Chapter 57

Chapter 57

The damned hunting tournament was only a day away. The maids forced me out of bed and into a bath in the wee hours of the morning to make me squeaky clean. All the fuss was because of the celebration marking the eve of the tournament, to be held on the palace hunting grounds. Because royal families and nobles from other kingdoms would be in attendance this year, the tournament was to be even grander than usual.

As I was doused in scented oil for the second time that morning and the maids dealt with my damp hair, I complained sleepily. “Must we go this far? I’ll be tying my hair in a bun and wearing pants for the hunt tomorrow.”

“That’s why you need to look prettier than anyone else today! So all the men’s eyes will be on you!” Emily replied enthusiastically. The other maids who’d participated in invading my room so early in the morning also chimed in.

“That’s right, my lady!”

“You’ll be the queen of the Eve Festival this year!”

“Yes! Lady Kellen took first place last year thanks to that incident, and her maids have been so arrogant ever since—” The last maid to speak abruptly clammed up.

I could see Emily glaring at her in the mirror, the mood suddenly turning awkward. It was obvious they feared I would be upset since the maid had brought up one of my past blunders.

Meh, that wasn’t me, anyway. I decided to be generous and ignore her slip of the tongue. Instead, I thought about the hunt that they seemed so excited about. Though it wasn’t really relevant in normal mode, the tournament was open to all genders. The amount of game caught by each contestant would be counted on the last day and used to decide the winner, however, it wasn’t as straightforward as all that.

The number of animals hunted would be the sole determining factor, but game hunted and gifted by another also counted toward a person’s total score. Of course, animals that were harder to hunt, such as bears and tigers, were worth more. Because of this system, most men would give the game they caught to the women they liked to help them win. It was basically flirting.

The hunting tournament’s just another plot device used by the game to appeal to female audiences, isn’t it? What is this, some kind of romantic Secret Santa? Count Kellen’s daughter had won last year’s event, thanks mostly to Penelope, who’d threatened to kill her. People had felt immensely sorry for the lady, who’d been nearly shot by the Eckhart rabid dog—or “chimpanzee,” as people began to refer to Penelope—and all the men had given their game to her.

The count’s household must have made fun of the duke’s servants over the incident... Sadly for the maids' winning aspirations, I wasn’t interested in anything but protecting my own hide.

“Ow.” One of the maids tugged at my hair a little too viciously, pulling me out of my reverie.

“Oh! Did that hurt? Please forgive me.” The maid had been twisting my dry hair into a bun and fixing it in place, but retreated as soon as I complained.

“It’s fine. Go on,” I said, nodding to her. Then I muttered under my breath, “Don’t worry everyone. I’ve got a plan.”

“Pardon?” replied one of the maids.

“I won’t hesitate if the opportunity arises.”

They looked puzzled by my words. “What do you mean, my lady?”

“I’ll keep an eye on the woman with the greatest amount of game, I mean. And on the last day, I’ll shoot her with my crossbow and take her points—”

“M-my lady!”

I’d meant it as a joke to get the maids to relax, but they all looked horrified instead. Emily, clearly appalled, quickly changed the subject. “Please don’t say such frightful things! Now, then! You’re all done. You just need makeup now.”

“That means I’m far from done,” I grumbled, but closed my eyes as they requested.

Despite my complaints, I didn’t dislike looking pretty.

* * *

The pampering and polishing had begun early in the morning and did not end until late in the afternoon.

The blood-red dress the maids picked out had a plunging neckline. I obediently wore it and the white pearl accessories they’d laid out for me.

She really does look good dressed like this. Evil things were often very beautiful, weren’t they? Penelope’s reflection in the mirror was much too dangerously seductive for her to be simply relegated to playing the opposite of the heroine from normal mode. There was something suggestive about the way the outer corners of her eyes slanted upwards like those of a cat.

She was like an apple that looked red and enticing on the outside but was actually full of venom. The maids brought black leather shoes for me to wear that suited my dress nicely. The heels were quite tall though, and I was having a hard time adjusting to them. Seeing me wobble, Emily rushed over to help keep my balance and said,

“My lady, would you like me to help you to the ground floor?”

“No, call for Eckles.”

“Pardon? Why would you want—” Emily asked, puzzled.

I responded casually, “He’s my personal knight. Of course, he should escort me.”

“R-right! Please wait just one moment, my lady. I’ll call him right away.” Emily nodded reluctantly, before rushing from the room.

I could understand her hesitance since slaves were not allowed in the palace. I’d actually asked for him not because I wanted an escort, but to find out whether he and Derrick had actually fought after I left.

And also... Since they worked so hard to make me look good, I might as well try and raise his affection score a little more.

It wasn’t long before the door opened again, preceded by a polite knocking.

“My lady, I’ve brought him.”

“Come in,” I said.

Eckles entered after Emily.

“Mistress—” He froze when his eyes met mine, drinking in the sight of me lounging forward lazily, my chin cupped in my hands. His ash-colored eyes reminded me of a violent storm. I was certain it was thanks to how pretty I looked.

[Affection Score 50%]

I smiled broadly seeing the affection score climb so easily, unlike before.

“Emily, please take my crossbow case and wait for me downstairs.”

“You’re taking it with you today?”

“I think it’s a good idea to take it to the lodge early.”

“Yes, I’ll do that.” She left the room, carrying the case.

“Come closer, Eckles.” I tapped the table leisurely with one finger. As if he’d suddenly been shaken from a daze, he slowly approached me. He stopped a few steps away from the table.

“Closer,” I ordered, nodding at the space directly in front of me. He complied silently. “On your knees.”

Though the command was delivered abruptly and forcefully, Eckles immediately did as he was told.

I reached out, softly gripping his chin. Because I hadn’t seen him since the confrontation with Derrick a few days ago, I needed to make certain he was okay. Thankfully, I couldn’t see a single blemish on his smooth skin.

“Are you hurt?” I asked gently, though the way I was gripping his chin contradicted the concerned question.

Derrick might have only hit him where the bruises wouldn’t show. Eckles gazed up at me, then shook his head softly when I was finished examining his face.

“So you didn’t fight then. I’m relieved.”

“He left... immediately after you did, Mistress,” he said, understanding what it was I wanted to know. “Were you worried about me?”

It was the same question he’d asked me not too long ago. At that time I’d said I was and he’d appeared to like hearing those words. Now, his gray eyes carried an air of great devotion as he gazed up at me like he was willing me to say yes. However, I remembered all the times he’d surprised me with his unexpected hostility, so I chose the stick instead of the carrot.

“Don’t interfere like that again,” I snapped in a tight, strict tone like I was disciplining a puppy. “I thought you said you could manage just fine on your own. Do you want to be thrown out before you even manage to prove yourself?”

“But that man grabbed your wrist—”

“Don’t refer to him like that.” I let go of his chin and warned him coldly, “Does my first brother look as generous as I am, forgiving enough to overlook your disrespect?”

Eckles' gaze turned glum as if he were being scolded for doing something he didn’t do wrong. He was as expressionless as always, but there was an oddly glum air about him. Maybe I was misreading him though? I glanced at the white letters above his head and assumed a softer tone.

“I’d like you to stay by my side for a long time.” I couldn’t allow Eckles to be kicked out of the manor until his affection score gauge was full. That was the only way I could escape. “In order for that to happen, you’ll have to exclude me from your personal vendetta. What I’m saying is, don’t take your rage against the empire out on me.”

I hadn’t just been afraid of dying, caught in a fight between Derrick and Eckles.

“I’ll show you what a lowly barbarian can teach a lady of this empire about archery.”

Memories of that rainy day had come rushing back when he’d said those words. Memories of a wooden sword slicing through the air and coming to rest at my throat. Eckles, though he looked up to me for taking care of him, harbored an intense hatred for the empire and its role in forcing him into slavery. I couldn’t let Eckles continue harboring his treacherous feelings if I was going to escape successfully.

I need him to feel nothing but goodwill for me. I needed to remind him.

“Do you resent me for buying you? Do you think life would be better at the auction house than having to withstand all the disdain from everyone here? I need someone useful to me. If you hate it here and feel like I’m forcing you, I’ll give you this ring. You’re free to leave at any time.”

I reached for the ruby ring, pretending that I intended to remove it from my hand. It was an aggressive tactic, and one I’d be forced immediately to regret and apologize for if he tried to leave. I’d played normal mode though, and I knew how he’d endured Penelope’s rampages and fits of temper and remained at the manor regardless.

As a slave from a conquered kingdom, there was nowhere he could go that would offer him more security and safety than this manor.

“Mistress...” Eckles’ eyes showed nothing but distress as I offered him the hand that wore the ring. As expected, he made no move to take it. Instead, he said, “Please... I’m sorry.”