HPBUY Chapter 121

Even after the hunt began, Sienna moved in the same way as the other nobles to avoid arousing suspicion.  

The nobles seemed to think that the situation was settled since the Duke had left. Even if the original copy of the will came out, they probably thought that accusing the Duke was the end of it, since women couldn’t inherit titles anyway.  

Rather, they seemed more curious about the context of Sienna’s accompanying Declan. But even that quickly lost their interest due to the lukewarm reaction of the two.  

Anyway, they didn’t seem to doubt what was about to happen in the slightest.  

As the nobles scattered one by one in search of their prey, Sienna finally turned her horse.  

She exchanged a brief glance with Declan and then completely parted ways.  

Sienna gripped the reins and once again mentally mapped out her route.  

Passing through the Sendelk mountain range would lead directly to the north of Ricata. Continuing east from there would lead to the eastern border.  

Unlike how she had confidently acted in front of Declan earlier, Sienna became tense enough to stiffen her spine as she entered Sendelk Mountain.  

Sienna consciously stroked the area near her left ribs where she had placed the will.  

After the formal dinner at the villa, Joseph, as if wanting to avoid the will itself, had handed over all the follow-up matters to Baron Vermont.  

When Baron Vermont requested that she submit the will according to procedure, Sienna firmly refused.  

Given Joseph’s past record, she couldn’t just stand idly by.  

Instead of obediently following the procedure, she stubbornly insisted in front of all the nobles, expressing concern that the Emperor might destroy the evidence, and said she would submit the will when she returned to the capital after the hunting festival.  

Everyone present looked quite weary of it, but with the Emperor’s misdeeds already confirmed, they couldn’t ignore the wishes of Princess Sienna.  

Moreover, Joseph, having likely heard of Sienna’s actions, didn’t take any action, perhaps believing that all chances of recovery were gone since the will had been revealed in front of the nobles.  

After this tacit approval, Sienna never let the will out of her sight for a single moment.  

Just as she was feeling reassured by the presence of the paper in her bosom, a deer suddenly darted out in front of her. Surprised by the sudden appearance of the living creature, Sienna hurriedly stopped her horse.  

Unlike the horse, which was startled and stepped back because she had pulled the reins roughly, the deer just calmly looked up at her.  

Sienna didn’t even think about taking out her gun and just stared blankly at the deer.  

Even after Sienna got off her horse, it didn’t seem to have any intention of running away.  

Step by step. Even as she approached very close, the deer remained docile.  

Sienna, who had approached with the thought of chasing it away, felt her heart soften when she saw its gentle eyes up close.  

At that moment, the deer’s black eyes suddenly turned behind her.  

No sooner had Sienna turned her body than an enormous gunshot rang out loudly.  

Sienna, who reflexively flinched her shoulders, turned her gaze from the gun muzzle, which was still smoking, to the man holding it.  

Her face turned cold as she met the crooked smile of the man on horseback.  

“……You.”  

“My, my.”  

Joseph clicked his tongue as if he felt it was a pity.  

“Your luck is good. What amazing timing. If I had been a second faster, you would have been the one lying there.”  

Joseph gestured with his chin towards somewhere near her as he muttered.  

Only then did Sienna discover the deer lying nearby, bleeding.  

It seemed that it hadn’t died cleanly, as it was struggling weakly.  

The sight sent chills down her spine.  

If she hadn’t turned around at that moment, it was clear that she, not the animal, would be lying there bleeding.  

Sienna shuddered at the instinctive revulsion that surged up. More than fear, hatred and anger took a greater hold.  

Sienna, who had been glaring fiercely at him, smiled and tilted her head.  

“Are you going to kill me?”  

At the provocative question, Joseph smirked and got off his horse.  

No sooner did he set foot on the ground than he reloaded his gun without hesitation.  

Sienna hesitated briefly.  

Her left hand was reaching for the pistol she had tucked in her waist, but the moment she revealed it, Joseph’s gun would be aimed at her.  

It would be faster for her head to be blown off before Sienna could even aim accurately.  

Unlike her, who was awkward even holding a gun, Joseph had enjoyed hunting from a long time ago.  

Sienna’s gaze went from the lamp hanging on Joseph’s horse to Joseph, who had strode closer.  

“I can’t kill you this easily.”  

In an instant, he strode up to her, stretched out his arm, and grabbed her throat in one swift motion. As Sienna resisted, his grip tightened even more.  

A brief struggle ensued, and in an instant, the two of them fell to the ground.  

Sienna’s back hit the hard ground forcefully, and at the same time, he pressed her down, gripping Sienna’s throat tightly with a strong grip.  

“Ugh…!”  

“My misfortune started with you from the beginning.”  

“You and your mother were the cause of ruining my life, ever since your mother took my mother’s place…!”  

Sienna couldn’t say anything with her throat being strangled. She tried to push him away, but he didn’t budge.  

While being held in his grip for a long time, Sienna desperately twisted her body, scratching his hand with her fingernails.  

Sienna didn’t even realize that the buttons near her throat were being torn off as she resisted his strong grip.  

As her breath grew fainter, Joseph’s face filled with perverse delight.

With her vision blurring, Sienna frantically groped for something at her waist.

Joseph, his face close to hers, was too fixated on her struggle to notice.

Finally, her fingers brushed against cold metal. She grabbed it instantly.

At such a close range, even she could not miss.

The moment her finger reached the trigger, she pulled it without hesitation. A sharp gunshot rang out, and Joseph reeled back.

Cursing, his grip on her throat weakened.

Though it was not a fatal wound, blood began seeping from his grazed side. Seizing the moment, Sienna scrambled away from him.

Dizzy from lack of oxygen, she stumbled, but she refused to stop.

Grasping her bruised throat, she coughed violently, her tear-filled eyes burning with rage as she glared at Joseph.

He, too, rose to his feet, clutching his wound.

“It’s pointless.”

“…”

“You won’t leave this forest alive.”

Joseph staggered toward the rifle on the ground.

“Today, I will make sure to end this once and for all.”

Muttering as if half-mad, he reached for the gun.

Sienna’s gaze darted around anxiously. Not far away, she spotted her own pistol lying on the ground, but her expression darkened with frustration.

Instead of retrieving the weapon, she quietly moved toward Joseph’s horse.

As she grasped its reins, her eyes caught sight of the oil pooled at the bottom of the hunting lantern hanging from the saddle.

Her gaze did not linger on the lantern for long.

Just as Joseph bent to pick up his gun, Sienna grabbed the lantern and yanked the reins forcefully, startling the horse into rearing up.

At the same time, Joseph seized his rifle—but the horse’s hooves struck his back. Though he staggered, he did not drop his weapon.

As the agitated horse reared again, Joseph narrowly dodged. Recovering quickly, he turned his gun on Sienna just as she adjusted her grip on the lantern.

Suddenly, the surroundings began to darken, drawing both of their gazes upward.