episode_0055

Suddenly, Rotos and Aramis started to give me suspicious looks.

“Why are you staring at me?” I asked them, my voice filled with anger.

“It’s nothing, really,” Rotos shook his head.

“Fernang, that friend of yours, only knows about fighting together on the battlefield,” Aramis began to lie vaguely to cover up the situation.

“He managed quite well on the battlefield, but his whereabouts have been uncertain since then, whether he’s alive or dead,” Rotos added, pondering while grooming his fur.

“Is that so? I see…” Fernang thought deeply to himself.

“Thank you, I’ve learned about my brother’s whereabouts because of you,” Fernang patted Aramis on the shoulder and then approached me.

“Wait,” Rotos grabbed Fernang’s shoulder, stopping him.

“Why is that?”

“It’s better not to get too close,” Rotos whispered softly to Fernang, who seemed completely puzzled.

“What do you mean?”

Rotos whispered so quietly that it seemed like he was only speaking to himself, but everyone heard it, causing a problem.

“Well… I guess I should at least try to talk to him.”

“If that’s the case, wait until you hand over the prey and strike up a conversation then. He’s not in a good mood right now.”

Rotos and Aramis were warning me not to get too close, as if they were cautioning against a dangerous beast.

“Yeong-ae, why are you feeling upset?”

Seeing me being unrecognizable and formal when I was with my family, I felt nauseous.

“Just go back.”

I turned my head away, fearing that a bloodbath would occur if I kept looking at his face.

“If you keep frowning like that, wrinkles will form on your beautiful face.”

“Ha…”

As I sighed, Laurent sensed something was wrong and stepped in front of me, pushing my words aside.

“Just go back.”

“Well… Yeong-ae, you seem happy, with three men who care about your feelings. Ha ha! Well then, goodbye.”

Laurent laughed heartily, waved to us, and returned to his group.

“Marie, restrain yourself!”

As Laurent turned his back, I tried to draw my gun, but Aramis grabbed my wrist and stopped me.

“I don’t know exactly what happened, but this is not right.”

“Yeah, it’s not like someone stole a lover or anything,” Rotos joked, but I felt uneasy.

“Ha…”

“Is it really necessary to ask?”

“Don’t ask.”

“But is there a lover between Yeong-ae and that gentleman from earlier… Is one of them homosexual or something?”

Flangche’s obliviousness added insult to injury.

“Hey!”

I raised my whip and struck Flangche’s fat back.

“Ouch! Ouch! Flangche’s going to die!”

“He deserves to be hit. His mouth is a problem.”

Rotos looked at Flangche, who was being whipped, while sticking out his tongue.

“Oh! Why are you just watching, master?”

“Flangche! You need to fix your mouth!”

“I don’t think it’s just me who needs to fix my mouth, do you?!”

“No… really?!”

Despite being hit by Marie, Flangche’s incessant complaints showed no signs of stopping.

“Oh-ho-ho! Ah-ha! It hurts, but it feels strange to be hit by the beautiful Yeong-ae.”

“I can’t believe it…”

Flangche’s words were so absurd that my anger dissipated.

“Marie, please hand me the whip.”

“Oh no, I can’t. Miss!”

I handed the whip to Rotos while looking at Flangche.

“Ah.”

Flangche let out a short breath as he saw the whip in Rotos’ hand.

“Oh my goodness! Flangche’s going to die!!!”

And so, Flangche’s screams echoed through the forest.

“There doesn’t seem to be a separate night camp for the army.”

Arriving at the hunting competition grounds, I couldn’t help but be amazed by the sight of large tents gathered behind a massive bookshelf.

“Even when we were on the battlefield, it was rare to see tents of this size.”

“Halt! Which house do you come from?”

The guards in front of the competition grounds brandished their halberds and blocked our way.

“I am Mari de Roang of the Roang family. Open the gates.”

“Oh, yes, understood!”

As the soldiers lowered their halberds, we entered the bookshelf.

Tents were gathered on both sides, divided around the entrance of the bookshelf.

Not knowing where to go, we continued down the middle path.

“Could it be that the tents are divided between the royalists and the nobles?”

“That seems plausible.”

I recalled how the nobles gathered for meetings in the royal palace.

“The largest tent at the front must be His Majesty’s tent, so the left side must be the royalists.”

“Then the other side must be where the nobles gather.”

Lauren looked at the tents on the right.

“Let’s go inside for now.”

Heading towards the tent where the royalists were gathered, familiar faces greeted us.

“Roang Yeong-ae and friends have also come.”

Count Rajurang, who was examining his words, welcomed me.

I dismounted and greeted him.

“I heard you were quite busy.”

“Even so, one must attend such events to be able to work, right?”

Count Rajurang brushed off his words.

“Judging by your appearance, you seem to be participating in the hunting competition as well?”

“Yes.”

I took out my rifle to show him.

“Very serious indeed. At this rate, I might not have any prey left.”

“Even if you ask me to share the prey later, I won’t have any.”

“Do you think I would ask you to share the prey? Don’t worry, that won’t happen.”

Count Rajurang chuckled and extended his hand.

“By the way, you should greet the eldest first…”

“I will unpack my belongings first and go see Pia Yeong-ae.”

“Go ahead.”

Before the conversation veered off track, I quickly left.

I entrusted my belongings to Grimo and headed towards the tent where Pia was.

“This year, Count Rajurang will definitely pick flowers for Lady Pia!”

“Of course, with the prestige of Duke Orlean on his shoulders, Princess Sharfil’s nose must be flattened, right?”

As I entered the tent, the royalist nobles were flattering Pia, who was quietly sipping tea.

“Roang Yeong-ae, have you arrived?”

Pia set down her tea cup and greeted me.

“But your attire…”

Seeing me in pants instead of a dress, Pia looked puzzled.

“You’re planning to participate in the hunting competition, right?”

“Well, it would be strange if you didn’t.”

“Are you really going to participate in the hunting competition, Roang Yeong-ae?”

I nodded in response to one noble’s question.

“If you combine the prey caught by Roang Yeong-ae, then maybe…?!”

As hopeful gazes filled with the expectation of Pia becoming this year’s flower, I shrugged my shoulders.

“You won’t know until you catch it, so there’s no need to lay out the champagne in advance.”

At that moment, there was a commotion outside the tent as Princess Sharfil and her entourage entered.

“Princess Sharfil…?!”

All the royalist nobles stood up from their seats and bowed to her as she greeted them.

“Long time no see, Roang Yeong-ae.”

Princess Sharfil greeted me, looking me straight in the eye.

“Nice to see you again, Princess Sharfil.”

I bowed to her.

“Your appearance seems rather… unusual?”

Sharfil stared at me pointedly, taking in my attire of pants.

“Surely you’re not planning to participate in the hunting competition dressed as a woman?”

“To participate… Yes.”

“Wow… Is she really trying to follow a man like that, not even a child?”

Princess Sharfille spread her fan wide and covered her face.

I didn’t know what to say to her provocation.

Because of the hierarchy, it wouldn’t be appropriate to just slap her for making me angry.

I suppressed the harsh words rising up to my throat and smiled.

“By the way, I remember hearing a story from decades ago, about a noble lady who participated in a hunting competition and ended up in a bad situation.”

Her words momentarily silenced the room.

Only the faint laughter of Sharfille’s followers could be heard in the midst of it.

“Oh my… Did I say something too harsh? If so, I apologize and hope you can forgive me.”

“Yes.”

‘Pouring out curses…’

I had many things I wanted to say, but once again, I swallowed them silently.

“And Raju and Yeong-ae.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“I will be this year’s flower, so please take care of me, okay?”

Instead of answering Sharfille’s words, Pia nodded her head.

“Since you’ve been perennially in second place, it’s time to learn some humility.”

“I will keep your advice in mind.”

Sharfille seemed to enjoy pressing down on Pia with her position.

“Ohoho!”

The noble faction started laughing as they watched the royal faction unable to move.

“Well, I’ll be off then.”

As Sharfille left the tent, about 30 followers followed behind her.

“Wow, there are all kinds of people here?!”

One follower sat down in frustration.

“This time, I really have to completely flatten my nose!”

Another follower nervously chewed on their nails.

“It’s no use being upset like this among ourselves.”

The others nodded in agreement with Pia’s words.

“This time, you might really become the flower of the year!”

“Yes, combined with what Roan brought in, it might be possible!”

“Hmm…”

At one follower’s exclamation, I pondered deeply.

Indeed, I did want to give Princess Sharfille a big surprise.

“Very well, I will do my best to bring in as much as possible.”

Upon my words, the royal faction followers’ faces turned pale.

Laughter from the women inside the tent echoed around.