrogant man, who demanded everything go his way, was surely seething inside.
“Well, Your Majesty has grown rather mischievous yourself.”
Benelucia replied evenly.
Senelia stiffened at the exchange between the two men.
But as if all his senses were attuned to her alone, Benelucia quietly reached for her cold hand and wrapped it in his own warm one.
His steady warmth melted some of her tension.
Clifford’s gaze narrowed.
A crooked smile tugged at the emperor’s lips.
“Well, if my brother and his lady are getting along so well, I suppose that’s good news for me too.”
Senelia’s ears pricked up.
It sounded like he was simply ending their little verbal spar, yet… something about his tone bothered her.
Because the Clifford she knew never saw their affection as a “good thing” — only as something to exploit.
If he was pleased now, it could only mean he had another trick prepared.
At that moment, Benelucia’s grip on her hand tightened slightly.
She turned to him.
He patted the back of her hand gently, as if to say, Don’t worry.
By then, most of the nobles had arrived.
Among them was Lucalina.
Unlike Senelia, who would remain in the camp, Lucalina was joining the actual hunt with the emperor and Benelucia.
For just a split second, Senelia thought their eyes met.
Her heart began to pound faster, a wave of unease washing over her.
She couldn’t stop her thoughts from drifting toward Lucalina.
Even if fate between Benelucia and Lucalina had been severed, they had once been bound together.
What if destiny tried to reconnect them?
That thought terrified her.
“The hunt shall begin.”
Even as Clifford gave his short blessing and declared the start of the hunt, Senelia couldn’t tear her thoughts away from Lucalina.
“You may all set out from here.”
An imperial knight gestured toward the entrance to the forest.
Inside lay the hunting grounds — protected by a magical barrier to keep monsters and wild beasts contained.
“Then, I’ll be off, Selli.”
Benelucia’s gaze was fixed solely on her.
Lucalina’s eyes, however, were fixed solely on him.
Benelucia must have noticed — he was a Sword Master, after all — but he deliberately didn’t turn around.
Still, Senelia hated that.
Hated it enough to do something she normally never would.
“Come back safely, Ben.”
She raised their joined hands and pressed her lips gently to the back of his hand.
Her eyes never wavered from him, not for a heartbeat.
“Don’t get hurt.”
Her whispered words brushed against his skin, soft and warm.
“Ah, damn it… Selli.”
Benelucia’s breath caught. He lowered his head to hide his face, the tips of his ears and neck flushed red.
He wanted — gods, how he wanted — to pull her into his arms and kiss her senseless.
But he knew she wouldn’t like such a public display, so he clenched his jaw and endured it.
And finally, Lucalina’s gaze slipped away from him.
For Senelia, that was an immensely satisfying moment.
Then—
“Ahhhhhhh!!!”
“Kyaaaaaa!!!”
Suddenly, terrified screams erupted all around them.
