Chapter 4
The candidates selected jointly by Sir Sheraz and Elisa numbered three in total.
They were Kedilon Magner, son of Count Magner; Ruje Shonus, son of Count Shonus; and Talis Libern, grandson of Marquis Libern.
‘Among them, Kedilon Magner and Ruje Shonus will participate in the morning. As for Talis Libern…’
According to the information Sir Sheraz had gathered, Talis Libern would not be taking part in the hunt.
It meant his aim was not hunting, but socializing with the nobles gathered here.
‘The two participating in the morning are resting in the afternoon as well.’
Even if she failed to make contact with the two during the morning hunt, there would be another opportunity at the afternoon tea gathering.
‘The order doesn’t matter.’
Elisa’s goal was not to befriend the three men, but to determine whether “that person” was among them.
Reaffirming her objective, Elisa lifted her gaze forward.
At that moment, Hadeliden, already mounted on his horse, stood before the crowd.
With a posture as beautiful as a painting, he raised his arm. At his gesture, the flags were hoisted all at once.
Bwoooong!
As the flags fluttered, the horn signaling the start echoed through the air.
“Begin!”
With excited cries, the horses surged forward.
Among the five or six groups that split off, the largest was led by Hadeliden and Marquis Renner.
Ruje Shonus formed a smaller group, while Kedilon Magner, seemingly intending to move alone, rode into the forest by himself.
“What are your orders?”
At Sir Sheraz’s question, Elisa pointed in one direction—
the direction Kedilon Magner had taken.
And as a result, what appeared before her eyes was—
“Kyahhh!”
A half-naked man and woman, tangled together and rolling on the ground.
“I was the one who seduced him first.”
…Who asked?
Elisa stared at the woman, who looked up at her with half-lidded eyes.
Despite having just screamed at the top of her lungs moments ago, the woman now spoke calmly, her face set with solemn determination.
“Kedilon is innocent. So I will take the punishment!”
“Rina!”
Startled, Kedilon Magner—still hurriedly clutching his clothes—called out her name.
The woman called Rina gently caressed the trembling man’s face, her own expression filled with fear and anxiety.
“My greed has caused you great pain. I’m sorry, Kedilon.”
“Pain? Rina, you’ve given me nothing but happiness!”
“My beloved Kedilon… why must you be the son of a count?”
“My love, Rina… why must you be a maid of the imperial palace…!”
Locked in each other’s arms, the two cried and sniffled as if acting out a tragic play.
From what Elisa could gather, it was a doomed love story separated by differences in status.
Turning her gaze away from the pair, completely immersed in their own world, Elisa gestured to Sir Sheraz—
as if telling him to deal with them.
…But.
‘Why is he crying now?’
Sir Sheraz was dabbing at his tears with a handkerchief that had appeared from who knew where.
Unbelievable.
“Both of you, stop it!”
Unable to endure any longer, Elisa forcibly pulled the two apart.
“Uwah!”
“Kyaa!”
Clinging to each other as if refusing to leave even the slightest gap, the pair were thrown aside by Elisa’s rough intervention.
They looked up at her in shock.
Clicking her tongue, Elisa silenced them both, their lips snapping shut awkwardly.
“So—you two are involved, is that right?”
What had moments ago been a tragic tale now sounded like gossip from a marketplace.
Kedilon pouted slightly, displeased, but Elisa paid him no mind.
“Answer!”
“…Y-yes!”
“Th-that’s right.”
That settled their relationship.
Satisfied with the swift clarification, Elisa moved on to her next question.
“Then answer this—were the two of you together on the night of the imperial banquet a month ago?”
“Gasp!”
“H-how did you…!”
Rina’s wide-eyed reaction made it clear the answer was yes.
As for Kedilon, whose face had turned as red as a ripe tomato—there was no need to even look.
‘So it’s not this one.’
“Sir Sheraz.”
“Yes.”
Calling his name, Elisa turned back the way she had come.
She was about to leave to find the next candidate, Ruje Shonus, when—
“Um… Your Majesty!”
Kedilon Magner stopped her.
“What is it?”
Without turning fully, she glanced back.
Held in Rina’s arms, Kedilon asked hesitantly,
“Is there… no punishment?”
“…Punishment?”
Come to think of it, they had mentioned punishment earlier.
A count’s son and a palace maid—such a relationship was difficult to realize.
Though palace maids were of noble birth, they were typically daughters of lower-ranking noble families—baronial houses or below—and often second or third daughters who could not inherit titles.
No count’s family would willingly give their precious son to such a match.
But still—
“Do you think this is something to be punished for?”
“…Pardon?”
“I don’t.”
Leaving the two speechless behind her, Elisa walked forward.
“Do you truly think so?”
“What?”
Once they were far enough from the exasperating couple, Sir Sheraz asked quietly.
“I mean those two.”
His gaze was probing, as if weighing her words.
Elisa merely shrugged.
“At least they didn’t harm anyone else, did they?”
“…That’s true.”
“Then that’s enough.”
Leaving behind the nodding Sir Sheraz, Elisa continued onward.
One candidate was eliminated.
Two remained.
The group riding through the forest gradually slowed their pace.
Having reached deep into the woods, they stilled their breathing and surveyed their surroundings.
Leaves rustled eerily in the wind.
Rustle.
In the artificial silence, the sound of grass brushing stood out sharply.
The one who first sensed it stepped forward, and with unspoken agreement, the others lowered their stances.
Advancing with careful steps, he stopped before his target.
There, at a small spring, a deer bent its head to drink.
‘Found it.’
The one before the deer—
Hadeliden.
He steadied his breathing.
Gripping his bow, he took a deep, controlled breath and held it.
Then—
he released the taut bowstring.
With a sharp whistle, the arrow pierced through the air and struck the deer.
“Kieeeek!”
The deer thrashed in agony, the arrow embedded deep in its neck—
before collapsing.
Thud.
“Success!”
“His Majesty the Consort has taken down a deer!”
Those who had been holding their breath rushed forward at once.
“Congratulations, Your Majesty.”
“Thank you, Aunt.”
“To strike it in a single shot—your skill is remarkable.”
“…No. I still have a long way to go.”
At Marquis Renner’s praise, Hadeliden shook his head.
“You are always so strict with yourself. Perhaps it is time to ease up a little.”
“That is not the case.”
Leaving the marquis, who patted his shoulder proudly, Hadeliden approached the struggling deer.
Its dark eyes, dimming with life, reflected him.
“If I were more skilled, this deer would not have suffered needlessly.”
“Even so, to kill such a large deer in one shot—”
“You have done so, Your Majesty.”
“…”
Kneeling, Hadeliden placed a hand on the deer’s head.
Its body trembled faintly, lacking even the strength to struggle.
“I’m sorry.”
Whispering softly, he drew the dagger at his side and ended its suffering.
A servant immediately stepped forward.
“I will take care of it.”
“…Please do.”
Rising to his feet, he lifted his gaze to the sky.
The sun had already passed its peak.
“We will conclude the morning hunt here.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
The group began packing without complaint.
After wiping the blood from his dagger, Hadeliden headed toward his horse to put away his bow and remaining arrows.
But then—
“Honestly, don’t you think Her Majesty is too much?”
“Exactly. I wondered why she even bothered to attend an event hosted by His Majesty the Consort, only to leave immediately.”
“That’s what I’m saying! Being indifferent is one thing, but this is excessive!”
Hearing the conversation, his steps halted.
The voices belonged to familiar figures—those closely tied to the Riatri family.
‘Young Viscount Joshua and Sir Yanto…’
Suppressing a sigh, Hadeliden resumed walking.
He assumed they would fall silent once they noticed him.
But—
“I knew it the moment she took a concubine right after the royal marriage. You can’t hide blood—her behavior is vulgar.”
“If it weren’t for that ‘power’ passed down only to the imperial family, she would have been deposed long ago!”
“Deposed? She wouldn’t even have ascended the throne in the first place!”
As their remarks crossed the line, Hadeliden’s gaze lowered.
In his hands were the bow and arrows he had yet to put away.
‘Eleven… is it?’
Counting the arrows remaining—more than enough—
he lifted his gaze forward once more.
Reflected in his cold, blue eyes—
was prey.
