It was time for the hunting competition to start, so everyone was excited but the Emperor sat leisurely with a joyful smile as if he was simply gonna watch a mundane competition.
Originally, I heard that he was very active in hunting competitions, but why is he not participating this time?
Hmm, I really don't know...
Before the start of the hunting competition, Lobelia said to everyone.
“It is a very nice day. The day is sunny but not too hot, so it is a very suitable day for hunting competition.
“For the sake of the princesses you serve, and for the sake of the lord, or for your family… …The reasons may be different, but there is one common purpose for all of you who are standing here now. Championship.
“This hunting competition may be a bit difficult. Besides simply catching a lot of animals for high scores, or trying to catch a single animal with a high score can be quite dangerous.
“Of course, for safety reasons, I released them in a fairly deep place in the hunting ground… …But please be careful. If you do something dangerous for high scores, a normal person could lose their life here.”
Some of the nobles were nervous at Lobelia’s words. It could have been that they were intimidated by the word dangerous, or they could have been estimating their reputation that would rise if they hunted a dangerous one.
“But you are the noble warriors of this mighty Enadeims. I believe that such threats can be easily overcome. In this hunting competition, which also includes quite a few knights, I hope you will show off your skills to the fullest. Good luck.”
As soon as Lobelia’s words were finished, the sharp howling of hounds was heard, and the hunting competition began.
“Are you going?”
My brother asked me.
“Yeah. Aren’t you participating in the contest?”
“It's annoying. I’m not very interested in it, and I don’t even have a princess I like, so what will I be doing? You work hard. But Where is your hound, by the way?”
“I don’t really need a hound. Only a horse will suffice.”
“Is that so..., Okay do your best.”
“Yes.”
I left my older brother behind and immediately drove the horse toward the hunting ground.
There were nobles who brought their own hounds, but I didn’t really need them. I can find my target through mana senses.
They give us a bow for the hunt. I’ve used bow quite a few times in my past life, but I don’t think I’ve ever shot one in my current life. But it didn’t matter, because I was confident in whatever I can do with my body.
As I rode and ran moderately, I saw the appearance of the prey captured in my eyes. Without hesitation, I raised my bow, drew the string, and let go.
Teeing!
There was a light crackling sound, the sound of cutting through the wind, and the sound of something falling.
Perhaps thanks to my experience in my previous life, there was no problem handling the bow.
Satisfied, I activated my mana senses again. It was because there could be prey nearby.
* * *
[Adilun's POV]
The hunting competition had begun.
Now, the princesses only had to wait for the people who would offer their hunt to them.
Gradually, it was very friendly to see people who were close gather and talk.
Even so, seeing that they implicitly say that their own knight is superior, it must be that they also want their knight to play an active part in the hunting competition.
Suddenly, I started to have doubts, will Physis be good at hunting? As far as I can remember, I had never heard of him hunting.
Well, I didn’t really want his performance, I just wanted the hunting tournament to end quickly.
Because…
“Princess Rodenov, what kind of animal would you like Prince Ortaire to catch?”
“I don’t really want anything. It’s the first time I’ve ever been in a hunting competition hosted by the imperial family, so I’m in a state where I don’t even know what it is. I don’t even know what kind of prey there is.”
“I heard that in this tournament, quite rare animals and even dangerous but beautiful monsters are released. The dangerous monster that Her Highness talked about earlier is probably that monster. I’ve heard that it has beautiful hair that glows in the moonlight…”
As soon as the princess finished talking excitedly about what kind of animals or monsters were in this hunting competition, the princess next to her threw a word at me with a jealous attitude.
“Anyway, I’m very envious of Princess Rodenov.”
“Me?”
What kind of nonsense is this again? Why are you envious of me?
“Yeah. I also have a fiancé because of an arranged marriage… …But he’s a very bad match for me.”
“Ah...”
Her attitude was understandable. She was bound by an arranged marriage but she must have become jealous when she saw Physis being kind to me.
Moreover, even the beautiful appearance of Physis must have played an important part too.
After all, people seem to have a habit of thinking and fantasizing about things that are not theirs.
Of course, Physis has only recently been kind to me, but what would she say if I brought him from a year ago right in front of her?
It became funny for some reason, but I endured it and looked at her with a pitiful gaze. Yes, I know that feeling well.
“Oops… …must be hard I fully understand that feeling.”
“You understand?”
But as soon as I said that, the nameless princess reacted sharply to me. I expected such a reaction, so I wasn’t particularly taken aback, but the expressions of the princesses around me began to stiffen.
It seems that she was not a princess with a very good reputation from the beginning. It must have been that she had been having trouble with her fiancé.
However, judging from the fact that no one ever said it out of their mouth, she seemed to be the daughter of a well-ranked family.
“Yes. I didn’t get along very well with Physis either.”
“Yes? But you both look very friendly?”
“The day Physis and I first met me, we both hated each other so much. Because I don’t like the situation itself of an arranged marriage.”
Although it’s a little relieved now, to be precise, Physis initially hated me one-sidedly.
“But if you give each other a chance and talk… …It might get a little better. Because I did. Don’t just try to avoid the parts that don’t fit each other, let’s talk about it.”
“Conversation...”
It’s a simple method above all else, but it’s not easy to find a person’s true intentions. Because you need the courage to tell your feelings to others first, and sometimes you have to endure shame too.
About the relationship between me and Physis?
It was not a relationship that could be solved through the conversation as I said.
The next step was necessary. The next step of action.
Even though I didn’t know what would happen to our relationship after the stage of action, one thing was certain. At least it will be better than now.
At my words, the nameless princess nodded with a slightly worried expression. She seemed to suspect that that alone could solve the relationship, so I added one more word.
“After talking, if you are dissatisfied with each other’s behavior, it would be good to actively correct it.”
“… …I see.”
In the eyes of the princess who reluctantly nodded, there was no longer any jealousy.
* * *
[Physis's POV]
“Where is this?”
I was only engrossed in catching prey, and I got lost. It was because I was preoccupied with hunting prey that seemed precious.
Before I knew it, the carcasses of prey were dangling from my horse. Among them, by far, the prey with the highest score would be a fox with silver fur.
I didn’t think Adilun would be happy with this, but as long as I participated in the hunting competition, I would have to pay for the handkerchief she gave me by achieving more than a certain level.
“For now… …Should I go back the way I came, or should I look for the most dangerous guy?”
In fact, it seemed like I had already secured a lot of points, so I didn’t have to catch anything more, but hunting had a strange charm, so I wanted to enjoy it a little more.
Now that this was the case, should I try to catch it?
I’d love to do it if I can.
I expanded my senses. Quite a lot of things were caught in my senses, but since there was no one that felt particularly strong, it didn’t seem like they were around here.
Keeping my senses open, I mounted my horse again and headed deeper into the hunting grounds. Since as Lobelia said that they are in the depths, something will come out if I just go into the depths.