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"It seems the hunting festival has returned to the Duchy after some 30 years," the Emperor said. "While this forest is famous for its abundance of beasts, that\'s not all. Surely Duke Luminel and his knights have released captured prey as well."

I recalled the Duke\'s daylong absence on my first day at the mansion. Though I hadn\'t realized it then, he must have been out capturing beasts for the festival, just as the Emperor said.

"I urge you all to exercise caution," the Emperor continued. "I\'d rather not hear screams at what should be a joyous celebration..."

At this ominous remark, the surrounding nobility - particularly the men - gulped audibly. They seemed worried about what ferocious beasts might be lurking, given that \'the\' Cardi Luminel had personally intervened.

Meanwhile, I half-listened to the Emperor\'s speech while surveying the surroundings.

The place of honor wasn\'t occupied solely by the Emperor; other members of the imperial family were present too. For instance, the princes, including Yulian, and their entourages.

Among them, Second Prince Rayners had undergone a remarkable transformation. His former ungainly figure was nowhere to be seen; instead, he cut an imposing figure as he held his position with dignity.

In contrast, First Prince Rupehit seemed unstable. Unable to focus on the Emperor\'s words, he anxiously scanned his surroundings, appearing almost panic-stricken. As I observed this, I had a strange sensation.

\'Did I just... make eye contact with the First Prince?\'

It was such a fleeting moment that I could have dismissed it as my imagination. After all, with him fidgeting and turning his head this way and that, it would be hard not to catch someone\'s eye...

"Thus, I hereby declare the commencement of the hunting festival," the Emperor concluded.

As the Emperor finished his speech, thunderous applause erupted. Following this, the three princes at his side dispersed to their respective positions.

Watching Yulian find his own place, I felt a sense of pride for the boy.

"Elphisia," I said.

"Yes?"

"There are people around Yulian."

"Of course. It would be a major incident if a member of the imperial family were assassinated."

"Right. It\'s only natural..."

Yulian\'s mother, unable to enjoy such natural protection, had been murdered by the Empress. But now, Yulian was heading into the forest, surrounded by retainers tasked with his protection.

"Still, it\'s kind of amusing," I chuckled. "Riding such a small horse, he looks more cute than dignified."

"He probably doesn\'t realize it. At all."

Elphisia seemed to agree, a rare smile gracing her features. I was glad to see her genuinely enjoying herself for once.

"It\'s quieter now," I observed.

"Indeed."

Most of the men had entered the forest in search of game. The only ones left at the camp were the resting Emperor and socializing ladies.

It was almost time for us to part ways as well.

"Well, I guess I\'ll head into the forest now," I said. "Time to mock those who make mistakes to my heart\'s content."

"Such an unbecoming goal for a supposedly upstanding adult," Elphisia retorted.

"That\'s why the exemplary adult Elphisia needs to balance things out."

"Hmph."

Elphisia crossed her arms, as if to say \'not a chance\'.

Yet, her lack of outright refusal was quintessentially Elphisia.

While I patrolled the hunting grounds, Elphisia would be responsible for Tina and Echo. Our separation was inevitable.

Just then, as I took a step back, Elphisia took a step forward. She then handed me a handkerchief she had kept in her possession.

"Take it," she said.

"Ahaha."

I was considerably taken aback by her action.

The hunting festival has a time-honored tradition. As a gesture of well-wishing, one presents an embroidered handkerchief to the object of their affection or their lover.

In other words, a public declaration of love.

That\'s why I hadn\'t expected Elphisia to give me a handkerchief. After all, we were merely bound by a contractual relationship.

\'Huh?\'

For a moment, my chest tightened. That peculiar sensation briefly made me lose my composure. At least until Elphisia forcibly pressed the handkerchief into my hand.

"I just picked it up on the way here, so don\'t feel burdened. Just keep it," she said nonchalantly.

"Picked it up on the way... I see."

To think someone would pick up such an intricately embroidered handkerchief. Despite the elaborate temple crest meticulously stitched onto it...

Who in the world would bring such a handkerchief all the way here only to lose it?

"Then I\'ll keep it safe. Until I can find its owner someday," I replied.

"And if you can\'t find them?"

"What else? I\'ll have to cherish it for life."

At my response, Elphisia quietly turned her back. Still showcasing her alluring side slit dress, she spoke indifferently.

"As if."

Leaving behind that curt remark, Elphisia moved forward. This time, however, it was my turn to catch Elphisia as she distanced herself.

"Wait, Elphisia!"

"W-What is it, Harte?"

"I have something to give you too."

"Why so suddenly..."

While Elphisia gazed at me blankly, I draped an outer garment over her shoulders. It was a shoulder robe that effectively covered the right side of Elphisia\'s dress where her thigh was exposed.

"Phew... I almost forgot," I said, relieved.

"What do you mean, you almost forgot?!"

"Now I can rest easy. I picked this up on the way too, so you shouldn\'t discard it until the owner shows up, right?"

"Really... are you an idiot?"

"Haha..."

I retreated quietly, not daring to refute Elphisia\'s jab. After all, I lacked the confidence to win an argument against her.

Therefore, once we were sufficiently far apart, I turned tail and bolted without looking back.

"See you later, Elphisia!" I called out.

"Stop right there! Harte!"

I heard Elphisia\'s indignant cry from behind. She was probably fingering the outer garment I\'d given her with that prim face of hers.

Imagining her like that made me smile involuntarily.

But I\'d only done what was right.

Others shouldn\'t realize that Elphisia is actually quite sensual.

This must be exemplary behavior for a husband.

"While I truly forgot something else," Elphisia mumbled to herself.

The hunting festival tradition doesn\'t end with the woman presenting a handkerchief.

If the woman who gifted the handkerchief is a stranger, a kiss on the back of her hand is customary.

Or if she\'s a lover... a kiss on the lips.

What Harte and Elphisia, a married couple, should have done was obvious.

"I was... kind of expecting it..."

Elphisia, left alone, whispered to herself.

---

---

The Luminel Duchy was indeed worthy of being called a principality. The forest allocated just for the hunting festival rivaled the area of a minor fief, and even limited to the hunting grounds, it matched the size of the Imperial Palace.

"This definitely warrants bringing an attendant..." I mused.

Wandering the forest alone, one could easily become lost. Though the hunting grounds were likely fenced, there was always the possibility of an unforeseen incident.

Closing my eyes and focusing on my hearing, various sounds reached me. The whoosh of arrows cleaving the air, beasts\' cries, and the resounding echo of hooves pounding the earth. As participants grew more engrossed in the hunt, the sounds increasingly intermingled.

At present, the closest was the sound of approaching hoofbeats from the right, steadily drawing nearer.

When the man finally revealed himself, he took the initiative to greet me.

"Oh, if it isn\'t Lord Harte," he said.

"Uh... who might you be?" I asked, not recognizing him.

"Eek, my apologies for the late introduction. I\'m Clever Horton, Baron-Successor."

"Ah, I\'m Harte of the House Luminel. Sorry for not recognizing you."

"No need for apologies. It\'s rare for anyone to remember a mere Baron-Successor. Besides, this is our first meeting..."

So it was our first meeting.

I almost embarrassed myself. Since he knew me, I\'d assumed we were already acquainted...

"It\'s an honor to meet you like this. Truth be told, I\'m a fan of yours, Lord Harte," he admitted.

"A fan? Why would you..." I trailed off, bewildered.

It was a surprising confession. The man before me was displaying undoubtedly genuine goodwill towards me.

"Because of what happened that night. To face a vampire without a single casualty - as one of the heads of the security force, I can\'t help but consider you a role model."

"Ah, well... that was just my duty," I replied, uncomfortable with the praise.

I was pleased, but it was burdensome. Before being a baptismal name bearer, it was something I should have strived for as a human. There was no reason to be praised like this.

But Baron-Successor Horton shook his head firmly.

"It may be a virtue, but it\'s not a duty, Lord Harte," he insisted.

"Pardon?"

"If it were a duty... wouldn\'t failure be unacceptable? And if you failed, you\'d have to be reprimanded for neglecting your duty, right?"

He was stating something so obvious. It aligned perfectly with my own beliefs.

But in his next statement, he threw me a curveball.

"That\'s absurd. Benevolence shouldn\'t be reprimanded. What Lord Harte did was a righteous deed deserving of respect."

A righteous deed.

For some reason, just hearing those words made my head spin. I couldn\'t pinpoint the source of this inexplicable discomfort even as Baron-Successor Horton watched my reaction.

"Ahem! W-Well, that\'s just my opinion," he backpedaled. "I got carried away with familiarity because I was excited to meet you. I apologize for my rudeness."

"N-Not at all! So... Baron-Successor Horton."

"I\'m honored you remembered. Well, I should go look for some game now."

He then skillfully mounted his horse and bid farewell.

"I hope you return unharmed, Lord Harte!" he called as he rode away.

As he rode away at an almost urgent pace, I was overcome by a strange feeling.

Return unharmed, he says.

Had I ever sustained an injury that lasted more than a second in my entire life? The concept of injury was so foreign to me that his caution didn\'t resonate.

Moreover, hadn\'t Baron-Successor Horton said he\'d witnessed me facing a vampire?

\'With a body like this...\'

Am I worth worrying over by a complete stranger?

I believe I was born as a baptismal name bearer to accomplish such feats. Isn\'t it only natural to be devoted to the task I was assigned?

There\'s no room for emotion to interfere.

Thus, even if I left the temple, my given mission wouldn\'t have changed much.

"Ah."

As I was thinking this, my eyes fell on the handkerchief tied around my wrist.

Elphisia\'s gift, with its impressive embroidery. Seeing it, I felt I could somewhat understand Baron-Successor Horton\'s words.

\'The meaning of the handkerchief is... to wish for safety.\'

It can\'t be meaningless for Elphisia to worry about me. Knowing full well the body I was born with as a baptismal name bearer, her wish for my safety must have significance.

Perhaps she doesn\'t consider sacrifice to be a given.

This is what Baron-Successor Horton referred to as a righteous deed.

Upon reaching this conclusion, I broke out in a feverish sweat.

"Ugh."

Dissonance.

A sensation like opposing qualities clashing in my head, blowing a fuse. This dissonance, accompanied by that sensation, crept up my spine and spread throughout my body.

Additionally, a headache unlike any I\'d ever experienced raged inside my skull.

I briefly leaned against a large tree, feeling the rough bark against my back.

My vision seemed to turn pure white.

In this whited-out field of view, I saw rainbow-colored droplets.

They appeared tattered, as if riddled with cracks.