If You Wish For A Married Couple’s Duties - Episode 103

“What? Absolutely not!”

Leonhart hit the ceiling at his wife’s words.

“Are you saying that without knowing what could happen in a hunting contest? It’s definitely not happening.”

“What would happen?”

“All kinds of incidents and accidents disguised as coincidences will occur.”

Leonhart lowered his voice like he was trying to frighten her.

“It’s a day where someone can be devoured alive, and even if a person is uninjured, their death can be forcibly concluded as cracking their head after falling off a horse.”

“Bashal’s ancestors must be rolling in the graves if they knew that the cause of death is falling off a horse.”

“Do you think I’m joking?”

“I know that you’re saying this out of concern for me.”

Dooha held his hand like she was trying to tell him not to worry.

“But isn’t Her Highness going to participate as well? Don’t worry too much, because many other central aristocratic noblewomen are also participating.”

Even if someone hatched a repulsive scheme, it wasn’t like they’d set traps at the places the noble ladies would be moving in.

There’s nothing that they can gain from doing such a thing.

“And if I participate, the Esbaden duchy can gain victory again.”

Dooha was already confident as though she’d already won the hunting contest.

“Trust me, will you?”

“You…”

“Also, I want to do archery while horseback riding for the first time in a while. I’ll participate, alright?”

Her gold-like eyes looked exceptionally dazzling today.

Eventually, Leonhart surrendered in the face of his wife’s earnest eyes.

“Hah, do as you please.”

“Oh, really? Yay!”

Dooha let out a cheer and hugged her husband’s neck.

“Don’t worry! I’ll bring back things that taste yummy and have nice looking pelts!”

Leonhart sighed quietly as he hugged her, who was as ecstatic as a child.

In any case, as the princess had mentioned, someone was required to participate in the hunting contest as the Esbaden duchy’s representative.

As one of the representative aristocratic families in the imperial faction, he had to bolster the emperor’s dignity.

From that sense, it was right to send the Duchess, his official spouse, instead of nominating his lieutenant.

However, his hope that Dooha wouldn’t become entangled in an unknown danger was greater.

‘I hope that it all ends successfully.’

Leonhart patted his lovely wife’s back, who continued to cling onto his neck without thinking of releasing him.

He hoped that this hunting contest would pass by as quietly as it did previously.

* * *

Pong, pong, pong—

The sound of salvos announcing the start of the imperial hunting contest resounded thunderingly.

Then, as though they’d been waiting for a long time, nobles that came from all over the empire entered the hunting ground in a lofty manner.

In hunting suits made of materials of the highest quality, extravagant bows and quivers decorated with a variety of jewels and animal horns was a feast for the eyes.

As expected of the imperial hunting contest, everyone seemed to have gathered their entire fortune, or lack thereof, in their attire before gathering.

One of the most eye-catching people was the Duchess of Esbaden, who was making her first appearance before the central aristocracy today.

Dooha was wearing a hunting suit with silver embroidery and above the duchy’s blue emblem was a Bashalian bow that’s painted black.

Although Bashalian bows were smaller than bows of imperial make, the bowstring was much thicker and possessed greater elasticity, so arrows could fly further and stronger.

Although it was rather small, it was sturdy and seemed to resemble its owner.

Meanwhile, those that knew what Bashalian bows looked like whispered with impure intentions, while those who didn’t glanced at the bow she was holding curiously.

In any case, Dooha stood out especially amongst the imperial nobles.

“Is that woman the Duchess of Esbaden?”

“What’s this, isn’t she completely different from the rumours?”

“In the first place, rumours are easily exaggerated, but there aren’t rumours without any basis. Who knows what kind of terrible things she’d done despite her appearance?”

“That’s true.”

The aristocratic ladies that were participating in the hunting contest covered their mouths and made all kinds of speculations about Dooha.

It was mostly speculation that’s close to criticism.

Dooha listened to what they were saying, but she didn’t bother to come forward.

“I knew that you’d participate.”

It was because of the person that approached from a distance and expressed familiarity.

“I greet Her Highness the First Princess.”

“Yes, did you experience any inconvenience during your stay in the imperial capital?”

“Thanks to your concern, I’ve been doing well.”

“I’d offered the duke a room at the princess’s palace, but was flatly rejected by him, so it’s a relief that you’ve been well.”

The princess, Julia, looked around on the back of her horse.

Her appearance on the white horse looked exceptionally radiant today.

She too, was dressed from head to toe in golden colours.

The hair ornament that fixed her hair in place was golden in colour, the protective gear on her wrists and shins were also golden coloured, and the hunting suit she was dressed in, along with the silk blanket on top of the cream coloured horse, was also a golden colour.

“You look great in a hunting suit, Your Highness.”

“Really? My head maid made a fuss while dressing me in this, so I thought she was particularly nervous.”

Julia smiled as she looked around her hunting suit, which glistened beneath the sunlight.

“I’m happy to hear that it suits me.”

She shrugged her shoulders at Dooha’s compliment and soon turned her gaze away.

“Come to think of it, the duke must be rather unhappy that he can only sit amongst the elderly after coming all the way here.”

Dooha turned her head towards the direction the princess was gazing at.

A huge awning was erected around the platform on one side of the hunting grounds, and several aristocrats, along with the emperor, remained beneath it.

Most of them were elderly aristocrats that had difficulties in moving, or were too young to participate in the hunting contest.

Perhaps that’s why Leonhart, who sat next to the emperor, stood out particularly.

“Although Imperial Father will have a conversational partner, so he wouldn’t feel bored.”

“The Duke frequently goes on hunts, so it wouldn’t be bad for him to rest and watch others hunt on a day like this.”

“Life-threatening monster subjugations and hunting for amusement isn’t comparable, but getting some rest isn’t too bad.”

While Dooha and the princess were chatting on horseback.

The aristocrats were parted into two like a receding tide.

A familiar silhouette appeared through them.

“How long has it been since Sister was able to participate in a hunting contest?”

The fourth prince, Justin, had an arrogant expression, as though the humiliation that he’d suffered in the greenhouse was completely erased from his mind.

Five or six fully armed knights were seen behind him.

From how they were dressed up to the nines, it was clearly to bolster the prince’s reputation.

“Can you really participate in such intense activities as soon as you’ve recovered your health? If you collapse again, Imperial Father will be very worried.”

“It seems like the sun will rise from the west tomorrow. Seeing how you’re so concerned for my health.”

Julia tilted her head.

Dozens of imperial knights, who seemed to be escorts, soon appeared behind her before they knew it.

“Don’t worry. I won’t become indebted to you, even if I collapse.”

Justin shrugged like he was used to his sister’s sharp tone.

His attention soon turned towards the Duchess, and not the first princess.

The duke had been staring murderously from afar, so he couldn’t openly pursue her.

“It’s been a while, Duchess.”

“I greet His Highness the Fourth Prince.”

“Right, was the greenhouse under the imperial family’s direct management very different from the duchy’s greenhouse?”

It was a suggestive question, but Dooha smiled without letting anything show.

“Yes, thanks to His Majesty’s grace, I have seen and learned a lot.”

“I’m glad that that’s the case.”

“We should return to our seats, Justin.”

Julia was the one that cut off the two’s conversation.

Rather than out of consideration for Dooha, it seemed to be because of the upcoming contest.

She seemed rather unhappy that she had to head to the front of the platform with her brother, but there was no helping it.

It was a rule that the imperial family had to stand at the head of the procession, no matter what the event was.

“Then, I’ll see you inside, Duchess.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Dooha bowed silently, before turning her horse away and disappearing without a trace.

Meanwhile, Justin stared at Dooha’s gradually retreating silhouette.

The Duchess’s figure today was especially beautiful.

His heart ached at the thought that he was deceived by those groundless rumours and handed her to the Duke.

‘There’s no need to be impatient, because you’ll be mine again anyways.’

Justin’s eyes narrowed.

‘And today, I also have a goal that’s more important than last year’s.’

The light within his dark brown eyes was much more insidious than usual.

The image of the first princess, who shone more than anyone else, was reflected within his eyes.

* * *

“I would like to express my gratitude to you, who’ve gathered here after accepting Our invitation. We hope that you’ll enjoy this contest without getting into accidents out of excessive competition, since sufficient game had been released.”

The Emperor’s speech as the host was brief and concise.

After his speech ended, there was another round of disturbance.

Young aristocratic ladies that were gathered outside the hunting grounds flooded in.

Dooha frowned.

“What are they all doing?”

Baron, who’d remained silent until now, opened his mouth at the Duchess’s question.

Under the duke’s order, he was to be Dooha’s escorted for the duration of this hunting contest.

“In the Empire, there is a tradition of women giving handmade handkerchiefs or amulets to the men that are participating in the hunting contest.”

Most of the people participating in the hunting contest were young and unmarried men from promising aristocratic families.

Aristocratic young ladies handing handkerchiefs to their favourite amongst them was a form of courtship.

“I see.”

“Duchess Esbaden.”

Although the voice that called her was familiar, the title that was used was unfamiliar.

Dooha lowered her head in surprise.

Leonhart, who had been sitting at the platform a while ago, was standing by her horse before she knew it.