Captain! Where is the Battlefield?

 

 

  Nine unfolded her fan to cover her mouth. The small movements of the dots around her eyes on top of the fan indicated that she was smiling.

 

  “A female participant? I’m really looking forward to it,” she said.

 

  Rosalie briefly bowed her head. Despite her elegant and dignified appearance, Rosalie knew that there was a deep darkness hidden within her. 

 

  Rosalie knew that the woman who stood before her was the one who had tricked an unsuspecting Radinis into handing the poison to Derivis seven years ago. 

 

  Nine had delivered the poison to Radinis through her handmaiden, and as a result, only the handmaiden had been executed.

 

  ‘That maid was secretly executed, and the former empress was declared to have died due to an illness.’

 

  Emperor Patrick, who cherished his sons dearly, chose to bury that incident entirely, fearing that it might come back to haunt Radinis in the future. Despite his remorse, Patrick had been completely ensnared by Nine’s cunning scheme.

 

  “I will do my best not to disappoint you.” 

 

  Contrary to her sincere response, Rosalie planned to hand over the cord to Derivis and spend some time idly near the mountains. Nine looked at Rosalie with a meaningful gaze while still covering her mouth with the fan.

 

  “I’ll be looking forward to it, Duchess.”

 

  “Yes. Then, I will take my leave.”

 

  Rosalie lowered her head once more and exited the tent. Nine’s persistent gaze followed her as she walked away.

 

       ⊱⊱⊱────── {.⋅ ✧✧✧ ⋅.} ──────⊰⊰⊰ 

 

  After leaving the Emperor and Empress’s tent, Rosalie wandered off in search of Derivis to deliver the cord. She had been walking around here and there, and before she knew it, she had come close to the forest, feeling uncomfortable with the gazes of the nobles that were stubbornly following her.

 

  “Your Grace, hello.”

 

  “Long time no see, Sarnon.”

 

  Sarnon spotted Rosalie and greeted her warmly with a friendly smile.

 

  “I’m also participating in this hunting tournament.”

 

  “I see. Did you receive a cord from Bianca?”

 

  Sarnon’s face stiffened for a moment, and a sad smile formed on his lips.

 

  “That… she insisted that she would only give them to you, Duchess.”

 

  “…I’m sorry.”

 

  Rosalie felt like she should apologize for some reason, but Sarnon smiled gently and said that it was okay. It was as if he was reassuring her.

 

  As they asked about each other’s well-being, a few of the nobles who knew Sarnon approached them.

 

  “Oh! Lord Sarnon! And isn’t this the famous Duchess Judeheart?”

 

  Dressed extravagantly and excessively adorned, these sort of nobles were the offspring of nobility with a less-than-stellar reputation.

 

  Eager to speak to the renowned Duchess, they had taken the opportunity when they saw Sarnon and quickly approached them.

 

  “Is it true that the Duchess is participating in the tournament?”

 

  “Are we going to see the Duchess’s famous auror today?”

 

  “Hehe, can we look forward to it?”

 

  They pretended to be friendly, but their eyes were fixed on Rosalie, scrutinizing her. 

 

  Uncomfortable with their unpleasant gaze, Rosalie gave an indifferent response and tried to leave with Sarnon. However, the nobles subtly blocked their path.

 

  Not daring to stand in Rosalie’s way, they cowardly pretended to block Sarnon’s path. Sarnon frowned.

 

  “Get out of my way.”

 

  “We’re friends, why are you being like this~?”

 

  The young noble lightly tapped Sarnon’s back and gave Rosalie a sidelong glance. 

 

  Seeing the clear intention in their eyes and their judgemental stares, Rosalie became irritated. 

 

  Just when she was about to say something, an ear-splitting scream pierced through the air.

 

  “Kyaaah! It’s a monster! Prince Radinis!”

 

  The source of the scream was a palace maid who had fallen to the ground along with a young boy with black hair. Charging toward them was a massive beast that resembled a rhinoceros.

 

  The Imperial Knights who heard the scream were rushing in, but the distance was too far. When the people around hesitated to take action in the face of the fearsome beast, Rosalie ordered the nobles blocking her path.

 

  “Move aside.”

 

  “What?”

 

  Rosalie clicked her tongue in response, shoved aside one of the nobles who had obstructed her path, and drew her crossbow. She quickly fired three bolts at the charging beast, and the arrows pierced the creature’s body with pinpoint accuracy.

 

  “Kuaaaaak!”

 

  The beast stopped its rushing legs and began to scream and writhe in pain. Rosalie glanced at the noble who had been pushed down to the ground and wrapped her body with auror.

 

  “You’re in the way.”

 

  Rosalie wasn’t used to using her auror yet, but that didn’t matter; she leaped high without hesitation.

 

  The nobles surrounding her stared open-mouthed as she leaped above them. She summoned a dagger from the air, jumped onto the beast’s back, and plunged it into the nape of its neck.

 

  “Kuaaak!”

 

  The creature, stabbed precisely in the neck, thrashed even more strongly before collapsing. 

 

  Rosalie, who had been holding on for dear life on the beast’s back, wiped the beast’s blood from her cheeks as she stood on top of the fallen beast, who had lost its strength. The nobles could not say anything but stood there dumbfounded. 

 

  “Are you alright?”

 

  Rosalie looked at the boy who was still sitting on the ground. Radinis, still only fourteen years old, was so frightened that his legs gave out and he couldn’t get up.

 

  Rosalie descended from the creature’s back and extended her hand toward Radinis.

 

  “It’s fine now.”

 

  With a trembling expression, Radinis took Rosalie’s hand and stood up.

 

  “Thank you…”

 

  “Yes. I’m glad you’re safe.”

 

  “Rosalie!”

 

  Shortly after the commotion, Derivis and Venick rushed over. Derivis approached Rosalie anxiously and asked with a worried expression.

 

  “Are you hurt anywhere?”

 

  “I’m fine, but Prince Radinis seems to be quite surprised.”

 

  Rosalie assured him, realizing that Derivis looked more surprised than she did. Derivis breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Radinis.

 

  “Are you okay?”

 

  “…Brother….” 

 

  Radinis barely nodded his head. Derivis clicked his tongue and slowly swept his gaze over the Imperial Knights surrounding them, who were busy keeping their heads down to avoid eye contact.

 

  “What did the Knights do until the monster approached this place?”

 

  No one dared to answer Derivis’s icy tone. He growled threateningly in a low voice.

 

  “Strengthen the guards immediately and report to me. If something like this happens again, I’ll personally cut your limbs and feed you to the beasts.”

 

  “Yes, understood!”

 

  Turning away from the Imperial Knights who were scurrying about in response to the order, Derivis looked back at Rosalie. He didn’t even spare Radinis a glance.

 

  “Are you really okay?”

 

  “I’m fine.”

 

  Rosalie glanced at Radinis, who had his head lowered beside her. 

 

  Derivis didn’t like Radinis. To be exact, he couldn’t.

 

  Every time he saw Radinis, Derivis was haunted by the events of seven years ago, and Radinis kept his head bowed as if he were a sinner. 

 

  ‘Poor brother…’

 

  Seeing Radinis with his head hung low filled Rosalie with sympathy. After the incident with the poison, Radinis referred to himself as a sinner and never raised his head in front of the Emperor and Derivis.

 

  “Let’s go to my tent for now.”

 

  At Derivis’s suggestion, Rosalie was about to take a step forward when she suddenly paused.

 

  “Could you wait for a moment?”

 

  Rosalie wiped the beast’s green blood from her dagger and approached the still-stunned nobles.

 

  “Do you have something to say?”

 

  “Uh… no, it’s just…”

 

  “If you don’t, then don’t block my way. It’s annoying.”

 

  Rosalie turned away from the stammering nobles without hesitation. Sarnon glanced at Rosalie and then kicked the fallen beast with his toe.

 

       ⊱⊱⊱────── {.⋅ ✧✧✧ ⋅.} ──────⊰⊰⊰ 

 

  Derivis’s tent was not far from hers. Upon entering the tent, Derivis sat Rosalie down in a chair.

 

  “…Why haven’t you come to the mansion lately?”

 

  As Rosalie asked, Derivis’s hand, which had been hanging his coat on another chair, twitched.

 

  “Did you wait for me?”

 

  “I did, and I was worried.”

 

  Derivis slowly approached her and knelt down on one knee. Rosalie’s gaze shifted downwards as she followed his movements.

 

  He slowly wiped her face with the white handkerchief he had pulled out, cleaning the last of the beast’s blood. It was a gentle touch that made her feel better.

 

  “Sorry, I’ve been busy with the hunting tournament and preparing for winter. After all, I’m still the Crown Prince.”

 

  Rosalie suddenly blushed, realizing that she had been acting childish. She had never played the spoiled role to anyone, not even when she was young.

 

  As she turned her face in embarrassment, Derivis tilted his head.

 

  “Rosalie?”

 

  “It’s nothing. I just realized that I was acting like a spoiled kid…”

 

  Although it was far from being spoiled, Rosalie was too busy trying to calm her reddened face to notice that.

 

  Seeing her red face, Derivis unconsciously let out a soft smile.

 

  He reached into his pants pocket and pulled something out. Feeling her face calm down, Rosalie turned her head again and noticed a pair of rings in his hand.

 

  “What is this?”

 

  “Let’s wear them during the hunting tournament. The rings will react more the closer we get to each other.”

 

  Rosalie picked up one of the rings and examined it curiously. It was a thick, golden ring with a tiny, clear bead embedded inside.

 

  “Let me put it on for you.”

 

  He took the ring from her hand and gently slid it onto Rosalie’s fourth finger. The ring happened to fit perfectly.

 

  The way he placed the ring on her finger while on one knee seemed like a proposal between lovers. Realizing this, Rosalie’s face grew even redder, and she turned her head away in embarrassment.

 

  “Just in case I have to go and rescue you.”

 

  “Or maybe it’s the other way around. Maybe I’ll be the one to save you, Derivis.”

 

  The Demon Hunting Tournament was an annual event for nobles, and the hunting grounds had already been scouted by the Imperial Knights. 

 

  It was unlikely to happen, but Derivis imagined Rosalie coming to rescue him.
 

 

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