His expression hardened. "There are a lot of weapons here. You must be aware that they’re dangerous, especially since there are knights who are practicing their archery."
Realizing I made myself sound stupid, I admitted my defeat. "I'm sorry. I didn't know that I would get in the way."
He sighed at my answer and then smiled. "That's not what I meant. I’m only saying this because I’m worried that you’ll get hurt."
I felt strange after hearing his unexpectedly sweet statement. Perhaps he wasn’t as bad as I once thought.
Just then, someone called for me. "Jubelian!”
It was an angry shout, and the source of it soon intervened in the conversation I was having with Lord Elios.
As the emperor's seat grew closer, Beatrice took a deep breath.
I must take it without Father noticing. This is what Jubelian wants! she reminded herself.
The princess felt a pang in her heart when she recalled how hesitant her friend had been. Her gaze was so desperate—Beatrice couldn’t imagine how much she wanted this thing.
Beatrice turned to Victor, who had been following her.
"Wait here,” she instructed.
Victor nodded as he watched the princess leave him. He understood that the request was from Lady Floyen herself, and that she was like a goddess among men, but... he didn’t expect the princess to act immediately.
Taking a deep breath in, Beatrice notified the guards near the entrance to the box seats.
"I have come to see my father. Make way."
Instead of letting her in, however, the knight spoke calmly, "His Majesty is having an important conversation with a distinguished guest at this time."
Distinguished guest? Beatrice smirked wryly. How dare a guard favor the mere son of a marquis over her?! Glaring at the guard, she gritted her teeth. Then, she realized he had a familiar face.
This man...
"Beatrice has come to see me?” the emperor asked. "Let her in."
Once the emperor gave his permission, Beatrice gave the knight a good look as she entered the enclosed space.
He was the one who tried to kidnap her last time, she realized, clenching her jaw. She vowed to take revenge one day.
"Come in, my daughter. Is something the matter?"
Suppressing the rising anger within her, Beatrice answered the emperor. "Ah, I just happened to see my dear father from the other side and I came to say hello."
The emperor smiled contentedly. "I see. Are you watching the competition with Regis' daughter today?"
Realizing he was trying to grasp the situation, Beatrice answered with nonchalance. "Ah, yes. She’s the daughter of a duke, after all—a useful asset."
At her slightly cold reply, the emperor smirked. "I understand. Relationships like that aren't a terrible idea."
Beatrice would have appreciated such a compliment in the past. Now, however, she felt extremely uncomfortable. She wasn’t with Jubelian to profit off her. Regardless, she was unable to reveal her true feelings at the moment.
Smiling sweetly, she headed toward the railing. Then, she hid the flower in her sleeve as she said, "Of course, it’s all for you, Father."
A corner of the emperor’s lips quirked up. "You’re as clever as always, Beatrice."
She gulped nervously, afraid that her father was somehow privy to her ulterior motive.
However, he simply gestured to Mikhail. "If you’re so concerned about me, please wish Sir Mikhail success. He’s the young man I’m cheering for.”
Beatrice bit her lip a little. Then, her expression lifted slightly. "I hope you win today.”
Mikhail smiled. "I plan to do my best for the honor of His Majesty and Her Royal Ladyship.”
He was about to take her hand, but she hurriedly bowed to the emperor to avoid the knight's touch.
"It seems that the game will be starting soon, so I’ll be going, Father."
The emperor nodded. "Okay. Remember to stay safe.”
Then, he glanced at the special seat where Regis sat. His expression was cold and he was focused on something. Upon seeing that unfamiliar expression on the duke, the emperor smirked. He couldn’t let that bastard get in his way...
He inspected the ring on his finger.
While preparing for the competition, Max snuck glimpses at Jubelian. She was as lovely as always. He smiled under his helmet.
"About Lady Floyen—doesn't she look like an angel today?"
The voice was faint enough to be inaudible to normal ears. Max, however, possessed far superior senses. Clearly hearing the comment, he began to brood. His issue was that infuriating pieces of shit were constantly threatening to approach Jubelian because of her beauty… Once he ascended the throne, should he make a law that prevented people from coming face-to-face with his empress?
Gritting his teeth, he filled his mind with dangerous fantasies.
"Wow, it would be great if a beautiful lady like her embroidered a handkerchief for me."
"Dream on. We're not even royal knights. A knight from a regular aristocratic family will never get something like that.”
Hearing those words, Max smiled as he glanced at the handkerchief tied to the hilt of his sword.
Yes, I have what you all will never have,”he privately boasted, delighted.
Then, a voice came from behind them, inside the barracks. "Well, you never know. I've heard that her lover is a commoner…”
"Of course! She gets along well with commoners! There’s still hope for us."
A ferocious expression soon clouded Max's face.
At that moment, Dennis found him.
"Your Highness, what are you doing here?" he asked.
With his jaw clenched, Max turned toward the barracks where the irritating comment had come from. A brown flag engraved with its family crest swayed in the wind. Count Pyrex, he noted, a disquieting smile stretching his lips.
"Oh, I was just looking around,” he answered. "I thought that it would be fun to beat up one of the hounds."
A hound? As far as Dennis knew, everyone should have been forbidden from using one. He wrinkled his brow at the absurd comment.
"Do you need something from me?" the crown prince asked. He sounded more upset than usual.
"Ah, I just wanted to let you know that all of the weapons are ready. I’ve also scanned all of the participants and what they have in their arsenal," Dennis began.
"Go on."
"It seems that Frederich Elios has hired a professional hunter as his seeker. As for Mikhail Hessen..." Dennis paused and looked at his lord. His gaze was somewhere else—it was clear that he wasn’t listening. What was he so concerned about? "Your Highness?"
Max glanced back with an irritated expression.
"I almost missed it because of you,” he scolded Dennis.
He immediately returned to staring at the place Jubelian had just been. His master glared back at him from a distance. His master might be watching, but he still couldn’t call him an ally...