I’m Really Not Trying to Be Chased by the Heroine as the Villainous Playboy! – Chapter 71

Chapter 71: The Spotlight

Under the azure sky, the red hair flowed gracefully, and the elegance and beauty on the princess’s face were striking. Every moment Princess Charlotte drew her bow was so captivating and noble, as if she weren’t aiming for a fox, but for the hearts of the onlookers.

“If only she’d look at me; I’d gladly take an arrow!”

“Dream on! If anyone’s getting shot, it should be me!”

“Our kingdom’s men are hopeless! The princess’s purity should really be entrusted to us to… protect!”

“Hey, little sister, keep it together.”

Men and women alike directed their admiring gazes toward Charlotte.

Noble hunting events were originally excellent social opportunities, but hardly anyone dared to approach Charlotte for a contest.

Not that no one had tried before.

In the past, many would attempt to challenge Charlotte during hunts, only to be humiliatingly defeated, earning a disdainful look from her.

Nobody wanted to embarrass themselves in front of Charlotte amidst so many eyes.

Let’s not even mention how a lot of young noblemen had been outright rejected by Charlotte at matchmaking events; they certainly wouldn’t want to seek humiliation now.

Of course, Charlotte wasn’t entirely unapproachable; she didn’t object to compliments. Everyone was happy to admire her elegance up close while she shot her arrows.

“Your bow skills are amazing, Princess!”

“You look so beautiful, Your Highness!”

“I really like you, Princess!”

But after a few rounds, Charlotte let out a barely noticeable sigh.

Having lived under a spotlight all her life, while she didn’t dislike the admiration, it was inevitably becoming tedious.

She preferred hunting to courtly socializing.

Motives aside, at least a few years ago, some peers had the guts to challenge her. But now, everyone seemed to have lost that courage.

With so many nobles present, not a single one dared to compete with her.

Charlotte couldn’t help but recall a few days ago when she and Roy had enjoyed playful antics in the woods and that thrilling hunt. She felt that even the activity she once loved was now becoming dull.

“Let’s call it a day. You all can keep trying.”

Seeing Charlotte put down her bow, some looked disappointed while others seized the opportunity to flatter her.

“Your Highness, you must be tired! I’ve called for tea to be prepared over there.”

“Your Highness, my maids are skilled in massage; if you don’t mind, let her serve you!”

“No need. I’m planning to…”

Charlotte’s words were cut short as her gaze drifted past the crowd toward a nearby carriage emblazoned with a blood-red sword and shield.

Her once-dim crimson eyes suddenly sparkled with excitement as she hurried through the noisy crowd, heading straight for the person she desired.

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Princess Charlotte wasn’t just a seasonal topic of interest among the young nobility.

Instead, she was a perennial topic of conversation all year round.

But under the shaded pavilion, the hottest and freshest topic belonged to another name.

“Do you think Roy Ainbrad will join the hunt this year?”

“That guy hasn’t shown up in previous years, right?”

“Ridiculous! He’s already in the city! Holy Light, my dad said he’s honoring his ancestors while burying himself in history studies, telling me to learn from him!”

“I mean, who would be bored enough to go to a museum during a festival?”

“Probably has no friends and is too embarrassed to go out and party!”

In one corner of the pavilion, a lively atmosphere bubbled up among the young people.

“But seriously, what’s making that guy suddenly want to show his face in public?”

“Do you need to ask? Didn’t you see him enter with Charlotte last time?!”

At this, the pavilion erupted with chatter.

“You mean he’s doing it for the princess…?”

“What a clingy loser! The princess clearly rejected him at the matchmaking event!” A devoted fan of Charlotte expressed her outrage!

“But they seemed to get along well last time, right? Maybe there’s something going on!” A gossip-lover pointed out the suspicion.

After all, there are few cases of someone getting rejected at a matchmaking event and later forming a bond, but it’s not unheard of.

Amidst the debate, a young lady fan gushed: “And I think Mr. Roy doesn’t seem that bad. If he fails in love, I’ll comfort him myself~”

Her friend immediately shot back: “A few years ago, he was ‘useless’ and ‘a loser’, and now he’s Mr. Roy?!”

“That’s just because you haven’t seen Mr. Roy’s true self!”

“To put it bluntly, you’re just a shallow admirer!”

“What’s wrong with that? Just tell me—he is handsome, right?!”

With a single line from this lady, her friend was left speechless, even a little embarrassed.

“Problem is, he’s aiming for the princess. What chance do you have?” another young lady chimed in teasingly.

Before the previous young lady could reply, a male figure with a wine bottle started wailing: “No! This can’t be! The princess will never get married!”

If Charlotte and Roy each represented a hot topic, their potential romance was double the buzz, thus naturally stirring up more controversy.

Most of the casual talk was just whispers fueled by imagination, but the mere existence of this controversy already said quite a lot.

In the center of the pavilion, Leo keenly picked up on this, his expression growing increasingly grave.

You see, Charlotte had been to countless matchmaking events, yet there had never been any rumors about her and any man.

The very fact that this discussion was gaining traction implied that people were subconsciously believing in the possibility of Roy and Charlotte being together!

Moreover, as an added bonus to this topic, Roy himself became the topic of much conversation lately.

Even for those who hadn’t attended the Duke Raymond’s birthday gala, they now had a bit of an impression of Roy’s “handsome looks,” “superior bravery,” “heroically saving a maid,” and how he drastically changed from what had been rumored before, sparking curiosity about him.

In short, where there are people, there’s gossip, and nobles were no exception.

But among the crowd, one figure suddenly stood up, a chair knocked over from the sudden movement.

Good or bad, Roy had become the most unbearable word for Rayan.

After that birthday party, Rayan not only faced punishment and confinement in a cell, but even his own faction was dismantled—those underlings weren’t irreplaceable only children; they either got expelled from their families or were ordered not to associate with Rayan.

Most importantly, Rayan was warned that one more mistake would strip him of his claim to the dukedom!

All because of Roy!

If it weren’t for him…

Just then, gasps erupted around him, snapping Rayan back to attention.

“It’s the Ainbrad family’s carriage!”

“I told you Roy would come!”

“Hmph, I’d eat dirt upside down if the princess actually liked him!”

“Handsome guy, I’m here!”

“That jerk…!”

Right or wrong, in this moment, everyone’s attention naturally turned to Roy’s direction.