The hunting competition wasn’t just an event held to show off the ruler’s power. While ordinary hunting competitions planned by noble families might be one thing, the hunting competition held once a year by the imperial family was very special.
“The magical beasts released this time are 12 species, 70 in total. There are points according to grade, and it won’t end until all are exterminated. Those who are seriously injured can blow the whistle provided, and knights stationed in the forest will rush to that location with potions immediately, so there’s no need to worry much.”
Namely, the hunting targets weren’t animals but magical beasts. Magical beasts were in principle to be disposed of on the spot, but sometimes they were captured alive. Those usually became experimental subjects at the Mage Tower, and the magical beasts that survived even after their usefulness was exhausted were disposed of like this during hunting competitions.
‘It’s a rather disgusting practice.’
In the past, His Highness had evaluated it that way, but agreed it was necessary work. Because if magical beasts were released into the streets without any precautions, enormous casualties would occur, and thanks to the Mage Tower’s long research, they had protected each territory. In addition, disposing of magical beasts in a showy manner like this was also intended to demonstrate the empire’s military power. It was also to show an example to neighboring countries. Inviting nobles from vassal states was for that reason too.
‘To have to appear at such an important occasion. Since this hunting competition is after a very long time, there will be even more people paying attention.’
Just waiting, I had the illusion that piercing gazes were following me.
“A festival has been held to showcase the empire’s glory, so knights and mages must prove their worth. I hope you achieve great feats with the gods’ protection, and on behalf of His Majesty the Emperor, I announce the opening of the hunting competition.”
His Highness’s already clear voice spread far through magic. The crowds who had come to watch even outside the castle also heard this and cheered. Normally, I would have been making a resolution to bring back prey worthy of my position as His Highness’s guard knight without shame.
‘What comes next is the issue.’
But today’s task wasn’t that. When I stepped forward in sync with the guard knights’ signal, His Highness was waiting for me. The gazes that had been like a fantasy became reality and arrived.
“Who is that?”
“Don’t you know? It’s Aila. That Aila. They say the broken engagement between the Crown Prince and Lady Serina announced this morning is because of that omega knight.”
My unnecessarily developed hearing caught the words below the platform.
“If he’s made him decide on a broken engagement, he must really be amazing in bed. They sent the rut together, right?”
I knew I didn’t need to care about all the prattling, but I was worried there might be someone who would say vulgar things about His Highness too. Fortunately, within what I could hear, such words didn’t come out.
‘Right. Unless their guts have spilled out of their belly, they wouldn’t say such things in a place like this.’
I extended my hand to His Highness, who had bent his knee, trying to think of anything. His Highness, who was rarely in a position looking up at me, politely took my hand and kissed it. It was both the appearance of a knight being granted an escort and also the act of designating today’s hunting competition partner. I kissed the pendant the attendant had prepared and attached it to His Highness’s clothes.
After the grand cheering sounds, the others attending the hunt also each performed the ceremony of designating their partners and receiving tokens of support from those people.
“Well done.”
When we came down from the platform and entered the tent, encouragement came back saying I did well. The crooked pendant caught my eye particularly due to my clumsy handiwork.
“I think it would be better to fix it again.”
His Highness, who instantly realized where my gaze was directed, lightly shook his head.
“No. I like this.”
That couldn’t be. Because he had never once shown a disheveled appearance at such official events.
“You did it for me, didn’t you?”
My heart, which was already pounding, beat even more crazily. Ever since His Highness said he would treat me as Tiel, he had been generous with direct expressions, which was good yet very overwhelming. I even thought I might die not from my body stiffening and freezing, but from my heart bursting.
‘I’m such a fool for not being able to hide my feelings of affection even in this situation.’
While saying it was for His Highness’s sake, the one who couldn’t control their joy was me. Even though I knew it wasn’t a situation that warranted it.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince, Duke Sayus has come to pay his respects.”
Though it wasn’t welcome news for me, the tension momentarily eased. Thanks to my attention being divided elsewhere, the taut string of emotions loosened somewhat.
“We’ll see him when the hunt starts anyway.”
Unlike me feeling relieved, His Highness seemed displeased as if receiving an uninvited guest. Even though it was common for high-ranking nobles close to the imperial family to visit at occasions like this. As if to show his uncomfortable mood, he remained silent for a moment before granting permission for the visit as if he had no choice.
“I shall meet the empire’s successor, His Highness the Crown Prince.”
“I see. I heard the Duke has been busy with public and private affairs, yet your visits are frequent.”
“Yes. I came to visit because there is something I absolutely must say.”
“You said that last time too, but when it came down to it, it was a trivial matter.”
The two poured out sharp words without hiding that their relationship had soured. It wasn’t like they were having a conversation but wielding swords.
“This time is different.”
“It better be.”
Darian hyung-nim looked at me with a sidelong glance, though just for a moment. When I first faced him in Aila’s body, his eyes looking at me contained contempt, but now after meeting several times, it was different. He looked increasingly confused.
‘Father wouldn’t have told him.’
Father was the type to speak cautiously, and to exactly that extent, he was the type to absolutely keep what he said. Of course, if it were public matters, he could lie as much as needed for the family’s benefit, but since the matter about me had now left the family’s hands, I didn’t think that was it.
‘When talking with me, Father seemed sincere. And if he had told the truth, hyung-nim wouldn’t be confused like that.’
After forcibly finding evidence that he didn’t know my identity, my anxiety finally subsided.
“I heard you buried Tienas’s body in the ground.”
However, the next topic told me it was still too early to relax. I was glad to confirm that properly handling my corpse wasn’t a lie, but I didn’t understand why hyung-nim would bring up this topic at the hunting competition.
“Yes.”
Unlike me, His Highness was simply indifferent, as if it was a topic within the range he had already expected. Hyung-nim seemed to be gathering up rarely boiling emotions, as there was strength in his mouth.
“It was very heartbreaking to put the child in a coffin I wove with my own hands.”
Words that didn’t consider hyung-nim’s feelings at all followed. While I knew those words were pure sincerity, there was also a possibility that to the agitated hyung-nim, it would just sound like sarcasm.
“I thought you were greatly grieved by Tienas’s death. But now that I see, it doesn’t seem to be the case.”
This time hyung-nim looked at me openly.
“Did the corpse become unnecessary because you found a replacement? Then it would have been fine to hand it over to our family. It’s also something we’ve been continuously requesting.”
Hyung-nim seemed to be truly angry. The way he was forcibly suppressing something was so vivid that even I was becoming anxious. I was the family’s disgrace, and since becoming His Highness’s guard knight, I had also abandoned the position of sacrifice for the family, so I couldn’t accept him being so shaken now.
‘I could at least accept Father’s words.’
I had never received an explanation about hyung-nim’s feelings, and it was planned to remain distant in the future. So I had given up on understanding, but when he came out like this, even that was difficult.
“What makes you think I would trust you and give you the child’s corpse?”
“We were family.”
At the word family, a hollow laugh burst out from beside me. It wasn’t just me who was surprised that he included me in such an intimate relationship.
“If we were close enough to be called family, I wouldn’t distrust you like this. It’s not because you think the divine power will be inherited to the next generation only if you take even the corpse, is it?”
Though it was an elegant tone with all emotions excised, the sharpness was revealed as is. Just listening to the content, it was quite convincing. If it was as His Highness expected, I could immediately understand why hyung-nim was trying to find my corpse even while showing emotions like that.
‘He might have had similar thoughts at the funeral too.’
Hard to believe, but at the time, the Sayus Family had grieved my death in their own way. If that originated from anxiety about the inheritance of divine power, I could understand it enough with my head. But unlike my head, my emotions said it couldn’t be just that. Convincing both head and heart was a very difficult thing.
“It’s not that!”
And as if giving an answer, hyung-nim loudly denied it.
