Killing the Possessor - Chapter 146

I only managed to force my heavy eyelids open again after hearing Glinda’s sharp voice. Sitting up and looking around, I saw the lush forest scenery spread out before me.

After getting out of the carriage, I strolled past long rows of tents. Flags bearing various family crests fluttered in the breeze, and all around there was a hubbub of large carriages, clearly having traveled far from their domains, and bustling servants readying the harnesses and gear.

I’d thought that, since hunting was the main event, everyone would show up in relatively modest attire. That turned out to be a major misjudgment. Seeing what everyone else was wearing, I finally understood why Glinda had gone to such lengths to get Dahlia ready before dawn.

Women who weren’t participating in the hunt wore glamorous dresses, large-brimmed hats, and brightly colored shawls. Their jewelry was as dazzling as anything you’d see at a ball. As for the men, those not taking part in the hunt were dressed so extravagantly that you’d think they were heading straight to a formal evening party after the festival.

Those who were participating wore riding breeches, but their jackets were adorned with epaulets and paired with elaborate cravats. There were even a few women among the hunters, one example being Ailrose, who I spotted in the distance.

Instead of a jacket, she wore a men’s coat and tall boots that reached almost to her knees, striding confidently with a pack of hunting dogs.

“Ailrose really is a master of adaptation.”

Even though it’s been a while since her possession, just memorizing all the customs of this world would be overwhelming, let alone mastering magic and hunting techniques. Once again, I was struck by how impressive she was, her fresh, youthful appearance hiding a much more complex side.

A cool breeze carried away the lingering summer heat. While fanning myself absentmindedly in the tent, Yuli and Aveline approached, having just gotten out of their carriage.

“Camilli!”

And with them—Illui Hope.

I hadn’t made any real progress with the male leads so far, and without strong connections or backing, I wasn’t sure how Illui managed to get invited to the hunt.

But seeing her here, it was clear that protagonist privileges were in full effect, regardless of whether Kim Heemang possessed her or not. The only thing that bothered me was that Yuli was the one who brought her. Aside from the tea party, they shouldn’t have had many chances to meet. Since when did they get so close?

“It’s cooler in here.”

Yuli said, untying her hat and letting it rest on her thigh. As Illui agreed, Aveline glanced at me and struck up a conversation first.

“Do you have someone you’re rooting for?”

“…”

Even though her voice was small, it carried enough to be heard in the otherwise quiet tent. All the nearby noblewomen, the gentlemen smoking, and even the servants paused what they were doing to look our way, clearly waiting for my answer.

I wondered why there was suddenly so much attention and tension. I then realized, of course, because Aveline was Wyner’s fiancée. Here I was, at a hunting festival my ex-boyfriend was attending, being asked by his fiancée if I had someone I was supporting.

I knew Aveline didn’t mean it that way, but to everyone else, it probably looked like some kind of challenge.

“Lady Feren. I hope she wins.”

Normally, questions like that are a roundabout way of asking which man you’re interested in, but I deliberately chose Ailrose. Honestly, I doubted Aveline even cared about the answer, she’d been showing more little signs of friendship toward me ever since the maze garden incident.

Now that I knew she was actually Han Bori, I’d told Bali that she was a possessor, and I wasn’t sure if the Hongik Ingan side had reached out to her. But she seems much more stable these days. She also didn’t seem as dependent on Yuli, which I found quietly satisfying.

“At this rate, you’ll end up missing your chance to marry. Don’t you at least have someone you’re interested in?”

Yuli said, chiming in with the kind of comment you’d expect from a nosy relative at a holiday gathering. Not that she had any room to talk, being single herself.

At that moment, Illui, with a sunny smile, dropped a very dangerous remark.

“Camilli is so popular, she’ll be fine! I mean, just look at Sir Ren—”

“Illui! Oh, I just remembered I left something in the carriage. Would you mind coming with me?”