Dmitry burst out laughing again as if everything up until then had been a joke.
With that laughter, the subtle atmosphere that had been floating between us all disappeared.
His attitude changed so quickly that I was completely bewildered. I asked back bluntly.
“Why are you laughing?”
“I think I’ll really fall in love with you, Your Highness.”
I looked completely disgusted. I wondered if I would ever live to fully understand that man's mind.
Dmitry said, wiping away tears that were coming from laughing so hard.
“Seeing you so relaxed, I guess you haven’t heard it yet.”
“What?”
“The first competition date has been set. It’s next week, on the 43rd of spring.”
He added with an elegant smile.
“Actually, I was here to tell you this from the beginning.”
“...”
...Then that’s it. I was a fool again to have thought for even a moment that he was being sincere. It was all just a device to tease me from the beginning.
The reason he scared me with those creepy curses and stuff was probably to see how surprised I was. I wonder if he'd actually be caught for fraud.
While I was absentmindedly staring, he made a suggestion with his usual wonderful smile.
“You might be bored going alone. Should I escort you to the palace?”
“No need.”
“Well, if that’s what you want.”
He shrugged and bowed. I just laughed until he turned his back on me and walked halfway down the hall.
I hated the way he seemed so carefree after spouting off a bunch of words that I couldn't even understand. I ended up calling him back.
“Dmitry.”
“..."
“Lionel Batistan.”
Only then did he turn his head. From a distance, he was a truly magnificent face. If someone were to ask what decadent beauty was, everyone would gladly raise their hand and point to this man.
I looked into his eyes without avoiding them.
“What you said earlier, you said it on purpose to scare me, right? You mean, the spooky legends, the curses, and all that stuff.”
"Well."
The voice that answered was sly. His eyes narrowed once more as if he was smiling. Those bright blue, absinthe-colored eyes.
“Not yet.”
The ceremony marking the start of the competition was modest. In front of thirteen examiners and ministers, they received a parchment covered with gold and swore an oath to participate faithfully in the competition.
Originally it was supposed to be a very humble ceremony, but the unprecedented public interest resulted in only a handful of newspapers being permitted to enter.
Thanks to that, it was a little bigger for the sake of appearances. Apart from being on the front page of every newspaper, it was the least embarrassing thing I experienced in the palace.
“Is that parchment the subject of this contest?”
Thalia asked, setting down her teacup in front of me.
“Right. Do you want to read it?”
“Your Highness, you don’t need to see it first?”
As she spoke, she was already carefully unrolling the parchment. I had heard the contents in advance.
Anyway, the Emperor had already informed us of the topic the day before. Young Lady Veronica probably heard it too. Among the examiners was the Duke of Kairak.
“Bring me the most precious thing from Antaria, Zarantello?”
“Oh my, then...”
“Yeah. It looks like they’re going to hold a hunting festival.”
Zarantello Antaria. That was the name of the famous hunting ground. It was no wonder because it was not the size of an ordinary back mountain, but the 'Emperor's Hunting Ground', consisting of three large islands connected by bridges.
Rumor has it that the plants and animals from ancient times are preserved intact. For hunters, it is a land where setting foot once is a lifelong dream.
“Oh my god. Can I go here too?”
Thalia said, covering her face with both hands.
It is said that only a very small number of people were allowed to enter before. This time, it seems that it is open to a large number of nobles and even invited royal families from other countries. The principle is that the competition for the successor is open from start to finish.
“Is the most precious thing in the hunting grounds the animal you bring back? I heard that in Zarantello, there are things like the legendary golden falcon and the white-antlered doe!”
It was only then that I realized the gravity of the situation.
“Wait a minute. So, I have to hunt myself?”
Oh my goodness. I didn't think of that! If the subject of the hunt is competition, then it's only natural that something has to be caught!
There were bound to be knights around anyway, but it was a bit unsettling.
First of all, I had never hunted before, secondly, I was somewhat afraid of blood, and thirdly, I was somewhat reluctant to kill. All I had ever caught in my life were bugs and small rats.
Irina said, stroking my hair.
“It’s probably because it’s the first one and it’s a topic related to power. Either physical or political. It has a dual meaning, but looking at this topic, it’s probably the former.”
“Is that already decided?”
“Because it is to test the three qualities of a successor. To put it bluntly, strength and intelligence are the common factors in the competition, and the last one is decided by the Emperor.”
“Oh. By the way, I heard that Princess Veronica is good at hunting.”
Thalia said as if a memory had suddenly occurred to her.
Of course. Unlike me, she was a real college graduate. She served as an officer for a year after that. She was much more skilled at shooting and handling a bow than I was.
It was obvious who would have suggested the topic of this exam. It would have to be the Duke of Kairak. Whatever it was, it would ultimately require the Emperor's approval...
“Well, it’ll work out somehow.”
I shrugged. If you can't shoot a bow or a gun, just set traps. I was good at one thing: waiting patiently.
The subject of the examination was decided by gathering opinions from the temple and the council to ensure fairness, but it was up to the thirteen nobles who had entered the Privy Council to decide the winner. Dmitry, who would succeed to the marquisate within this month, was also included.
It's a bit embarrassing, but even if I were to catch a rabbit, four people would raise their hand, including Irina's father, and five people including Lady Veronica...
In the end, the important fight was to produce a result that would captivate the moderates. That would be something that could be done by just opening up your mouth when you get there.
Thalia asked cautiously at my confident expression.
“...But Your Highness, you know how to ride a horse, right?”
Oh my god, I'm screwed.
The real horse riding lessons began the next day.
Did I mention that the class was so intense that I missed the Duke's residence before? I'll cancel. I missed it so much that I wanted to go back to that time.
Learning something new didn't mean reducing the amount of education I had been doing. What I had been doing until now remained the same, but horseback riding and hunting were newly added to the schedule.
That means, aside from the time I actually lay down to sleep, I didn't have a single moment to rest.
Moreover, horseback riding, which was my first time ever, caused muscle pain all over my body. To the point where I couldn't help but think, "If I close my eyes like this, I won't be able to open them again."
I endured all the work half out of habit, half out of my mind. At this rate, it was questionable whether I would survive until next week.
“I guess I’ll have to give up archery.”
Cesare, whom I met after a long time, was still merciless. As soon as I first picked up the bow, he said that in a cold voice.
"Then..."
“Let’s use a crossbow or a gun.”
It was a better choice. If I had pulled the bowstring here and used my arm muscles, I would have collapsed before the hunting festival.
It was my first time seeing a gun in person, as it was so precious, but I had seen a crossbow a few times before, although it was ten times more crude than this one.
I lightly ran my finger over the extremely delicately crafted surface of the crossbow.
“It’s not that heavy.”
It was heavy, but it was still quite comfortable compared to a steel rifle. It was also a bit more familiar than the loud gunshots and smoke-filled guns.
“You pull the lever to secure the trigger, aim, and then pull the trigger. It’s similar to shooting a gun.”
“Is it possible to use multiple protests and have a live broadcast? Is that right?”
“Yes. However, the distance is shorter than that of a gun. It is better to use a gun at a critical moment.”
I cocked the crossbow and aimed at the target. I held my breath for a moment and slowly pulled the trigger. The target fell back with a bang.
Rather than hitting the target, it was more like... missing the leg and breaking it completely.
Cesare, who had been frozen for a moment, spoke with a complicated expression.
“If you practice, you will probably get better.”
“...”
“…m...Just in case, should we practice with the gun too?”
I nodded, still frozen.
Cesare, who was about to say something more, looked behind me and bowed.
It was obvious without looking back. The person this loyal strategist would bow to would either be the Emperor or his lord.
I turned to the direction Cesare was looking. Sure enough, it was him. My wolf.
“Laskan.”
“It was classy.”
At my call, he slowly approached me and took my hand. His firm lips briefly touched the back of my hand and then pulled away.
These days, I've been so busy that there have been quite a few days where I haven't been able to see you, let alone exchange letters.
I was so happy, then sad, then disappointed, then happy, and then my heart was in chaos all by itself. I smiled elegantly, pretending like nothing had happened.
“Welcome.”
“Is hunting worth it?”
“Not at all. I’m going to die if this keeps up.”
“Even if you say that, I know you’re doing well.”
“Am I doing well?”
“Yes. Very much. There’s not much left. Just hold on a little longer.”
When he said that, I felt like everything that had been difficult up until now was really getting better.
It was strange. Until this morning, I couldn't go a single moment without coffee. When I smiled, he smiled back.
With that laughter, the subtle atmosphere that had been floating between us all disappeared.
His attitude changed so quickly that I was completely bewildered. I asked back bluntly.
“Why are you laughing?”
“I think I’ll really fall in love with you, Your Highness.”
I looked completely disgusted. I wondered if I would ever live to fully understand that man's mind.
Dmitry said, wiping away tears that were coming from laughing so hard.
“Seeing you so relaxed, I guess you haven’t heard it yet.”
“What?”
“The first competition date has been set. It’s next week, on the 43rd of spring.”
He added with an elegant smile.
“Actually, I was here to tell you this from the beginning.”
“...”
...Then that’s it. I was a fool again to have thought for even a moment that he was being sincere. It was all just a device to tease me from the beginning.
The reason he scared me with those creepy curses and stuff was probably to see how surprised I was. I wonder if he'd actually be caught for fraud.
While I was absentmindedly staring, he made a suggestion with his usual wonderful smile.
“You might be bored going alone. Should I escort you to the palace?”
“No need.”
“Well, if that’s what you want.”
He shrugged and bowed. I just laughed until he turned his back on me and walked halfway down the hall.
I hated the way he seemed so carefree after spouting off a bunch of words that I couldn't even understand. I ended up calling him back.
“Dmitry.”
“..."
“Lionel Batistan.”
Only then did he turn his head. From a distance, he was a truly magnificent face. If someone were to ask what decadent beauty was, everyone would gladly raise their hand and point to this man.
I looked into his eyes without avoiding them.
“What you said earlier, you said it on purpose to scare me, right? You mean, the spooky legends, the curses, and all that stuff.”
"Well."
The voice that answered was sly. His eyes narrowed once more as if he was smiling. Those bright blue, absinthe-colored eyes.
“Not yet.”
***
The ceremony marking the start of the competition was modest. In front of thirteen examiners and ministers, they received a parchment covered with gold and swore an oath to participate faithfully in the competition.
Originally it was supposed to be a very humble ceremony, but the unprecedented public interest resulted in only a handful of newspapers being permitted to enter.
Thanks to that, it was a little bigger for the sake of appearances. Apart from being on the front page of every newspaper, it was the least embarrassing thing I experienced in the palace.
“Is that parchment the subject of this contest?”
Thalia asked, setting down her teacup in front of me.
“Right. Do you want to read it?”
“Your Highness, you don’t need to see it first?”
As she spoke, she was already carefully unrolling the parchment. I had heard the contents in advance.
Anyway, the Emperor had already informed us of the topic the day before. Young Lady Veronica probably heard it too. Among the examiners was the Duke of Kairak.
“Bring me the most precious thing from Antaria, Zarantello?”
“Oh my, then...”
“Yeah. It looks like they’re going to hold a hunting festival.”
Zarantello Antaria. That was the name of the famous hunting ground. It was no wonder because it was not the size of an ordinary back mountain, but the 'Emperor's Hunting Ground', consisting of three large islands connected by bridges.
Rumor has it that the plants and animals from ancient times are preserved intact. For hunters, it is a land where setting foot once is a lifelong dream.
“Oh my god. Can I go here too?”
Thalia said, covering her face with both hands.
It is said that only a very small number of people were allowed to enter before. This time, it seems that it is open to a large number of nobles and even invited royal families from other countries. The principle is that the competition for the successor is open from start to finish.
“Is the most precious thing in the hunting grounds the animal you bring back? I heard that in Zarantello, there are things like the legendary golden falcon and the white-antlered doe!”
It was only then that I realized the gravity of the situation.
“Wait a minute. So, I have to hunt myself?”
Oh my goodness. I didn't think of that! If the subject of the hunt is competition, then it's only natural that something has to be caught!
There were bound to be knights around anyway, but it was a bit unsettling.
First of all, I had never hunted before, secondly, I was somewhat afraid of blood, and thirdly, I was somewhat reluctant to kill. All I had ever caught in my life were bugs and small rats.
Irina said, stroking my hair.
“It’s probably because it’s the first one and it’s a topic related to power. Either physical or political. It has a dual meaning, but looking at this topic, it’s probably the former.”
“Is that already decided?”
“Because it is to test the three qualities of a successor. To put it bluntly, strength and intelligence are the common factors in the competition, and the last one is decided by the Emperor.”
“Oh. By the way, I heard that Princess Veronica is good at hunting.”
Thalia said as if a memory had suddenly occurred to her.
Of course. Unlike me, she was a real college graduate. She served as an officer for a year after that. She was much more skilled at shooting and handling a bow than I was.
It was obvious who would have suggested the topic of this exam. It would have to be the Duke of Kairak. Whatever it was, it would ultimately require the Emperor's approval...
“Well, it’ll work out somehow.”
I shrugged. If you can't shoot a bow or a gun, just set traps. I was good at one thing: waiting patiently.
The subject of the examination was decided by gathering opinions from the temple and the council to ensure fairness, but it was up to the thirteen nobles who had entered the Privy Council to decide the winner. Dmitry, who would succeed to the marquisate within this month, was also included.
It's a bit embarrassing, but even if I were to catch a rabbit, four people would raise their hand, including Irina's father, and five people including Lady Veronica...
In the end, the important fight was to produce a result that would captivate the moderates. That would be something that could be done by just opening up your mouth when you get there.
Thalia asked cautiously at my confident expression.
“...But Your Highness, you know how to ride a horse, right?”
Oh my god, I'm screwed.
***
The real horse riding lessons began the next day.
Did I mention that the class was so intense that I missed the Duke's residence before? I'll cancel. I missed it so much that I wanted to go back to that time.
Learning something new didn't mean reducing the amount of education I had been doing. What I had been doing until now remained the same, but horseback riding and hunting were newly added to the schedule.
That means, aside from the time I actually lay down to sleep, I didn't have a single moment to rest.
Moreover, horseback riding, which was my first time ever, caused muscle pain all over my body. To the point where I couldn't help but think, "If I close my eyes like this, I won't be able to open them again."
I endured all the work half out of habit, half out of my mind. At this rate, it was questionable whether I would survive until next week.
“I guess I’ll have to give up archery.”
Cesare, whom I met after a long time, was still merciless. As soon as I first picked up the bow, he said that in a cold voice.
"Then..."
“Let’s use a crossbow or a gun.”
It was a better choice. If I had pulled the bowstring here and used my arm muscles, I would have collapsed before the hunting festival.
It was my first time seeing a gun in person, as it was so precious, but I had seen a crossbow a few times before, although it was ten times more crude than this one.
I lightly ran my finger over the extremely delicately crafted surface of the crossbow.
“It’s not that heavy.”
It was heavy, but it was still quite comfortable compared to a steel rifle. It was also a bit more familiar than the loud gunshots and smoke-filled guns.
“You pull the lever to secure the trigger, aim, and then pull the trigger. It’s similar to shooting a gun.”
“Is it possible to use multiple protests and have a live broadcast? Is that right?”
“Yes. However, the distance is shorter than that of a gun. It is better to use a gun at a critical moment.”
I cocked the crossbow and aimed at the target. I held my breath for a moment and slowly pulled the trigger. The target fell back with a bang.
Rather than hitting the target, it was more like... missing the leg and breaking it completely.
Cesare, who had been frozen for a moment, spoke with a complicated expression.
“If you practice, you will probably get better.”
“...”
“…m...Just in case, should we practice with the gun too?”
I nodded, still frozen.
Cesare, who was about to say something more, looked behind me and bowed.
It was obvious without looking back. The person this loyal strategist would bow to would either be the Emperor or his lord.
I turned to the direction Cesare was looking. Sure enough, it was him. My wolf.
“Laskan.”
“It was classy.”
At my call, he slowly approached me and took my hand. His firm lips briefly touched the back of my hand and then pulled away.
These days, I've been so busy that there have been quite a few days where I haven't been able to see you, let alone exchange letters.
I was so happy, then sad, then disappointed, then happy, and then my heart was in chaos all by itself. I smiled elegantly, pretending like nothing had happened.
“Welcome.”
“Is hunting worth it?”
“Not at all. I’m going to die if this keeps up.”
“Even if you say that, I know you’re doing well.”
“Am I doing well?”
“Yes. Very much. There’s not much left. Just hold on a little longer.”
When he said that, I felt like everything that had been difficult up until now was really getting better.
It was strange. Until this morning, I couldn't go a single moment without coffee. When I smiled, he smiled back.
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