Chapter 9: The Gray Fox
“Today, I’ve modified the rules a bit. Dividing into two teams, the first to catch the gray fox will be the winner. The judgment of the riders will be the key to determining victory…”
Duke O’Neill’s voice resonated clearly across the hunting grounds, which were attended by more nobles than usual.
Fox hunting was typically a venue for men, so refined ladies and women uninterested in sports rarely attended. Nevertheless, the number of people gathered to watch the announced competition between the two teams exceeded expectations.
The area beneath the gazebo was already full, and nobles without seats spread blankets on the grass, chattering as they predicted the outcome.
Today’s contest was none other than a showdown between House Lianton and House O’Neill, so it was only natural.
Duke O’Neill had proposed this competition to avenge the humiliation Davira suffered on the first night of the ball, and for him, it was a favorable match regardless of the outcome.
If House O’Neill won, they would receive not only a public apology but also the honor of the season. If Duke Lianton won, he would have to attend an event to comfort Davira under the pretext of a special award.
So Duke O’Neill could enjoy this competition regardless of the outcome.
This wasn’t entirely disadvantageous for Kaylon either. He too had no interest in winning or losing from the start. Whatever the result, he only needed to go along with Duke O’Neill’s proposal.
It was while he was watching Duke O’Neill, who was enthusiastically talking about the thrill of this competition from the platform, that Michael approached hurriedly and whispered,
“The Count has canceled all his schedules.”
Kaylon furrowed his brow momentarily and turned to Lyra, who was seated beside him.
“Excuse me for a moment.”
He moved to a less crowded area, avoiding Lyra who nodded with a puzzled expression. When he immediately asked for the reason, Michael answered briefly.
“There’s a problem at the orphanage under construction.”
“What kind of problem?”
“One of the construction workers had an accident, but we’ll need to wait for Vane’s return to know the details.”
Kaylon’s eyebrow rose crookedly.
“Is it a senior official? Even so, it doesn’t make sense for the Count to intervene directly.”
“That’s true, which is why I’ve ordered a thorough investigation into the individual’s background. There’s a high probability he’s connected to Ghost.”
“Hmm.”
Kaylon, slowly stroking his chin, glanced at Lyra. Though he felt relieved that the Count, who had been eyeing her with a sticky gaze, was gone, he also felt somewhat empty.
Unlike his inner expectation that a major event might be waiting, he couldn’t understand the Count who had merely engaged in an innocent love game with just a flower before departing.
Looking at the now-quiet Kaylon, Michael continued to relay the information he had received today.
“Remember the abandoned hospital we found near the lower Ondus River? They saw suspicious boxes being taken inside recently.”
“The abandoned hospital?”
“Yes, and they were big enough to comfortably fit a person inside.”
“A person, you say. No confirmation?”
“They disappeared without a trace. And…”
Michael quietly studied Kaylon’s face before continuing.
“Though it was dark and hard to be certain, one of our men noted a distinctive characteristic of one of the carriers. He said he would remember the man’s peculiar gait.”
“Ulan has good observational skills, so it must be reliable.”
“Yes. But one of the four people who entered the building is missing. It seems he disappeared along with the box, and no one has seen him leave the building for days.”
“Hmm… It’s suspicious enough, so deploy more personnel there. Find out whether the box was a one-time delivery or if there’s a hidden passage.”
“Yes, sir.”
His crossed arms tapped a rhythm. Though his gaze remained on Duke O’Neill, his mind was working complexly. The thought that they might discover the whereabouts of the missing virgins brought a touch of exhilaration.
“When we return to Lumont, we should see that man first.”
“I’ll have it prepared.”
As their conversation was ending, the sound of a horn was heard. Kaylon left Lyra in Michael’s care and moved to where the competition would soon begin.
* * *
Woof! Woof woof! Woof!
The leashed hunting dogs barked in unison toward the forest. It seemed they weren’t the only ones eager for the hunt to begin.
Lyra watched silently as Kaylon, dressed in a red jacket, mounted his horse.
‘What were they discussing?’
Michael Rogedale, who had recently been assisting the Duke, seemed to be more than just an ordinary Capital company president. He appeared to be someone in a position to investigate matters and report to the Duke, quietly resolving issues she knew nothing about.
Throughout his report, Kaylon’s expression hadn’t changed much, suggesting it wasn’t anything too serious, but waves of anxiety kept washing over her.
Why? She simply couldn’t shake the feeling that he was involved in something dangerous.
Lyra stared intently at Kaylon as he prepared at the front of the hunters, serving as the lead rider.
‘Does it have something to do with Count Almar?’
She had sensed it during their previous conversation, and just now, she thought she’d caught a fleeting mention of Count Almar. If she hadn’t misheard.
Her hands clenched tightly in her lap. Why was she suddenly thinking about the card Count Almar had sent her, and what had he wanted to tell her?
At first, she had thought he was merely testing her. But the more she pondered it, the less she understood his behavior. He hadn’t seemed like someone trying to win her over.
That quiet, observant gaze, the eyes that seemed to say he would be there whenever needed. Ironically, he almost appeared to be posing as a savior.
Just as her thoughts were deepening, a loud buuuuwoong! from the horn sounded, and the unleashed hunting dogs rushed headlong into the forest. The waiting hunters also began spurring their horses following the lead rider’s signal.
Lyra gazed absently at the figures disappearing deeper into the forest, only able to tear her eyes away after Kaylon’s silhouette had completely vanished.
* * *
Lindia, who had been staring at the ground, briefly glanced up at the man before her. The man, in the middle of a conversation with Sabrina, felt her gaze and met her eyes.
“It seems the Lady is quite shy.”
A polite tone, yet accompanied by a laugh that somehow felt condescending.
‘How embarrassing.’
The man, who had introduced himself as the third son of some baron’s family, was assessing Lindia’s value in the marriage market with a thinly veiled curiosity.
Knowing this, Sabrina still giggled and rattled off a string of praises about Lindia, going on about their deep connection with Duke Lianton, and the future prosperity and vision of the hotel business, chattering as if giving a business presentation.
Under the hem of her floor-length dress, Lindia was grinding the ground with her shoe.
‘How much longer do I have to endure this?’
She couldn’t bear to lift her face, mortified because of Lyra. Despite this being a perfect opportunity to enter high society this season, all she wanted was to give up and run away.
‘Nothing ever works out because of that woman.’
Lindia glared at Lyra, who was quietly sipping tea at the best table, before lowering her head again.
Lyra was the one who had caused trouble, so why was she the one who had to act like a criminal? The more she thought about it, the more furious she became.
‘I wish this good-for-nothing would just leave already.’
A mere third son who wouldn’t even inherit a title—who was he to judge? What was lacking in her that made her mother grovel like that?
Everything was so insufferable.
Just as her patience was wearing thin, the man finally left. Lindia roughly shoved away Sabrina’s hand, which was trying to lead her somewhere else, and ran to the tree they had reserved.
“Lindia!”
She heard Sabrina calling out behind her, but Lindia covered her ears and plopped down.
“What is this all about, really?”
Girls her age were cold and distant, and the men who approached her, drawn by the baron family’s hotel, were all empty shells without substance.
She hadn’t wanted to attend today either, too embarrassed to show her face, but yesterday she had received a letter from Davira Claudia, asking her to please attend the hunting festival. Yet there she was, surrounded by others, showing no interest in her.
Separate from her anger, Lindia stared blankly at Davira with envious eyes.
‘A woman like that probably doesn’t worry about marriage.’
With a Duke for a father, a mother known as the queen of support, and herself being beautiful and upright in character, she was adored by everyone in social circles.
Just as her spirits dampened and she lowered her gaze, she suddenly felt someone looking at her. When she raised her head again, wasn’t it Davira Claudia walking toward her? And with a gentle smile, no less.
Thinking she was seeing things, Lindia rubbed her eyes. But nothing changed.
Still elegant, still beautiful, still dazzling—the silver-haired beauty was closing the distance between them.
Lindia’s mouth fell open. Unlike when she was being evaluated by men, her heart was racing wildly.
The woman she looked up at under the clear autumn sky was truly a goddess.
