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Chapter 51
The day of the hunting festival came.
Mikaela arrived at the hunting grounds with her husband, Marquis Dion.
The carriage with the pattern of Dion’s marquisate stopped among the nobles.
The carriage door opened, and a tall, skinny man got out first. It was Marquis Dion, Mikaela’s husband.
Escorting her, Mikaela got off.
She was dressed head-to-toe in a dress and accessories that match with the latest trends.
The noblewomen and the young ladies gathered around her as soon as they saw her.
“I haven’t seen you in a while, Your Grace, Marquis Dion, and Madam.”
“Oh my, isn’t this necklace a popular necklace these days?”
“Her dress is so beautiful. As expected, she is the trend leader, then and now.”
Mikaela, who lived as an Imperial Princess for more than 20 years, took their attention and veneration for granted.
Though, their interest didn’t last long.
“Hey, isn’t that Duke Rubellin’s carriage?”
“Oh, that’s right. The Duke is also coming today, isn’t he?”
“He didn’t come to the banquet to celebrate the return of the knights, so this is his first time attending an official event.”
“The Duchess lived confined in the Duchy, I guess she must be feeling confident since her husband returned.”
Mikaela was a bit apprehensive that Elisha and Richard were taking away the attention that had been focused on her, but she agreed, knowing that the interest was not in the right direction.
And in all honesty, she was a little curious about Richard.
It was for a brief period when she was young, but he was a man that the Imperial Family had intended to make her companion.
It was also because Mikaela was once one of the many girls who were obsessed with Richard’s handsome looks.
While everyone was looking at Duke Rubellin’s carriage, the wagon finally stopped at the entrance to the hunting ground.
The door opened and Richard got off first.
Tall stature, wide shoulders; arm muscles that can be seen at first glance whenever he was moving, and clear features under slightly disorganized hair were enough to catch the attention of many women.
Richard held out his hand to Elisha, ignoring the gazes that gathered on him.
Wearing a light blue dress and a lace hat, Elisha created a refreshing atmosphere suitable for a spring picnic.
Richard embraced Elisha as if protecting her.
Of course, Mikaela and all the other noble ladies gathered around glanced at Elisha sideways.
It was displeasing that the lowly daughter of a mere Viscount, took the underserved position as the wife of the most handsome and young bachelor, the Duke, known for his high status, wealth, and power throughout the Empire.
Mikaela stood in front of Elisha as their representative.
“It’s been a long time, Your Grace, Duke. You as well Duchess, it’s been so long that I almost forgot your face.”
“I completely forgot the emblem of the Duke of Rubellin.”
“It’s not as if you have committed any crime, so please show us your face more often. You two.”
Elisha accepted the jealous gazes and words directed at her with a grin.
Until someone appeared in front of her.
“Miss Elisha?”
“M-marchioness Beltin?”
Elisha looked at Olivia, who was puzzled, with a startled look.
‘Right. This person came to the Capital!’
She was unaware that Elisha was the Duchess of Rubellin.
If she opens her mouth, it will be revealed that she was trying to run away from the Duke, and if that happens, it will rise up as a hot topic in the gossip circles of the nobles.
As Elisha was about to urgently speak to Olivia, the sound of horses and a carriage was heard in the distance.
It was a wagon escorted by the Imperial Knights and with the insignia of the Imperial Family engraved on it.
Elisha whispered to Olivia while everyone was distracted by the royal procession.
“Madam, I’ll explain everything to you later.”
Olivia looked at Elisha startled for a moment and nodded in understanding.
Meanwhile, a carriage with members of the imperial family arrived.
“I see the light of the holy Arencia.”
“I’m glad that everyone was able to make it here during this busy time.”
“It’s nice to see the face of an old friend I haven’t seen in a while.”
Christian’s gaze and the Emperor’s words were directed to Elisha and Richard.
Richard just stared at Christian with an indifferent look and didn’t say anything back.
Instead, he wrapped his arms around Elisha more tightly.
After a brief greeting with each other, the nobles returned to their respective wagons to prepare for hunting.
Elisha suddenly glanced at the nobles. But the one she was looking for was nowhere to be found.
‘I think Ansel didn’t arrive from the island yet.’
Before leaving the ship at the guild of Arden, she left a letter for Ansel with the mercenaries.
However, a slight apology was not enough to make up for the hard work of a friend who was in her favor and waited for her.
‘You must have waited for me in Sorneti. I have to formally apologize when you come back…’
Elisha thought so and turned to help Richard prepare for the hunt.
However, unlike the other nobles who checked their bows and hunting rods, Richard was doing nothing.
Elisha looked up at him with puzzled eyes, and a big hand followed with worried eyes, touched Elisha’s forehead.
“How’s your body?”
“Huh? It’s okay.”
“No upset stomach, dizziness, or anything like that?”
“Yeah.”
Elisha nodded her head saying she was fine, but he was still uneasy.
“If you’re uncomfortable or having a hard time, don’t force yourself and just rest in the carriage.”
“I will. Don’t worry about me and come back safely. Don’t forget what I said yesterday.”
She was more worried about Richard than herself.
When she was young, she still vividly remembers how Richard was attacked and seriously injured at the royal hunting grounds.
She was still worried despite knowing that he had the power to easily subdue a few men of any size now.
Just when the two were worrying about each other, a voice came from behind.
“Isn’t this the Duke who almost lost his seat as Elisha’s husband to our son?”
The person approaching was none other than Olivia.
Unlike Elisha, who showed a glad look, Richard hardened his expression.
“Losing my seat as a husband, what do you mean?”
“Richard, that…”
Just when Elisha was about to explain what happened, Olivia spoke first.
“Ah. Please don’t take it the wrong way. It’s not something that my son did, it was me who wanted to bring in your wife as my daughter-in-law.”
“…”
“Not long ago, I was favored by the Duchess’ kindness. I was grateful and thought she was single so I wanted to introduce her to my son. That’s all.”
At that moment, Richard’s hardened expression softened a little, although for others, as always, he had a cool expression.
Olivia smiled at Richard.
It was because of her age that she was able to deal with Richard, who everyone feared, with an expression that looked like she was talking to her close nephew.
“It seems that the hunt is about to begin.”
As soon as Olivia finished speaking, a knight of the Imperial Knights blew his whistle.
It was a sign that the hunt was about to begin.
“Have a safe trip, Richard.”
Elisha urged Richard with a farewell, but Richard hesitated and reluctantly turned around without willingness.
“I’ll be back.”
Elisha, who was looking at Richard’s back as he was moving away, started speaking first.
“Madam, I’m sorry that I lied about my identity. At that time… I lied because I thought it would be bad if I ran into someone. After all, I secretly left the manor.”
“Well, it could be. Miss Elisha… no, Duchess, it’s nothing for the Duchess to apologize for. It’s the husband’s fault for making the wife want to escape their home, isn’t that right.”
Elisha laughed at Olivia’s playful remark but corrected it immediately.
“It’s not his fault. Just, I think there was a misunderstanding.”
Then, Olivia’s eyes looking at Elisha became soft. It was as if she was looking at a lovely niece.
“Oh my, are you still siding with him because he’s your husband? How did you run away while loving him so much? If you ran away from your beloved husband, then the Duke must have done a lot wrong.”
Hearing that, Elisha’s eyes began to waver.
‘Love… Me? To Richard? I did like him a lot. As an old friend and family. That’s all.’
Elisha thought it was only natural to side with the one she considered her family and precious friend.
Having reached such a conclusion, Elisha answered after being momentarily confused.
“It’s not that. There was a real misunderstanding.”
“Hmm, I’m glad it worked out. It’s very hard to be pregnant. Of course, I’m going to act like a doormat when we’re next to your husband.”
Elisha burst into laughter at the word ‘doormat’.
Olivia, who was looking at Elisha, saw the maids of the Imperial Palace preparing for a tea party from afar and held out her hand to Elisha.
“Now that we’ve cleared up our misunderstanding, shall we move on?”