Leopold stood in front of a massive cave with Evan Clark.

Even without hearing it from Evan, Leopold could clearly tell that this cave was a hideout for dark mages.

To confirm the truth, he asked Evan.

“So, where is the place that seems to be the hideout of the dark mages?”

A disgusting feeling surged like waves from the darkness that filled the cave.

“Here, Your Majesty. A strange energy was emanating from this place. The atmosphere inside the cave is not normal.”

“Yes. I feel it too. The sense of resentment makes me think this is not something ordinary.”

Rumors had often circulated that the dark mages were using humans as the main ingredients for their demonic beasts.

‘Maybe that’s true.’

An unpleasant feeling that irritated his sensitive senses made Leopold furrow his brows.

How far does those villains’ wicked scheme extend?

“Shall we go in?”

“Would that be okay?”

Even Leopold couldn’t grasp what kind of dangers were lurking.

“With Your Majesty here, what could possibly happen.”

It wasn’t a baseless joke.

Evan Clark knew better than anyone the power of Emperor Leopold Diaz, who had risen to the rank of a Swordmaster.

Leopold smiled leisurely.

“You seem much more relaxed after the wedding.”

Until now, the Emperor had dealt with everything with a sharp attitude, without showing much emotion on his face.

But lately, a bright aura surrounded him, and he often laughed for no reason.

“You’re right. So, we shouldn’t return too late, Evan.”

Leopold silently reminded himself that he must return not too late since Ariel was waiting.

***

“Your skills are impressive.”

Ariel clapped as she walked towards Solviche.

To think there was a noble lady who could shoot a bow.

“Your Majesty the Empress, you flatter me.”

Solviche Platanas’s lips stiffened uncomfortably.

‘I don’t want to hear such praise from you, of all people.’

The Platanas family had traditionally excelled in using bows while riding on horseback while hunting, teaching even those children who were not heirs to ride and shoot.

Solviche, too, had learned archery according to her family’s tradition.

But her father nagged her to give up such useless things like archery and prepare for marriage instead.

‘As if the calluses and blisters on my hands would lower my value as a woman.’

Solviche secretly exhaled lightly and sneered.

“I didn’t particularly learn it for the hunting festival.”

Considering the tournament was held just a week after the announcement, it wasn’t something she could learn in that short time.

Ariel closely observed the bow strapped to Solviche’s back.

The well-used bow had scratches here and there.

“Looking at the bow, you seem to have always enjoyed archery.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I’m overwhelmed by your interest in someone as insignificant as me.”

“I have an interest in martial arts, so naturally, I’m drawn to women who are interested in martial arts.”

Solviche’s eyes widened in surprise at Ariel’s words.

She had never heard before that the daughter of the Clark family enjoyed swordsmanship.

‘What an unexpected turn.’

Before departing, she had seen Ariel with a large sword strapped to her back.

Solviche had disapproved of Ariel as empress because she thought she was too ordinary compared to Leopold, thinking she was no different from other noble daughters with nothing but their beauty and family name.

But to enjoy swordsmanship.

“Please teach me a thing or two, Your Majesty.”

Was she just boasting?

Solviche’s eyes narrowed.

But Ariel took her words at face value, unaware of her true feelings.

“I’ve only recently taken up the sword again, so I’m ashamed to say I’m not very good at it.”

Ariel unsheathed a sword from its matte dark blue scabbard.

The red liquid contained in a star embedded on the hilt rippled with her movements.

“I’m also looking forward to this hunt after a long time.”

Hop, hop-

A small monster hopping under an oak tree caught Ariel’s eye, unaware of its future.

‘Target locked.’

Her emerald green eyes sparkled with excitement.

She rushed towards the monster at an invisible speed and swung her sword filled with mana out of habit from her previous hunts.

“Kyaaaa—!”

The monster spat out blood with a strange noise and then collapsed to the ground.

“…!”

But Ariel Diaz’s pupils trembled violently.

What is this? A dream?

Surely, since she had been stripped of her mana, she should have felt empty and light while hunting her prey.

“Mana…”

There was mana. It was faint, but definitely there.

Ariel lifted the sword she held in her hand and looked at it incredulously.

“Your Majesty the Empress. That was amazing!”

“Did Captain Evan teach you?”

Noblewomen and young ladies who were watching crowded around Ariel all at once.

They had never seen a woman wield a sword like that before.

‘It wasn’t just bragging.’

Solviche was just as surprised.

The ‘humble skills’ Ariel had mentioned were just her being modest.

‘I thought at best she’d awkwardly swing a sword.’

The empress sprinted swiftly, barely making a sound. Not stopping there, she leaped high into the air, aiming precisely at her prey…

Her swordsmanship was extraordinary.

No, the empress’s skill with a sword was far superior to any knight she had ever seen.

‘Awesome.’

She had been the subject of her envy and hatred simply because she married Emperor Leopold Diaz. Yet now, she felt like taking her as a role model.

“Yes. My brother often told me about it.”

“Oh my! To think you taught your own brother swordsmanship. Captain Evan must be very kind.”

“Ha ha ha-!”

The laughter of the madams who are seeking matches for their daughters echoed through the forest.

“Just a moment.”

Ariel reluctantly nodded and sheathed her sword.

Then, she slipped through the tightly packed ladies and approached the monster she had caught.

The creature bled so much and was already dead.

She grabbed the monster by the neck and tossed it into a basket next to a knight.

As Ariel moved, Solviche’s head turned.

“Her Majesty Empress Ariel Diaz has caught a monster!”

Ariel’s lips curved beautifully.

She hadn’t fully felt the thrill of the hunt, surprised by the mana flowing through her sword.

‘I need to catch more.’

She decided to leisurely enjoy the feeling of cutting through prey and the flow of mana a bit more.

As Ariel turned to hunt again,

“Your Majesty.”

Solviche Platanas, whom she had forgotten, spoke up.

“Ah, Miss Solviche.”

“You have impressive skills.”

Solviche had to admit, the clean, precise movements of her sword, the way she hit the target without any unnecessary motions.

“You caught a monster the size of a rabbit, and you did it with such great skill.”

Ariel’s dismissive gesture came off as refreshing to Solviche.

‘Such humility for not a tremendous talent.’

Solviche suddenly bowed deeply.

“What, what is all this!”

Ariel exclaimed in surprise, and Solviche quickly raised her head.

“Today, I dare to consider Your Majesty as my rival.”

Solviche hurriedly continued, worried Ariel might misunderstand.

“To be honest… other madams and young ladies are novices in this field, so they are just sending meaningless praises to Your Majesty. But I am different. I have never seen someone with skills like yours despite practicing archery and various martial arts.”

Without using any special technique, just wielding the sword. Solviche seemed to have realized quite a lot from that simple movement.

‘On the first impression, she was not ordinary. I knew there was something exceptional about her.’

Could this be the beginning of a friendship?

May knew all of Ariel’s secrets but had no interest in swordsmanship or physical activities, so she couldn’t fully understand Ariel’s struggles.

But Solviche Platanas…

Maybe she could somewhat understand her.

“Ah… well. Having a rival might make hunting more fun. Let’s do that.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

After bowing to Ariel, Solviche ran towards the other side of the hunting ground.

“Maybe I should catch some too.”

The return of her mana was a good sign. The curse is lifting.

Ariel’s eyes sparkled with interest.