I Woke Up from Hibernation and Found a Husband - Chapter 67

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 67
‘Is this a dream?’
Claire stared blankly at the golden curtain thrust before her eyes. Theodore’s clenched fist trembled, and she could feel the murmuring of the crowd surrounding them.
But what struck her most intensely was the sharp gleam in Bianca’s eyes.
“Will you accept it?”
It was a command dressed in the guise of a question. There was no refusing something offered by the Crown Prince. As Melissa, startled, raised her eyebrows in warning, Claire bent her knee lightly and accepted it.
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
She felt no gratitude whatsoever.
The moment she sensed every eye in the Hunting Grounds fixed upon her, Claire wished she could simply collapse right there.
Aaron watched Claire desperately avoiding his gaze and sweating profusely with amusement, then shouted for all to hear.
“I present this curtain to you because you aided my brother Elliot. The sight of you supporting my brother without hesitation, heedless of soiling your clothes, embodies this curtain of honor more perfectly than anything else.”
The nobles, understanding the situation, gasped in admiration.
“Indeed! The Crown Prince possesses such profound wisdom!”
“He will be a benevolent ruler!”
As cheers erupted around them, Aaron’s lips curved upward. Bianca, whose discomfort had been plainly evident, caught sight of the praise surrounding Aaron and, turning away, smiled.
Claire observed Aaron briefly as he smiled with practiced beauty and exchanged greetings with those around him.
‘Did he plan this from the very beginning when he made that proposal to me that day?’
The man’s perfect mask left her no opening to penetrate.
“Claire.”
While everyone’s attention was drawn to Aaron, Theodore moved close and took one of Claire’s hands.
“Are you alright?”
“I’m fine for now.”
“If I’d known this would happen, I should have won the competition no matter what.”
Theodore lowered his head with a disgruntled expression. She felt warmth radiating from his forehead as it brushed against her shoulder.
“It’s not worth exhausting yourself over a single flag. The trade-off isn’t worth it.”
When Claire held up the troublesome curtain slightly, Theodore lifted his head and let out a soft laugh.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
Seeing that she appeared completely uninterested in Aaron, who had given her the curtain, Theodore smiled with relief.
“I apologize, Theodore. I acted without warning.”
Shortly after the event officially concluded, Aaron approached Claire and Theodore, who were preparing to leave.
“Crown Prince.”
“If it’s not too much trouble, I’d like to speak with your fiancée for a moment.”
He spoke respectfully to Theodore, as if careful not to provoke her betrothed.
‘A conversation?’
Claire’s expression grew uncertain.
‘What could he possibly want to discuss with me?’
She glanced at Theodore. Though he clearly wanted to hold her back, the other party was the Crown Prince. Claire decided it was better to finish the conversation quickly.
“I’ll return shortly.”
“Claire.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll simply ask a few questions from where we can be seen.”
At Aaron’s words, Theodore reluctantly nodded. Claire followed Aaron to a spot beneath the Tree, keeping a respectful distance away.
“You must have been startled, suddenly being handed the ribbon and summoned like that.”
“I was, in fact.”
Aaron smiled broadly at her candid response.
“I appreciate your honesty. I called you because I’ve become curious about something.”
Claire lifted her gaze to meet his eyes. His green irises were pale at the edges, deepening toward the center. The pupils especially were dark, like tree shadows cast in shade.
“That protective technique of yours—the one that shatters a monster’s outer shell in a single strike. I’m curious about the master who taught it to you.”
“My master, you mean.”
The face of my mother, Veronica, surfaced in my mind before quickly scattering away.
‘I still don’t know who was involved in my mother’s death.’
Of course, those who knew Veronica’s face would easily guess Claire’s parentage, but speaking it aloud myself carried a different weight.
“Before I took up work as a maid, I happened to meet a wandering knight. One day he disappeared without a trace, so I don’t know the details.”
The explanation was vague and full of gaps, but Aaron nodded readily, as though he hadn’t expected an honest answer.
“Ah, a wandering knight, then.”
Aaron gazed into the distance for a moment as if contemplating something, then spoke again.
“You didn’t anticipate the ribbon would go to you today, did you?”
Claire nodded as though it were obvious.
“No. Everyone said it would certainly go to the Empress.”
“Ah, Mother.”
For a brief moment, Aaron’s expression froze before returning to normal.
‘Just now?’
Claire noticed the darkness in his eyes flare and vanish rapidly.
“Yes, my victory too. The ribbon to be presented to Mother. That must seem natural to you all.”
His demeanor had grown somewhat indifferent. With an expression tinged with ennui, he continued.
“A Crown Prince should demonstrate at least this level of achievement, shouldn’t he? Don’t you think?”
The atmosphere had grown heavier. Claire paused to consider her response. Unaccustomed to High Society’s manner of speech, she lacked the skill to brush off such a question lightly.
“Does a Crown Prince necessarily need to be skilled at hunting? Your Highness simply hunts well.”
Frustrated by the weight of the moment, Claire simply spoke from her heart.
“I didn’t know where the ribbon would go, but I had anticipated Your Highness would win. Throwing a blade to sever the neck of distant prey from afar—that’s not something anyone can do.”
Aaron’s hands were a warrior’s hands.
Had he not mentioned his station, Claire would have unhesitatingly believed him to be a Knight.
“What?”
“Isn’t this a competition to test hunting skill?”
Then shouldn’t one simply need to hunt well?
Claire spoke plainly, regarding Aaron with an expression that suggested she found his concern odd. He stiffened for a moment as though caught off guard, then his shoulders shook as laughter burst forth.
“Is that so? I suppose I simply hunted well.”
“The minimal damage to the hides was impressive. Such goods fetch good value in the Market.”
Claire recalled the game loaded onto the cart. Even when living in the Cabin, carefully treating hides and selling them through Angela had yielded decent profit.
“Aha. I didn’t know I had the talent of a hunter. This is rather delightful.”
Only then did Aaron truly wipe away his tears, straightening his posture. He glanced briefly at the group waiting for Claire in the distance, then extended his right hand.
“It was enjoyable. Let’s see each other again next time.”
‘Why did he call me out in the first place?’
Watching his eyes, now free of that dark aura, Claire grasped his hand in return.
* * *
Today had been an extraordinarily long day.
“Iris requests your presence, Claire.”
‘I just want to go inside and rest.’
Claire’s eyes lost their focus. Just when she thought the Hunting Festival had finally ended, she was suddenly presented with an invitation, summoned by the Crown Prince, and now—the Empress herself. She had already reached her limit.
‘What on earth is happening?’
A flood of certainty washed over her that something terribly troublesome was about to unfold.
“She has permitted you to bring a companion.”
Fortunately, Theodore would accompany her this time. Rather than returning directly to the Mansion, they made their way to the address where the Empress had summoned them. What awaited them was, unexpectedly, a three-story workshop building.
“We pay our respects to the Empress.”
“We pay our respects to the Empress.”
“Raise your heads.”
Lifting her gaze while concealing her bewilderment, Claire beheld Iris, the Empress. With wavy blue-tinted hair and large azure eyes, she was a woman of gentle beauty.
“There is no need for such tension. I summoned you because I wished to personally express my gratitude for your assistance to my son, Elliott.”
In those gentle eyes with their slightly downturned corners, Elliott’s features seemed to overlap. Iris offered a soft smile before calling forward the middle-aged man who had been waiting in the background.
“I am Victor, the proprietor of this Artifact Workshop.”
‘An Artifact Workshop?’
Theodore’s eyes gleamed with interest. He was already aware that Iris’s Family House was renowned for producing exceptional alchemists.
‘Because they are merchants rather than established nobility, Elliott’s position has been precarious.’
Artifacts were specialized tools imbued with supernatural abilities, possessing the unique characteristic that they could only be crafted by alchemists.
‘If we could secure a truly exceptional artifact, it would certainly aid in Claire’s safety.’
Items produced by certified alchemists were particularly promising. They followed Victor toward the workshop’s workspace.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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