Chapter 3
It had been eight years since Elisa’s imperial marriage.
She had been nineteen at the time.
As the crown princess then, she had chosen her partner in accordance with the will of her mother, the Emperor. That partner was none other than the head of the noble faction and a long-standing meritorious subject of the Empire—
Hadeliden of the Riarthry Ducal House.
The decision not to take a royal from another nation was a declaration of confidence that the Kashvalt Empire stood as the greatest power on the continent in both name and reality.
Choosing the son of the noble faction’s leader, rather than someone from the imperial faction, carried political significance—it was meant to solidify internal unity.
Elisa, who was destined to become the next Emperor, understood and accepted all of this.
All except for one thing.
“Your Majesty, you have arrived.”
Elisa stepped down from the carriage and looked at the person approaching her.
Deep golden hair, calmly subdued.
Blue eyes lowered in quiet composure.
Eyes slightly upturned as if reflecting a sensitive temperament, paired with a slender jawline.
Despite his poised appearance, his frame was still slight, clearly not yet fully grown. At most, he looked like a boy in his mid-teens, just shedding the last traces of childhood.
“It’s been a while. You’ve grown taller.”
At Elisa’s teasing remark, Hadeliden Riarthry Kashvalt—the Prince Consort of the Empire and Elisa’s husband—furrowed his brows.
‘Was it this winter that he was to undergo his coming-of-age ceremony?’
Under imperial law, one was considered an adult starting at sixteen. Which meant he was still only fifteen.
‘And I’m twenty-seven…’
Elisa recalled the day of their wedding eight years ago.
He had just turned eight, standing beside her in a formal tailcoat as the groom.
His cheeks had been plump with baby fat, flushed red, his small fingers fidgeting inside the oversized sleeves of his ceremonial attire. His bright eyes had sparkled as he asked:
‘Your Majesty… are you a goddess?’
A childish remark, truly.
Elisa shook her head as the memory surfaced.
The image of those gem-like blue eyes glittering made it feel as though something clanked loudly in her mind.
‘Back then, he was nothing more than a little child…’
“Your Majesty.”
“Mm?”
At the call, Elisa lifted her head. As she stepped closer, he cautiously met her gaze and asked,
“What brings you here?”
“What do you mean, what brings me here? I came to hunt at the hunting grounds.”
Of course, the “hunt” carried a different meaning.
Perhaps finding her answer suspicious, Hadeliden asked again,
“Are you truly going to participate? I heard you injured your head…”
Despite the concern in his words, his tone remained stiff. Elisa couldn’t help but let out a small chuckle.
“It’s fine. It wasn’t a serious injury to begin with.”
“But…”
As she shrugged, he let out a quiet sigh.
It seemed he had judged further argument to be futile.
“…Please, come inside.”
With a slightly reluctant expression, Hadeliden led the way, and Elisa followed behind.
Upon entering, a large tent came into view.
‘They prepared this well.’
On either side of the central tent stood eight additional tents, set up as resting areas to escape the blazing sun during the hunting competition.
Unlike the cool breeze of evening, early autumn days were still warm.
Even in summer hunting attire, one had to wear multiple layers of protective gear, so preparing tents for shade was a thoughtful decision.
‘No wonder the late Emperor had his eye on Hadeliden as a son-in-law.’
Despite his young age, he was already widely acknowledged as a capable Prince Consort.
‘Though that foresight didn’t include even a shred of consideration for his daughter.’
The late Emperor, praised by the people as wise and benevolent, had been as strict with her child as she was capable.
Desiring her only heir to be perfect, she had subjected Elisa to countless tests right up until the moment she ascended the throne.
And one of those tests—
was Hadeliden himself.
What did that mean?
Exactly this.
“Her Majesty the Emperor has arrived.”
As Hadeliden announced Elisa’s arrival upon entering the largest central tent, the previously lively atmosphere froze instantly.
The hostility was palpable.
Since this was an event hosted by Hadeliden, the son of the noble faction’s leader, most of those present were members of the noble faction or closely affiliated with them.
‘And those assigned to the largest tent…’
Close ties to the Riarthry family.
In other words, central figures within the noble faction.
“Many familiar faces. Have you all been well?”
Her greeting sounded light, yet carried a sharp edge. A brief silence followed.
Cold gazes, far from what one would expect in the presence of an Emperor, met her.
‘The late Emperor should have seen this with her own eyes.’
Suppressing a sigh, Elisa met those icy stares head-on.
The imperial faction and the noble faction—
uniting the two forces that had split after the rebellion four years ago.
That was the final test left behind by the late Emperor.
“Your Majesty the Emperor.”
From the now-silent crowd, one person stepped forward.
A middle-aged woman, appearing to be in her early forties.
“It’s been a while, Marchioness Renner. I was disappointed not to see you at the last banquet.”
At Elisa’s greeting, the woman known as Marchioness Renner—Diana Renner—responded with proper decorum.
Her movements were dignified and elegant, befitting the head of the Renner Marquisate, second only in power to the Riarthry Ducal House within the noble faction.
“My husband was unwell that day, so we were unable to attend. I, too, deeply regretted not being able to accept Your Majesty’s invitation.”
“I heard about it and was quite concerned. How is the Marquis now?”
“Thanks to Your Majesty’s grace, he has improved greatly. Thank you.”
As she bowed slightly in gratitude, Elisa saw a resemblance to Hadeliden in her face.
‘Blood ties are blood ties, after all.’
Marchioness Renner’s older brother was none other than the Duke of Riarthry—Hadeliden’s father.
It was only natural they resembled each other.
“Aunt.”
At Hadeliden’s call, Marchioness Renner gave a slight nod to Elisa, indicating she would take her leave.
“Then, I shall see you at the hunt.”
“I look forward to it.”
With a nod, Elisa watched as she turned and disappeared back into the crowd.
Once the de facto leader of the group had finished greeting the Emperor, the previously tense atmosphere eased slightly.
As Elisa moved toward her seat under the weight of many gazes, Hadeliden stepped forward.
It was time to begin the event.
The hunting competition was divided into two sessions: morning and afternoon.
Most participants attended only one, though there were some who, fond of hunting, joined both.
Of course, for those uninterested in hunting and focused solely on socializing, a tea gathering was held alongside.
‘What should I do?’
At the signal marking the start of the competition, everyone in the tents gathered in the central area.
Those participating in the morning session checked their equipment, while those attending in the afternoon—or only for the tea—took their seats at the prepared tables.
As Elisa leisurely surveyed her surroundings, she spoke to Sir Sheraz, who approached her side.
“Did you confirm it?”
“Yes. Of the three candidates, it seems two will participate in the morning hunt.”
“Good. It’ll be easier to approach them in the forest.”
Unlike the crowded tents, the forest, shielded by trees, would provide better cover for movement.
Sir Sheraz appeared to share her thoughts, as he began preparing his equipment.
‘The problem is Hadeliden…’
Normally, the Prince Consort accompanied the Emperor.
To act separately from him, she needed a plausible reason.
“Those who are ready, please come this way.”
Several attendants stood at the forest entrance holding flags.
At the front stood Hadeliden, the host of the event, alongside Marchioness Renner. It seemed both would join the morning session.
“Will Your Majesty also participate in the morning?”
Spotting Elisa, Hadeliden asked.
Mounted on a pure white horse that resembled her own, he looked like a prince out of a fairy tale.
‘Not a prince—a Prince Consort.’
“It’ll be hotter in the afternoon, so I thought I’d go now.”
“I see. As I was also planning to go in the morning, perhaps we could—”
“No. This time, I’ll move with Sir Sheraz alone. It’s your event—having me by your side would only make things difficult for you.”
“…Pardon?”
At the suggestion of moving separately, Hadeliden’s face stiffened noticeably.
His lips parted as if to say something, but he soon lowered his head.
With his shoulders drooping, he almost resembled a drenched puppy trembling in the rain.
“Anyway, don’t worry about me. Just proceed as planned.”
“…Understood.”
Avoiding his gaze as he nodded with forced composure, Elisa thought to herself—
No matter what, she would find that man.
But then…
‘How did it come to this?’
“Aaah!”
“Kyaaah!”
The man and woman, entangled together in a heated embrace, screamed at the sudden intruder.
Faced with the dizzying scene, Elisa tightly shut her eyes.
