I followed Cedric without much thought.
Even inside the carriage, Cedric didn't say much. Other than the occasional rustle of clothes from movement, perfect silence filled the carriage.
Rattle―!
The carriage jolted sharply.
While I was busy trying to keep my balance, Cedric maintained his graceful posture. I thought he only knew how to hold a pen, but it seemed he’d trained in balance somewhere.
“Are you not nervous?”
“……Who?”
I looked around the carriage and replied nonchalantly.
“Who else is in here? Of course I’m talking about you, brother.”
Cedric stared at me intently.
Did I go too far with the sarcasm?
As I averted my gaze, Cedric quietly responded.
“……So you know I’m participating in the hunting competition.”
“Isn’t that obvious? You're representing the House of Marquis Roygin.”
Cedric must definitely be doubting my intelligence.
“……I see.”
He slightly parted his lips as if he had something to say. He even glanced at my hand. It looked like he was searching for something on me.
Oh no, did he notice?
I gave an awkward smile and pulled out the chocolate I’d been hiding in my pocket.
“Want some?”
“……No.”
Cedric sharply turned his head, looking dumbfounded.
This is seriously delicious though.
As I popped the chocolate into my mouth, the orange scent spread inside.
Mmm, tasty.
It was the kind of flavor that made me want to go to the mart.
* * *
The hunting competition was held in the Helios Forest. It was a forest on the outskirts of the capital, known for its beautiful scenery.
But it was too crowded to comfortably enjoy the view.
Ugh, I’m already exhausted.
I trudged toward the tent of the Roygin family.
I really needed to start looking for Peril.
I checked the list of participants brought by the attendant, but Peril Edwin’s name wasn’t on it.
It was expected, but I still felt strangely disappointed.
If he were here and had changed his appearance…….
A place the second male lead Peril might go.
That would be to the female lead, Idette.
It was quite a plausible hypothesis.
No, this wasn’t a hypothesis. Based on the circumstances, it was almost certain. If not beside her, I couldn’t think of anywhere else Peril would be.
Then finding Idette should come first.
“Lady Bianca, it’s Johanna.”
At that moment, Johanna’s voice came from outside the tent.
……Oh, goodness.
How did I forget this?
Once the competition starts, the ladies who have nothing to do gather for a tea party.
That’s the one thing I must avoid!
Just thinking about it made it hard to breathe.
“Lady Johanna, just a moment.”
I picked up the handkerchief on the table and wiped off the lipstick I had so carefully applied. As a bonus, I reapplied some powder over my lips.
Where’s the eyeshadow, eyeshadow?
Next, I applied some brownish eyeshadow under my eyes. When I hurriedly looked in the mirror, my face was so ashen I looked like I might die tomorrow.
Only then did I smile in satisfaction and cough.
“Cough, come in……”
“Excuse me!”
Johanna, entering the tent with a cheerful voice, gasped when she saw my face.
“Oh my, Lady Bianca! What happened to you?”
“I, I’m not feeling well……”
“Shouldn’t we at least call your physician if you’re like this?”
Johanna panicked and began to stamp her feet in distress.
“It’s just indigestion, cough. Anyway, what brings you here?”
“Well, actually…… the princess sent you an invitation.”
Concern lingered on Johanna’s face. The golden invitation fluttered in her hand.
I spoke with a dying voice.
“Thank you for the invitation, but as you can see, I’m not feeling so well……”
“Alright, alright! Please, just don’t say anything else and lie down, just lie down.”
As I stepped toward her, Johanna recoiled in fright and stepped away.
“I’ll explain it well to the princess! Please get some rest!”
Then, without even waiting for my reply, she dashed out of the tent.
Yes!
* * *
Successfully avoiding the tea party, I left the tent to find Idette.
Only after thoroughly scouring the Helios Forest was I able to find Idette.
“Lady Idette!”
I grabbed her while sweating profusely, and Idette looked confused, unable to hide her surprise.
“Lady Bianca……?”
“W-Where are you going?”
“Nowhere…… I’m not going anywhere. But Lady Bianca, are you unwell? Your complexion—”
“A-Ah no! I’m excessively healthy!”
Even so, the worry in Idette’s eyes didn’t fade. Without realizing it, I tightened my grip on her, and she, seeming to misunderstand, quickly spoke up.
“I-I haven’t seen the Duke today! I have absolutely no intention of giving him a handkerchief!”
“T-That’s not why I grabbed you!”
I carefully let go of her hand.
“It’s just that I was bored. Rayler didn’t attend…… and aside from her, I don’t really know anyone here.”
Idette seemed a little surprised by my words.
Was it that surprising for the daughter of a marquis to so boldly admit to being a loner?
Yes, I’m a loner!
Eventually, Idette opened her mouth with a troubled expression.
“T-Thank you. But Princess Hestia sent me an invitation earlier. Once the event starts properly, I think I should go see her.”
“Say you’re sick. I told her I was sick too and planned to rest in the tent.”
Ah, maybe this is too much to ask.
As expected, it must’ve sounded ridiculous.
Idette’s face darkened slightly. But only for a moment—then she looked at me with a hopeful expression and asked carefully.
“Can I really……?”
“Of course! The princess isn’t heartless enough to keep a sick person around. Just dull your lip color and draw in some dark circles.”
This was seriously a genius method.
I whispered to Idette.
“Just sit next to the princess silently and then say you really don’t feel well.”
“Th-Thank you!”
Idette grabbed my hands like she had just met her savior.
See? I’m not the weird one.
Everyone must hate tea parties.
For some reason, I felt proud. Like I had saved someone.
“Then go ahead. I’ll be resting, so come have tea with me when it’s all over.”
“Alright.”
Idette smiled brightly.
While chatting with her, I glanced at the faces of the maids standing nearby.
But no one stood out.
……Was my guess wrong?
Even if Peril was in disguise, I thought he’d still be somewhat obvious.
On the way back after seeing Idette off, I still didn’t see anyone who looked like Peril.
Ugh, this is driving me crazy. Is Peril really attending today’s hunting competition?
Even though it hadn’t started yet, I was growing increasingly anxious.
“Bianca!”
At that moment, I heard Leon’s voice by my ear.
“Brother?”
Leon, approaching me with a friendly face, suddenly stopped in his tracks.
“……Are you sick?”
Only then did I remember what I looked like and quickly wiped my lips with the back of my hand.
“I discovered a new makeup method.”
“……I don’t know what it is, but it doesn’t seem like a good one.”
T-That bad?
Well, I guess that’s what I was aiming for.
Leon said firmly, with a look of disgust.
“You look like a corpse.”
“…….”
Coming from the usually kind Leon, it must be really serious.
I stared at him with a resentful look, and Leon waved his hand, saying it was a joke. Then he changed the subject and stepped closer.
“Ahem, anyway. Don’t you have something for me?”
“……From me?”
“Think carefully. I’m sure there’s something.”
Leon raised one corner of his mouth in a sly grin.
I think I knew what he meant, but I played dumb.
“Hmm, not sure. Maybe you should be more specific.”
“You’ve gotten so cheeky while I wasn’t looking.”
“Aren’t you the last person who should say that?”
“Let’s just say it’s a good thing!”
Leon burst into hearty laughter. I smiled without thinking and pulled a handkerchief from my pocket.
……Wait, where’s the chocolate I brought?
I hurriedly searched my pockets, but the chocolate I’d snuck out was nowhere to be found. Seeing my confusion, Leon called out to me.
“Bianca? What’s wrong?”
“O-Oh, it’s nothing. The handkerchief is what you were talking about, right?”
When I handed the handkerchief to Leon, he accepted it with a satisfied smile.
But then, smirking, he spoke.
“Is it okay for me to take this, Cedric?”
Cedric?
Startled, I turned around—and there stood Cedric.