Chapter 150
Ash had gone to the hunt alone.
After she was rebuked by Their Majesties and unable to attend, he was the only married man who appeared alone and, sheâd heard, became the subject of gossip from behind.
Unaware of this, she found herself questioning. Had other women given him handkerchiefs?
To which woman did he dedicate his hunt?
Heâd won, but to whom did he give the prize?
She had only been busy suspecting what kind of infidelity he mightâve gotten up to in her absence.
âWell, it was true my husband is popularâŚâ
The whole world knew the state of their marriage was disastrous.
There were plenty of women who wanted to test the waters and see if he was âavailableâ.
Looking back now, the reason she had always been wary of, and even harassed, the women who approached Ash was exactly that.
What wife would just stand by and watch when women flirt with her husband right in front of her?
âI really shouldnât let him go alone, should IâŚ?â
It wasnât right for a wife to let her husband attend such events alone.
And if rumors about pregnancy were circulating, sheâd have to attend, if only to clarify things.
âWait, I have to embroider a handkerchiefâŚâ
She couldnât very well let her husband attend the hunt without a handkerchief from her, could she?
* * *
Hunting is a pastime for the wealthy ruling class, but it also serves to protect the governed.
When animals descend from the mountains or fields into inhabited areas, crops are destroyed or people get hurt.
To prevent this, lords and knights periodically tour their lands to hunt and distribute food to the villagers.
But this imperial hunt was a festival for nobles.
Winning public sentiment is important, but so is placating the aristocracy.
Here, at the Nesman Empireâs palace, inside the Peridot Roomâ
Again this time, Empress granted Nina use of the Peridot Room.
Nina unfolded the embroidered handkerchief sheâd spent days and nights completing.
âMy skills havenât disappeared after all.â
She smiled with satisfaction at the vivid trumpet flower embroidery.
Trumpet flowers, or hummingbird vines.
With the flower meaning âglory and honorâ, it was a popular motif for gifts or handkerchiefs at knightly tournaments or hunting festivals.
It had been so long since sheâd embroidered that sheâd pricked her finger at first, but as her skill returned, sheâd managed to finish a piece as fine as a painting.
âMadam, this is no time to be smiling. You havenât embroidered in ages. Oh, just look at your poor fingersâŚâ
Marsha looked sorrowfully at Ninaâs fingers, riddled with pinpricks.
âItâs fine. They sting a bit, but theyâre not deep wounds. Theyâll heal quickly.â
Nothing a dab of spit couldnât fix.
Nina folded the handkerchief neatly.
Changing Ianâs bedding, booking the tailor, planning the party, and embroidering at the same time⌠She finished later than planned.
But since she managed to complete it before the hunt began, it was time to head for the hunting grounds.
After one last check of her reflection in the mirror, Nina left her room.
Ash had already departed for the hunting grounds.
He needed to check the horse heâd be riding and inspect his equipment.
Normally, noble hunts employed beaters and hounds, but the imperial hunt was a contest of individual ability alone.
The only people allowed to assist were laborers to collect the slain game.
Even so, many men participated in the imperial hunt.
The honor bestowed by the Emperor himself upon the victor was unmatched by any other hunt.
âOf course, His Majesty the Emperor personally commends the winner and presents the prizeâŚâ
In her previous life, sheâd heard her husband had won.
The prize had been a set of red diamond jewelry, and sheâd thrown a fit when he didnât give it to her.
Red diamonds were among the rarest gems in the world.
âBut as it turned out, heâd presented them to Her Majesty the EmpressâŚâ
Because of her, his speaking rights at council had been suspended for a while.
Looking back, she realized heâd probably done it to make up for that incident.
âI really was in the wrongâŚâ
Lost in bitter memories of her previous life, she found herself at the entrance to the hunting grounds before she knew it.
A vast forest, seemingly without end.
Dozens of tents were lined up at the entrance, and men participating in the hunt and women whoâd come to cheer them on milled about in groups.
Nina scanned the crowd, then frowned.
Of course.
A number of young ladies were circling around Ash like hyenas, waiting for their chance.
Malgivo
Now with the usual scenario, you will give him the handkerchief and he will feel feelings that he cannot explain, and he will see that his fingers were pricked by the embroidery needle, and that she suffered in making this handkerchief and he will feel sorry and remorseful because he treated his wife badly hahaha