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Chapter 15
The Emperor of the Sushian Empire, Clipt, lost his Empress and never brought in any other woman. His belief was that he would not marry again until his children grew up. Because of that, he did not react to any woman who appeared before him.
Naturally, the attention of the young noble ladies turned to Majin. He still had no official lover. Whoever became his lover would practically become the Crown Princess. Thinking this, many noble ladies came to the hunting ground, dressed up to catch Majin’s attention.
“I heard the Roel Duke’s daughter is coming too.”
“Oh my.”
“They say she was invited together with the Pellis family’s children.”
“I see.”
“Actually, recently….”
They began talking about what had happened not long ago. They were discussing the Crown Prince and Siran visiting the Pellis family.
Celia Roel was a noble lady with unusual actions. She was already well known for her beauty, but she also became a topic because of her behavior.
Even though she was a Duke’s daughter, she graduated from the academy, and even danced with the Crown Prince. But this time, she got engaged to a Viscount family far below her status.
She broke the expectations of the noble ladies who thought she would only be engaged to at least a Duke family or even the Crown Prince.
While they were talking about Celia, the real Celia appeared.
‘Oh my.’
They looked at the boy with dazzling looks who followed her.
It seemed he was Raiden Pellis.
I looked around the tent. Inside were nobles and their children who were invited to the hunting competition, even if they were not participating in the hunt today. I could feel pity in their eyes toward me.
Well, I already expected it. How would they approach me?
“Celia, are you really okay?”
Raiden worried about me. He also felt that the gazes on me were not normal.
You already knew this would happen. I smiled calmly.
“Of course.”
Then I gently led him.
“Raiden, I’ll introduce you to some people I know.”
Once again, I approached first. He quietly looked at me and nodded. It seemed he wanted to watch how I handled things.
“It’s been a while, everyone.”
I looked around and greeted them naturally. As a Duke’s daughter, I had attended hunting events with my younger brother since childhood, so I knew everyone’s faces. They also came to greet me naturally.
“Who is this beside you?”
“My fiancé, Raiden Pellis.”
They probably already guessed, but I introduced him properly anyway.
But my younger brother, Passtan, was not here. Maybe he didn’t come to this hunting event.
‘That might be better.’
He might have been hurt by all the attention.
“Hello.”
Everyone greeted Raiden. Since a new person had appeared, they were observing him. The boy who once seemed nervous when meeting Majin was now handling people smoothly.
While we were exchanging greetings, the Crown Prince arrived.
And one more person entered. A beautiful girl with shining golden hair, holding a cute doll.
Olize appeared.
I had expected this would happen…
I looked at Olize, then at Raiden. In the original timeline, they would meet later after growing up, but now they met earlier. I had twisted the future.
Honestly, I didn’t feel good about them meeting. Raiden should be closer to me first. But fate was not something I could control.
“Who is that?”
Raiden asked about Olize.
“That is Princess Olize.”
Was Raiden already interested in her?
Please don’t let that happen. I need time to change my fate.
I silently prayed.
Aton was at the hunting ground.
The hunting competition had begun. The Emperor gave a speech wishing everyone good hunting.
Aton entered the forest to hunt as Celia had told him. Knights also moved with him in case of emergency.
He had worried that others might ignore him, but Celia told him not to worry.
She said many nobles invited to the imperial hunting event were friendly to the imperial family, so they would not ignore a noble who had caught the Emperor’s attention.
In reality, the gazes toward Aton were only curious. No one openly looked down on him. Some even spoke to him kindly. That made him feel at ease.
Inside the hunting ground, Aton calmly hunted a rabbit. The expensive bow with magic on it worked well. He smiled and quickly tried to put the rabbit into his bag.
But then Emperor Clipt approached him.
“How is the hunt going, Viscount Pellis?”
“I’m not very skilled at hunting.”
Aton replied comfortably. He found it easier to speak to the Emperor than other nobles since the Emperor favored him.
“How many have you caught?”
“Well… just one rabbit.”
Clipt looked at Aton’s bow. It had magic on it, and the seal of the Magic Association was clearly visible.
“The Magic Association’s seal.”
Normally, bows were not enchanted. Magic had to be paid for at a high price, so it was rare. But Aton’s bow clearly had it.
“I’m not skilled, so I thought I should at least have good equipment.”
Aton handed the bow to the Emperor.
“Would you like to try it?”
“Good.”
Clipt accepted. He noticed this was not a poorly made enchantment.
They rode horses together, looking for prey.
A rabbit appeared. Clipt shot an arrow, but it missed slightly. However, it still hit the rabbit accurately.
“How interesting.”
He looked at the enchanted arrow and asked:
“Who did you request this from?”
“The vice president of the Magic Association.”
“Do you know him?”
“I once supported them financially.”
The Magic Association sometimes needed funding. Aton donated for that reason. Or more accurately, because of Raiden’s request.
Celia had studied at an academy under the Magic Association, so Raiden wanted to connect with that side to get closer to her.
Celia probably didn’t even know how much Raiden had been around her.
“Incredible.”
“It’s nothing.”
“Where did you get that money?”
Clipt laughed.
“I have chosen your Viscount territory.”
“Really?”
“Yes. It’s not a very refined city, but it is livable. It used to belong to Count Ruatis, but he died without heirs, so the country took it back.”
Aton liked that it was originally a Count’s land.
“It was kept as state property for a while, but soon it will become your territory.”
“Isn’t that place famous for Ryueramcha?”
“You know well.”
“I like traveling.”
He had been there before. Clipt smiled.
“You may not be able to travel often anymore. I may call you often.”
“It is an honor.”
Aton needed to know how road construction was going. That was important for his business plans.
The Emperor said he would reveal how donated money was used, and Aton was planning his business with the road construction timing.
“I appreciate it.”
“There will be many things besides road projects.”
Clipt seemed to plan to continue using Aton.
“Raiden is 19 this year, right? He just became an adult. Is he not hunting?”
“He is staying in the tent because Celia is not hunting. He wants to stay with her.”
At Celia’s name, Clipt spoke regretfully.
“I once considered Celia as a Crown Princess candidate.”
“What do you mean?”
“She is a Duke’s daughter, very beautiful, and graduated top of the academy.”
Clipt seemed to regret her.
“And her personality is not bad either.”
He sighed.
“She respects others.”
“I also think very highly of her.”
Clipt looked at Aton and smiled.
“Take good care of her.”
“Of course.”
Aton felt proud. He already knew Celia was great, but he didn’t expect she was once a Crown Princess candidate.
“By the way,”
Clipt shook his head.
“The Duke did not come, saying he was sick.”
Roel Duke, Kelyan, was not present.
“His son will attend the party later.”
“A party?”
After the hunt, a party would be held at the lodge in the forest. Kelyan could not come, but his son Passtan would.
“Passtan also cared a lot for his sister. He even opposed the engagement.”
“Yes.”
“Actually, it was Celia who proposed the engagement.”
Aton already knew this. He wondered why Clipt was talking about this.
“What if Passtan cannot accept his sister’s fiancé? I am curious how he will act, and how Celia will respond.”
“I am also curious.”
Aton thought of Celia.
What would she do if her real family appeared? Would she leave Raiden and go complain to her brother? Or would she stand by Raiden and try to convince her brother?
He suddenly hoped it would be the second one. He wanted her to stay the same as she had been at his home.
