Chapter 105
Under different circumstances, Sergei would have dismissed such circumstantial evidence and tossed the papers aside. However, the seeds of suspicion had already been deeply planted.
Unbeknownst to Sergei, all these seeds were being sown by Dmitry himself.
— Father, during the meeting, Leonid Rostislav seemed particularly persistent about the matter of the runaway. Such curiosity isn’t remarkable in itself, but given the current situation, I wonder if it can be dismissed as mere coincidence.
Dmitry’s words, in retrospect, seemed plausible. These were things most people might overlook, but when reconsidered, they appeared quite suspicious. Individually, they might not have much impact, but layer by layer, they built a stronger case.
As it was nearing time to start, Leonid rode his horse close to Sergei.
“It seems we meet often these days, Sergei Offenbach. Have you prepared for the hunt? I heard it’s been over a decade since you last participated.”
“A young pup who hasn’t even been to ten hunts has a lot to say.”
“I’m just concerned, that’s all. You’re getting on in years, and it would be a disaster if you fell off your horse and got injured. What if you end up crippled?”
“What does age have to do with getting hurt? You, on the other hand, would be more devastated if you ended up crippled at such a young age. Be careful. You have no heirs; what if you die an untimely death?”
“You certainly have a lot of concern for another family’s succession. Let’s not be so hostile. We’re just here to catch some foxes, right?”
As Leonid said this with a sly smile, the veins on Sergei’s forehead bulged with anger.
‘This damn brat…’
It infuriated Sergei that this young upstart, merely in the same position as a head of the two central families, would constantly speak so familiarly and swagger about.
The thought that Leonid’s smug demeanor was because he was harboring Yekaterina only made Sergei’s blood boil more. If it weren’t for the crowd around them, he would have drawn his sword on the spot.
While Sergei struggled to contain his nearly explosive rage, Leonid remained calm and placed a smug smile.
“Pray for luck.”
Then, the signal horn announcing their departure echoed.
Amidst the chatter around, the sound of hooves pounding against the ground began.
Leonid, seemingly uninterested in talking with Sergei further, tightened the reins and turned his horse’s head.
“Let’s go.”
At his words, another runner who had been standing silently beside Leonid promptly urged the horse forward with a nudge to its flank.
And at that moment, the hood deeply covering the runner’s head slipped off, revealing long silver hair that had been hidden under a robe, catching Sergei’s eye.
“…?!”
Sergei’s pupils dilated. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
He had expected Leonid to be accompanied by Yekaterina, but…
‘Could that young brat have brought Yekaterina here?’
If Yekaterina was indeed here with Leonid, there was only one purpose.
To strike not just at Sergei, but to strike at Offenbach himself.
Simply having Yekaterina with Leonid was problematic enough; the real issue was what Leonid might do with her.
Knowing Yekaterina’s ties to Offenbach meant her actions could directly influence Offenbach’s decisions.
The worst-case scenario formed in Sergei’s mind.
‘Whatever happens, I must confirm.’
His grip on the reins tightened, his muscles tense. Sergei, grinding his teeth, spoke to a nearby attendant.
“Follow me. Today, we will undoubtedly find that girl, Yekaterina.”
If Leonid indeed had Yekaterina with him, Sergei would surely kill them both. And if not, he certainly wouldn’t let Leonid walk away unharmed.
Heh-heh! The horse neighed loudly as Sergei and his attendant, mounted on their steeds, finally set off from the starting line.
* * *
Thwack!
A throwing knife embedded itself into a tree, causing a cascade of snow to fall from the branches above.
Leonid, who was riding ahead, reined in his horse and turned around.
“What’s going on? Did you see something over there? It seems we’re not having much luck.”
The person who threw the knife shook their head in disappointment. Though their face was still hidden by a hood and a mask, it was clear they were frustrated by their failed throw.
“We haven’t gone very deep into the forest yet, so don’t be too disappointed. Let’s head over there. It seems the game has been driven away by the monsters.”
Leonid suggested they move deeper into the forest, and his companion nodded in agreement. Soon, the two horses were once again navigating through the dense trees.
Leonid glanced back at the tree where the knife had hit.
‘Just as I suspected, completely invisible.’
Beyond the tree, he could barely make out a faint figure among the shadows.
It was Sergei, as expected.
The reason Leonid’s companion had thrown the knife was to alert him.
That Sergei was following them. However, it was impossible for Leonid not to notice something that she had already noticed.
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