I Will Protect You This Time

Episode 50

(Menacing Arrival)

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The Hunting Festival… It's held at the start of Autumn. The main reason for this was to hunt food before the Cold Winter. As Winter in the Fellmirr comes a month before it does in other Kingdoms or Empires.

A competition is held among the Aristocrats to see who scores the most points by hunting animals or beasts in the specific time that is 1 week. 

The competition is held in the Beaulow Forest which is on the east side of the Capital. It is a deep forest filled with different kinds of animals from the friendliest to the vicious ones. The forest is divided into five zones. Green zone, Blue zone, Red zone, Purple Zone and the Black zone. The safest zone is the Green one. And the Black zone is in the deepest part of the forest and is the domain of the most ferocious beasts. Those beasts sometimes fuse themselves with other monsters. Killing a beast from the Black zone earns the most points. 

Anyways the winning clan of the hunting competition receives a Golden Trophy and a huge sum of money. And of course, the Winning Clan holds the title of the Strongest Clan' of that specific year.

After the competition, half of the hunted animals are distributed among the muggles or low-level Beastmen of one's own Territory by the Aristocrat Beastmen. And they keep the rest. That's the reason it's like a festival for the Commoners. And a Competition to show off their strength to the Aristocrats.

But this year, it's definitely different for the Aristocrats. It won't be just Clan Vs Clan. Instead Fellmirr Vs the other Empires and Kingdoms of the Waldor Continent. 

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It's the day of the Hunting Festival. 

Phew~ 

I am worried. To be honest, I was anxious the whole week. Whenever I heard a group arrive, my heart pounded like crazy. I couldn't stop wondering when the Fellmirr group showed up. But contrary to my thoughts they never did. 

I am relieved. As Ella mentioned that everyone generally comes to the Beaulow Forest at least one day prior to the Hunting Competition. And all the Aristocrats of Fellmirr came 5 days before the Hunting Competition this year. They must be excited to show off their skill to the aristocrats of other Empires. Anyways, that's why I think they won't come now.

"Are you alright, Isabella?"

Empress Alicia asked with an eagerly.

"Oh. Yes, Mother. I was just wondering how the Hunting Festival will be."

"I know right. I feel the same. I am so excited! This year's hunt will be great!"

Empress Alicia said with twinkling eyes.

Our thoughts are totally different. Well, I am happy that she's excited.

At this moment, we are in the carriage heading towards the Plain Land near the Beaulow Forest where all the tents are arranged. We will be staying there until the Hunting Competition ends.

Leonus and the Emperor already went there with a group of Knights. 

Suddenly the carriage stopped.

Knock*

"Her Majesty, the Empress and Her Highness, the Crown Princess. We have reached the Plain Land."

A knight knocked the door of the carriage and announced from outside.

"Yes. Let's get down, Isabella."

"Yes, Mother."

After that, a knight helped us get down from the carriage.

Wow~

I gasped at the sight that came to my eyes. 

This… This is beautiful! 

The carriage before our tent. But is this really a tent? The outside shape looked like a tent. But the decorations… It was surrounded by beautiful long bushy grasses with red flowers almost similar to willow flowers and was decorated with luminous orbs. It will look breathtakingly beautiful at night. At the top of the tent, there was a flag with a black wolf which was the symbol of the Royal Family. After some distance, there were other tents of the other Aristocrats family. Their decorations are different. They had the skull of a beast hanging on the side of the tent. And it was definitely ferocious. Seeing the flag, they are… Umm… Nine-tailed fox? Anyways there were huge bonfires surrounding the entire plain land. 

Two knights were guarding the entrance of the tent. 

"Let's enter, Isabella."

"Yes-"

Popoo~

Suddenly I heard the sound of a loud horn. Did the Competition already start? But it was supposed to start at noon. 

"Crown Princess!"

Suddenly Sir Blaine came running.

"Sir Blaine?"

I asked worriedly as he had a serious expression on his face. Did something happen?

Alicia: "What's wrong, Blaine?"

Blaine: "His Highness, the Crown Prince send me to inform me that-"

Alicia: "That what? Hurry up."

Blaine: "The Aristocrats along with the Royal family of the Loire Empire have arrived!"

Thump* Thump*

My heart is beating loudly. I can feel my heart in my stomach. 

The Royal family of Loire?! Did I misheard it perhaps?! 

Blaine: "They arrived half an hour ago, Princess. The Crown Prince ordered me to escort you there."

Alicia: "Isabella… Are you okay, dear?"

Alicia asked with a worried look.

Isabella: "..."

Alicia: "Isabella?"

Alicia asked, putting her hand on Isabella's shoulder.

Isabella: "Ah. Yes. I am fine. I was just really happy hearing about their arrival."

"Is that so?"

Alicia asked with a slight frown that was almost invisible.

"Yes."

Isabella replied with a bright smile.

"Good, then. Let's go meet them."

"Huh?"

"Well, they are your family after all. I have to greet them, right?"

"Ah. Yes."

"Blaine, guide us to their tent."

Alicia said in a commanding tone.

"Yes. Please follow me."

"Let's go, child."

Alicia said slowly while Patting Isabella's back.

"Yes."

Isabella replied in a calmer voice. Probably because Alicia's pat and firm voice calmed her down.

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Half An Hour Ago...

"Did you see the Crown Princess?"

Kayleigh Astorio said with dreamy eyes.

Azleza: "Yes. She is so beautiful!"

"I know right!"

Sarah Yasuji replied cheerfully.

Druella: "She is gentle too!"

Azleza and her group were sitting on a round table that was under a huge tree and were chatting among themselves.

Madeleine: "Yes! Yesterday's banquet, when I greeted her, she greeted me back with a gentle smile!"

Sarah: "So pretty~"

Druella: "And cute too."

Madeleine: "The Crown Prince and the Crown Princess, when they dance together, honestly I couldn't look at the dance floor."

Azleza: "I know right! They are too bright!"

Kayleigh: "Yes! Too dazzling"

Pfft~

The ladies giggled among themselves.

Azleza: "And that cold cousin of mine laughs with her too!"

Kayleigh: "I know, right?"

Azleza: "When I first saw him smile, honestly I got goosebumps. I mean I heard it before. But. It's still creepy to see him smile."

Druella: "True~ Someone like him can smile too."

Madeleine: "Anyways. I feel kind of bad for the Princess."

Sarah: "Huh? Why?"

Kayleigh: "Didn't you hear rumours about her?"

Azleza: "Oh! Those vicious rumours?!"

Sarah: "I can't believe someone lied about such a gentle person!"

Druella: "Yes."

Madeleine: "To be honest, I knew they were wrong."

Azleza: "I know right. We met her a few times at different banquets. She never had any malicious aura."

Kayleigh: "True."

Azleza: "And I wonder why the Royals of Loire didn't come?"

Sarah: "Humph! Because of them, she had to hear so many bad words!"

Druella: "I know right! Those girls from who knows what kingdom!"

Madeleine: "I know right!"

Kayleigh: "They said she is the wicked Princess of Loire. And that's the reason why they don't want to keep any contact with her."

Druella: "Those sh*t"

"Watch your mouth, Dru."

Madeleine said with an annoyed expression.

Druella: "Aghh! Whatever~"

Sarah: "I don't know why but I already hate the Royals of Fellmirr!"

Druella: "I know right?!"

Azleza: "Anyways what time is it? Why haven't the Empress and the Crown Princess arrived yet?"

Druella: "Hmm~ True. I want to talk to the Crown Princess!"

Kayleigh: "I don't understand. She rarely joins any banquet."

Sarah: "That's why! This is our Golden opportunity to be friends with her, guys!"

Azleza: "Aha."

Popoo~

Suddenly a loud horn rang.

Azleza: "Huh? What's happening?"

Druella: "I don't know."

"Biscuit, come here."

Sarah waved at a maid who was standing a few steps away from the table.

"What is it, My Lady?"

"Can you check out what happened?"

Sarah whispered to the maid.

"Of course."

Saying that the maid hurriedly went towards the source of the sound.

After a while, she came back and whispered something in Sarah's ear.

"What?"

Sarah said loudly with wide eyes.

Druella: "What is it?"

Kayleigh: "What happened?"

Sarah: "They are here!"

Madeleine: "Who?"

Sarah: "The Royals of the Loire Empire!"

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"This is it, Her Majesty."

Blaine stopped in front of a huge tent and said with a slight bow.

"Yes."

Alicia replied while looking at the tent.

"Let's enter, Isabella. And Blaine, you follow us from behind."

"Yes."

Blaine replied.

I don't want to. I thought I would be fine. But now that the moment has come, I am afraid. My legs are shaking. My hands are shaking. I feel cold.

All of those horrible memories are coming back one by one.

I don't want to meet them.

"What's wrong, dear?"

The Empress asked with a worried face.

"Ah. Nothing…"

"Don't be nervous, child. Let's enter."

"Yes, mother."

"Her Majesty, the Empress Alicia Cedric Carados Fellmirr and Her Highness, the Crown Princess Isabella Albus Carados Fellmirr are entering the tent."

A knight announced our presence from outside.. And we entered the tent.