Chapter 50

I was still feeling Etias’s heavy, unreadable gaze when—

“Greetings to His Majesty the Emperor.”

A man appeared at the entrance, leading several nobles.

He looked slightly older than the Emperor. When I saw the crest on his shoulder armor, I smiled in triumph.

Duke Kamel Beatrice, ruler of the western plains.

He held command over hundreds of thousands of troops—one of the Empire’s greatest high nobles.

‘He didn’t get along with the Duke of Elemoer, though.’

He approached the Emperor, bowed formally, and looked at him.

“Oh, Duke Beatrice!”

The Emperor shook his hand enthusiastically.

Once a close friend of the late emperor, Beatrice had retreated to the west and distanced himself from politics due to the current Emperor’s manipulations.

When the Emperor seized the throne, Duke Beatrice neither opposed nor supported him, which allowed the ascension to proceed without resistance.

The manipulation was cunning.

The late Emperor had written a long letter about the Beatrice territory and Kamel himself. The current Emperor intercepted it and showed only the first page, which mentioned a few critical concerns.

He claimed that the late Emperor wore the mask of friendship while plotting to bring Duke Beatrice down.

The rest of the letter, however, was stored at Duke Elemoer’s estate, and it contained warm praises—affirming loyalty and readiness to face death beside his old friend.

‘Yeah… It had lines like “Kamel Beatrice is a faithful servant, someone I would face death with.”’

Tsk. What a group of scoundrels.

“I’m glad you’re joining the hunting festival.”

“It is my honor.”

Even though Duke Beatrice had distanced himself from politics, the look in his eyes when facing the Emperor held no affection.

It was mere formal loyalty. Nothing more.

Which is why today was the day to reveal the truth to him—and bring Duke Beatrice to Etias’s side.

“……”

Our eyes met briefly as he turned.

Seeing my hair, he instantly recognized me as the Duke of Elemoer’s daughter. His brows furrowed in displeasure, but I smiled politely, unbothered.

He didn’t return the gesture and mounted his horse.

It could’ve been insulting—but I didn’t care.

I wanted Kamel Beatrice to be that rigid and inflexible.
Because the more closed his heart, the harder the truth would hit when revealed.

An imperial attendant began handing something to the participants.

It was a nameplate engraved with a unique participant number.

Given the number of competitors and the possibility of accidents, everyone had to carry one.

‘97.’

I read the number carved into the small stone and tucked it into my vest pocket.

This was the number I’d mark on my kills with a dagger.

I slowly lifted my gaze toward Etias.

He was far away, but I could clearly make out the number on his stone:

114. Just like in the original storyline.

And Duke Beatrice received a number in the 140s.

As soon as everyone mounted their horses, the whistle blew.

With a light tap on the stirrups, my horse surged forward.

The forest wasn’t too uneven, and the spacing between trees was wide—perfect terrain for horseback riding.

After about ten minutes of riding, I reached a quiet area with no signs of life.

‘First, I need to help Etias.’

I leapt down from my horse.

‘But I’ll enjoy myself while doing it.’

After tying the reins, I stretched out on a tree stump.

“Ahh, the air is nice.”

From afar, I could hear cheers—someone must’ve made a catch.

Wasn’t a rabbit worth 3 points and a deer 5?

And the final boss, the black bear, was worth 50 points.

Even ten rabbits weren’t worth one bear.

While I mused over these things, about ten minutes passed.

I heard footsteps—someone was running.

I picked up my bow and nocked an arrow, pulling the string taut.

“……”

A man dashed into view—dark hair flowing, piercing blue eyes.

His sword was soaked in blood from the beasts pursuing him.

Even someone as agile and powerful as him likely couldn’t understand what was happening.

Why had his horse thrown him?

Why were wolves—not even valid prey—chasing him?

Even if he had some suspicion, there was nothing he could do.

Don’t worry, Etias. I’ll help you.

Whoosh—

My arrow flew past Etias and struck a wolf directly in the eye.

“Kyaaag—!”

The wolf dropped dead instantly.

“……!”

His blue eyes widened as he spotted me.

I pulled another arrow, aimed, and released again—hitting another wolf in the forehead.

My days of target practice were paying off.

‘One more to go…’

I drew again.

A wolf was right behind him, ready to tear into his back.

Once it entered my 50-meter range, I yelled:

“Duck!”

Etias immediately crouched low at my warning.

Unlike him, the wolf didn’t stop—and leapt forward, jaws wide open—only to be impaled by my arrow mid-air.

It dropped to the ground, dead.

Etias slowly rose to his feet.

“……”

He stood still, looking directly at me.

I stepped toward him—one step, then another—and stood in front of him.

“Are you hurt?”

He stared for a moment, then gave a small nod, his eyebrows twitching slightly.

“…I’m fine.”

I gave a soft smile of relief.

In the original story, Etias spent the entire hunting festival being endlessly chased by wolves.

Though he had a secret ability—Shadow Step—it was something he couldn’t use publicly.

So, he was forced to fend off dozens of wolves with a single sword.

Worse, wolves were worth zero points.

Because of them, he couldn’t even find other prey—there was no way to score.

Afterward, the Emperor mocked him in front of everyone.

“Don’t get the wrong idea.”

I spoke with deliberate arrogance.

“If those wolves ate Your Highness, they’d probably come after me next. I just wanted to avoid that hassle.”

It hurt to say such cold things, but that was Katrin’s style.

“…I see.”

He accepted it too easily.

Something in his tone made me hesitate.

I aimed again, released, and—another wolf fell.

“Strange, though. Why are the wolves only chasing you?”

“……”

“Are you carrying something wolves like?”

I asked, almost as if I were daring him to investigate.

He furrowed his brows, then pulled out his nameplate. That was the only suspicious item.

Sure enough, compared to mine, his was a slightly different color.

“So… it’s this.”

The disgusting Emperor never disappoints.

The nameplate probably had wolf-attracting pheromones infused inside—leaking through tiny holes.

Of course, Etias wouldn’t die to a few wolves, but they would endlessly interfere with his hunt.

“Bastard.”

The curse slipped out before I could stop myself. Etias turned toward me.

Oops.

“I meant the wolf. Looks like a mutt.”

“…Pft.”

A faint smile flickered on his lips.

Then he spoke.

“Katrin.”

His blue eyes stared at me with complex emotion.

If we kept looking at each other like this, I might end up confessing everything.

But then—

With a faint, unreadable smile, Etias said,

“If this is attracting the wolves, I should get rid of it.”

“There’s a better idea.”

I grinned and stopped him.

I shrugged and continued.

“One that works for both of us.”

His eyes wavered, as if asking for the meaning behind my words.

I looked toward the forest.

“Somewhere nearby, there’s an ugly face looking for me.”

Philios had offered to protect me. I knew it was a lie.

If I “accidentally” died during the hunt, my wealth would go to him—my only living relative.

Fadelmon would love that.

Since Philios was Fadelmon’s recommendation, it made sense he was following me with ulterior motives.

Even if he wore a mask of remorse, a monster is still a monster.

“Philios Regalo.”

“Yes, that hideous man.”

Etias’s eyes turned icy.

“Slip this to him secretly.”

“If people find out the wolves have stopped attacking someone, the Emperor might come up with something worse. We’ll shift the target.”

I pointed to Etias’s nameplate.

I had killed four wolves—there were at least six more lurking.

“I’ll get revenge on the man who wished me harm. And Your Highness will be able to hunt in peace.”

Etias watched me with unreadable eyes.

“Where are you going?”

As I stretched and moved to mount my horse, he asked.

I swung into the saddle with a smile.

“A meeting.”

He narrowed his eyes.

I added,

“Something like that.”

I tugged the reins—but his voice, a bit rough and desperate, called out:

“Don’t get hurt.”

“……”

“Absolutely.”

A warm wind blew between us.