Chapter 198
Garbisch didn’t say a word. He only looked at Jessica.
No matter what decision Jessica made, he would follow without question. Even if only the four of them were to compete, as long as it was her decision, he would have no regrets.
Jessica looked at Waldo, she smiled faintly. “My brother and I are of low status. How would we dare openly oppose Your Highness? But we have submitted our application. Everyone knows we’re here to compete. To withdraw now would ruin our reputation.”
She smiled brighter. “Your Highness, we do care about our reputation.”
Waldo’s expression darkened.
Behind him, Yuna said coldly, “Women often like to show off in front of men, but without real skill, that just makes them clowns. Ms. Yates, you are talented and stunning. Men already see you as exceptional. Why resort to such attention–seeking antics?”
Upon hearing this, Waldo glanced at Jessica again and softened his tone a little. “Jessica, if you were to embarrass yourself in public, it would damage your reputation. There’s no need for that. You’ve already…”
“Does this lady believe that every woman who enters the Autumn Hunt is merely putting on a performance for men?” Jessica interrupted, her tone calm. “Then what about you? Aren’t you a woman as well?”
“I’m not like you,” Yuna replied, her tone solemn. “I’ve never regarded myself as a woman.”
Jessica retorted, “So in your eyes, being a woman is something worthless? Only men are noble?”
Yuna was stunned. “I…”
“If there’s nothing else, Your Highness, my brother and I will take our leave.” Without waiting for a response, Jessica turned and left.
Garbisch cast one last glance at Yuna before walking off.
As they walked, their hushed voices drifted back. Jessica said, “She’s a woman herself, yet she looks down on women as if it makes her superior. Without women, where would men even come from?”
Garbisch responded, “Just another attention–seeker, Jessica. Don’t stoop to her level. She’s nothing more than a clown.”
Jessica scoffed, her contempt evident.
Though spoken softly, they didn’t bother lowering their voices enough to hide the words from the surrounding crowd.
Waldo’s expression turned unpleasant. He turned to look at Yuna and said, “Don’t take it to heart. Focus on the competition.”
Yuna remained expressionless. “Just petty squabbles of a small–minded woman. I’ve never cared for them.”
But hidden within her sleeve, her palm was clenched tightly, though no one could see it.
Something stirred in Waldo’s heart. The words felt oddly familiar. Yet when he looked at Yuna again, she was already gazing steadily at the horseback archery arena ahead, studying it carefully.
It was as if the earlier conflict hadn’t affected her at all.
She truly was different from Priscilla. Yuna really didn’t care. Unlike Priscilla, who only pretended to be above it all for show.
After spending so much time with her, Waldo had come to see through Priscilla’s two–faced nature. But Yuna was a breath of fresh air.
What he didn’t know was that as he turned to look at the arena, Yuna was watching his back.
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14:10 Mon, 9 Jun
Chapter 198
G
‘What an idiot,‘ Yuna thought with contempt. ‘Men like him are so easy to fool. It takes no effort at all!
Suddenly, a figure entered her line of sight.
High upon horseback, he held something in his hand, yet wasn’t even holding the reins.
The horse beneath him was wild and hard to tame, yet under his control, it was as docile as a lamb.
On horseback, the man’s silhouette was outlined by the morning sun. Beneath his cold mask, his eyes held a razor–sharp, icy glint.
