Wuli: “…”
She had thought she’d stumbled into a mystery story.
In the end, he’d simply been taking a shower?
Impressive. She could only blame herself for overthinking things and letting her imagination run wild.
Glenn’s cold gaze fell on Wuli, and the expression on his face instantly became complicated.
Wuli said, “Sorry for disturbing you.”
Just as she was about to leave, Glenn reached out and grabbed her.
“You’re leaving already?”
Wuli: “…”
What else was she supposed to do?
Glenn said, “I thought you came to make peace.”
The white-haired girl tugged lightly at her hand. It came free with little effort. Smiling, she said, “Do we have a conflict?”
Glenn replied in a low voice, “I suppose not.”
What Wuli said next caught Glenn completely off guard.
“Still, I’d like to ask when the cancellation of our engagement will finally be put on the agenda.”
“…”
And she called that not having a conflict?
The white-haired girl looked utterly serious.
The expression on Glenn’s face darkened further. The look startled Wuli, and she quickly replayed everything in her mind, wondering if she had said something wrong.
Didn’t he dislike her?
Then he should have been more than happy to break off the engagement. Yet something this important had been dragged out until now.
It was practically unbelievable.
Glenn let out a cold laugh.
“You want me to cancel the engagement?”
“You wish.”
With a bang, the door slammed shut.
*
The next day was the hunting event.
After getting herself ready, Wuli arrived at the hunting grounds right on time.
The activity had been chosen by popular vote. The young men would head into the hunting grounds, while the young ladies remained in the pavilion, drinking tea and chatting. The competition was simple: whoever brought back the most game, or the rarest prey, would claim first place. Meanwhile, the ladies would place bets, wagering on who they believed would come out on top.
There was also an interesting tradition associated with the event. The winner could invite the person they fancied to accompany them on a ride through the hunting grounds. It was considered quite romantic, and many people had done so over the years.
In short, the entire event was meant to be fun.
Since there were so many participants, the event had been divided by grade level into two separate venues. The noble ladies and gentlemen of the older generation were not here; they were attending another hunting ground. As for Wuli, she simply sat with the young noble ladies, sipping tea.
“Come on, come on, place your bets!”
After a maid brought over paper and a pen, one of the young ladies spread them across the table, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she looked around at everyone.
She wrote down several names.
Glenn, Shuen, and Xilin were all on the list.
The girls immediately crowded around.
“I’m betting on the First Prince.”
“Hey, hey, be careful betting on the First Prince. He may be incredibly capable, but every time an event like this comes around, he completely phones it in.”
“This time is different.”
The girl who had bet on the First Prince turned her gaze toward Wuli.
“Wasn’t the reason Prince Glenn never cared about taking first place before because he didn’t have anyone he liked? This time, though, he has Miss Wuli.”
“Miss Sinclair?”
After thinking for a moment, Wuli turned to the girl holding the pen and said, “I’m betting on my brother.”
“You aren’t betting on the First Prince?” The girl who had wagered on Glenn stared at her in surprise.
Wuli shook her head.
“I think I’ll bet on my brother instead.”
The people around them immediately teased the girl.
“Your Highness, are you saying only you are allowed to bet on your own brother, but Miss Wuli isn’t allowed to bet on hers?”
Only then did Wuli realize that the black-haired girl in front of her was Glenn’s younger sister.
Hearing the teasing, the princess didn’t get angry. She merely shook her head and said,
“All right, then.”
The betting continued around them.
The remark had not been spoken quietly. Before long, everyone nearby knew that Wuli had placed her bet on her own brother rather than on the First Prince.
Most people didn’t think much of it.
From a distance, Shuen glanced toward the white-haired girl. The black-haired young man showed no particular reaction.
Xilin heard it as well and turned to look at Glenn.
He appeared completely unconcerned.
Once the competition began, he immersed himself in it wholeheartedly. After all, winning first place had never been his goal. He was merely participating for the fun of it.
Wuli’s gaze drifted beyond the pavilion.
Watching Shuen’s retreating figure, she found herself lost in thought.
Before she realized it, the princess had taken a seat beside her.
“I thought you’d bet on my brother.”
Hearing that, Wuli pulled her attention back and looked at the black-haired princess.
“Prince Glenn is very capable too.”
“As long as he takes it seriously, first place will definitely be his.”
Wuli nodded in agreement.
Seeing Wuli’s indifferent reaction, the black-haired princess found herself at a loss for words. She had a feeling that her future sister-in-law did not like her brother very much.
Her round eyes carefully studied Wuli as she took a sip of tea.
Shuen sat atop his horse and drew his bow, taking aim at a bird.
Whoosh!
The arrow flew from the string.
The bird let out a cry before dropping from the sky and hitting the ground.
*
Elsewhere, Xilin followed behind Glenn.
The two rode at an unhurried pace. Glenn showed absolutely no interest in competing for anything.
Watching him, Xilin urged his horse forward until he was riding alongside him.
“Tsk, are you really not going to make a run for it this time? Shuen’s already started.”
The black-haired young man looked at him in confusion.
“I’ve always been like this.”
Then he guided his horse toward the most secluded part of the hunting grounds and continued wandering leisurely.
Xilin puffed out his cheeks and followed after him.
“You’re really not going to compete?”
The black-haired young man responded with a question of his own.
“Why would I?”
Xilin choked on his words for a moment.
“Fine, fine. I just think you’ll regret it.”
After following him for a while longer, Xilin spoke again.
“Since Wuli didn’t bet on you, show her what you’re capable of.”
“I already am capable,” Glenn replied. “Why would I need to prove it to her?”
As he spoke, Glenn’s expression remained calm. He drew his bow and shot a rabbit cleanly.
Xilin let out a sigh.
“Fine. Just pretend I never said anything.”
After a while, he spoke up again.
“Don’t you want to take Miss Sinclair on a ride through the hunting grounds or something?”
The black-haired young man pressed his lips together and shot down another piece of prey.
“You talk too much.”
Hearing that, Xilin loosed several more arrows of his own.
Watching Glenn’s movements gradually become more serious, Xilin knew that he was finally starting to care about the competition.
He quietly let out a breath of relief.
*
This time, Shuen moved with remarkable speed.
There was no hesitation, no pause between actions.
The white-haired young man’s figure flashed through the forest again and again.
“Oh my goodness, Lord Shuen is so handsome.”
Hearing someone say that, Wuli’s eyes lit up as well.
Without realizing it, a smile curved her lips.
Seated beside her, the princess tightened her grip on the handkerchief in her hands.
‘Where’s my brother? What’s going on?’
‘How can something still go wrong at a time like this???’
Just then, a sharp twang cut through the air.
The beautiful vibration of a bowstring echoed across the hunting grounds.
The young ladies all turned toward the source of the sound.
Glenn had drawn his bow again.
Two pieces of prey fell almost simultaneously.
The young man wore an indifferent expression, yet there was an unmistakable determination in his eyes, as though victory was already within his grasp.
After both arrows struck their targets and the prey fell to the ground, the black-haired young man lifted his eyes.
For a brief instant, his gaze met Wuli’s.
Then he looked away again, as though it had been nothing more than an illusion.
“His Highness the First Prince is so handsome too!!”
Wuli heard one of the young ladies exclaim.
The black-haired princess curled her lips into a satisfied smile.
Then came the final signal.
“Time’s up!”
The steward’s voice rang out across the hunting grounds.
Everyone immediately stopped what they were doing.
“The winner is…”