Chapter 161: "Walk with me."

I helped myself to a few slices of bread and some roasted meat. Just as I was about to take the first bite, someone pulled out the chair across from me. A hooded figure sat down without asking.

She lowered her hood. Duskima.

She leaned across the table, grabbed a loaf of bread as if it belonged to her, tore off a piece, and took a bite.

"Lady Duskima," I said with a slight bow of my head. "Good morning."

She waved dismissively while chewing. "Drop the ’Lady.’ It doesn’t suit your peasant lips."

"Right."

She studied me for a moment before swallowing. "I saw my sister entering your room yesterday. Did something happen?"

I calmly shook my head. "No. Her Majesty simply reminded me not to cause trouble. That was all."

"Really?"

I nodded. "Really."

She narrowed her eyes for another second before shrugging. At that moment, a loud chorus drifted over from the direction of the stable.

"My Lady Duskima!" one drunken voice shouted.

"Wheeeere are yooou?" Another said.

"You abandoned us!"

"We still love you!"

Several equally drunk men staggered into view, singing completely different songs while somehow remaining in the same group. One stumbled into another, who promptly blamed the ground before bursting into laughter.

Duskima pinched the bridge of her nose.

"I swear those idiots will drink anything stronger than water."

She glanced back at me.

"So... you’re really the one blessed by Ambly?"

"Yes."

She stared at me with open curiosity.

"That’s incredible. A living, breathing Ambly-blessed sitting right in front of me."

I simply gave a small nod and continued eating. A few moments later, the double doors to the mansion opened.

Jack Merygold stepped outside, dressed as impeccably as ever. The conversations throughout the courtyard gradually quieted as guests turned their attention toward him.

He smiled warmly before speaking. "My honored guests, good morning. I sincerely hope you rested well after last night’s celebration."

Several guests greeted him in return.

"As part of our family’s tradition, the festivities will continue throughout the day. In approximately one hour, the festival games shall begin. Any guest who wishes to participate is more than welcome to join us in the front courtyard. We would be delighted to have you."

He placed a hand over his chest and gave a respectful nod.

"Until then, please enjoy your breakfast, relax, and make yourselves at home. Our family is grateful for your presence."

With that, he excused himself and returned inside the mansion.

Duskima watched him disappear before standing up from her chair. "How boring."

She stretched lazily and adjusted her hood.

"I’m leaving."

I inclined my head politely. "Goodbye, Lady Duskima."

She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah." Then she turned away, waving a hand over her shoulder as she walked off. "Try not to get yourself executed before lunch."

I rolled my shoulder as she walked away. "I’ll try..."

ꨄ︎ꨄ︎ꨄ︎

About an hour later, the festival games officially began.

The front courtyard gradually filled with cheerful voices as guests wandered from one activity to another. Beneath the great elder tree, servants had arranged a row of straw targets for an archery competition, while several other games occupied different corners of the courtyard. One group competed in tossing horseshoes onto wooden stakes, another gathered around a long table where a drinking contest had already begun, and children from noble families chased one another through the gardens while exhausted parents watched from nearby benches.

Musicians filled the air with lively melodies, making the entire estate feel warm and welcoming. Maids moved constantly between the guests with trays of fresh bread, fruit, roasted meat, and cups of wine, making sure no one had to leave the festivities for long. The celebration had lost none of its energy despite the previous night’s drinking.

I claimed a quiet bench beneath the shade of a tree and watched everything unfold.

Cadence stood at the archery range with a bow already drawn.

His posture was steady, his breathing calm. He released the string, and the arrow flew cleanly into the inner rings of the target. A second shot followed, then a third, each landing close to the previous one.

The spectators applauded politely.

Cadence lowered the bow with a modest smile, accepting the compliments with practiced grace.

Jack Merygold stepped forward, chuckling as he accepted the bow from his son. "Allow an old man to see whether he still remembers how to shoot."

A few guests laughed.

Cadence smiled and handed the bow over without hesitation. "I’m sure you’ll do better than I did, Father."

Jack reached behind his head and tied his shoulder-length hair into a tight knot so it wouldn’t fall across his eyes. He rolled one shoulder, planted his feet firmly on the ground, and raised the bow with the ease of someone who had repeated the same movement thousands of times.

The courtyard gradually quieted.

He nocked the first arrow, inhaled slowly, and released. The arrow struck closer to the center than any of Cadence’s. The second landed almost beside it.

By the time he had fired all five arrows, every one of them clustered tightly around the bullseye.

Warm applause spread through the courtyard.

Jack lowered the bow with a satisfied smile before looking toward his son. "It seems experience still has a few advantages."

Cadence laughed softly and bowed his head. "I’ll have to train harder if I wish to surpass you."

"You will," Jack replied warmly. "Just not today."

Another round of applause followed.

While everyone congratulated the two of them, I quietly scanned the crowd. Ravelle was nowhere to be seen. Neither was that old man who claimed to be her husband. Maybe they had already left the estate.

That suited me just fine.

As the conversations settled again, Jack looked in my direction. "Ambly-blessed," he called warmly. "Would you honor us by trying your hand at the bow?"

Several guests turned to look at me.

I sighed quietly before standing. "I’ve never shot a bow before, Lord Merygold."

"Then today is the perfect opportunity to learn." He smiled and motioned me closer. "Come. I’ll show you."

I walked over, and he placed the bow into my hands.

It felt heavier than I had expected.

Jack circled around me once before gently adjusting my posture. "Keep your feet about shoulder-width apart. Good. Turn your body slightly sideways so your left shoulder faces the target. That’s it."

He lightly pressed against my elbow.

"Raise your bow arm a little higher, but don’t lock it. Keep it relaxed."

I followed his instructions.

He handed me an arrow. "Place it against the bow here. Hook the string with your fingers, then draw it back slowly. Don’t pull with only your arm. Use your back muscles as well. It will feel much steadier."

I drew the string.

My shoulders immediately began to shake.

Jack chuckled. "Everyone does that on their first attempt."

A few nearby guests laughed with him.

"Now keep your eyes on the center of the target," he continued. "Don’t think about hitting the bullseye. Just let the arrow go naturally."

I released the string. The arrow sailed well wide of the target and disappeared into the grass somewhere behind it.

The spectators laughed good-naturedly.

I scratched the back of my head. "I think I just scared a rabbit."

Jack laughed along with everyone else. "That’s perfectly normal. Try again."

The second arrow struck the outer edge of the target. The third missed completely. The fourth landed inside one of the outer rings. The fifth buried itself only a little farther from the center than the previous shot.

A few guests clapped politely.

Jack nodded with genuine approval. "Very respectable. Three misses and two hits may not sound impressive, but for someone holding a bow for the first time, you’ve done surprisingly well. I think you have a natural feel for it."

"I’ll leave the archery to you, Lord Merygold."

He laughed. "A wise decision."

As I handed the bow back, my eyes met Cadence’s across the range.

He smiled and applauded with everyone else.

"That was good," he said. "Really good for a first attempt."

I simply nodded. "Thanks."

I walked back to my seat and settled onto the bench once again, letting out a slow breath.

From where I sat, I had a perfect view of Cadence.

He stood among the guests with that same warm smile on his face, thanking everyone who congratulated him. He laughed at their jokes, shook hands, accepted gifts with genuine-looking gratitude, and never once looked uncomfortable. If I hadn’t found the evidence in his room myself, I would’ve believed every bit of that performance.

That was what unsettled me.

I’d become fairly good at reading people over the years. Most liars eventually slipped. They hesitated for just a fraction of a second, avoided eye contact, smiled at the wrong time, or simply tried a little too hard. Cadence didn’t. He looked exactly like the man everyone believed him to be.

Was he really that gifted at hiding his true nature? Or had I somehow misunderstood everything?

Before I could think any further, a familiar voice interrupted my thoughts. "Ace."

I looked up.

The Queen stood beside my table with her hands gently linked in front of her. Her long crimson hair rested neatly over her shoulders, catching the morning sunlight, while her composed expression revealed nothing.

"Walk with me."

I immediately stood and inclined my head. "Of course, Your Majesty."

She turned without another word and began walking.