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“Here I am!”
Before the words even concluded, Becky sprung out from behind the guard captain, waving her hand.
Lyna let out a sigh of relief, her eyes fixed on Becky’s energetic presence. Unconsciously, she took a step back and observed Ainar, who was swiftly encircled by people.
How many times had his luck overshadowed her misfortune?
It wasn’t flawless.
If Ainar’s luck had completely triumphed over Lyna’s misfortune, she would have never encountered the black tiger in the first place.
But if he hadn’t been there

“Thank goodness
”
What would have become of Becky, who was babbling and twirling around, ensuring her safety?
Perhaps sensing Lyna’s gaze, Ainar suddenly turned his head towards her, a smile forming as his eyes crinkled at the corners.
The onlookers around him wore expressions that betrayed their curiosity, brimming with countless questions, yet none dared to ask at that moment.
But soon enough, their gazes dropped.
They desired to discuss the astonishing spectacle before them rather than fret about the unknown.
They formed a circle around the black tiger that Ainar had hastily plunged into the ground, alongside the sword lodged in its jaw.
“With a sword, he slayed such a creature!”
Someone voiced a mixture of awe and astonishment.
“Even if ten spear-wielding men charged, they wouldn’t have been able to subdue it without shedding blood.”
As soon as the words escaped, someone shook their head and interjected.
“No, it’s not that. If that were the case, it wouldn’t have been ensnared as prey in the first place
”
“That’s not the point.”
The person about to offer an explanation pursed their lips but refrained from speaking further.
“Pardon me for a moment.”
A hunter squeezed through the gap between the knights and nobles encircling the black tiger.
“If we don’t drain its blood now, the hide will spoil.”
“Ah, we cannot allow such a precious thing to go to waste. Everyone, please make way.”
The crowd took a few steps back as the hunters adeptly began the process of handling the carcass.
With knives gleaming mysteriously, they skillfully unveiled the entirety of the crouching black tiger, prompting a collective sigh of admiration.
“To bring down such a creature with one strike, in such a circumstance! Truly, it is Prince Ainar.”
The onlookers, initially marveling with their mouths agape, soon redirected their attention towards Ainar, only to find that he had vanished.
“Where did the prince go?”
“Huh? Over there.”
“Is he
 departing?”
As people exchanged these remarks, the carriage carrying Ainar and Lyna disappeared without a trace.
The day following the boisterous hunting tournament.
The young nobles who had attended the event gathered in groups from early morning.
However, instead of their usual lively banter, only occasional murmurs of disappointment could be heard.
By the time the tea in their cups had gone cold.
“Ah, isn’t it incredibly romantic?”
A sigh accompanied a lament from a young lady, and as if on cue, all the assembled nobles sighed in unison.
“Absolutely.”
“How did he appear at the most opportune moment
”
“I couldn’t see it clearly, but he took down that massive beast with one stroke.”
“Yes, with a single sword, he triumphed over a perilous adversary that no one else could even approach, leaving us all in awe!”
“I hope this doesn’t sound too childish,” someone hesitantly spoke up.
Everyone’s ears perked up upon hearing the uncertain words. The room fell silent, and anticipation filled the air. The first noblewoman to speak cleared her throat and moistened her lips before continuing.
“It felt like we were witnessing a prince rescuing a princess right before our eyes.”
As her words trailed off, the room remained hushed. How long had this awkward yet tingling silence lingered?
Suddenly, a lady known for her composed demeanor raised her hand abruptly.
“I
 I thought the same thing!”
Her cheeks turned pink as she spoke, and her declaration was met with a surge of agreement and affirmation.
“I thought so too! I’m glad I’m not the only one.”
“Me too! It was like a scene from a fairy tale unfolding in front of us.”
“Yes! Should we start calling him Bolshiek?”
“Oh my, you’re right. He truly is a Bolshiek.”
“As a child, all the heroes I read about in fairy tales or saw in plays were from Bolsheik.”
The noblewomen, convinced in their own peculiar way, nodded in agreement, confirming their shared perception.
“It was perfect, wasn’t it?”
At the lady’s words, dreamy and vacant expressions dawned on the faces of those who had witnessed the hunting tournament. The same scene flashed through their minds simultaneously.
Shortly after the Black Tiger was subdued, Ainar and Lyna, lost in their own world, bathed in a warm and exhilarating atmosphere akin to a gentle spring breeze, exchanged glances

‘Ainar, can I accompany you?’
Lyna’s voice overflowed with longing, but her expression, visible only to Ainar, betrayed her apprehension. Yet, he couldn’t help but stifle a laugh and respond loudly.
‘If that’s your wish.’
In the blink of an eye, the two vanished from the hunting tournament, leaving behind bewildered onlookers, including the Bolsheik escorts.
“Ah, miss!”
“Your Highness? Your Highness?”
Even the attendants serving Lyna and Ainar hurriedly departed, leaving behind an empty space at the end of the hunting tournament.
Ainar, who had successfully subdued the Black Tiger, was undoubtedly the winner, but it was a widely anticipated outcome. The real challenge was selecting the runner-up.
However, the rightful judge, the second prince, had left, and the third prince mysteriously vanished as well, leaving only the first prince behind.
‘And the runner-up is
’
The first prince, who had been lying down, mustered his strength and rose to his feet, fulfilling his duty as a member of the royal family. Thus, the hunting tournament, which had already achieved legendary status, came to a flawless conclusion.
Meanwhile, at the tea party attended by the noblewomen, discussions buzzed with speculation about the relationship between Ainar and Lyna.
A similar atmosphere enveloped the tea party attended by the noblemen.
“Lady Bolsheik returning to the royal palace with His Highness the second prince
”
“My, my, I had anticipated it based on their behavior before the hunting tournament
”
“And that Black Tiger, it was truly
”
“Whenever His Highness the second prince participates in the hunting tournament, it becomes a major topic of conversation
”
Amidst the lively conversation about Ainar, Lyna, and the Black Tiger, a momentary silence settled among them.
“But, you know
”
Suddenly, a nobleman spoke up, capturing the attention of the others. He hesitated for a moment before confessing what was on his mind.
“I’m not sure if it’s just me, but I can’t help but think, quite childishly.”
Despite his disclaimer, no one reproached him for his statement. They were likely all reminded of similar sentiments.
An awkward silence followed as they exchanged glances, each understanding the unspoken words. Then, the nobleman who had broken the silence solemnly confessed.
“The sight of the Second Prince rescuing Miss Bolsheik was so impressive that
 umm
 I was
”
His unfinished sentence was easily understood, and another nobleman at his side patted his shoulder reassuringly.
As the nobleman closed his mouth, silence fell once again, but the noblemen exchanged deep nods, acknowledging their shared thoughts. Their conversation revolved around Ainar, Lyna, and the events at the hunting tournament for the remainder of their discussion.
Meanwhile, in the tea party conversations among the young ladies, young men, and heads of each family, there was no mention of the Third Prince. There should have been at least some talk of a love triangle involving Ainar, Lyna, and Smith. However, Ainar and Lyna’s companionship seemed so natural that people didn’t even realize the absence of such discussions.
As speculations and heated debates swirled regarding the relationship between Ainar and Lyna, as well as the future power dynamics surrounding the Crown Prince, inside the Second Prince’s palace, Ainar and Lyna spent time together, their servants dismissed for privacy.
The scene of the injured prince being attended to by Miss Bolsheik was indeed heartwarming.
“All done. Thanks to the doctor’s proper treatment, it’s healing well.”
While her care might have seemed purely professional rather than comforting

“Your skills are truly impressive.”
Ainar’s words were filled with genuine admiration for Lyna’s medical expertise, devoid of any affectionate gaze one might expect.
The atmosphere between the two wasn’t affectionate or thrilling, as people might hope or anticipate. Once the treatment was complete, they found comfort even in silence, lost in their own thoughts as if they had known each other for a long time.
After a while, Lyna broke the silence.
“I’ve encountered the black tiger twice, and both times I managed to come out unscathed. It’s clear that our fortunes are intertwined, even if we’re somewhat distant.”
Technically, Ainar was injured during their second encounter, but Lyna herself remained unharmed.
“Twice?”
“Yes. Before that
”
Lyna recounted the events leading up to the black tiger’s intrusion into the safe zone in a matter-of-fact manner.
“
so we reached the field safely.”
“Wait a moment.”
Ainar raised his hand, interrupting Lyna.
“Why did you venture into the forest in the first place? Even if you remained safe, you could have tested whether our fortunes influence each other from a distance.”