We dismounted and followed the deer's tracks. Julian seemed as skilled at hunting as I was. His pace was very slow, his feet and legs moving alternately like flowing water, making no sound.
When did he learn hunting skills? I quite enjoyed this moment of quiet walking with him. Then, in the distance, I saw a deer drinking water. It was a large animal, but its antlers were also large and beautiful. I quickly drew my bow and drew the string.
That was the moment.
Dagdak, dagdak!
The sound of galloping horses was loud. Julian and I were following along quietly, so it couldn't have been this way. It had to have come from somewhere else.
I looked in that direction, then turned my head sharply to see the deer. The deer, which had been bending down to drink water, straightened its head and began to sprint.
Julian sensed something and tried to grab me, but I slid out of his grasp like a loach. He might have outsmarted me in strength, but I couldn't match his agility.
I quickly mounted the horse. The horse, without a trace of surprise, took off immediately after I pulled the reins. I chased the deer, gradually closing the distance.
The startled deer seemed to be wandering around, not knowing which direction to run.
I braced myself on the galloping horse, pulling back the bowstring. Holding my breath, I released the bowstring as the swiftly passing trees felt incredibly slow.
Wheeeeeeek―.
With a sound like the wind ripping through the air, the deer fell flat on its face. An arrow was lodged squarely in its long, voluptuous neck.
I slowed my galloping horse and jumped down. It was a move devoid of any sense of caution, but I was still incredibly excited to have caught my first prey.
“Julian! Come here!”
I shouted in excitement. But Julian, who had dismounted after me, shouted in a very angry voice.
“Layla!”
My shoulders jumped up in surprise, like someone hiccupping. Julian was approaching me, step by step, quickly.
“You promised not to do anything dangerous!”
Julian was a very kind husband to me, so seeing him like this was incredibly rare. I made a stupid "Uh, uh," and stepped back.
I had no intention of running away, but I thought I would be scolded for a long time if I got caught like this.
“You, Julian! Wait a minute. I was wrong...”
As I was backing away and making excuses, a look of bewilderment flashed across Julian's eyes, and something heavy tripped my foot. Julian reached out, but I fell backward.
Thud!
I squinted my eyes and looked down at my feet. I felt like I'd tripped on a deer antler. If I'd been wearing a dress, I'd have sprained my ankle, but I was now in comfortable hunting clothes. My butt was a little sore, but that was it.
"Uh..."
I blinked and stared at the sky. Julian's face caught my eye, like a painting.
The wind blew, ruffling Julian's jet-black hair. Beneath it, his smooth forehead was clearly visible.
it's a shame.
I thought so.
It would have been fun if I had fallen with Julian.
If Julian had heard this, he might have scolded his wife for saying such foolish things. But at that moment, I genuinely felt that way.
Even Julian, who would normally have come running, just watched quietly, wondering what was going on.
“What are you thinking?”
Julian shook his head. He seemed to be saying he didn't know.
“...You.”
“Would you like to lie down next to this deer?”
“Why?”
Why...? ...It seems romantic. As soon as I finished thinking about it, my face flushed bright red. My ears were ringing.
“Do you want to lie down?”
Julian didn't answer. He just stared at me blankly.
Say something. The moment you try to recruit me like that, I feel a small pulsation at the back of my head. It was so subtle that Julian, still standing, didn't seem to notice it. I jerked upright. Only then did Julian extend his hand and help me to my feet.
“Why is that?”
I stared at Julian. Everyone was afraid, but his eyes were gentle when he looked at me. I could sense his concern that I might have fallen and hurt myself.
This kind person... will not agree to my plan.
I smiled broadly and climbed onto the horse. Our eyes met diagonally. Contrary to my usual routine, I looked down at him from above, and he looked up at me.
“Julian, now make a bet with me.”
“What bet are you talking about?”
“I told you before, didn’t I? I’ll bet on who can hunt more and give you a ride!”
I quickly shouted before Julian could object.
“If you chase me, you will definitely lose!”
I kicked the horse's rump hard, and a strong wind struck me from the front once again. Perhaps because I'd left Julian behind, it didn't feel as refreshing as before.
After running for a while, we were already quite far from where we had been before. I pulled on the reins and slowed down. I turned my head to look behind me, but Julian was nowhere to be seen. Fortunately, he didn't seem to be chasing me.
I rode quietly in the direction of the tremors. As I neared the epicenter, I began to feel a tremor so strong it made my horse tremble.
I tied my horse to a tree and silenced any signs of movement. As I moved forward, hiding in the grass, a foul odor began to emanate.
It was a deep, almost filthy smell. It was an unforgettable smell I'd occasionally encountered in the changing rooms. I couldn't help but remember it because of the terrifying scenes I'd witnessed the first time I smelled it.
This smell was the smell of a demon.
I scanned my surroundings with sharp eyes, but a smile crept onto my lips. Who knew tripping on a deer's antlers would prove so helpful?
If I hadn't felt the slightest vibration as I fell to the floor, it would have taken quite a while to find this place. Then I might have missed the timing.
There were about six demons beyond the bushes. They were hissing, dripping green saliva.
But for some reason, they simply stood still or moved very slowly. Each time the demons moved, a loud thud echoed. Not long after I began watching them, I heard the sound of horse hooves.
“Ugh, that smell. It’s so disgusting.”
Appearing with a grumbling voice were none other than Prince Cain and three knights. Prince Cain ran his hand through his silver hair and tightly pinched his nose with the other.
The moment I spotted Prince Cain, a brighter smile formed on my lips. Up until now, it was exactly as written in the letter Kaiser had sent.
“Damn, let’s just hurry up and get this over with. It smells so bad.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Prince Cain frowned and drew his sword. He gritted his teeth and began to cut his left arm in a long, vertical motion. One of the knights accompanying him, flustered, stopped him.
“Your Highness, Prince.”
"Shut up."
“It is different from what Her Highness Princess Abigail instructed.”
“I told you to shut up!”
Prince Cain kicked the knight in the stomach. The knight hesitated for a moment and backed away. Then, perhaps thinking Prince Cain would be even angrier if he didn't fall, he suddenly stumbled backward.
Prince Cain spat on the knight's body. He then finished cutting his own arm. A cold sweat formed between his eyebrows, as if the pain had washed over him.
"Now, kill the demonic cubs. Don't forget to pour their bodily fluids on them."
"Yes!"
That was when.
Whoosh―
An arrow struck the center of one of the knights' foreheads. Prince Cain and the other two knights looked at the arrow in surprise.
“That’s a black arrow.”
“Black? Isn’t that Duchzan’s arrow?”
Prince Cain gritted his teeth and stared in the direction the arrow had come from. It was right where I was. Before they could fully recognize me, I fired another arrow. This time, it was aimed at the head of one of the two surviving knights.
"Ugh."
With a short, final cry, the knight fell limply. Now, only Prince Cain and the foolish knight who had pretended to fall to Prince Cain's kick remained.
I fired another shot, but the knight, lying down, hurriedly blocked the arrow with his sword. I drew my next bowstring and revealed myself.
Prince Cain, seeing me, shouted in a voice full of anger.
“Layla Duchzan!”
“It’s been a while, Your Highness.”
I aimed my dagger at Prince Cain and smiled. Prince Cain's pale face flushed, as if he didn't like my smile.
“Why did this damn bitch show up here!”
“How could I remain silent while Your Highness, the Prince, undertakes such a grave matter?”
The letter that Kaiser sent to me at the time read as follows:
"...Princess Abigail's plan was to bring a beast tamed with a rare magic stone to the imperial hunting grounds, have Prince Cain kill it, and then inform the Emperor that he had been attacked by a mysterious beast and ask him to investigate. And then..."
Demons have a natural tendency to chase after magical energy. However, if exposed to too many rare magical stones, they can become addicted. Initially, their movements become sluggish, and as the condition worsens, they become completely unconscious.
When this fact was first revealed, people rejoiced, believing that they would finally be free from the clutches of the devil.
However, it took too many rare magic stones to make it that way, and after that, it remained only a theory.
And this method had a fatal flaw.
'If the demon is exposed to the rare magic stone again, it becomes even more vicious.'
When I put down my bow, Prince Cain seemed momentarily relieved. But the moment I pulled the glowing stone from my pocket, his face was filled with shock.
"No!"
When did he learn hunting skills? I quite enjoyed this moment of quiet walking with him. Then, in the distance, I saw a deer drinking water. It was a large animal, but its antlers were also large and beautiful. I quickly drew my bow and drew the string.
That was the moment.
Dagdak, dagdak!
The sound of galloping horses was loud. Julian and I were following along quietly, so it couldn't have been this way. It had to have come from somewhere else.
I looked in that direction, then turned my head sharply to see the deer. The deer, which had been bending down to drink water, straightened its head and began to sprint.
Julian sensed something and tried to grab me, but I slid out of his grasp like a loach. He might have outsmarted me in strength, but I couldn't match his agility.
I quickly mounted the horse. The horse, without a trace of surprise, took off immediately after I pulled the reins. I chased the deer, gradually closing the distance.
The startled deer seemed to be wandering around, not knowing which direction to run.
I braced myself on the galloping horse, pulling back the bowstring. Holding my breath, I released the bowstring as the swiftly passing trees felt incredibly slow.
Wheeeeeeek―.
With a sound like the wind ripping through the air, the deer fell flat on its face. An arrow was lodged squarely in its long, voluptuous neck.
I slowed my galloping horse and jumped down. It was a move devoid of any sense of caution, but I was still incredibly excited to have caught my first prey.
“Julian! Come here!”
I shouted in excitement. But Julian, who had dismounted after me, shouted in a very angry voice.
“Layla!”
My shoulders jumped up in surprise, like someone hiccupping. Julian was approaching me, step by step, quickly.
“You promised not to do anything dangerous!”
Julian was a very kind husband to me, so seeing him like this was incredibly rare. I made a stupid "Uh, uh," and stepped back.
I had no intention of running away, but I thought I would be scolded for a long time if I got caught like this.
“You, Julian! Wait a minute. I was wrong...”
As I was backing away and making excuses, a look of bewilderment flashed across Julian's eyes, and something heavy tripped my foot. Julian reached out, but I fell backward.
Thud!
I squinted my eyes and looked down at my feet. I felt like I'd tripped on a deer antler. If I'd been wearing a dress, I'd have sprained my ankle, but I was now in comfortable hunting clothes. My butt was a little sore, but that was it.
"Uh..."
I blinked and stared at the sky. Julian's face caught my eye, like a painting.
The wind blew, ruffling Julian's jet-black hair. Beneath it, his smooth forehead was clearly visible.
it's a shame.
I thought so.
It would have been fun if I had fallen with Julian.
If Julian had heard this, he might have scolded his wife for saying such foolish things. But at that moment, I genuinely felt that way.
Even Julian, who would normally have come running, just watched quietly, wondering what was going on.
“What are you thinking?”
Julian shook his head. He seemed to be saying he didn't know.
“...You.”
“Would you like to lie down next to this deer?”
“Why?”
Why...? ...It seems romantic. As soon as I finished thinking about it, my face flushed bright red. My ears were ringing.
“Do you want to lie down?”
Julian didn't answer. He just stared at me blankly.
Say something. The moment you try to recruit me like that, I feel a small pulsation at the back of my head. It was so subtle that Julian, still standing, didn't seem to notice it. I jerked upright. Only then did Julian extend his hand and help me to my feet.
“Why is that?”
I stared at Julian. Everyone was afraid, but his eyes were gentle when he looked at me. I could sense his concern that I might have fallen and hurt myself.
This kind person... will not agree to my plan.
I smiled broadly and climbed onto the horse. Our eyes met diagonally. Contrary to my usual routine, I looked down at him from above, and he looked up at me.
“Julian, now make a bet with me.”
“What bet are you talking about?”
“I told you before, didn’t I? I’ll bet on who can hunt more and give you a ride!”
I quickly shouted before Julian could object.
“If you chase me, you will definitely lose!”
I kicked the horse's rump hard, and a strong wind struck me from the front once again. Perhaps because I'd left Julian behind, it didn't feel as refreshing as before.
After running for a while, we were already quite far from where we had been before. I pulled on the reins and slowed down. I turned my head to look behind me, but Julian was nowhere to be seen. Fortunately, he didn't seem to be chasing me.
I rode quietly in the direction of the tremors. As I neared the epicenter, I began to feel a tremor so strong it made my horse tremble.
I tied my horse to a tree and silenced any signs of movement. As I moved forward, hiding in the grass, a foul odor began to emanate.
It was a deep, almost filthy smell. It was an unforgettable smell I'd occasionally encountered in the changing rooms. I couldn't help but remember it because of the terrifying scenes I'd witnessed the first time I smelled it.
This smell was the smell of a demon.
I scanned my surroundings with sharp eyes, but a smile crept onto my lips. Who knew tripping on a deer's antlers would prove so helpful?
If I hadn't felt the slightest vibration as I fell to the floor, it would have taken quite a while to find this place. Then I might have missed the timing.
There were about six demons beyond the bushes. They were hissing, dripping green saliva.
But for some reason, they simply stood still or moved very slowly. Each time the demons moved, a loud thud echoed. Not long after I began watching them, I heard the sound of horse hooves.
“Ugh, that smell. It’s so disgusting.”
Appearing with a grumbling voice were none other than Prince Cain and three knights. Prince Cain ran his hand through his silver hair and tightly pinched his nose with the other.
The moment I spotted Prince Cain, a brighter smile formed on my lips. Up until now, it was exactly as written in the letter Kaiser had sent.
“Damn, let’s just hurry up and get this over with. It smells so bad.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Prince Cain frowned and drew his sword. He gritted his teeth and began to cut his left arm in a long, vertical motion. One of the knights accompanying him, flustered, stopped him.
“Your Highness, Prince.”
"Shut up."
“It is different from what Her Highness Princess Abigail instructed.”
“I told you to shut up!”
Prince Cain kicked the knight in the stomach. The knight hesitated for a moment and backed away. Then, perhaps thinking Prince Cain would be even angrier if he didn't fall, he suddenly stumbled backward.
Prince Cain spat on the knight's body. He then finished cutting his own arm. A cold sweat formed between his eyebrows, as if the pain had washed over him.
"Now, kill the demonic cubs. Don't forget to pour their bodily fluids on them."
"Yes!"
That was when.
Whoosh―
An arrow struck the center of one of the knights' foreheads. Prince Cain and the other two knights looked at the arrow in surprise.
“That’s a black arrow.”
“Black? Isn’t that Duchzan’s arrow?”
Prince Cain gritted his teeth and stared in the direction the arrow had come from. It was right where I was. Before they could fully recognize me, I fired another arrow. This time, it was aimed at the head of one of the two surviving knights.
"Ugh."
With a short, final cry, the knight fell limply. Now, only Prince Cain and the foolish knight who had pretended to fall to Prince Cain's kick remained.
I fired another shot, but the knight, lying down, hurriedly blocked the arrow with his sword. I drew my next bowstring and revealed myself.
Prince Cain, seeing me, shouted in a voice full of anger.
“Layla Duchzan!”
“It’s been a while, Your Highness.”
I aimed my dagger at Prince Cain and smiled. Prince Cain's pale face flushed, as if he didn't like my smile.
“Why did this damn bitch show up here!”
“How could I remain silent while Your Highness, the Prince, undertakes such a grave matter?”
The letter that Kaiser sent to me at the time read as follows:
"...Princess Abigail's plan was to bring a beast tamed with a rare magic stone to the imperial hunting grounds, have Prince Cain kill it, and then inform the Emperor that he had been attacked by a mysterious beast and ask him to investigate. And then..."
Demons have a natural tendency to chase after magical energy. However, if exposed to too many rare magical stones, they can become addicted. Initially, their movements become sluggish, and as the condition worsens, they become completely unconscious.
When this fact was first revealed, people rejoiced, believing that they would finally be free from the clutches of the devil.
However, it took too many rare magic stones to make it that way, and after that, it remained only a theory.
And this method had a fatal flaw.
'If the demon is exposed to the rare magic stone again, it becomes even more vicious.'
When I put down my bow, Prince Cain seemed momentarily relieved. But the moment I pulled the glowing stone from my pocket, his face was filled with shock.
"No!"
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