100. Trophy Hunter
“Look. You’re dozing off again.”
After enjoying all the gossip of high society, the conversation returned to its starting point: Erna Dneister. The Grand Duchess, who had been playing with the children of the Heine family, was dozing off, clutching a toy.
"How long has it been since she embarrassed herself in the theater? She's being so careless. I'm so embarrassed."
“I don’t know what she does at night that makes her so sleepy in broad daylight.”
“Oh, really? I couldn’t even guess.”
The subtle mockery exchanged in low voices blended with the bright summer sunlight.
As was natural, those who had been concerned about Princess Gladys's health fell silent when Duchess Heine appeared. While they were more displeased with the Grand Duchess than anyone else, they knew Louise, at least publicly, was diligent in her duties as Princess of Letzen.
“I think the Grand Duchess is very tired.”
The young Countess, whose eyes met the Princess's, forced herself to suppress a smile and whispered. Louise, who looked where she was pointing, visibly stiffened.
“I’m already worried because the Grand Duchess is in poor health.”
Louise, who had been observing them with a hint of anticipation, smiled gently, as if she were trying to convince them otherwise. She knew they were all anxious to witness the Princess and the Grand Duchess's feud. Therefore, Louise was determined not to show it, no matter what.
Overwhelmed by the momentum, they could not add any more words and changed the subject. Louise, after offering a few words, waited for the right moment to approach Erna.
“Grand Duchess.”
“Erna.”
Bjorn, who had just returned from smoking a cigar, called Erna almost at the same time as his sister.
Erna opened her eyes in surprise. The sound of the wooden doll she had been loosely holding clanking against the teacup echoed out, clear and sharp.
“Get up. Let’s go.”
After giving a few instructions to the servants accompanying him from the Grand Duke's residence, Bjorn naturally helped Erna, who was flustered and scanning the surroundings, to her feet. Louise looked as if she had a lot to say, but he had no intention of listening.
Bjorn led Erna away from the shaded field where the guests had gathered and into a lush forest of plane trees and maples. The servants who had prepared a table there in advance withdrew, leaving the two alone in the cool shade.
“Is it okay for us to be apart like this?”
Erna glanced anxiously across the forest path, toward the field where most of the guests had gathered. With no one watching, she finally felt a sense of relief, but the thought of what might be said about this outburst made it difficult to relax.
“What does it matter?”
Bjorn lay down on the picnic mat, seemingly unfazed. His eyes closed, as if taking a nap, he looked free and at ease.
Erna, hesitating, carefully sat down beside him and took a deep breath. She vowed again and again not to create any trouble today, but she couldn't bear the weight of her eyelids.
Erna, who had been sighing at her own pathetic state, suddenly felt her world spin around. When she regained consciousness, she was lying beside Bjorn. A beautiful kingfisher soared from the stream, gliding across the sky between the swaying branches.
The eyes of the two people who had been quietly looking at the scenery turned to each other.
It was Bjorn who smiled first. It was a smile, a slight tugging of one corner of his lips, but Erna knew now. This was Bjorn's true smile. It was different from that masked smile, perfectly affectionate but devoid of sincerity.
Bjorn released her arm, which he had been holding tightly, and ran his hand through Erna's wind-torn hair. Unable to overcome the drowsiness that came with the relief, Erna closed her eyes without realizing it.
She knew this wasn't right, but her body wouldn't move as she wanted. She thought it would be okay. Because today, without fail, she was by Bjorn's side, the Prince who had saved her.
Erna struggled to open her eyes, desperate to see that genuine smile once more. Just a little longer. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't overcome the drowsiness that was creeping in like a disease.
“Rest, Erna.”
His low, chuckling voice tickled her ears. Erna nodded and, without further effort, slowly regained consciousness.
Bjorn looked at his wife, who was asleep, her head propped on one arm. A nap? It was something he couldn't quite associate with this woman. Moreover, in a place like this, for a lady so concerned with the gaze of others to be so drowsy and embarrassed was simply uncharacteristic of Erna.
Are you feeling unwell?
A sudden ominous thought struck him, and his breath caught in his throat. She was naturally small and slender, but she seemed even more gaunt lately. Yet, her radiant cheeks and smooth skin didn't at all suggest a sick person.
The moment Bjorn's eyes narrowed as he touched his feverish forehead, the attendant approached.
Shhh.
Bjorn raised his fingertip to his lips to signal his attention, then stood up. He gestured to the end of the mat with his eyes, and the attendant quickly brought over a thin blanket that had been lying there.
After covering it with his own hands, Bjorn quietly left. His steps, passing through a field of violets, finally stopped at the edge of a stream, far from the shade of the tree where Erna was sleeping.
As Bjorn turned around and nodded, he spoke in a low voice.
"Attorney Byle has requested to see you regarding the Hardy family's business. He said he'd be waiting for you at the riverside pergola."
When she opened her eyes, Erna was alone.
The empty space left by that one person was so vast that she felt like she was a lost child left alone in an unfamiliar world.
Erna slowly sat up, neatly folding and tidying up the blanket. Even then, her eyes wandered through the forest, its shadows growing ever darker. It was the same as she put on her shawl, leaned back against a tree trunk, and munched on a piece of candy to soothe her uneasy stomach.
From afar, a faint noise, mixed with the laughter of people, could be heard. Knowing it was time to go, Erna crouched low and waited for Bjorn.
Shr didn't want to go back alone.
Feeling nauseous again, Erna took out another piece of candy and put it in her mouth.
She hated it when Bjorn wasn't there.
Even the sweetness of the candy carefully rolled over her tongue could not soothe her anxious and nervous heart.
She feels stupid.
Erna, muttering self-deprecatingly to herself, rose as if possessed. The sound of her hasty footsteps across the grass filtered into the ripe sunlight.
She missed him so much that she found it funny how she was acting like a child.
It's okay.
It seemed like everything would be okay with just one word from Bjorn.
So, if you stop there. Then...
As Erna walked toward the shaded area where a group of young gentlemen sat smoking cigars, she suddenly stopped, feeling a strange sense of unfamiliarity with her overly sentimental self. She was about to turn around, wondering if she was making Bjorn laugh, when she heard a familiar voice.
"Why is this season so boring? Last year was amazing. Is it because we don't have a lady like Hardy?"
Peter Bergen. Erna's eyes widened as she realized who Miss Hardy was that he was talking about.
"Well, even if we were to have another bet, where else would we find a lady like the fawn Hardy?"
The voice that giggled back was also someone she knew, a friend of Bjorn's. Around this time last year, they had been wooing Erna, showering her with gifts.
Sitting facing the valley, smoking cigars, they continued their chatter, mingled with vulgar jokes, seemingly oblivious to Erna's presence. Erna hurriedly hid behind a beautiful tree not far from the canopy.
Go back.
Consciousness commanded, but both legs would not move.
"Even thinking about it again, isn't it truly astonishing? Prince Bjorn, the world's greatest king, took his second wife at a poker table. He's swept up every trophy in the world, so who would have thought he'd snatch this one up too?"
"Looking back now, I see he was completely determined when he rushed in. He had a well-thought-out strategy from the start. Every time a beautiful woman is in trouble, a Prince on a white horse appears. And a damn handsome Prince at that. How can you possibly overcome him? I understand, even Miss Hardy, for falling for it. I completely understand. Ah. Now, I should call her Grand Duchess."
"Isn't that incredible? With all that money, he's so determined to win that kind of stake. He's really a man of deep affection for money. Well, in the end, he ended up marrying Miss Hardy, spending a fortune that's incomparable to the stake, so maybe he's at a loss?"
"That's a red herring. Doesn't Bjorn Deneister even know what the word "red herring" means? He started a bet for fun at a poker table, and ended up winning the most beautiful woman in society, winning the stakes, and eventually even getting a second wife."
“That second wife is a piece of shit.”
"It may be true in the face of money, but in the end, Bjorn gained more. After remarrying, the Grand Duke's name disappeared from the gossip columns of high society. Now, the public enemy is the Grand Duchess. With such a strong shield, and that shield so beautiful, what's the point of a deficit? It's a perfect gain. It was all a marriage based on careful consideration."
"Ah. Is that so? Well, Bjorn Dneister isn't the type of person who would suffer a loss."
Erna clenched her hands tightly over her mouth as the cigar smoke, accompanied by unbelievable words, threatened to burst out in a cough. Her heart pounded, and her entire body began to tremble.
She wanted to see Bjorn.
Erna looked around with more longing than ever. Her vision was blurry, and she knew tears were streaming down her face, but she felt no emotion.
She wished Bjorn had come.
It's okay.
Just one word will erase this nightmare, so please.
“Oh, there comes His Highness.”
On the night of this year's rowing competition, those who had been naming ladies they wanted to join for a boat ride began to playfully jeer and cheer. Erna, staring blankly at the scene, collapsed under a tree. Her savior, Bjorn, smiled innocently.
They were now chatting excitedly, thinking about a new bet. Bjorn leaned back in a wicker chair facing the valley and puffed on a cigar.
"Hey, trophy hunter. Teach me some of the winner's secrets. Yeah?"
At Peter's words, Bjorn laughed, slowly exhaling the smoke from his deeply inhaled cigar.
"What? Are you ignoring me now? Do you think I can't do it?"
"Hey. The Grand Duke's secrets are of no use to you. What blind lady would fall for your tricks?"
Leonard interrupted, chuckling and mocking, and Peter's voice rose even higher. Bjorn chuckled nonchalantly at their mischievous banter.
“You crazy kids.”
After a leisurely exhale, he lit another cigar, and a brilliant golden sunlight fell upon Bjorn. A burst of laughter followed.
Erna clenched her bloodless hand tightly, even harder, over her mouth. In her unfocused eyes, the transparent, swollen summer forest rippled, teardrop-like, falling.
After laughing and chatting for a while, they left, and the valley fell silent once again. Only after confirming this did Erna finally let out the breath she had been holding back.
Sobs and nausea mingled with the panting sounds of dying animals. The sky, clear and cloudless, was filled with startled birds.
“Look. You’re dozing off again.”
After enjoying all the gossip of high society, the conversation returned to its starting point: Erna Dneister. The Grand Duchess, who had been playing with the children of the Heine family, was dozing off, clutching a toy.
"How long has it been since she embarrassed herself in the theater? She's being so careless. I'm so embarrassed."
“I don’t know what she does at night that makes her so sleepy in broad daylight.”
“Oh, really? I couldn’t even guess.”
The subtle mockery exchanged in low voices blended with the bright summer sunlight.
As was natural, those who had been concerned about Princess Gladys's health fell silent when Duchess Heine appeared. While they were more displeased with the Grand Duchess than anyone else, they knew Louise, at least publicly, was diligent in her duties as Princess of Letzen.
“I think the Grand Duchess is very tired.”
The young Countess, whose eyes met the Princess's, forced herself to suppress a smile and whispered. Louise, who looked where she was pointing, visibly stiffened.
“I’m already worried because the Grand Duchess is in poor health.”
Louise, who had been observing them with a hint of anticipation, smiled gently, as if she were trying to convince them otherwise. She knew they were all anxious to witness the Princess and the Grand Duchess's feud. Therefore, Louise was determined not to show it, no matter what.
Overwhelmed by the momentum, they could not add any more words and changed the subject. Louise, after offering a few words, waited for the right moment to approach Erna.
“Grand Duchess.”
“Erna.”
Bjorn, who had just returned from smoking a cigar, called Erna almost at the same time as his sister.
Erna opened her eyes in surprise. The sound of the wooden doll she had been loosely holding clanking against the teacup echoed out, clear and sharp.
“Get up. Let’s go.”
After giving a few instructions to the servants accompanying him from the Grand Duke's residence, Bjorn naturally helped Erna, who was flustered and scanning the surroundings, to her feet. Louise looked as if she had a lot to say, but he had no intention of listening.
Bjorn led Erna away from the shaded field where the guests had gathered and into a lush forest of plane trees and maples. The servants who had prepared a table there in advance withdrew, leaving the two alone in the cool shade.
“Is it okay for us to be apart like this?”
Erna glanced anxiously across the forest path, toward the field where most of the guests had gathered. With no one watching, she finally felt a sense of relief, but the thought of what might be said about this outburst made it difficult to relax.
“What does it matter?”
Bjorn lay down on the picnic mat, seemingly unfazed. His eyes closed, as if taking a nap, he looked free and at ease.
Erna, hesitating, carefully sat down beside him and took a deep breath. She vowed again and again not to create any trouble today, but she couldn't bear the weight of her eyelids.
Erna, who had been sighing at her own pathetic state, suddenly felt her world spin around. When she regained consciousness, she was lying beside Bjorn. A beautiful kingfisher soared from the stream, gliding across the sky between the swaying branches.
The eyes of the two people who had been quietly looking at the scenery turned to each other.
It was Bjorn who smiled first. It was a smile, a slight tugging of one corner of his lips, but Erna knew now. This was Bjorn's true smile. It was different from that masked smile, perfectly affectionate but devoid of sincerity.
Bjorn released her arm, which he had been holding tightly, and ran his hand through Erna's wind-torn hair. Unable to overcome the drowsiness that came with the relief, Erna closed her eyes without realizing it.
She knew this wasn't right, but her body wouldn't move as she wanted. She thought it would be okay. Because today, without fail, she was by Bjorn's side, the Prince who had saved her.
Erna struggled to open her eyes, desperate to see that genuine smile once more. Just a little longer. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't overcome the drowsiness that was creeping in like a disease.
“Rest, Erna.”
His low, chuckling voice tickled her ears. Erna nodded and, without further effort, slowly regained consciousness.
Bjorn looked at his wife, who was asleep, her head propped on one arm. A nap? It was something he couldn't quite associate with this woman. Moreover, in a place like this, for a lady so concerned with the gaze of others to be so drowsy and embarrassed was simply uncharacteristic of Erna.
Are you feeling unwell?
A sudden ominous thought struck him, and his breath caught in his throat. She was naturally small and slender, but she seemed even more gaunt lately. Yet, her radiant cheeks and smooth skin didn't at all suggest a sick person.
The moment Bjorn's eyes narrowed as he touched his feverish forehead, the attendant approached.
Shhh.
Bjorn raised his fingertip to his lips to signal his attention, then stood up. He gestured to the end of the mat with his eyes, and the attendant quickly brought over a thin blanket that had been lying there.
After covering it with his own hands, Bjorn quietly left. His steps, passing through a field of violets, finally stopped at the edge of a stream, far from the shade of the tree where Erna was sleeping.
As Bjorn turned around and nodded, he spoke in a low voice.
"Attorney Byle has requested to see you regarding the Hardy family's business. He said he'd be waiting for you at the riverside pergola."
***
When she opened her eyes, Erna was alone.
The empty space left by that one person was so vast that she felt like she was a lost child left alone in an unfamiliar world.
Erna slowly sat up, neatly folding and tidying up the blanket. Even then, her eyes wandered through the forest, its shadows growing ever darker. It was the same as she put on her shawl, leaned back against a tree trunk, and munched on a piece of candy to soothe her uneasy stomach.
From afar, a faint noise, mixed with the laughter of people, could be heard. Knowing it was time to go, Erna crouched low and waited for Bjorn.
Shr didn't want to go back alone.
Feeling nauseous again, Erna took out another piece of candy and put it in her mouth.
She hated it when Bjorn wasn't there.
Even the sweetness of the candy carefully rolled over her tongue could not soothe her anxious and nervous heart.
She feels stupid.
Erna, muttering self-deprecatingly to herself, rose as if possessed. The sound of her hasty footsteps across the grass filtered into the ripe sunlight.
She missed him so much that she found it funny how she was acting like a child.
It's okay.
It seemed like everything would be okay with just one word from Bjorn.
So, if you stop there. Then...
As Erna walked toward the shaded area where a group of young gentlemen sat smoking cigars, she suddenly stopped, feeling a strange sense of unfamiliarity with her overly sentimental self. She was about to turn around, wondering if she was making Bjorn laugh, when she heard a familiar voice.
"Why is this season so boring? Last year was amazing. Is it because we don't have a lady like Hardy?"
Peter Bergen. Erna's eyes widened as she realized who Miss Hardy was that he was talking about.
"Well, even if we were to have another bet, where else would we find a lady like the fawn Hardy?"
The voice that giggled back was also someone she knew, a friend of Bjorn's. Around this time last year, they had been wooing Erna, showering her with gifts.
Sitting facing the valley, smoking cigars, they continued their chatter, mingled with vulgar jokes, seemingly oblivious to Erna's presence. Erna hurriedly hid behind a beautiful tree not far from the canopy.
Go back.
Consciousness commanded, but both legs would not move.
"Even thinking about it again, isn't it truly astonishing? Prince Bjorn, the world's greatest king, took his second wife at a poker table. He's swept up every trophy in the world, so who would have thought he'd snatch this one up too?"
"Looking back now, I see he was completely determined when he rushed in. He had a well-thought-out strategy from the start. Every time a beautiful woman is in trouble, a Prince on a white horse appears. And a damn handsome Prince at that. How can you possibly overcome him? I understand, even Miss Hardy, for falling for it. I completely understand. Ah. Now, I should call her Grand Duchess."
"Isn't that incredible? With all that money, he's so determined to win that kind of stake. He's really a man of deep affection for money. Well, in the end, he ended up marrying Miss Hardy, spending a fortune that's incomparable to the stake, so maybe he's at a loss?"
"That's a red herring. Doesn't Bjorn Deneister even know what the word "red herring" means? He started a bet for fun at a poker table, and ended up winning the most beautiful woman in society, winning the stakes, and eventually even getting a second wife."
“That second wife is a piece of shit.”
"It may be true in the face of money, but in the end, Bjorn gained more. After remarrying, the Grand Duke's name disappeared from the gossip columns of high society. Now, the public enemy is the Grand Duchess. With such a strong shield, and that shield so beautiful, what's the point of a deficit? It's a perfect gain. It was all a marriage based on careful consideration."
"Ah. Is that so? Well, Bjorn Dneister isn't the type of person who would suffer a loss."
Erna clenched her hands tightly over her mouth as the cigar smoke, accompanied by unbelievable words, threatened to burst out in a cough. Her heart pounded, and her entire body began to tremble.
She wanted to see Bjorn.
Erna looked around with more longing than ever. Her vision was blurry, and she knew tears were streaming down her face, but she felt no emotion.
She wished Bjorn had come.
It's okay.
Just one word will erase this nightmare, so please.
“Oh, there comes His Highness.”
On the night of this year's rowing competition, those who had been naming ladies they wanted to join for a boat ride began to playfully jeer and cheer. Erna, staring blankly at the scene, collapsed under a tree. Her savior, Bjorn, smiled innocently.
They were now chatting excitedly, thinking about a new bet. Bjorn leaned back in a wicker chair facing the valley and puffed on a cigar.
"Hey, trophy hunter. Teach me some of the winner's secrets. Yeah?"
At Peter's words, Bjorn laughed, slowly exhaling the smoke from his deeply inhaled cigar.
"What? Are you ignoring me now? Do you think I can't do it?"
"Hey. The Grand Duke's secrets are of no use to you. What blind lady would fall for your tricks?"
Leonard interrupted, chuckling and mocking, and Peter's voice rose even higher. Bjorn chuckled nonchalantly at their mischievous banter.
“You crazy kids.”
After a leisurely exhale, he lit another cigar, and a brilliant golden sunlight fell upon Bjorn. A burst of laughter followed.
Erna clenched her bloodless hand tightly, even harder, over her mouth. In her unfocused eyes, the transparent, swollen summer forest rippled, teardrop-like, falling.
After laughing and chatting for a while, they left, and the valley fell silent once again. Only after confirming this did Erna finally let out the breath she had been holding back.
Sobs and nausea mingled with the panting sounds of dying animals. The sky, clear and cloudless, was filled with startled birds.
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