Chapter 51: Chapter 51

Tristan, now clad in a pristine white uniform, was staring down at me.

“Your Highness.”

“So here you are, Doris Redfield.”

After the brief exchange of names, there were another three seconds of silence. The atmosphere felt awkward.

Even though we agreed to forget about yesterday, emotions don’t work that way. Seeing that ridiculously good-looking face of his made irritation rise… only to subside quickly. Being handsome is like having a renewable lottery ticket—it never loses its shine.

I wondered what someone with such striking features thought when they looked at ordinary faces like mine.

The awkward silence I was oddly enjoying was broken by Maria's curtsy.

“It’s been a while, Prince Tristan.”

“Ah, Miss Meyer. I’m pleased to see you’re in good health. Have you been enjoying the hunting tournament?”

“Thanks to Your Highness’s consideration, every moment has been filled with joy. And of course, I couldn’t leave out my dear friend’s companionship.”

Despite all the trouble Maria had gone through because of Tristan at the start of the season, she greeted him politely and then naturally turned the conversation toward me.

“You have business with my friend, don’t you?”

“It won’t take long. I’ll return her shortly.”

“Go on, Doris.”

Maria gave me a light push on the back.

Ugh, I felt uneasy. Nothing Tristan wanted to talk about could be good news for me.

Then Tristan shook his head.

“It’s not this friend. I meant that one, the worker.”

Rick’s eyes widened.

“Me? Are you referring to me, Your Highness?”

“Do you see any other workers here?”

“...”

“There’s been a rockfall near the ridge, and rubble has encroached on the event zone. Go to the 11 o’clock sector to deal with it.”

“Yes, sir!”

Rick’s response was robust, though his face looked like an office worker hearing their boss suggest a weekend retreat. He was brimming with barely-contained resentment.

As I glanced around, I noticed workers moving toward the direction of the opening ceremony. It seemed everyone was busy preparing for the closing ceremony.

Tristan motioned impatiently for Rick to leave.

“Ah, Your Highness, before I go, I’d like to finish my conversation with Lady Redfield. This rabbit—”

“It doesn’t matter. Eat it, burn it, or do whatever you please with it.”

“...Understood.”

Rick fastened the rabbit to his belt and started walking away, his frustration palpable. Annoyed, I spoke up to Tristan.

“That was my question to answer!”

“A person caught hunting in the royal hunting grounds without permission should be grateful for even this.”

“That rabbit wasn’t something Rick hunted himself. He got it as a bonus for helping another participant.”

“And you believe that?”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

“There weren’t any arrow wounds on the rabbit.”

“You didn’t even look at it closely.”

“Most nobles use broadhead arrows, which leave deep wounds and heavy bleeding. But that rabbit’s condition was too pristine. It was clearly taken with some other weapon… Anyway!”

Tristan growled, his irritation palpable.

“A man who can’t be trusted said something that shouldn’t be trusted.”

“...”

Rick might be untrustworthy in the original story, but hearing Tristan say it was oddly amusing.

Not that I was in a position to defend Rick.

“Fine. Let’s just pretend I didn’t see that rabbit. I’m not particularly interested in game anyway…”

“No. The game must be captured. Even if it delays the closing ceremony, wait for it.”

“What?”

He actually intended to hunt it?

“No, really, it’s fine. You’re busy—there’s no need to trouble yourself.”

“I’m the one who won’t feel fine.”

“...Is it because of the gift I gave you?”

“No. …It’s because you’re my fiancée.”

He firmly denied the first question, but his voice wavered slightly as he continued. It was as if he was making some kind of heartfelt confession.

Am I your fiancée or your babysitter?

As I contemplated whether to say something sarcastic, Tristan suddenly jerked his head up and stared into the distance. What’s he looking at?

I turned to see, but my view was obscured by others. Before my eyes could focus, my ears caught the sound of a warning.

“Move back! Get inside the building! There’s a wolf—!”

At first, I thought it was just a terribly unlucky wolf. After all, this place was filled with hunters, and as a royal hunting ground, there were armed guards everywhere.

But—

“That’s no ordinary wolf…”

When the voice of the warning messenger cut off abruptly, a chilling realization swept through us all.

People began to fall silent, stepping back in fear. The widening path led to us, and I finally laid eyes on the ‘wolf’ the servant had spoken of.

I don’t know much about animals, but wolves are supposed to have one mouth, right? And they’re supposed to be smaller than tigers, right?

“Hee…ck…”@@novelbin@@

The wolf opened its maw. Its upper and lower jaws split into two each, blooming like petals. Each segment bristled with sharp teeth, and blood, likely from a previous victim, dripped from them.

What on earth is this…?

Tristan’s voice jolted me back to reality.

“You, in the blue shirt and the white shirt, go to headquarters and summon reinforcements and escorts. Now.”

The two men, who had been retreating, froze in panic. Tristan showed no patience for their hesitation.

“Would you rather I order you to get eaten first?”

“N-no, sir!”

“You leave in three seconds. I’ll draw its attention.”

And he wasn’t bluffing.

Tristan drew the rapier at his waist, its blade gleaming defiantly. The wolf quickly fixed its sights on him.

“Grr…”

“Definitely a monster. What brings you here?”

The creature planted its massive forepaw on the ground, its claws sinking into the dirt. A single hit from those would shatter bones like twigs.

Why is there a monster here?

Even if the original story twisted because of me, did I draw a summoning circle for monsters? This is ridiculous!

‘What if Tristan dies?’

Just imagining it sent cold sweat down my back, and my limbs turned icy.

The guards nearby didn’t seem like they’d be much help. Instead, they stood behind Tristan, appearing to rely on him for protection.

“Your Highness…”

Tristan didn’t respond. His rapier remained steady, pointed at the monster. While elegant in appearance, the weapon was designed purely for thrusting. How long could he hold out with it?

The only solution that came to mind was—

‘I need to get Arthur!’

If anyone could handle this monster, it’d be him.

But how could I find him? If I moved recklessly, I’d just become prey.

While I was debating, Tristan issued a command.

“All guards, escort the participants, starting with the lady, to safety. Now!”

Simultaneously, Tristan’s right arm moved, and so did the monster’s forepaw.

What happened next, I couldn’t see. The guards shielded me, blocking my view.

Someone grabbed my shoulder forcefully.

“Lady Redfield, we must get you inside! His Highness’s orders!”

“Yes.”

The fact that I didn’t resist even for a moment seemed to surprise the guard. Did he expect me to scream, “No! I can’t leave His Highness behind!”

Priorities were clear.

“Have you sent a message to the Marquis Arthur?”

“The Marquis? No, we plan to report to the Crown Prince first and await his orders!”

“...I see.”

They’re reporting to the chain of command first? Is there no emergency protocol for this?

I understand the instinct to look for a superior in a crisis, but that’s too slow!

‘Where would Arthur be right now?’

If this were the original story, he’d be climbing cliffs with Maria in his arms. But trusting the plot now? Impossible.

Still, the original gave a clue.

After confirming their feelings, Arthur tended to hover around Maria. But Maria, not wanting to draw attention, always asked him to keep a low profile. He took her words to heart and hid himself somewhere out of sight.

If he’s still sulking from Maria’s morning scolding…

‘There’s only one place he’d go!’

“Lady Redfield! Where are you going?”

“Somewhere important! Someone come with me!”