The imperial attendant unfolded the edict detailing the rules of the hunting tournament, which had been personally decreed by the Emperor.

Even this single-page document was edged in gold, prompting awed murmurs from the Empire’s nobles.

Sitting on a crimson, velvet-draped chair behind the attendant, the Emperor watched their reaction with deep satisfaction.

“What a waste of money.”

Zenfri muttered under his breath, making sure no one else could hear.

“These are the rules His Majesty has set forth personally.”

The rules of the hunting tournament turned out to be simpler than expected:

1.      1. Each participant will be given ten slips of paper, each marked with their unique number. One may only leave their number on a monster they have personally slain.

2. 2. The hunt will last for a total of five hours. The participant who leaves the most markers bearing their number will be declared the winner. The winner will be granted a wish of any kind by His Majesty the Emperor.

3. 3. The hunting grounds, Selhain, are known to harbor dangerous monsters not yet fully identified. For this reason, leaving the marked perimeter on the map is strictly forbidden. Any participant who crosses the boundary will be immediately disqualified.

“A wish of any kind, my *ss. What if I ask for the whole Empire—will he hand it over?”

Zenfri scoffed, hearing this, Alter shot back.

“Captain Zenfri, you really do complain a lot!”

“So what? You got something to add?”

“I may not have anything to add, but I can offer some sound advice!”

Nodding as if he completely understood, Alter continued.

“This time, I actually agree with you. If there’s even a chance we might make an unusual request, the Empire will likely do everything it can to keep us from winning.”

“That’s another thing that pisses me off.”

“But it’s such a shame. All I want is one week of lavish banquets.”

“Must be nice to live without a care in the world.”

Cutting through their low exchange, the attendant spoke once more.

“No matter how much you desire victory, it is strongly advised that you travel in groups. Should you encounter a monster, sustain serious injury or even lose your life, the Empire will not be held responsible.”

At the mention of the possibility of losing one’s life, Selina’s lips parted in shock despite her efforts to control herself.

She had never encountered a monster before and therefore had no real understanding of how dangerous they were.

Until now, she had assumed that the hunting tournament would involve pursuing small game. But to hear that she might be gravely injured — or even killed?

Glancing at her companions, she saw that those actually taking part in the tournament looked utterly unbothered, while her face was drawn tight with fear.

“It’s been ages since we last hunted monsters in Selhain! Back then, it took at least three or four of us working together to bring one down. I wonder how it’ll be this time.”

“Like it’s going to be any different now. One swing from those things, and you’ll have three or four people flat on the ground.”

Selina, who had been listening to their exchange in silence, ventured a careful question.

“I… I didn’t realize the tournament was this dangerous. Is it even all right to participate in something like this?”

“You won’t die.”

Zenfri said matter-of-factly. Alter immediately raised a hand in protest.

“You could die! I heard there have been casualties in every previous tournament.”

Selina’s face went pale. She had come to keep Calix safe from any unexpected danger—yet somehow, it felt as though she had pushed him straight into a death trap.

“M-Maybe it would be better not to participate after all—”

“No one’s going to die.”

Calix shook his head, his expression calm and unyielding.

“No one’s going to get hurt, either.”

Selina bit her lip, still uneasy.

“You’d better decide in advance what wish you’re going to make.”

He murmured, polishing his sword as though the matter were of no real consequence.

There was a strange weight to his words, as if whatever he said would inevitably come to pass.

Only then did Selina’s tension ease enough for her to look around. Calix, Alter, and Zenfri were all checking over their hunting gear.

However, the other nearby participants were doing something she hadn’t expected.

Selina knew that one of the tournament’s requirements was that married couples had to enter together. Indeed, there were quite a few couples present.

Having accompanied their husbands, the wives were now taking handkerchiefs from their bosoms and pressing them into their husbands’ hands. Then they produced long, unfamiliar strips of cloth to tie around their husbands’ swords or bows.

‘What on earth are they doing?’

Selina had been taught the necessary banquet etiquette, but she had never learnt how to behave at a hunting tournament.

Perhaps that was why the scene before her felt so unfamiliar. Leaning in slightly, she tried to overhear snippets of conversation between the couples.

She was too far away to hear everything clearly, but she caught the odd word here and there.

“Please, take care and come back safely.”

“Don’t worry. We’ll be moving in a group; nothing’s likely to happen.”

“Make sure that cloth never comes undone.”

“I will.”

From what little she heard, she could guess what the long strip of cloth was for.

‘So it’s like a charm, wishing for the husband’s safety.’

Come to think of it, those without the cloth were being given handkerchiefs, while those without handkerchiefs were being given the cloth. Some received both, of course, but from how many were given only one or the other, it seemed the handkerchief carried a similar meaning.

‘I… I don’t have a handkerchief…’

Selina hurriedly rummaged through her handbag again and again. She had brought two handkerchiefs when they left Thalia, but the rough, muddy roads on the way had forced her to use both. And she certainly hadn’t thought to bring an extra strip of cloth.

‘What should I do…?’

While she was still fretting, the time for the hunting tournament to begin drew near. Once the group had finished their preparations and made their way toward the starting line, she shifted anxiously from foot to foot, watching them go.

‘If only there were something I could use instead…’

An idea popped into her head. She quickly untied the ribbon she’d used to bind her hair and, with some hesitation, approached Calix.

“What is it?”

He looked at her in mild puzzlement as she suddenly came closer, but Selina quietly reached out and took hold of the sword resting in his arms.

“E-excuse me for just a moment.”

She then tied her ribbon to Calix’s sword. Her hands trembled so badly as she worked that she couldn’t manage to knot it neatly no matter how she tried.

“I wasn’t aware, so I wasn’t able to prepare properly.”

Her hands trembled even more at the thought that Calix might scold her for doing something unnecessary. A part of her worried that perhaps she was doing something pointless… but if tying this ribbon could mean Calix would return safely, she wouldn’t mind being scolded a hundred times over.

Once she had finished fastening the ribbon and straightened it as best she could, Selina spoke in a small, almost whispering voice.

“Please, come back safely.”

Calix looked down in silence at the ribbon tied to his sword. Following his gaze, Selina finally noticed how much sloppier her knot was compared to the others’ and felt a wave of embarrassment.

However—

“I will.”

With a faint smile, Calix accepted the sword she had adorned with her ribbon.

‘Thank goodness…’

At that moment, the trumpet signaling the start of the hunting tournament rang out, and the participants began moving toward the designated area marked on the map. Watching Calix and his group grow more distant, Selina finally let out the sigh she’d been holding in.

“Duchess Silas?”

Just as she was about to catch her breath, someone approached and greeted her.

“It has been far too long. Do you remember us?”

“We wished to invite you back then, but it’s such a pity we only meet now.”

They were the noblewomen Selina had seen on the day of the banquet with Calix after their wedding.

‘Oh… the Countess of Austin and the wife of General Jenner, wasn’t it?’

Recalling that day, Selina offered them a polite greeting.

“It truly has been a long time. Have you both been well? I apologize for not accepting your invitation at the time. We ended up leaving the Empire earlier than expected…”

“That’s quite all right. There are times when a wife must follow her husband’s lead. But more importantly…”

The Countess of Austin gestured toward a table set off to the side, laden with refreshments.

“While our husbands are off enjoying themselves, why don’t you join us for a little conversation? The other ladies are here as well.”

“Ah… all right.”

Selina nodded almost before she realised it.

In truth, this was the first time she had ever been invited to a tea party, and she was nervous about whether she would handle it well.

Still, there was hardly a better opportunity to gather information about the Empire than during casual conversation. With that in mind, she followed them.

“It’s a pleasure to see you. Please, come in, Duchess.”

When they arrived at the table, six or seven ladies were already seated. Though they varied widely in age, elegance and refinement flowed from them from head to toe.

“I-It’s an honor to meet you. I’m Selina Silas.”

At first, she was stiff with nerves, but as time went on, the atmosphere remained comfortably light. To her surprise, she found herself enjoying it more than she had expected—especially the exquisite desserts, many of which she had never tasted before.

She was savoring a bite of cake so sweet it made her tongue ache when—

‘Huh? That man…’

Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of a familiar figure. It was the marquis’s aide, the one who served as his right-hand man.

‘He wasn’t here earlier…’

Moving in a way that avoided drawing attention, he slipped quietly among the crowd—yet there was something about the discreet precision of his steps that fixed Selina’s gaze.

“Perhaps the Empire will do everything it can to keep us from winning?”

Alter’s words suddenly echoed through her mind.