“Not at all. I don’t have such ability, do I? I merely asked out of curiosity about Your Highness’s hunting, so I hope you won’t misunderstand.”
Perhaps I had become accustomed to making excuses, as lies flowed smoothly even amidst the confusion. In fact, His Highness’s hunting was full of things to learn and incomparably beautiful, so it wouldn’t be strange to want to watch. The problem was just that when I was Tienas, I had already seen that sight well over five times.
‘Still, Aila wouldn’t have seen it.’
He might have participated once or so as a knight, but there was no way he could have stood beside His Highness. The deeper into the forest one went, the higher-grade magical beasts were positioned, and His Highness always went to the center while Aila didn’t have the skills for that.
“You seemed to want it so desperately that I just joked around.”
It was a light response that didn’t match the bombshell declaration. I eventually squeezed my eyes shut, thinking His Highness wouldn’t grant permission. At this point, I even thought it might be better to secretly tell Sir Ken to be careful as there were invisible magical beasts, even if it caused misunderstanding.
“If you agree to one condition, I’ll allow you to go hunting together.”
“Really?”
“I don’t go back on my word.”
His Highness, who smiled with narrowed eyes, seemed somewhat boyish. Even though I had never had such an impression when I met him back when he could barely be called a boy.
“Get on my horse.”
“Pardon? Your Highness’s horse is…”
I barely stopped my words. His Highness had two beloved horses, and among them, the one he rode when hunting magical beasts was a creature named ‘Rel’. Unlike its soft name, it was absolutely merciless to anyone who wasn’t His Highness. When in a bad mood, it would even attack the stablekeeper. It was a troublesome horse that was the finest steed among steeds only to its master.
‘When I was Tienas, I had a strong impression it let me off easy.’
Though it didn’t particularly follow me, it wasn’t hostile either, which I found curious.
‘Since it’s the first time meeting in Aila’s body, it wouldn’t be strange to be thrown off immediately.’
And I couldn’t complete the question because I wasn’t sure whether it was right for Aila to know about Rel’s temperament.
“It seems you’ve heard rumors about my horse’s temperament.”
It was fortunate that words came out as if reading my mind. In any case, since I was an imperial palace knight, hearing rumors about His Highness’s fine steed probably wasn’t strange.
“Yes, that’s right. I’m worried it might dislike me riding it.”
“If you ride with me, it won’t harm you.”
“Together, you say?”
Even though clear permission had been given, my tongue stiffened.
‘You want me to sit in front while hunting? Even though I know how to ride?’
Unless one was a very young child who had never ridden a horse or someone who was too weak to learn horseback riding, riding a horse together with someone was something only lovers did. And not when hunting, but when going out for a stroll. The only time I had ridden a horse with someone was when carrying the wounded.
‘Even when first learning to ride, I never rode together like that.’
Having to show such an appearance to other people was also burdensome. When an immediate answer didn’t come, His Highness gently asked for my opinion once more.
“What will you do?”
In the end, it was either mounting the horse together or standing by and watching this person get hurt—one of the two. On the surface it seemed like two choices, but ultimately there was only one choice possible.
“I… I’ll mount together with you.”
If I rode in front of His Highness, I could react faster, and even in the worst situation, I could at least be a shield.
‘Still, dying or getting seriously hurt is not an option. I’ll try to time it as well as possible.’
Having a task made me feel at ease. It was a bit funny that I only realized after dying that I was the type who felt more comfortable with even a small goal.
“Still, it will be difficult to ride in those clothes. Let’s remove some of the accessories.”
Those who had been listening to the conversation from the side approached me as if they had been waiting. Careful hands first removed the precious accessories that hindered movement. Just that alone made my body feel lighter, as if it would have sunk if placed in water.
“May we also simplify the attire?”
That was what I had been hoping for, so I was about to say to do so. His Highness, who gently pushed away the attendant’s hand, placed his hand on the thin cloak.
“I’ll undress you.”
It was a situation similar to when choosing these clothes. This time it was faster and more concise, but there was no way to stop my body from flinching at the warmth of his fingertips.
‘Why don’t I get used to it?’
Still, perhaps thanks to holding my breath this time, I didn’t react to the pheromones in an unsightly manner.
“It’s easier to move than before, right?”
“Yes. Thank you.”
I hurriedly bowed my head, both to hide my reddened face. If it were up to me, I didn’t want to lift my face like this.
Buuuuuu—
“The hunt is beginning. All participants, please stand in front of your tents.”
The horn sound signaling to prepare for battle rang out. While I was glad to escape the narrow tent, despair washed over me again when I recalled the reality that I had to ride the same horse as His Highness in front of people.
“You won’t have to wield it even for a moment, but you’ll need a sword too.”
When His Highness extended his right hand into the air, a perceptive knight immediately presented a spare sword that had been in the tent. I naturally thought he would hand over that sword, but His Highness drew out the sword he originally carried and put the spare sword in its place.
“Hold my sword. It won’t happen, but if it’s dangerous, wield it.”
“I cannot dare accept Your Highness’s sword.”
“I’m not bestowing it, I’m lending it. I need to prepare separately a sword to give you.”
Anyone who knew what a great honor it was for a lord to bestow a sword would naturally be shocked. His Highness’s guard knights also didn’t show it outwardly, but their emotions must have been boiling inside.
‘I would have been the same.’
Receiving a sword when first appointed as a guard knight was already a lifelong pride, yet to bestow a custom-made one. That was simultaneously saying both ‘the one I trust most’ and ‘the most excellent one’. Even Sir Ken took 10 years to receive a bestowed sword, and excluding him, the only other time was to place on the graves of those who died after achieving distinguished service in war. It was a token too excessive to give to a favorite concubine, and something that wouldn’t even be given to a future empress.
“My hand is getting embarrassed. You should receive it quickly.”
If bestowing a new sword was already such a thing, being permitted to use the sword His Highness wielded, even if for a brief moment, was something that couldn’t even be expressed as an honor.
“I shall do so.”
Even though it was burdensome, having already made a shameless request, I couldn’t take up more time. Just then, the final horn sound rang out, leaving no other option. Just before exiting the tent and mounting the horse, Sir Ken hurriedly spoke to me.
“Are you really sure about this?”
It was no longer the tone of addressing a subordinate. Since I also had absolutely no intention of standing out this much, an immediate answer didn’t come.
“If you’re not accustomed to hunting, you could be a bur—there’s a possibility of getting hurt.”
It was clear he had barely swallowed the words ‘could be a burden’, but I pretended not to notice.
“Hold my hand and come up.”
Though the conversation between Sir Ken and me must have been audible, His Highness paid no mind and extended his hand to me. Rel looked at me as if gauging me, then soon turned its head away sharply. It was an air of not being particularly pleased but willing to follow His Highness’s orders.
“I can mount by mys—”
I was about to refuse, thinking it would really look like being escorted, when His Highness made a ‘tsk’ sound like when scolding a young child or a beast.
“Then Rel might misunderstand. Hold my hand and mount.”
“Understood.”
The very next moment after grasping the large hand, I was instantly mounted atop Rel without even using particular effort. My field of vision suddenly rose. Perhaps because it was the first time riding a horse together with someone, the posture was awkward. I tried to shift my body slightly to settle into position when suddenly a hand slipped between my thighs.
“Spread your legs more.”
When I reflexively spread my legs, His Highness’s lips touched my nape precariously.
“Yes. Sit like that.”
“Y-yes.”
Having answered foolishly, I turned my gaze elsewhere to forget that His Highness was sitting right behind me. The Empress, positioned in the frontmost tent, caught my eye. As I looked at her rather haggard appearance, His Highness gazed at the same place. The attendant beside him opened his mouth as if reporting.
“She watched until the opening ceremony.”
“I already know. She was interrogated about what happened on the day of the solar eclipse while being restricted from food until three days ago—quite impressive.”
My mind raced busily, wondering if the magical beast not announced today might be related to the Empress.
“You don’t need to worry about today. The foxes are busy paying attention to other things right now.”
The affectionate voice cut off the thread of my thoughts.
‘Then who on earth would release an unannounced magical beast…?’
The unsolved curiosity was left behind in the tent as the hunting competition began.
