The Mistress Runs Away

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As the fox hunt took place in a vast forest, the nobles were accommodated for two days in their own private temporary tents. The tents, though simple, were wide enough to stay in for a few days, as they had soft rugs on the ground, beds, dressers, tables and chairs, and all the other necessary furnishings.

 

“How would you like your hair done for tomorrow night’s banquet? Should we tie it up and add a few jeweled pins here and there, or just let it down?”

 

Joanne said while she combed Rowena’s hair, on the other hand, Rowena, who was sitting on a chair in front of the dresser tilted her head at Joanne’s excited face.

 

“Do we need to fuss over it that much? It’s just some sort of a follow-up event, nothing major.”

 

“Miss!”

 

Joanne, who opened her eyes wide, asked with a look of surprise on her face that Rowena didn’t expect.

 

“You don’t know that there’s a new tradition that started last year, do you?”

 

“A new tradition?”

 

Rowena, who was taking off her earrings, asked plaintively.

 

“What tradition?”

 

“Well, you know how the fox hunt is an event for gentlemen mostly, so it’s a boring setting where the ladies have nothing to do other than exchanging conversation, right?”

 

“That’s true.”

 

“So, at the suggestion of the ladies, the queen initiated a certain tradition. On the last day of the banquet, the lady who receives the most votes from the gentlemen and ladies will be crowned queen of the day.”

 

“And if that happens, what benefit does that bring?”

 

“You can do anything you want until the banquet is over. You can have your last dance with any unmarried gentleman you name. Isn’t that so romantic??”

 

“I take it only unmarried female guests are included.”

 

“Not necessarily, Married noble ladies can participate too, but surely it’s inevitably more advantageous for the young ladies, isn’t it?”

 

Joanne, who had answered with a smile, suddenly pursed her lips.

 

“Right. Is that why? You know, Lady Taldon, I was wondering why she was pretending to be nice…”

 

“Is she trying to gain more votes by that?”

 

Rowena looked a bit relieved as she knew the reason behind the lady’s strange behavior that made her feel awkward earlier, it all made sense now, and she let out a soft chuckle.

 

“This is not time to laugh, miss!”

 

Joanne, with a straight face, warned with serious eyes.

 

“You need to be the spotlight of the night. If Lady Taldon managed to receive the highest number of votes, something bad might happen to you, Miss Rowena.”

“It’s right in front of people’s eyes. What can she do? If she would try to do anything….”

 

Rowena, who was removing her makeup with rose water, stopped.

 

“..-It would be either asking the duke to have the last dance with her, or to escort her.”

 

“…… Wouldn’t that make you jealous, Miss Rowena?”

 

Joanne, who had been quiet for a while, asked quietly. Rowena laughed through the mirror instead of replying. Joanne, who suddenly lost her temper, shook her head.

 

“Miss you are exactly as Melissa said you would be.”

 

“And what does that mean?”

 

“You have no greed.”

 

Upon hearing this, Rowena stared down for a moment. It wasn’t that she wasn’t greedy. She just knew that it was meaningless. The only person that man had in his heart was his late fiancée. Any other woman was just a substitute or a mere shadow of hers.

 

That was all….

 

“I’m going to change clothes by myself, you can go back now. Joanne.”

 

Changing the subject smoothly, Rowena dismissed her. Someone approached to help her remove the front and back hooks of her corset one at a time, pulling down the strings behind her loose. Rowena turned around as she realized who it was by the faint scent of blood.

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