“I-I…”

“Answer me!”

Lorette cowered away once she heard Lady Pais’ scolding.

“You can be the princess if you listen to me. Don’t ever let go of the prince, got it?”

“Yes, I got it, mother.”

Her arm caught by Lady Pais shook helplessly in the air.

“The rest would go well once you had become the Empress of Demophos. It’s not hard for me to become a queen.”

“Mother will become a queen?”

Lorette’s big eyes looked at Lady Pais.

“Yes, I will become the queen.”

“That…”

Lorette shut her mouth again when she was about to say it would be difficult for her mother. Because I didn’t think it would be fine to intrude her mother’s temper anymore.

“Of course it will be hard. I’m not a noble, I’m nobody.”

Lady Pais said as if she had read Lorette’s thoughts.

“But think about it. Nevertheless, I made you an official child of the king. Do you think I can’t put the queen’s crown on my head?”

Her gleaming eyes were filled with determination. Lorette was completely aware of how strong her mother was.

“Simple, you can live if you buy as many noble positions as you can afford. As long as you have money and power. So you have to help me, understand?”

“…Yes.”

Lady Pais’ hand moved up to her head when she responded weakly.

“My lovely daughter, a seamstress will come in a short while. You have to try on a new tailored hunting dress, okay?”

“I will.”

When Lorette nodded, Lady Pais smiled contentedly as if she had forgotten what just happened a while ago.

***

The hunting competition was scheduled even before she was in charge of court receivership. King Ileos entrusted the responsibility to Lady Pais who had been overseeing the event so she could hold the hunting competition during the delegation’s visit safely, since both of the delegation’s visits and celebrations were directed and managed by her from the beginning.

The forest used as a hunting ground for the royal family started to get crowded from early morning. The King’s Forest was normally protected by tightly enclosed iron railings and was not an accessible place for just anyone. The iron railings were just opened today after a long time.

“How long has this been, princess?”

Mary said excitedly next to her.

“It’s a hunting contest, it’s sort of an occasion for the princess.”

“No way.”

Hunting competitions were scheduled way before she took over the administration of the court. Since the delegation’s visits and celebrations were all directed and supervised by Mrs. Pais, King Ileus entrusted the responsibility to Mrs. Pais, who oversaw the event to ensure that the hunting contest held during the mission’s visit was held safely.

“It’s been a really long time since I’ve attended a hunting competition. His Majesty doesn’t like this sort of thing.”

“Hunting was something my mother enjoyed.”

King Ileos did not have much interest in hunting to tear the flash apart and saw animal blood. So this forest was not opened often.

King Ileos did not enjoy outside activities such as hunting, archery, and shooting. He stayed the same even on the days when the queen was still alive.

He was extremely different from the queen who liked outdoor activities. Having inherited the queen’s tendency, Hazel also preferred outdoor activities such as horseback riding, shooting, and hunting.

Meanwhile, Lorette’s modesty was seen in a more favorable perspective because she enjoyed reading, knitting, and sewing as hobbies.

“Anyway, it’s nice to go outside after a long time, right?”

Hazel replied in a faint voice. She didn’t go out purely because she wanted to do so.

Two days ago, Achilleon had sent her a note.

I would like to invite you to attend the hunting competition.

It was such a polite and elegant handwriting. Until she couldn’t believe he was the person who wandered on the battlefield.

She would have thought the same way if she had seen his handwriting for the first time.

It was a very polite note, but in her eyes, it was nothing but a threat that demanded a price for not revealing the cause of the bird’s death was actually Titi.

She was dragged onto the hunting competition, which she tried to avoid with such an appropriate excuse. However, I have a goal to achieve since I have to attend anyway. I would move forward determinedly.

People were busy setting up hunting tents here and there in the forest. There was also a tent engraved with a royal crest and a tent for the delegations of the Demophos Empire, the most important guest for this hunting competition.

Inside the tent, there was a soft and simple bed, a table where you can enjoy some refreshments, and even a fireplace to prepare for the daily temperature difference between midnight and at dawn.

The hunting tent prepared by each family represented the wealth of the family, therefore everyone tried to show off a large and impressive tent in front of others by all means.

The second in the list of the most spectacular tents following the royal family and Demophos was the one owned by Concez.

Theodore and Briden attended as representatives of the Concez family, with the exception of Wilves, the eldest son who fell ill.

Hazel recognized Briden from afar and took a step closer toward him.

Briden was looking around as if to show off along with the hawk on his thick hunting gloves because he originally liked to show off.

With its big eyes and sharp beak, the eagle was small but had a sleek body in size, and seemed to be well-trained.

“Your hawk looks so brave, uncle Briden.”

“Huh? Oh, the Princess is here.”

Briden presented an exaggerated greeting to Hazel.

“It’s been a while since the last time I saw you.”

“By the way, where did you get it? I don’t think it’s an ordinary bird.”

As Hazel approached, the hawk opened up its beak, lowered its body and spread its feathers, as if it just entered its alert mode.

“It seems to follow uncle well. Dealing with these birds of prey like this is not for everyone.”

“Of course. The princess seems to know about it very well. This hawk is a specially trained species, so it’s very difficult to get.”

“…I can’t believe you got such a precious thing, I can’t follow uncle’s natural luck and talent.”

The corner of Briden’s mouth raised high without even realizing it once he heard Hazel’s compliment. Hazel added after seeing his smile.

“There are a lot of things that can’t be done merely with money. You have a natural destiny, uncle.”

“Destiny…?”

“To lead a family, you have to be a man of innate distribution of the family itself and destiny. Concez’ future looks very bright thanks to Uncle Briden.”

At Hazel’s words, Briden grinned in surprise toward the bird on his forearm.

“As expected, the Princess really owns the blood of our family, the Concez. You have a good eye to see this kind of thing.”

“But is the old uncle still not feeling well?”

Briden sighed deeply right at that moment.

“Tell me how he is doing. I think he almost spent one third of the year in bed. He lives and suffers from a cold…”

Hazel said with a sad face.

“Oh, my. I should go and see him.”

“Are you going to meet him in person?”

“Can’t I? I want to see grandfather as well…”

“It’s not that you can’t see them, Princess. Isn’t our family the maternal home for the Queen, the Princess’ mother?”

“Then I’ll wait for your invitation.”

“Okay.”

Hazel gave her last remark as Briden bowed.

“I hope you will catch the most precious animal in today’s hunt.”

“It is an honor to be blessed by the Princess.”

The hawk sitting on his forearm replied by letting out a long cry toward the sky when Briden replied with a grin.

As soon as they turned around and walked away from the Concez’ tent, Mary said.

“What a wonderful bird.”

Hazel nodded when Mary said so.

“It’s quite different from other hunting hawks, right? The beak looks unique as well.”

“That’s right.”

Hazel replied half-heartedly. It was obvious that he would have deliberately chosen a bird with noticeable appearances to get such attention.

“How much would such a bird cost? Look, other nobles eyed the bird as well.”

“Maybe they still can’t get it even though they have spent so much.”

“No matter how much they spent? Why?”

“It’s hard to get such a hawk, but it’s a lot harder to tame it. First of all, it has a very violent characteristic, so he is more likely to be attacked and be fatally injured if he fails to tame it even just the slightest bit.”

Mary widened his eyes at Hazel’s explanation.

“Then it’s better not to raise it, right?”

“However once the bird is tamed, its hunting speed is fast and fearless, which is very helpful for hunting. Naturally, it’s great for catching people’s attention due to its impressive shape, as well as worthy for fulfilling uncle’s long-awaited desire.”

“Then… How did he get it?”

“You must have paid with something other than money.”

“Jewel… You mean that sort of thing?”

Hazel just flashed a mysterious smile at Mary’s question.

“Well, I’m not sure about that either.”

But her mind was filled with different thoughts.

The hunting hawk owned by Briden, who oftenly liked to show off his things, was a difficult species to get, at least in Land. They lived in the cold northern region and the main habitat was a dangerous cliff.

Moreover, because humans could not raise them, they had to steal from their nest where the birds were born and tame them.

Everything from catching and taming the hawk was possible only by tribesmen living near the cliff. They took the hawk out of its nests and never leaked to the outsider on how to tame them.

Furthermore, the route to bring in hawks was extremely limited. They only wanted to have a deal with the royal family or imperial family of each country because they act very cautiously.

Therefore, it was impossible to deal with them without the help of any member of the royal family. Without the help of someone who has power equal to the king’s.

It was supposed to be Lady Pais.

At that moment, Hazel was walking ahead while deeply immersed in her thoughts.

“Are there a lot of people in that tent?”

Mary’s eyes were gleaming while looking at the tent used by the delegation of Demophos. She could immediately recognize the man with shiny golden hair at a single glance as Achilleon even from afar.

He stood there while surrounded by noblewomen and young ladies.

It was not difficult to recognize him because his hand could be distinguished easily among them. Even if it wasn’t because of that, his presence always stood out anytime and anywhere, as if a hawk was surrounded by a flock of chicks.

“Looks like the popularity of Prince Sisef has reduced drastically.”

Mary said while looking amazed.

She casually averted her eyes to him, and suddenly felt a piercing gaze directed toward herself.

“…….”

Achilleon’s deep blue eyes were looking directly at Hazel.