Chapter 26: Hunting Competition

*** WARNING: This chapter contains foul language.

***Alright Now Continuation Of Chapter 26...

Bright. Bright sun rays hit these forest grounds.

A weather so hot that even wearing the lightest clothes made a human body sweat.

"Ah it's so hot I feel like I might melt" (Noble ladies, talking)

"Yes, even this umbrella is not well enough coverage for me" (Noble ladies, talking)

"My skin is a perfect shade, I don't want to get sunburn. I might ask a servant to bring me some more sunscreen" (Noble ladies, talking)

"Ladies but aren't you going to stay under the tents stationed?" (Lexious, asked)

Lexious Smith, captain of Rhone imperial knight age 28.

Lexious Smith unlike his age he looked quite attractive and strong, he had a gentle personality.

He had caramel brown hair and blue eyes he also happened to be single and the second eldest son of Count Smith.

His father Mariousious Smith was a follower of the emperor.

Lexious Smith had actually been single, he naturally drew in the noble ladies just like now.

He was sitting on top of his light brown horse and looking down at the noble ladies with hats and umbrellas.

"Sir. Lexious, you're just saying that because you will be under the shade of the fresh trees" (Noble ladies, talking)

"Not even the tents are enough to cover us" (Noble ladies, talking)

'The trees won't do much coverage with this hot weather...I wonder how both their hignesses hunts are going?' (Lexious's inner thoughts)

He thought in wonder.

It was customary to let the royal participant take the head start so by now both Jerek and Lisandro had already been out hunting for about thirty minutes or so.

"Neigh"

The noble ladies and Lexious turned at the close by horse noise.

"Oh it's the Marquess Lepilionded and young Marquess Arian!" (Noble ladies, talking)

"Oh my look how good they look!" (Noble ladies, talking)

"They never go undress, especially today young Marquess Arian looks so handsome!" (Noble ladies, talking)

"..." (Lexious)

He frowned a little while the ladies began to fan girl over turning their attention away from Lexious.

It was a fact that any lady in this whole empire would choose Arian since he was extremely attractive.

Marques Elex and Arian both sat on their horses surrounded by a group of ladies as the Maruqess Elex looked straight forward and Arian closed his eyes gripping onto the horse rains.

"Mmm...but is it me or does young Marquess Arian look unwell today?" (Noble ladies, talking)

"Perhaps the hot weather is getting to him since he has no hat or umbrella-" (Noble ladies, talking)

"Oh my look the saintess is coming!" (Noble ladies, talking)

But one of the noble ladies got interrupted by an excited noble lady who had spotted Adelina wearing a fluffy golden dress.

A dress she could obviously be very hot in but to her she was not deemed underdressed.

Everyone adored her and some noble ladies like them admired the saintess.

Adelina like always was matching with Marquess Elex and Arian wearing golden colors.

"Father!" (Adelina, yelled)

"Brother!" (Adelina, yelled)

She came in excitedly to wish her father and brother good luck while all the ladies surrounding Arian split like the sea giving space for Adelina to enter.

She halted her steps in front of them.

'Pull out'

Adelina pulled out two small dark blue velvet boxes.

'Open'

She opened the two small dark blue velvet boxes and inside were two dark blue cufflinks.

One was the shape of a square and the other was of a circle.

'Sparkle'

The dark blue cufflinks looked very expensive and shiny.

"I blessed them myself, I hope father and brother will like them" (Adelina, said)

"Please return safely" (Adelina, said)

She said warmly and happily as she raised her hands more so they could grab them.

'Grab'

And obviously, the first one to grab them was Marquess Elex.

"My daughter is too thoughtful, your father loves" (Marquess Elex, said)

He said with a warm face and began to place his cufflinks however Arian hadn't touched his.

"Brother?" (Adelina, asked)

"Do you not like them?" (Adelina, asked)

A sweat dropped from Adelina's face a little worried that Arian might not take it how their relationship was heading on.

But he wouldn't dare embarrass her in front of many people or in front of their father but the way he was acting.

However, she noticed that Arian's gaze was not on her.

He was completely looking at the far right with widened eyes and when she turned her eyes widened as well.

In the far right corner was both Dorion and Aurora.

........

-Minutes ago-

'Click, Clack, Click'

Heeled walking.

'Stare'

"Eh? Who is that?" (Nobles, whispering)

"I don't know I don't think I have seen-oh my god wait she has fushia pink hair!" (Nobles, whispering)

"What? Oh my your right! Do you think that's her?!" (Nobles, whispering)

"It has to be her the eldest daughter has fushia pink hair there is no one else who has fushia pink hair than Marquess Elex Lepilondel, and young Marquess Arian Lepiliondel" (Nobles, whispering)

"But then look...are the rumors true that she covers her face because she's so ugly?" (Nobles, whispering)

Nobles everywhere in that area began to whisper at a rapid pace.

The area where these nobles gathered was the very second entrance for those who were watching the participants who would hunt set off.

Some came to watch and other nobles especially noble ladies came to gift something to their lovers, or someone they liked.

The first entrance was where the tents of the hunting competition would be set up and where most nobles would be forming connections but since the competition was just starting many nobles came to the second entrance first.

The reason why Aurora directed herself to the second entrance was like the others, to go see Dorion since the participants were required to go in early before the people going to watch were allowed to come in.

She had come by herself because the hunting escorting regulation did not allow any knights from any family to join them unless they were participating.

This was just for extra precaution but thinking about it was probably to cause any conflicts and unknown variables.

So no noble had any escorts, and the only sort of protection was the Rhone Imperial guards that stood at their directed section to guard so Aurora had gone without any escort.

Other nobles would be embarrassed to walk by themselves and be the eye of everyone since nobles traveled in groups, but not only had she caught the attention of the nobles for being alone but because of her long wavy fushia pink hair that dropped down to her ankles.

A hair color that automatically gave her identity away.

They all began to whisper so loudly she could hear every bit of the words including how ugly she was.

Honestly, she could have taken her hat and let them close their mouth for once but it was just a very hot day so she decided to wear a hat.

A pink, light pink hat with white attached with a net that covered her face but for the sun's purposes.

The pink, light pink hat with white was beautiful and elegantly designed by Zellia truly.

It was a nice white, light pink faded lace and tulle fabric on the very top and the hat was completely light pink with some white beautiful embroidery connected to the bottom of the hat going down on the pink face net that covered any features of her face.

The face net was all around attached except for the back of her head which was why it perfectly covered her.

She thought it was a hassle to carry an umbrella that was a perfect match for her dress and it was just so hot and effort costing to carry around so she stuck to the hat.

Because her neck scar had stayed on her neck and her makeup was not enough coverage to cover the scar she had started using little scarfs to cover her neck.

And just like any other day, she had covered her neck.

She wore a very simple white, light pink, and pink scarf with a simple knot to the right and her strong collar bone showed since she was wearing a heart-shaped dress.

The one thing that had seemed to unmatch the colors was the silver necklace that Dorion had bought her but even so, it still looked good wearing it alongside the scarf.

Although the heart-shaped dresses were usually sleeveless Zellia had covered over her shoulders only exposing the collar bone.

The cover looked like a white attached showe wavy style with the same embroidery.

The attached shawl style top was attached to the non-fluffy pink dress with a right side scrunch-up style on the right while the under-bottom skirt was a light pink fabric.

She wore a very comfortable dress compared to the noble ladies and she looked beautiful wearing it even though her face was covered.

Because she was going to be walking so compared to the high heels Zellia had designed low-heeled heels that matched her dress making it comfortable for her to walk as well.

She didn't bother wearing makeup to cover her needle marks in fear that the makeup might melt under her long white with light pink elbow-length gloves so she did not cover it and put the gloves like that since the marks would be covered.

Beautiful, colors, and a beautiful dress that no one else had seen.

Her gorgeous hair color and length it was obvious that this woman modeled it perfectly as she walked with confidence hearing everyone speaking about her.

"Although I have to admit I have never seen that style of dress...it's so pretty" (Noblels, whispering)

"Well at least her body must make for her ugly face but let's not get associated with her" (Nobles, whispers)

"Yeah didn't you hear that she married the illegitimate son of the emperor?" (Nobles, whispering)

"That's right I also heard that too that's probably why she showed up because the illegitimate son of the emperor is participating in the hunting competition this year" (Nobles, whispering)

"What a disaster, are they going to become a bad omen then?" (Nobles, whispering)

"Ha, I bet, and get this I also heard that she was invited to Marchioness Macadam's private tea party where Saintess Adelina and the Empress showed up" (Nobles, whispering)

"What?! I didn't hear about that what happened?!" (Nobles, whispering)

"Well this is what I heard, according to someone's, friend of a friend apparently she was so disrespectful to the Empress she told her to her face that she did not respect her and even called her a maid" (Nobles, whispering)

"Oh my!" (Nobles, whispering)

"Yeah and she was rude to the poor Saintess who was only looking out for her as a sister but she disrespected her as well" (Nobles, whispering)

"What an awful person she's definitely the devil incarnate" (Nobles, whispering)

'...' (Aurora)

'Halt'

'Turn'

Aurora was hearing everything loudly and had stopped side by side under a tree that gave her enough shade.

She was starting to get annoyed and this heat was not helping so she turned to look at them who halted their words.

They could not see her face but they didn't have to.

However soon they began to whisper again more quietly but Aurora could still hear them.

"It's not like we were staying anything wrong" (Nobles, whispering)

"We were just saying what we heard after all" (Nobles, whispering)

"Yeah and where is the lie at be-heuck" (Nobles, whispering)

The nobles who were clearly trying to act as if their words were not wrong had stopped immediately speaking with a very palace face terrified face.

'...?...' (Aurora)

'Turn'

Aurora turned and her eyes widened a little bit because Dorion was standing behind her looking down at her.

'I didn't even notice when he got here' (Aurora's inner thought)

She turned her attention to Dorion and ignored the nobles speaking.

'Stare'

Dorion stared at her in silence and so did she.

They said no word and it was just silent.

"..." (Aurora)

After a minute of silence, Aurora pulled out a medium-sized ruby-red velvet box and stared at the box in silence.

'Raise'

She raised her gloved hand and grabbed her chin to think and closed her eyes.

'Originally I was going to get him some cufflinks but everyone gifts cufflinks but now I'm unsure if he will like it what if-' (Aurora's inner thoughts)

But before she could finish thinking Dorion had grabbed the red ruby velvet box off her hands.

"Lady this is for me?" (Dorion, asked)

'Ah..!' (Aurora's inner thoughts)

She let out a surprised thought at his sudden actions and looked up at him who had opened it with a smirking smile as he was happy and somehow teasing her flirtatiously.

"It's a large scarf broch" (Dorion, said)

'Look'

Dorion turned to look down at the large scarf broch.

It was a large scarf broch that had a circular thick red ruby attached to a long rectangle space thick red rubby and a golden border that surrounded it.

Although this was a scarf broch it was quite unique like others because it was larger than normal and the regular scarf broch didn't have a large rectangle jewel attached to it.

It only varied with a square, oval, circle, a diamond shape, and a rectangle shape for scarf broch designs so this one was very different.

"Did you pick it thinking of my eyes because there as beautiful as you said?" (Dorion, asked)

"Are my eyes as beautiful as this red ruby scarf broch?" (Dorion, asked)

'Look'

Dorion looked down again with a little wonder although he was geniously curious.

"But Lady are scarf brooches normally this big or is this a confession of your love, how much the Lady loves me?" (Dorion, asked)

'Blush'

Immediately her cheeks flushed pink in embarrassment and at his words.

'You...!' (Auroa's inner thoughts)

'Grab'

"Give it back to me if you don't-" (Aurora, said)

She tried to take away the it way as she said however Dorion had the upper hand and held it embracing it as if he were protecting the scarf broch from being taken away.

'Turn'

He even turned his body a little but still looked at her

"Didn't you just give it to me? How can you give something and then ask for it back just like that, it's not very nice. Lady besides I never said I didn't want it" (Dorion, said)

Dorion teased her with a sly smile since she didn't manage to take it away from her.

"Were you planning to give this to any of those bastard's then?" (Dorion, asked)

Dorion asked as he turned and looked at both Marquess Elex and Arian.

'Turn'

Aurora turned to see who he was speaking of.

She had once again seen them all, again together this time.

'Open'

Her lips opened as her eyes drifted to her father then Arian who was sitting on a white horse.

"No" (Aurora, said)

"It's for you" (Aurora, said)

Aurora said with a voice that was a little distracted.

'Lean'

"Then can the Lady put it on me?" (Dorion, asked)

Dorion leaned close to her ear and whispered to her with a sly smile.

'Turn'

Aurora turned to look at Dorion who had leaned away again.

"...." (Aurora)

She paused in silence and glanced down to Dorion's right hip where he held no sword.

It seemed that ever since he swore he would never hold a sword in her presence he had kept his promise.

And after a few seconds of silence, she placed her hands on the top of the open corner of the red ruby velvet box top.

'Open'

Her lips finally opened as she grabbed the red ruby scarf broch.

Attached to the scarf broch there were golden tick staps a sort of style that can simply wrap around.

Compared to how heavy it looked it was not as heavy, in fact, it was easy to lift, the golden borders were probably heavier than the red ruby jewels itself.

"Thank you for keeping your promise" (Aurora, said)

She said with a sincere tone.

"What does the Lady mean?" (Dorion, asked)

Dorion looked down at her with a little confusion at the exact promise she meant.

It wasn't that he didn't know what promises they made but they had made many.

"That..." (Aurora, said)

She paused a little and continued to look at the scarf broch gripping it a little.

"You would never hold a sword in front of me" (Aurora, said)

Although he had promised her to make her feel secure the moment he aimed for her neck, those words he had said to her as comfort she had originally thought that.

But as time went on he no longer held his sword around her, he had actually meant his words.

She believed in no promises because she had been betrayed by the people she loved the most.

That was why she did not have much expectations of the words of his promise but he had proved to her that a promise of this man was a promise she could trust.

Her lips opened again with a somehow hesitant and worried tone still looking down at him.

"I...don't want you to get hurt" (Aurora, said)

'Widen'

At the moment those words left her lips Dorion's eyes widened as if it were just a love confession, as if this was enough proof that she really did care about him.

'Extend'

'Lift'

Unconsciously his gloved hands lifted her hat net.

She had a very heartbroken sad expression with a bitter smile.

Her eyes were so sad and her jaw shivered a little, perhaps it was that she wanted to cry or beg him to stay.

'I shouldn't have expectations anymore, I wanted to look away, I only wanted to give you comfort, a love that like me wanted' (Aurora's inner thoughts)

She was talking about platonic love because she no longer believed in real love.

Like a person who would stick to his side but never actually fall in love and allow her heart to beat.

Because those were emotions she had decided to shut down.

She didn't want to be hurt so she had set a border herself from the start and perhaps this man even knew.

Unlike others who could easily express their feelings, she had felt like a doll with no expressions or emotion whose only purpose was to be exploited but how long had it been that her heart started to feel empty whenever his presence wasn't around?

Although he had a ruff way of speaking she didn't judge him because he had grown up to be like that but what now?

Why did she feel a wave of anxiety, fear, and anguish that he was going into the forest just to find the fox?

Was it because she didn't know if something else would happen if he would get hurt?

She knew he was strong, but what if he had actually gotten hurt?

What if that was the last time she would see his face?

'Touch'

His gloved hand gently lifted her chin so she could look up at him making eye contact with her sad eyes.

"I will come back unscratched, I promise" (Dorion, said)

Dorion's lips finally opened and promised her with soft comforting words as his red rubbies gazed at her with love and assertance.

'Widen'

Her dark blue eyes widened again and her heart unconsciously felt warm.

'Badmup, Badump'

She couldn't understand why her heart began to beat but her hands began to move and touch the red ruby scarf broch on his other hand.

Her eyes looked down with a little more ease as if he had reassured her.

'Grab'

He who saw that she had grabbed it out of the box unconsciously let go of her face dropping her hat net since her hands were approaching his collar to place the red ruby scarf broch herself

She looked up holding up the red ruby scarf borch finally wrapping it around Dorion's collar carefully and gently.

"As long as I don't see a sword in my sight was the promise you made, so it is better if it is hidden" (Aurora, said)

"...?..." (Dorion)

Dorion did not understand what she meant.

'Tap, Tap'

So Aurora's tapped on the very top of the golden border.

"Although it's very small and thin it's quite sharp" (Aurora, said)

'Widen'

Dorion's eyes widen at the realization.

The reason why the red ruby scarf broch was that shape was because Aurora had managed to place a very small sharp dagger in there.

When you pull the circular red ruby jewel, you would be pulling the handle of the dagger.

Even if she was scared of the swords and knew that what she had given him was a small dagger something that was another form of a sword she had given it to him with an excuse that it looked like a scarf broch.

That she was not going to be scared, that he still had completed his promise.

"..." (Dorion)

Dorion's eyes softened up again and his lips slowly raised into a large warm smile as he closed his eyes happily.

'Shine'

For a very long time, she had never seen this man smile like this.

'Badump, Badmup'

A smile so warm that made her body completely ease and her heartbeat.

He was like a golden ray of sunshine.

A man who shines under the sun with his golden hair that seems to even glimmer specs of golden dust around him.

A man so beautiful and enchanting that was out of existence.

A bright golden light illuminated her under this dark tree.

She wanted to approach the light, that illuminated her path.

Can she reach it?

She thought as her feet began to move to step forward feeling the warmth of the light.

Her beautiful soft dress had fluttered at the stop of her steps and looked up at the golden ray of hope with his beautiful glimmering smile.

Yes, she reached it.

He had too, engulfed her with his light as he lifted her hat net while his large right hand cupped under her chin as his long fingers folded near her right cheekbone angling his face, and embraced her soft lips.

Her eyes widened at the sudden warm comforting kiss that he had given her.

'Lean away'

And when the man's lips parted he leaned away and looked directly at her dark blue eyes that were not visible to him any longer.

His lips had raised up in a satisfied smile this time showing his white teeth and his red ruby eyes had looked at her warmly.

"!!" (Aurora)

While Aurora's eyes and mouth opened in shock and surprise this man had kissed her.

'BLUSH!'

Her face was completely red.

He didn't have to see her face to know she was embarrassed, surprised, and flustered.

"My body needs to be blessed as well don't you think?" (Dorion, asked)

He asked shamelessly and with a loving smile.

It was customary for prospects and lovers to exchange gifts however in customary of the goddess if a saintess blessed you with a kiss...her divine kiss would bless you and protect you.

He had been the very first to abruptly steal a kiss from the true saintess.

"I'll come back with that fox" (Dorion, said)

Dorion waved at her not in a way of faring off but a wave that they would see you soon.

'Badump, Baump'

"Ah..." (Aurora, said)

She unconsciously touched her lips with a red expression as he looked at Dorion walking into the far distance with his fluttering red wine cape approaching his brown horse and meeting up with both Orland, Evan, and some more Rainers knights.

His back seemed to cover something, once he had gotten that he had hoped on his horse with one hand covering his hips so it could not be seen.

He was clearly covering his sword since he was still in her presence.

And this beautiful moment was only for her.

For others on the other end, it was not very pleasant.

Marquess Elex's eyes had frowned observing from the distance while Adelina's expression tried its best not to crumple up in jealousy.

She hadn't gotten a glimpse of Dorion for a very long time but she couldn't believe that the man was extremely handsome.

He was better looking than even higher priest Raftian he was so attractive that she had noticed the noble ladies who always spoke about his dirty linage were totally enchanted with his face and the way he smiled.

But he had smiled at Aurora, not at any other noble ladies or Adelina.

It was only for Aurora.

'Clench'

Adelina clenched her fist.

'When I saw him at the competition I only saw him from the distance...he had given her the helmet and embarrassed me. He was just a repellant insect' (Adelina's inner thoughts)

'How dare she be some dam luck! He's so dam rich and so attractive..if I knew things were going to be like this!' (Adelina's inner thoughts)

It didn't mean she was going to switch sides and trade Jerek whose leange was noble but she unlike higher priest Raftian who could not have lovers Dorion was different.

If she could secretly get a hold of a man like this without the empress knowing what more joy could she have taking away the man who only looked at his sister probably as a sort of entertainment.

However, she couldn't help to feel jealous and angry that Auroa had naturally been lucky.

'She's always gotten what she wanted, I had to make sure to take it away...and he will be no exception' (Adelina's inner thoughts)