A barrier formed by magic stones installed throughout the area served to protect those not participating in the hunt.
Now, only herbivores such as rabbits could enter Zone 1.
Clack, clack.
People approached the entrance of the forest on horseback.
The beasts inhabiting the Black Oak Forest used to raid peasant villages if their population was not periodically culled.
The royal family hosted hunting tournaments to save on subjugation costs while simultaneously giving nobles an opportunity to flaunt their martial prowess.
In other words, this hunting tournament was an occasion to prove that one, as a lord, possessed the strength to protect their domain's people.
“Here is the pledge. Schmaichel, correct?”
“That's right.”
The royal huntsman walked around, showing the pledge to each head of the families and receiving their confirmation.
Unlike Zone 1, increasingly dangerous beasts appeared the deeper one went into Zones 2 and 3.
Therefore, they collected pledges in advance stating that individuals were responsible for their own lives.
“The Schmaichel family has been assigned to Zone 3.”
After checking the map, Dane nodded. Around him, the collateral blood relatives standing apart from one another could be seen exchanging glances.
“…….”
Arikx's eyes swept over the Schmaichel collateral relatives inspecting their weapons.
Whether those bloodthirsty eyes were truly directed at the beasts—or at people—remained to be seen.
‘Who's hunting whom.’
He had already handed over the patrol route of the knight order in Zone 3 to Dane. To prepare for assassins, Arikx had also deployed separate troops that he could command.
Utilizing them well was Dane's responsibility.
“Please return safely.”
“Go and bring glory to the family name.”
Soon, it was time to conduct the blessing ritual before the departure.
This was the time when women presented favor tokens to the lord and knights embarking on the hunt. Everyone tied their tokens to the recipient's arm or spear, wishing them luck.
The tokens were usually handkerchiefs or scarves embroidered with the family crest.
“Your Highness!”
“Please accept mine.”
“No, accept mine!”
All sorts of young ladies, dressed up like flowers, vied to approach Arikx.
They were young ladies who always carried themselves with dignified elegance, but in this moment, they were as swift as predators snatching up prey.
“…….”
Arikx glanced over at Dane.
Normally, the guy would have been standing right beside him amidst this swarm of young ladies...
Clack, clack.
...but without a moment's hesitation, he stopped in front of his wife.
“Phew...”
“Haa.”
Seeing this, the young ladies swallowed their sighs.
Even when he had come alone without his wife, he hadn't exactly been receptive to accepting tokens, but now, it seemed entirely impossible.
Swish!
The moment Dane leapt off his horse,
‘Hmm?’
Arikx detected that Dane's posture was subtly stiff. It felt as if his left arm was moving unnaturally.
‘Betty was right.’
For a fleeting moment, Arikx wondered if Dane had avoided Betty's challenge to conceal that injury.
“…….”
The collateral relatives were watching Dane's state with sharp eyes.
“Rose.”
As Dane stepped in front of his wife,
Thud.
he knelt before her.
“……!”
The bustling noise died down in an instant.
The knees that would not bend for anyone had effortlessly touched the dusty ground in front of his wife.
“Will you bestow your blessing upon me?”
Dane spoke thus and closed his eyes.
The sight was so sacred it looked as though he was offering a prayer at a holy sanctuary.
“Wow.”
“Oh my...!”
Not only the unmarried young ladies but even the married noblewomen let out stifled gasps of admiration.
Dane Schmaichel remained a highly sought-after groom.
Moreover, since his wife's family was so humble, a few high-ranking nobles were still scheming to steal him away.
“That guy, look at that, look at that.”
Beatrice, standing next to Arikx, clicked her tongue repeatedly.
“He acts so tame in front of his wife. No wonder Rose falls for it.”
Arikx giggled and whispered to Beatrice.
“My father also turned into a gentle sheep in front of 'Mother.' It can't be helped.”
“How is that the same as this? Ugh, he's basically shouting to the whole world that Rose is his. I'm so sick of it, seriously!”
“It's blatant, but it seems effective.”
Arikx gestured with his chin toward a group of young ladies.
Tatiana Voronoff was standing there with a venomous expression, gritting her teeth. Beside her, Cordelia's face was pale and sallow.
“Hmm, did he do that on purpose?”
Beatrice put on an intrigued expression.
“The friend I thought was a foolish romantic turned out to be a genius of social maneuvering?”
“It's closer to marking his territory, as you said.”
Arikx and Beatrice snickered as they watched Dane and Rose.
Regardless, it was a rare sight to behold.
“Will my blessing truly mean anything? You are already a splendid swordsman, Your Excellency.”
As Rose murmured with a flushed face, Dane shook his head resolutely.
“More than anything.”
Reassured by his firm, clear answer, the hesitating Rose finally reached out to Dane.
Swish.
Rose cradled Dane's cheeks with both hands, and Dane buried his face in her palms like a well-tamed beast.
The sight was so deeply affectionate that everyone lost their words and stared blankly.
“Ugh, it's not just dripping with honey, it's getting outright sticky...”
Only Beatrice rubbed the goosebumps that sprouted on her arms.
“What a spectacle. I feel sick before the hunt even begins.”
Unable to bear it any longer, Arikx shook his head back and forth as well.
“May there be no hesitation where the tip of your sword reaches. May there be no shadows touching your back.”
Whether the two siblings were suffering or not, Dane was devoutly accepting Rose's blessing as if it were that of a priest.
“Have a safe trip, Your Excellency. Whatever your prey... skin it and bring it before me.”
For a moment, Arikx was impressed.
He had thought she was as tender as a herbivore, but she could utter cruel words befitting a carnivore.
Only her tone was incredibly soft, so those unaware of the truth would think it was merely a wife's blessing worrying for her husband.
‘Dane must truly trust her.’
It was a statement she could never make if she didn't know what kind of situation her husband was in or who was targeting him.
“I shall follow your command.”
Dane raised his head and smiled.
It was the moment a crack formed in a snowy mountain covered in eternal snow. His dry eyes curved slightly, and his perpetually stiff lips broke into a smile.
“Ah...”
“Whoa...”
At that brilliantly shining smile, all the young ladies let out dizzy sighs without even realizing it.
“Please take this.”
Rose calmly placed a pendant around Dane's neck.
She was unfazed by the smile that had disarmed everyone. It was an attitude only possible because she was used to it.
“This is...”
“Wherever you are, Your Excellency, I will be with you.”
People thought that statement was merely a wife's wish; they did not think it was actually possible.
A magic stone embedded within the pendant was sparkling.
“Thank you.”
Dane lifted the pendant and gave it a short kiss. At that sight, Rose blushed as if she had been the one kissed.
“Kyaa...!”
The two's public display of affection ended with all the young ladies going wild.
“Ugh, Brother. Wake me up when that's all over. I can't watch anymore...”
Beatrice grabbed Arikx's shoulder and feigned vomiting.
Arikx just laughed.
‘What an intense first love.’
It was impossible to gauge just how far Dane was willing to go. It felt as though he planned to exhaust all his dark history during this harvest festival.
But at the same time, it somehow felt like teasing Dane over this would be useless.
‘So what.’
A premonition that he would just calmly retort exactly that.
“But Brother, isn't it strange? Is it just my eyes, or does Dane look anxious?”
“No, you saw it right. He hasn't been looking so good since this morning.”
“See? I told Dane to get a grip. It wasn't for nothing.”
Beatrice rested her chin on her hand and muttered quite seriously.
“They seem to like each other, but it feels like they're subtly out of sync? Ah, how should I explain it? Anyway, there's a bit of that.”
Beatrice's eyes sparkled as she stared intently at Dane and Rose.
“As expected, I need to help them.”
“Help with what? They'll figure it out on their own.”
“No, if you just leave them like that, something will definitely go wrong.”
Beatrice shook her head with a confident gesture.
“That guy Dane is already acting like that, but imagine if something happens with his wife. He'll be so blinded he won't even register helping you out, Brother.”
“Hmm, that would be a bit problematic.”
“And don't you want to see that punk Dane going wild like a wild boar struck by lightning?”
“...That sounds like it'd be fun.”
In the end, Arikx feigned defeat and gave in to Beatrice's suggestion. In truth, his desire to tease Dane was even greater.
“Let's focus on the hunting tournament for now. I don't want to see Dane acting all cocky.”
“Same here. Let's gauge the situation at the banquet tomorrow.”
When Dane got back on his horse, the people's attention scattered. The young ladies who snapped out of it also tried to approach Arikx again.
“Ah, right. I came to give a blessing.”
Beatrice rummaged through her pocket, took something out, and offered it with a flourish.
“I. wish. my. bro. ther. good. luck. in. the. hunt.”
She read it like a book, awkward beyond belief, but loud enough for the surrounding young ladies to hear clearly.
“…….”
A vein slightly popped on Arikx's forehead when he confirmed what Beatrice had placed in his hand.
‘A rag used for wiping down horses...’
However, if he didn't accept this as a favor token now, he would end up surrounded by that crowd of young ladies all over again.
So he swallowed his frustration and made a show of carefully tucking it into his coat.
“...Thank you, sister.”
“You're welcome, Brother.”
Beatrice, mounting her horse with a grin, was truly infuriating.
Puuuuuu-
The royal huntsman blew a massive horn. Dozens of hunting dogs darted into the forest.
“Hyaah!”
“Let's go!”
People urged their horses forward and began advancing into the forest.
It was the start of the hunt.
**
Woof! Woof!
The sound of hounds barking and herding prey,
Clatter!
The sound of horseshoes driven by nobles shook the very ground.
Even amidst that clamor, Dane stood out.
Fluttering the blue cloak that symbolized his house, his galloping silhouette atop a white horse was as noble as ever.
‘I'll finally kill you today.’
Count Olsen twisted his lips as he watched Dane's back.
What had initially begun as a quest for his daughter's revenge had now lost even that purpose, leaving behind only murderous intent.
Like a candle burning its last wick, he was pouring every ounce of his life's purpose into this.
‘It means we've both shown all our cards anyway.’
Dane probably wouldn't believe that the blood relatives following him had joined the hunting tournament with pure intentions.
“Why didn't Sir Henrik come?”
“He said he wasn't feeling well.”
Olsen drove his horse while conversing with Count Marcus.
It wasn't time yet. There were too many royal knights and sharp-witted nobles around Dane.
Thwack!
Dane picked up speed as if he had found animal tracks. The knights began to follow him as he urged his horse deeper into the forest.