Chapter 45

“Ha…”

 

Freyer was rubbing his temples. The northern mages and the crown prince were clearly plotting something for the Hunting Festival. But he couldn’t read how they planned to move.

 

‘Lilithia’s surroundings showed nothing unusual.’

 

Lilithia traveled only between the mansion and the merchant guild. He’d heard that she briefly visited the bank, but that had only been to send money to him. In the end, Freyer knew nothing more, and he had no choice but to attend the Hunting Festival.

 

“Your Highness. It’s time to depart.”

 

Derek spoke to Freyer, who was standing before the gate.

 

“I’ll be back.”

 

Freyer stepped through the gate to the festival grounds and scanned the area. He had been informed by Norman, the butler of the baron’s estate, that Lilithia would be attending.

 

He had hoped she would remain in the capital, but considering the danger, it might be safer to keep her within his sight. First, he needed to find her.

 

‘Is she in one of the tents?’

 

Young noblemen clenched their fists in determination, and groups of noble ladies chatted idly. Lilithia was nowhere among them.

 

He then saw mages and priests sprint into a tent at the edge of the grounds.

 

‘What’s going on?’

 

His instincts told him he had to check inside. Freyer began moving—

 

“It’s been so long, Your Highness the Second Prince.”

 

Diara Alstein, eldest daughter of the empress’s family and someone he was certainly not on good terms with, approached him.

 

“Not exactly a relationship worth greeting.”

 

“Even so, I’m not uncouth enough to pretend not to see a prince.”

 

She smiled with her eyes, and Freyer’s brow twitched. He immediately shifted his gaze and attempted to head toward the tent.

 

“I heard a court mage collapsed,” Diara said, arms crossed as she glanced toward the tent.

 

“Weren’t you about to check that place?”

 

Freyer narrowed his eyes.

 

“They say it was from overwork. Mages tend to neglect their health, it seems. To collapse during an imperial event… really now.”

 

She clicked her tongue and looked at him.

 

“Isn’t that right?”

 

“……”

 

Many mages had been mobilized to transport the young nobles to the Hunting Festival via gates. Her story wasn’t impossible—but she was not someone whose words he would ever trust.

 

A core member of the pro-imperial faction would never offer him help.

 

Seeing his suspicion, Diara shrugged.

 

“If you don’t trust me, why not check the tent yourself?”

 

At that moment, a court mage climbed onto the platform and held a magically amplified megaphone.

 

“There has been a small disturbance due to a mage collapsing. His Majesty’s speech will begin shortly. Young nobles participating in the Hunting Festival, please gather here.”

 

The mage’s voice echoed across the camp; all participants turned toward him.

 

“See? I was right.”

 

Diara smiled blandly at Freyer.

 

“……”

 

“You don’t say anything—perhaps you feel embarrassed for doubting me?”

 

“Not particularly.”

 

“Mm. Perhaps it was just my imagination.”

 

As long as Lilithia wasn’t involved, nothing else mattered. Freyer ignored her and looked toward the platform.

 

The court mage poured mana into the communicator, projecting the emperor’s face. His complexion was worse than during the banquet.

 

— Ahem… Thank you all for attending this year’s Hunting Festival.

 

The emperor cleared his throat with a pained expression.

 

— Thanks to our first good harvest in years, we are finally able to hold this event. Let us get straight to the rules.

 

He explained the basic rules and disqualification conditions.

 

— The duration is one day—24 hours. Crystal orbs have been installed throughout the forest. Everything will be monitored, so avoid foolish acts like cheating for the sake of victory.

 

The emperor swept his gaze across the crowd.

 

— Tomorrow, at the celebration banquet, bring the most valuable prey sealed in a storage artifact. The man who brings the most exceptional prey will receive a wish granted under my name.

 

The nobles buzzed with excitement. A wish under the emperor’s name meant jewels, titles, wealth—anything could be obtained.

 

— And for the female victor, the empress herself will bestow a royal jewel.

 

The event was originally for young men, so the noble ladies hadn’t expected much—but with the reward announced, their eyes lit up.

 

“Royal jewels…?”

 

“Oh my—”

 

— I look forward to seeing who claims the greatest prey. Let the Hunting Festival begin.

 

A trumpet sounded, and the noblemen swiftly mounted their horses and charged into the forest.

 

‘I have to win.’

 

Freyer tightened his fist.

 

‘The most valuable prey…’

 

There was only one such creature in this forest: the black panther living near the cliff at the far end.

 

Catching it was the only way to win the emperor’s wish—and claim imperial authority.

 

He needed to move fast.

 

Mounting his white horse, he continued scanning for Lilithia among the ladies and tents.

 

‘She still hasn’t come through?’

 

Even after the emperor’s speech, she was nowhere. Perhaps a mage collapsing caused problems with the gate transfers.

 

“Your Highness.”

 

A man dressed as a servant—Jaybil—approached. Personal knights weren’t allowed except imperial knights, so Jaybil had disguised himself as a festival attendant.

 

“The crown prince’s scheme hasn’t been identified yet. Lady Lilithia may be in danger. I’ll stay by her side.”

 

“Good. If you’re with her, she’ll be safe from most threats.”

 

“Leave this area to me, Your Highness.”

 

“I’m counting on you.”

 

“Please be careful.”

 

“Hyah. Go.”

 

Freyer tugged the reins and sped into the forest.

 

 

***

 

 

Clop, clop—

 

The deeper he went, the denser the forest grew. The massive trees made riding harder with every yard.

 

“Whoa.”

 

He pulled the reins and stopped in a clearing. Between the rustling leaves, he heard crack, crack—branches snapping.

 

“A deer?”

 

He pulled out an arrow, drew his bow, and aimed toward the thicket.

 

Swish—

 

An arrow grazed Freyer’s hair. A few strands drifted in the air. From the direction the arrow flew, a deer dropped to the ground.

 

Clop, clop, clop—

 

Hoofbeats approached. Freyer immediately recognized the rider.

 

“Brother.”

 

“Freyer, didn’t expect you here.”

 

A low voice came from behind him. Ivailo, riding a black stallion, grinned broadly—too pleased to be surprised.

 

“I meant to shoot a deer, but almost shot you instead.”

 

“……”

 

“Good thing it only grazed your hair instead of your neck.”

 

“Your skills must be deteriorating. You can’t tell a human presence from an animal’s anymore.”

 

Freyer smirked, slinging his bow across his back as he rode closer.

 

“To think you succeeded in subjugating the northern tribes with skill like that. Fascinating.”

 

Ivailo’s teeth ground audibly.

 

“Didn’t mean to say that aloud, did you?”

 

A vein twitched on Ivailo’s forehead.

 

“I’m running out of patience with your insolence.”

 

“So you were enduring it. A pointless effort.”

 

“Freyer, you—”

 

“Yes? You called?”

 

Ivailo’s hand trembled on the reins. Freyer smiled gently.

 

“Congratulations on stealing my prey, brother.”

 

He mocked him and rode past. Ivailo’s enraged shouting echoed behind him as Freyer sped deeper into the forest.

 

“That was close.”

 

Had he not turned his head in time, the arrow would’ve pierced his throat.

 

Freyer glanced at the communicator in his coat.

 

“Still no contact.”

 

It had been two hours since he entered the forest, yet Jaybil had sent no message.

 

“I should’ve checked before entering…”

 

His anxiety grew. He had ridden too far to return easily now.

 

Running into the crown prince here meant they were after the same prey. Freyer gripped the reins tightly.

 

“I need to find the prey quickly.”

 

The best plan was to secure the target and return to the camp as soon as possible.

 

Freyer urged his horse into a faster gallop.