* * *
The annual Imperial Hunting Competition.
Held each summer, the event was timed to coincide with the appearance of the summer constellation Eosphoros, symbolizing the empire’s glory and strength.
Rotating across various provincial territories far from the capital, it attracted not only the emperor but also the most renowned noble families and knights of the empire, making it a highly celebrated occasion.
It had been a long time since the competition was last held in the northern region, home to the Lacartel duchy. The northern forests were teeming with game, but their ferocity had often deterred the imperial family from choosing them as the venue. However, the rotation had finally reached a point where the competition could no longer bypass Lacartel's domain.
As the duchess of the house, Ariel had been assisting with preparations for the competition since spring. While the majority of the work had been managed by the head butler Berto, she contributed a few ideas, such as installing magical lamps for evening banquets and selecting dessert menus.
Ten days before the event, Ariel planned to travel in advance to inspect the venue and guest accommodations. Joining her on this trip was Heath, as Brunoir had complained that his aging joints couldn’t handle the discomfort of gate travel.
With her travel bags packed, Ariel descended the mansion's grand staircase under Susan’s watchful eye.
"Hm?"
At the base of the steps, two carriages awaited her.
Ariel glanced between the two, and realization dawned on her.
"Matthias and Lucian insist on using separate carriages, don’t they?"
Indeed, the two men stood beside their respective carriages, both staring at Ariel intently.
A sudden sense of foreboding gripped her.
"They’re not going to make me choose, are they?"
No sooner had she approached than Lucian, in a tone that left no room for argument, said.
"Ariel. Choose which one you’ll ride with."
Why is it that bad premonitions are always right?
Ariel turned her gaze to Matthias, who met her eyes with a calm, expectant look that said it was only natural she would ride with him.
Clearly, he wasn’t planning on conceding either.
Why does our family of three always turn everything into a competition?
Hoping to defuse the situation, Ariel tried to propose.
"Can’t we all ride together?"
"No."
Lucian answered immediately, leaving no room for negotiation.
Ah, so that’s out.
As she hesitated, Matthias and Lucian began glaring daggers at each other, exchanging sharp words.
"Don’t come between me and Ariel, Matthias."
"It’s a long journey. Being with you would only be an annoyance."
The tension between them crackled like lightning, threatening to escalate into outright conflict.
If I don’t decide soon, one of these carriages is going to get destroyed.
Letting out a deep sigh, Ariel made her decision. "I’ll ride with Lucian on the way there and Matthias on the way back."
"What kind of compromise is that?" Lucian’s possessiveness flared as he snapped at her.
Ugh, his temper.
To calm him down, Ariel walked over to Matthias, stood on her tiptoes, and kissed his cheek. Even so, she couldn’t quite reach, so Matthias tilted his head slightly to accommodate her.
"See you later," she said softly.
"...Alright."
Though his expression remained slightly displeased, the kiss managed to soften Matthias’s features.
Meanwhile, Lucian, clearly irritated, grabbed Ariel by the waist and pulled her toward his carriage. Seating her inside, he growled, "Who told you to kiss Matthias?"
With her hands on her hips, Ariel retorted.
"If you’re jealous, why don’t you kiss Matthias yourself? He is your father, after all."
"Do I look like I’m doing this because I want to kiss Matthias?"
"Then why?"
"Don’t kiss just anyone."
"He’s not just anyone."
"Especially not Matthias."
What a childish argument. Ariel muttered complaints inwardly but held her tongue.
Lucian leaned closer, his tone dropping threateningly.
"You’ve hardly ever kissed me first, have you?"
Ariel blinked, tilting her head in confusion.
Hadn’t she?
Thinking back, she realized it was usually Lucian who initiated kisses—whether on her forehead or cheek. The only time she could recall kissing him first was once before bed.
As realization dawned, Lucian smirked arrogantly. The way his perfectly sculpted lips curved sent her heart racing.
"Looks like you owe me a lot, Ariel. Four years’ worth of kisses, to be exact."
That’s ridiculous. Pure nonsense.
Yet her face heated up despite herself.
Four years? How many kisses would that even be?
Satisfied with his declaration, Lucian finally leaned back against the carriage seat. Loosening his tie as if he found it suffocating, he remarked lazily, "If you don’t sit closer, I’ll start collecting those four years’ worth right now."
"I’m sitting!" Ariel quickly complied, settling deeper into the seat and turning her attention firmly to the window.
Bad enough he’s a tyrant—now he’s a blackmailer too. Ariel let out a silent huff as the carriage set off.
* * *
After arriving at the estate, the days flew by in a blur of activity.
Before anyone realized it, the eve of the Imperial Hunting Competition was upon them.
Nobles from across the empire flocked to the Lacartel domain, filling it with the clatter of carriages and the hum of lively conversation. The estate buzzed with life as Berto, the household’s head butler, expertly assigned accommodations to the visiting aristocrats and directed the horses to the stables.
The Lacartel manor and its annexes overflowed with guests, their brightly lit windows creating a dazzling spectacle in the night.
In the duke’s study, Matthias and Ariel discussed the plans for the upcoming event.
Traditionally, the first day of the hunting competition began with a lighthearted rabbit hunt. During the summer, rabbits bred excessively, often causing damage to nearby farms. To help control their numbers, the hunt targeted them as a symbolic and practical start.
“Lucian will oversee the hunt tomorrow, so there’s no need for us to worry,” Matthias said casually.
As the hosts of the event, Matthias, Lucian, and Ariel were prohibited from participating on the first day. However, starting on the second day, the men could join in the competition.
Ariel, however, felt a pang of disappointment.
‘I wish I could hunt rabbits too. They’d all come straight to me anyway.’
As a mage skilled in elemental magic, Ariel had a natural affinity with wildlife and could easily summon animals. She imagined herself surrounded by a crowd of rabbits, gently picking them up by their ears and dropping them into a sack one by one.
The thought alone brought her joy.
‘I could even show off to Matthias and Lucian…’
She chuckled quietly, picturing the astonished expressions on their faces.
And then, after all the fun, I’d secretly set the rabbits free. I’d even give them a few carrots as thanks.
It sounded perfect.
Lost in her daydream, Ariel grinned at the thought of the rabbits happily nibbling on carrots as they hopped away.
Her musings were interrupted when Dalton entered and spoke to Matthias about some matter. Matthias gave Ariel’s head a brief but affectionate pat before rising from his chair.
“Get some rest early,” he instructed.
“Yes, Matthias,” she replied sweetly.
Standing on her tiptoes, Ariel leaned in to give him a goodnight kiss.
Matthias responded with a faint, elegant smile, softly tapping her cheek before leaving the room.
Outside, the summer constellations glowed vividly against the dark night sky.
* * *
As the grand mage Brunoir had predicted days earlier, the first day of the hunting competition dawned with clear, sunny skies.
The noblemen gathered at the forest's edge, ready for the hunt, while the noblewomen relaxed under a large tent where Heath had cast a cooling spell.
"This tent feels as refreshing as autumn!"
"It's because of the magic, they say."
The ladies were full of admiration for the enchantment.
In the Lacartel estate in the capital, Brunoir typically maintained a comfortable indoor temperature through his magic, making the mansion perpetually pleasant from spring to winter. However, at the Lacartel domain, without Brunoir’s presence, the task of maintaining a livable indoor climate fell to the estate’s numerous staff.
In winter, heavy logs were burned in every room’s fireplace, with diligent ventilation to prevent damp walls and carpets. But in the sweltering summer, the only relief came from dousing the roof with cold water.
‘But I can’t let our guests suffer in this heat,’ Ariel had thought.
Cooling every guest’s room with magic would be an inefficient use of mana. Instead, she devised a plan to concentrate the cooling spells on communal areas, like the tent and lounges where many people gathered. Heath then cast the spells at the designated locations.
"It's so cool! I feel alive in here," exclaimed one nobleman.
Nobles, accustomed to relying on servants fanning them, were amazed by the unprecedented comfort. Many secretly wished they could remain in the Lacartel domain permanently.
Even Crown Prince Dietrich was intrigued.
The imperial palace had its share of court magicians, but their spells were rarely used for improving daily life, as they primarily served as part of the empire’s military force.
Glancing around the cool, refreshing tent, Dietrich remarked to his attendant, "This is remarkable. If magic like this were widespread, it would be transformative."
Meanwhile, Ariel, accompanied by Hector and Ralph, stepped out of the tent to check on a few final preparations.
As she scanned the surroundings, her gaze fell upon a familiar pair of figures.
Her hand froze mid-motion.
"Jerome and Father?"
It had been four years since she had last encountered her family from the Marquisate.
Her body temperature seemed to plummet.
Standing by a black-and-white speckled horse, the Marquis and Jerome appeared to be appraising the animal like merchants evaluating merchandise.
The Marquis had changed little, his demeanor as imperious as ever. It was expected; four years was not enough to transform someone so deeply ingrained in their ways.
Jerome, however, had grown significantly. His greasy bronze-colored hair was slicked back, and his frame had filled out, though it only accentuated his gaudy appearance.
Seventeen now, wasn’t he?
At the sight of Jerome, memories surged back, dragging Ariel into a state of helplessness.
She felt like a powerless ten-year-old again, cornered by Jerome's dog. Her hands began to tremble as phantom echoes of barking rang in her ears.
‘I thought I had forgotten.’
She had believed she was fine now.
Susan had been right. The scars on one’s heart were far harder to erase than those on the body.
Even though she loved dogs, she still hesitated to touch or approach them.
Clenching her trembling hands tightly, Ariel tried to reassure herself.
‘Father and Jerome are no longer part of my life.’
Though they were her biological family in name, they had no real power or claim over her anymore.
‘I belong to the Lacartel family now. I’ll never return to that house.’
Over the years, she had worked hard to become self-reliant, learning magic and starting her business. Now, she was surrounded by people who cherished her.
As she took a calming breath, determined to suppress the storm of memories, someone stepped between the Marquis and Jerome.
“Father, Brother.”
The new arrival was a young girl with soft pink hair, looking no older than sixteen. Her appearance was innocent and delicate, almost doll-like.
Ariel stared at her for a moment, recalling the conversation she had had with Lucian.
The Marquisate had supposedly taken in a distant relative as an adopted daughter to sponsor her debut.
‘So, this is the girl?’
It was almost unbelievable that the Marquisate would sponsor anyone, much less care for a relative.
‘Father and Jerome offering support? That doesn’t make sense… What are they scheming?’
Knowing the kind of men they were, Ariel couldn’t help but feel suspicious.
She gazed at the pink-haired girl for a while longer, then shook her head.
The affairs of the Marquisate no longer concerned her.
With a composed demeanor, Ariel turned and walked back toward the tent, leaving her past behind.