The Hunting Season (2)
It was refreshing to see the bounty hunters who had been pursuing her so persistently run away as soon as they saw Kjer.
To bounty hunters, a similar breed to mercenaries, Kjer was a feared figure.
This is because the nobleman who subdued the mercenaries who ruled over 71st Street with just a sword was none other than Kjer.
Only after the dust had settled did Kalit sheathe his sword and dismount.
"It's time to part ways now."
He originally planned to return to the palace by a different route than us when he entered the capital's borders, in order to quietly meet the Emperor.
"You have been a great help, Your Highness."
"Yes."
Kalit chuckled at Kjer's blunt answer. He wrapped his hand around mine as if he was trying to show off.
"Millenia."
For a moment, Kjer's beautiful eyebrows twitched.
As I hesitated, feeling a bit taken aback, Kalit continued speaking in a sweet voice.
"Do you know where I am? Come visit me whenever you want."
Then he kissed the back of my hand. He just glanced up and smiled languidly, like a fox who bewitches people.
When I first met Kalit, I was convinced that there was not a shred of sincerity behind that smile.
But why does it feel so real these days?
"..."
Well, who wouldn't be confused when you kiss the back of my hand and speak so sweetly as if I were precious to you?
I shook off the illusion and answered boldly.
"Yes, I'll go out and play if I'm bored."
"Really?"
"Really? Go back safely, Your Highness."
"I'm surprised. My heart thumped because I thought it was true."
He, who had been pretending to be overly surprised, suddenly tilted his head. Soon, a secret voice seeped into my ear.
"You'll hear some news when you get home. Don't be too surprised."
"...?"
Kalit pulled his hood down deeply, throwing out a cryptic remark. He mounted his black horse again and grabbed the reins with style.
"Hey!"
The horse carrying Kalit ran away, kicking up dust.
Rahon glanced at that butt with displeasure and let out a hollow laugh.
"Wow, he doesn't even say goodbye to us. Anyway, I can't look at him nicely even if I wanted to."
"I guess he skipped the greeting because we'll be meeting again soon."
"Didn't I tell you to take his side? Are you the spokesperson for Kalit?"
"No."
I shut my mouth, pushed by Rahon's sharp gaze.
Kjer, who had been exchanging brief greetings with Ian, extended his hand to Rahon.
"It's been a long time."
"It's been ten years? But you're still the same as when you were young."
"Rahon, you've changed a little."
"I've grown a lot, haven't I? I've become much more manly."
"You have become much more beautiful."
A frown appeared between Rahon's eyebrows, who usually hated compliments on his appearance.
"That's right, you've been secretly teasing me since long ago. Yeah, I remember now."
"Was it so?"
With those words, Kjer did not continue the conversation.
The furrow between Rahon's eyebrows deepened at his attitude of not caring at all.
For some reason, Kjer secretly showed his hostility towards Rahon. To the point where he secretly protected me and distanced himself from Rahon.
"Isn't your older brother acting unusually?"
When Rahon attended our mother's funeral, did something happen between the two of them? I'll have to ask him later.
With that in mind, I introduced Hugh and Ellie to Kjer.
"A painter?"
Kjer looked at Hugh with strange eyes.
He gave a brief nod to Hugh, who was bowing his head deeply, and then stood in front of the carriage.
Ellie and Kjer's eye level matched that of each other, as they stuck their heads out of the carriage window.
"Welcome, little lady."
"Yes, uh, ba, thank you for welcoming me, Your Excellency."
"You can call me Kjer or the Little Marquis."
"Yes... Kjer."
Ellie looked up at Kjer with a blank expression. Her ears, visible through her hair, were bright red.
Oh my...
Ellie's taste was Kjer. She looked dangerous at first glance. For some reason, she didn't even blink at Ian, Rajon, or Kalit...
I quickly continued my introduction.
"Finally, Father Nicola. He is the one who assists Lord Rahon."
"I know."
"You know?"
"Because he came with Rahon when he was young."
Come to think of it, there's no way Rahon would have attended my mother's funeral alone. I guess Nicola assisted him then too.
After greeting Nicola, Kjer put me back in the carriage.
"Let's go. Father is waiting."
As the carriage set off, Kjer's men ran around us, escorting us.
After running for about half a day, I came across a familiar mansion. It was the home that I had longed for.
My father and his servants were waiting for me in front of the mansion.
My father, who was talking to the butler while carrying a backpack on his back, turned his head at the sound of a carriage.
At that moment, a faint smile appeared on his blunt face.
As I looked at that face, the events that had happened in Eldern flashed through my mind...
I've been kidnapped, survived drowning, served in Eldern's blockade, been isolated in a blizzard, and been targeted by assassins.
Nothing was easy. There were moments when I was crushed by my own helplessness and fell into despair.
But in the end, I overcame all the difficulties and returned home safely.
Into the arms of my father.
Swish, thud, swish, thud.
My father came up to the carriage and opened the door for me personally.
"Come in."
The tears that I had been able to hold back finally burst out in front of Kjer.
I bit my lip and reached out to my father. He was startled to see me crying and quickly grabbed my hand.
"I'm back, father."
***
Ian, Hugh, and Ellie decided to stay at our house.
Rahon and Nicola also refused to stay in the accommodations provided by the Imperial Family for the summit participants and came to our guest house.
At first glance, it seemed like there was an awkward issue with the Shancrecia attendee, but since Rahon seemed reluctant to even mention it, I couldn't ask about it in detail.
We, except Ellie, gathered straight in my father's office.
Unfortunately, Chevio was unable to attend.
He said that the entire Imperial Knights will be on emergency duty ahead of the summit and will not be able to leave work for the next few days.
As soon as we sat down, my father opened his mouth.
"I'm sorry for not giving you time to recover from the aftereffects, I hope you understand that this is an urgent matter."
We knew better than anyone that there was no time to rest.
Because I came all that way, even risking my life escaping from prison, just to attend the summit that was to take place in two days.
"No, Father. Please speak."
"Millennia, there is something you need to know."
"What's the problem?"
"Right after you left for Eldern, a news article broke out. It said that the relationship between you and His Highness the First Prince was not ordinary."
"Yes?"
It was so absurd that I couldn't even laugh.
Who the hell wrote that article?
Could it be that they created the article just from the brief encounter I had with Kalit on the day I set out for Eldern?
My father asked cautiously.
"Is that article true?"
"That can't be true. It's ridiculous."
How could I possibly meet Kalit less than a month after breaking up with Oslo if I wasn't crazy?
"Uh?"
Suddenly, a conversation I had with Rahon one day flashed through my mind.
"If anyone other than me had seen Kalit coming out of your bedroom, rumors of your strange relationship would have spread by now."
"Millenia, that's what makes people go crazy. It's so provocative."
"Ask Kalit for more details."
Rahon already knew. He must have heard it from Kalit.
"You'll hear some news when you get home. Don't be too surprised."
I wondered what on earth that meant... I bit my lip tightly.
"Mr. Kalit! You should have told me this before!"
Before I could calm down, my father dropped an even bigger bomb.
"I heard that the Third Prince is trying to persuade the attendees by bringing up the relationship between you and His Highness the First Prince. For the sake of fairness, you should be excluded from the summit."
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