Chapter 57
“Bwoooo!”
Right after the horn announcing the start of the hunting competition rang out, everything became chaotic.
The participants hurried off in different directions to claim the best hunting spots. The people who had gathered to cheer them on were busy handing over handkerchiefs, medicine, and words of encouragement.
Because of that, no one noticed if someone who was supposed to stay quietly slipped away.
And so Marquis Liam was able to leave the lakeside unnoticed and make his way to a hidden cave along the path that led up toward a high mountain peak.
“Marquis.”
“Shh! Don’t call me that.”
With an anxious look, worried someone might have followed him, Marquis Liam glanced behind him before speaking to the subordinate waiting inside the cave.
“What about them?”
“We’re luring them in as planned. But since we’re erasing the traces of the beaters, it will take some time to drive the wolf pack this far.”
“How long?”
“Two to three hours.”
“Two to three hours…”
That wasn’t bad. The hunting competition would end at sunset.
‘As long as the giant wolf pack is lured toward the lakeside, Her Majesty the Empress said she would handle the rest…’
With this, his part was done. His debt would be cleared. He would no longer owe the Empress anything.
No—considering the chaos that would soon break out here, and the responsibility he would bear as the host of the event, it was almost as if the Empress owed him instead.
‘Damn it. How did I end up letting the Empress catch me for embezzlement?’
—Boom!
“Waaahhh!”
“Ahh! That startled me!”
A loud explosion sounded somewhere, followed by cheers. It seemed someone had already succeeded in their first hunt.
Startled as if he had a guilty conscience, Marquis Liam jumped in shock. Pale-faced, clutching his uneasy stomach, he gave an order.
“You… go back now. Don’t forget to keep watch carefully so nothing is discovered.”
“Yes, Master.”
“I’ll return as well. If something goes wrong…”
He would have to be the first to get hurt. Even if he lost an arm or a leg, he needed at least that much injury to avoid suspicion.
* * *
Unaware that someone was plotting against him with deep malice, Lionel looked toward the direction of the explosion.
Thinking he was curious, his attendant spoke carefully.
“It seems someone has succeeded in their first hunt.”
“Are those fireworks set off every time someone succeeds?”
“Yes. That way people can come and move the prey. I have some as well.”
The attendant opened the pouch at his waist and showed the large fireworks inside. Their size explained how loud the earlier explosion had been.
Lionel looked at them briefly, then ordered,
“Throw them all away.”
“Pardon? Th-throw them away? Then even if Your Highness succeeds in hunting, we won’t be able to signal it.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
The attendant screamed inwardly.
‘It matters to me!’
Once they reached a certain location and received the signal that the giant wolf pack had been driven nearby, he was supposed to set off a firework to reveal Lionel’s exact location.
A special firework mixed with a scent that would excite the giant wolves and drive them this way.
“If you don’t set off fireworks, someone might claim Your Highness’s prey as their own. And others may not believe you hunted it yourself.”
“Does that matter?”
“Many people are looking forward to Your Highness’s performance! His Majesty the Emperor must also have high expectations. If you don’t achieve good results—”
“Some will be disappointed. Some will mock me. Some will be pleased.”
In a calm voice, Lionel slipped his hand inside his hunting outfit and carefully took something out.
“But someone will say I did well for not taking a pitiful life.”
“Chirp!”
A bluebird flew energetically from his palm.
Startled to realize the bird had been inside Lionel’s clothes, the attendant couldn’t stop him.
Lionel had no intention of placing an arrow on his bowstring. He casually swung the bow in his hand and began walking as if he were out for a stroll.
“If you fly too high, you might get hit by an arrow. It’s dangerous. Sit on my shoulder.”
“Chirp, chirp!”
As if understanding him, the bluebird immediately landed on his shoulder.
Lionel then fed it dried fruit—something no one understood why he had brought to a hunting competition.
“I’m sorry for always keeping you confined. I’ll find a chance later to let you fly freely.”
“Chirp!”
Like a child enjoying a picnic, the bluebird chirped sweetly. Smiling faintly, Lionel gently stroked its small head with his finger.
Watching him, the attendant suddenly realized something.
‘Don’t tell me he ordered the fireworks thrown away because…!’
If a loud explosion went off nearby, such a tiny bird would surely be frightened.
No—if they were unlucky, it might even die.
As if confirming his suspicion, Lionel glanced back and asked quietly,
“The fireworks. You’re not throwing them away?”
“I-I will. Of course I will.”
Even if his true master was the Empress, he couldn’t boldly defy the Second Prince.
‘But I can’t disobey Her Majesty either…’
After some thought, he pretended to throw them all away while secretly hiding one in his pocket.
He didn’t know if one firework would be enough to lure the wolf pack in time. But at least he needed proof that he had carried out the Empress’s order.
‘I can’t live like this…’
No matter how this ended, he would probably submit his resignation to the Imperial Palace.
Clutching his aching stomach, the attendant hurried after Lionel, who strolled leisurely through the forest.
* * *
Strange. Why do my ears feel itchy?
‘Is someone talking about me?’
The hunting competition must have started by now.
Even though it was in a different direction and couldn’t be seen from here, I kept glancing out the window. Eunice, who was pouring fresh tea into my cup, looked puzzled.
“What’s wrong, my lady?”
“The hunting competition. It’s probably started by now, right?”
After checking the time, Eunice nodded.
“Yes. Unless there was a delay, it should have begun.”
“Hmm… I hope Rio brought the bow I gave him.”
“His Highness the Second Prince does not lie. If he said he would use it well, he surely brought it.”
“I think so too.”
I delivered the bow secretly because if I handed it to him directly, the First Prince might snatch it away again. But through the bluebird, I made sure my intentions were clearly delivered.
“…So because of that, I don’t think I can tie a handkerchief on it. If someone asks why Rio’s bow doesn’t have one, say it burns up when tied. Got it?”
As always, Lionel had replied, “Yes, I understand.” But I still felt uneasy.
‘That man wouldn’t care even if someone mocked him.’
Should I have just tied the handkerchief to his bow anyway, even if the First Prince made a fuss?
As I sighed deeply, Eunice carefully asked,
“My lady, may I ask you something?”
“What is it?”
“Why did you give His Highness such a bow?”
“Why else? With the First Prince’s personality, he would definitely go to Rio and sneer, ‘Why doesn’t your bow have a handkerchief? Does your fiancée not love you?’”
“My lady, please watch your words…”
“What? No one’s listening.”
That First Prince should be grateful I even call him the First Prince.
Honestly, I—
“Anyway, when people see Rio’s bow without a handkerchief, they’ll gossip.”
It was obvious.
They’d say I’d changed my heart. That sixteen-year-old girls are fickle. And so on.
I just want to live quietly, but people won’t let me.
If I’m going to become a hot topic anyway, I might as well start the fire myself!
“But there was no need to sacrifice your reputation for the sake of His Highness’s honor.”
“Huh? What do you mean? How am I sacrificing my reputation?”
Eunice looked at me as if asking whether I truly didn’t understand.
“My lady, you’ve just warned every woman attending the hunting competition—”
She paused.
“‘Don’t you dare set your sights on my fiancé.’”