Chapter 37

“Huh? Looks like the chat window’s bugged. Constellations? Are you there?”

After the last constellation’s question mark, no new messages appeared.

The viewer count was the same, but the chat window was frozen.

“Did it lag because there are too many viewers? Ugh, why of all times did it have to crash now.”

I could have heard more about Shinwoo.

As I waited for the frozen chat window to unfreeze, something metallic trickled from my nose.

“Ah… another nosebleed.”

I slowly got out of bed.

I looked around, but there was nothing to wipe it with. In a pinch, I pulled the sleeve of my pajamas and pressed it against my nose.

The sleeve turned crimson as the blood flowed freely.

“Shinwoo used to get nosebleeds a lot, too.”

I was sitting there blankly, lost in that thought.

I heard a presence outside.

“Princess, it’s Zenia. Are you awake? May I come in?”

“Come in.”

“Did you have pleasant dreams? The weather is lovely today. I’ll open the windows for you first.”

“No, bring me a towel first.”

“A towel? Why…”

My eyes met Zenia’s.

“Aaaaah!”

The morning at the Ruthius estate began with Zenia’s scream.

* * *

After a stroll around the estate, I went down to the dining room for breakfast.

The atmosphere in the estate was unusually strange today.

‘Is it just my imagination? It feels like everyone is sneaking glances at me…’

Sure enough, the servants, who usually just went about their business quietly, started speaking to me one by one.

“Princess, I heard you had a nosebleed this morning. Are you alright?”

“Yeah.”

“Princess, how are you feeling? Are you hurt anywhere?”

“I’m not.”

“Princess, should I prepare some carrot tea? It’s usually enjoyed by expectant mothers, but they say it’s also good for nosebleeds.”

“…No.”

Even Duke Ruthius, who was drinking coffee at the head of the table.

“I heard you had a nosebleed this morning.”

I clenched my jaw.

Everyone in the estate knew I’d had a nosebleed. It was all because of the fuss Zenia had made this morning.

I shot Zenia a reproachful glare.

But Zenia just widened her eyes as if to ask, ‘Oh? Did I do something wrong?’

‘She’s gotten quite shameless lately.’

“Yes, a little.”

I answered nonchalantly and took a large bite of bread.

Then, Duke Ruthius flipped a page of a document and asked casually.

“Is the Hunter’s power taking a toll on your body?”

“No.”

“Is there some other problem with your health?”

“I told you, it’s not that.”

“You’re saying your nose just started bleeding when you were perfectly fine?”

“It happens sometimes. Even you must have had a nosebleed at some point in your life, Duke.”

“Not once. Isn’t a nosebleed something only the weak experience?”

“…”

Damn it…

I threw the rest of my bread onto the plate.

Duke Ruthius gestured to Frank with a flick of his finger.

“Frank, summon a healer. I need to know why a perfectly healthy child is getting a nosebleed first thing in the morning.”

Don’t you get nosebleeds from bumping into things or even just dry weather?

I didn’t understand why they were making such a big deal out of it.

‘How embarrassing.’

I let out a long sigh.

“Duke, you seem anxious that my value might decline. But wouldn’t it be more ridiculous to call a healer just because a Hunter got one nosebleed?”

“…”

“As you can see, I’m perfectly fine. I’m not sick, I’m completely healthy. Anyone would think you were actually worried about me.”

“…”

Duke Ruthius fell silent.

‘Looks like I hit a little too close to home and left him speechless.’

I smirked inwardly, tossed a small piece of bread into the air, and caught it in my mouth.

Duke Ruthius frowned in disapproval.

“I believe I told you to maintain your dignity as a princess.”

“Dignity is for those who have nothing but authority to show for themselves. I don’t need it.”

“So you believe your position has transcended that of a princess.”

“You think so too, don’t you, Duke? That’s why you made a contract with me. Because you see me not as a princess, but as the number one Hunter. Am I wrong?”

“That applies to me. But I wonder, do others think the same?”

“What others think doesn’t matter. It’s an undeniable fact.”

“Hmm…”

A slight smirk played on Duke Ruthius’s lips.

Just as I narrowed my eyes at his ominous smile.

He lifted his coffee cup and spoke.

“His Majesty has forbidden any mention of the rankings.”

‘Is it because Dante isn’t on the list?’

I understood a father’s love for his son, but for an emperor, it was a petty move.

I shrugged.

“Does that make it a secret? All the Hunters already know.”

“He plans to host a party for Hunters in the near future.”

“…A party?”

“Yes. He said he would make the announcement then, so the secret should be safe for now. The invitation will arrive soon, so be prepared.”

“He’s really throwing a party? In times like these?”

“His Majesty is not one to be swayed by the times. He was the type to insist on holding a party even during a war.”

Insist on holding a party?

That was a statement that could easily be misunderstood.

Though it was just an example of the emperor’s power, it could sound like a criticism.

‘But that can’t be right.’

Duke Ruthius was a loyal subject who had left his pregnant wife to fight in a war at the emperor’s command.

There was no way he would criticize the emperor.

‘Anyway, powerful people are just as crazy in this life as they were in my last one.’

Throwing a party when the whole world was in chaos.

I lost my appetite. I put down my butter knife.

Duke Ruthius watched me quietly.

“Control your expression.”

“…What are you suddenly talking about?”

“I’m telling you not to reveal your emotions. Expressing anger won’t solve the problem. It will only expose your weakness. Maintain a cold exterior while sharpening your blade within. So that no one can guess what you hold in your heart.”

“…Are you hiding something in your heart too, Duke?”

“I am.”

My gaze met Duke Ruthius’s.

A heavy silence fell over the dining room, where only the clatter of silverware could be heard.

For a moment, Duke Ruthius’s green eyes wavered intensely. It felt like I had caught a fleeting glimpse into the tightly locked depths of his heart.

‘What is it?’

Just as I was about to ask, a maid approached and quietly informed me.

“Princess, a message has arrived from the Magic Tower. They are canceling today’s visit.”

“The reason?”

“The Master of the Magic Tower has been summoned by His Majesty. They said they will come tomorrow if you let them know a convenient time. What should I tell them?”

“…Same as today. Tell them to come around lunchtime.”

“Understood, Princess.”

My schedule was messed up because Kaiel postponed our meeting.

‘Should I look for a house today instead of tomorrow, then?’

I tapped on the table as I tried to adjust my schedule.

‘Something feels off.’

Kaiel, who was supposed to visit today, had been summoned to the imperial palace.

It might be nothing, but I had a bad feeling for no reason.

Duke Ruthius took a sip of his coffee and muttered to himself.

“How strange. For His Majesty to summon a commoner to the palace.”

“But you said he’s hosting a party for Hunters, right? There must be commoners among them.”

“A party is an act of tolerance and charity, while a personal summons is an offer of a hand. You must distinguish between the two.”

“Does his origin even matter for the Master of the Magic Tower?”

“Well, he is someone who values birthright more than ability.”

If that was the case, wasn’t Kaiel’s birthright special in its own way? He was a warlock, after all.

I looked at the Duke, my expression asking what he meant.

But Duke Ruthius didn’t lift his gaze from his documents.

“You’re saying a lot of strange things today. You should eat more walnuts. They say it’s good for preventing dementia.”

The veins on the back of Duke Ruthius’s hand, which held the document, bulged. His jaw muscle tensed as if he were clenching his teeth.

But he didn’t say anything more.

‘He looked like he had something to say. Or maybe not?’

“I’m going out today.”

“I’ll have a carriage prepared.”

“Instead of going to the trouble every time, please assign me my own carriage.”

“The construction alone takes over five years.”

“I don’t need a carriage like the one you ride in, Duke. Just give me a spare one from the family.”

“…Frank, see to it.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Thinking nothing of it, I left the dining room.