Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Hunting Tournament
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“I am the eldest son of the Hampton Baron's family...”
“I am...”
They swarmed toward her like moths drawn to a flame. The Count's daughter and proxy, her stunning beauty, and—though it might be a flaw to those moths—her exceptional talent. All of it shone like a beacon, pulling in the noble youths.
At least the party wasn't too large, which was some small comfort. Lenia let out a sigh as she continued turning down the noble sons who kept pressing forward. They probably didn't truly believe they'd succeed. They were just betting on that slim chance of elevating their houses if she accepted.
A shadow fell over her then. A handsome blond youth. Edward.
“My lady. Would you grant me the honor of dancing with you?”
Handsome looks paired with his position as knight commander. If you picked the most popular man at the party, it had to be Edward. As he smiled and extended his hand to Lenia, the other ladies shot jealous glares her way.
But...
“It looks like plenty of others are waiting for you. I'll be here enjoying my drink, so go have fun at the party.”
It was a firm refusal—one that would turn rude if he pushed further. Edward, who had been smiling, bit his lip and turned away.
“Haa...”
Once even Edward was rejected, she became like a flower on a cliffside. No more men stepped up to ask her to dance. Aside from the married nobles, that is. And that's when, sipping her wine out of boredom, she spotted someone amid the small space allotted to the escorts.
“Sir Lucas.”
A burly man visible through the escorts. It was only a glimpse, but his distinctive build gave him away instantly. She knew it was Kyle.
“...”
Normally, it was rude for the host to approach first without being spoken to. It was like saying the party was boring as hell. Especially if you were a main figure like her. But there was one way around it.
“You there.”
Lenia called over a servant wandering nearby.
“Go fetch Sir Lucas from over there.”
It was the case of a man and woman going out together.
The elite swordsman's words had been profoundly meaningful, even though the lady's sudden summons had cut their conversation short. The Count hadn't hunted since childhood—or ever hosted a hunting tournament.
And at this timing, of all times? Sure, nobles gathering meant tea parties or hunting tournaments as the classics. But if so, he should've held one or two before now.
“Something on your mind?”
Lost in thought, I heard the lady's voice. Somehow, we'd ended up in the middle of the garden, surrounded by a riot of blooming flowers.
“You look like you're thinking about something.”
Speaking on mere suspicion alone would be slandering the Count, so I kept my mouth shut. Blurting out, “That Sarisa Count bastard's never hunted but he's holding a tournament—super suspicious!” would just get me chewed out.
Still, since it was the Count's hunting tournament, the lady couldn't sit it out. It'd be a huge scandal. I didn't know what he was scheming, but I planned to prepare just in case.
“Ah... I heard there's a hunting tournament tomorrow.”
“Ah, you've heard too? I forgot to mention it.”
“Would it be alright if I joined? It's been a while since I got to use my specialty...”
The corner of her mouth lifted at my words.
“That's right—Sir Lucas, you were a hunter. Perfect. I got an invite to tomorrow's tournament, but I've never even shot a bow, so I was worried.”
“Haha! Just leave it to me! I'll win the tournament for you!”
I was as confident as I sounded. Nobles might love hunting, but it was a hobby at best. No way they could beat someone who'd hunted for a living, no matter how skilled they thought they were.
As I thought that, the lady gazed intently at the garden flowers. Her intrigued expression suggested she loved them.
But her dress, puffed up with panniers, made picking them awkward. In the end, she turned to me for help.
“Hmm... If it's not too much trouble, could you pick some for me? The dress is too poofy...”
“Of course, my lady.”
The flower she pointed to was a purple tulip. She took it, smiled at me, and held it up.
“Do you like tulips?”
“My favorite flower since childhood...”
She stood quietly for a while, lost in thought with the flower in hand. I watched her, then spoke up softly. I'd meant to hold back, but I couldn't anymore.
“My lady?”
“Something you want to say?”
“Well...”
I told her about the Sarisa Count holding a hunt despite never having hunted before. But she just smiled faintly, unconcerned.
“Even cornered, the Sarisa Count is still a noble. He knows what it means to lose honor—he wouldn't do something so foolish.”
Honor was nothing and everything to a noble, she said. He wouldn't risk the dishonor where losses outweighed any gains, win or lose.
The next day.
“Brother... this the one?”
I'd woken early, before the hunting tournament prep, and had Cutter fetch a bow—the biggest, strongest one. He pulled at it a few times, then grimaced.
“Can't even draw this thing...”
Bows come in all types—shortbows, longbows, you name it. I'd picked an old English-style longbow, nearly man-sized. Crossbows were fine, but these suited me better. Crossbows cost a fortune, and reloading after a miss was a pain.
Plus, a longbow this length and draw weight had killer penetration. Problem was, most folks couldn't draw it.
I took it from Cutter, strung it, and his eyes went wide.
“Whoa... handling that like a toy.”
The tournament was set for morning—the sun sets early in forests and mountains. Nobles were already gathering in front of the manor. No sign of the lady yet.
I'd had Cutter get a bow for her too, so I waited out front of her room with it. About an hour later...
“Oh? You've been waiting here the whole time?”
A familiar maid poked her head out. The one assigned to the lady. She beamed.
“Yes. Is the lady still sleeping?”
“Just a moment! Wait right there, sir!”
The maid ducked back in. Moments later, the lady emerged—in a dress. She grumbled.
“I told the maid to prepare pants, but only the dress is here.”
Hunting meant riding hard, and a dress wouldn't allow it. You could try, but it'd get ruined.
“Looks like I can't join the tournament this time. Guess I'll just watch.”
I chuckled at her disappointed tone. Hunting? She could just cheer from the sidelines and grab the spoils.
“You're beautiful today as well, Lady Cligrove.”
“A star fallen from the heavens stands before me!”
At the hunting grounds, noble sons flocked around her. Mostly barons' and viscounts' sons. They gushed sweet nothings, staring up like she was an unclimbable tree.
I wanted to smack the annoying ones away, but their backers were who they were, so I settled for mild rebukes.
“Sirs. She's uncomfortable—please leave her be.”
“Ha! An escort holding reins dares speak?”
“Thinks he's a knight or something!”
Offended, they snapped back in unison. Holding horses was peasant work, so they apparently didn't peg me as noble despite my gear.
But when I scowled, they flinched and backed off. Then came the lady's finishing blow to these immature pups.
“Cease your rudeness. This man is my escort and vanguard swordsman captain, Sir Lucas the Baron. He's holding the reins himself to prove his loyalty.”
Once my nobility was out, the sour-faced lot cleared their throats awkwardly.
“Ahem... You're a noble?”
“We misunderstood since you were holding the reins...”
Now the noble ladies nearby chirped like sparrows.
“That's the guy from yesterday? Lady Cligrove's escort?”
“He'd look good if he lost some weight, right? Even if he's tall...”
They gossiped until I glanced over, then giggled behind fans. Well, this build had its fans too. First attention since arriving in this world—didn't feel bad.
I puffed up a bit, flexing my torso. They burst into giggles again. Then Lenia's voice came from behind.
“Having fun, Sir Lucas?”
“Ahem... Looking forward to the hunt. I'll bag the biggest prize today and dedicate the glory to you, my lady.”
“Dedicate it to those ladies instead. They're smiling this way—why not wave?”
Her tone wasn't scolding, but each word stabbed like a knife. Fair enough—ignoring my charge for distractions would irk any employer.
“I'll correct myself, my lady.”
The situation ended only after I apologized. Tough luck.
“The host of this hunting tournament and lord of these woods, Count Sarisa, arrives!”
How much time passed after that? The Count showed up late, once everyone had gathered. He rode a white horse that didn't suit him at all—I wanted to suggest a black one would've been cooler.
“Thank you all for joining this hunting tournament. I hope you...”
His speech dragged on for nearly twenty minutes—thanks for coming, enjoy, win prizes, etc. The ladies hid yawns behind fans by the end.
Good thing beaters had gone in beforehand. Soon after the speech, horns and drums blared from the woods, startling beasts into flight.
Bwooo—
Prrk—! Prrk—!
Trumpets, drums, every noisy thing to flush game. Nobles and their sons spurred their horses and charged in.
I watched the frantic lot from behind, then set off leisurely. Game doesn't come to those who rush.
“Shall we go then, my lady?”