I Stole The Duke - Chapter 75

“How long am I supposed to keep staring at your backs?”

One hour into the tournament, Eliana was rapidly reaching the limit of her patience.

“His Grace specifically instructed us to be especially vigilant with today’s escort.”

“……”

Eliana once again found herself deeply missing Joel’s far more relaxed form of protection.

“Lord Karl Espensen has presented a deer to Lady Freya Espensen.”

The scoreboard next to the platform drew everyone’s attention.

‘So Freya really is going to be crowned queen of this year’s hunt.’

With both her brothers and several knights of House Espensen participating, Freya’s score was already overwhelming.

‘Judging by the score tally, she must be somewhere in the tournament grounds…’

But her face hadn’t been seen—perhaps she was holed up in her family’s tent.

“His Highness, Crown Prince Shainels de Wespera, has presented a fox to Lady Freya Espensen.”

‘So even the crown prince has chosen her.’

Freya’s score continued to stack up with each passing announcement.

“Sir Joel Terius has presented a wild boar to Lady Riela Rancelloti.”

Finally, House Ascher’s name appeared on the scoreboard.

‘Well done, Sir Joel.’

‘Damn it, Joel! That offering should’ve gone to Her Ladyship!’

Eliana was pleased, but the knights were clearly not. Their thoughts diverged wildly.

‘A serious sparring session with Sir Joel is clearly needed…’

“……”

‘If only I knew how to shoot a bow myself…’

Two hours into the tournament.

The Blue Knights were beginning to get restless.

“Lord Victor Espensen has presented a badger to Lady Freya Espensen.”

And still, Freya’s score climbed with no end in sight.

“Sir Joel Terius has presented three mountain goats to Lady Riela Rancelloti.”

Joel appeared on the board again—this time with three animals at once. It seemed he had come across a whole herd.

‘He didn’t even dedicate one of the three to Her Ladyship?! When we return, I’m burying him in the training grounds.’

Unaware that Joel was being aggressively corralled by Marquis Rancelloti, the Blue Knights were fuming.

‘Still zero points for the Duchess. Zero!’

‘What is His Grace even doing right now?!’

Regardless of rank, every knight in Eliana’s guard was sitting on pins and needles.

“Ahem, milady… There will always be another tournament next year, so please don’t be discouraged.”

Cedric, his face visibly pale, tried to offer consolation to Eliana, who honestly didn’t seem all that upset.

“Indeed. Next year, with firearms allowed, we’ll make sure to crown you as the Queen of the Hunt.”

Speaker chimed in supportively.

“If I were given just one arquebus, I’d bring you back a bison today.”

“I’d bring back a bear!”

“A bear? I’d bring back a lion!”

“There aren’t even lions in this forest! I’d bring back an elephant!”

There were no lions or elephants in the hunting grounds.

‘Alright. I clearly need to get out of here.’

If she didn’t stop them, they’d start naming mythical creatures next.

“I’m going to return to the tent for a short rest.”

Unable to take it anymore, Eliana turned away from the scoreboard.

‘I hope nothing’s happened to Michalis…’

Truthfully, she wasn’t entirely at ease either. His complete absence from the score announcements was beginning to worry her.

“My lady! I’ve been waiting for you.”

In front of House Ascher’s tent stood an unwelcome guest.

‘Why are you looking for me?!’

Eliana’s expression stiffened as the man loitering near the entrance approached her eagerly.

“What do you want from me?”

It was the mage from the Mage Tower—the one who had been operating the temporary portal.

“I tried to hold back… but I just couldn’t resist my magical curiosity.”

‘Target distance: 180 meters.’

At that very moment, Jack’s crossbow was locked precisely on Eliana.

“Do not approach Her Ladyship any further.”

Sir Lucas, positioned at the front, grabbed the mage’s arm.

“It’ll just take a moment.”

“Absolutely not.”

The mage’s gaze darkened as Lucas tightened his grip.

“Binding.”

At the mage’s incantation, the grass beneath their feet transformed into thorned vines, instantly entangling Lucas.

‘What the hell is that?!’

“What do you think you’re doing?!”

Eliana gasped, just as Cedric and Speaker both unsheathed their swords and placed them against the mage’s neck in an instant.

‘Now!’

At the same moment, Jack saw his opening. Eliana’s figure was finally unobstructed—clearly visible behind Speaker’s broad frame.

The arrow fired.

Thwack!

It struck a shimmering barrier with a loud, resounding crack.

The arrow clattered harmlessly to the ground.

The absolute defense spell, which had been activated since morning, had done its job.

“Good heavens!”

The mage’s eyes went wide as saucers.

‘What the—?!’

It had been a perfect shot. But the arrow hadn’t even touched the Duchess.

‘Damn it.’

Cursing under his breath, Jack swiftly loaded a second arrow. His location would be compromised soon. This next shot would have to be his last.

Ping—!

The second arrow flew.

“My lady!”

Just then, Speaker spotted the incoming projectile and hurled himself forward.

Thunk!

The second arrow embedded itself in Speaker’s shoulder.

“My lady!”

In that instant, the human wall formed around Eliana.

‘Shit!’

The second shot had landed in the big loud gorilla of a knight. And now, with the human wall back in place, he couldn’t even see a single strand of the Duchess’s hair.

‘It’s over.’

There was no point changing positions now. If the second arrow had been blocked, escaping alive was the only priority.

‘Ditch the gear.’

No matter how expensive, no equipment was worth more than his life. He threw a rope down the tree and zipped down like a squirrel.

Thunk!

The moment his feet touched the ground—an arrow slammed into his arm.

“Ah! Shit—”

Thunk!

As Jack grabbed the first arrow and turned to flee, a second one pierced his thigh.

Rustle—

A tall man in pristine white hunting gear stepped from the trees, his longbow still raised.

“……”

‘I’m dead…’

Jack locked eyes with a pair of glowing blue irises. He felt as if he were facing a wild predator. His body froze solid.

Snort!

Jack swallowed hard. A massive black stallion came charging at him.

Thud-thud-thud—CRACK!

The world went black. That was Jack’s last memory.

Meanwhile…

“Sir Speaker!”

Eliana, pale with shock, shouted toward the knight who had shielded her.

“You knew I had a protection spell! Why would you—?!”

“That spell… wasn’t it single-use?”

“No, it’s not.”

It was an ancient defensive spell developed by an emperor who had lived under constant threat of assassination. It automatically generated a shield against physical and magical attacks. With a high-grade mana stone, the spell lasted twelve full hours.

‘Ugh, unbelievable. Why would you take an arrow for me?!’

It was both touching and infuriating.

“It’s a deadly poison,” Roannes said grimly, having just pulled the arrow from Speaker’s shoulder.

“Judging by the speed it’s spreading, he has thirty minutes at most if it’s not treated.”

That was with the stamina of a knight attuned to mana. A normal person would’ve died in three minutes.

“What?!”

Things were escalating from bad to worse.

“Though I must depart this world, serving you has been an honor, my lady. Please tell my wife I loved her and that she mustn’t remarry for at least three years. To my eldest, Zebashutter, I entrust the fate of the Speaker family. To my second son, Jagenschda, I say—train harder, your talent is rare. To my daughter, tell her—”

Speaker, already convinced of his impending death, began rattling off a long will.

It looked like he’d use up the full thirty minutes just delivering farewells.

“Sir Speaker! You’re not going to die—so shut up!”

Despite his injuries, she wanted nothing more than to slap him across the mouth.

“Yes, my lady.”

“……”

And just like that, Speaker fell silent.

“Sir Eastar. Sir Roanes. Go after the one responsible.”

Eliana was absolutely livid. Whoever dared use such a vile poison on her knight needed to be captured and punished.

“My lady…”

But the two men hesitated. Protecting her came first.

“That’s an order! Go!”

Frustrated by their hesitation, Eliana raised her voice. She was surrounded by other knights, and the absolute defense spell was still active. They had to act quickly—and the two fastest knights needed to do it.

“Yes, my lady!”

Eastar and Roanes immediately dashed into the dense forest.

“Oh… it truly is a magnificent protection spell…”

Even with Cedric’s sword still pressed against his throat, the mage’s eyes sparkled with awe as he stared at Eliana.

“This is all your fault…!”

Suddenly, Eliana stormed forward and grabbed the mage by the collar.

“Fix him. Save my knight!”

‘She called me… “my knight”…’

Even with one arm going numb from poison, Speaker was too touched to care.

“Give me the antidote. Now!”

Judging by how fast he’d cast the binding spell on Lucas, he was likely skilled enough to handle detoxification as well.

“Yes, yes—I’ll cure him.”

“Try anything funny and I’ll take your head.”

Cedric didn’t move his sword an inch. Blue aura shimmered along the blade pressed to the mage’s neck.

“Sir Speaker, come here.”

“Ah—yes…”

Eliana beckoned. Looking pale, Speaker stepped closer to the mage.

“Cure Poison.”

The mage reached out and placed his glowing hand on Speaker’s arm.

Whoosh.

The bluish-black color around the wound faded, replaced by healthy pink.

“His wounds are still there. You’re not done. Do something about it—he was hurt because of you.”

Strictly speaking, Speaker had gotten himself hurt by throwing his body in the way.

“Healing.”

Looking slightly annoyed, the mage followed up with a healing spell to finish the treatment.

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