# 50
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I still feel Etheos's heavy, mysterious gaze when—
“Our greetings to His Highness the Emperor.”
A man appeared at the entrance, leading several nobles.
He looked a little older than the Emperor.
When I saw the crest on his shoulder armor, I smiled victoriously.
Duke Camille Beatrice, ruler of the Western Plains.
He controlled hundreds of thousands of soldiers – one of the empire's greatest nobles.
'But he was not on good terms with the Duke of Elmore.'
He approached the Emperor, bowed in formal greeting and looked at him.
“Ah, Duke Beatrice!”
The Emperor shook hands with him enthusiastically.
Having been a close friend of the late Emperor, Beatrice withdrew to the West and stayed away from politics due to the machinations of the current Emperor.
When the Emperor seized the throne, Duke Beatrice neither opposed nor supported him, allowing the coup to take place without resistance.
The plot was malicious.
The late Emperor wrote a long letter about Beatrice's lands and about Camille himf.
The current emperor intercepted the letter and showed only the first page, which mentioned some critical concerns.
He claimed that the late Emperor wore a mask of friendship while plotting to overthrow Duke Beatrice.
The rest of the letter, stored in Ellimore Palace, contained warm praise—confirming birth and preparing to face death at his old friend's side.
“Yes.. ..it had lines like ‘Camille Beatrice is a loyal servant, someone with whom I will face death.’”
Ts.
What a bunch of scoundrels.
“I'm glad you're joining the hunting festival.”
“It's an honor.”
Although Duke Beatrice stayed away from politics, the look in his eyes when he faced the Emperor held no emotion.
It was just formal loyalty.
no more.
That's why today was the day to reveal the truth to him - and bring Duke Beatrice to Etheos' side.
Our eyes met for a moment as he turned around.
When he saw my hair, he immediately recognized me as the daughter of the Duke of Elmore.
His eyebrows furrowed in displeasure, but I smiled politely, unfazed.
He did not return the greeting and got on his horse.
That would have been an insult, but I didn't care.
I wanted Camille Beatrice to be this tough and tough.
Because the more his heart is closed, the stronger the impact of the truth when it is revealed.
An imperial servant began distributing something to the participants.
It was a small plate engraved with a unique participant number.
Due to the number of runners and the possibility of accidents, everyone had to carry one.
“97.”
I read the number engraved on the small stone and inserted it into my jacket pocket.
This is the number I will mark on my game with my knife.
I slowly looked up at Etheus.
He was far away, but I could clearly see the number on his lap.
114.
Just like in the original story.
As for Duke Beatrice, he got a number in the 100s.
As soon as everyone mounted their horses, the whistle sounded.
With a gentle click of the stirrup, my horse lunged forward.
The forest was not very rugged, and the spaces between the trees were wide, ideal ground for horseback riding.
After about ten minutes of riding, I reached a quiet area with no signs of life.
‘First, I need Etheos’ help.’
I jumped off my horse.
“But I'm going to have a good time doing it.”
After attaching the reins, she lay down on a tree trunk.
“Ah, the air is lovely.”
In the distance, I heard cheers—someone must have caught something.
Wasn't the rabbit worth 3 points and the deer 5?
The final boss, Black Bear, was worth 50 points.
Even ten rabbits are not worth one bear.
While I was thinking about these things, about ten minutes passed.
I heard steps, someone was running.
I picked up my bow, put in an arrow, and pulled the string hard.
A man appeared running, his black hair flying, his piercing blue eyes.
His sword was soaked in the blood of the monsters pursuing him.
Even someone as smart and strong as him probably couldn't understand what was happening.
Why did his horse throw him away?
Why were wolves, who were not even good prey, pursuing him?
Even if he had some doubt, there was nothing he could do.
Don't worry, Etheus.
I will help you.
Soooo—
My arrow flew after Etheus and pierced the wolf directly in the eye.
“Aaagh—!”
The wolf fell dead on the spot.
His blue eyes widened when he saw me.
I pulled another arrow, took aim, and fired again, hitting another wolf in the forehead.
My days of archery training are paying off.
“One more...”
I pulled again.
A wolf was right behind him, about to tear his back apart.
As soon as he got within 50 meters, I screamed.
“Bend!”
Etheus immediately bowed at my warning.
Unlike him, the wolf did not stop, and jumped forward, opening his jaws, to be pierced by my arrow in mid-air.
He fell to the ground dead.
Etheus slowly rose to his feet.
He stood still, looking directly at me.
I walked towards him, one step, then another, and stood in front of him.
“Are you injured?”
He stared for a moment, then nodded slightly, his eyebrows twitching slightly.
". … I'm fine."
She smiled a small smile filled with relief.
In the original story, Etheus spends the entire hunting festival endlessly pursued by wolves.
Although he had a secret ability, the Shadow Step, it was something he could not use openly.
So, he had to fend off dozens of wolves with one sword.
Worse still, Wolves were worth zero points.
Because of her, he couldn't even find another prey, there was no way to gain points.
After that, the Emperor mocked him in front of everyone.
“Don't get it wrong.”
She spoke with deliberate arrogance.
“If these wolves eat your Highness, they will probably come after me next, I just wanted to avoid this problem.”
It was painful to say such cold things, but that was Catherine's way.
“...I get that.”
Accept it very easily.
Something in the tone of his voice made me hesitate.
I took aim again, fired, and—
Another wolf fell.
“Strange, though, why are wolves only chasing you?”
“Are you carrying something that wolves like?”
I asked, as if I was daring him to investigate.
He frowned, then took out his plate.
That was the only suspicious thing.
Compared to my tablet, its color was a little different.
“So...it's this.”
The Disgusting Emperor never disappoints.
The board likely contained pheromones that attracted wolves – seeping through small holes.
Of course, Etheus will not die from a few wolves, but they will endlessly interfere with his hunting.
"scoundrel."
An expletive slipped from my mouth before I could stop it.
Etheus turned to me.
Oops.
“I mean the wolf, he looks like a stray dog.”
“…puff.”
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
Then he said.
“Catherine.”
His blue eyes stared at me with complicated emotions.
If we keep looking at each other like this, I might end up confessing everything.
But then—
With a slight, mysterious smile, Etheus said.
“If this attracts wolves, I should get rid of it.”
“There's a better idea.”
I smiled and stopped him.
I shrugged and continued.
“One that suits us both.”
His eyes swayed, as if asking the meaning of my words.
I looked towards the forest.
“Somewhere nearby, there is an ugly face looking for me.”
Velius offered to protect me.
I knew it was a lie.
If by chance I “die” while hunting, my wealth will go to him – my only living relative.
Vadelmon would love that.
Since Filius was Vadelmon's recommendation, it makes sense that he was following me with ulterior intentions.
Even if he wears a mask of remorse, a monster is still a monster.
“Filius Regalo.”
“Yes, that hideous man.”
Etheus's eyes turned to ice.
“Pass this to him secretly.”
“If people find out that the wolves have stopped attacking someone, the Emperor might come up with something worse, we will change the target.”
I pointed to the tablet of Etheos.
I killed four wolves, there were at least six more hiding.
“I will take revenge on the man who wished me harm, and Your Highness will be able to hunt in peace.”
Etheus watched me with mysterious eyes.
“Where are you going?”
As I stretched and prepared to mount my horse, he asked.
I jumped into the saddle with a smile.
“Meeting.”
He narrowed his eyes.
I added, –
“Something like that.”
I pulled at the reins, but his voice, rough and a little desperate, called to me.
“Don't get hurt.”
"never."
A warm wind blew between us.