After Putting the Slayer of the Night to Sleep, I Ran Away - Chapter 73

“Today is a day to commemorate the founding of our Empire. We have prepared a tournament to bless the glory of our ancestors and the prosperity of the Empire, so let everyone display their magnificent hunting skills. I wish you good fortune and will now begin the hunt!”

As soon as the Emperor’s opening address ended, a long trumpet blast, poooong─ announced the start of the hunting tournament.

Startled by the loud sound, birds took flight into the sky all at once, and those mounted on horseback spurred their horses almost simultaneously.

The participants’ horses pounded the ground fiercely as they rushed towards the forest.

Amidst the horses galloping and kicking up dust, the sharp tips of swords and arrowheads glinted in the sunlight.

“Wahaha! I am the winner of this hunting tournament!”

As someone shouted confidently, the competitors gritted their teeth and pulled hard on their reins.

Those in the lead quickly melted into the forest shade, and soon everyone disappeared into the woods.

It was the start of the real hunt.

The people who had watched the scene with bated breath began to relax one by one.

Some prepared to go hunting, while others chose to relax and chat leisurely.

“Shall we go for falconry too?”

“Yes, that sounds fun.”

“Shall we go to the lakeside? The scenery here is truly beautiful.”

The groups that had gathered in threes and fours decided on their plans and dispersed.

The nobles who chose to rest headed to the pre-arranged viewing stands or went to the lakeside with prepared refreshments, and the waiting attendants began diligently serving tea and snacks.

Empress Tatiana, seated in the foremost seat of the viewing stands, took a sip of tea elegantly and said to Ayla with a satisfied expression,

“You prepared it impeccably, Ayla. You worked hard.”

Ayla smiled softly and bowed her head.

“You are too kind, Your Majesty. Please tell me without hesitation if there is anything lacking.”

“Lacking? Thanks to you, I was able to prepare for the Founding Festival with ease. I heard you went to the hunting grounds yourself with Edward?”

“It was thanks to His Highness’s kind invitation. It was easier because I could see and prepare things myself.”

“Well done. A mistress must understand her work well to be able to delegate it properly.”

Tatiana smiled kindly and set down her teacup.

“I should enjoy falconry after a long time. I will go to the forest with my people.”

“Your Majesty is going to the forest? Won’t it be dangerous?”

“The falconry grounds are guaranteed to be safe, so it’s alright. Now, everyone, have a pleasant time.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Please have a good time.”

As the Empress departed, Ayla once again exchanged greetings with the people gathered around her.

After a long while, when she finally had a moment to herself, she looked around and murmured in confusion.

“Vivian isn’t here… Where is the Princess?”

Just as Ayla gave up looking for them and took a seat at an empty table in the viewing stands.

She saw Shuelle and her party approaching from a distance.

She had secretly hoped they would pass by without acknowledging her, but Shuelle , beaming with delight, approached her.

“Oh, Ayla. What are you doing here?”

“…Sister Shuelle . It’s been a while.”

“Indeed. With your wedding approaching, it’s hard to see your face. It’s quite disappointing.”

After a feigned lament, Shuelle clapped her hands together and invited her.

“We were just about to go falconry. How about joining us? We can catch up on old times.”

“Falconry? No, I…”

“Don’t refuse, come with us. It will take the men four or five hours to return anyway, so you’ll be less bored if you spend an hour or two falconry, won’t you?”

Ayla forced a smile and shook her head.

“I would like to, but I don’t have a falcon…”

“Don’t worry about that, Lady Ayla. I brought a spare falcon. It’s a vigorous one and quite good at hunting.”

A lady offered kindly, and Shuelle added.

“That’s perfect. Since Lady Jane is lending you a falcon, why don’t you go together? Ayla.”

“Please come with us, Lady Ayla.”

“That’s right. It’s always more fun with more people, isn’t it? And while we’re at it, we can hear about His Highness the First Prince…!”

“Yes. How are you two so close? Is there a secret?”

Ayla gave a wry smile.

Amidst the clamor of the surrounding ladies, it would look bad to keep refusing.

‘I have no choice. I’ll have to entertain them for a while.’

Finally, Ayla reluctantly nodded.

“Then, shall I join you? I’ve never been falconry before, so please teach me a lot.”

“Oh, you. You worry too much. Your sister here will take care of you.”

Shuelle naturally led Ayla along.

As they approached where they were being guided, a waiting attendant opened the door of a prepared carriage. After a short ride, the carriage dropped them off in a round clearing.

It was a hunting ground made up of not-too-large trees and bushes.

A knight who was guiding them approached and said.

“This is the falconry area. The paths are divided for game distribution, but other parties have already entered these two paths, so ladies, please use the third path.”

“Thank you, Sir.”

“You’re welcome. However, please do not cross the boundaries when you see a signpost. It marks the safety zone. I wish you good luck.”

As the knight’s guidance ended, Shuelle was the first to step onto the forest path.

The path, which seemed to have been prepared beforehand, was flat. Ayla followed behind the ladies who were walking ahead with excited faces.

‘It’s not as bad as I thought.’

Contrary to her worries, the atmosphere was cheerful.

After all, Shuelle was always a kind older sister in front of others, so it was not strange.

‘Does she want to show her kind sisterly side?’

Ayla nodded, considering it a reasonable assumption.

A few days ago, after what happened with Vivian, she probably wanted to show people that she was getting along well with me.

She had felt a slight worry beforehand, but if that was the reason, she could feel relieved.

At least for today, she would be by my side as a kind older sister.

Thinking so, her heart felt a little lighter.

“The consecration ceremony is soon, isn’t it?”

Shuelle asked.

“Yes, Sister.”

“It must be disappointing. A consecration ceremony, not a wedding.”

“It’s alright. They said the wedding would be held after returning to Eisenfel.”

“That’s a bit strange. For that to happen, wouldn’t His Highness the First Prince have to lose the Crown Prince competition?”

“…What?”

For a moment, Ayla’s steps faltered.

“Isn’t that right? Even if he wins the Crown Prince competition, would he return to Eisenfelt?”

“Ah… Well, yes.”

After a brief hesitation, Ayla smiled again and said.

“It doesn’t matter to me whether it’s a consecration ceremony or a wedding. It’s just a formality anyway.”

“Right. Well, that’s your own business, but I’m just worried as an older sister…”

Shuelle shrugged her shoulders.

It was then.

A falcon perched on a leather gauntlet flapped its wings and soared into the sky.

“Oh my. My falcon is a bit impatient.”

A lady said with a voice mixed with laughter.

“Since the falcon has flown, shall we start hunting?”

“That sounds good. Release the falcons.”

In an instant, falcons took to the air.

Ayla blinked in confusion as people scattered.

Shuelle approached and encouraged her.

“Ayla, you release your falcon too. Since you’re here, you should catch something.”

“What? Ah, yes…!”

“Good luck.”

Ayla took a step forward with a bewildered expression.

Just in case, she looked back and saw the family attendant of the lady who had offered to lend her a falcon, standing with the bird.

‘How do you do falconry…?’

Ayla began to move, recalling the method of falconry she had read in books.

So?

‘You release the falcon in the hunting ground, wait for it to find prey in the air and then dive? Once the falcon catches prey, you mark it, and the accompanying attendant takes the prey…’

Having thought that far, Ayla stopped walking and looked back.

The attendant, with the falcon on his gauntlet, asked cautiously.

“…Lady Ayla. The others have moved that way, so how about we go this way?”

“Hmm?”

“The more competitors there are, the less prey there will be.”

Ayla nodded and looked at the falcon perched on the gauntlet.

Looking at the falcon, covered in sleek, silver-gray feathers, with golden eyes flashing, a sense of competitive spirit arose.

‘Falconry. Should I try to catch something?’

Suddenly imagining herself presenting prey she had caught to Leo, Ayla made up her mind.

“Let’s do that.”

Support