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Yvonne was the first to react.
I stared at the tall man in front of me, annoyed.
Duke Cecil — my childhood rival, a ridiculously handsome but useless pretty boy.
Time had been kind to him. Even nearing forty, his charm barely diminished.
Meanwhile, I — slightly younger — looked tired and had gained weight.
The more I looked at him, the more irritated I felt.
I snorted coldly, grabbed Yvonne, and tried to leave.
But William Cecil blocked Yvonne's path.
I quickly pulled Yvonne behind me. "What is the meaning of this, Your Grace?"
William smirked at me, then stared at Yvonne and said slowly,
"No particular reason. I just thought this young lady here… seems rather unusual."
"You must be getting old and senile, William. Let's go, Yvonne!"
Afraid he would harass Yvonne, I dragged her away quickly.
As I passed him, I couldn't resist stomping hard on his foot.
Hearing his sharp intake of breath behind me, I felt a dark satisfaction.
...
Half an hour later, the King organized the hunt.
"Mom, I specially picked this horse for you — it's one in a hundred," Warren said.
I noticed the hidden excitement in his eyes and smiled as I took the reins.
"How thoughtful of you, son. Ride with me today. If you impress the King, I'll buy you that yacht you've been wanting."
[No! No! Last time, Warren used the yacht you gave him for secret deals and arms trading! That's what got our estate seized!]
Hearing Yvonne's inner voice, I clenched my fists.
Warren said, "Don't worry, Mom. This is a mare — very gentle. It'll be a smooth ride."
My gaze turned cold.
"Who told you mares are always gentle? I taught you long ago not to judge by gender. It seems you never listen to me."
Warren paused, then forced a laugh. "How can you compare a horse to my devotion? I only want you to… be safe and well."
I looked at him, smiling without warmth.
"Mom, we shouldn't waste time. Otherwise, Duke Cecil will take the top spot," Warren said, pointing.
I followed his gaze and saw that William had already hunted a wild deer.
