Esmi visited Stella every day for a week without fail, and unable to resist Esmi’s invitation, Stella also visited her mansion several times. It was something Stella couldn’t have dreamed of during her time in Amalune.

“Oh, by the way, Stella, what are you going to catch tomorrow during the hunt?”

“Well.”

The day before finishing the annual Hunt Festival, a separate hunting festival for princesses was held.
It was an event where only non-aggressive lower-level demons were chosen and released in a safe hunting ground. The princesses were given various weapons to select, and it was presented as an event to foster friendship between nations and promote peace with the empire, though, in reality, it was nothing more than a mediocre event showcasing the princesses captured from various countries in front of the nobility.

The princesses were not oblivious to the hidden meanings behind their roles, but as it was an excellent opportunity to catch the Emperor’s attention, they eagerly seized upon the grand pretext, confidently lifted their chins, and went to the hunting ground.

For this day, the princesses dressed in beautiful hunting attire and adorned themselves with sophisticated headpieces. Instead of the common weapons provided in the hunting ground, they armed themselves with splendid weapons acquired from their home countries.

Although the ranking among the princesses was subtly revealed even in normal times, in the hunting ground, their positions in the empire and home country were exposed to everyone. It could be seen in their clothes, and the weapons they carried.

“My father sent an expensive hunting outfit. It’s the design that was popular in the Credion Empire last year.”

Stella learned for the first time that hunting outfits could also be trendy. Even though Mila had prepared one for her, Stella didn’t care whether it was outdated or not.

“How about yours, Stella? Did you match the design trending this year? Or did they send it from your home country?”

Esmi asked the question with an envious expression already on her face.
“I’m going to wear what Mila bought for me.”

“What? She bought it without checking with you? Why?”

“It’s cheaper that way.”

“Why? Don’t you have money?”

Stella felt the gap between Esmi and herself once again. Even Esmi, who already belonged to the lowest group in another area, wore an expensive hunting outfit sent from her home country. The difference between them was like heaven and earth.

“Yeah, I don’t have money.”

After a moment of contemplation, Stella calmly stated the fact because being broke wasn’t her fault. Even if Esmi didn’t want to get closer to her anymore, there was nothing Stella could do.

She didn’t want to go through the efforts of pretending and fabricating a relationship that might break at any moment.

Stella awaited Esmi’s reaction with an indifferent expression.

“Oh, really? Then I’ll give you some!”

Unexpectedly, Esmi gave an unexpected response.

“It was my birthday last month, so my father sent birthday gifts and money. But, you know, I don’t have close princess friends. So, I didn’t even have a party. Of course, I sent a letter to my father saying I had a grand party. Otherwise, he would be upset and pee himself all month. My crybaby king, my father.”

As Esmi talked about her father, the bright smile on her face turned into a deep sadness. For the first time, Stella felt intensely envious of Esmi.
The birthday gift and the money were not the main reasons. It was because I envied the fact that there were family members who could genuinely be upset and cry for me, and that was unbearable.

Esmi, who thought Stella’s darkening expression was simply due to the hunting outfit, warmly smiled while holding Stella’s hand.

Stella felt embarrassed and disliked her own awkward feelings, but as always, she casually smiled.

The hunting ground for princesses was quite spacious. Even the entire fenced-off area was large enough not to be seen at a glance.

The hunting outfit Mila bought was relatively expensive among ready-made clothes, but compared to the hunting outfits the princesses were wearing, it was incomparably plain.

Mila and Bryn tried their best to adorn Stella so that she wouldn’t be overshadowed, but it was unavoidable from the start.

While Stella didn’t pay any attention, Bryn, seeing the hunting outfits worn by other princesses, felt upset and teary.

“But still, our princess is the most beautiful.”

Bryn, who comforted her with affection, received Stella’s warm hug and bright smile with gratitude.

Although a hundred princesses entered at once, the hunting ground was still unbelievably vast. Cheers erupted from somewhere each time princesses used the weapons they prepared against the sporadic appearance of monsters.
It felt like becoming part of a circus troupe. Stella, who hadn’t prepared any weapons in advance, picked up the dagger and throwing spear distributed at the entrance of the hunting ground.

Bows and longswords were already taken by others. Stella thought there might be others like her who hadn’t prepared weapons in advance, but in reality, the princesses who entered first had already cleared everything, leaving only daggers and throwing spears.

“Stella! There’s a purple-horned lizard over there!”

Esmi pointed with her finger towards a low bush heap and shouted. The moment Stella’s hand let go of the dagger, the incident occurred almost simultaneously.