When My Enemies Began to Regret - Chapter 89 - 28. I Like Them All... (4)
It was the beginning of fall. During that time, Fanora continued socializing without incident.
The first invitation she received was to an amateur concert at the Guelder estate. Other nobles claim that ‘At amateur concerts, clumsiness is a virtue,’ but Guelder’s concert was very splendid from the beginning.
“That’s amazing!”
“Today’s performer is my cousin. There are 6 songs prepared. What would you like to quench your throat with?”
“Lemonade. Not with honey, but with sugar.”
“Oh my God, you think the same as me, Lady Fanora.”
The Guelder family was famous for inviting only a selected few of the upper class to their mansion. As a result, Fanora, who appeared as a guest of Vasago, once again proved her presence in Kasius society. However, to Fanora, her social reputation didn’t matter now.
“Today’s performance was really good. Especially the lyrical part of the third song…”
After the concert, Fanora gave an opinion that suited Vasago’s taste. She didn’t stop there but also drew her attention by telling the story of Vasago’s favorite hobby.
“Oh my, you know the true value of that opera. Lady Fanora, could you spare me another time next time?”
Vasago was born as the daughter of a duke, and she had been flattered by countless people. However, Fanora’s approach was tenacious and skillful enough that it didn’t make Vasago wary.
Fanora became a friend of Vasago by using what she was thirsty for. She treated Vasago in the way she hoped. It was the first time Vasago met someone who fit her so well. After repeating this process for several days, the distance between the two gradually narrowed.
“Fanora! Come, sit next to me. A really good tea came in today.”
“Yes! Princess!”
At some point, Fanora is invited to every party held by Guelder, just like how Amore in the novel.
“Hahaha.”
It took only a month to reach this position. Fanora thought at this rate, she could be her soulmate.
It’s going well.
She just read a novel where Vasago was the main character, so it was easy to deceive her.
I can understand why Haures was arrogant.
This was the moment she finally understood Haures’s behavior. It was only natural that the characters felt omnipotent when they acted like puppets. However, it was still insufficient.
“Princess Vasago, you like drinking tea with a lot of people, don’t you?”
“Yes. It’s hard to choose a qualified person, but having plenty person at the table is better.”
Vasago didn’t trust Fanora. She just saw Fanora as a fun friend. Now, Fanora couldn’t even enter the yard of Guelder’s mansion without an invitation, let alone being alone with her.
For some reason, it feels like she’s still wary of me.
How many more months will it take? Fanora sighed lightly. Let’s go home today and see if there is any gap in Vasago.
It was already her second time turning 17 years old. By the time she turned 18, the war was just around the corner, so Fanora worried if she could complete her revenge properly.
“Anyway, I envy you very much. Fanora, how did you get engaged to someone like that?”
“Pardon?”
“Duke Aloken. I heard it’s an engagement out of love.”
Fanora wondered how crazy Vasago must have said this… She listened quietly to her tone, which began to treat her more comfortably, and answered immediately.
“It has been my dream since I was young. I’m fed up with arranged marriages.”
“Me too. I was lucky to meet Aloken.”
“You’re really lucky. I can’t believe the reason the duke bowed to my mother just because he wanted to grant his fiancée’s request.”
They laugh and talk like this now, but this wasn’t a good conversation topic. Fanora is Duke Jalier’s fiancée, so it wasn’t strange that she was always under her watchful eyes.
It wasn’t surprising if Vasago was suspicious because Fanora could be befriending her to steal information about her political opponents or that Fanora was trying to catch the royalist off guard.
“That’s how much I wanted to be with Princess. It’s even overwhelming to drink tea together right now!”
“So cute. Ah, how does the cookie taste? It’s my family secret.”
But no one would have expected this. Fanora’s purpose was the princess’s life and even the part where she’s a serial killer, as it wasn’t her first revenge.
“It’s so delicious. And I think it would be better to add lemonade to this.”
“That’s exactly what I thought.”
Vasago was kind to Fanora without knowing what was going on.
“By the way, the weather is like that, and now it’s totally fall.”
Before long, another noble sitting at the table brought up the weather. At that, Vasago, who was leading the conversation at the table, spoke the next words. “Aha. I remembered that a hunting festival will be held soon in the fall.”
“!”
“Since I made my debutante, I will be able to participate from this year.”
When I heard this, it also came to Fanora’s mind belatedly. After successful contact with Guelder, she hadn’t been concerned about society for a while. Still, an important event will be held soon.
“Did you mean fox hunting?”
“Fanora, this is your first time too, right?”
“Yes. Well… the hunting festival is held after everyone’s debutante.”
She didn’t want to increase her other work after luring Vasago, but there was no way she couldn’t attend. And so, Fanora celebrated her first fall hunting after her regression.
* * *
Fox. An animal with a long tail and a narrow snout. This three-letter creature was a notorious pest in the world. They were no different from monsters to civilians.
Since ancient times, various species of foxes have inhabited Kasius, and they have gone through evolution by dividing various characteristics such as huge bodies like bears and poisonous navy fury. The staple of these foxes was humans. They often bite children and bother people because of their high fertility.
“Everyone, line up!”
Would the world ‘like a fox’ be used as an insult in Kasius? That’s how much the foxes of this world were a horror to humans.
From a certain generation, the royal family hosted fox subjugation on a large scale. This subjugation became an annual event, which was called fox hunting. And it became the fall hunting festival.
Technology has developed, and there is little damage from foxes no, so why should we hold an event on this scale?
This event was as important as the jousting tournament, so nobles who made their debutante usually participated. Thanks to that, society has been in an uproar for the first time in a while.
“Fanora. I’ve been waiting for this day. This fox hunt is dangerous with so many weapons. That’s why they wouldn’t let me come along when I was young.”
“That’s right.”
“Today is finally my turn to show off my skills. There is also a sword that my father specially ordered.”
However, Fanora didn’t have very good memories of hunting festivals. After all, it was because Vasago slapped her on the cheek at the banquet after the fox hunt.
“Fanora, I will catch a wonderful fox and present it to you today. Look forward to it.”
“Then, could you catch a pair of big foxes? I want to make a carpet.”
“So you’re going to make a carpet. But why a pair?”
“I’m going to make two identical ones and give one to Princess.”
Fanora recalled the touch of the wine the person in front of her poured on her a few years ago. It was a bit blurry now, but her pain was the same when she remembered it.
“As expected from Fanora. You know my heart. The ladies of other noble families pretend to be soft-hearted because they were afraid of leather crafts, so I didn’t like them.”
“P-Princess, if anyone hears…”
“Still, I’m glad there is someone in the world who understands my taste, like you.”
Hahaha.
After hearing her words, Fanora expressed an innocent laugh. Then, Vasago moved to the Guelder family’s tent, saying she had to go now to prepare for the hunt.
“…”
Fanora, who was left in the field, now looked beside her.
“If only Purson was here. That child’s archery skills are improving day by day, and he resembles you. It would have been good.”
“Um.”
This place was where the Celsius family’s tent was placed.
Fanora’s father, Bael, had just finished working on his weapon and was holding his sharp knife.
How can someone who likes hunting, like Bael Celsius, miss the fall festival?
When Fanora’s father came out, she naturally shifted her gaze. But at that moment, Bael, who was talking with Hanar, looked at Fanora.
“…!”
Their eyes met. How long has it been since she faced Bael like this?
“…”
Fanora bowed her head without saying a word and fled. Her timid attitude had become ingrained in her over the last 21 years of her life.
“Ahem.”
Bael Celsius was displeased with his daughter’s greeting. He probably wanted to fawn over Fanora’s side first. He thought he could be a blunt father, but he wanted his child to be kind to him first.
What’s the matter? He frowned like that when I said my greetings? Fanora laughed inwardly without making a sound. It was a fake laugh in dejection.
Spit. I really want to spit out right now…
Step, step, step. How long has she walked, trampling on the grass here? Before she knew it, Celsius’s tent disappeared from her sight. Fanora belatedly noticed where she had arrived.
“Ah!”
“Hmm?”
At the same time, a man came out of the navy tent in front of her. After walking through the tent, the person who appeared was a handsome man with well-groomed black hair and clear almond-shaped eyes. This was Jalier’s tent.
“Oh my, my Love. Did you come to meet me because you couldn’t stand that moment?”
Upon discovering her, Aloken greets her sarcastically. Fanora, on the other hand, remained courteous.
“The way you talk makes you look like a local brute.”
“Really?”
“You don’t have to exaggerate like that in front of me.”
“Where is the exaggeration? You’re indeed my love, and you indeed came to meet me.”
But her opponent wasn’t a normal human being. Aloken faced her without losing a word.
“…Are you ready to hunt?” Fanora had no words to reply, so she turned to another topic.
“Are you ready?”
“What do I have to prepare? My role is the person who doesn’t go hunting.”
The highlight of this fox hunt was the awards ceremony. But who would be presented with this award? It would be the rest who didn’t go hunting.
“All I have to do is sit still and cheer.”
At the end of this fox hunt, there was a tradition of dedicating the captured fox to a person to whom they were loyal. The person who received the most foxes went up to the podium and was in charge of the award.
However, at some point, that tradition changed its meaning. These days, generations express their feelings by dedicating a fox to a person of the opposite sex or to whom they are grateful.
“Is this your first fall hunting?”
“Yes
Who will be on the podium this year?
In her original 17-year-old hunting festival, Fanora remembered a lady from the baron family who won the award. In fact, everyone thought that Vasago would be number one. Still, the female protagonist said it was better to catch a fox than receive a gift, so she went up the mountain.
“This is the first time in my life. The hunting festival.”
Anyway, it was said that the lady from the baron family, who was on the podium at that time, was flooded with proposals until the threshold was worn-out after the hunting festival.
The number of foxes received as a gift is a measure of popularity.
This was because the more foxes were presented to a person of the opposite sex, the more attractive that person was to be married. So the young nobles of Kasius prayed to God that they would receive many foxes each time fall returned.
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