Chapter 14
As I let out a breath, feeling drained, Easton, who had been watching Noah, turned his gaze toward me.
“Do not worry, Lady. I will protect you safely.”
“Oh my.”
Is the knight’s order capable of reading minds too?
But the fact that Easton would personally protect only me… That felt a bit overwhelming.
“I can’t keep the vice-captain occupied with my personal fears. Please don’t worry about me.”
Forcing an awkward smile, I gestured to Noah, who had approached Easton.
Noah obediently came to my side without saying a word.
Easton, quietly observing, spoke again.
“My lady.”
This time, his expression was quite serious.
“There are fewer knights stationed beyond the safety line, so it’s dangerous. Please be careful.”
“Yes, and you take care too, Sir Easton.”
I appreciated his concern, but… I still felt a little awkward.
With a small nod, I headed towards the tent.
Easton, true to the etiquette of an escort, opened the tent flap for me until the very end.
But honestly, I couldn’t focus on his escort.
Because…
“……”
Noah let out a big yawn.
It was a tired, weary yawn.
The problem was… he kept doing it.
Even while reading a book inside the tent, he’d nod off, only to jerk himself awake and slap his cheeks hard.
Was he… waiting for something?
“If you’re tired, you can sleep, Noah.”
“No.”
When I handed him a blanket out of concern, Noah just shook his head.
“I have to stay by your side, sister.”
“…Why?”
I asked gently, and Noah made a small fist.
“Because I have to protect you.”
Well… that’s such a sweet and cute thought.
I gave a baffled laugh but sighed as Noah’s head drooped again.
What’s with everyone today?
Neither Easton nor Noah wanted to leave my side.
Anyone would think I’d spread honey inside this tent or something.
…Wait.
Honey?
I feel like I was supposed to use something related to honey today…
At that moment, something that had been buried in my mind surfaced.
Lemon syrup.
“Gasp.”
Startled, I jumped up from my seat. Annie, who had been fixing my coat, let out a small shriek in surprise.
I’d been so distracted since morning that I completely forgot.
The task I had for today’s hunting competition!
Many unmarried young nobles participated in the hunt, and girls my age were all gathered near my tent.
Especially since this hunt also attracted nobles who hadn’t officially debuted in society yet.
Just like Noah and me.
Which means… this hunting competition was the biggest social stage in the Manong Empire!
The perfect chance to introduce… my lemon syrup!
“Annie, could you deliver the invitation letters I wrote this morning to the ladies in the nearby tents?”
“Yes, my lady!”
“And please ask the others to prepare for tea time.”
There was no way I’d miss this opportunity.
The maids, short-handed as they were, bustled around in a hurry.
To avoid getting in their way, I pressed myself against the tent wall and, in doing so, noticed Noah sleeping soundly on a chair.
Contrary to his earlier vow not to sleep, he was now breathing evenly with a small smile.
‘Looks like he’s having a nice dream.’
He looked so cute I wanted to poke his cheek.
Still… why sleep there instead of the bed?
I chuckled and asked a passing maid to take care of him.
Soon, Noah was being carried into bed in the maid’s arms and drifted into a deep sleep.
Now… with things under control… I…
“I’ll go grab the lemon syrup from the carriage luggage compartment.”
“Oh, my lady! Let us go instead!”
My maids rushed over as I naturally lifted the tent flap.
But honestly, if I left it to them, the preparation wouldn’t finish until tonight.
“This is nothing. Instead, contact the duke’s residence and have them send more maids.”
I hadn’t considered we’d be this short-staffed… I was too careless.
There were just two of us… but I brought the same number of staff as last year…
“Sorry for making everyone rush. Please, continue with your tasks.”
With a small smile, I stepped out of the tent.
Outside, knights were on guard, scanning the surroundings, and faint sounds of magic explosions echoed in the distance.
Probably magic being used inside the forest.
I looked around, my eyes sparkling with curiosity.
But just then…
A rough hand blocked my path.
“Lady Agrinda, pardon me, but may I ask your destination?”
It was one of the knights guarding our tent.
“Ah… I was just heading to the carriage luggage compartment. It’s close by, so no need to follow me.”
The knight nodded as if understanding but pointed to the ground.
“There’s a white safety line drawn on the ground. Please be careful not to cross it, as it’s dangerous beyond that.”
“How kind of you. Thank you.”
I gave a casual reply and walked briskly.
Before long, I reached the familiar carriage marked with our family crest.
The coral flower pattern blooming like it was under the sea.
The symbol of House Agrinda.
Clunk.
“Good, here it is.”
I quickly opened the luggage compartment and easily found the lemon syrup.
I also grabbed some of Noah’s favorite snacks and a sun hat.
Since I was here anyway… might as well.
If I prepped these now, it’d reduce the maids’ workload later.
Now, I just had to close the compartment door and head back.
But then…
Rustle.
I froze as I heard movement from nearby bushes.
“……!”
Startled, I instinctively scanned the surroundings.
Thankfully, I hadn’t crossed the safety line, and knights weren’t far away.
But… perhaps because I turned too suddenly… my vision blurred for a moment…
‘Gosh… that scared me.’
I almost thought a monster was nearby.
“…….”
Letting out a sigh of relief, I hurried my steps back.
But maybe because I was a little spooked, my pace quickened and my breathing grew rough.
Then it happened.
Boom!
“Kyaa!”
A loud noise suddenly erupted in front of me.
Startled, I dropped everything I was holding and covered my ears with both hands.
But oddly… I didn’t hear the sharp sound of glass shattering. In fact… it was strangely quiet.
“What the…”
With growing dread, I looked down.
On the ground, there was no broken glass… only small pebbles scattered about.
As if I had never been holding anything at all.
“……!”
A silent scream overwhelmed me.
What… what is this… a dream?
What’s happening?
My mind went blank, spinning with confusion.
Oh no.
Finally, I realized… the dense forest surrounding me… the white safety line… they were all gone.
I remembered what people say… before you die, your life flashes before your eyes…
[For this area especially, each participant will be accompanied by a mage due to the number of dangerous monsters lurking here.]
That one scene flashed vividly in my mind.
I shuddered with terror.
Now that I thought about it… I once learned in class at the academy that some high-level monsters specialize in distorting perception.
Could it be… one of those monsters is hiding nearby?
If so… this is definitely a trap.
And I’m the one who fell right into it.
But when? How?
Someone… please… just tell me why.
[There aren’t many knights stationed beyond the safety line, so please be careful.]
Why… why did Easton’s warning suddenly come to mind again now?
“Haa…”
With a heavy sigh, I bit my lip.
Suddenly… I was terrified to look behind me.
Grrr…
“Ugh.”
As if on cue… a harsh breathing sound began to echo from behind me.
This was it.
I was done for.
Would I… really make it back alive?
Scene shift
Noah’s eyes, which seemed like they’d never open, slowly lifted.
His sleepy, crimson eyes regained their usual clarity.
“Mmm.”
He let out a huge yawn, rubbing his eyes.
The maid nearby looked startled.
“Oh! Young master, you’re awake already? You could sleep more if you want.”
But that comment quickly cleared Noah’s foggy mind.
Wait… what did she just say?
I was… asleep?
“……!”
Feeling a wave of anxiety, Noah sprang up.
He quickly scanned the surroundings.
Pale pink, deep crimson…
Frantically searching… but the color he wanted to see wasn’t there.
Rosent… she wasn’t there.
“Where’s sister?!”
In a panic, Noah rushed to the maid and asked.
Unaware of Noah’s urgency, she chuckled softly.
“Hehe, already looking for the lady as soon as you wake? She just stepped out to the carriage luggage for a bit.”
Thump.
Noah’s heart skipped a beat and sank.
She’s really not in the tent?
She disappeared while he was sleeping?
I let my guard down.
For days, his mind had been clouded… and now…
Plus, the persistent headaches and deteriorating condition had pushed him to his limit.
To be honest… the fact that Noah was even acting normal till now… was amazing.
Then it happened.
“Move!”
Noah shoved the maid aside and sprinted out of the tent.
“Y-Young master?!”
“Where are you going! It’s dangerous alone without the lady!”
Ignoring the maids calling after him, Noah didn’t stop.
He only ran faster.
Knights, realizing the situation, tried to catch him, but no adult could match the speed of a determined child.
And for Noah… this was nothing new.
Unlike other children… Noah was used to being hunted.
Before dying, he’d been to many battlefields… dodging and attacking… second nature to him.
How far had he run?
Before he knew it… he crossed the distant white safety line without hesitation.
He once heard something from Honey during their academy days…
[Do you know why the hunting competition was abolished, Locus?]
The reason… why this competition had been abolished.
Noah had shaken his head back then… but soon after, Honey had said…
[That’s because…]
But the answer never came.
Instead… countless memories flashed through Noah’s mind.
The list of victims printed in the newspaper.
The metallic scent of gunpowder lingering in the capital’s air every day.
The grieving cries of families on the streets.
And then…
<“Lady Agrinda Vanishes During Hunting Tournament”>
That headline… dominating every page of the newspaper for days.
And shortly after… traces of monsters found at the disappearance site.
It all made sense now.
How… how could he ever forget?
“…….”
Noah gasped for breath as he frantically scanned the ground.
Find her.
He had to find her.
Any trace of Rosent’s heel marks… any faint sign of a monster.
Not even a moment of error was allowed.
No time to spare.
<“Duke of Agrinda Collapses After Shock from Daughter’s Disappearance”>
<“Is the Lady Truly Missing?”>
No… Noah couldn’t let headlines like that appear again.
With rising anxiety, he bit down hard on his lip.
Something warm trickled from his mouth.
Roughly wiping it away with his sleeve, he took a deep breath.
Stay focused.
Don’t panic.
It’s okay.
I’ve prepared for this.
“…….”
Noah squeezed his eyes shut, forcing himself to calm down.
Finally… the dizzying chaos in his head began to clear.
It was at that moment.
