Chapter 14

The day after the opening ceremony—

At last, the first day of the hunting tournament had begun.

Allow me to explain the rules of the tournament.

There are many ways to conduct a hunt, but this time, the chosen method is a two-person drive hunt.

One person rides on horseback to drive the magical beast toward the other, who lies in wait to take it down.

Points are awarded equally to both based on the size and type of beast defeated.

The pairs change daily.

The person with the highest overall score wins, but there are also other awards—such as for the most outstanding pair, or for slaying a rare beast.

The prize is a trophy—meaning honor only.

The magic-impairing stones harvested from the defeated beasts are distributed equally among all participants.

As for the beast hunting itself—there’s no need for me to go all out. If someone wants to do it, let them.

Of course, not taking down a single beast would be a bit embarrassing…

The most important part of this tournament is the “pairing” system.

In other words, you can talk freely without worrying about prying eyes.

You might think, “Why not just have a secret meeting in a closed room?”—but doing that would scream, “Those two are plotting something.”

The greatest social advantage of the hunting tournament is that it allows discreet conversations in plain sight.

On the other hand, the downside is the risk of “accidents.”

At the very least, I wouldn't want to be paired with someone I dislike.

That’s why, for nobles, who you’re paired with is a serious matter.

The royal family conducts a preliminary survey, asking, “Who would you like to be with?”, “Anyone you dislike?”, “Any requests or concerns?”

In a way, it’s like exposing your personal connections to the royal family—but I suppose it’s a fair trade for their efforts in organizing the event.

And no noble would be foolish enough to blatantly write, “I hate that person.”

As for me, I responded:
“I’d like to get to know some noblewomen better.”
“I don’t dislike anyone.”
“I’m not very skilled at hunting, so I’d prefer not to be paired with someone aiming for victory.”

As a result, from Day 1 to Day 4, I was paired exclusively with influential noblewomen.

My intent to learn from the leadership skills of future female lords—women who already manage their territories—seems to have come across clearly.

On the fifth day, I’ll be paired with Prince Bartona.

The “Please take care of me on Day X” message at the opening ceremony referred to this hunting pair arrangement.

It’s safe to interpret this as the royal family signaling: “We are seriously considering marriage with Prince Bartona, not Prince Karvenil.”

It also serves to show others that the marriage negotiations between the royal family and the House of Budoudarl are making progress.

Diplomatically, things are going well.

All that’s left is to survive the next five days and return home safely.

“My! Splendid work, Princess Roselia. …I had heard you weren’t fond of hunting, but you’re rather good at it, aren’t you?”

“No… it’s all thanks to your guidance, Countess.”

And so, I spent my time gleefully engaged in magical beast hunting with a woman who holds the rank of count—my elder sist—no, my lady companion.

The countess was the driver, and I was the one taking down the beasts. We had just brought down a rabbit-type magical beast with an arrow.

The bows used by nobles are so powerful that commoners, who can’t enhance their bodies with magic, couldn’t even draw them.

If one of these arrows hit a magicless commoner, it would tear their body apart.

For the record, the rabbit beast we hunted was an enormous one—five meters from head to tail.

It’s strange how something that normally looks cute stops being cute when it becomes gigantic.

I’m reminded again that a small animal’s charm is inseparable from its size.

“Shall I take the driving role next?”

There’s no explicit rule, but there’s a general sense that the one who makes the kill is the superior, and the driver is the subordinate.

Now, if you ask who’s higher-ranked between me and the countess… answers may vary, but by most standards, it would be the countess.

Not because I lack a title—far from it.

I inherited the lands of the County of Osen from my mother, and my father has granted me several other counties and baronies.

In rank, we are equals. In terms of territory, economic strength, and court influence, I surpass her by far.

Then, is it because she’s older? No, that’s not it.

Age-based seniority… doesn’t not exist in this world, but it isn’t taken seriously.

Between an old knight who’s lived 70 years and a noble baby born a second ago, the baby wins in status—overwhelmingly.

What matters most is lineage.

Even by that standard, I am of a higher house than the countess.

So why is she considered higher?

It comes down to the difference between a “subordinate noble” and an “independent noble.”

Subordinate nobles pledge fealty to a higher-ranking noble through a formal vassal contract.

Independent nobles, on the other hand, pledge loyalty to no one and are under no one’s rule.

I am still under my father’s patria potestas—so I’m a subordinate noble.

The countess belongs to the kingdom but has not sworn allegiance to the royal family or any other noble, making her an independent noble.

No matter how capable a subordinate noble is, people tend to say, “You’re just riding your patron’s coattails,” and they’re seen as lesser compared to independents.

It’s like comparing a rich jobless heir who lives on parental allowance to a poor person who works hard—the latter seems more respectable.

So that’s why the countess is considered higher in rank… at least nominally.

In reality, as I mentioned earlier, I surpass her in every aspect, so I’m the one treated with greater respect.

From the shop’s perspective, rich people are rich, and poor people are poor.

Besides, the countess isn’t completely independent either—she has sworn “oaths of loyalty” to several great nobles.

In other words, she’s doing a bit of a political bat move, going back and forth between factions, which hardly looks impressive.

That said, she is still an independent noble, so one must treat her with due respect.

Since I was always the one being entertained, I decided to invite her for once...

“Oh, thank you. …But I’m a bit tired. Shall we take a short break?”

She gently suggested we stop since we had already taken down one beast.

Like me, the countess probably isn’t fond of hunting.

“That sounds good. Let’s do that.”

We moved to a sunny spot.

Once settled, the knights serving us set up a folding table and chairs.

On the table were tea and baked sweets.

It was completely tea party mode.

“Who do you think will win the joint trophy this time? Probably the princes’ pair? They seemed very close, being brothers…”

The joint trophy is awarded to the pair who hunts the most magical beasts.

Prince Karvenil and Prince Bartona formed a pair on the fourth day.

This conversation was a thinly veiled attempt to fish for information, disguised as idle gossip.

“Do you really think those two are that close? Maybe you know something, since you’re one of the fiancée candidates...”

“Well, who knows? Luck plays a part too…”

I dodged the question, but personally, I do think those two get along well.

They’re paired up, after all.

If I were in Prince Karvenil’s position, I wouldn’t want to hunt alongside someone who benefits from my death.

I wouldn’t want to be subtly pushed toward an assassin’s trap.

That they’re hunting together suggests a certain level of trust between them.

“Oh my, Princess Roselia, your archery was truly splendid. If you join forces with Prince Bartona, you might win the joint trophy.”

Now she was probing about the engagement.

Despite previously saying, “I’m not fond of bloody matters, oh ho ho,” this lady seems quite enthusiastic.

“Hehe, yes. If I can win the trophy… it would be a wonderful gift for my father. The king would surely bless us…”

Prince Bartona is indeed the strongest candidate for the marriage alliance. Your interpretation is perfectly fine.

When I said that, the countess laughed, “I pray for your victory. Oh ho ho ho.”

“How enviable. If only I were a better archer, I could enjoy this more… I suppose you practice regularly?”

“Yes, of course. Similar tournaments are often held in my domain…”

“Oh, is that so? So, you get along with your family?”

Ah, that’s the real point.

She wanted to ask if it’s true that I have a bad relationship with my stepmother and half-sister.

The previous talk about the princes was just a lead-in.

My relationship with Blanche closely resembles the relationship between those two princes.

This lady really knows how to hit where it hurts.

If I hesitate here, she’ll realize my relationship with my stepmother isn’t good.

"Yes, of course. We get along well... Though, perhaps my father feels a bit out of place being the only man in a house full of women..."

We girls all get along just fine.
—or so I lie.

But since things would get messy if she dug too deep, I make sure to set some boundaries too.

"Speaking of family... I don’t see your husband, Countess. Does he dislike hunting as well? Or perhaps, like my own father, is he off somewhere glaring daggers into the distance?"

I heard you gouged out your rebellious husband’s eyes and locked him away.
Is that true?

When I asked, the Countess’s magical aura wavered ever so slightly.

Ah, she’s shaken. So it is true.

"...Yes. He’s staying back to watch over the estate."

"My, is that so... Is he still staring out at the sea, perhaps? One never knows when bandits may arrive, after all."

There’s an old saying in this world—“Watching the Western Sea.”

The closest equivalent from my previous life would be something like, “all pain and no gain.”

The saying originates from a tale of a long-past emperor who exiled his political rivals to the western coast.

That coast faced a vast sea with not a single island in sight. The odds of any foreign invader arriving were practically zero.

It’s said that one general, demoted to that barren edge of the empire, stared so long at the shimmering sea and endured the salty winds so relentlessly that he eventually went blind.

And so the phrase came to mean “worrying over pointless things and getting nothing but grief in return.”

As sarcasm directed at the Countess, nothing could be more fitting.

"..."

The Countess didn’t respond to my jab. Likely couldn’t come up with a clever retort.

Instead, her cheek twitched slightly.

She was seething inside.

But hey, she’s the one who pried into my personal matters first—she has no right to complain now.
This is karma.

I’d love to say, Now this is what it means to ‘watch the Western Sea’, but it would be pointless if exposing her secrets ended up harming diplomatic relations.

Diplomacy isn’t about winning arguments.

So, let’s sweeten things a little.

"By the way... Have you heard of something called soap?"

"I’ve heard it’s a popular cosmetic in the Duchy of Budoudarl..."

When I suddenly shifted topics, the Countess visibly raised her guard.

To that wary expression, I responded with a gentle smile.

"It’s a wonderful product. Actually, I use it myself. So do my younger sisters. Though my stepmother doesn’t seem too fond of it."

That earlier talk—yes, I do get along with my sisters.
But not with my stepmother.

I made sure the Countess got the message.

Her eyes widened in surprise.

She must not have expected me to reveal it so freely.

But truth be told, she could’ve found out just by planting a spy or two.
Compared to gouging out a husband’s eyes and locking him away, a strained stepmother-stepdaughter relationship barely qualifies as scandalous.

It was harmless enough information to share.

And in doing so, I gained both leverage and goodwill.
A solid outcome.

"If you’d like, would you care to try it as well, Countess? I brought a few bars with me—I'd be happy to wrap some up as a gift."

"Oh my, how delightful. I’ve actually been wanting to try it."

"Is that so? Then if you find it to your liking, please let me know. I’ll introduce you to a merchant. Just between us, of course—this is a special favor."

I placed my index finger to my lips as I said it.

A little gesture that said, I won’t tell anyone—so keep it just between us.

"Of course."

"Ufufufufu."

"Ohohohoho."

And so, we enjoyed a pleasant tea party together.

Sigh… I'm exhausted.

Before I knew it, four days had passed.

Four intense, draining days.

That's because most of the noblewomen paired with me were all... eccentric in one way or another.

They were all trying to gauge my personality, my governance policies once I inherit the throne, and my interpersonal relationships.

There was a constant sense of tension, as if letting my guard down would get my head chopped off.

The noblewomen I usually meet at balls are more easygoing—or in some cases, like my stepmother, if you poke them a bit, their flaws start falling out all over the place.

But these women weren’t like that.

As expected, women who manage their own fiefs are made of stronger stuff.

You probably have to be, just to survive.

Of course, the same goes for me.

I have a reputation to uphold, so if someone takes a shot at me, I have to fire back.

That’s why our conversations turned into verbal skirmishes, both sides probing for weaknesses.

…It’s kind of silly, but when I think of these verbal skirmishes with noble ladies as "searching for each other’s weak points," it almost feels like we’re engaged in some kind of intensely passionate lesbian deep kiss. Kind of sexy, honestly.

Totally pointless thought, though…

Still, thanks to those deep-kiss-like exchanges, I was able to build quite a bit of rapport with some influential noblewomen.

Connections like these—ones unbound by factions—are valuable, and I want to cherish them.

And then, the fifth day arrived.

“Well then, I look forward to working with you, Princess Roselia.”

“Yes… Please guide me well, Prince Bartona.”

Today, I was paired with Prince Bartona for the hunting event.

I'm not aiming for victory or anything. I doubt Prince Bartona genuinely cares either, but getting zero results would be awkward.

I'd like to at least take down one creature…

“There really are fewer of them by the fifth day, huh?”

I said this to Prince Bartona while using magical sensing.

Magical sensing is a form of magical control technique.

As the name suggests, it allows one to sense the direction, distance, and strength of magic within a magical entity.

Its accuracy, however, leaves much to be desired.

For example, it’s hard to distinguish between a magical beast and a magic-wielding human.

You might also get fooled by illusions of depth—like visual perspective—so you can't easily tell if the magic source is truly strong or just nearby.

Besides, what you’re sensing is only the amount of magic being naturally released.

Someone skilled in magical control can suppress their presence. Though unless you’re an assassin, there’s not much reason to go that far…

A lot of hunting accidents happen because of how unreliable magical sensing is.

You think it’s a beast and attack, but it turns out to be a person. Or you think it’s a person and approach, only to get mauled by a beast. That kind of thing happens sometimes.

There are clumsy people in every world, and bad timing is just something that happens.

That’s why you stay alert, always checking your surroundings.

…Which also makes it easy to find the right moment for a private conversation.

Not that I have any such plans, mind you.

“Indeed. My brother and I may have hunted them all down yesterday.”

Prince Bartona said this in a joking tone.

He and Prince Karvenil had gone hunting together yesterday, on the fourth day.

He's probably trying to emphasize how close they are.

From Prince Bartona’s position, that makes perfect sense.

As it stands, there are no clear faults in Prince Karvenil.

There’s no justification for Bartona to become king by upending the traditional order of primogeniture and inheritance.

If he were to express even the slightest interest in the throne under these circumstances, people would suspect him of being greedy and power-hungry.

That would only hurt him… Even if, deep down, he did want the crown.

“Oh my, you achieved that much? By the way… Between the Shared Cup and the Victory Cup, which honor would you prefer to attain, Prince Bartona?”

“Why, the Shared Cup, of course. To me, nothing is more honorable than proving the strength of the bond between brothers.”

Just to be sure, I tried checking for any signs of ambition, but Prince Bartona denied it without the slightest hesitation.

His expression was composed, even cheerful. Not a flicker of magical turbulence in sight.

…Is it just my bias, or does that make him seem suspicious in its own right?

Prince Bartona has a bit of a shady voice and face—like the kind of guy who might suddenly declare, “I shall stand above the heavens!” or something. Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if he betrayed us halfway through the story.

“My, my! You two really do get along so well.”

That said, no matter what Prince Bartona may be thinking deep down, the chances of him achieving it are next to none. He can’t claim the throne without my support, and I have absolutely no interest in the throne.

What I—or rather, what the House of Budoudarl is seeking—is an alliance with the royal family. That means with King Oreanis and Prince Karvenil. Neither my father nor I would allow anything that would damage our relationship with them.

…Unless Prince Karvenil were to die suddenly. That would change things.

But of course, Bartona must already be fully aware of that. The very fact that he’s applying to be my husband suggests he has no real ambition for the crown.

“How enviable.”

“Oh? But I’ve heard that you and your sister get along wonderfully as well, Princess Roselia.”

Prince Bartona lowered his voice just slightly. The faint fluctuations in magic indicated he had activated his magical sensing. He must be anticipating a private, delicate conversation and is scanning the surroundings just in case.

…He really is a good man.

“Yes, of course. She’s a precious and adorable sister to me. She always calls me her big sis with such affection… But, sometimes I do wish I had someone I could look up to and admire as a big brother.”

Honestly, if I actually had a brother, my position would’ve been much easier… but I suppose it’s no use pining for what I don’t have.

“That’s why I found myself thinking—I wish I had a wonderful older brother too. I was a bit jealous of you, Prince Bartona.”

“Ahh, I see.”

The punchline wasn’t that she had a bad relationship with her sister or anything like that. Rather, it was that she wanted to call Prince Karvenil “big brother” = wants to marry him = seeks a marriage alliance with the royal family.

“In that case, you’re more than welcome to call either my elder brother… or me, your brother. I’m sure my brother would be delighted to gain such an adorable little sister.”

Prince Bartona said it in a light, teasing tone.

I could already see where this joke was going, but I chose to play along.

“That’s a very generous offer, but… wouldn’t that cause trouble for King Oreanis? Adding yet another daughter with no blood relation to the family?”

“Ahaha, whatever do you mean?”

Prince Bartona laughed as he delivered the final punchline.

“Why, aren’t we both children of the Bold King?”

King Yugape the Bold.

Yugape El Parteria was the founding monarch of this country—the Western Kingdom, under the Parteria Dynasty.

Starting with him, successive kings actively pursued political marriages, marrying off their daughters to influential lords across the realm. As a result, the great noble families of the kingdom are all distant cousins, sharing the blood of King Yugape.

The House of Buddudal is no exception—in fact, Prince Bartona and I are second cousins.

Of course, that’s not something we usually go out of our way to emphasize. Among nobles, everyone is practically related, so blood ties are nothing unusual. Being related to the royal family isn’t something to brag about anyway.

The House of Buddudal holds more history and prestige than the royal line to begin with.

“Oh, that’s right, isn’t it? Ufufu…”

King Yugape originally held the title of Count of Parteria, with his domain limited to Parteria City—now the royal capital—and its immediate surroundings.

While the current royal family possesses more land than back then, they still fall slightly short of qualifying as true great nobles.

Even so, one theory behind the kingdom’s continued stability is that the royal family has an abundance of children. By producing offspring left and right, they never run out of ammunition for political marriages.

Admittedly, this leads to disputes over inheritance, but putting that aside, having many children is still considered a virtue.

“Of course, even without a direct blood connection, there are ways to become parent and child… or siblings… but—oops.”

—A bit too forward, wasn’t it?

Prince Bartona made a show of covering his mouth with his hand. He was probably alluding to how, if I married him, both he and my father would become part of the same family.

Come to think of it, this guy’s only twenty, yet he already has three illegitimate children with his mistresses.

Am I going to end up constantly getting pregnant too…?

Ugh. I really don’t want that.

My stomach’s starting to hurt.

I’ll prepare substitute women for you. So could you get them pregnant instead—anyone who’s not the bare minimum you need?