~Chapter 126~
“Your Highness, you look wonderful!”
“Really! You look amazing, Your Highness!”
As soon as I changed into my custom-made hunting outfit, the maids burst into praise.
The clothes really were well made.
I turned my body this way and that, checking myself in the mirror. Even I had to admit—I looked pretty good.
The deep green top and black pants embroidered with gold thread looked luxurious, and the fabric was comfortable even when moving around.
“Did you tie your hair because you’re going hunting?”
Richard had entered the room without me noticing. He smiled brightly as he spoke.
He was wearing a deep wine-colored hunting outfit, giving off a very different impression from usual.
“Why are you staring at me like that?”
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you wear clothes that color before.”
When I thought of Richard, he usually gave off a cool, clear impression.
But seeing him in warm colors suit him so perfectly made one thing clear—
Handsome men do not need a personal color.
His face really does all the work.
“I think this is the first time I’ve seen you with your hair tied up too.”
“It was bothering me, so I tied it. Does it look strange?”
“Not at all.”
Richard answered instantly. He smiled softly, affection clear in his eyes.
He did not need to say anything—his gaze alone seemed to say you’re pretty.
I enjoyed the sight for a moment… then suddenly felt my heart flutter.
“Tied hair and all—are you going to win first place at this rate?”
“Win? No way. I can barely graze the target. Hitting a moving animal is even harder.”
“If you keep shooting, you’ll get the hang of it. You’ve already improved a lot after just a few days.”
“That’s because I had a good gun and a good teacher.”
I took Orko’s gun out of the box.
After receiving it from Bastian, my shooting skill had improved noticeably.
The gun suited me well, but more than that, Bastian had explained things clearly and patiently.
“My goal is just to catch something.”
I had no intention of using the Perfect Sharpshooter ability in this hunting competition.
More than five days had already passed since I tested it, so the cooldown was ready—but I planned to rely only on my own skill, just in case something unexpected happened.
“Are you really okay using the tent my mother assigned to you?”
“There’s no helping it. The Empress suggested it in front of everyone, so it’d be awkward to refuse.”
“I could just say I planned to share a tent with you.”
“Then both of us would become a joke.”
Even lovers can start to look unpleasant if rumors keep spreading about them.
I could not use Richard as a shield against the Empress every time. It was better to accept favors disguised as goodwill when possible.
“I’ve placed extra guards around the tent. And you still have the item His Highness the Crown Prince gave you.”
Under my coat, I reached behind my waist and lightly tapped the place where the pistol was hidden.
Next to it was a small knife that popped out with the press of a button.
I was fully prepared.
“Take this too.”
Richard strapped a short holster around my arm.
Inside was a gun even smaller than the pistol.
“Aren’t I not allowed to carry another gun?”
“It’s not a real gun. If something dangerous happens, aim at the sky and fire—it’ll release a signal flare. That way, we can find your location quickly.”
Ah. A flare gun.
I had only seen one in shooting games or movies.
As Richard closed the holster, his face clearly showed that he truly hoped I would never need to use it.
I felt the same way.
“With this much preparation, I could survive no matter where I end up.”
I said it jokingly and took Richard’s hand.
To be honest, I was not completely free of worry.
But I trusted myself not to fall easily.
And even if something did happen—
I trusted that Richard would come running to me no matter where I was.
“It’s time. The hunting competition is about to begin.”
“Alright.”
Richard squeezed my hand once, then bent his arm to escort me.
I slipped my arm through his, and together, we headed toward the hunting grounds.
The hunting competition began with speeches from Bastian and the Empress.
After that, the participants dispersed to their respective tents.
Behind the main palace stretched the vast hunting grounds, divided into five large zones.
Most of the tents were set up in the central zone.
The tents assigned to Yvonne and me—separately prepared by the Empress—were also in the central area, but far from the others.
They were placed closer to a “safe zone” with only small and medium animals.
…Or so they claimed.
Who knows what kind of hidden intention lay behind that.
“Having you nearby makes me feel relieved, Your Highness.”
Yvonne greeted me with her usual shy smile when she arrived at my tent.
What was she hiding behind that pretty smile?
The knights around us did not seem particularly wary of her.
To anyone else, she looked like a fragile noble lady.
But I stayed alert.
“I feel comfortable with you too, Yvonne. You said you practiced yesterday—are you more used to the gun now?”
“My sister taught me, but it’s still difficult. Which zone are you planning to hunt in, Your Highness?”
“Well… it’s the first day, so I was thinking of Zone Four.”
Zone Four was where small animals like birds and rabbits gathered.
It was meant for beginners, so aside from me, maybe only one or two others would go there.
“I was planning to go to Zone Four as well. May I go with you?”
“Of course.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
Yvonne smiled brightly and returned to her tent to prepare.
A short while later, she came back on horseback with her knights.
She can ride?
I was surprised. I had heard she spent most of her time indoors, either at her estate or at a recuperation villa.
“You look surprised.”
“A little.”
“My father taught me when I was young. I was worried since it’s been a while, but after riding a few times, I got used to it again.”
“Are you sure you’re not overdoing it?”
“Yes, I’m fine. Is it your first time riding, Your Highness?”
She smiled lightly and glanced at my horse beside me.
It wasn’t my first time.
When I lived as Han Yuna, I often went to Jeju Island during breaks and rode horses there.
And after learning horseback riding seriously while practicing shotgun shooting, I had become fairly skilled even in this body.
“I learned when I was young too. I can manage a bit. Shall we go?”
“Yes.”
I mounted my horse and turned toward Zone Four.
Even at a slow pace, it only took about ten minutes to arrive.
When we reached the center of Zone Four, Yvonne suddenly stopped her horse.
“I think there’s a rabbit over there.”
She pointed toward a patch of low bushes.
As I focused, a rustling sound followed—and a gray rabbit emerged.
“Your Highness, you should take the first shot.”
I raised my shotgun and aimed at the rabbit running through the grass.
Bang!
I pulled the trigger—but the first shot missed, and the rabbit disappeared.
“What a shame. I’m going to chase the rabbit that ran away. What will you do, Your Highness?”
“I’ll… look for other prey.”
“Then we should move separately from here. I’ll see you later, Your Highness.”
She rode off in the direction the rabbit had fled, without hesitation.
I had thought she wanted to stay together while hunting—but she left without looking back.
“Melona, can you scout the entire Zone Four?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
After asking Melona to investigate, I watched Yvonne disappear into the distance.
Do you really have no plan at all?
Suspicion followed my gaze as I watched her go.
