Chapter 1 - A Chance Encounter in the Forest

--------------

T/N: i will be translating this novel again

----------------

In the forests of Sardinson County, the young Count Felix Williams led his knights on a hunt.

This was not a noble pastime but rather his first official duty since inheriting his title—driving out wild beasts for the safety of his people.

Ordinarily, lords did not personally participate in such tasks. They simply assigned their knights to handle the matter.

But Felix was different. Until just last month, he had been a newly knighted warrior. Hunting was not only part of his daily training and a beloved hobby but also a crucial source of income.

He had never imagined that he would inherit his father's title. As the second son, he had always known that the position of Count belonged to his elder brother, Alec.

No one had ever doubted this. Not only was it dictated by the law of primogeniture, but even their names revealed their father's intentions.

His older brother was named Alec—meaning "leader." Meanwhile, he was named Felix—meaning "fortunate" or "blessed." From the moment of their births, their father had already set their paths in stone.

Yet, fate had indeed made Felix live up to his name.

Due to an unforeseen tragedy, both the former Count and his designated heir had perished. As the closest blood relative, Felix naturally became the new Count of Williams.

Anyone who spoke of this turn of events called him "a lucky lad."

But Felix did not feel lucky in the slightest.

Even though he had always worked hard to carve out his future, his love for his father and brother was never less than what a rightful heir might feel. His father had been a wise and caring man. Knowing that his second son would not inherit much wealth, he had pulled countless strings to place seven-year-old Felix under the tutelage of the empire's Chief Knight. There, Felix had begun his training as a page, undergoing rigorous lessons until he finally came of age, was knighted by the king, and granted his fief.

Whether securing such a prestigious mentor or ensuring a royal knighthood, his father had done everything in his power to pave a path for him. With family support and his skills, Felix had a promising future—he might even have earned himself a noble title one day.

Even if it were just a barony, that would have been enough to keep him in the aristocracy, granting him land, income, and a comfortable life free from worry.

As a father, the former Count had been more than competent.

His elder brother, Alec, though not particularly close to him, had never neglected their bond. They exchanged letters regularly, and Alec had even hinted that when their father passed, he would ensure Felix received a larger share of the inheritance than was legally required. That alone made Alec a better brother than most noble heirs.

Yet now, all of that was gone.

While Felix had been in the capital, striving for fame and fortune in the arena, his brother, Alec Williams, had suddenly fallen ill and died. Grief-stricken, their father soon followed.

Within the span of a few short days, Felix lost the two people dearest to him. By the time he received the news and rushed home, all he could do was attend their funerals.

Then, Sir Felix Williams became the new Count Williams, inheriting his family's lands and titles.

There was little time for mourning. Having never been trained as an heir, he was utterly unfamiliar with governing a domain. He had to spend every waking moment learning how to manage it.

—Today was the first time he had left the castle since taking over.

A simple hunt, which should have been left to the knights, became his rare opportunity to unwind.

Hooves pressed against the forest floor as Felix dismounted, crouching down to examine the tracks hidden within the underbrush.

Earlier that morning, a farmer had arrived at the castle, reporting sightings of wild boars in the forest.

Wild boars, known to move in groups, posed a great threat to both farmland and people. Eliminating them was a priority. The moment Felix received the report, he eagerly tossed aside his parchment and led the hunting party into the woods.

It didn't take long before he found boar tracks in the damp earth.

The knights accompanying him noticed as well.

Eager to impress their new lord, one knight quickly announced, "The tracks are fresh—must have passed by recently."

"There are quite a few. Three large ones, nine smaller ones—it's a whole family."

Felix nodded; he could tell as much himself. Standing up, he dusted the dirt from his hands.

The farmer's information was accurate. This was indeed a large group, though most of them were young piglets. If they could be captured alive, they would fetch a good price at the market.

…Not that he needed to worry about money anymore. He was no longer a knight who had to hunt for a living. His family's wealth would allow him to indulge in luxury for a lifetime.

With a self-deprecating smile, Felix swung back into the saddle, urging his horse forward, and following the tracks.

Before long, they found the boars in a grove of oak trees, rummaging through fallen leaves in search of food.

As expected—three adult sows and nine piglets.

This was a group composed entirely of females. Though still dangerous, they lacked the formidable tusks of male boars and were easier to handle. Moreover, they had only recently endured a harsh winter and given birth, leaving them visibly weakened.

Felix personally dispatched the largest sow, while the knights swiftly took down the other two. Every single piglet was captured alive.

Squealing piglets were bound and stuffed into burlap sacks, hung over the horses. The three slain adult boars were hoisted by the attendants at the rear of the party.

Felix deliberately slowed his pace on the return journey. The later they arrived, the longer he could avoid dealing with those dreadful parchment documents. He had no idea why a lord had to calculate so many figures—just looking at them gave him a headache.

His knights and attendants followed in silence, knowing better than to disturb him.

Sardinson County was Felix's birthplace, but he had left at the age of seven. Now, at twenty-four, he had only returned once a year for a month-long visit. Other than the family castle, the forests were the only parts of the land he knew well.

He still remembered coming here with his father as a child. That towering oak tree ahead—it was the tallest and oldest in both the forest and the entire county. Rumor had it that it had stood here long before their family settled in these lands.

He and Alec had spent countless afternoons climbing that very tree.

As memories surfaced, Felix glanced toward the massive oak—

And spotted a ribbon of pale green fabric hanging from its branches, fluttering gently in the breeze.

His brows furrowed as he instinctively tightened his reins. His horse shifted beneath him, letting out a low snort.

The knights behind him immediately halted.

"Milord? What is it?"

Felix pointed toward the tree. "Is that… someone up there?"

The knights followed his gaze. At first, they too saw only the ribbon. But when they traced it upward—

There was, indeed, a figure in the tree.

One of the knights, blessed with keen eyesight, observed, "Milord, that appears to be a lady."

The person, seated with her back to them, was clad in a flowing pale green gown. Delicate ornaments adorned her half-tied black hair. Everything about her appearance suggested she was no commoner.

Felix also noticed this. But what was a noblewoman doing here?

One knight speculated, "Perhaps she came to forage for berries and was forced to climb the tree after encountering the boars?"

That was plausible—their hunt had not been far from here.

"Let's go take a look."

If she was in distress, it was their duty as knights to help.

The terrain was rough, so Felix dismounted and led his horse forward himself.

As they drew closer, the figure in the tree became clearer.

Felix frowned. Her attire was unusual—no, suspicious.

He had never seen such a dress before, but the fabric was unmistakable—silk, imported from the distant East.

Even in the royal capital, silk was so rare that owning a simple silk handkerchief was a status symbol. Almost no one was extravagant enough to wear an entire gown of it. And her hair ornaments—pure gold, yet unlike any style favored by the nobility.

Who was she?

And why was she here, in the remote forests of Sardinson County?

Felix reached the base of the great oak and called out, "Miss, do you need assistance?"

The young woman flinched at his voice, nearly losing her balance.

For a moment, he feared she might fall.

But she steadied herself, turning around—

And in that instant, her tear-filled, jet-black eyes met his piercing blue ones.

For a brief moment, Felix's mind went blank.

All that remained was the breathtaking sight of her angelic, exotic beauty.

She was—stunning.