Chapter 64

For the second time, the gathering with a larger group was much more enjoyable.

When Diare shook the bushes, the light motes would fly up, and she would catch them with her net. Laub would burn a twig to help her catch the light motes that were higher up.

Pai never got lost. It seemed as if the map of the hunting grounds was all in her head.

She even guided them to a suitable spot for a snack, and everyone gathered to eat.

There were sweet and tangy lemon pound cakes, cold milk, and sandwiches with luxurious ham and cheese.

Most of the conversation was between Diare and Lirika, with Pai occasionally joining in.

By the stream, they had lunch, and for a moment, they took off their shoes to splash in the water. Then they noticed the light motes in the water and, tying their skirts tightly, they swept the stream with their nets.

Bryn, who had warned them about the strong sunlight, had her bonnet pushed back, and Lirika was enthusiastically hunting the light motes.

Since it was almost time for strategic marriages, some of the children asked Lirika curiously.

"By the way, Princess, you're close to Baronet Barat, right?"

"Hmm, not too far."

At Lirika's answer, the girls giggled.

"Are you affectionate with him?"

"Mother, everyone already knows you're affectionate with everyone."

"That's true, but I haven't talked to him yet, so I'm curious."

Lirika tilted her head.

"Everyone seems to be interested in Fjord?"

"Of course."

"Baronet Barat is everyone's first love."

A boy listening from a distance laughed, and everyone burst into laughter.

"That's right."

"Exactly."

"Didn't I hear that Duke Barat was incredibly popular during his hunting season in the social circle?"

"That's true. But isn't Baronet Barat just as good now?"

After all, they couldn't marry due to factions, and the rumors coming from Barat were enough to make anyone back off.

So, it was quite enjoyable to talk about a beautiful and popular target in the social circle—especially one with plenty of gossip about their family.

Lirika heard more stories than she did at Parta.

Gossip is always thrilling, so the speed at which she swung her net naturally slowed down.

Lirika laughed and cut off the gossip, saying,

"But the most beautiful is my mother."

For a moment, she thought of Empress Rudia, and the children all nodded. Lirika smiled brightly.

"Right? Mother is the most beautiful in the world!"

No one here could say that children always think their parents are the best—because objectively, it was true.

"That's right, Empress is really beautiful."

"Her golden hair, I've never seen such golden hair before. It's like melted gold."

"Her skin is milky white, and her eyes are beautiful too."

Everyone sighed.

"But isn't His Majesty handsome too?"

"That's true. He doesn't lose to Empress at all."

"They suit each other well."

Lirika nodded, thinking of her top choice for a father.

In the midst of all this, Lirika was the one swinging her net the hardest. When her collection box started to glow brightly, the sound of a horn signaling the end of the hunt was heard.

Although they had to return, the children looked at each other with regret. Their eyes said they wanted to play a little more.

Lirika felt the same way. The hunt was over, but couldn't they play a little more before returning?

But the level-headed Bryn brought the situation back to order.

"Princess, let's go back now."

Lirika wanted to say, "Just a little more," but she held back and nodded.

"Okay. Everyone, let's go back."

The children gathered around Lirika and returned to the tent village.

By the time she arrived, the hunting team had also returned. Athel frowned from his horse.

"What, playing with the kids? Why are they all huddled together?"

Bran chuckled.

"Princess is very popular."

"Ah, right. I'm not."

Athel grumbled and rode his horse closer to Lirika.

The children quickly moved aside. It was a rude act to ride a horse through a crowd, but no one would say anything to the Crown Prince.

"Did you catch a lot?"

Athel asked from his horse. Lirika nodded and showed her collection box.

"Quite a lot, see?"

Lirika smiled, and Athel grunted.

"Did you have fun?"

"Yes, it was fun."

Athel had hoped Lirika would mingle with the other children, but seeing her having so much fun with them made him feel a bit uncomfortable.

If he showed it too much, he would seem petty, but in front of Lirika, it just came out naturally.

Lirika leaned into his chest and said,

"Next time, I want to go with Athel too."

"Am I a kid?"

"Well, when I grow up, it will be a hunting team. Then we can hunt together, right?"

At Lirika's words, Athel imagined the plan. The thought of hunting together on horses was quite satisfying.

"When will you grow up?"

"Pretty soon."

At Lirika's words, Athel sighed deeply. But his mood was much better.

'So you want to hunt with me, huh?'

As they rode back to the royal tent, Rudia was just dismounting.

Athel quickly dismounted, and Lirika ran over.

"Auntie!"

Athel bowed politely, and Lirika called out.

"Mother!"

"Liri, did you have fun?"

"Yes, look at this!"

Rudia hugged Lirika tightly. Lirika proudly showed her full collection box.

"You caught a lot. Good job, Liri."

"How about you, Mother? Did you have fun?"

"Of course. Look."

Rudia took out a small wooden model from her pocket.

It was a tiger.

Lirika's eyes widened as she looked back and forth between the model and her mother.

"Did you catch a tiger?"

"Yes, because I'm Liri's mother."

With a chuckle, Lirika marveled. Speaking of which, Laub had also hit the mark every time. Altears chuckled and roughly ruffled Athel's hair.

"What about you?"

"I caught this much..."

The model she quietly took out was a jaguar and two deer.

"Not bad."

Altears nodded. It was an impressive harvest for her age.

"What about His Majesty?"

At Lirika's question, Altears showed two bears and a jaguar. The models were so cute that she wanted to collect them all.

Some people exclaimed. Altears said,

"There are a lot of injuries this year."

"Maybe because it's been a while."

Rudia shrugged. A moment later, the servants took the models and collection boxes.

The number of animals and light motes caught by each family and individual was calculated.

Lirika had the least overall because she was collecting alone in Takar, but individually, she was quite high.

She said regretfully,

"I'm still lacking."

"Because you didn't catch many yesterday. But you almost caught up today. If you keep it up until tomorrow, you might win."

Bryn encouraged her.

"Okay!"

Lirika nodded vigorously.

The third day passed safely, and in the end, Lirika won the collection contest.

There was a bit of debate about the hunting, but in the end, Altears and Rudia were declared joint winners.

Athel was disappointed, but it was an excellent record for his age. The only thing that annoyed him was that he was one rabbit behind Fjord Barat.

Next time, he would win by a bigger margin. As for Fjord, since Lirika was safe and they had even agreed to go to the festival together, it didn't matter.

The hunting festival ended satisfactorily for everyone.

* * *

Rudia snapped awake.

'What...?'

Before she could even recognize where she was, she was pushed by the crowd around her.

"Kill her!"

"Kill the traitor!"

The faces and forms of the people were unclear. Rudia involuntarily looked forward.

A gallows was set up in the square, and a person was about to be hanged.

Rudia immediately realized when and where this was.

Did I come back again?

"Lirika!"

Rudia shouted. Lirika, with her young face, stood pale in front of the gallows.

"No, no!"

Rudia screamed at the top of her lungs, trying to move forward.

"It's me! It's me! I committed the treason! My daughter knows nothing, really nothing! Lirika! Liri!"

Her cries were drowned out by the surrounding shouts. She tried desperately to push forward, but the crowd wouldn't let her.

Kill her!

Hang her!

The people now seemed like a black wave or a mass of mud. It felt heavy to push through.

Tears kept streaming down, and her eyes burned. Rudia screamed,

"No, no, stop! Stop!"

She was acting like a child, but the executioner didn't seem to hear and placed the noose around Lirika's neck.

Please, stop.

"Lirika!"

As if hearing her cries, Lirika's gaze met Rudia's, just like that day.

For a moment, their eyes met,

a faint smile.

"No, no—"

Even as she struggled, she couldn't take a single step forward. But she couldn't stop.

The next moment, the gallows platform dropped—

"!!"

Unable to even scream, Rudia's eyes snapped open.

"It felt like a nightmare."

At the low voice, she turned her gaze blankly. A stranger's face was looking down at her.

Her heart was racing, and she was drenched in cold sweat.

"Rudia?"

At the whispered voice, she finally came to her senses.

"Altears."

She breathed out and sighed deeply. His hand brushed her wet hair.

"Are you okay?"

"It was a terrible dream."

"It seemed that way."

Without asking what the dream was about, Altears got out of bed and put on a robe. He poured water and handed it to Rudia.

Her fingertips were still trembling slightly. She took a sip of water and placed the cup on the bedside table.

Getting out of bed, Rudia said,

"I need to see Liri."

Altears nodded without a word as she put on her coat.

It was dawn, and Lirika was sound asleep. Seeing her daughter sleeping safely in a soft bed, Rudia relaxed.

Altears wrapped his arms around her waist, making her lean into him. Rudia leaned into him without much resistance.

After a long silence, Rudia said,

"Now, I only have Liri. Now, I only have..."

She bit her lip tightly.

In fact, she wanted to run and blast a magic bullet into Duke Barat's head. If that could end it, she would have done it.

'But it won't end that easily.'

Moreover, if she did that, she would be arrested for murder, and Lirika would be left alone.

So this time, both of them must not get hurt, and they must defeat the enemy perfectly.

It would be her defeat if there was any loss on their side.