[3 days later]

"It was nice going out with you, Lady Aderi," Ari said greeting Aderi with a smile.

"the feeling is mutual" Aderi said greeting back with a smile.

Aderi asked Ari to go with her today for some tea in town. Thomas was the one who suggested this so his daughter's mood could light up, he doesn't know what was going on but he didn't want to make his daughter uncomfortable by asking, so he is trying to make his daughter's mood to lit up by doing little things here and there.

"How have you been lately?" Ari asked as she noticed Aderi was a little quieter than usual.

"Well...I guess it's good?" Aderi said putting on a smile, but her tone was unsure and Ari noticed it.

"Are you sure, Lady Aderi? I don't mean to pry into your personal life this much but...I noticed that your smile is a little low and seemed weak..." Ari said pointing out what she noticed, Aderi dropped her smile and nodded after knowing there is no point in hiding it anyway.

"is everything alright? you don't need to tell me I just need a yes or no...or maybe--you don't need to tell me what happened" Ari said comforting Aderi, Ari is making sure Aderi knows that she is there for her.

"well...remember that person I told you about?" Aderi asked. Ari tilted her head a little in confusion.

"Which one?" Ari asked.

"the friend I was talking about, the one that looks like you," Aderi said describing Cael's looks.

"ah, yes! Uhm...what about him?" Ari asked still confused.

"I finally met him," Aderi said looking down.

"Really?! congrats!" Ari said happily. but her smile slowly dropped when she saw Aderi was looking down.

"Shouldn't you supposed to be...happy?" Ari asked confused looking at Aderi.

"yeah I should be...but, how would you feel if that person lied to you and hid his identity?" Aderi said asking Ari. Ari was quiet for a little thinking about what she would reply.

"I would feel hurt and betrayed" Ari replied.

"Exactly! he didn't even bother sending me a letter, I was so worried about him! and yet...all along he was hiding among others," Aderi said venting to Ari about how she felt.

"I..." Ari said but stopped.

"I...don't know what to say, Lady Aderi, nor how to comfort you," Ari said as she felt useless not knowing how to comfort her friend.

"It's okay..." Aderi said as she gave Ari a small smile.

"I feel so hurt...I know social media isn't a thing here but letters do!" Aderi said looking down.

"Social...media?" Ari asked after being confused about the word social media.

"It's nothing..." Aderi replied, and Ari just nodded.

"let's lighten up the mood, I don't want to vent all throughout our time together," Aderi said changing the mood.

"Alright! what shall we talk about?" Ari asked eager to make Aderi happy.

"hmm...I really don't know what to talk about since I don't read the newspaper" Aderi said as she was trying to think of a topic, but all she could think about were drama and scandals in her previous life in the real world.

"how about the hunting event?" Ari suggested after seeing Aderi struggle so much.

"oh? there will be a hunting event?" Aderi asked surprised. Ari nodded with a smile.

"yes, it will be held next month, all the ladies I know will go since it is also a good time to find suitors," Ari said smiling.

"I see...will you attend?" Aderi asked smiling.

"yes I will, my father will participate this year since he did not participate last year" Ari replied happily.

"Duke Callista is already on the participant board...will you be cheering for him?" Ari asked.

"if I go I'll see Cael...but, I want to attend my first hunting event," Aderi thought.

"y-yes I will" Aderi replied hesitantly.

"Can you tell me more about this event, it will be my first time going into one," Aderi said shyly, Ari's eyes lit up in excitement.

"Sure! I'll tell you everything I know!" Ari said happily.

"so basically, all people with a noble title are required to participate, my father did not join last year due to an injury, you are only excused if you have a valid reason to not join. the participant isn't required to be the actual head of the family, it can be the son of the head or a family member"

"ladies come here to drink tea while the boys hunt, the person with the most hunt will be declared to be the winner, and the winner will receive a trophy and a cash prize, the ladies take this as an opportunity to build a relationship, or to look for a suitor, maybe even cheer for the person they like by giving them a special something," Ari said as she finally explained everything.

"only the son of the head? Can girls participate?" Aderi asked. Ari nodded.

"Right now...yes, I never saw a female noble join in yet" ari replied. Aderi nodded.

"what happens if you don't have a participant in your family?" Aderi asked.

"well they are excepted, but if a family member wants to join to represent that family, then they are free to join. but even if that family doesn't have a representative, they are free to come and watch" Ari replied, Aderi nodded.

"I see..." Aderi replied.

°

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the day ended with the two having a happy day, they even got back when the sun was already setting. after Aderi got home, Thomas was waiting for his daughter outside.

"Good evening, father" Aderi greeted her father who was waiting outside.

"Good evening, Aderi...how was your trip?" Thomas asked happily after seeing his daughter having a much happier look and mood.

"it was fun!" Aderi replied excitedly.

"I hope you haven't eaten dinner yet...since the dinner is already being served," Thomas said smiling, Aderi nodded.

"good thing I didn't eat" Aderi joked, Thomas let out a small chuckle.

"But...your stepmother will not join us, is that good with you?" Thomas asked, Aderi nodded immediately.

"good thing! every day I eat with her she always glares at me, by now I know she knows I'm the one who took that bottle" Aderi thought.

"I shouldn't think about Cael that much... I might miss things that will lead me to my death, but I'm not mean anymore and I'm friends with Ari, I think it's safe to say that...the ending the real Aderi faced in the novel is gone, but that doesn't mean my death flag is also gone" Aderi thought.

"When did even the real story of the novel start? It started at a banquet, but which one?" Aderi thought.

"then shall we go inside?" Thomas asked Aderi. Aderi smiled and nodded.

"why were you even outside, father?" Aderi asked chuckling as both of them went inside.

"I was waiting for you" Thomas replied.

"but you could have waited for me inside" Aderi chuckled.

"I want to wait outside this time," Thomas said also chuckling along with Aderi.

°

after the two sat down Aderi and Thomas started chatting about her trip today.

"ah...father, Lady Ari told me that the hunting event is pretty soon," Aderi said bringing it up.

"indeed...I was just about to bring that up, I've already listed my name, would you like to come?" Thomas asked, Aderi nodded.

"yes, I would!" Aderi replied.

"I already asked Leni, but she said no, wonder what's up with her recently," Thomas said, Aderi just shrugged her shoulders.

"hmm...who knows?" Aderi said.

"this year I want to win," Thomas said.

"didn't you also win last year?" Aderi asked.

"I did...but I want to do my best, especially when I'm with my daughter!" Thomas said determinedly.

"then...I shall prepare a good luck charm for you, father" Aderi said smiling.

the two laughed and chatted happily together, forgetting their worries.