To any onlooker, it was a scene of Dane Schmaichel clearly slaughtering his kin. The Royal Knights could not simply stand by and watch.
“What a horrific ‘accident.’”
The kin’s mouths fell shut at Arikx’s single remark.
“They were too greedy. It seems they tried to lure the beasts in, only to be devoured themselves.”
It was a remark intended to cover up the incident as a mere accident.
Only then did the kin realize that Prince Arikx’s arrival here was no coincidence.
“…….”
Arikx sensed an unusual atmosphere.
The surrounding knights observed Dane with stiff expressions.
“...You have arrived, Your Highness.”
Eventually, Dane’s mouth moved. He continued speaking with his back turned to Arikx.
“I tried to help, but I was outmatched. As you can see, there were too many wolves.”
Arikx felt the cruel fury surging beneath Dane’s calm voice.
Perhaps because his words contradicted the scene unfolding before their eyes, no one dared to refute Dane.
“Finish them off.”
Finally, Dane turned around.
His shadowed eyes, like a deep stagnant pool, flashed a chilling blue.
“Aaaagh!”
“Save me, please save me!”
The remaining surviving kin were pushed off the cliff or thrown to the wolves.
“May I ask Your Highness to wrap up this accident?”
As Dane approached, Arikx briefly scanned his body with his eyes.
“Are you returning to Sector 1? You don’t look in good shape.”
“The hunt is not yet over.”
Finishing his words, he lightly mounted his horse. He slightly frowned when his left arm swung, but that was all.
“I still need to catch a gift for my wife.”
“My...”
Even as Arikx let out an open sigh, Dane spurred his horse and galloped away.
“Your Grace!”
“Please wait!”
The knights quickly divided their roles, and a few chased after Dane.
“He’s truly unstoppable.”
Arikx chuckled and fired a signal flare.
Peng!
It was the bloody conclusion to the hunt.
**
The next evening, at the royal palace banquet hall.
Underneath the soaring vaulted ceiling, a massive chandelier sparkled brilliantly.
“Have you heard the news? The reason this hunting tournament ended faster than scheduled?”
Nobles stood holding wine glasses, whispering amongst themselves.
“They say wild beasts attacked the Schmaichel kin. The situation was quite serious.”
“I heard they used forbidden drugs. Blinded by the desire to win... they brought it upon themselves.”
“They say Duke Schmaichel did his best, but even he was only able to drive away the wolves. Imagine how many drugs they must have used.”
The nobles’ gazes swept over the Schmaichel kin standing in the corner.
The bereaved family members were attending the event in splendid garments instead of mourning clothes. They maintained a dignified demeanor, but even thick makeup couldn’t hide their pale faces.
“It seems His Majesty did not permit mourning clothes?”
“Didn’t you hear earlier?”
In response to someone’s question, one of the noblewomen mimicked the king’s declaration.
“While the accident during the hunt is regrettable, halting the festival would only render their deaths meaningless.”
Another noblewoman nodded in agreement.
“To cause such an incident during a royal hunting tournament—how displeased must he be. That must be why he omitted the memorial service and forced the banquet to proceed.”
“Is that all? He proclaimed Duke Schmaichel as the winner. As if that were more important.”
Everyone vaguely guessed what had truly happened during yesterday’s hunting tournament.
Duke Schmaichel had carried out a purge of his house.
However, because the king had condoned it, no one dared to voice their suspicions out loud.
“Mother... what do we do now...”
“Shh, Cordelia. You mustn’t cry here. You will incur His Majesty’s wrath.”
Those scratched by Dane’s claws trembled in terror,
“Congratulations, Your Grace.”
“Thank you.”
While those protected under Dane’s shadow pledged even greater loyalty to him, reveling in their safety.
It was clear that the scales of victory had completely tipped in Dane Schmaichel’s favor after yesterday’s hunting tournament.
However.
“Heh...”
Henrik merely hid the smile on his lips behind his wine glass.
‘This worked out perfectly.’
When he ascended to the position of family head, those kin would surely have been annoying pests, demanding their share. He had been pondering how to deal with them anyway.
‘To think my nephew could be of use sometimes.’
Henrik’s cold blue eyes settled on Dane. Dane was standing with his wife, leisurely conversing with the nobles who supported him.
‘Yes, keep intoxicating yourself with the joy of your victory.’
Ignorant of the time bomb ticking inside his body, believing his victory to be eternal.
The higher one flies, the twice as fast they fall.
Henrik planned to secretly creep up and slit his throat right when Dane believed he had achieved complete victory.
‘The time is truly near.’
That was why he could tolerate Dane’s arrogant display right now. No, rather, thinking of the future made even this moment enjoyable.
“Count Henrik.”
The second prince, Cassian, approached him.
“Your Highness.”
Henrik offered a polite bow to Cassian.
“Thanks to the information you provided, Your Highness, I was able to avoid disaster.”
Originally, Henrik had also planned to participate in the hunting tournament. However, upon hearing the intelligence Cassian had acquired, he withdrew on the pretext of feeling ill.
If he had entered the hunting grounds alongside the kin, he too would have found it difficult to survive.
“I knew there was a reason my brother had the Royal Knights pulled out separately. It was all a calculated move.”
Cassian couldn’t hide the displeasure on his face.
“I truly don’t understand. Why is Father letting that bastard be?”
“…….”
“He caused a massive incident at the royal hunting tournament? Holding him accountable wouldn’t be enough, yet they crown him the winner. It’s completely absurd.”
Cassian was unaware that Arikx had already met with the king and struck a backroom deal.
‘Keep your son in line.’
The king had simply called Queen Consort Ravenna and quietly ordered her.
So, Ravenna, who normally would have made a huge fuss, taking the kin’s side and demanding an investigation into the truth,
“Hohoho.”
was acting meek today.
Syuk.
Ravenna glanced at Cassian and gave a subtle wink.
It was a signal to leave the viper Henrik and come over.
“Mother is calling.”
Cassian only half-understood Ravenna’s signal and shrugged his shoulders.
“See you later.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Henrik smiled, hiding the venom in his mouth.
He wished time would pass faster. Thinking just that.
At the same time.
“My goodness, Rose. You’re so pretty!”
Countess Holland and the other noblewomen gasped in admiration.
“Could this be a frost silk marten?”
The noblewomen’s gazes turned to the nape of Rose’s neck.
Today, Rose wore a champagne-gold dress that exposed her shoulders, draped with a dazzlingly bright white marten fur around her neck.
“Yes.”
Rose smiled shyly.
“His Grace succeeded in hunting it yesterday.”
“Wow, I heard it’s a truly rare and exotic animal. May I touch it just once?”
“Of course.”
The noblewomen who felt the marten fur exclaimed in low voices.
“Oh my, goodness. It’s softer than silk. And it’s even warm.”
“You truly deserve to be this year’s winner. Her Highness the Princess’s iron boar was impressive, but His Grace hunted a shadow wolf as well.”
“But still, how did he have that processed in just a single day?”
“He mobilized all the royal alchemists and magicians.”
Countess Holland promptly stepped forward to answer.
“I heard that His Grace called in all the artisans the moment the hunting tournament ended.”
“As expected of His Grace Schmaichel. It’s so romantic! I’m so jealous.”
Even as the noblewomen vied to praise her, Rose only replied with an aristocratic smile.
It was because she knew why Dane had gifted her this specifically.
“Rose.”
Just then, he came looking for her.
Wearing clothes that matched Rose’s outfit perfectly.
“Ohohoho...”
“Then we shall take our leave...”
The noblewomen quickly stepped back with fluttering, smiling eyes. Their gazes trailed behind them, a mix of half-envy and half-admiration.
Syuk.
Dane extended his hand to escort her.
“Your Grace.”
Rose approached, lightly taking his arm. She then scrutinized his face.
Despite having gone through fierce combat yesterday, Dane’s smooth face didn’t have a single scratch.
“You are truly amazing. Everyone is busy singing your praises.”
“It’s thanks to your help.”
Dane tapped the pendant hanging around his neck. He never took it off his body.
“What did I do... Sir Andersen was the one who told me.”
Rather than arguing back, Dane lightly stroked the nape of Rose’s neck. His gaze fell upon the marten fur resting on her neck.
“It suits you well. Keep wearing it from now on.”
“Until when?”
“Who knows.”
As Dane gazed at her intently, her breathing strangely quickened.
The expression he made before kissing her.
His eyes, so blue they appeared white, darkened deeply, and an unfamiliar smile lingered on his smooth lips.
“You must be a modest noblewoman, after all.”
Dane’s fingers brushed past her nape and lightly swept over her collarbone. Ososo, pleasant goosebumps rose, and a faint heat spread inside her.
‘...What is this?’
Rose was somewhat flustered by the unfamiliar feeling.
Since some time ago, she would get this feeling whenever Dane was close.
“You aren’t planning to proudly show off ‘that,’ are you?”
“...!”
Rose unconsciously placed her hand around her neck. The bruised marks he had left were still vivid.
‘Wouldn’t it be fine if His Grace just stopped making them?’
She couldn’t bring herself to say those words.
Because whenever he buried his face in her nape, letting out small groans as he left his marks, she was happy, feeling like a loved woman.
“...I will keep wearing it.”
“You should.”
“Your Grace, but... did really nothing happen that day?”
Regrettably, Rose only remembered the events of that day in fragments.
She felt like she had straddled Dane and kissed him, and like it had felt incredibly good...
“Nothing happened.”
It was frustrating that Dane, the only one who knew the truth, kept his mouth shut.
When she woke up in the morning, the maids had already cleaned her up, so Rose had no idea what had happened to her body.
“But still...”
Something was strange.
Ever since the day after drinking with Princess Beatrice, Dane’s attitude had subtly changed.
He was still kind and gentle. But if she looked deeper, a subtly sorrowful light lingered beneath it.
‘...Nonsense.’
Sorrowful? Was that even a word applicable to Dane Schmaichel?