174. Hello, 00

2024.03.22.

The day before the hunting festival.

Bollonico Euphris led a group of about ten people, including northern nobles and Muriel, commander of the Third Imperial Knight Division, and set off early toward the valley.

Wearing a snow-white uniform and a purple cloak, with the royal emblem—a wolf—embroidered on his chest, Bollonico today looked unusually bright and clear as he glanced around. And within his arms was Yuan Pelliese.

Yuan looked noticeably quieter, glancing warily among the unfamiliar faces.

Seeing this, Bollonico gently pinched the tip of her nose, as if finding her adorable.

“Don’t be afraid. They’re all under Bollonico’s control.”

Bollonico, his flawless pale face glowing cheerfully, softly urged his horse forward.

He had finished preparing to enjoy the day before the hunt in peak condition.

Today’s schedule involved an early patrol of the valley below by those who had arrived ahead of the Emperor, preparing in advance for the next day’s hunting festival.

Normally, the Crown Prince would lead this preliminary inspection, held to ensure a perfect and safe event, but Bollonico naturally assumed it was his duty.

The reason Bollonico and a few other nobles were so eager to arrive a day early wasn’t solely out of loyalty.

Over the years, whenever the winner of the hunting festival was uncertain, past achievements—such as the size and weight of monsters hunted the day before—had always been factored in. So, deep down, there was a desire to arrive early and claim more monsters to gain favor.

The valley’s steep cliffs and mountains tangled together in a chaotic, bizarre terrain, requiring great physical effort just to look around.

The northern nobles, already familiar with Bollonico, kept joking and playfully kicking the sides of their horses.

They glanced sidelong at Yuan, nestled protectively within Bollonico’s cloak, and snickered among themselves.

They couldn’t openly mock the woman belonging to Bollonico, but their intentions were clearly lewd.

Bollonico paid little attention to their glances.

He was still intoxicated by the memory of having recently eliminated two bothersome individuals.

“Marquis Mosan Rev, that old man’s scream—you should’ve heard it. It was absolutely beautiful.”

“We’ve heard the rumors, Your Highness. Who would’ve thought that hypocritical old man would die from a fall off his horse?”

Bollonico laughed loudly enough for Yuan to hear. Yuan held her breath, listening intently to the conversation about Marquis Rev.

“He failed to study even basic facts—flying monsters in the duchy don’t affect animals, only humans. A man who failed to uphold Bollonico’s command deserved to die, don’t you think?”

“Indeed, Your Highness!”

Yuan unconsciously gripped the reins tightly. The white mare whinnied in mild pain, and only then did Yuan quickly snap back to reality, biting her lower lip.

She had long known that Marquis Rev had been assigned by Bollonico and had met his end during the mission.

But she had felt deep sorrow upon hearing he hadn’t died from blade or arrow, but from being clawed by a flying monster and thrown from his horse.

Such deaths were said to be very common during monster hunts—and considered highly honorable.

Honorable…

Just imagining Clade visiting her uncle’s deathbed made Yuan’s heart feel like it was tearing apart.

Yet Bollonico was mocking the head of a noble family that had greatly contributed to founding the Euphris imperial line, even as he died honorably.

In that moment, rage surged within her.

Feeling deeply uncomfortable, sweating coldly, Yuan watched as Bollonico happily hunted small monsters with arrows meant for larger beasts.

“Just endure a little longer. Once we’ve hunted enough today, I’ll prepare everything beautifully tonight so you can meet your brother-in-law’s husband in the most splendid way tomorrow. Maybe this time I’ll even let you kiss him.”

Husband.

She had already sent the divorce papers, stamped and delivered to Locksenhart.

Though the divorce had come as a sudden announcement, Yuan considered it fortunate.

Merely imagining entering Emperor Igor’s bedroom while still legally his wife was emotionally unbearable.

“Will I be attending the Emperor tonight, then?”

“What?”

Bollonico quickly lowered the arrow he had aimed at a deer-like creature.

As the white mare walked across the snowy plain, a brief silence drifted behind Yuan.

“You’ve been enjoying yourself with Bollonico all through the palace. Rest a bit. Bollonico might get injured anytime—we should conserve your strength.”

“No, Your Highness. I meant attending the Emperor’s night chamber.”

Bollonico abruptly yanked the reins.

The white horse, moving slowly forward, lifted its front legs slightly in protest before placing them back down. Yuan pressed him again, frustrated by his silence.

“The Emperor arrives tomorrow, doesn’t He?”

“You’re saying you want to attend the Emperor’s night chamber?”

“That’s the only thing you’ve ever ordered me to do, isn’t it?”

Before Yuan could say more, Bollonico suddenly leapt off his horse.

By now, they had drifted somewhat apart from the rest of the group.

His purple cloak fluttering in the knife-sharp wind, Bollonico spun around in confusion, ruffling his neatly cut short hair.

He seemed irritated by Yuan’s words.

“Did you come here thinking you’d serve in the Emperor’s chamber?”

“If Your Highness commands, I must follow.”

Bollonico stared at her, momentarily speechless, struck by the unnaturally clear and pure expression on her face.

Truthfully, Bollonico had indeed planned to send Yuan Pelliese into his father’s bedroom someday.

What he truly desired was always the Emperor’s reaction toward the Pelliese family—and there was no place more intimate for revealing true feelings than the bedroom.

Besides, the chance for his father to sleep with the mysterious “Black Blade” was rare.

In fact, Bollonico knew the Emperor always brought the Black Blade on major events, especially those involving bloodshed.

On such days, without fail, he would hide weapons under his pillow or blanket, ready for assassins.

So it wasn’t difficult to guess the Black Blade would definitely be in the Emperor’s bedroom during this event.

“…”

If Yuan Pelliese truly understood her role and willingly embraced it, that would be commendable.

There could be no more perfect transaction, no more praiseworthy loyalty. Yet why did it feel so unpleasant?

“There’s no need.”

He replied in a slightly subdued voice.

“Bollonico will win this hunting festival. I don’t need titles or lands—I’ll make a wish instead.”

Facing Yuan’s wide, drowsy eyes, Bollonico raised his composed face.

“I’ll ask for Father’s treasure. Have you heard of it? The Black Blade your family offered to the imperial family. If I request it publicly, He won’t be able to refuse. That’s what this hunting festival is for.”

“…”

“Then you won’t need to attend His chamber.”

Bollonico anxiously scanned Yuan, who had suddenly gone silent.

“You belong to Bollonico.”

The Pelliese family’s true treasure was this woman. The Black Blade was merely secondary.

If Bollonico could possess both the Black Blade and Yuan Pelliese—and if he could let her touch it—perhaps anything could happen.

He couldn’t let his father take away or destroy the treasure he had finally found and claimed.

That was the conclusion he had reached throughout the journey north, holding Yuan close in his arms.

Bollonico expected Yuan to be moved by his mercy.

He hoped she would embrace him and say, “Yes, I truly am yours.”

But contrary to his expectations, after a long silence, as if deeply pondering something, Yuan’s voice emerged—slightly stiff and cold.

“So you’re saying, Your Highness, that you won’t offer me to the Emperor.”

Then I’m useless.

Yuan whispered softly.

Bollonico, who normally wouldn’t react this way, erupted in sudden fury—like an ordinary young man overwhelmed by jealousy.

‘I should kill him now.’

Yuan glanced once at the group now farther away, then abruptly jumped off her horse and started walking forward without hesitation.

Go to the blind spot, to where the monster corpses lie. Inflict pain on him. In the moment he’s startled, slash his heart with a dagger.

When the others rush over at the screams, say Bollonico was killed by a monster.

No one would doubt it. Yuan Pelliese didn’t look like someone capable of killing, no matter how you looked at her.

Her resolve hardened quickly, her gaze turning resolute.

‘If I can’t enter the Emperor’s bedroom, then killing him is the only way. I was going to kill him someday anyway. It’s just happening now.’

Yuan walked on, leading Bollonico who followed to confront her, then suddenly stopped.

Had the ground just trembled?

“Did you plan from the beginning to target Father?”

“Shh.”

“Answer me!”

“Didn’t the ground just vibrate? Something massive, heavy… coming this way…”

Before she finished speaking, screams erupted from the group far away.

The scene that followed left even Bollonico, and even Yuan, staring with wide, disbelieving eyes.

Far in the distance.

Udu-du-du-du-

As if an avalanche had begun, countless animals that had been trapped in Bollonico’s paradise—creatures they had passed by that morning at the entrance of this beautiful, grotesque valley—were now charging toward them all at once.

There were so many it was impossible to count them all.

Yuan understood everything.

The animals she had freed from suffering were now rushing forward, bringing their friends, following the scent of their enemy.

At the front was the yellow elephant—Dibo.

The massive herd of elephants trampled every fragile plant in their path, advancing, and advancing further.

Their target was unmistakable.

“This can’t be…”

Bollonico stared blankly at the overwhelming tide of animals rushing toward him, as if gazing upon a pile of corpses rising from their graves.

“Why are the creatures from Bollonico’s paradise… here?”

“Your Highness! Flee! We’re outnumbered!”

Amid the shouts of Sir Muriel from afar and the panicked voices of the fleeing group, a voice, clear and pure beyond measure, rang out.

“Hello, Dibo.”

Poooooo!

It was Yuan Pelliese’s voice, calmly greeting the monstrous horde—and among them, the yellow elephant.