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Lyna pressed firmly against her chest, feeling the weight of her emotions. With her eyes squeezed shut, she released a long sigh. Whether it was early or late, Jane would join the Bolsheiks and she would leave.
Unlike Lyna, Jane wouldn’t be an unlucky loser but a capable and somewhat fortunate Bolsheik.
As much as Lyna loved the Bolsheiks and her father, she didn’t want to see them tainted by her stubbornness once again. Thus, her heartache was accompanied by regret. However, Lyna lifted her chin, relaxed her shoulders, and stood tall. A possibility was just that, a possibility. “I need to confirm,” she declared.
Without hesitation, Lyna turned her horse’s head. “Miss!” exclaimed her escorts from behind, filled with shock, as she ventured into the forest, leaving the safety zone. But Lyna didn’t pause; she continued onward. Jane wouldn’t limit herself to the safe zone alone. If she intended to explore only within its boundaries, she wouldn’t have entered the forest.
“Miss, it’s dangerous!”
“The safe zone is the same.”
“What? Miss, miss!”
Despite their confusion, the escorts pursued Lyna, their voices filled with concern. Yet, Lyna offered no further explanation. There was nothing she could say. How could she articulate that, for her, every place was equally dangerous, whether it was within the safe zone or not? She was burdened with terrible misfortune. If she expressed that, they would likely dismiss it as a joke or stubbornness.
The answer they would provide was evident. Even if she was unlucky, there was a significant difference between being within the safe zone and venturing outside. Hence, they would implore her to remain within the safety it provided. It might be a valid perspective for an ordinary person.
“It’s more dangerous if you make a lot of noise.”
Lyna stated coldly, silencing the escorts who were in an uproar. They sealed their lips, understanding the gravity of her words.
Soon, Lyna dismounted from her horse. It was becoming increasingly challenging to ensure her own safety, let alone handle the horse skillfully.
“Keep a vigilant watch over our surroundings since we’ve already left,” she instructed, not particularly relying on the escorts. In case something occurred, their assistance wouldn’t be of great help. It was a lesson she had learned through bitter experience.
Subsequently, Lyna gestured to Becky with a wink and whispered, “If something happens and His Highness the Second Prince is present, stay by his side. Otherwise
” She paused, wiping away a bead of sweat clinging to Becky’s cheekbone.
With her cheeks blush, Becky quickly pulled out a handkerchief and wiped Lyna’s fingertips.
Then Lyna’s voice dropped onto Becky’s forehead.
“Get away from me. As far as possible.”
Becky, who had been meticulously wiping Lyna’s hand, suddenly raised her head, but Lyna’s gaze was no longer on her. Lyna nodded more briskly than before, walking with increased speed.
To anyone who heard that she was entering a dangerous place and putting her trust in someone other than herself, it would seem laughable. But Lyna didn’t care.
“When has it ever turned out well because they trusted me?” she muttered to herself, a hint of sneer in her voice.
Eventually, though, it would. If she worked hard, invested her efforts, time, and dedication, someday she would succeed. Yet, all those hopes had long turned to ashes and crumbled.
‘Ah, ash color.’
Yes, she had met Ainar.
It was after encountering him that Lyna experienced her first taste of not “failing.”
Since Ainar promised success and ventured into this forest, if she could find him, she would be able to discover Jane’s intentions and leave this forest safely.
Well, it was better than being alone, regardless of the outcome. Lyna couldn’t predict what Jane would do, so she had no idea which direction she might have taken. However, if Jane hadn’t come here to carry out an honest and noble task under her father’s protection, the Duke of Bolsheik, it wouldn’t have gone unnoticed.
She was not sure what she’s up to, but if it were something entirely honest and good, Jane wouldn’t have come here with the Bolsheik permit she gained through a backdoor deal.
Lyna turned to the nearest guard captain and inquired, “Which way is less crowded?”
“Um
 it seems to be that way,” the guard captain replied with a visibly uneasy expression.
Immediately, Lyna headed in the direction indicated, the deeper they ventured into the forest, the quieter it became. Even the birds’ chirping nearly ceased to exist.
“Miss, something feels off. We should turn back now,” the guard captain earnestly suggested.
Lyna nodded in agreement. “Yes, something is indeed strange. It shouldn’t be this quiet.” The guard captain and his men momentarily found relief in her words, but their expressions tightened once again upon hearing Lyna’s colder remark.
“But not yet. I haven’t accomplished what I came here to do.”
Every noble in the empire was well aware that Lyna Bolsheik, the sole heir to the Duke of Bolsheik, never gave up on her desires. The guards accompanying her at the moment understood this truth. That was precisely why they couldn’t insist on turning back when Lyna made the decision to leave the safe zone. Their duty now was to protect Lyna to the best of their abilities.
As they ventured deeper into the forest, reaching a point where even the sounds of birds and insects were scarce, the guard at the front suddenly halted in his tracks. “What’s wrong
” he muttered.
It was a coincidence. How else could it be explained?
“Rooooooaaar!”
An arrow struck the shoulder of the black tiger, and at that very moment, Lyna arrived on the scene, just in time to

The beast’s roar reverberated throughout the entire forest, and almost simultaneously, a group of individuals entered Lyna’s field of vision. With urgency, they drew their bows and unleashed a barrage of arrows. It was evident from their attire that they were a group of hunters accompanying the princes. And among them, the Third Prince was easily recognizable.
His gaze fixated on Lyna, who stood out amidst the lush greenery. Their eyes met briefly, but Lyna casually averted her gaze, as if she were merely observing a pebble by the roadside.
Observing this, Smith’s lips twisted into a grimace. While it was a coincidence that Lyna happened to be present at that moment, the arrow aimed at the black tiger was no accident. Smith had deliberately released it.
Initially, the hunters were taken aback when they noticed the feathers on Smith’s arrow, realizing it had been intended for the black tiger. However, there was no time for surprise alone.
“Shoot, shoot! Arrrgh!”
“How dare you in the presence of the First Prince!”
“It’s still dangerous if we leave it be!”
Amidst the chaos, the hunters acted in unison, while the guards surrounding Lyna maintained their positions, shielding her from harm.
“Don’t try to strike it with an arrow; instead, try to steer it!”
“Over there! Head in that direction!”
“Hey! Throw the prey we have in that direction first!”
The clamor of shouting and the clash of weapons created a chaotic and frenzied scene. Anyone could have anticipated such a scenario the moment the black tiger was provoked. Naturally, Smith, the one who had fired the first arrow, was well aware of the consequences of his actions.
A few minutes earlier

The party of the Third Prince had come across the group searching for the First Prince.
“Uh, uh, Your Highness, the Third Prince!”
Smith quickly scanned their faces, but to his relief, he couldn’t spot the First Prince among them. It was fortunate for him, but the same couldn’t be said for the worn-out members of the First Prince’s party who were desperately searching for their missing charge.
However, their relief was short-lived as they soon discovered the First Prince’s location—an alarming sight unfolded before them. The First Prince stood amidst the presence of the largest and most dangerous beast in the hunting competition—the black tiger.
“Uh
 uh,” someone gasped in surprise, only to be promptly silenced by another person’s hand. The atmosphere grew tense, and Smith remained silent as he surveyed the scene.
Thankfully, the black tiger showed no significant reaction upon sensing the newcomers. It merely swayed its tail, seemingly irritated. However, with each swing of its tail, the grass beneath it was uprooted, and the ground was torn apart, underscoring the inherent danger posed by the black tiger.
The First Prince’s face brightened slightly as he spotted their arrival, but he remained trapped, unable to advance or retreat, accompanied by a woman who seemed unhinged.
“Your Highness, how should we handle this?” someone whispered, recognizing the challenging situation they were in.
Even those who had sighted the First Prince were in a precarious position. The black tiger, blatantly blocking their path, remained motionless for now. Yet, the moment someone made a move, whether it was an attempt to circumvent the obstacle or pass by it, the mere thought of being devoured by the beast caused a shiver to run down the spine of the hunters. They anxiously observed the Third Prince, waiting for his response.
Smith, with narrowed eyes, closely monitored the situation. Unlike the First Prince, he did not tremble with fear. He possessed the confidence to save himself from the beast’s clutches.
“Your Highness?” someone inquired, seeking guidance on how to handle the First Prince.
Smith shook his head, deep in thought. “I’m thinking,” he replied honestly. He sincerely wished to abandon the First Prince and proceed forward. However, with numerous eyes watching their every move, he couldn’t simply feign ignorance and move on. Yet, he lacked any particularly brilliant ideas for a solution.
The simplest option would be to sacrifice someone as bait for the black tiger, allowing them to extract the First Prince during the ensuing chaos. However, Smith couldn’t bring himself to suggest such inhumane and cruel methods.
“It’s becoming troublesome,” he muttered to himself, pondering how to extricate the First Prince from the predicament.
As he contemplated, a hunter from the Third Prince’s party, renowned for his acute hearing, suddenly turned his head to the left in surprise. “Your Highness, it seems there is another group on the left.”