Chapter 69: Southern Hunting Tournament (8)

 

Elena stood still, watching Damian’s back as he ran toward the forest. She didn’t move until he disappeared completely into the shadows of the forest.

 

Was it the regret of their short meeting? She found it hard to take a step away.

 

She was filled with the thought that had she woken up a little earlier, they could have talked more. But Elena knew all too well that it was foolish to dwell on what was already past.

 

Setting aside her lingering regrets, she closed her eyes to focus.

 

Despite her eyes being shut, where nothing should be visible, she saw something emitting a warm light like the sun. Confirming this, Elena finally relaxed her tense expression and exhaled a sigh of relief.

 

“Thank goodness...”

 

Though she hadn’t used any magic, she could vividly sense Damian’s presence, as if he were standing right next to her.

 

This meant that the crystal she had given him was working as intended. It was the first time she’d utilized her power in this way, and she had been worried that the crystal might not function properly. Now, she felt she could breathe a little easier.

 

The crystal, the cause of her tardiness, was pivotal in the plans she had laid out. If it hadn’t worked correctly, things could have gone horribly awry. Given the existence of Noel and Orcus, she couldn’t act as she did during her time in Merohim; this was the best she could do under the current circumstances.

 

‘I’m just glad I could pass this on to him...’

 

More than anything, the item was not just key to her plan but also a critical object that would protect Damian from potential dangers.

 

For some unknown reason, the current Damian was growing stronger at a rate faster than Elena remembered. She didn’t know what motivated him, but at this pace, he might reach the level of transcendence even before Reinhardt, one of the strongest swordsmen she knew.

 

However, unless this happens immediately, giving up her worries for Damian would be a difficult task for Elena.

 

Knowing full well what could happen next, how could she possibly send him into the forest without any protective measures? That was why she gave him the crystal that would normally have been dropped in the forest by the blue-bird.

 

“Ha...”

 

A wave of relief washed over her, and only then did she realize how drained she was.

 

Having spent the entire night reconfiguring the crystal, her mind was fine, but her body had reached its limits. One wrong step, and she could collapse. Fortunately, Hailey noticed and hurried to Elena’s side to support her.

 

“Miss!”

 

“Ah... Thank you, Hailey...”

 

As soon as Hailey caught Elena’s arm, she called out her name. Elena felt a sense of strangeness and paused. Initially, she thought Hailey called out due to concern that she might collapse. However, Hailey’s eyes did not show any signs of worry.

 

It looked like Hailey was expecting her to say something.

 

This was not the first time Elena had seen Hailey like this. During her time in the Count Kraus’ house and especially after spending time alone with Damian, Hailey always looked at Elena with that same expectant gaze. Elena quickly realized what Hailey wanted to hear from her.

 

She glanced around and noticed that Hailey wasn’t the only one looking at her with those eyes.

 

The gesture Damian had made before leaving had certainly caught everyone’s attention.

 

A kiss on the back of the hand was not something that should attract this much attention. It was a common act before participating in tournaments, something that could happen anywhere.

 

However, the attention was because the people involved were Damian and Elena.

 

Their respective families, Kraus and Edelweiss, might have contributed too, but the main reason was their stunning appearances, enough to capture everyone’s attention.

 

Some adults found their young love charming, while among their peers, it was causing quite a stir.

 

There were also those like Hailey, but separate from that, she sensed glances tinged with jealousy and pity.

 

However, Elena didn’t have time to react to these emotions pouring towards her. The moment Hailey opened her mouth, a flood of words poured out.

 

“Miss! Congratulations!! You struggled even with hand-holding just the other day, and now you’ve progressed to casual hand kisses! To be honest, after your camping trip, I thought you two had grown distant. I’m so relieved it was a false alarm!”

 

“He-Hailey! I get it, now please, keep it down!”

 

“Ah, and I couldn’t see well from a distance, but Miss! When did you prepare such a gift?! That’s so unfair. If you’d told me, I would’ve definitely helped you!”

 

“I said stop ittttt...”

 

Elena’s sentiment was torn between the need to address the drama unfolding around her and the onslaught of Hailey’s exuberant chatter.

 

At Hailey’s words, the emotions Elena had pushed to a corner of her heart resurfaced.

 

Only hours ago, she was agonizing over how to face Damian. Hailey’s words might as well have detonated the tranquility Elena had regained. Above all, as Hailey continued to speak, the growing focus of the crowd’s attention made Elena’s face flush with heat.

 

Elena had long stopped caring about others’ gazes, but this particular subject was an exception. Hailey knew this, which was why she was teasing her so persistently.

 

Elena pulled her hat low over her eyes, seeking a place away from prying eyes. Hailey trailed behind, her mouth never ceasing its movement.

 

***

 

After seeing him off, I returned to my room to tidy up my clothes.

 

Not participating in the competition didn’t mean my schedule was empty. Those attending as spectators, like me, had two options: to wait in the banquet hall or to stay quietly in the room. But given that I was part of Kraus’ group, my presence at the hall was almost obligatory.

 

I put down the hat I had been wearing and sat in front of the mirror to tidy my disheveled hair.

 

“My goodness...”

 

I had glanced hastily at myself before leaving the room in the morning, but now, seeing myself in the mirror, I realized just how much of a mess I was.

 

My face was fine because I had washed it, but my hair was a problem.

 

Stashing my tangled hair under my hat had backfired. What was the point of hiding it? I would eventually have to show it to him anyway. Maybe I should have gone out without the hat, even if I looked a bit unkempt.

 

I couldn’t help but feel embarrassed imagining showing him my messy hair. Would he think of me as a slovenly woman? But then, reflecting on my behavior when I had been with him, I realized such worries were needless.

 

“Maybe he already thinks so.”

 

A voice tinged with resignation escaped my lips.

 

How many times had he wiped the cream off my lips while we ate dessert together?

 

I couldn’t deny that after the initial thrill, I had purposely smeared the cream on my lips.

 

What can I do if I feel good? It’s true that whenever I stood in front of him, my composure would falter.

 

Having finished tidying my messed-up hair, my eyes then caught the disorderly state of the room reflected in the mirror. Seeing this reminded me vividly of what had transpired here this morning.

 

I let out a sigh at the chaotic state of my room, which now resembled a battlefield.

 

Though it was a minor accident that led to this mess, I couldn’t help but feel frustrated with myself for not being able to keep even a single room tidy. I felt like a naive young girl failing at a simple task.

 

Since I didn’t invite Hailey into the room, I sat about cleaning it up by myself, moving things here and there. If I had let Hailey help from the beginning, the room would have been sorted out while we chatted, but my anger hadn’t fully subsided yet.

 

“Seriously, Hailey! How could you say that in front of everyone...”

 

Actually, I wasn’t even angry, just embarrassed.

 

Hailey had always been prone to such remarks, so it shouldn’t have been a big deal this time either. But the judgmental stares from those around us made me act a bit more emotional than usual. Of course, I knew Hailey had made the comment in public deliberately to catch me off guard.

 

In all fairness, what Hailey said wasn’t problematic to anyone but me.

 

I was just the one who found it embarrassing.

 

“You can come in now.”

 

As soon as I said that the room was ready, Hailey darted towards me like an arrow released from a bow.

 

She stood in front of me, her mouth closed and her face showing remorse, a stark contrast to her earlier exuberance. She seemed to think I was genuinely upset, given that I had never reacted like this before.

 

“Um... Miss... I’m really sorry!! I didn’t mean to do it on purpose! No, that’s not it, I was just happy that you and Young master have grown closer, so...”

 

Hailey’s eyes fluttered nervously as she spoke, reminding me of the time she broke Wilhelm’s prized sword and had to confess. I listened quietly and then cautiously broke the silence.

 

“You won’t do it again, right?”

 

“Yes! From now on, I’ll only talk like that when it’s just the two of us. Just like before.”

 

It seemed like she had unintentionally revealed her true intentions, but well, this should suffice.

 

Seeing her remorseful expression, I nodded my head.

 

“...Alright. You’re forgiven. And for the record, I also feel embarrassed when you talk like that in public.”

 

“I understand. I’ll be more careful from now on!”

 

Noticing that I had completely cooled down, Hailey immediately broke into a playful grin and gave a salute like an enthusiastic soldier.

 

She really is incorrigible.

 

I responded with a small smile of my own.

 

“So, now that we’re ready, shall we head to the ballroom? I assume Alphonse is already there?”

 

“Yes. Sir Hans and Lord Alphonse said they would go ahead.”

 

Alphonse’s  Father, Sir Arthur, was waiting outside with the knights, so it was only Alphonse and I who would be attending the event. Alphonse couldn’t participate in the tournament due to his age, but it seemed like father was being considerate by asking us to mingle with peers at the event, given the high attendance rate of young nobles.

 

I felt like waiting for him outside would be better...

 

I was not entirely closed off to the idea of making friends, but when it came to meeting someone with whom I had had no previous connection, I still tended to be somewhat hesitant. However, just as he had done back in Merohim, I also needed an opportunity to make my presence known in the South, so I decided to go along with Sir Arthur’ proposal.

 

As we started walking towards the banquet hall, Hailey glanced at me and began to quietly smile as if she’d thought of something amusing.

 

“...? What’s got you all of a sudden?”

 

“Ah, it’s nothing. Hehe. Shall we head to the banquet hall then? Everyone must be waiting for you!”

 

Probably just another one of her usual flights of fancy. I thought, brushing it off. It wasn’t until I entered the banquet hall that I understood the reason behind Hailey’s laughter.

 

The people currently in the banquet hall were partly composed of those who had just been outside, seeing off the participants of the tournament. Naturally, the individuals who had been around me and him earlier were also present here.

 

As soon as I opened the door and stepped inside, I felt gazes on me—the same gazes I had felt outside. When everyone’s attention focused in one direction, the atmosphere inevitably turned a bit oppressive. I was used to this kind of atmosphere, so I wasn’t going to be cowed by it. Still, as soon as I felt their gazes, I couldn’t help but let out a soft sigh.

 

I got the feeling this was going to be a rather exhausting affair in multiple ways.

 

--- END OF CHAPTER ---

 

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