CHAPTER 040
Time passed, and the day of the hunting competition arrived.
Many people gathered in the clearing of the Golden Forest, the venue for the competition.
"The atmosphere here is quite different from the banquet, isn't it?" Charlotte, who was attending the hunting competition for the first time, shared her first impression with curiosity.
"Everyone seems so serious! Is it because it's a hunting competition?"
"Well... I think the atmosphere this year is a bit unusual!" Having watched the hunting competition for two consecutive years, I could tell. The atmosphere wasn't always like this!
I had a hunch as to why. This year's competition had several notable participants.
I glanced over at the camps of the Croft Dukedom and the Bloomberg Marquisate. Outside the Croft camp, the twins and Lewis were engaged in conversation.
Their mere presence was intimidating.
Due to the distance from the twins, I could hear the whispers of the nearby participants clearly.
"The rumors were true. All three of them are participating."
"This year's competition is going to be fierce."
"Will there be any game left?"
It seemed I had stirred up quite a commotion by attending this competition.
How did this happen...
It was a good thing I dissuaded Bella from participating with her axe, or we would have created even more of a spectacle.
I chatted with Charlotte for a bit until the Emperor's arrival prompted me to quickly return to Bella's side.
The hunting competition was overseen by the Emperor.
"This year's competition looks very competitive," the Emperor began his speech, glancing towards Lewis and the twins.
The Emperor's speech was a bit long, but it was always like this, so it wasn't too tedious.
After a while, the speech, which praised the bravery of the participants, concluded. It was almost time for the competition to begin.
Now, it was time to present the handkerchiefs.
Naturally, my gaze turned towards Charlotte and Philip.
Charlotte moved towards Philip with a handkerchief embroidered with the royal family's bird symbol.
"Crown Prince, please accept my handkerchief!"
"Please accept mine too!"
However, Philip was already surrounded by young ladies trying to give him their handkerchiefs.
Charlotte seemed unsure about how to get through the crowd. She looked at me as if to ask, "What should I do?"
Don't worry! The handkerchief Philip wants is different!
I motioned her towards Philip with a nod, encouraging her not to hesitate. Charlotte nodded back and seemed determined to push through the crowd.
But before she could enter the throng, it parted.
Right on cue!
Philip emerged from the group of young ladies. Why? Because he was waiting for Charlotte's encouragement!
Dressed in silver armor with a red cape, Philip stood out among today's participants. He looked particularly handsome as he approached Charlotte.
"Your Highness..."
Charlotte's face turned slightly pink.
Philip smiled gently at her.
No wonder I was mistaken. They look like a couple in love.
Even if Charlotte only thought of Philip as a good person, anyone would misunderstand.
"Are you giving me your handkerchief?" Philip asked, his tone filled with anticipation.
Charlotte nodded with a kind smile. "I embroidered it for you, Your Highness."
She handed the handkerchief to Philip, who looked happier than ever.
Holding the handkerchief, Philip said, "I will dedicate the honor of victory to you, my lady."
"I pray for your safe return, Your Highness."
"What a lovely scene," Bella whispered beside me, intrigued.
At that moment, Lewis approached me.
"Wish me a safe return," he said, glancing at my hand as if he had something there.
Yes, yes, I do have something for you.
I handed Lewis the handkerchief with blue flowers embroidered on it. Despite my mediocre embroidery skills, I had put a lot of effort into it for him.
"Take care and return safely," I said.
Lewis smiled, satisfied. "Don't worry."
* * *
During the hunting competition, I spent time with Charlotte visiting other noble families' camps.
We engaged in casual conversations until someone brought up Bella.
"I didn't expect the Duke of Croft's daughter to participate in the hunt."
"Indeed. I've never heard of the young lady hunting before."
Right. I've seen Bella hunt people, though.
I nodded in agreement with their remarks. Just then, Lady Redmond, who had stepped out for a while, returned to the camp with something in her arms.
"Lady, what's with the rabbit?"
It was a small grey rabbit, so tiny it looked like a baby.
"Did you catch it?"
"No! I found it wandering near the camp," Lady Redmond answered, surprised by the question.
Well, being in a clearing next to the forest, it's not unusual to see such animals.
Soon, the other ladies gathered around Lady Redmond.
"It's so cute..."
"It must be very young. It's so tiny."
"It looks like it lost its mother. It must have been wandering alone."
Such explosive interest!
The ladies kept talking to Lady Redmond.
"Are you going to keep it, Lady Redmond?"
"No, my parents dislike animals, so I can't."
"Then maybe it's better to release it back."
"Yes, the mother rabbit might be looking for it in the forest!"
"Right now?"
Lady Redmond looked like she hadn't considered that.
"I brought it because it was cute... Should I release it outside the camp?"
"How about at the entrance?"
Charlotte suggested, adding to the discussion about the rabbit.
"Considering it wandered here not knowing where it was, placing it near the forest entrance might help it find its mother."
That makes sense.
I looked at the rabbit, surrounded by the ladies and blinking innocently.
It still seemed unsure about how it ended up here. Adorable.
Lady Hoss agreed with Charlotte.
"That sounds good! The entrance is right there."
"Since there are guards around, it should be safe."
Lady Redmond, still holding the rabbit, looked around. She seemed hesitant to go alone.
"Who will come with me?"
The ladies looked at each other.
Is everyone feeling lazy? I quietly waited, thinking someone would volunteer.
There are so many people here, surely someone will go?
"Would you like to go with me?"
Charlotte volunteered.
But Lady Redmond shook her head.
"No. I just decided who will come with me."
Who?
"Lady Elsner."
"Me?"
"You were the only one who didn't make eye contact."
Ah, I was caught avoiding eye contact?
So, I ended up accompanying Lady Redmond out of the camp.
As we left, Lady Redmond explained how she found the rabbit.
"I picked it up over there," she said, pointing.
It was on the way from the Redmond camp to where the ladies were gathered.
So, she picked it up on her way back.
"I didn't want to go alone, but I'm glad you're with me, Lady Elsner."
"Yes, indeed. Haha..."
I couldn't tell her I was caught avoiding eye contact, so I quickly changed the subject.
"By the way, the rabbit is really docile!"
"Isn't it? It strangely follows people well. Would you like to pet it?"
We chatted as we walked, eventually encountering a soldier.
He didn't stop us when we said we were releasing the rabbit outside the forest.
"Just don't go too deep into the forest."
It was a stern warning, but he didn't stop us.
"Maybe it's because this place is connected to the forest," Lady Redmond speculated.
"Probably. This area is technically part of the forest," I agreed.
After a few more words, we reached the entrance to the forest.
It was time to part with the rabbit after a short but sweet encounter.
Lady Redmond carefully placed the rabbit at the entrance.
"Go find your mother."
"Goodbye, little rabbit!"
I bid farewell to the rabbit as well.
But instead of heading straight into the forest, the rabbit stayed near us.
"Why is it trying to follow us?"
Actually, it was specifically following Lady Redmond.
The little rabbit scurried towards her, and she looked bewildered.
"Oh my, why is it doing this?"
"It seems to like you, Lady Redmond."
That was the only explanation.
"If it weren't for my parents, I would have kept it. But I can't because they dislike animals," Lady Redmond lamented.
"So, raising it inside the house is out of the question, and even outside, I'd need their permission."
"Ah, that's unfortunate..."
So, the lady and the rabbit were fated to part.
But if it kept following, we couldn't leave it.
How could we safely reunite this little rabbit with its mother?
As I pondered, Lady Redmond suggested, "Should we go a bit further in?"
"What?"
Into the forest?
"Maybe the mother rabbit will come out and take it. We'll just go to the edge. It should be fine."
"Hmm, just a few steps in, then."
It really was just a few steps. We placed the rabbit at the forest's edge and quickly stepped back out.
However, the little rabbit, unsure of where to go, looked left and right before coming back out to us.
No, that's not the right direction!
"This way, the mother won't come out," I sighed.
Even if the baby rabbit wasn't wary of humans, the mother rabbit wouldn't show itself in front of us.
As expected, not a single creature was in sight.
Then Lady Redmond made a sudden suggestion.
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