It was time to look at Astana, who began to drink in earnest, with happy eyes.

  Every time Astana moved, I saw four people following him.

  They were Knights of the Imperial Knights.

  In addition, the other Knights were seen standing guard fully armed throughout the outdoor banquet hall.

  "As expected."

  I looked at them and snorted slightly.

  It was because the prey I was aiming for today was the empress and those imperial knights.

  I also put Lombardy Knights throughout the banquet hall and put them next to Astana.

  Then, as if they were not going to lose, they guarded the area around the banquet hall and began to follow Astana and guard him.

  "My prediction was right."

  The Imperial Knights and Lombardy Knights were a kind of rival.

  This was because there were no ordinary noble families Knight comparable to the Imperial Knights, and the Imperial Knights’ capacity was decreasing.

  Some even said that it was caused by the "Imperial Swordsmanship" that the Imperial Knights trained.

  They said that there is a problem with the swordsmanship itself, which limits the scope of the Knights.

  However, many of them also criticized the Imperial Knights’s lack of competence all started when the Brown family was ousted.

  The reason is the absence of the Brown family, which has served as the commander of the Imperial Knights from generation to generation.

  Whatever the reason.

  The fact that the Imperial Knights faced an unprecedented crisis was a fact that everyone agreed.

  "So everyone’s in desperate need."

  Naturally, those who hold the sword want to be strong.

  I smiled as I looked at the Imperial Knights guarding Astana.

  "Tia."

  "Are you here?"

  Without looking back, I could see that it was Perez who came up behind me.

  "You look good in your clothes."

  I looked at the red clothes Perez wore and said.

  "Of course, you picked it for me."

  "That’s true."

  I laughed as I took the little dust off Perez’s clothes.

  "The clothes you wear for today’s banquet are red, and the protective gear you wear from tomorrow is red."

  As I humbly said, Perez smiled, slightly folding his eyes.

  "Don’t you think things are going very well anyway?"

  As if fate is on our side.

  "His Majesty suddenly appears to be participating in a hunting contest, and Astana……"

  Me and Perez looked at Astana in the distance at the same time.

  I gave him the wine, Caloga.

  In front of Astana, whose eyes were slightly loosened, there were already several empty glasses.

  "As expected, you are destined to achieve what you want, Perez."

  Revenge, and ascend to the throne.

  When I turned away, he looked at me with strange eyes.

  "Why do you look at me like that?"

  "Tia, sometimes you’re weird."

  "Weird?"

  "Sometimes you talk like you know the future."

  He has a good hunch.

  "……is that so?"

  I sneak away from his gaze and blur my words.

  "And one thing is wrong."

  Perez said.

  "Thanks to you, not me. Thanks to Tia, I’m here now."

  His red eyes caught me.

  Then he approached slowly and kissed my cheek.

  It was an expression full of affection.

  I could feel the attention of the people around us, but Perez looked at me as if he didn’t know such a thing.

  "You’re not avoiding it."

  "Because people are watching."

  "Is that really why?"

  Perez’s voice was full of laughter.

  "……think as you please."

  When I answered slightly bashfully, Perez now smiled lowly.

  Then Ramona’s figure came into my sight.

  "Here you are."

  I said, taking a half step back.

  Perez turned his head and looked at Ramona.

  "You look great in Knight’s uniform, Ramona."

  "Thank you, Your Highness, the Prince."

  Ramona replied with a slightly shy smile.

  And looked at me and said.

  "I’ve never worn such a nice Knight’s uniform. Thank you, Lady Lombardy."

  "Don’t mention it, and you can call me comfortably. There’s not much age difference."

  "No."

  Ramona shook her head and said.

  "How can I do that to Lady Lombardy?"

  Ramona seemed to have a lot of debt to me.

  Well, it can’t be helped.

  It’s also rude to force someone to talk to someone who doesn’t want to.

  I sighed softly and said to Perez.

  "You go now, Perez, if you’re next to me……"

  Astana’s gonna be avoiding me.

  Perez, who understood my half-swallowed words, nodded briefly.

  And took my hand and kissed the back of my hand.

  "Call me if you need me. I’ll be around."

  "Okay. Go ahead and do your work."

  I waved my hand at Perez, moving away, and checked Ramona.

  Ramona was not paying much attention to Perez’s behavior, only checking her outfit with a nervous face.

  "Are you ready, Ramona?"

  "Yes, Lady Lombardy."

  Ramona quickly answered my question.

  "I hope you have polished the black well."

  Ramona smiled slightly as I spoke half-jokingly.

  "Oh, it looks like Lord Brown has arrived."

  I said when I saw people rushing to one side of the banquet hall one by one after hearing something.

  "Let’s go, too."

  I took the lead first and said.

  "You can’t miss a good view, can you?"

  I really want to see the embarrassed Empress’s face.

  I’ll see it in the front row.

  Me and Ramona walked halfway to the crowd.

  * * *

  "Oh, come on!"

  Astana looked at Belsach and shouted annoyedly.

  His face was already flushed with alcohol.

  "Get out of here!"

  Astana raised his voice as Belsach and other aristocrats’ sons and daughters gathered by his side.

  ’Annoying guys’.

  To others, they were called ’the close aide of the First Prince’, but to Astana, they were nothing more or less like insects flying around his ears.

  However, no matter how irritable he was, they only hesitated, and Astana ended up taking another sip of his solo while watching them, who did not intend to back down.

  As the alcohol came up, the irritation that filled his head seemed to go away a little.

  "Things like parasites……"

  Astana murmured, wiping off the alcohol from his mouth with his sleeve.

  Things he set up to get when he become Emperor.

  No one was offended even though his murmur could have been heard.

  It was because they were used to Astana’s mistreatment.

  "It’s annoying anyway, don’t stick to me and get away!"

  Astana said, and pushing Belsach on the shoulder.

  Then a blurry, unfocused eye touched a black forest in the distance.

  At night, the ever-dense foggy forest of Madman sounded spooky in the wind.

  Gulp.

  Astana swallowed his saliva in tension.

  He never thought it was a hunting contest like this.

  If he had known before, he wouldn’t have bluffed to Perez.

  "Belsach, you should have been told in advance that this Lombardy hunting competition is something like this!"

  Astana was furious with Belsach, who was beside him.

  "Well, I didn’t know either."

  "You’re useless."

  He came all the way with the Emperor.

  In addition, there were so many people that could not imagine it as a hunting competition.

  If he loses here, there won’t be anything humiliated than this.

  In addition, it has already been heard among the nobles that there is a bet between the First Prince and the Second Prince, which one will win.

  "This is so unfair!"

  Astana had a cheeky tongue.

  "That lowly guy is the swordmaster who can deal with Aura! But I can’t believe he’s competing with me."

  Already in Astana’s mind, the fact that he had first made the arguments was neatly erased.

  "Bring me more drinks!"

  Astana shouted to Belsach.

  "Yes, Your Highness."

  It was only when Belsach had just turned to call the servants, answering so.

  "What’s going on?"

  One of Astana’s aides tilted his head.

  Astana also lifted his dimly unfocused eyes and looked at the crowd.

  "What’s all that fuss?"

  What caught Astana’s eye was some aristocrats covering their mouths with their hands and being greatly surprised.

  * * *

  "Who is it, someone you want to introduce."

  Emperor Jovanes asked Lulak.

  It was a face full of curiosity.

  Lulak suggested to Jovanes, who was talking in the backroom like any banquet.

  He said ’I have someone to introduce to you, so let’s go outside for a while.’


  Then, even when asked to just call him inside, Lulak only gave a blunt answer, saying, ’There are several people’.

  As he walked toward the center of the banquet hall under Lulak’s guidance, the curiosity of Emperor Jovanes grew.

  And it was in the middle of an outdoor space where Lulak finally stopped walking.

  It was also a place where many ladies and gentlemen were already seated and drinking wine and talking.

  "Your Majesty?"

  Empress Rabini also approached and wondered.

  "How did you come out again?"

  "Because the Lord of Lombardy said he had someone to introduce……"

  "Oh, there he is."

  Lulak said with a big smile.

  Naturally, the eyes of Emperor Jovanes were directed that way.

  "They are……"

  Jovanes squinted.

  It was a group of men coming this way.

  They were not familiar faces.

  However, an indescribable feeling fell on Jovanes’ back.

  The face of a middle-aged man at the forefront was strangely familiar.

  It was also impressive to see him walk proudly.

  And as they grew closer, one thing in common came into view.

  "Everyone doesn’t have a right hand."

  Emperor Jovanes muttered unknowingly.

  He could tell at the moment, their identity.

  "……the Brown family."