YM778.TV Chapter 62
Today, the first day of the harvest festival, there is a hunting competition during the day. The site is at t western forest owned by the Imperial Family.
Participation in the hunting competition was limited to noblemen or women who were officially awarded the title of knights, but it was not so as to whether noble ladies had nothing to do with the hunting competition.
‘The cheerleading squad.’
Each of them stepped on the venue to support their family members, lovers, friends, or family knights.
It was the same for me. I was supposed to attend the place where the hunting competition was held today to tie a handkerchief to Ash’s bow in honour of victory and good fortune. It’s a courtesy and it’s a tradition that’s been going every year.
‘At first, I was a little worried about having to look at the bow.’
But soon the trouble was cleared away. I didn’t feel sick the other day simply because I saw a bow or arrow. After seeing the target position, I finally showed such symptoms.
The place where the cheering squads waited and the forest where the actual hunting took place were naturally separated.
I would never have seen the problem of the participants targeting their hunts.
“That’s true, my lady. But just in case.”
“Okay.”
“Never stay away from near Sir Sack.”
“So Sir Davery can’t even participate in the competition because of me.”
“Did you call me?”
Standing by the door where he appeared, Sir Davery knocked on the door meaninglessly.
“Are you ready?”
“As you can see, and if you’re talking about participating in a hunting competition, I’m fine.”
“Isn’t that too bad?”
“Well, not really. Have you tried running around on a horse and catching animals? It’s just cumbersome and tiring.”
“It sounds like fun.”
“I find it more fun to sit far away and shake a handkerchief.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
Sir Davery, the promising knight of the mansion and one of the most powerful men in the world, has decided not to make his name on the hunting competition participant list and remain in the cheering seat.
It was an inevitable choice because he had to take duty as my escort. I said it would be all right to change places with others just today, but Sir Davery refused.
‘Is he truly hate hunting?’
I thought all the knights would love to hunt. Is it my prejudice? Anyway, I was a little bit worried, but I felt relieved to hear that.
After a while, I was ready to leave for Ash.
I had to travel for about an hour by carriage from here to the west forest, the venue for the competition.
‘I can’t believe it’s only an hour from the capital.’
Which means it belongs to the yolk land. In such a position, they keep the forest every year only for hunting competitions.
‘As expected, from the Imperial Family.’
If it were my previous life, would it be as if there was a forest in Gangnam?
While spending time thinking so senselessly, the carriage arrived at the destination.
I got escorted by Ash and got off from the carriage, then Ash opened his mouth.
“If you are uncomfortable after entering the venue, talk to me right away.”
“Huh?”
“We may go back as we are.”
“…no, not as far as I know.’
There was something I passed without explaining, and it was my duty to participate in the hunting competition.
All families had to send out one participant each, except for their own knights.
The only exception here is in unavoidable circumstances.
For example, there are no men in the family who have reached adulthood, or all men are dead or missing for some reason and only women remain. There’s a man, but he’s too old or sick to ride on a horse to hunt.
This kind of true and inevitable story has been taken into account.
It’s hard to say, but at this point, none of those conditions affected our family.
Ash wasn’t a minor anymore, he’s not an old man, he’s not a woman, and he’s not even sick anymore.
‘But Ash wouldn’t care about that.’
But I have no choice but to care.
“It’s all right.”
While I was shaking my head, I added a few words.
“And I’ve always wanted to try tying a handkerchief to a bow.”
Ash had no answer. Was it too random?
There were already quite a few people in the vacant lot that was made a little far from the forest. I found some familiar faces there and briefly greeted them.
After that, it was time for the competition to start soon.
When the emperor, who appeared with attendants on both sides, finished a brief congratulatory speech, the servant sounded the trumpet loudly.
I tied a handkerchief tightly to Ash’s bow.
“Be careful.”
“Should I win?”
It was an absurd answer since I told him to be careful.
I raised my eyes.
“What?”
“Because it’s a handkerchief that binds in hopes of victory.”
“…it also means to be safe without getting hurt.”
“That’s a given.”
Ash looked at me gently and folded his eyes and laughed. Perhaps because I saw his smiling face in a surprise move, my heart felt like it was pounding.
Oh, it’s so close. Damn it, I let my guard down.
I deliberately avoided eye contact by purposely checking to see if my handkerchief was properly tied.
“You can do whatever you want just because you want to, winning?”
“So, shall we?”
“Do as you please.”
I thought for a moment whether Ash was competitive. Meanwhile, Ash got on the horse with a bow around him.
I raised my head along with Ash and soon dropped it again. The sun was dazzling.
“The Duke of Widgreen.”
It was then that an unfamiliar, but feel familiar, a voice was heard.
“Your Highness.”
I shaded my hands to hide from the sunlight.
The prince’s approach with the white horse came into sight.
And I was very surprised at the sight.
‘Why does it look so suited well with him?’
The crown prince and the white horse were amazingly fantastic.
‘Is that why there’s a saying, prince riding a white horse?’
Whether it’s the sense of servants or the prince’s own eyes, I wanted to say that it was a perfect choice anyway.
On the other hand, Ash’s horse was a black horse. The mane and fur were all dark and glossy black like black jade.
Thanks to it, the closer the Crown Prince approached, the clearer the contrast between black and white was naturally made.
I heard a murmur of noise around me as if it weren’t only me who felt that impression.
“It’s like a black knight and a white knight.”
“They’re the Black Prince and the White Prince.”
“What the hell is that?”
“They’re an angel and a devil.”
At the end of the sentence, I held my head back unconsciously. Whoever it is, it’s sharp.
I don’t know what she said, but in terms of roles, they were a universally righteous male lead and a ruthless villain.
‘The heroine who’s going to confront each other is gone.’
When I thought so, the crown prince started to talk.
“Today’s hunting competition is going to be a lot more fun than last year.”
It was a normal story with a soft voice as if giving a light greeting. However, at this one word, the elasticity burst from behind.
‘Why?’
Ah…… is that so? Like a celebrity saying something? That’s plausible enough.
“Everything is fun when you have a competitor. Don’t you think so, Duke?”
“That’s too high praise for me.”
“Well, can I just say that this is a heartless answer?”
“…….”
“Okay, so should I look forward to it or should I be nervous?”
“You won’t be disappointed either way.”
I suddenly recalled the fact that they were the leading candidates for this hunting competition.
‘Even without the female protagonist, confrontation is still confrontation. To win.’
Of course, this would be nothing more than a temporary confrontation.
There was a moment of silence as if to emphasize the significant air. Soon the Crown Prince burst into laughter.
“Then I’d better do both at the same time. Let’s wish you luck, Duke.”
“May God of War be with your Highness for protection.”
At this moment, I had a feeling that my eyes met the Crown Prince. I wasn’t completely sure if it was mistaken or not because it was so short.
At that time, the sound of the bell of the servants pierced the air again.
The crown prince left Ash with a message to see him again at the hunting ground and pulled the reins to the forest first.
Ash looked at me before turning the horse around.
It was an eye-contact long enough to be sure.
“….….”
The sunlight was so strong that I lowered my eyelids with a cough. Not a blush in the face or ears.
Ash then set off the horse.
It was not long before the participants in the vacant lot disappeared into the forest one by one.
Compared to the previous one, the murmur was so clear in a noticeably quiet space.
“Who will win?”
“I like whichever who wins. I’m going to cheer for both sides.”
“Lady should cheer for the lady family’s knights.”
“What’s the point of doing something hopeless?”
‘She’s too cold.’
“By the way, if they compete, the beast of the forest will have no seeds left today.”
“But it would be an honour for the animals to be hunted by both of them. Oh, I want to be a beast.”
“Ha, me too.”
“What? That’s a little….”
It was time to confirm the popularity of the Crown Prince and Ash in a rather subtle way.
Sir Davery, who had been away for a while, came back with the luggage. Rugs, parasol… basket?
“Why a basket?”
“Don’t you feel something at a glance?”
“It smells like food.”
“You saw it right away. Simple sandwiches and fruits.”
“Did Bessie pack something like that?”
I feel like I’m on a picnic like that.
I slowly moved away from the gap of people who started to talk to me one by one, actively blooming the flowers of conversation.
I would rather sit idle than chatter surrounded by many people.
Soon I found a moderately crowded place and took the fruit out of the basket.
It was then that I picked up cherry tomatoes and took them to my mouth in such a quiet place.
‘Huh?’
I saw a small figure in a man’s uniform enter the forest that inadvertently gave me eyes.
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