Chapter 42
Kraaak.
The gamekeeper shooed away the crow that was cawing without consideration, glancing at a man to gauge his mood.
However, the man seemed uninterested in the crow, feeding sugar cubes to his horse instead.
“Shh, Delphi.”
The horse called Delphi lightly fussed, as if scolding the man for arriving so late.
The man, who could calm a notoriously fierce imperial steed like a newborn foal, was doing just that with Delphi.
For the gamekeeper, who had already been kicked twice by Delphi today alone, it was deeply unfair.
Hiiiiiing.
“All right. Today, you can run however you like.”
Delphi rubbed her nose against the man’s coat. The man stroked her as if it were second nature.
He wore a black hunting coat, simple and unadorned, but undeniably high-class.
This hunting ground was part of the imperial palace, accessible only with the emperor’s permission. Only the emperor, empress, and Erne Lars—who alone had been granted special access by the emperor—could freely enter.
Even Erne Lars himself avoided using the hunting grounds unless he had prior arrangements with the emperor.
“So, the other visitor?”
“Oh, that person said they would enter first and inspect the hunting grounds.”
Hah. Johann scoffed at Erne’s audacity, letting out a dry laugh.
Spoiled, and clearly completely insane. Not only had he made it this far, but he had also set off ahead of everyone else?
Johann briefly considered retrieving the access pass he had given Erne. He hadn’t handed it over for Erne’s sake, but because the maintenance of the grounds was costly and he wanted oversight.
And Erne had used it like this. He clearly needed a serious lesson. Johann immediately mounted his horse.
“What weapon has been prepared?”
“Are you planning to hunt, Your Majesty?”
“Well… if I see any game, why not?”
The gamekeeper sniffed in agreement; fair enough.
“This morning I cleaned a .44-caliber rifle properly. Shall I bring it?”
“That should suffice.”
“And the ammunition?”
“Plenty. .44 Magnum.”
The emotion behind the short word ‘plenty’ was clear.
The gamekeeper silently mourned for whatever prey awaited today. .44 Magnum… perhaps the emperor intended to hunt even a bear.
“And what weapon did the other visitor bring?”
“Oh, that visitor? They did not bring a firearm.”
“…To the hunting grounds?”
Johann frowned deeply.
They were called all the way here but didn’t bring a weapon? Not very Erne-like, who was practically obsessed with hunting.
“Indeed. They did not seem capable of hunting at all.”
Meanwhile, on the outskirts of the hunting grounds,
Anel rode her horse across the vast meadow, riding for the first time in a while.
She had not expected such a space within the imperial palace. Though hesitant at first, leaving the gloomy forest revealed an expansive field.
“How does it feel to come back to where you were born, Buttercup?”
Anel gently held the reins of her horse, Buttercup.
The long-legged, white horse bore the marks of abundant care and love. Despite the cloudy day, her coat gleamed as if drawing light from somewhere.
Buttercup had been a gift from the former empress when Anel was seventeen. She had been raised in the grand ducal household until now, but came with Anel to the palace.
“I’m glad you seem happy.”
Anel spoke to Buttercup, gazing at the distant sky.
The hunting grounds behind the palace were enormous, seemingly flaunting the wealth of the Stein Empire.
Though Anel had often entered the palace, she had never been to the hunting grounds before. Samu avoided hunting unless necessary, and Grand Duke Morata never permitted Anel to hunt, insisting it was not a ‘woman’s task.’
Anel herself disliked harming life, so this had been fortunate.
“This is your first time here, isn’t it, Buttercup?”
Hiiiing.
Buttercup agreed enthusiastically with a cheerful cry.
“This is my first time too. I should have brought you along earlier if I’d known it was this vast.”
Coming to the hunting grounds didn’t mean they had to hunt. It was the perfect place for Buttercup to run.
“I avoided coming because the name sounded ominous… my mistake.”
Buttercup trotted calmly, seemingly unfazed.
“Want to run a little? Huh?”
Anel gripped the reins firmly. She was properly dressed for riding, in full gear and hat, so it would be fine for a little run.
Just as she was about to urge Buttercup forward…
Bang!
A sound rang out nearby, a sound that made her heart sink.
Hiiiing!
Buttercup, who had never heard a gunshot in her life, startled and lifted her front legs in panic.
“Calm down, Buttercup!”
Hiiiiiiing!
Disaster.
Buttercup lost all sense and began thrashing wildly, then bolted forward madly.
“!”
Anel grabbed the reins desperately and leaned forward. Hoping her horse would calm, she trusted her body to Buttercup’s speed.
The sleek horse sprinted along the forest’s edge, wary of the sound from within the woods.
There was no sign she would calm down. Anel feared she might fall and die.
“Buttercup, please calm down…!”
Even as Anel called, Buttercup continued to run wildly. Perhaps hearing her voice only startled her more, making her try to stop abruptly.
She would fall. Anel sensed it instinctively.
Then…
“!”
A black horse ran beside her. Someone grabbed Anel mid-fall.
The world seemed to flip; she shut her eyes tightly.
The man held Anel with one arm and seated her in front of him.
“The empress rides a horse like herself.”
When she opened her eyes, she saw a man looking down at her.
Naturally…
“…Your Majesty?”
Johann.
He gently held Anel’s chin, turning it from side to side, while supporting her back with his other arm to keep her steady. He pressed slightly on her waist and abdomen.
“Does it hurt?”
Startled, Anel shook her head. It didn’t hurt—she was just flustered by his touch.
“Doesn’t seem injured.”
Johann sighed in relief.
Relief?
Anel scolded herself for thinking that. Why would he care for her well-being? Johann viewed her as mere property. He was only displeased at the idea of his possession being damaged.
The thought left a bitter taste.
“Why are you here, Empress?”
Johann spoke with an unusually cold expression.
“My empress, who should be resting safely in the palace… why are you falling off a horse here?”
Anel shivered slightly at his stern tone. Normally she wouldn’t react so, but the shock of the recent incident had not worn off. Even a minor commotion triggered her body.
“You’re trembling.”
Johann noted, twisting his lips.
“I wasn’t trying to scare you.”
“…I’m not scared.”
“If you want to fool me, fool your own body first.”
Stubborn. Johann clicked his tongue quietly.
Anel spoke regardless, knowing exactly who the stubborn one was.
“The reason I came here…”
Her voice faltered. She cleared her throat once more.
“I came… to see Your Majesty.”
She prayed he wouldn’t be angry. He had every reason to be, given she had disturbed him.
He might even scold her for not requesting a formal audience.
Saving someone who falls off a horse is difficult—and dangerous. He might punish her for putting the emperor in danger.
However…
“…Me?”
His reaction was the exact opposite of what Anel expected.
