In that moment of tension, I found myself alone with my face turning pale. I eventually turned back towards Princess Loria because I wanted to see her face.

Princess Loria, with flushed cheeks, was looking up at the sky.

Observing that scene, it felt like we were on a picnic.

I approached Rond Gong quietly and asked, “I heard that Grand Prince Orel isn’t in good health. Is it okay for him to go hunting?”

“It depends on the situation, but I heard he can manage a light march. Right now, he’s probably sweating while practicing with Rene Jazak and his guards.”

“I see.”

“How about you, Miss? Are you okay?”

“What do you mean?”

“Today’s competition is not about defeat.”

“Oh, come on, don’t joke around, Gong.”

Then, Rond Gong chuckled softly and said, “Let’s move now. I see the sound of hoofbeats getting closer, indicating the fox is being driven in this direction.”

I quickly returned to Princess Miliora and conveyed his words. When we mounted our horses again, the horses twitched.

A fox emerged from the bushes in the forest, darted through our group like an arrow, and fled.

“Good grief!”

I heard Rond Gong swear behind me and was surprised, looking at him.

He shouted to Princess Miliora, “Your Highness, follow me!”

Rond Gong immediately took Princess Miliora on his horse and set off. I also checked the rear and then started the horses.

When Rond Gong abruptly changed direction at the front, Kaidel Kong emerged from the thicket where the fox had appeared. Behind him, Grand Prince Greian was following closely.

Kaidel Kong bent his upper body and ran while clearing the way for Greian, allowing him to catch the fox.

Then, Rene Jazak chased after them, followed by Falcon Kyung and Grand Prince Orel’s bodyguard knights, running and intertwining, obstructing each other’s paths.

Meanwhile, I accelerated to catch up with Rond Gong and Princess Miliora, who had moved far ahead.

At that moment, a horse sprang up beside me as if targeting me. It was Grand Prince Orel.

My horse, surprised, raised its front legs.

“Ack!”

Everything turned black before my eyes. The last thing I remembered was Grand Prince Orel’s face, smiling down at me from his horse.

A sharp scream of a woman.

Rocord sensed whose voice it was.

“Your Highness!”

Rocord signaled to Greian and then slightly slowed down before sharply turning his horse’s head.

Rene Jazak, who had closely followed him, couldn’t widen the gap and lost balance, falling over. It was a technique he often used in Toonbar.

Watching Rene Jazak stumble and seeing Lorisya lying unconscious in the field, Rocord, with his head raised, glimpsed Orel’s horse disappearing into the forest.

“Good lord. Dammit!”

Rocord dismounted from the horse and shook Lorisya.

“Lorisya, wake up! Open your eyes!”
He lifted her onto the horse.

Soon, Greian appeared carrying a dead fox behind the saddle.

He returned with a triumphant face but stiffened upon seeing Lorisya.

“Rocord?”

“I’m going back, Your Highness. Take care of it yourself since Rene Jazak lost his horse.”

“Are you crazy? Rocord! Rocord!”

However, Rocord was already racing towards the entrance of the forest. Greian, seeing his retreating figure, felt genuine anger for the first time in a long while.

Rocord looked at Lorisya being treated by Whinid and found himself bewildered.

To abandon his lord during the competition.

When Rocord entrusted Lorisya to Whinid and returned to the hunting ground, Greian had caught two more falcons and foxes.

Now, three foxes were dripping blood from his horse’s hindquarters. The sight was quite eerie, but Greian’s expression was as indifferent as ever.

Rocord knew that Greian considered his actions a betrayal. However, Rocord didn’t blame himself much.

He had removed Rene, and with remaining bodyguards, Greian could handle Orel, who was a weak opponent. And Orel was not someone Rocord planned to protect like a child throughout his life.

Rocord belatedly met with Rond and Miliora, who had realized Lorisya’s disappearance, and informed them of the situation. He didn’t mention that Orel was responsible for it.

Orel failed to catch any foxes, and judging by the density of the prey in the imperial hunting ground, it seemed impossible to catch more today.

Naturally, they decided to call off the hunt. Since the emperor didn’t have the authority to declare the winner of the competition, they each recorded the number of foxes they hunted and returned.

Lorisya lay on the long chair Rocord had initially carried her on, still there because Whinid had advised against moving her.

Rocord had to calm Greian’s anger, and he also needed to figure out why Orel attacked her in the hunting ground. However, he couldn’t think straight due to the anger.

To think that someone named Tagar would attack an unprotected woman, avoiding the eyes of others.

It was too noble to condemn him as vile and mean. The injustice of the world he lived in was absurd.

Thus, he chewed on his lips, swallowing the anger.