บท 7: Reason #6: I prefer to admire from a far
The hunting season is here, and the hunting event is one of the biggest highlights for nobles.
It's like a school's sports day. The only difference is that it involves lots of dead animal corpses, which I am not entirely too fond of seeing at the end of the day.
However, the hunt was not the main reason why it was so popular among young nobilities. The hunting event was just another form of courting for young men and women to meet and connect.
The men will impress the ladies by hunting and presenting their prey to the lady he fancy.
The more you hunt, the more affection it represents.
On the other hand, the maidens will charm the men by showcasing their embroidery and presenting it to the man she fancies.
The more beautiful your embroidery is, the more attractive it represents the bride to be.
Thank goodness that I'm not planning to court anybody because the embroidery on my handkerchief looks awful again this year. Even when I tried to weave a cute bear, I don't think it turns out any better than the previous years.
However, giving a handkerchief is also a sign of blessing for safe return, so I've prepared two handkerchiefs that are professionally done by my store's tailor for his highnesses instead.
With the help of my grandfather, I've managed to open a boutique called the pretty mirror. The boutique caters to both man and women's clothing.
After researching the fashion market in this world, the clothes in this world are very troublesome and very uncomfortable to wear, especially if you are a lady.
Every day it takes at least an hour to get myself prepared for breakfast.
That is because I have to wear many layers of clothing and it is almost impossible to wear my dress without the maid's help.
"....ah, How I missed wearing just a simple T-shirt and jeans."
Although at this moment, it would be a little bit hard for people to accept the fashion trend from the 21st century.
So I've hired a few tailors to design a line of essential wear that focuses more on the daily lifestyle needs.
It's not only functional but also fashionable.
Today I'm launching our latest product, which is the "Jacket Hoodie."
Usually, during the hunt, men will wear their basic hunting garments with a cape outside.
Their cape is usually big and heavy to wear, which will cause the person to feel tired quickly.
So it's not the most efficient clothing when they are out for a hunt.
On the other hand, the jacket hoodie was light-weighted, easy to put on, and even a windbreaker function.
<With today's event and with my two boys being the center of the attention, my product will surely be off the charts!>
Just thinking about the sales coming in makes me excited about it.
"Wow, Ms. Ivy, I can't believe how light weighted this cape is. Amazingly, it could still keep the body warm.
This will definitely make it easier for the hunt."
"Thank you, sir. Gregory, I am happy that I could help to make the hunt a little bit easier. On the contrary, it's my honor to have Sir Gregory wearing my clothing line. Your dashing good looks would certainly attract the attention of many, especially the ladies. They are bound to fall for you."
Gregory paused and looked at Ivy, and with a curious tone, he asked,
"How about you? Would you be falling for me as well?"
"Of course, who wouldn't fall for someone as handsome as you. Your handsomeness is absolutely blinding."
<If I didn't like your good looks, I wouldn't have chosen you to be my model> her inner voice
While Ivy notice that Sir Gregory blush a little, she thought that he must be embarrassed from all the praise that she was giving him. <hehe ...he is such a cute boy>
"Then, I'll work harder for the hunt this year."
"I'm sure you'll do great, and if you can get number 1, I'll fall for you even more!"
<that is because number 1 will be presented on stage and everyone will be able to see my clothing line! That will be the most excellent promotion yet!> her inner voice.
Then as I touch his shoulder to ensure the fitting, Prince Leon suddenly steps in and grabs my hand.
"Help me with mine."
"Yes, wait a minute, your highness, I'll be done with Sir Gregory in just a minute."
"I'm in a hurry, so now."
"My butler will attend to me, Ms. Ivy, so don't worry."
"Oh ok .... then I shall see you later at the gates Sir Gregory."
Then Prince Leon grabbed my hand and pulled me away to his dressing room.
<I have to teach Prince Leon to mind his manners. I can't believe he just drags me away like that. Doesn't he know that it's rude?>
Once we entered Prince Leon's dressing room with only just the two of us, Prince Leon just held on to my hand and looked at the ground.
"Your highness, are you feeling ok?"
He then suddenly hug me by surprise.
"Your highness? Are you all alright? Are you feeling ill?"
Prince Leon stayed silent.
"Your highness, I won't know what's wrong if you don't tell me. The ladies won't like it if you don't speak up."
Prince Leon continues to hug me while he murmured.
"I don't need the ladies to like me. I only need you."
<is this how it feels when a child attends their first day at school? Maybe he is anxious about something? Perhaps he is worried about the hunt?>
"Are you feeling nervous right now, your highness ?"
Prince Leon hugged her a little tighter and quietly nodded.
<I guess he should be nervous since he is the prince. He must be shouldering a lot of pressure from high expectations, especially from his majesty. That evil tyrant is making my baby cry again. If he weren't the emperor, I would want to give him a BIG SLAP on his face. It's a Mother's job to give her child the confidence boost he needs!">
"There there.... your highness."
She comforts him while patting on his back.
"No matter what happens, know that I will always be by your side."
"Do you mean it?"
"Yes, of course!"
She said with a wide and confident smile.
"No matter what happens, you are the smartest, the most handsome, and you will always be my number 1."
(Author: what Ivy had meant was, no matter how poorly her son performed, a mother will always see her son as number 1. Their conversation today continue to cause misunderstanding between them, which you will know more from the prince POV)
Prince Leon finally calmed down and smiled, and they quickly prepared themself for the hunting games.
********
Prince Leon POV
Today is the hunting game. It's a significant event for nobles to take this chance and impress the person they fancy.
<This is my chance to impress Ivy to fall deeply in love with me. Mr. Omer said that she likes me, so there may be a chance for me, after all. I just need to work harder and be the man worthy of her. Once I defeat Master, I will confess to her.> his inner voice.
The prince walks hastily to meet ivy at the dressing room when he overheard her conversation with Gregory.
"Your dashing good looks would certainly attract the attention of many, especially the ladies. They are bound to fall for you."
"How bout you" Would you be falling for me as well?"
"of course, who wouldn't fall for someone as handsome as you? Your handsomeness is absolutely blinding."
When the prince heard this, he clenches his fist...
"Then, I will work harder for the hunt this year."
"I'm sure you'll do great, and if you get to number 1, I'll fall for you even more."
The prince was enraged.
He immediately ran in and grab her hand and pull her away from Gregory.
He couldn't control himself anymore. He felt that if he doesn't grab her right now, he will lose her forever.
<why did she say that? I thought she likes me? Was it a lie? Does that mean she likes Gregory better? I can't lose her,
please don't leave me>
With that moment of thought, Prince Leon hugs Ivy.
"Your highness, I won't know what's wrong if you don't tell me. The ladies won't like it if you don't speak up."
"I don't need the ladies to like me. I just need you."
He was trying to think of ways not to let her go, to the point that he would kidnap her and lock her in a room so that she could be his forever...
But at the same time, he was also afraid.
He was afraid that she would hate him for ripping away her free-spirited self.
He felt lost, confuse, desperate, and ultimately scared.
While his heart was at war with his mind, the prince was surprised when he heard her say
"Are you feeling nervous right now?"
It's as if she could read his mind, and so he nodded and hugged her tighter while his mind was full of thoughts of
<please don't leave me>
<please don't leave me>
<please don't leave me>
"There there....your highness. No matter what happens, know that I will always be by your side."
He widens his eyes from surprise. He couldn't believe it when she said she will always be by his side.
He had to calm down and reaffirm her words.
"Do you mean it?"
"Yes, of course!"
Her glorious smile tamed his heart.
"No matter what happens, you are the smartest, the most handsome, and you will always be my number 1."
He smiled, and he felt defeated.
<this girl... how is it that she can torture my heart like so? And then heal it ever so quickly?
If you only knew ... that my heart already belongs to you."
*******
The Hunting games began.
All the men gathered in front of the starting gates where the maidens could see them off.
As Prince Leon and Sir Gregory pass by, all the maidens would scream and cheer for them.
"They look so handsome!" "Prince Leon's outfit looks soo dashing!" "Sir Gregory's black coat makes him look so cool."
<I'm so happy to hear how the praises on the clothes fly around. As expected that those two royal celebrities will definitely help give a significant promotional impact on my store.>
Many women have started giving their handkerchief away to the man that they are fond of,
and as always, many ladies would approach Prince Leon and Sir Gregory to present the handkerchief that they have prepared,
and as always, they never accepted them.
Reason being that they say that they cannot respond to their affection.
<I guess they only accepted mine because they know I don't have any affection for them.>
"Your highness, Sir Gregory, here's the handkerchief I've prepared for you. Please do be safe when you are out there."
"Thank you, Ms. Ivy, may your blessings brings back a bountiful."
Then Sir Gregory rode his horse and went ahead.
Prince Leon gazes at me and then places his hand out.
"Yes? Your highness?"
"You haven't given me your handkerchief yet."
"But, I've given you the handkerchief already."
"I want the other one."
"What do you mean?"
"The one you made."
He starred at me sternly.
"But your highness, that handkerchief is a bit ...."
"I don't care. I prefer that one."
He then saw me hiding the handkerchief behind my back, and he snatches it away from my hands.
"Your highness!! No..."
"Hehe..... so this is what your embroidery looks like this year."
I felt so embarrassed because I know my embroidery look awful.
Not only that, my bear doesn't look like a bear. The stitching also looks messy and disoriented.
"It looks good, even better than the one you gave just now."
"Huh? What?"
<what is he saying? Is he trying to tease me?>
He then smiled and kissed the back of my hand.
"May your blessings brings back a bountiful."
Then he rides on his horse and gallantly rode away.
I blushed. My heart skipped several beats.
That was a !!<<((Full On - Triple Pheromone Attack Combo!))>>!!
Damn this maiden heart of mine.
<however, I must not falter. Remember ivy .... remember your reasons why you don't want to marry a prince."
I've come this far, and there are two years left till D-day.
The female lead will show up soon, I just need to pass him over smoothly, and then I can finally move on.
I just wish he wouldn't be so kind to me so that I could silently admire him from the sideline.
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