The Young Male Protagonist Who is Destined for Ruin Fell for Me - Chapter 65

The hunting competition, part of the Keltman Festival, followed traditional Keltman hunting methods.

Men clad in armor mounted their horses, armed with bows, swords, and spears. They worked in teams, herding game into an ever-tightening circle before delivering the decisive blow.

While traditional hunts could last several days or even a week, the organizers limited the competition to two days and one night for safety and added excitement.

As the men prepared for the hunt, they mounted their horses and adjusted their gear. Despite the crowd, it was easy to spot Kyle.

Riding a fine white horse from the Chaield Duchy’s prized stock, Kyle stood out effortlessly.

Having only ever seen him in uniforms, suits, bathrobes, or simply with a towel draped around his waist, seeing him fully armed was like looking at an entirely different person.

When the wind swept through his hair, it revealed his sharp, dark brows and piercing, bl00d-red eyes that glimmered like drops of ruby.

He seemed slightly tense, his lips pressed into a firm line as he focused on the road ahead. Even without looking, I could feel the other ladies’ gazes fixed on him.

With a sword strapped to his waist and his expression set in stone, he looked every bit like a born commander. It was as if he could turn any moment into a portrait-worthy scene.

“I just hope nothing happens.”

Vanessa had already delivered my handkerchief, wishing him a safe return, so all I could do now was pray that nothing would go wrong.

Soon, the deep sound of drums echoed through the air, announcing the start of the hunt. Thick clouds loomed overhead, and light raindrops began to settle the dust on the ground.

“Oh, they’ve set off!”

“Those young knights ride so well.”

“So it’s true—Keltman hunters can shoot arrows while galloping on horseback.”

“They’re still hunting in the rain? Isn’t that dangerous?”

Amid excited cheers and murmurs, the hunting competition officially began. The sound of hooves pounding against the ground was so powerful it sent shivers down my spine.

The horses dashed toward the mountain foothills in a scene straight out of a horse race. My gaze followed their destination.

Most of Keltman’s territory consisted of mountains and rugged rocky terrains. Not far from the White Palace stood a mountain range that served as the competition’s backdrop.

To maintain the challenge, only the five tallest peaks were designated as hunting grounds, even though hunting could technically take place anywhere in the range.

“Please, let nothing happen.”

I watched Kyle and his white horse disappear into the distance, their figures shrinking into mere specks on the horizon.

Kyle rode at a steady pace, surveying the terrain and gauging his horse’s condition. This seemed like a good spot to release the hawk.

Moving quickly on horseback would let him spot game sooner, but it would also expose him to danger more quickly. Kyle prioritized caution over victory.

“We still don’t know where Count Gargoyle is. Too many loose ends.”

Above all, he didn’t want to stray too far.

Even though he had assigned Hailed to guard her, Kyle couldn’t stop worrying about Amel. He deliberately stayed within a distance that would let him return to her quickly if anything happened.

“But even so…”

Kyle’s gaze wandered to the Keltman horses circling nearby. Gidima, it seemed, had no intention of letting him idle or merely go through the motions.

“Your Grace, are you finding the hunt uninteresting?” Gidima asked.

“It’s been a while since I last rode armed. I’d rather take my time. There’s no rush,” Kyle replied calmly.

Years of running various enterprises had given Kyle a certain composure, allowing him to weather unexpected situations without a hitch.

Having survived the ruthless politics of the Chaield Duchy, Kyle’s patience was well-honed—he wouldn’t be rattled by trivial provocations.

But today, Gidima’s taunts struck a different chord.

“Ha! That’s the spirit. After all, the Chaield family doesn’t tolerate defeat. Your predecessor and the late eldest son of Chaield once hunted bears, leaving all of Keltman in awe.”

Kyle, who had been branded a “monster” for taking the dukedom by eliminating his own family, had always considered any mention of his siblings or parents to be a clear taboo.

Yet Gidima feigned a sheepish laugh, as if his remark had been unintentional.

What was his motive in provoking Kyle like this? With a dry expression, Kyle responded, “If that’s the case, I should ensure the Chaield name remains untarnished.”

“Shall we hunt together? A collaboration between the leaders of two great nations could further strengthen our alliance.”

The implications of his words were clear. Kyle shifted his gaze to Gidima, attempting to decipher his intentions.

“I appreciate your consideration, but that would defeat the purpose of a hunting competition,” Kyle replied.

Raindrops began to fall, veiling the cloudy expression in Gidima’s eyes.

Rain pattered gently against the ground. With the hunters now gone, the ladies and I retreated to a large leather tent for shelter.

This massive tent, treated to repel water, was spacious enough to comfortably house all of us. It felt less like a temporary shelter and more like a grand hall.

Inside, we found practice swords, books, and chessboards prepared for us—a perfect way to pass the time while waiting for the hunters to return.

“All the tents are connected, so you can move around without getting wet,” Lien explained proudly.

This mobile dwelling was surprisingly cozy and warm, even for someone experiencing it for the first time like me.

The maids lit fires and began serving warm milk and tea, creating the atmosphere of an intimate tea party.

Aside from the increasingly heavy rain outside, the ambiance was perfectly serene. Still, I couldn’t help but worry about the hunters. The northern regions were already cold enough—getting caught in the rain might result in frostbite.

I frowned slightly as I stared out the window, lost in thought. Someone approached quietly and offered me a cup of hot tea—it was Steward Hailed.

“Focus on the moment, Milady. Social interaction is one of a noblewoman’s most important duties.”

He probably meant that everything would be fine and I shouldn’t worry. I nodded and accepted the tea. The warmth helped ease some of my tension.

As my body relaxed, I became more aware of my surroundings. As Hailed had pointed out, this tent was a hub of social activity. Princess Lien was undoubtedly the host of this gathering.

Lien, noticing the gradually waning energy of the group, seemed to have an idea and spoke up with a sly smile.

“Ladies, are any of you interested in swordsmanship?”

“Swords…?”

Though curiosity sparkled in their eyes, the ladies hesitated to respond. In most places, swords were considered the domain of men, except in unique cases like Keltman, which celebrated martial prowess.

However, it wasn’t that they had no interest or viewed it as beneath them. Romantic stories about young noblewomen saving their families or countries as knights were bestsellers even in this world.

Princess Lien, understanding the nuance in their expressions, smiled knowingly.

“Keltman is one of the few places where ladies can handle a sword. If you’d like, I can even demonstrate a sparring match.”

Her tactic worked like a charm. Young noblewomen and ladies who had always wanted to try wielding a sword lit up with excitement just at the chance to hold a wooden one.

Naturally, as the most skilled combatant among those present, Princess Lien became the center of attention, confidently taking the lead in teaching them.

Even Princess Nadia and Lady Gretzel couldn’t hide their delight as they gripped the hilts of practice swords wrapped in cloth.

“Princess Lien really knows how to read people.”

I had always thought of her as someone who would burn everything to the ground to get what she wanted, but her strategic mind was impressive. It was a stark contrast to the comedic emperor of another empire.

In any case, the ladies were thrilled by the rare experience. For someone like me, who could spar with real swords against my father whenever I wished, it wasn’t particularly exciting.

Yet, I couldn’t shake the feeling that Princess Lien was paying special attention to me. When our eyes met, she walked over and offered me a wooden sword.

“Lady Diane, are you not interested in swordsmanship?”

“It must be the cold—I’m not feeling very well today. Please don’t mind me and enjoy yourself,” I replied with a polite smile.

“I was hoping to see you hold a sword. After all, don’t you have a cousin who’s a remarkable knight?”

I responded with an awkward laugh, and surprisingly, Princess Lien retreated without pressing further.

But who was she talking about? A cousin who’s a great knight?

I knew the Diane family had a history of knights, but I always thought my father, a former commander of the imperial knight order, was the most accomplished among us.

Keltman must have done their homework on my family, but it was odd. The Diane lineage was small, and we didn’t have many relatives to begin with.

“If such a famous knight existed, surely I would have heard of them.”

I couldn’t imagine who Princess Lien might have been referring to. Deciding to move on, I turned my attention to Princess Nadia—only to notice something unusual.

“…Princess?”

From a distance, I saw Nadia receiving what seemed to be a private lesson from Princess Lien. The problem was the growing discomfort on Nadia’s face.

Lien had adopted a subtle, teasing tone, gently provoking Nadia. Though Nadia was clearly upset, she couldn’t refute Lien’s remarks, likely because they were painfully accurate.

Lien, with her ever-mysterious smile, spoke softly but deliberately.

“It’s a shame. In Keltman, there’s a legend that sparring during the hunting festival forms bonds of lifelong friendship. If Princess Nadia and I were to cross swords, it would symbolize a blessed alliance between our nations.”

“But since you’re weak, I suppose it can’t be helped.”

Even without hearing her thoughts, Lien’s intent was painfully clear.

“Oh my, I wasn’t aware of such a legend in Keltman,” Nadia replied stiffly.

“It’s unfortunate that the women of the Haile Empire don’t pursue martial skills as we do here,” Lien added, her tone feigning pity.

Once again, Princess Nadia pressed her lips tightly together, her frustration evident. Then she glanced at me, seeking support.

“Not everyone is like that,” she said firmly.

Of course. There was no way Princess Lien, the kind of person who would burn down a village to achieve her goals, would let an opportunity slip away.

Princess Nadia looked directly at me, and Lien, having achieved her goal, smiled with amusement.

“Lady Diane, would you like to hold a wooden sword?”

“Ah…”

I hesitated, glancing around. As expected, the envoys from the Haile Empire were all watching me with eager anticipation.