My Villainous Husband

21

As I closed my eyes for a moment and then opened them, the shadow was slightly longer. My robe was removed, and I was changed into a hunting suit before I knew it. Like when I drank too much, the memory in my head was like a film, shortening into pieces.

Although I thought I was supposed to go out to the Capital and distribute food to the people, I had no memory of that. Wearing hunting clothes meant the event was over.

Still, I didn’t have any doubts or worries.

‘Oh, I wonder if the time has come,’ that was all I had in my head.

While putting a bow on my back and two daggers around my waist, Cisen put leather armor on my upper body.  Duchess Nerma approached the two of us who were preparing.

“It’s a gift from His Majesty the Emperor.”

It was a small vial of black powder. There was a small label on the outside.

“…Soleols.”

“It’s a purified poison extracted from the Soleols poison frog.”

Answering me, Duchess Nerma bowed her back deeply and continued her words.

“His Majesty has said that Your Majesty would know how to use it.”

I blinked and shook the vial slightly. This morning, I regretted not preparing poison for suicide.

I grinned.

In a flash, I thought I knew what to do with this.

My body felt incredibly light.

In addition, the field of view was wide, and everything was clear. The sound of birds flapping their wings could even be heard in the distance. As if it were a lie that I was nervous and afraid of hunting until this morning, my body was not rigid, and my spirit was fresh.

Outside the fence of the hunting grounds stood spectators of nobles. Regardless, the hunting grounds were full and covered by trees, so it would be difficult for them to see interesting scenes.

Yes, ‘interesting scene’!

I ambled leisurely.

“Your Majesty the Empress enters!”

The crowd was split by the sound of the horn. I could see each and every face clearly. Their faces were full of anticipation. Of course, I didn’t deserve to be treated like that. Then, I noticed that Sylvia was at the starting point where I arrived with people’s eyes on her.

Wearing simple protective clothing and a sword, her lips trembled palely.

‘Like that…’

I smiled at her.

‘She must have a weak heart.’

Only if she hunted well would she be able to become my maid and survive. It’d be difficult to be this weak. The pity she felt when she saw her kneeling in front of her a few weeks ago was long gone.

…Pity?

Why should I feel that way? If you do a good job, you deserve a reward, and if you don’t, it doesn’t matter if you die.

“His Majesty the Emperor enters!”

The horn resounded again.

I turned around.

Raniero Actilus was entering the ground. His eyes shone with a light exaltation, yet his expression was relaxed and languid as always. Suddenly, his eyes met mine. It was him who laughed first, though I was suddenly able to understand what he meant. At that moment, I knew that he and I were the same.