The Arranged Suitor Was the Kidnapper

Zenox carefully received the lilac.

After examining it intently for a while as if it were a rare treasure, he gently plucked a single blossom.

Then he tucked it into his breast pocket.

The flower bud was so eye-catching that it seemed he should be heading to a banquet rather than a hunt.

Seemingly satisfied, Zenox smiled, his eyes crinkling.

“I like it more than a handkerchief.”

Laria’s cheeks flushed bright red.

Her heart skipped a beat every time he smiled.

She wondered when she would stop feeling this tingling sensation whenever she saw Zenox. It felt like she was helplessly swayed by a first love that had arrived belatedly.

“I’ll leave the remaining flowers with you, as they might get damaged.”

Laria accepted the flowers Zenox offered.

As they changed hands a few times, a delicate petal fluttered and fell.

Watching the petal fall to the ground, Laria finally voiced the concern she had been holding back.

“Aren’t you worried?”

Ishel had said something bad would happen to Zenox, but hadn’t specified what.

What if Zenox didn’t return to normal…

Such worries had kept her from sleeping properly the night before.

“Nothing will happen.”

At those words, Laria looked up.

Zenox’s eyes were filled with trust. He was confident that Laria would surely break the brainwashing.

“What I’m worried about is…”

Zenox paused mid-sentence.

That he might not recognize Laria if he fell under the brainwashing spell. And that he might hurt Laria.

That concerned him more than his own well-being.

Zenox gazed directly at Laria, who was waiting for his response.

“If I fall under the brainwashing spell and seem likely to harm you, attack me without hesitation.”

Zenox’s tone was so resolute that Laria unconsciously held her breath.

‘Attack Zenox? How could I do that?’

Even if an unavoidable situation arose, she didn’t want to do that.

Seeming to read Laria’s hesitation, he spoke emphatically.

“Promise me.”

His eyes showed he wouldn’t be persuaded no matter what she said.

Laria reluctantly answered.

“…I promise.”

No sooner had the words left her mouth than the sound of horns shook the forest. It was the signal for the start of the hunting competition.

Zenox grasped Laria’s left hand and kissed her ring.

“Then, I’ll be off.”

Leaping onto his horse, Zenox quickly disappeared from view.

Three hours from now, Zenox was scheduled to visit Laria’s tent. If he didn’t return by then, she planned to go look for him.

Though the forest was vast, she had placed a tracking spell, so she could go to his location if necessary.

‘Did Rubenta not come?’

He wasn’t on the participant list, and his figure was nowhere to be seen. Perhaps he was being cautious, knowing he’d be captured by Zenox if he showed his face.

Still, she couldn’t let her guard down.

As she was about to return to the tent where her family was waiting, laughter rang out nearby. Young ladies were gathered under a large communal tent.

As she was about to pass by the tent, someone called out to Laria.

“Oh my, Lady Rohan!”

Everyone turned to look at Laria.

The young ladies all rose from their seats and surrounded Laria.

“I watched your duel, it was amazing.”

“Could you tell me which atelier made the dress you wore at the banquet?”

“Do you like opera? I…”

Laria was overwhelmed by the flood of questions.

It had been so long since she had conversed with peers her age. Thinking carefully, she realized it hadn’t happened since the fox clan gathering.

As Laria answered each question one by one, she noticed Sienna sitting in a corner.

Unlike before, no one was by her side.

Moreover…

‘Wasn’t she Ort’s daughter?’

Even Lunel, who had volunteered to be Sienna’s maid, was busy clinging to Laria.

As Laria silently gazed at Sienna, everyone stopped talking and turned to look in that direction.

The young ladies’ expressions became subtle upon seeing Sienna. Especially the fox clan, who seemed to be trying hard to suppress sneers, their lips twitching slightly.

“Don’t mind her.”

“She’s been in the corner since earlier.”

“I guess she doesn’t want to mingle with us.”

She could surely hear everything they were saying.

Feeling uncomfortable, Laria glanced at Sienna, when Lunel spoke up.

“Lady Rohan. It’s been a while since we met at the last gathering, hasn’t it?”

“Oh my. You two know each other?”

Surprised by Lunel’s words, a nearby young lady asked.

Wanting to show off her acquaintance, Lunel smiled brightly at Laria.

She had been the one who had most actively ostracized Laria at the fox clan gathering. Laria could only laugh hollowly at her pretense of friendliness now.

As Laria stared blankly at Lunel, anxiety flickered in the latter’s eyes.

“I think I made a mistake back then, only listening to Lady Hashir’s words.”

As Lunel began making excuses, blaming Sienna, Laria cut her off sharply.

“I’m sorry, but who were you again?”

Lunel’s face instantly turned bright red.

The expressions of the young ladies watching with interest turned cold. Their faces suggested this wasn’t the first time such a thing had happened.

“Sienna.”

When Laria called out to Sienna, everyone’s eyes widened in surprise.

Even Sienna, who had been sitting with her back turned, reacted.

“Can we talk for a moment?”

“I have nothing to say.”

At the immediate rejection, Laria raised one eyebrow.

Was she really intent on completely cutting ties with her?

Or…

‘Is she perhaps mindful of Marquis Hashir’s gaze?’

It seemed as if she was trying not to be seen associating with Laria.

Though her attitude was cold, there was no sense of hostility.

‘What on earth is she thinking?’

Though curious about Sienna’s intentions, she couldn’t force the issue when Sienna was acting like this.

Laria turned back to the young ladies and spoke.

“I’d like to chat with you all, but my family is waiting, so I don’t think I can spare the time.”

To the visibly disappointed young ladies, Laria offered a carrot.

“Instead, if you invite me to your next gathering, I’ll try to attend.”

As Laria promised a future meeting, the young ladies’ faces brightened.

After placating them sufficiently, Laria headed toward the tent where her family was waiting. As she entered, Theodore, who had been sitting in a chair, sprang to his feet.

“Laria, we were worried when you didn’t come for so long.”

“I got held up for a bit.”

Laria briefly explained what had just happened.

“It’s good to make friends.”

After hearing her explanation, Theodore nodded.

Laria sat in the chair placed in the center and looked around the tent. Perhaps due to Ishel’s consideration, it was cozy and neat.

Normally, the Rohan family would have abstained from the hunting competition as usual. But after hearing about the prophetic dream, her parents had decided to participate, leading to their attendance today.

“I’m sorry again.”

She felt apologetic for involving her family in her and Zenox’s problems.

Hadn’t she dragged them to the North before?

“There’s nothing to be sorry about. It’s only natural. He’s not a stranger, after all.”

The affectionate Theodore seemed to already consider Zenox as half a family member. 

Though Semela and Herdin weren’t quite at that level, they had accepted and acknowledged him as Laria’s lover.

“It’s better than sending you alone.”

“Isn’t this what family is for?”

Laria smiled softly at their kind words.

“By the way, I wonder how we’ll handle all the game if the Grand Duke catches a lot.”

“I’m not sure we can take it all home.”

Everyone firmly believed Zenox would win. Moreover, they expected he would give all the game to Laria.

“I hope we can release the live animals, and have a party in the evening.”

“That’s a good idea.”

Theodore clapped his hands in delight at Laria’s suggestion.

As they were chatting warmly as a family outside for the first time in a while, a shadow fell across the tent entrance.

“I’ve brought some refreshments.”

Upon being told to enter, a man in servant’s attire came into the tent. He set down a plate filled with various desserts on the table.

Laria picked up a cookie and took a bite.

‘It’s not as good as Rodit’s.’

It wasn’t that it tasted bad, but her standards had become too high.

It seemed she would no longer be satisfied with anything but Rodit’s desserts.

Next, the servant poured tea.

As the trickling sound was accompanied by a fragrant aroma, her mood naturally improved.

‘Is it flower tea?’

Just as she was about to drink the tea, feeling thirsty, Semela suddenly snatched the cup away.

Surprised, Laria called out to Semela.

“Mother?”

However, Semela didn’t respond and downed the tea in one gulp.

After emptying the cup completely, Semela smiled directly at the servant.

“It doesn’t taste good.”

The servant’s eyes wavered.

Snake scales appeared on Semela’s cheeks.

Wiping the smile from her eyes, Semela tilted her head and asked:

“Did you really try to kill my daughter with such a pathetic poison?”