Chapter 58: I Stole Yeuju's First Love
The next day, the men's department competition began.
The women's department, with its short history, was more like a light social event.
In contrast, the men's department, boasting a long history and being a matter of pride, had a different atmosphere from the start.
Moreover, as it was a competition held only once every few years, the participants were incredibly determined.
"It's intense. Will your father be okay?"
Mother murmured worriedly.
"He'll be fine. Father isn't a hunter great enough to aim for first place, after all."
If anything, it might be the opposite.
I decided to keep this thought to myself.
After all, I had only stated the truth, but Mother's expression didn't look too pleased.
I smiled and put the hastily prepared gift from last night in my bosom.
Such things are more effective when given in front of others.
"Are you not going to see Father?"
"The gift. I know you prepared it."
Mother's face turned red instantly.
I waved at Mother and got up from my seat.
On the way to where Aster was waiting, the bracelet on my wrist jingled softly.
'It's a trick, but just in case.'
Before the competition started, I reminded Raymond once again not to forget his prey.
I also wore the bracelet to see if receiving his prey would weaken the original suppression.
When I arrived at the waiting area, many women were already handing handkerchiefs to their family members or lovers.
I also saw Tatiana giving handkerchiefs to Wilhelm and Raymond.
'But why is Daniel standing there alone?'
Usually, he would be clinging to Tatiana to win her love, but now he was standing alone.
'Come to think of it, he said something strange last time.'
Didn't he confess that he felt disgusted by Tatiana, who was the center of his life?
'Is he still feeling that way?'
He would probably soon wag his tail and run over.
That was the extent of my expectations for Daniel.
I walked past them to where Aster was waiting at the front.
Despite being the emperor of an empire, he was at the center of power but had few people around him.
The strange silence seemed to indicate that he was not a welcome presence here.
I deliberately called out to him loudly.
Aster, who had been looking at the ground, raised his head to look at me.
I met a cold, mask-like expression I had never seen before.
But it quickly melted away like ice, and an elegant smile appeared on his face.
"Princess, what brings you here?"
Despite his words, his face was full of anticipation.
He must have been hoping I had something prepared, even though I said I didn't.
"I have something to give you as well."
I took a flower from my bosom and handed it to him.
Last night, I had asked Lily to pick this white camellia from the garden I managed.
"It's not as good as a handkerchief, but it's a flower I grew to learn magic. The flower's meaning is honor and glory, so I thought it would suit you well."
Feeling a bit embarrassed, I handed him a simple flower instead of a delicately embroidered handkerchief.
But such gifts are about the meaning.
"I also asked Mother to cast a preservation spell on it, so it should be easy to keep."
He gazed at the flower for a while before carefully taking it.
The intensely colored flower suited him strangely well.
"Thank you for the gift. I will bring back a result that does not tarnish your flower."
Aster's smile, as he held the flower, was radiant.
It was different from the occasional smiles he showed. More natural, raw emotion was revealed.
Holding the flower and smiling, Aster looked gentle and affectionate, unlike his public image.
He was already handsome, but with that smile, he seemed even more approachable.
I could feel the women around us glancing at Aster.
'Now they're interested.'
Feeling a bit annoyed, I took the flower back from his hand and pinned it to his jacket pocket.
"Your Majesty will surely bring back prey without a single petal damaged. I'm looking forward to it."
Soon, the announcement for the start of the competition was heard, and I bid farewell to Aster and left.
When I returned to the camp, Mother was already back.
She looked startled and gazed at me.
"Did you have a good talk?"
I subtly asked about her relationship with Father.
Mother nodded slowly with a flustered look, indicating a positive response.
I wanted to ask more but held back. It was better not to meddle in such matters. I planned to just quietly observe from now on.
"If you need anything, let me know later."
We talked about what Father might bring back. Objectively, Father wasn't talented at hunting, so it was doubtful he would catch anything impressive.
'He'll probably bring back something, though.'
In the middle of our conversation, Mother leaned in and whispered to me.
"But aren't you on bad terms with Sir Helen?"
"But why is she glaring at you like that?"
When I turned my head at Mother's words, Helen, dressed in a light dress, was staring at me with a terrifying look.
I raised my hand and waved at her.
Her stern face briefly brightened.
Helen walked briskly over to us.
When she arrived, she bowed to Mother.
"It's an honor to meet you, Mistress of the Magic Tower."
Mother looked at me and tilted her head.
With Helen agreeing, Mother's expression brightened.
"Karina's friend, then. Sit here next to us."
She readily offered her seat and started asking various questions.
Her thorough questioning felt like an exam.
I think she asked me similar questions before.
'When it was Aster, too.'
I grabbed Mother's dress.
This was a rude gesture towards Helen.
"It's fine, Princess. Given what you've been through, I think these are questions she has every right to ask."
I was speechless at Helen's words.
I didn't expect anyone other than Aster to answer like that.
"Oh, you're so considerate. Sir Helen, would you like to visit the Magic Tower later? There are many knights to see."
"It would be an honor to be invited by the Mistress of the Magic Tower."
The two of them, who seemed to be in sync, started talking without me.
I quickly interjected in their conversation.
The hunting competition, which I thought would be boring, suddenly became more enjoyable.
Aster mounted his horse in response to the preparation signal and looked straight ahead.
He recalled Karina's embarrassed face when she held the flower earlier.
It had been five years since he ascended to the throne.
Aster had been able to maintain his position solely due to his overwhelming military power and political acumen.
There were no forces around him that would support him.
His lack of a suitable fiancée was also due to his ongoing power struggle with the Senate.
For these reasons, Aster was always an outcast at such events.
'If he hadn't received anything, there would have been a lot of talk.'
He didn't really expect Karina to bring anything.
When she said she had forgotten, he felt a bit disappointed, but that was it.
But then Karina appeared with a flower.
It was just one flower, and it looked hastily prepared, but it was enough to become a topic of conversation.
'A lover giving a flower to the emperor.'
Regardless of the others, the choice of gift was brilliant. It wasn't a handkerchief or a decoration, but a flower that could be crushed at any time.
Even the words she said while pinning the flower.
She showed her confidence in her skills while also rubbing the other competitors' pride the wrong way.
She was really an interesting person.
She could act as if she knew nothing, but at crucial moments, she would do something to catch her opponent off guard.
"Flowers. Our princess did something quite cute."
Raymond, who had ridden his horse next to Aster, chuckled.
Raymond's gaze fell on the flower. He hadn't expected her to plan something like this, even though the duke's camp was noisy this morning.
"Isn't she really cunning? She pretended to have nothing prepared, but she was planning this show behind the scenes."
Aster smiled wryly at Raymond.
"I'm the one who's surprised, Sir Raymond. I didn't think you would be so low-level as to miss the political implications of the princess's actions."
Raymond's smooth face twitched at his sharp words.
Soon, the starting gun went off.
Aster lowered his body and spurred his horse.
To meet her expectations, he needed to bring back something more than just an ordinary prey.