MAS 38

Chapter – 38

Originally, Adrina and Sideron were supposed to meet a year from now, at a palace banquet.

Nothing had happened between them. They simply exchanged glances and a brief greeting.

Yet, upon seeing Adrina, Sideron fell in love.

Of course, having never truly experienced emotions before, he probably didn’t immediately recognize it as love.

But this unfamiliar feeling—the first he had ever felt—was undeniable.

From Sideron’s perspective, Adrina’s presence was like an oasis in the desert.

It was only natural that he would fall for her.

However, having never learned how to handle feelings, his misguided affection quickly veered into obsession.

“If that’s the case, Sideron is eventually going to like Adrina, huh?”

So she had thought that just meeting him would be enough.

“But… is that really enough?”

Judging by Sideron’s behavior, he probably wouldn’t attend the banquet either.

“Cursed…”

As she lamented, a buzzing sound came from somewhere.

This feeling…

“Communication stone?”

A purple light glowed from the open drawer.

She grabbed it and locked eyes with it, letting her magic flow into the stone.

[Oh, Mistress. You got it right away?]

Blake’s voice came through, and she frowned.

“I told you not to contact me first.”

[Sorry about that. I was going to hold back, but I got worried yesterday. Did you get back safely?]

Hearing Blake’s concern, she felt a twinge of guilt for having sounded annoyed.

“Yes… thankfully nothing happened. How about you? Did you get back safely?”

[Of course. Who do you think I am?]

Right. Even if thrown far away, he’d find his way back.

[Good to hear. By the way, I didn’t get a definite answer back then.]

“Definite answer?”

[Yes. Whether our plan has any changes.]

‘Plan…’

Her plan was to divorce Sideron. And to partner with Blake in the mining business for her future.

She answered without hesitation.

“Of course not.”

[Then I’ll prepare accordingly.]

“Alright.”

She was about to end the communication when a thought crossed her mind.

“Blake, there’s some information I want to buy…”

[Information?]

“About Adrina Rigen, young lady of the Rigen family.”

[Hmm. You seem very interested in that young lady, just like before.]

Blake eyed her suspiciously.

Well, it would be strange to ask about a woman, someone she had no connection to.

She smoothly shifted the topic, pulling out the prepared response.

“Miss Rigen is beautiful and from a good family. Anyone would like her. If Sideron sees someone like her, wouldn’t he want to divorce me?”

[Not a bad point…]

“Huh?”

[Miss Rigen is pretty. No one wouldn’t like her. But compared to her, you…]

That was strangely irritating.

“What about me?”

[Haha. Are you angry? Just kidding. But someone lively like you is better than someone cold like Miss Rigen, right?]

Really.

Wait, how does Blake even know Adrina is cold?

“Blake, are you… acquainted with Miss Rigen?”

[What do you mean?]

“It just sounds like you know her.”

Blake was silent for a moment before answering.

[Of course. You know I’m well-informed. Why ask that?]

His playful reply left her feeling a little odd.

‘Still, it seemed like you knew her better than that.’

But since he denied it, she didn’t press further. There was no secret worth hiding.

[So, what do you want to know about her?]

“Oh, nothing much. I just want to know the events she’ll attend… not the banquet.”

[Not the banquet?]

“Yes.”

Judging by Sideron’s attitude, it seemed better not to attend any banquet for the time being.

[Let me see… Ah, the palace will hold a hunting competition soon. Miss Rigen is participating.]

‘A hunting competition…’

She recalled Mary casually mentioning it before.

“Oh, she must have already signed up for it.”

As she pondered, Blake gave the exact answer.

[Tomorrow.]

“Tomorrow? Then when’s the competition?”

[Probably three weeks from now. It’s a major event. Surely, no one in the empire would be unaware of it.]

“…Well, I wasn’t planning to attend anyway.”

[Planning to go?]

“Yes. Why? Is that a problem?”

[Problem… no, none.]

Blake muttered something to himself, as if thinking.

Hearing that made her uneasy.

[Don’t worry too much. Nothing will happen. But if you’re going, let me know in advance.]

“Why?”

[I’ll give you a gift.]

A gift? From this stingy person? Suspicious.

[By the way, information costs 1 gold.]

She reconsidered. Not suspicious at all.

After that, she continued chatting with Blake before ending the communication.

‘By the way, I need to tell him by tomorrow, right?’

She couldn’t afford to daydream any longer and jumped up.

Crossing the wide corridor, she went straight to Sideron’s office.

‘Ah, I’m a little nervous now that I’m actually here.’

Exhaling lightly, she knocked on the door.

Knock, knock.

Herden, seated at the aide’s desk, greeted her, while Sideron didn’t even glance at her.

He was always reliably irritating.

‘Good. Stay that way and drain all my patience.’

But regardless of her feelings, she had a request to make.

She hesitantly approached him.

“Um… are you busy?”

“….”

Sideron didn’t look at her at all, keeping his eyes glued to some documents.

Yes. He looked busy. Very busy.

Curious, she peeked at the papers.

‘Something seems off…’

No, maybe not.

At that moment, Sideron placed the documents on the desk and finally turned to her.

“Why has my wife come to see me?”

His soft smile made her heart flutter instinctively.

‘Focus. Don’t get swept away by that face.’

“I want to go somewhere.”

“…Go somewhere?”

It felt a little awkward, considering she had just returned from the banquet yesterday.

“There’s a hunting competition at the palace a few weeks from now.”

“….”

“I heard all the nobles are supposed to participate! Could you come with me?”

Of course, it wasn’t mandatory. She just hadn’t noticed the sign-up deadline approaching.

‘I’m terrible at persuading people.’

If she were Sideron, she would never have agreed…

“I’m somewhat skilled at hunting.”

“…?”

“That doesn’t mean I don’t want to see it.”

His sudden comment left her momentarily dazed.

She couldn’t recall seeing him hunt in the novel, but then again, someone who’d rolled around a battlefield couldn’t really be bad at hunting.

Anyway, since he didn’t seem displeased, she nodded eagerly.

Sideron glanced at Herden.

Herden pulled a notebook from his coat and nodded.

“For a palace hunting competition, it will be three weeks from now. By that time, most urgent matters should be wrapping up.”

Everything was going smoothly.

She looked at Sideron expectantly, and he smiled slightly.

“Very well. If my wife wants to go, there’s no reason not to.”

By the way, why did he seem so obsessed with the word “wife”?

Technically, she was his wife.

‘Doesn’t matter what he calls me. Anyway, that’s settled.’

As she nodded, Sideron muttered under his breath.

“I’m not used to hunting beasts, but it’s probably not much different from hunting people.”

Wait, what? Hunting people?

Blinking, she watched as Herden jumped from his seat.

“Ah! That’s because… he’s only hunted with people on battlefields before. Hunting alone is new for him!”

Clearly, something was off.

“Well… yes….”

“Don’t misunderstand. Absolutely not.”

Sideron’s reputation of slaughtering enemies like beasts on the battlefield was common knowledge.

Herden’s defensive fluster made her nod reluctantly.

“Anyway! You’re coming to the hunting competition, right?”

“If my wife wishes it.”

Yes!

Why was Sideron agreeing so easily? She decided not to question it.

After all, from the moment she entered this novel, nothing here made sense.

‘Better not overthink it.’

“Registration is tomorrow. So don’t be late—”

“You’re leaving already? That’s harsh.”

“Ah?”

Sideron pulled her hand toward him, making her stumble slightly.

Grasping the edge of the desk, she held her breath.

‘His face…’

He was sitting at his desk, looking up at her.