***
“Monsters?”
“Yes, monsters. The Empire’s hunting ground is divided into two types. A general hunting ground that can be visited at any time and a hunting ground that can only be accessed with an Imperial permit.”
“By saying that monsters will come out, are we going to the latter?”
“Yes, they sometimes appear deep in the restricted area. Your Highness has never seen them, right?”
Feeling Melissa’s finger tie my long hair into one, I nodded carefully at Lora’s question. Of course not.
“It’s bigger than a bear, and, you don’t know how numbing its cry is. If ordinary people see their eyes they can’t even move.”
“Is Lora like that too?”
“No, Because I’m not ordinary.”
At her confident words, I quickly understood as I thought ‘Right, because Zion’.
“But, since when did the monsters appear?”
“The exact origin has not been revealed, but the most likely theory is the sediments created by the combination of leftover Mana from the Mana explosion and the current different Mana. Since then, their population has increased as it is now by continuing to breed.”
Lora, with a serious expression, requested to me.
“So never ever go deep into the hunting ground without me, Your highness. Okay?”
“Don’t worry. I’ll only be at the barracks. But, Lora must’ve caught a monster, then?”
“Of course. I was originally a mercenary who had the duty of catching monsters.”
At her past which I heard for the first time, I stared at her brown eyes in the mirror.
“Mercenary?”
“Yes, a mercenary.”
“But how did you become a knight?”
Mercenaries and knights are similar in the way that they fight with weapons, but there is a clear difference in what they do and how they perceive others.
It would have been very difficult for a free soul to become a person bound by rules.
“Sister.”
The moment she opened her mouth, Leav came in with a knock. I told Lora that it seems I should hear the story next time and looked at Leav.
“Even the hunting clothes look good on you, Sister.”
I was a little embarrassed because he had a look of pure admiration.
“Well. It also suits Leav very well.”
Unlike mine, the wine-colored hunting suit really suited his red hair well.
After Melissa put a hat on me and secured it tightly, to finish, she wrapped the silver fox scarf that I had previously received from Eryte.
“Shall we go then?”
Thanks to Leav, who prepared to escort me straight away, we moved side by side to where the carriage was waiting.
“Rosiane!”
Bernique, who had arrived in advance, approached me. Wearing the same wine color as Leav’s, he smiled affectionately and said.
“You look very pretty, Rosiane.”
As I looked at him with an embarrassed glance, Bernique reached out his hand without delay. l, who somehow ended up having the two princes on both sides, had to deal with the subsequent appearance of Eryte.
“I said I’m going to escort you too!”
“Unfortunately, sister only has two arms, so I don’t think that’s possible.”
“Then, you get out!”
“That would be difficult. Since, I’ve decided to escort my sister all day long today.”
Of course, five minutes before this mess, no, this messy situation itself.
“Then make Rosiane’s arms three or something!”
“Say something that makes sense. Is it okay for sister to look like some kind of monster? I can’t believe you don’t know such common sense as an older brother. I can’t help but sigh.”
“This punk! Rosiane being a monster, what bllsh*t!”
“Brother, why are you taking it out on a person who was strict when you treated Rosiane like a monster?”
I’ll have to see how far they can go.
“How about I show you the taste of my fist today!!”
“The taste of that j€rk’s fist, whether you boil it or roast it, try eating it. It will smell disgusting, but I will eat it myself.”
“It’s noisy.”
Then, like a savior, Dad appeared and silenced the two crazy dogs.
He was wearing a standard-made white and black hunting suit, but he looked very sophisticated, perhaps because of his face.
“Rosiane, you look really pretty today.”
“Although of course, you’re always pretty,” My dad, who added that, opened his arms towards me.
I carefully took off my arms and quickly went into my dad’s arms. At least as long as he’s here, it won’t be as noisy as before.
While heading towards the hunting ground, a lot of information circulated around the carriage.
“Rosiane, are you going to join the dinner banquet?”
“Dinner banquet?”
“It’s fundamental to hunt during the day and spend the time enjoying the banquet in the evening.”
If it isn’t mandatory to participate, then I don’t really want to go.
“I’m not sure……”
“Since it’s more casual than other national events, it’s good for building connections, that’s why if its the nobles, they unconditionally participate. Sister.”
Then, did you really need to ask me? It’s mandatory anyway.
“Even after the competition, it will be open for two more weeks for the nobles who want to enjoy hunting, so why don’t you stay with this brother?”
“Don’t say nonsense, Eryte.”
At the word from my father, Eryte snorted.
The hunting ground, where we arrived after quite some time, was located in the north, had a little colder air than the capital.
Dad hugged me tightly since I might be cold and got off the carriage, and the princes followed him one after another.
“We see the glory of the Empire.”
The employees who were notified of their arrival time in advance, lined up on both sides and greeted us with their heads down.
When I flinched at the unexpected loud noise, my dad swept my back with a soft touch.
“Guide us.”
At my father’s words, an old man who appears to be a butler, led us.
Only then did I properly see the green-roofed mansion which boasted a splendid appearance, although not as much as the Imperial palace. It was a building with a white snow-like exterior wall and a water-colored window frame which harmonized well.
“Ah, I can’t wait!”
I really wanted to go back quickly, but Eryte, perhaps he was excited, couldn’t stay still and started warming up. Then he disappeared somewhere, saying he would take a walk.
I breathed a small sigh at that appearance and looked around. The foot of the mountain surrounding the mansion as if hugging it was quite impressive.
I thought that I was going into the mansion in front of me, but the butler turned back.
“Where are we going?”
“Our residence is a separate building in the back.”
The appearance of the annex where we arrived after a short walk was not much different from the previous building.
When the door opened, the chandelier hanging from the high ceiling reflected the light inside and sparkled brilliantly. If the imperial palace overall had an antique feeling, this place had a bright atmosphere.
I was immediately assigned to the room next to my dad’s and I attached my butt onto the fluffy bed.
I was lost in thought as I watched my servants move the luggage to the corner of the room.
It will be soon. In the hunting competition that will begin after lunch, a fake Rosiane might appear.
She was the only daughter of some lowly baron, who was created to replace Rosiane *from the time Rosiane could not wake up.
[tn— *this means that the ‘fake Rosiane’ was planned since long ago]
They fed her medicinal herbs that strengthens the hair to make it roughly look like silver, and the juice of medicinal herbs that had side effects that made the irises open were put in her eyes, making it cloudy but blue.
It was a very vicious plan of replacing the pain of losing the princess by showing a girl of the same age as her.
Surprisingly, that ridiculous method worked, and she took the place of Rosiane.
I woke up now, but she was made before I woke up, so I don’t know if the baron will let her go even if it’s a waste.
Of course, if that were the case, the goal would not be my position, but the position of the Crown Princess. In the first place, her goal was not to live as a princess, but to catch the next emperor and become an empress.
“Are you concerned about something?”
Lora came to my side and asked, perhaps because I was making a serious expression.
“Just…….I’m just worried if I can use the bow well.”
She smiled when I roughly made an excuse.
“Don’t worry. Since whatever Your Highness hits, it will become an animal.”
Saying scary things with a smile during the day. I thought of a tree or a rock that would be classified as an animal, and then I shook my head as I turned pale. It’s because her words somehow made sense.
“I’ll have to hit well at any cost then.”
I didn’t want to make a mishap where rocks or weeds become animals, so my thoughts naturally went over to the bow.
The bow I received from my dad on my birthday last year was made in a perfect size to hold for me who is smaller than my peers.
The bow embroidered with designs in splendid silver plating with small diamonds and sapphires finely embedded at the ends of its smooth dark navy body, was truthfully closer to a decoration rather than for hunting.
“You have to go now, princess.”
The voice of Melissa, who finished organizing the luggage, cut off my thoughts. I didn’t even rest that much, what do you mean I already have to go, I looked at her with a puzzled look and she smiled.
“There’s a barracks in the hunting ground. You’ll be able to rest there.”
“Yes, I got it.”
When I got out of bed and went out of the room, my dad was standing in front of the door.
“Dad?”
What is he doing here? As I quietly looked at him, he lightly smiled and hugged me.
“Let’s go.”
I’m already 10 years old, but I don’t know how long he’ll carry me around.
Whether he regrets that he didn’t hug me when I was younger, I think my place has always been in his arms after I woke up.
“What about the others?”
I asked while looking at the paintings hung at regular intervals on the wall next to the stairs.
“They left for the barracks first.”
“Everyone must be looking forward to it.”
I can’t believe they left for the barracks in such a hurry. “It seems so,” my dad replied briefly at my words.
I thought I would leave the annex and ride a carriage, but my father ordered the footman to bring his favorite horse.
“Are we going by horse?”
“Yes, it’s your first time riding one, right Rosiane?”
“Yes, it’s my first time.”
I’ve seen a lot of horses pulling carriages, but I’ve never ridden one.
The horse that the footman brought while holding its reins was a spotless snow white horse. The smooth mane and lustrous hair without tangles showed how well cared it was.
“Wow….”
I unknowingly exclaimed at the luxurious appearance.
“I’ll find a small horse that will suit you soon. A horse that will follow only you.”
Strangely, a corner of my chest felt ticklish, so I nodded slightly. My dad put me on the saddle embroidered with imperial patterns.
It is said that when a noble rides a horse, he uses a servant as a stepping stone, but surprisingly my dad lightly stepped on the stirrups and climbed up. It was such a light movement that I couldn’t feel his weight.
Eventually, the horse walked slowly and began to move forward.